lisah25

Hi - I'm two months out, and just had my second fill yesterday. Yesterday's food: BF - non-fat latte, South beach high-protein bar. lunch - Turkey summer sausage and whole wheat crackers. Green Beans. Snack - Med apple. dinner - left over PF Changs chicken lettuce wraps. Which is a pretty normal day for me. My Proteins tend to be fish, tuna and salmon in particular. Chicken so far has been fine, as long as it's pretty moist. Sometimes re-heating in a microwave makes it rubbery and hard to eat. I like scrambled eggs also, and have had some pork. Veggies have been fine, as long as I chew well. I haven't tried bread or Pasta, I don't want to find out I can tolerate them as they have been problems before. This may change now with the second fill!

Like BeacheeGirl said, some people can do everything exactly right, and not lose. In those cases, I would push hard to find out what the underlying issue is. I think it's more common that people don't realize their band is a tool, and requires some maintenance to work properly. Like getting fills until they have good restriction. And we still have to make good food choices and exercise. It's not (unfortunately) a magic bullet. I know one bandster who has been banded over 2 years, and lost about 10 pounds. I also know this person hasn't had their fills, drinks sugary drinks and eats all the wrong stuff. And doesn't exercise at all.

LOL-That is too funny!

I know that feeling - I was really nervous before mine, and it was fine. Didn't hurt as much as getting a shot. I have my second file today.

It's because your stomach needs time to heal, and the band needs time to seat in place. Basically, parts of your stomach are sewn over the band to hold it in place, I read somewhere that it's like belt loop kind of. They need to heal, and eating solid foods make your stomach move and work to digest, and that isn't good for it at this point. I had 2 days clear liquids, 2 weeks full liquids and then 2 weeks mushies before I could eat solids.

I paid about $17,000. That included pre-op consultations, of course the surgery, post-op visits and fills for one year. They also have a monthly support group meetings. I thought about going to Mexico, but I really wanted to have my surgeon local. It's a personal choice, good reasons for both.

I'm daily as well. I find that I like to keep track of how I'm doing. The key for me is knowing that I will flucuate daily, and not to worry until it's been a few days if I'm up.

Interesting question. I wondered about that too, and this is how I look at it. The surgeons spent a lot of time and money to learn how to be surgeons. They are doing this to earn a living, and yes it is a business for them. They may push the surgery because it makes them money, but I also believe that most of them also know they can help people. I've talked to/listened to 2 of the surgeons at the practice I went to, and I'm convinced that they enjoy what they do because they can change someone's life. And yes, get paid for it. Even this early on, I feel like they gave me back my life. And hope that it will only get better. That's worth a lot more then I paid them.

I found sticking to the pre-op the hardest thing so far! I had a serious case of "Last-supper syndrome" and kept thinking I needed to eat all the junk stuff while I still could.

I'm not sure what you are questioning, but I'm wondering about the post-op diet your surgeon told you to follow? I spent two weeks on liquids, 2 more on mushie food before solids like roast beef. I was also told that until I got filled properly, yes I would be able to eat more and would get hungry quickly, much as I was before banding. It's a long-term process, and doesn't really start until you are adjusted properly, as I understand it. Does that address what you had in mind at all?

I have a desk job, I was out for one week. I could have used a few more days, but had to go back.

I never minded the idea of the band being in me, nor the port. But for some reason the tubing kind of freaked me out. I still don't know why, but I got over it too.

Weight Watchers ( at least 5 times.)<O:p</O:p Diet from my Doctor.<O:p</O:p <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comDiet</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></ST1:p<O:p</O:p Slimfast (at least 3 trys)<O:p</O:p Nutritionist(referred by Dr.)<O:p</O:p Sancor(local plan)<O:p</O:p Prism<O:p</O:p Weight Down workshop<O:p</O:p Curves diet and Curves workout.<O:p</O:p My own tries.(counting calories or Carbs using things like Fitday.com)<O:p</O:p Atkins And on all of them, I lost weight. Up to 70 pounds. And ALWAYS gained it back. I got tired of working so hard, only to eventually give up and regain it all and then some. That's why I decided to get the band.

Only you can know for sure if you are doing the right thing of course. But I think you are. You are making an investment in your health. That will pay off for you and your family in so many ways. Also, I find I'm spending so much less on food, I notice it in our monthly cash flow(or non-flow!).

Right now, neither formally. I counted both for a while until I kind of figured out what I could have for a day and keep within my range. I do limit carbs, and avoid processed ones as much as I can.

Welcome to Band-land. I grew up in Bothell, have you lived there long?

Those are SOOO funny!

LOL-you beat me to it! :heh: I spent the first couple of days feeling pretty rotten. I had a lot of gas, and gas pain. I took the pain meds for two days, and used a heating pad on my shoulder off and on for about a week. But after the first week, I felt a LOT better, and by the end of two weeks I was feeling normal, except for some tenderness around my port.

I wish I had some good words of advice for you, all I can think of is to keep looking for help. From other doctors then you surgeon. From all I've read and heard, this is not what it is supposed to be like, and you deserve to get some answers as to what is going on.

I don't have any great advice, but I will say the period before surgery where I was doing the pre-op diet was MUCH harder then the post-op stuff. So, just remind yourself it will be over soon.

I think once a day, at the same time, is the most we should weigh. I've always heard to not weigh daily, but I do better when I do. And I read a study the other day that shows people who do weigh daily, and use the information to adjust their behavior, do the best. I think the key is knowing that weight will flucuate daily and looking more for a trend. If I only weigh once a week, I tend to eat more early on, then cut back a few days before my weigh-in, not a good pattern. Like so much, it's personal, I don't think there is a "right" answer for us all. I think it depends on how much the daily flucations get to you.

Your house is wonderful! I see what you mean about it having character, it's amazing. I love GW, so please post when it will be on. How cool!

My DH was quite amused, as he's gone through this all. I thought I had learned from watching him, kinda forgot that we all are different and our bands are different at different times!

I have the same relationship with mine. I really like how much better I'm feeling, and sleeping. DH likes it because he's sleeping better(I snored quite loudly). But I would so much rather sleep like this without it. I'm hoping when I lose enough weight, I can retire my machine with honors. I actually got tested and treated because of my lap-band surgeon's requiring me to, and I'm grateful he did.

DH didn't have one. Much to his relief!