bluetopaz

As I have lost weight my port has move. My doctor said it's normal but I can move it around.

Congrats on your banding. This will be my second Christmas since my banding (Aug '09) I still get an occasional sweet tooth. I just make sure when I buy things they are low fat, sugarfree and limit myself to a small amount. If you stop sweets completely unless you have really strong will power you will only crave them more. Around the holidays my Cookies are made with Splenda (no sugar) Can't Believe It's Not Butter (no butter) and if milk is called for in the recipe skim milk. My family couldn't tell the difference. you have only been a month out so don't rush it. It will come off. Slowly is the best. I know you want it to just melt away but you will notice results. Even if pounds don't come off everytime you step on the scale you will lose inches. Keep a notebook with your weight and measurements (measure about once a month). It helps. Soon your clothes will be hanging and time for shopping...which is fun.

I had my surgery one year ago this past August. After my post surgery diet I was allowed to eat whatever I wanted or my body would now allow. Just eat a small meals. After my doctor appointment I always see his in office dietitian who goes over everything I eat or if I have food questions she is who I email or call. They suggest low fat, low sugar, low salt and more Protein. If his patients don't follow the rules they just suggest that they do. Plus we are told to take chewable Vitamins and Calcium pills because we don't get enough in our food. Good luck. If this other doctor makes you feel bad about yourself tell the office manager, nurses and your doctor. Tell them you want your appointments with your regular doctor and would prefer not to have to go to the bad mouthed one. No doctor should make you feel bad. Even after surgery there is no guarantee that you will drop lots of weight instantly. My doctor said they like you to lose 1 to 2 lbs a week and there have been months when I didn't lose a pound or gained up to 4 lbs. He left it up to me if I wanted the fill.

Good luck to you. Hopefully, you won't have that excess underarm skin that flaps in the wind like I do. But as said before you are young so you may not have that problem. As long as they make shirts that have sleeves to my elbow I'll be happy. My stomach also has some excess skin but as time passes it is shrinking. August will be my one year bandiversary :laugh:

On my liquid I could also have cottage cheese (1 or 2%, low-fat or no fat) fat free cream Soups, sugarless puddings & jellos. I was never hungry on them. Just remember sip lots of fluids. You could probably add a tablespoon of gravy to those mashed potatoes. Good luck (babe) :biggrin:

Your post reminds me of what happened to me. I was banded on August 26....4 days later my sister in law held her annual Labor Day picnic. I haven't told them about my banding because they would not be supportive of it. They think just cut back on the portions....OK! Anyway, we went and the whole time I'm thinking what am I going to eat since I was on liquids. Luckily, I also had a small hiatal hernia repair so that was my excuse not to eat the hot dogs or hamburgers. What I did was eat a spoonful of mashed potato salad and sipped on Water. It worked. If your family knows about your banding they will be supportive and will accept your liquid diet. You can still eat turkey Soup (broth) mashed potatoes and mashed sweet potatoes. I do feel for you though. The thought of cooking that food and knowing you can't eat it down right sucks. But just think of all the good that is coming out of being banded...by next Thanksgiving you will be one sexy babe or hunk :biggrin: (added both since I don't know your gender) GOOD LUCK

Welcome Hopeful, good luck to you and everyone else.

Hi DB I was banded on Aug 26 after having to do the 6 month diet. That diet taught me a lot about food choices, eating smaller bits and eating slower. I lost 34 lbs while on it. Since two weeks before my surgery until now I've lost another another 15 lbs. Yesterday, I got my first fill, so far so go. We should keep in touch with each other. Good luck to both you and DH on your diet. Nice that you have someone who is going through this with you. Great support person. Don't forget to exercise.

Hi there, Welcome and good luck. You don't live that far from me. I live in the Hazleton area. My son lives in the Reading area.

I was banded with the Realize Band Aug 26. I get my first fill on the 23. My doctor was on vacation so I had to wait longer for the first fill. But that's ok. I too have a bit of hunger and my weight loss came to a stop but as long as I didn't gain I was happy. Was surprised this week when I stepped on the scale and noticed a 2 1/2 lb loss. Good luck all :thumbup:

I, too, was 200 lbs at 5'. I have diabetes 2, gerd plus a few other problems. That was how I was allowed to be banded on August 26th. My insurance required me to be on the 6 month diet. I started in January working with my doctor and a dietician. Eating low fat, 1200 cal. Never did eat 1200 cal. Exercised my butt off. On my surgery day I was 166 and this morning (10/8) I weighed in at 153.5. I get my first fill on October 23. I do not regret this at all.

hi, not sure if the Schwan Company has a truck that visit's your state or area...you can order online. I found a yummy treat too. Trim Creations chocolate Fudge Sticks serv size: 1 Calories: 50 Total Fat: 0 Cholestrol: 0 Sodium: 45 mg Tot Carbs: 14 g Dietary Fiber: 5 g Sugars: 4 g Sorbitol: 2g Protein: 3g Calcium: 10% They are a creamy chocolate, they come in a box of 24 for $9.99. Made with nonfat milk. They are also a good size about the size of frozen fruit bars. :smile2:

Hi, I had the same problems as all of you. I didn't wear a bra for the first week. I had an appointment week 2 post-op and couldn't wait until I got home to take it off. My underwire didn't hurt as much as it put a lot of pressure on my port site. I ask my doctor about it. He said once the swelling goes down and the port settles into place you will not have any more problems.....and I haven't.

