formerfatchick

Hello girls, I was exactly were you are a month ago. I am now almost 3 weeks post-op and let me tell you that it is the best decision I have made so far !! I had never had any surgery and was scared sh%$le$$ but in all honesty I played it up so much in my head that the actual event wasnt such a big deal. We have all been fed the "this is a tool" line but remeber it's more in your head than anything else. You need to commit fully mentally, emotionally and spiritually to this journey. If you do YOU WILL be successful. My trick was putting up pictures of my skinny self around the house with signs telling me to remeber the goal and whenever I am having a weak moment that will snap me back into place. You'll really surprise yourself how commited you'll become to this new you, I still amaze myself everyday and it's sooooo exciting to slide into those smaller size jeans hanging in your closet for almost a year. This site is a trasure trove of support and experience and will beocme a critical part of your success, feel free to tap into any group they're all be more than happy to help and so am I just ask !! BEST OF LUCK...YOU'll ALL DO GREAT !!!

Hi there ! I was in the same place you are now ! day 4 was the worst but after day 5 it all seems to pass and you really dont mind as much. Every doctor is different but after I spoke with my nutrionist I was allowed to have 1 cup of veggies for lunch and 1 for dinner. Sautee a bunch of different veggies and added a tiny bit of mrs dash and a shake or two of soy sauce and you'll see what a wonderful dish it makes. Avoid potatoes and corn though too high in fat. Lentils make really good Soups and they're really high in Protein so you can try those too !! Good luck ! You'll get through it and you'll be amazed at your pre-op loss !!

Hi Boo Cakes--it depends on your insurance. Mine took a week to get the approval but for the most part I hear that if your insurance is through your employer and its covered then more than likely you will be approved. It's much harder if you have your own policy though. Best of luck !!!

Hey Sally, Arent you glad it's all over? Hoping you're healing well and relaxing at home !!! Kate...how r u feeling? I bet you thought it was gonna be worse than it actually turned out to be right ??

So I had the unfortunate luck to have my first PB episode !! I've been following my diet guidelines to the letter and it happened while having some tomato florentine Soup with saltine crackers. I felt the doup in the middle of my chest and upon reaching the ladies room out came the slime !!! (YUCK) It wasnt painful and I was very much surprised how effortlessly it came out but needless to say I am back on liquids for today and tommorow. I called my surgeons office and the nurse said that I probably ate the soup too fast considering it happened 5 minutes into the meal.Lesson learned I need to eat SLOWER even if its just soup !!!

Hola People...today was my first day Post-op at the gym and man am I in pain !! All the tolerance I had built up pre-op on the eliptical machine went down the tubes.I did 30mins on the treadmill with a WL program. Hope to get back on the elliptical by weeks end. Still havent started the weights, think its best to weight to completely heal.

Gwen, your progress is amazing !! I'm a NYC bandster 2 weeks out and learning the ropes ! I love the idea of a NYC bandster group. Please keep me informed and if I can help in any way !!! BTW- the Wii FIT is my new best friend !!!

Sally...breath & relax !! Yes it is a scary prospect and you wont be the first one to freak out as ou walk into the OR but trust me it is the BEST thing you can do for yourself and your family. I still have moments of crazy thoughts as to what have I done but then I see what I have accomplished so far and smile and rejoice that I was able to do this !! You will be fine and happy you took this step. There are alot of our friends here who have blogs about their hospital experience and their journeys so far and they are a great resource..use them !! I have some listed on my blog, feel free to click on the list of blogs and friend them..we are all here to help !!!

LMAO !! ahh that was great !! I felt the same way the other day when I went to go get some food for the hubby at Hill COuntry BBQ and they offered me a sample of the brisket !! My first fill is on Sept 4th, just shy of my 4 weeks, I'll get to enjoy ( terrified of the solid food right now) solids for 3 days before having to go back to liquids after the fill

SO it's week 2 and I'm FINALLY back to normal !! YAY !! the gas is gone and so is the incision and back pain !!! I did PB today because I ate the soup and saltines to fast :tongue2: so I'm on liquids for the rest of today and tommorow ( man do I miss the mashed potatoes already !!!)

