HeatherR
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Everything posted by HeatherR
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Lapband being phased out in favour of bypass
HeatherR replied to Sarah.R's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi We3601! I have had 2 fills now & am up to 6.8cc. This last fill on 12/21 was the first time I have felt anything. My 40 pound loss is including my pre-op diet. It has been since July. I was 250 in July. I have only lost 20 since surgery but I refuse to leave that out of my total loss!! It's been hard! I am going in for another fill on 1/6. I'm hoping this will be the one, I think I'm getting there! -
Lapband being phased out in favour of bypass
HeatherR replied to Sarah.R's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I think we all have done a lot of research about the lap band before going through with the surgery. We all know that it works but you have to 'work it'! My doc questioned me in depth about my eating habits & what I ate all of the times I lost weight. THEN he asked what surgery I was thinking about getting. After I told him Lap band he agreed that it was the appropriate choice for me. Because even though I'm fat I do not drink high calorie drinks and I don't keep slider foods in the house. My health couldn't be better except for my weight & he felt gastric bypass was too drastic for my current situation. Now my friend went to the same doc just recently & he questioned her just the same. When she said she too wanted lap band he disagreed with her. She would have to drastically change her diet, get rid of the Mountain dew & freezer full of ice cream. She also is close to 400# and has several co-morbidities. I think it depends on the situation. (Hmmm...just thinking....bypass is a much more involved surgery, therefore the doc gets more money. Sad but some are motivated by the money!) The five year success rates of both surgeries are about the same. Bypass is quicker weight loss in the beginning. It's more obvious to me now more than ever that lapband isn't for everyone! Just smile & nod & move on to another discussion!:biggrin: -
Hi Adrie! I think this is a normal part of the journey. I too lost quickly at first. About 15# then it just stopped!! I didn't start losing again until last week when I got my 2nd fill. Finally I feel a little 'something'. I don't think I'm there yet but getting close! I too was thinking that I would be one of the few the band didn't work on. Not to mention, there were quite a few homemade treats floating through the office that I sampled!:biggrin: (Thank God the treats are gone...until next year!) I talked to my doc about all of this & he assured me that I am doing great. He said that most people gain a little until they are properly filled. He said to be patient because we are still in the process of 'turning on' my tool! As much as we have researched & learned about lap band I think we still think (hope) that the weight will just fall off instantly. I was hoping I wold be the girl who never needed a fill! Just hang in there! Your not alone! I think it's time to schedule your second fill!!:smile:
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Pain at/in port site
HeatherR replied to itsalmosttime's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I did have port pain for a few weeks. Come to find out my port had flipped & I had to have a revision. Call your doc! -
What could it be? Should I worry?
HeatherR replied to Who'sThere's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
You should probably put in a call to your MD office tomorrow. I too had pain in the port area for a few weeks then it just disappeared. I went in for my second fill last Wednesday only to find that my port flipped. I go in for a port revision tomorrow. My doc thinks that when I was having the pain my port was angled & the pain disappeared after it flipped. Good luck! Here's hoping it's just a pulled muscle!!:thumbup: -
Banded in october--updates please
HeatherR replied to delfinajones's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I was banded October 20th. I think my ticker is up to date....I am at 211 right now. I had my first fill on November 16th. I have 5.8cc in right now. I felt some restriction for a few weeks & dropped 4# but I have been stuck since then. My second fill is tomorrow. I tend to be a tad discouraged but if I look at it as a whole I do feel a little better. I did get some encouraging news at my last appointment that I would like to share with everyone struggling. There was a woman at the clinic who had lap band & I overheard that it was her 1 year appt. She looked great! I spoke with her for quite a while. She lost 95 pounds in her 1st year. She shared with me that there was a point after surgery that she gained 14 pounds. Once she finally had proper restriction the weight came off! I found this very encouraging! :thumbup: -
Hi there! First of all, I think that 14# is excellent considering a lot of people gain during the 1st month! I too lost 14 the first month! :thumbup: As far as fills go, I just had my first last Wednesday & it went fine. It didn't hurt, just felt a little strange. I felt the same after my fill until Saturday. I think I've had my first taste of restriction & an 'almost stuck' episode. Thank goodness it passed quickly! I am taking in a lot less & going 4.5 hours before I feel the 1st hunger pangs. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the reason it took 3 days to feel restriction from my fill.....I don't get it. :huh2:It seems as though it would be tighter the first few days & then loosen!?!? I'm not complaining, just wondering. I think you (us, we!) are doing great! Keep on plugging!
