MissWhitzel

thanks for the suggestion but I'm not depressed nor need anti-depressant meds.

I dont know where this came from but I appreciate the tips and all in case in the future I'd need it. :thumbup:

Make sure and talk to your doc about which antidepressant he/she puts you on... I have been taking amiltriptyline for years and it seems to work the best on me (over the many many others I've tried over the years) but one of the side effects is weight gain and craving for sweets! That was one of the reasons my insurance approved my surgeory.

Try not to be a discouraged, you can overcome anything!:tt2:

thanks everybody for the encouraging words!!!! it means alot that there are people that care and been there.

I went in to get another adjustment- and I am feeling more restricted and focused on what and how much I eat. I lost 8 more since my last adjustment. YAY.

I am slowly adding more exercise into my routines and now I have more time on my schedule (I work at a school, so I dont work full time in the summer)

I've been telling myself if I want to go swimming I gotta exercise and sweat my a** off and then Im allowed to go for a swim- I even add an exercise into my swimming. it's helping alot. I just need to set a limit and keep going.

thank you guys for the push of motivation!

thanks everybody for the encouraging words and the reality of this. :tongue2:

Yes I'm willing to give it all up- I've given up alot of things... And yeah, I've cut down the sizes too. It's the snacking in between and exercising more.

and yes I really need to work out my issues about letting food go. It's not worth my life to be too attached to food. I am definitely looking into attending weight loss support group offered monthly at my hospital.

I do drink wine at nights as well. I really need to cut this down too if i have to for awhile until i get my groove back on and try to limit it to weekends only.

I am going to get up and try at this again, and not give up.

thanks for the slap in the face... i do need this.

The last time I went for my last fill, I gained 7 lbs. I am afraid to go again and see another gain and feel depressed all over again. I am embarrassed to face it. I am also aware I am not ready to give up my favorite foods, and I am struggling with that.

Sometimes I postpone my fills because my Dr is only available on Thursdays and it conflicts with my work and stuff. :Dancing_biggrin:

I don't mind the questions; I need all the help I can get!

thanks

Since the fills are the most important part of the band working, and you are postponing getting fills, do you think maybe your not ready to lose the weight? Or maybe you are afraid of change? Maybe your afraid to give up your favorite foods? When you postpone a fill what do you tell yourself? I hope you don't mind the questions.

Hello guys---

Not a good post here from me but it's the truth and I need HELP.

I feel like a FAILURE in my weight-loss journey.

I've only lost 35 since my surgery 11/12/09. I am dealing with so many things and I really am struggling. I kinda lost my motivation and I am very depressed with my failure. I had 3 fills, and I keep postponing my fill appt's- I should have had 5 by now. I only have 3cc's in my band right now.

I don't exercise like I should- I drink ALL the time with my meals. What is WRONG with me!? I am not doing this on purpose to myself but I just can't seem to get OUT of this FUNK and get going with my journey. I feel that I do have food addiction problem, and I really am stuck in this funk- I was so excited for my lapband and now I am regretting it- I know it's ME that has to WORK it and make it work... I just CANT find the motivation and am screaming to get it back.

Any one of you going through this? How do you PUSH yourself to do better?

I am very jealous of all of your successions, BUT i am very proud of y'all! KEEP it up, please don't be like me! <3

Hello guys---

Not a good post here from me but it's the truth and I need HELP.

I feel like a FAILURE in my weight-loss journey.

I've only lost 35 since my surgery 11/12/09. I am dealing with so many things and I really am struggling. I kinda lost my motivation and I am very depressed with my failure. I had 3 fills, and I keep postponing my fill appt's- I should have had 5 by now. I only have 3cc's in my band right now.

I don't exercise like I should- I drink ALL the time with my meals. What is WRONG with me!? I am not doing this on purpose to myself but I just can't seem to get OUT of this FUNK and get going with my journey. I feel that I do have food addiction problem, and I really am stuck in this funk- I was so excited for my lapband and now I am regretting it- I know it's ME that has to WORK it and make it work... I just CANT find the motivation and am screaming to get it back.

Any one of you going through this? How do you PUSH yourself to do better?

