thetig

Here Here! This is a great Blog to read today! I agree 1 million percent! This LB for me is a new way of living and I am loving it! I love the changes in my diet and I love the CHANGES in ME! thetig

Hi There, Do not give up! Keep up with the water and the protein shakes. Not sure why you can not have broth. That really was good to have. Also the Gas!!!!!! I feel like I am the QUEEN on the Free Air! I was banded on March 26th and I am still having a bit of trouble with the free air! It seems to start up in the shoulder or back, I just walked as much as I could tolerate and it got better and better, even six weeks later there is a little bit way down in my pelvic area but it is almost gone now. People try gas x but they all forget that this air is not in your intestine it is Free Air just floating anywhere it wants. It will go away! Call you Docs office about the liquids bet they will let you have broth! Good Luck, thetig

Well, five weeks have passed by so very very fast but here I am and so far so good. I see by many of the total of pounds lost on different people that we all start counting from different starts, so I would just like for everyone to know that I am only using my weight loss from two days before surgery when I started my liquids only diet. My Doctor does not believe in all of the pre Liquid or pre anything diet. He even does not believe in checking your weight. It is all about getting healthy and eating small portions and eating slowly! At my highest weight 16 months ago I weighed 263. I started So. Beach in January of 08 and I did pretty well with it until August of 08, I slacked off a bit but I kept off about 20 pounds. I decided to do the Lap Band in December of 08 and from that moment right up until my two days before surgery I tasted everything and drank everything I wanted and only gained 10 pounds. (I did this so that there would be nothing for me to really want from Head Hunger) Not bad, so having said all of that since my banding I have lost 25 pounds and in total I have lost 34 pounds. I now weigh 229 but I have seen 228 a day ago but that pound came back. As my doctor says that is the problem with weighing yourself all of the time. You really never get a perfect weight cuz every day, every minute you weigh a little different, you have to go by how your clothes fit to really know that you are loosing. Or getting the compliments on how different you start to look. Having lost 30 Plus pounds it still is hard to notice because I was so chubby but from here on in it will be showing I am sure. My Bandster Hell is still the "FREE AIR" floating around inside of me. It has settled down in my right hip area and sometimes it doubles me over in pain. I am having acupuncture once a week and just starting to take Tylenol every day and it seems to be helping. This part of the healing is really not fun but......you can make it thru! I am looking forward to the day when there is no "Free Air" inside! That is funny I guess the reason it stays so long is because it is "FREE", HaHa. Other then the air there have been no problems. I am feeling the need for another fill so I will be calling my Doc on Monday to schedule one hopefully for Wednesday! I eat only protein and try to keep the Carbs at a minimum. I have the Protein first and then go back and make Vegies if I want them but so far the Protein fills me up. I unlike so many am really never hungry, I eat because I know I have to to lose. Hey, guess what I can feel my hip bone again! I forgot it was there! :biggrin:

Well, five weeks have passed by so very very fast but here I am and so far so good. I see by many of the total of pounds lost on different people that we all start counting from different starts, so I would just like for everyone to know that I am only using my weight loss from two days before surgery when I started my liquids only diet. My Doctor does not believe in all of the pre Liquid or pre anything diet. He even does not believe in checking your weight. It is all about getting healthy and eating small portions and eating slowly! At my highest weight 16 months ago I weighed 263. I started So. Beach in January of 08 and I did pretty well with it until August of 08, I slacked off a bit but I kept off about 20 pounds. I decided to do the Lap Band in December of 08 and from that moment right up until my two days before surgery I tasted everything and drank everything I wanted and only gained 10 pounds. (I did this so that there would be nothing for me to really want from Head Hunger) Not bad, so having said all of that since my banding I have lost 25 pounds and in total I have lost 34 pounds. I now weigh 229 but I have seen 228 a day ago but that pound came back. As my doctor says that is the problem with weighing yourself all of the time. You really never get a perfect weight cuz every day, every minute you weigh a little different, you have to go by how your clothes fit to really know that you are loosing. Or getting the compliments on how different you start to look. Having lost 30 Plus pounds it still is hard to notice because I was so chubby but from here on in it will be showing I am sure. My Bandster Hell is still the "FREE AIR" floating around inside of me. It has settled down in my right hip area and sometimes it doubles me over in pain. I am having acupuncture once a week and just starting to take Tylenol every day and it seems to be helping. This part of the healing is really not fun but......you can make it thru! I am looking forward to the day when there is no "Free Air" inside! That is funny I guess the reason it stays so long is because it is "FREE", HaHa. Other then the air there have been no problems. I am feeling the need for another fill so I will be calling my Doc on Monday to schedule one hopefully for Wednesday! I eat only protein and try to keep the Carbs at a minimum. I have the Protein first and then go back and make Vegies if I want them but so far the Protein fills me up. I unlike so many am really never hungry, I eat because I know I have to to lose. Hey, guess what I can feel my hip bone again! I forgot it was there! :wink:

Hey Julie Ann, Great Blog! You are an inspiration to me and I am just a newbie here in Bandyland. You are so very very right when we make a "Oppsidoodle" we must do just one band day at a time! I too have a goal of being down 50 pounds by my B-day in July! I will be seeing you in Onederland! Keep On Blogging and loosing! Oh also from experience, Most Docs are just jerks! your friend! Cheryl

Boy that was interesting how you get a fill. I was really surprised on how Dr. Feiz takes his time and makes it so your fill is just at a really good tightness. This Doctor really cares for all his patients. I felt no pain or discomfort. I had this done on Wednesday and I am still not really feeling super full but I have yet to feel really hungry either. I am very careful as to what I eat size wise and I am having trouble with the liquid intake. I must drink more. I am glad to have the fill! I can go back in another 4 weeks if I feel the need. I am now down 22 pounds. I am happy!

Boy that was interesting how you get a fill. I was really surprised on how Dr. Feiz takes his time and makes it so your fill is just at a really good tightness. This Doctor really cares for all his patients. I felt no pain or discomfort. I had this done on Wednesday and I am still not really feeling super full but I have yet to feel really hungry either. I am very careful as to what I eat size wise and I am having trouble with the liquid intake. I must drink more. I am glad to have the fill! I can go back in another 4 weeks if I feel the need. I am now down 22 pounds. I am happy!

Hi There WDW! I am glad to see that there are other people out there who are tired of all the negative aspects of being Banded! This was the best choice that I have made in my walk of being way to chubby! Maybe we should all get together and start a new Thread on the Positive Side of being Banded! That is a good idea! Have you been banded yet? If so how are you doing? If not when is your date? C

I am hoping that if anyone reads my blog that you will see that this is really not hard at all. I see all sorts of blogs that really scare you to death and you have to wonder as I did if I was going to be doing the right thing. Well, I am here to tell you that You are going to be or have already done the right thing! Being banded is great! I know what I can and can't eat and I do not even try to overeat! Why, then are we seeing so many blogs of people that are not succeeding! I want to make this work and my band wants to work with me! I am 17 days PO and I was not on any pre op diet and I have lost 17 pounds to date! I have been on mushies and real food since day 9. Very very slowly have I added back foods and not all of my food is back yet. Weight loss has slowed down a little bit since adding but I am sure that is to be expected. I ALWAYS MEASURE out my food and I always eat my protein first! If I am full after the 3-4 oz of protein I stop and do not eat anything more. I have been remiss in walking this week so I will get that going today! Please ask questions! Remember! PROTEIN PLUS WALKING EQUALS FAT LOSS! Happy Easter!