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Fear of not being able to stick with Liquid Diet for 2 wks, help!
HeatherR replied to michelleintheoc's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
So far I would have to say that the pre-op diet is the hardest part, but really.....if I can do it, anyone can! After the 1st 2 days I really did not feel hungry or crave food much. I kept telling myself, "this is only short term!" Life does get normal again! A new kind of normal, but normal! You can do it! Good luck!:thumbup: -
Weight Gain During Week 4
HeatherR replied to hd_girl70's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
This is all so true......I weigh 3# more at night than I do first thing in the morning. If you are going to step on the scale everyday(several times a day:wink2:) try not to freak out about the numbers! I didn't loose an ounce for 3 weeks before weight started to come off again. It will happen, just keep doing the right things! Hang in there! -
Oh yes! I've been thinking that I am going crazy! Mine is also sore! I'm not sure what it's all about. I even changed my chair at work but without luck. Well, for what it's worth you're not alone!
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I had my 1st fill today, 1cc. It didn't hurt at all! However, I learned today that I had 4.8cc already in my band from surgery! :thumbup: I had no clue! My doc said that he fills the band during surgery & then lets whatever wants to come out, come out & whatever stays in stays in. I haven't heard of this! I did get freaked out to think that I had 4.8cc in my 10cc band & didn't have any restriction. He told me to "stop fixating on numbers". I'm trying.....but it still freaks me out! Anyone else heard of this?
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I guess I wrote too much! It wouldn't let me post my whole message!
Today I ate:
breakfast: 2 egg omelet with a slice of cheese & slice of turkey.
lunch: 1 cup of ground beef/rice/tomato sauce(kind of like a stuffed pepper w/o the pepper)
dinner: soft/moist chicken breast with broccoli & lite cheese sauce.
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Hey Monique! I feel the same way! I have been eating SO much less than I used to AND excersing daily & the scale has not budged in 2 weeks! I got curious to see if maybe I was taking in too many calories & started tracking EVERYTHING I put in my mouth on 'the daily plate'. As it turns out I have been taking in approximately 800-850 calories daily. I think my body is in caveman mode & thinks it's in a famine! For the last 2 days I increased my calories to 1200 per day. The scale has not changed yet but I think it wants to! ;o)
I was put on mushies at 1 week post-op & my MD said to slowly progress to softer solids then harder solids as I tolerated it. Basically right now if I can cut it with a fork, I can eat it. Nothing has given me problems. I did cheat once, I ate 2 peanut butter cups! oops, I'm only human!
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Did you stop losing weight after 2 weeks postop?
HeatherR replied to Tory09's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Well.....it happened!! I didn't have to send my scale in for repairs!! It's no longer stuck! After 3 days of increasing my calories to around 1200 I am down 1 pound! 214! This is what I weighed on my wedding day! (ok, so I'm not so proud of that, but I haven't seen this number since 1999!) It may not work for everyone but I think my body really needed me to take in more! I must be closer to my caveman roots than I thought!:thumbup: -
Did you stop losing weight after 2 weeks postop?
HeatherR replied to Tory09's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I promise, I will update! I am really hoping that it works! It's hard though, I feel like I'm eating a lot! I guess even a little is a lot after, what, 3 weeks of liquids?? But comparing it to my plate before....WOW! I am eating off a tea saucer. -
If you do decide to try it make sure you try it before you go!! You just can't miss any of New Moon!! (I can't wait to see it!!!):biggrin:
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I guess I wrote too much! It wouldn't let me post my whole message!
Today I ate:
breakfast: 2 egg omelet with a slice of cheese & slice of turkey.
lunch: 1 cup of ground beef/rice/tomato sauce(kind of like a stuffed pepper w/o the pepper)
dinner: soft/moist chicken breast with broccoli & lite cheese sauce.