I am very jealous of all of your successions, BUT i am very proud of y'all! KEEP it up, please don't be like me! <3

Hiya back! :tt1:

how u doing with your journey?

Hello everyone! :thumbup:

I got my first Fill today as well.... I wonder how much cc's did u get in ur band? I got 1-1.5 cc's. I ate Soup with crackers for dinner, it went down fine.

Got my first fill today... I'm excited about this journey! So far so good. Hope everyone else is doing good. Keep up the good work.

Hey guys! Sorry I've been MIA in the past 2 months... I've been busy and the holidays and being out of town & also just started a new job- now I'm all settled down, about time!

Anyway, I got banded 11/10/09. I had NO restrictions, was gaining and I finally finally FINALLY got my first FILL today. I hope this will help at least a bit for now. I ate cheese broccoli Soup with some saline crackers today. It went through just fine. I believe my dr put abt 1 - 1.5 cc's in my band. I will go back on Feb 11th to get my 2nd fill.

I really really really need to get started with more exercise now that warmer weather is here. I got a Wii from my parents for Christmas, I just need to buy a Wii Fit then I'm all good to go with the Biggest Loser game I bought recently as well.

Hope everybody is doing better than I am!! I'm really hoping to do better this month...

cheers! :thumbup:

That is soo encouraging. I am 29, I have PCOS and I just got the LAP-BAND® a few weeks ago. A huge reason was because I want babies and it has been so hard and I want to be healthy... Thanks for sharing your story...

Same story here, 28 and just got banded 11/10 and want kids someday! Gotta start focusing on me and get healthy and get in shape. :frown:

I agree, connorsmom is an inspiration to all of us struggling with PCOS... :frown:

Hello Everyone!

I have been watching as this thread grew and grew, and could not wait to add my name in this thread....Well it's offical, I am now banded as of approx. 2:00 pm yesterday(nov. 24th)! I am feeling and doing GREAT. I am on pain pills, but no gas pains, just general abdominal discomfort.

I brought my laptop with me to the hospital so I could post, but they kept me so drugged up, I was in and out of it. And after reviewing the few emails I did send, well I am glad I did not post and have you all read my ramblings.

Anyway, I am home, walking, sipping, and burping away!

It's sooo good to be an official Bandster now!:thumbup:

YAY! congrats on getting banded... welcome to our club lol

Im glad to hear u're doing great and all.

Take care!! :biggrin:

Yesterday was a bit of an emotional rollercoater. I am 7 days banded. I began to wonder if I would ever feel 100% again. When I go walking, I start to feel weak and my stomach gets queasy. When I am relaxing at home I feel pretty good. But walking actually makes me feel sick. At first I loved walking because it relieved the gas pains. But now I dread going outside. I live in NYC and take public transportation everywhere and have to walk a lot. I pray that I'll be able to cope with my commute to and from work when I go back next week.

Also, got my period today and thought I was going to cry. I get really bad cramps. But it feels 10 times worse with the band. Feels like my band got really tight or something. Then came the nausea. It was so bad that I paced back and forth through the house singing old Bobby Brown songs. LOL (every little step I take, you will be there...)I just kept thinking, I CAN'T THROW UP! Thank god I asked for a script for anti nausea medication because I knew this day was coming. I ended up getting in the shower with the Water as hot as I could stand. SWEET RELIEF!! I just pray that it isn't gonna get this bad every month. When I start getting fills I probably will have to schedule them so it doesn't coincide with my period.

Oh and on a lighter note. My brother started making fun of my new laugh. You know...the I can't laugh to hard or my stomach will hurt laugh. Gotta stay away from funny people. LOL...ouch!

aww girl- sorry to hear u're in pain after 7 days... I guess it varies with everyone. I can relate with you about getting our period during recovery process. UGH it couldnt have come at a better time, eh!?

DITTO- I bled way heavier and had my period longer than usual right after surgery - not usual for me! I wonder if it's because of that? Hope your cramps gets bearable soon. Take hot baths as much as u can!

Keep walking, bit by a bit. I know the feeling of walking back and forth trying to not throw up. Been there- It will only get easier day by day. Hope you recover faster!

I know what you mean by staying away from funny people! My roommate is an actor and a comedian- so I suffered with stifled laughters lol :thumbup:

take it easy!!

