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Okay, I'm 4 days post-op and totally get where you are coming from with the noises coming out of my middle region. I've always been able to burp quite easily and sometimes it's a little noisy when I chose. Now....OMG...the rumbling makes the cat look at me funny. Everything is gurgling around and I'm still on complete liquids. Can't wait to start solid foods and see what happens to both ends. I still think it's funny, even on my self, but today will be my first day back at work and hopefully my cube mate won't be able to hear me. LOL. Have a great day.:tongue_smilie:

Thanks for asking Connie, All is well. I left the clinic in Tijuana the same day as the surgery and ended up back in San Diego that night. I came back home a day early and all seems well. I have a friend that is a physical therapist and she has done wound care so I had her check the incisions and all is well. My stomach is still tender, but healing. It's back to work tomorrow and I'll be going out of town for 3 days for training. It will be real fun working out the food for those three days, but I'm sure I'll manage. Good luck to the rest of you July bandsters!! EE:thumbup:

Good luck to you. I was banded on the 2nd and seem to be doing well. I'm sure you will be too. ee

Poppet, Your goals will have to be what ever works for you. For some, they need to see the whole picture and set a goal for their entire weight loss. That's great, but sometimes it's just too overwhelming. I have my total goal set on my signature, but I've added a mini goal to work towards in the short term. My nutritionist set a goal of 164 for me, but of course I want a lower goal, so I set it at 148. Which ever it is, it has to be one that works for you. Some people will work in 10 pound increments. They get the first 10 lost, then work on the second. Try one and see how it works. If it doesn't work for you, change it. Remember, it's your goal and weight loss, not your families or friends. Same thing for exercise. I really need to set that goal too because it's a really weak spot for me. I will have to set a serious exercise goal as soon as I'm through healing. I'm already doing some stuff, but I will have to get serious and actually work a goal. I'm sure there are others that will give you great advise on this subject. I've just started my journey and there are years of experience here. The best to you. ee

Ifyourstomach... I just read a bit of your blog and I think it is well written and makes a lot of sense. Thank you for posting the link. I also think the purple ribbon thing is a good idea. I'm going to explore that idea a while. I've beaten myself up over the years with guilt because I was "bad" and ate too much or bad stuff and it always is a down ward spiral. Over the last few years, I've been working on the guilt thing and deciding guilt doesn't help anything, it only detracts. So if surgery is cheating, I'm sure not going to feel guilty about it. I'm also one of those fatties that thought people were crazy to go through WLS because of the profound affects it could have on the negative side. You know the stories of malabsorption and needing vitamin shots weekly, torn staples and all the other bad things that can happen. Up until recently I didn't believe I would do this either, but I was crazy not to consider it. Cheating? There is no cheating with this, it's just a different type of tool, like the gym or Nutrisystem, or Medifast, or Weight Watchers, etc. You just have to work the program.

I was banded on July 2nd also. My instruction says clear liquids also, but it doesn't say when or how often. I've had broth 3 times a day and I drink other liquids all day long, sipping a little at a time. I can start with drinkable yogurt tomorrow and Protein at day six. So I just keep sipping all day long. I find it takes me all day to get enough Water, juice, liquid. I think it's important to stay hydrated and let the stomach heal. I'm still not hungry and seem to be doing alright. I go to work tomorrow, so that will be the truth in how I'm doing. Good luck

Hello Laurie, welcome to the boards. Lots of info here and it goes both ways, good and bad. Take care of yourself and don't worry. Do what your doctor says and everything should be alright. I was just banded on 7-2-09 and I'm still on the liquid phase, but I'm not hungry and seem to be doing alright. I'm still sore, but it seems taking it easy really helps. Good luck!! ee

Had my surgery 7-2-09 also. Not much pain, just a little sore muscle. Came home a day early and am busy burping and listening to the air bounce around my insides. I am not hungry and I like that. Don't forget to stay hydrated. ee