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Hey Monique! I feel the same way! I have been eating SO much less than I used to AND excersing daily & the scale has not budged in 2 weeks! I got curious to see if maybe I was taking in too many calories & started tracking EVERYTHING I put in my mouth on 'the daily plate'. As it turns out I have been taking in approximately 800-850 calories daily. I think my body is in caveman mode & thinks it's in a famine! For the last 2 days I increased my calories to 1200 per day. The scale has not changed yet but I think it wants to! ;o)
I was put on mushies at 1 week post-op & my MD said to slowly progress to softer solids then harder solids as I tolerated it. Basically right now if I can cut it with a fork, I can eat it. Nothing has given me problems. I did cheat once, I ate 2 peanut butter cups! oops, I'm only human!
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I too love your blog! I wish I had the courage to start one! Here's hoping I am where you are next year!
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So I was wondering...
HeatherR replied to AbersmomRN's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
If your talking post-op, the pain does eventually go! 5 days out & I was wondering the same thing! I am in the medical field & really (thought) I knew what I was getting myself into. Ummm, I had no clue. My DH kindly ever so sweetly pointed out to me that I was much more of a wimp after this surgery than I was after BOTH of my C-sections! The laproscopic procedure hurts! That post-op gas! If not for the increased risk of infection, I ALMOST wished it was an open procedure! 3 weeks out & I feel like nothing ever happened! First fill comes next week. We'll see what happens then! Already loving the new me!:biggrin: -
Did you stop losing weight after 2 weeks postop?
HeatherR replied to Tory09's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Well, here's one more in the same boat! My scale has been stuck on 215 since about 1 week after surgery. :sad:I have been exercising DAILY and eating really well. Hunger only happens if I wait more that 5 hours between lunch & dinner. I have no problems eating anything. I started tracking everything I was eating on 'my daily plate' and that's when I realized that I am only getting in 800 calories on a good day. :bored:I think I entered caveman mode. My body thinks I am in a famine and is hanging on to everything it gets, hence the stuck scale! For 2 days now I have increased my calories to 1200. I think the scale WANTS to go down but we'll see.... I'll test my theory & let you know! Hang in there!:biggrin: -
BOTTOMLESS PIT! Is that normal?!
HeatherR replied to Adrie's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I feel the same way, this must be bandster hell! It's not so much that I am hungry but that I don't feel full...EVER. No restriction. Not even a little! I tolerate ANYTHING. No problems. I too have thought that maybe they forgot to band me or maybe this is some big joke! I started back on my low carb, high Protein diet (which is the ONLY diet that has EVER given me any results). Also, I beefed up my workouts in the last week. The scale has not budged! I am just hoping to loose just a few pounds before my next appt. I will definitly be getting a fill at my appt on the 18th! Hang in there! There is plenty in the trenches with you! -
I am having a moment and just need to vent. I was banded last Tuesday (10/20) & am finally feeling better today. The post-op gas was a killer! I feel like I am going to bust if I have to have anymore liquid! I know that this is temporary and for good reason but I just feel so alone in this part of the journey! It's not that I'm hungry because, really, I'm not. I just feel like I will never have a meal with my family again! I am having moments that I question my decision. I'm sure this will all pass. To top it all off I found out today that a family member slipped and told others about my banding!! :thumbup: It's not that I was going to keep it secret forever but I just would like to get used to it myself before I answer dozens of questions about it. I still have so many myself!
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Left side pain underneath Rib Cage...
HeatherR replied to Astrasmom's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I think what you are expirencing is post-op gas trapped under your rib cage. They blow up your abdomen with CO2 during surgery so they can see & move around easier & some gets caught. With me it felt like I had a balloon blown up under my ribs. It was a killer! The only thing that helps it is walking & time. Mine got better around the 5th & 6th day. Thank goodness it's all gone now! Some people use the gasX strips & think that it helps. I hope you're feeling better! Good luck! -
LOL DanBar! Too bad the keg isn't real! The more I read here the more hopeful I am! Everything looks a whole lot better knowing that this feeling is temporary! Things can only get better from here! Ahh...so what....so we have to diet for a while longer. At least it's no new concept! And now that more people know it only is making me work that much harder to lose a few! Isn't it funny how people react to the banding? They expect you to lose 50 pounds in a week! They always think it's the same thing as gastric bypass! Irritating!! Still trying to find the humor in it though! Things could be worse, much worse! LIFE IS GOOD!