tripletmomma2000

M.M. Mounir Gazayerli, M.D., F.R.C.S.© Office Phone (248) 643-4646 FAX (248) 643-8745 1555 West Big Beaver Road, Bldg. G Troy, MI 48084-3525 E-Mail: Gazayerli@hotmail.com

Hey all! I'm feeling pretty good, all in all! I was banded on August 6th, and to date (including 3 weeks of pre-op diet) I've lost nearly 50 pounds. I had my first fill on September 18th. I was supposed to get 4cc (I have the 14 cc band) but could only tolerate 3cc. When she filled me up, I wasn't expecting to "feel" it, and I called out "woah" (or something dirtier than that.. not sure, I have a trucker's mouth!) and she backed out the saline, and then pushed it in again until I said stop. I stopped at 3cc. I am getting my second fill this Friday... my surgeon is happy to do fills every 2-3 weeks. I had "bandster hell" for about 2-3 weeks, where I sat between 305-310 the entire time, but I'm losing again now, so no complaints!

• I can fit COMFORTABLY in my neighbor's kitchen chair... I always complained how the chair would "bite" me... not anymore!! Actually.... lately, it's all been about chairs! I would always, always, ALWAYS size up a chair when I approached, to see if it was going to hurt to sit in it. Apparently, I still have my "old eyes" in, because I think "there's no way I'm going to fit in that chair" and when I try, I slip right in, no problem! Boothes in restaurants were problematic as well. Not anymore! Even my OWN kitchen chairs (the two at the head of the table have arms on them, the other four do not) I can fit into without a problem! AND.... the jeans that I put on a few months ago and couldn't get zipped up? Yeah..... they're getting loose!!

Bandit...............WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.......wk5... ....wk6.......wk7.......wk8 formerfatchick....262..........260........252........244.......242.5 abbypoo............275..........266........263........261....... jennyr1222.........265..........263........260........255......249.... .245.....243.....240.......235 missK................241..........231........228........223.......219. ......217..........217...........216.........215 morphiend..........238..........229........222........ Tripletmomma.....327..........323........319........312.......310..... ..305......307.........308..........304 Threeboys3........250..........247........243.5.....232....... Ariscus99...........342..........320........317.......313 MaggieGT...........264..........260........253.......252........249 MrsPeterson07....219.......... shouldbeworking 219...........209........206.......205........205 bdbmamaw 226...........218........210.......204.......201 Cherishthepast.....230........216.........213.......211......208...... 206......204

I went and got my first fill today! I'm jealous that some of you guys get a fill with an x-ray and barium swallow. But, my doctor does so many of these, that his nurse must do 10-20 fills/day, so I must say, she knows what she's doing! I got a numbing shot (which, IMO, wasn't necessary... my threshold for pain is very high, and I've given myself a million shots in the abdomen when I was taking fertility meds!) and then she put 4cc's in band. I was STUNNED. I totally felt the band squeeze up on my stomach to the point of discomfort! I told her so when it happened, and she backed out 2cc's, and then slowly put in 1.5cc, and then I felt that choking feeling again.... so I ended up only getting 3cc's. I do have an appointment in 2 weeks for another fill, this time, it will be 2cc's. The doctor said I could come back in yet another 2 week's time, and get another 1-2 cc's if I wanted to. I asked how much fit in the band, and the nurse said 14cc's, but that about 4 of their patients actually have 16cc's in the band. I cannot fathom having 16cc's when I felt that 4cc's closed my stomach completely! They gave me one of those little chubby bottles of Water (perhaps 8-10 oz) and asked me to drink at least 1/2. If I didn't throw it up, I would be fine with the 3cc's. I drank 3/4 of the bottle, and felt totally FULL. I was just amazed! Although I haven't been put on any type of food restriction, I've decided to put myself back on liquids for 2 days, and then mushies for 2-3 more before going back to regular foods. Doctor says I'm exactly 40 pounds down from when I first met him in June. He told me to say goodbye to them, because I'll never see those 40 pounds again :biggrin: I did tell him that I gained back 5 pounds from my low of 305 (the day I started eating regular food) and he said it was completely normal, and that some people gain a lot more than that. I'm just thrilled again....... I hope the 3cc's gives me good restriction until my next fill on October 2nd. The doctor said that the 4cc's might not give me good restriction yet.... but then again, I couldn't handle the 4cc's either! I'm still amazed at all of this, and feel blessed that I was able to have this surgery! Karen