Band or no band, losing weight is not the easy way out. Losing weight and keeping it off is so supremely difficult, we are all here looking for help. Even with the band, each person has to make the choice to use the tool. When the correct choices are make, it involves a lot of work and will power. The hope and the ideal that the band will help curb the annoying hunger is to goal. During my diet tries, the thought of a 1200 calorie diet scared the rationality out me. I've tried it and was miserable because I was so hungry all the time. I wolfed my food down and it didn't last. I would be hungry two hours later and on and on. All I could think about is food. I failed miserably at all those diets. I was on one diet where I ate 8 cups of veggies spread out through the day, every day. I lost weight but once again, all I ended up thinking about was food, I have to cut up my veggies, I have to eat every two hours, I have to do this every whatever. I can't live like that either. I was banded yesterday. I am not hungry despite the fact I've had 2 cups of broth and 16 oz of liquid so far today. (It's evening). I'm going to use this tool to the best of my ability and for once in my life, food isn't going to rule me. I will rule it and I don't care what anyone thinks.:eek:

Do you journal your food? Despite all the stuff out there, the only way you lose weight is if you decrease calories and increase motion. You can do that is several ways, and some don't work very well. Start and keep a journal for a month. Note the time you eat, what you eat exactly (the food, the condiments, the amount), note what kind of mood you were in. Write down everything you eat and when you do it. If you only do this for a week, I think you might find your answer. Be honest and please ask for help from some of the very experienced and successful people on this sight. You are also welcome to PM me. There is not reason why you should not succeed. EE

So all the pre op fears were groundless. The clinic, operation and everything went smoothly and I didn't feel too bad...well maybe like someone stabbed and beat me, but besides that, everything was okay. Today I'm a little groggier and don't exactly feel like running a marathon. I just started working on my first 1/2 cup of broth. Takes good and feels good going down. Now, for the control to no nibble and do any of the thinks I'm not supposed to. Don't forget to hydrate ladies and gents. It's important. EE

Had surgery yesterday and didn't feel too bad so we managed to get back over the border and into San Diego. Spent the night there and took an earlier flight home. So I am home a day earlier. I'm sore and a bit wonky. Plan taking it easy and slow today. I think I 'll go nap some more. I'm finally working on my first 1/2 cup of broth. I really am not hungry. Although my husband is making potato salad and salsa for tomorrow and I want to pick on it, but I know that is head hunger and not true hunger so I'll continue sipping on my broth. Quite the experience I must say. Eva

Connie123 & Giterdone, I sort of worried about the over 50 thing, but hey we are not dead yet and have (or should have) many years left to enjoy ourselves. My surgery is tomorrow if all goes well. I lost 13.5 lbs, the 13 required + a little bonus. I hope I can keep up the determination and attitude to carry this through the end. Be checking back with everyone when I return.

I found the Walmart brand of chewable calcium to be okay, and yes, they are caramel, they are very soft and melt in your mouth. They also have chocolate but I haven't tried them. It's almost 3am here and I can't sleep. I'm off my anti-inflammatory meds prior to surgery and I'm achy. I have arthritis and the meds do help. My brain won't shut down either. I'm sure it will in the morning when I can't stay awake for work. That will be fun. I'm already having a very hard time concentrating and I have a bunch of stuff to get done tomorrow (today). I leave on Wednesday and surgery on Thursday. I'm tired of the pre-op diet, although I'm sticking to it. This is why I need the band because after a meer 10 days, I'm ready to eat things I shouldn't. Hopefully with the band, when I make poor choices, I won't be eating tons of it. My cat is liking the fact I'm up in the middle of the night. She's getting a lot more attention. Okay, enough middle of the night rambling. :tongue2:

Yes, I am preoccupied and not focusing on work as I need to or anything else. I actually lost my flight confirmation number and had to call the airline today to get it. Duhhhhh. I'll be leaving in 2 days and going under the knife in 3 (if all goes well). Oh boy!! I'm a bit nervous. :rolleyes2:

Great job on both the You Tube video and the blog. Thanks, I like the blunt, don't pretty it up approach.

Okay, this is the first time I've had a really good laugh on this board. Sarah, you truly have guts along with farts. I will never let my husband try and set my pants on fire and when it comes to competing with him.....I'm not sure I can. We'll find out after I get banded. Too funny. Oh, and I'm sorry to laugh at your discomfort fellow banders, but "potty" humor is one thing that does make me laugh until I cry. I know it's unseemly, but I can't help it. I wish you all internal air-free futures.

Hi, I was reading on the Relizeband web site that some people do experience anxiety and depression after banding. They are asking the same questions you are now. I think there are people and support systems that can help you and this site has many many threads you can look through to see if there is something that speaks to you. I am pre-band and am using this to gather info and read both the ups and downs of the surgery. I'm nervous and not looking forward to the surgery, but know it is probably the right thing to do. Do you have someone local that you can talk to? A friend or someone you might know that might be able to help? Reach out either here or there. You are not going through this by yourself.