I am hoping that if anyone reads my blog that you will see that this is really not hard at all. I see all sorts of blogs that really scare you to death and you have to wonder as I did if I was going to be doing the right thing. Well, I am here to tell you that You are going to be or have already done the right thing! Being banded is great! I know what I can and can't eat and I do not even try to overeat! Why, then are we seeing so many blogs of people that are not succeeding! I want to make this work and my band wants to work with me! I am 17 days PO and I was not on any pre op diet and I have lost 17 pounds to date! I have been on mushies and real food since day 9. Very very slowly have I added back foods and not all of my food is back yet. Weight loss has slowed down a little bit since adding but I am sure that is to be expected. I ALWAYS MEASURE out my food and I always eat my protein first! If I am full after the 3-4 oz of protein I stop and do not eat anything more. I have been remiss in walking this week so I will get that going today! Please ask questions! Remember! PROTEIN PLUS WALKING EQUALS FAT LOSS! Happy Easter!

Hey There, Jenn30, I am 7 days PO and I have not had any trouble at all except for the gas, and even that has not been so bad! I am going to start on my treadmill today very slowly. No Pain Meds for me either. My swelling is down considerably as of yesterday. My belly button looks like a belly button again. The area above where my port is is still a little tender and swollen but not much! All the best to you! Cheryl

Hi There, I was also banded on March 26th. I to have the gas from hell, but I have been assured that it will cease after a week! My doc gave me a pill for the nausea and vomiting and so far I have only taken one. Remember it is only day 5 PO, we can do this! Stay in touch! Thetig

Hey Bio Teach! Don't give up yet, has anyone said to go back on your liquid diet again with only the protein shakes, water, broth and juice? Just might give you the kick start that you need to get a handle back on this journey. Remember also that the band is just a tool, it is not magic and it by itself will not make us loose the weight. We still have to work at it everyday just like before. We still have to give up our favorite foods just like before and we have to start an exercise program just like we have never wanted to do in the past. A friend of mine who has been truly successful with the LB told me she has totally stayed with the couple of cups of food allowed at each meal and it has been really hard for her but she has lost over 100 pounds now. Sure our head will tell us anything we want to hear but our stomach is very quite and if we do not listen we will not hear that we are full and we should stop eating. So limit yourself to small portions, exercise by taking a walk for 30 mins three days a week, keep your protein up and your carbs down! THIS WILL WORK IF YOU WORK WITH IT! Remember it is all about us, we can do this! This is a good talk to myself also, Cheryl

Day Three......I slept better last night. I found that in my sleep I had turned onto my side I hope that is not a bad thing I just can't stay on my back and my butt is very sore. Protein shake is good! I am crushing my normal pills up and mixing them in 2 tsp of applesauce it is really good to have something a little solid in my mouth. No problems with the bad either. I tried Cream of Chicken Soup today, yummy! This is the kind you mix with water not milk. I had a 1/2 cup for lunch then a whole cup for dinner. I felt really full. Still no pain at all. By the way I went to the market with DH Sunday also it was not problem. I came home put the groceries away and then I was pooped so I sat and watched movies the rest of the day. Well here it is day four, DH is back to work so I am on my own which I really do not mind at all. I have lost over 10 pounds already but who wouldn't when you have not had anything to eat! LOL. My incisions are starting to itch this is good. Oh by the way I forgot to tell you that I am glued not stitched up. No dressing at all I was showering already on Day one home from Hospital, just no washing of the tummy area! Today the shoulder, back gas is still there. I have to say that I do believe that this is the worse part of this whole experience and have been told it will last for at least a week. I am not sure if Dr. Michael Feiz is just magical or what, but I have not had any problems thru this surgical & PO time at all. It is quite amazing. I will not be seeing him this week since I am doing so well, my first appointment will be April 14th unless I feel I need to see him before then. I think I will call to see if I might be able to start mushies at the end of this week. Please if you have any questions to anyone who reads this blog please contact me. We are all here to share our experiences with each other and to help if we can! I hope all of you will do as well as I have! Cheryl