San Diego Kate knows of what she speaks!! I also have PCOS, and although I've had some hormone shifting all on its own this year, prior to getting the band and losing weight, I can tell you that 2 weeks after I got my band, I knew which days I was ovulating..... and not only that, I felt the egg pop on my right ovary! I counted out the days, and said to my hubby "I'll get my period somewhere between Wednesday and Friday"..... Thursday night, there she was! I have never, ever, EVER had regular periods, and starting this past January, I've gotten each and every period. Once I starting losing weight with the band (3 weeks prior, and now 6 weeks post) my period is CLOCKWORK. I am turning 42 tomorrow, and have 9-1/2 year old triplet boys. There is NO FREAKING WAY I have having more kids. I can't believe I have to buy CONDOMS. I feel like a teenager!

if only..... I forgot my advice! Since you're self pay, and you have good restriction, and you're actually not at 6 weeks post-op until October... I'd wait. Once you find you can eat more, and the scale reflects a plateau, THEN I'd schedule. Just my opinion :mad2:

I thought I had good restriction...... and once I was exactly 1 month out from surgery, I could definitely feel that I didn't have it anymore. I was steadily losing until I was allowed to go on to regular foods. Once that happened, I have been bouncing up and down between 305 - 310 ever since. Some days up, some days down. I'm due for my fill on Friday, and am certainly ready for it!!

Bandit...............WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.......wk5... ....wk6.......wk7.......wk8 formerfatchick....262..........260........252........244.......242.5 abbypoo............275..........266........263........261....... jennyr1222.........265..........263........260........255......249.... .245.....243 missK................241..........231........228........223.......219. ......217..........217 morphiend..........238..........229........222........ Tripletmomma.....327..........323........319........312.......310..... ..305......307 Threeboys3........250..........247........243.5.....232....... Ariscus99...........342..........320........317....... MaggieGT...........264..........260........253.......252 MrsPeterson07....219..........

Hey Abby..... I'm with you babe! I've crept on about 2-3 pounds since I was able to go onto regular food..... however, those two gyro's on Saturday, at a food, music and art festival I went to on Saturday didn't help! I ate one there (took my time..... took me 4x longer than everyone else to eat it) and then we all got one for the road..... I ate mine hours after everyone else. Anyway..... I'm not feeling restriction right now either.... I can definitely eat 2-3 cups of food at a time if I wanted to! However, when I ate the gyro, I certainly felt full. And stayed full for a while. Didn't stop me from eating chips and dip later though.... My fill is next Friday, and I can't wait! No restriction sucks!

Bandit...............WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.......wk5... ....wk6.......wk7.......wk8 formerfatchick....262..........260........252........244.......242.5 abbypoo............275..........266........263........261....... jennyr1222.........265..........263........260........255......249.... .245 missK................241..........231........228........223.......219. ......217 morphiend..........238..........229........222........ Tripletmomma.....327..........323........319........312.......310.......305 Threeboys3........250..........247........243.5.....232....... Ariscus99...........342..........320........317....... MaggieGT...........264..........260........253....... MrsPeterson07....219.......... __________________

I'm still having potty problems, and today marks 4 weeks out! Grrrrrrrrr.... I've never had a diarrhea problem, I think I had it once, but it was related to the milk of magnesia that I took. I've always been an every day girl..... now I'm going 5-6-7 days in between. WTH??? I'm definitely tooting.... but otherwise..... nothing. I have had some big problems with constipation..... what is that all about! Granted.... I'm essentially living on yogurt, mashed eggs, and cottage cheese and green tea.... but c'mon now. I'd be quite happy with every 3rd day at this point. I'm still losing weight..... and my pee is VERY concentrated.... although I'm drinking nearly constantly (mostly green tea..... 2 cups of joe in the morning, occasional water) I just don't get it!

I've had the sensation on and off since week 2 post-op. Not sure what it is either... but I try to ignore it the best that I can!