I'm not banded yet, but have been through the diet regime as much as anyone. Fitday is a great place to do a food journal. It's free and easy to use. They've improved the on-line version a great deal since I've started with it (5 or so years ago) and I really like it. They have a list of foods already, but you can do custom foods also. It will track your weight and activities if you choose and there is a regular journal. It's private, journal entries are not public but you can go back and see how you are doing. Also, you need to eat at least 3 times a day....do not skip Breakfast or lunch. Your body thinks it's not going to get the calories it needs and shuts down. It will actually enable you to gain weight. Drink a Protein drink if nothing else in the morning. There are a bunch out there, find one that suits you. From reading the posts and other books and websites, the band is supposed to limit the amount of solid food. There should be some help available here on diet and types of food you should be eating. I don't think you are supposed to be eating really soft foods. Hope you find the solution you need to lose weight. I truly believe this is a tool and you need to use the tool. I also believe it will not be easy and that I will have to work to lose weight, but if I can quell the hunger and work on my head issues, I will succeed this time.

It's been kind of hard to find which thread to post to. Hopefully this will be the "main" thread for us July people. My date is the 2nd and is getting very close. I am not excited at all. I'm am dreading this whole process, however, I am excited about the "tool". As I read posts and go back and read old ones and the new ones, everyone's experience is different. What will mine be? I know I'm the one to make the decision to use the tool as intended. I'm also amazed at how many people have lost over 100 pounds. That is a lot of weight and I'm amazed by their experiences. I leave for Mexico on Wednesday afternoon and surgery is on Thursday. It's less than a week away. I should be home with holes in my belly one week from today. I think I'm going to have a very hard time concentrating on work next week. Nervous and counting days.................:thumbup:

I wish you luck because I'm being done on the 2nd too. I too am a good cook and really enjoy cooking and creating in the kitchen and it is going to be quite a challenge to learn how to tone down both the types of food and quantities so I don't have tons of left-overs (my husband rarely eats LO's). I've been on the pre-op diet since 6-20 and I've lost 5 pounds. I'm also lite headed and hungry all the time, but I've been coping. I have Protein drink for Breakfast and lunch and all the green stuff (as in salad) I want plus the s/f Jello, etc. It allows for a couple of diet drinks, but I don't drink those now and I really don't want to start. I do drink Electro-Mix which is a power and does what Gatorade does only there's no sugar. Electro-Mix uses stevia as a sweetner. dinner is lean cuisine, but I can't stand that either, so I'm eating very lean and small potions of meat and veggies. I feel better already and I'm amazed at how 11 pounds makes a difference (6 lbs lost before offical pre-op). I have 2 more pounds to go before July 2nd and am confident I will be there before then.

I'm at the one week mark too. I haven't tried too many different Protein drinks yet. I have some dutch chocolate ISOPUR that I need to finish, then I can go look for what else is out there. I've also scheduled a pedicure and I'm having my hair done before I go. I just want to make sure my hair doesn't look as bad as I'll probably feel when I get done with surgery. I have stocked up on sugar free Jello, homemade fat free chicken and beef broth and some stuff for the mushie stage. I really hope this goes well and I bounce back fast because there stuff to do and I don't like being down for long. Good luck to you and hopefully we'll be chatting in a couple of weeks about how easy it was for us.

I'm starting to get nervous too! I'm in AZ also and going south of the border to have this done. I'm not so worried about that, but as I read more and more about the problems with this surgery, I wonder what side effects I'm going to experience. I was reading about acid reflux and that is sort of scary. I don't have too much problem with that now...will it get worse? Or can I actually change enough of my bad habits to really make this work? Or OMG, I've never been normal sized....can I actually deal with that? I've always been big and I'm not sure I have the tools to deal with normalness. Also, what kind of hell will I put my husband through as I go through this journey. I am spending a great deal of money to fix me. I'm the only one that can. It's great to have a forum so we can express ourselves. I'm sure my sisters and husband don't want to hear about this any more.

July 2nd in Tijuana with Dr. Ortiz. Already doing the pre-op diet and I'm hungry, but the weight is going down. Yipee.:thumbup:

There is a website, it's The Magic Bullet Blender - Official Website. They might have the information you need.