Day Three......I slept better last night. I found that in my sleep I had turned onto my side I hope that is not a bad thing I just can't stay on my back and my butt is very sore. Protein shake is good! I am crushing my normal pills up and mixing them in 2 tsp of applesauce it is really good to have something a little solid in my mouth. No problems with the bad either. I tried Cream of Chicken Soup today, yummy! This is the kind you mix with water not milk. I had a 1/2 cup for lunch then a whole cup for dinner. I felt really full. Still no pain at all. By the way I went to the market with DH Sunday also it was not problem. I came home put the groceries away and then I was pooped so I sat and watched movies the rest of the day. Well here it is day four, DH is back to work so I am on my own which I really do not mind at all. I have lost over 10 pounds already but who wouldn't when you have not had anything to eat! LOL. My incisions are starting to itch this is good. Oh by the way I forgot to tell you that I am glued not stitched up. No dressing at all I was showering already on Day one home from Hospital, just no washing of the tummy area! Today the shoulder, back gas is still there. I have to say that I do believe that this is the worse part of this whole experience and have been told it will last for at least a week. I am not sure if Dr. Michael Feiz is just magical or what, but I have not had any problems thru this surgical & PO time at all. It is quite amazing. I will not be seeing him this week since I am doing so well, my first appointment will be April 14th unless I feel I need to see him before then. I think I will call to see if I might be able to start mushies at the end of this week. Please if you have any questions to anyone who reads this blog please contact me. We are all here to share our experiences with each other and to help if we can! I hope all of you will do as well as I have! Cheryl

I was home by 10:30 am Friday. It was good to be there. No problems with the ride home, still NO PAIN! First Day PO you really just feel tired and beat it was hard to get down the liquids not from the LB stand point just because you forget. I did start my walking around the back yard right away! It felt really good to be off my back and on my feet then it happened the biggest and longest FART I could imagine!!!!! boy did that feel good! hehehe! From that moment on I have been a little tooting fool! I still have the same Gas in the left shoulder and back and now it feels as though it is across my sternum area. It is very uncomfortable! I got down a protein shake and I felt less shaky, I am still going out and walking every chance I remember this really helps and I am drinking all that I can every hour. I used a lot of Tylenol the first and second days PO. I do feel as though someone has been on the inside of me having a boxing match, it is not pain but extreme soreness all over. I slept much better Saturday night.

I was home by 10:30 am Friday. It was good to be there. No problems with the ride home, still NO PAIN! First Day PO you really just feel tired and beat it was hard to get down the liquids not from the LB stand point just because you forget. I did start my walking around the back yard right away! It felt really good to be off my back and on my feet then it happened the biggest and longest FART I could imagine!!!!! boy did that feel good! hehehe! From that moment on I have been a little tooting fool! I still have the same Gas in the left shoulder and back and now it feels as though it is across my sternum area. It is very uncomfortable! I got down a protein shake and I felt less shaky, I am still going out and walking every chance I remember this really helps and I am drinking all that I can every hour. I used a lot of Tylenol the first and second days PO. I do feel as though someone has been on the inside of me having a boxing match, it is not pain but extreme soreness all over. I slept much better Saturday night.

Well, here I am getting myself ready for tomorrow. Pain meds, check, copy of living trust, check, All jewelry off, check, copy of ID and Insurance card, check, Shower and wash my hair, check. There must be something that I am forgetting. Oh Well! The hardest part of this so far is not knowing how I will feel after the procedure! I am sure hoping that I will be a lucky one and not have any complications. Only 24 hours will tell the tale! LOL! I hope that my LB Buddy LighterLoad did well today! And I hope I will hear from her in the next few days. I am not afraid at all, what I am is ready to have this done and get on with life. I am so looking forward to the weight coming off! This is going to be really GOOD! Here is to a good surgery tomorrow! I will write more just as soon as I can.

Well, here I am getting myself ready for tomorrow. Pain meds, check, copy of living trust, check, All jewelry off, check, copy of ID and Insurance card, check, Shower and wash my hair, check. There must be something that I am forgetting. Oh Well! The hardest part of this so far is not knowing how I will feel after the procedure! I am sure hoping that I will be a lucky one and not have any complications. Only 24 hours will tell the tale! LOL! I hope that my LB Buddy LighterLoad did well today! And I hope I will hear from her in the next few days. I am not afraid at all, what I am is ready to have this done and get on with life. I am so looking forward to the weight coming off! This is going to be really GOOD! Here is to a good surgery tomorrow! I will write more just as soon as I can.