Hellllooo! Banded on 11/10/09 in Austin TX and feeling great!!! Am feeling pretty much back to myself 100% now. I had gone through a painful week last week during recovery because my period decided to show up the day after my surgery-

Gosh, I never want to go through that ordeal again, ever! But I'm glad It's over with and I am back to myself now. I also experienced hard time taking liquids first few days, but after 4th day- was fine and got my hunger back in about a week.

Everything seems good- I had my first appt last Thurs on 11/19/09 Dr gave me two thumbs up, and LOST 26 lbs since pre-op diet!!! I'm hoping to lose 175 lbs. I have my first fill appt on 12/31

So I am on the mushies stage right now... I was so happy to be eating mashed potatoes, guacamole, hummus, pureed sauce with some ground turkey and ricotta, oatmeal, cream Soups, etc... :thumbup:

Nice to see many people here supporting each other... that def makes our ride easier!!

Hi all!

Surgery Day was yesterday, so I am officially banded!

Went in at 6:30AM. Surgery started promptly at 8. I remember looking at the clock in recovery and it was 9:09. At 11:30, I had an upper GI. Everything looked good. Pain wasn't too bad at that time, but I was definitely juiced up!

Went back to surgery suite after upper GI and was allowed to leave at 1:00. The pillow on the belly definitely helped during the 2 hour car ride home.

Gas pains were pretty bad. I was taking the Gas X strips as suggested on here, but DR said they only help bowel gas and since the gas was in my body cavity, they wouldnt help. But I'm taking them anyway!

Home pain med is Dalotid (sp). Takes the edge off but thats about it.

I have 5 incisions and the one I assume is the port (about 4 inches above belly button) is CRAZY BAD PAINFUL!

I slept pretty well last night on my back, even though I am a side sleeper. Getting up and down is the worst - like my stomach muscles have been beaten and shredded and stabbed. Wait - they have! Seriously, stomach muscle pain is BAD. Took me a good 5 minutes to get out of bed.

Not so bad just sitting around. And once I am up and moving, I am ok, as long as I hunch a little.

Words of advice - definitely bring chapstick and a small pillow and SUPER STRETCHY pants - like pjs 3 sizes too big! And ask for ice chips immediately. Throat hurt from intubation, but is almost normal today.

I was able to get down about 15 ounces thoughout yesterday afternoon/evening. Today, I've had 11 oz Protein shake and am working on Clear liquids now. I feel like I'm constantly drinking!

I hope the stomach pain begins to subside soon....

Good luck to all as their surgeries approach! Hard to believe it's over!

CONGRATS!!!!! Take it easy and u'll be fine in no time!

Keep sippin' slowly! hot tea helped me a lot during the first few days!

I didn't get to sleep in my bed until 4 nights later. I had to sleep on the sofa's recliner because the pain was too awful to bear when I tried to lay down in bed. and I didnt want to pull my muscles too soon and i was feeling so swollen inside and it sucked but I was sooo happy to sleep in my bed again! :bored:

you dr should give u a RX for a liquid pain-killer. I got hydrocodiene (sp?) and I bought liquid Tylenol pain reliever. my dr says no pills - use that liquid Tylenol.

bring Gas X strips

what do you take for pain??? are u able to swallow a pill??? what shoulds i take with me besides chap stick, pillow,baggy clothes??? thanks

The surgery went well 11/17. It was around 8:30am and I left the hospital around 9pm because I was having trouble urinating. But eventually, my body stopped being stubbborn. Even though I only had ONE incision (about an inch and a half) I am in a lot of pain. Getting up and down is when it's really bad. Pain meds help somewhat. The gas pains are manageable since I did a lot of walking in the hospital. The ride home was nuts. I'm in nyc so imagine my face when we hit potholes or stopped short. LOL! Thanks to suggestions on this site, I had a pillow held against my stomach to lessen the shock. But I finally made it home and I am coping with the pain. I still can't sleep so I'm sipping some peppermint tea listening to some chrisette michele. I am sure things will get better in the next few days. Feeling pretty great emotionally right now.

So glad to hear you're doing okay after all the mishaps!