Bandit...............WK1........wk2........wk3.......wk4......wk5 formerfatchick....262.........260.........252......244 abbypoo............275.........266.........263.....261 jennyr1222........265.........263.........260......255 missK...............241..........231........228......223 morphiend.........238..........229........222 Tripletmomma.....327........323........319......312 WOO HOO almost at my 10% goal !!

So I got this guide book from another bandster and while it is a mix for both bypass and banding patients and is meant to be used as a complete guide, it has some really good worksheets and diets tips starting at pg 29 and then for bandsters the diet guidelines start at page 60. http://www.permanente.net/homepage/kaiser/pdf/39806.pdf

okay here I am day 5 and nothing..zippo..zilch !! I've had 2 doses of the pedia lax..next step putting fiberall into every GD thing that goes into my mouth, if that doesnt work in another 48 hrs I think I need to go the glycerin suppositories route ??!!! AHHHHHH !!!

YAY !! KIM !! that's awesome, but dont be afraid to use the meds if u need to ! I sure did !! HA LOL !!!

Hey Y'all i came across this blog from a WLS that has great recipies, mostly for the solid food stage but its good to know some low-cal alternatives for when we get there.. Great blog: theworldaccordingtoeggface

Hey JoJo, we must have crossed paths becaues I was banded on the same exact day as you by Dr. Ren. What time was your surgery ? rm # ? I had asked the nurse when was a good time and she said as soon as you feel up to it, but honestly I've been so GD gassy that I dont think it would be a good deal right now ( and tmrw is our 3rd anniversary !! Go figure!!!) I start mushies on Thursday...YAY !!!!

Ditto here took mine the same night after surgery. i take Ortho-cyclen and it's smaller than a tic tac ! For what my GYN has said the pill will only increase weight gain in some individuals by just 3.5 lbs. If you're swelling up then its water retention and you need to drink, drink, drink water.

I have 1 incision in my belly button.

If your insurance approved your band they pay for the fills !! And any visits including fills within the first 90 days after your surgery there is no copay bcuz its considered surgical follow-up...as far as i know

My name in egyptian heiroglyphics !! I've been wanting that tat for years !!!

YAY ! SARAH ! Welcome to the band wagon !! the nausea was also really bad for me. Get the motion sickness wrist bands at your local pharmacy, they actually work !! Or you can also have your primary call you in a prescription for Zofran, liquid or rapid melts, they also worked wonders for me !!!

GO ! GIRL! GO !! WOOHOO !! We'll be waiting here for you on the band wagon !!!

WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.....wk5 formerfatchick....262.........260.........252 abbypoo............275.........266.........263 jennyr1222........265.........263.........260 missK...............241..........231........228 morphiend.........238..........229........222 Tripletmomma.....327

Okay...yes I know this right off the bat is a TMI thread but I'm sure Im not the only one with this type of question..so here it goes... How many days between bowel movements have you guys expereinced after surgery ? I had one 3 days post op and then one the day after but it's been 3 days since then and I've got nothing !! should I take a laxative w/ stool softener ?? I've always been VERY regular !!!

I think that unforgettable hit the nail on the head !! And MissK while I agree that it was HUGELY insensitive of them to sit there and have KFC in you're house, that you need to #1: Be more assertive when it comes to these things in your house ( NO FAST FOOD) but # 2: You need to be more assertive with yourself and more resistant towards that thoughtlessness of those that arent going through this journey. You have a tough skin, you know that and you're going to have to bring it out more than ever. Especially as the care takers of the family we women are going to have the hardest times having to resist temptation, but at the same time that is just going to make us that much more stronger and that much hotter in that bathing suit !!! HELL YEAH !!!!