Hi There, I am set for March 26th! Anyone out there going with me Thursday? Hope you will all get in touch so we can go thru this together! It is going to be really great to get on with our new thinner lives!!!!!!! :smile:

This last week before banding is a busy one. I had to get the Taxes finished and spend an afternoon with DH at the accountant. I have to get my work to a place where someone else can take over for me at the office which will probably never happen, LOL. I also had to have now Pre op blood work done and of course the H&P which again the girls at my Cardiologist office made happen for me. I should be able to pick up everything on Monday and fax to Rebecca at Dr.Feiz's office. I was wondering in past blogs about the begining of the liquid diet, well now I know. It all starts on Tuesday. Two full days of liquids before surgery. I will have to be at Cedars at 10:45 on Thursday and my surgery if on time will be at 12:45. Then a 24 hour stay at the hospital and Home Sweet Home, back to peace and quite. If this is anything like my Hysterectomy I will be uncomfortable for a few days and a bit sore but then back to it in a week. Walking was the key for me to get thru all of this. Hope it works this time. Well,Dear Blog, next time you hear from me I will be BANDED!

This last week before banding is a busy one. I had to get the Taxes finished and spend an afternoon with DH at the accountant. I have to get my work to a place where someone else can take over for me at the office which will probably never happen, LOL. I also had to have now Pre op blood work done and of course the H&P which again the girls at my Cardiologist office made happen for me. I should be able to pick up everything on Monday and fax to Rebecca at Dr.Feiz's office. I was wondering in past blogs about the begining of the liquid diet, well now I know. It all starts on Tuesday. Two full days of liquids before surgery. I will have to be at Cedars at 10:45 on Thursday and my surgery if on time will be at 12:45. Then a 24 hour stay at the hospital and Home Sweet Home, back to peace and quite. If this is anything like my Hysterectomy I will be uncomfortable for a few days and a bit sore but then back to it in a week. Walking was the key for me to get thru all of this. Hope it works this time. Well,Dear Blog, next time you hear from me I will be BANDED!

I spoke with Dr. Feiz's office yesterday and I now have a date! It will be on March 26th. No special diet before hand just have to see one more doctor for pre op blood work to be taken this Monday. I will be having my surgery at Cedars Sinai in LA. I will have to stay there for 24 hours. That should not be so bad. My DH will take me and stay till surgery is over then come back to get me the next day. I was called by a nurse from BX saying that she would like to keep track of my progress and because she is a nurse, would be able to answer any questions or frustrations that I might have going thru this post op time. I do not have to do this but I said that I would. It does not cost me anything so I will see how it goes. In reading other blogs I feel really lucky that it has only taken me two months from start to surgery! I am so ready for Bandyland! I am so excited!!!!!!!!

I spoke with Dr. Feiz's office yesterday and I now have a date! It will be on March 26th. No special diet before hand just have to see one more doctor for pre op blood work to be taken this Monday. I will be having my surgery at Cedars Sinai in LA. I will have to stay there for 24 hours. That should not be so bad. My DH will take me and stay till surgery is over then come back to get me the next day. I was called by a nurse from BX saying that she would like to keep track of my progress and because she is a nurse, would be able to answer any questions or frustrations that I might have going thru this post op time. I do not have to do this but I said that I would. It does not cost me anything so I will see how it goes. In reading other blogs I feel really lucky that it has only taken me two months from start to surgery! I am so ready for Bandyland! I am so excited!!!!!!!!

Hi There, I originally had Dr. Nazarian for my surgeon then I was switched to Dr. Feiz same group. I hope to be banded by the end of March. Please let me know how you are doing. Nicole is so great in getting everything going for me. Did you have to be on a pre diet before surgery? I hear everyone talking about this and it was never even mentioned to me or by Elana the nutrionist. Thanks, Cheryl