My doc said it was ok to drink coffee, but be sure to drink Water throughout the day, as coffee can be dehydrating. I definitely get 2 cups in each morning..... I have triplets... you TRY to take that cup from me, and see what happens :smile2:

Hey TSB! I'm about 3-1/2 weeks post-op, and I am also feeling great! Two of my incisions actually got red bumps at the ends of the incision.... and then stitches popped out of them. I called the doctor's office, and they said it can happen, and to trim the stitches or pull them if I wanted to. Yeah.... I'm just going to leave those suckers ALONE! I've also experienced a "lump in my throat" feeling, except it's about 4" down from my throat, and about 4" to the right of my sternum. Doctor said it could be food that's just sitting there, and it's not going to PB.... just have to wait it out. I woke up this morning, and that feeling is all but gone. It wasn't painful... I was just *aware* of the feeling. How the hell a mushy gets stuck, I'll NEVER know! The most textured food I've eaten is cottage cheese!!

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........219 morphiend.........238..........229........222 Tripletmomma.....327........323........319......312.......310 Threeboys3........250........247........243.5....232

OMG FFG! Glad to hear it went fairly quickly though...... I've read on these boards that sometimes they sit around in distress for 30-45 minutes. ACK! I've learned to eat yogurt by sticking in my spoon, and only eating what clings to it! Takes me nearly 1/2 hour to eat a 3/4 cup of yogurt!

I'm scheduled for 9/18 for my first fill. 6 weeks out. I'll be eating "regular" food for 2 weeks, and then get a fill :thumbdown:

Good luck!!!!!! I'm praying for you!!

I started mushies yesterday. I can tell you, I was really nervous instead of excited, and I ended up not eating them until 8PM! I have never in my life been nervous about eating a GD egg! Anyway, I took 2 hard boiled eggs, cut them in 1/2, added 1/2 tsp. dijon, 1 tsp low-fat mayo, and a dash of salt, and mashed the crap out of them with a fork. It took me nearly 1/2 hour to eat it, and it was DELISH :thumbup: This morning, I went to Kroger's (grocery store in the Mid-West United States for anyone outside of the US,) and they have a store brand of yogurt called 'CARB MASTER' 80 calories, 13 Protein, and 3 carbs. Low-fat as well. It's been very popular, so the flavor choices have really come a long way! It used to be peach, strawberry, and vanilla. Now they have those, plus raspberry, blueberry, strawberry-pomegranite, strawberry-banana, blackberry, and a few more. I got 3 of each to get me through the week. I had my last Protein shake for Breakfast this morning, and for lunch, I had a yogurt. It took me FOREVER to eat it. I just WAS NOT hungry. But, I knew it was important to eat it! I was surprised to hear someone say they needed 1200 calories/day during mushies. There is no possible way I could do that. I can barely manage 500-600/day right now. I also got some small curd cottage cheese (which, for a calories boost, I like to put ranch dressing on it..... I know it sounds gross, but it actually tastes pretty nice!) and some Mexican Style Refried Beans. I figured that would be a nice Fiber addition I can really only have about 1/2 - 3/4 cup of food at a time right now. Then I feel absolutely satisfied. I find all of this just amazing! Hugs, Karen

WK1........wk2........wk3.......wk4 formerfatchick....262.........260.........252 abbypoo............275.........266.........263 jennyr1222........265.........263.........260......255 missK...............241..........231........228......223 morphiend.........238..........229........222 Tripletmomma.....327........323........319......312 __________________

I went 4 days post-op..... and the second time I went was six days later. That was 3 days ago. I figure with all this liquid, there isn't enough solids to even produce a BM. I was an every day girl.... now I seem to be every 4-6 days. Yikes. However.... I'm not in any distress, so I'm not going to worry about it! I'm tooting like I'm supposed to, so I'm not concerned

Good luck, good luck, good luck!!!!!!!! Can't wait to have you back, and see how you're doing!!! Karen

WK1........wk2........wk3.......wk4 formerfatchick....262.........260.........252 abbypoo............275.........266.........263 jennyr1222........265.........263.........260......255 missK...............241..........231........228 morphiend.........238..........229........222 Tripletmomma.....327........323........319