It only gets better day by day, the pain will be gone soon!!! take it easy...

hang in there hun! <3

Thanks for y'all responses.. I feel better I'm not the only one here with this problem.

I am generally feeling much better now. I guess it takes few days to get used to it. I do occasionally feel stuck at times but hot tea helps a lot!

Hope some of you going through this, feels better as I am too!

I have to wonder if they prefilled your band some....please ask that question. Weigh yourself tonight and tomorrow and if you lose 2 more pounds from vomitting please go to the ER or call your surgical on call service. In the meantime, sugar free Jello and popsicles count as liquids and try to keep drinking even if it is a spoonful every 10 minutes.

Best wishes and let us know how you do.

Mimi

I will ask them that... I didn't vomit at all ever... Just feels like it. I do eat Popsicles and jello... It's still the same. I guess I'm gonna have to wait and give it few more days and see?

here's couple of pictures...

MY incisions on the day of my surgery...

My band!! I wasn't expecting to get this after my surgery. My nurse said here's ur picture! i'm like huh? I get a picture too?? wow....

I am experiencing the same thing.....I was banded late afternoon on the 9th Nov, and have been having trouble breathing since then. All of my insisions are up high around my top of my stomach, just under my chest and its very very swallen so not sure if thats why.

I am finding that my ventolin inhaler is helping to make it a little easier to breath, and even though I am only a mild athsmatic, the nurse said that anisthetics can set asthma off so to keep taking my puffa.

As long as I sip small amounts often I am ok, but if i try to take in 1/4 cup of Soup i feel so very very sick. Cant wait till the swelling goes down and until I can lay in bed and not sleep in the lounge recliner.

I was expecting a slightly quicker recovery than this :thumbup:

Wow we are going through the same things... I feel better I'm not the only one who has to sleep on the sofa's recliner not my bed! Well I can sleep in my bed on my right side, but I can't stay there for all night long. I MUST toss around all night so it's impossible for me to do that so that forces me to sleep on the recliner and it's better for my stomach for now anyway. I don't have problems breathing or anything, just feeling "stuck" and not able to finish my liquids. My incisions aren't that swollen at all, they are up high on my stomach too. Hope you feel better SOON as well. this sucks, I know! We can do it!!! :laugh: :cool2:

Hey! I got banded last tues... (11/10/09) I did good on the next day. But then yesterday I felt awful! nauseous, & stuck. This morning I felt a bit better, but then when I started to drink down the liquids, I started to feel the same way as I did yesterday- stuck. Felt like there was no air in my stomach, it made me nauseous & dizzy! I called my nurse, she kept saying keep drinking - you need 64 oz of liquids a day... I cant keep drinking if I feel like throwing up

did you go through this in ur first week? what do you suggest?

thanks!

Hey! I got banded last Tues (11/10/09)... I did good on the next day. But then yesterday I felt awful! nauseous, & stuck. This morning I felt a bit better, but then when I started to drink down the liquids, I started to feel the same way as I did yesterday- stuck. Felt like there was no air in my stomach, it made me nauseous & dizzy! I called my nurse, she kept saying keep drinking - you need 64 oz of liquids a day... I cant keep drinking if I feel like throwing up :)

did you go through this in ur first week? what do you suggest?

This morning I felt a bit better, but then when I started to drink down the liquids, I started to feel the same way as I did yesterday- stuck. Felt like there was no air in my stomach, it made me nauseous & dizzy!

UGH anyone experiencing this too?

Day #3 Post Op:

I'm feeling much better today thank god... It was AWFUL yesterday! UGH never wanna go through that again.

Yesterday night I took the dogs out for a brief walk to the mail center then when I got back home I was almost ready to puke but I didn't. Good thing I didn't because it wouldn't be good for me and the band. I still couldn't be able to sleep on the bed, because I was too sick, I was afraid I wld puke on the bed so I slept on the sofa's recliner til 7 am then I tried to get in the bed and it was a success. Slept for an hour and half then now I'm awake, drinking my Breakfast Gatorade. And some of the liquid Tylenol for my pains on the incisions.

Now goal of today: drink 64oz of liquids.

Today I'm able to shower my full body with the incisions too.

Cheers!