I had a similar call from my insurance company. They called many times so I thought it had something to do with my surgery. I returned the call. The nurse said, they would do follow up calls to see how I was doing after any hospital stay. I thought to myself....that's what my hospital and doctors nurses do. She continue to as if I had time to answer a few questions for her. She said it would only take about 20 minutes....that's more than a few questions. I was making supper so I couldn't stay on the phone. She called back a few days later. I didn't answer so she left a message. I then got a letter in the mail about it. I go to a monthly support group that my doctor's CBN and dietician hold. Just got a cookbook that was made just for bariatric patients. The meals are simple and look and sound delicious. Plus, you don't have to run to the store for a million different ingredients. I can't wait until I get off the blended foods so I can start cooking these. Your family can also eat them.

I don't understand why they had too many complications. Were the surgeons that performed the proceedure not knowledgeable or didn't the patient follow the doctors orders. Sure there are possible complications with this surgery as with any but I've never heard this. You must do research not only on the lapband/realize band proceedure but also on your surgeon. Not every doctor/surgeon that does this proceedure is qualified to do so. Make sure your surgeon is a bariatric surgeon who has done multiple surgeries. Not only that but not every hospital is equiped with qualified medical professionals to handle complications that may show up. Make sure your hospital that you go to has been designated as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. My doctor uses the Realize Band. On that site and this site you can search for a qualified doctor in your area. Ok, I'm done.....Good Luck to everyone. :thumbup:

I did all the consultations and test but never had to do the barium swallow. But after reading other post every experience is different as well as what your doctor orders are concerning pre-op and post-op diet and rules.

I remember when I couldn't figure that out and had to ask. :thumbup: Go to tickerfactory.com You will have to register.

Hi, my first appt consisted of sitting with his nurse answering all the required medical questions, her telling me all about the proceedure, showing me what the band looked like and answering any questions I might have. She weighed me and gave me a folder full of papers about the proceedure to read. And a list of all the specialist I needed to see over the next couple of months. I had to do the 6 month diet for insurance purposes....which turned out to be a good thing as it helped me prepare for the surgery. Also it helps eliminate some of the fat around the organs that the doctor has to move and work around during the surgery. Then I saw the doctor who chatted with me about the proceedure and went over my chart. Then he asked me WHY I wanted this done. Be truthful. I also had to attend a number of support group meetings. Which is very very helpful and informative. I started with my own research of the proceedure in November of 2008 then my first doctor appt was in December and finally I had my surgery August 26, 2009. Today, I saw my doctor....he took out my staples and I lost 9 lbs since my surgery. So don't be afraid and don't be angry that you might have to wait for your surgery....it will all be worth it in the end. Good Luck all.

Hi, my doctor recommends Carnation Instant Breakfast...No Sugar Added mixed with skim milk. It's high in protein and comes in chocolate, strawberry and French vanilla.

My doctor told me not to lift over 20 lbs for the first 4 weeks. Why not hire (if you can) a mothers helper. Or if you have a local teenager who could help before and after school. Teens can always use a little money. Don't overdo it as you could do internal damage and not realize it. You don't want to undo anything.

Hi, my BMI was 39 and my weight 200 but I had 4 co-morbidities so I qualified.

Never fear....everyone on here has been very supportive. But if you would like a one on one support buddy...message me with your personal email. I was just banded on Aug 26th.

I was banded on Aug 26. Got home on the 27th. Everything went smoothly. I wasn't in pain so I didn't take any pain meds. I'm sore but that is natural. My only complaint about my hospital stay was the old man across from me that kept yelling at everyone...all hours. And the machine that was checking my oxygen levels beeped 3 beeps every 15 seconds. So I wasn't getting any sleep even after they set the controls to off between the older man and the older lady who wouldn't stay in bed and the nurses yelling down the hall at her to go back to bed....glad I'm home. So I was catching up on some much needed sleep. So any newbies **don't be afraid** I've lost 3 lbs already. Four more days of my liquid diet then it's onto blended...yum :frown: :w00t:

I'm also sorry things haven't worked for you. Either I'm in the minority or my doctor and his staff who also lead my monthly support groups are the greatest because they tell us all the pros and all the cons (some are really scary). They informed us and remind us about the possibilitiy of food getting stuck, severe heartburn, inward hernia's, bleeding, pain etc. They also give us a list of foods and meds that work best and a list of items that should be avoided. They even have a website just for their patients where you can go to set profiles and logs. They have access to only the section where you mark your weight or keep a list of foods you eat. But they don't regularly check it and they can not access your personal section. Yea, I'm lucky.