StevieVieth

Hi, hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Its Sat night and I just finished changing over the winter to spring clothes....happy to think that comes summer ill have to get all new clothes!!! Hope all you past week bandsters are recouping. Give it a week and I know...its uncomfortable....take the pain killers they really help even with the gas pains. Remember to sip and walk, sip and walk. I sipped so much the first night....that I was getting up to pee more then just to get up to walk lol.

I hope everyone else is doing good post op who have had surgery at the beg of the month and everyone is feeling good now!!!

Im having a problem drinking 640z of liqiud still. I just cant sip that much all day...I try and try but to no avail. I get to about 24-30 at most. Doing okay with Protein drinks and all the Vitamins etc etc but still cant get enough liquid. Anyone else having this problem?

(Stevie)

Jodi, I do like not having a scale at home, but sometimes I would like to know how I am doing. I would be afraid to have one at home for the fact that i would probably be on it everyday as well. I would just like to know my progress so far. I can tell I am slimming out, I just dont believe it. I have been stuck here for so long...

Stevie...

thats exactly why I wont have one here....I know ill be on it night and day!! I actually went to my primary doctors this past week ...as he wanted to see how I was doing..so he weighed me and I lost another 4 pds or so....yea...he was so excited I lost 20pds since March 9th he hugged me...a little inapropriate but I suppose he feels responsible as he was the one who pushed me to have the surgery in the first place...lol But he also agreed not to have the scale until I hit goal.

I am however starting to feel like I lost weight. I actually fit into some clothes that my mother bought for me in size 18 and before surgert they did not fit...and now not even a month later they fit!!!! Yea.

Hoping next month Ill go down to a 14 and then I can start getting rid of my big clothes!! cant wait for that.

Hope your feeling good!

Finding me;

Yea you did it!!! I hope you are feeling good. I know the first three days are the hardest but you will start to feel better soon.....I began driving and shopping on day three. Day two not...so good..but day three and on I was okay so you should be able to go...esp when you will be sitting.

just take Water with and sip sip sip.

Liftingchic;

I hope you are feeling okay..I know the doctors did say if you develop a fever to call ASAP as maybe this could be you have an infection...I hope all is well and you did call. Im worried for you now....Please post and let us know your okay....

I didnt go back to work for a week and half. I really could have after a week but I just started to feel better on Sunday which was just 6 days after surgery...If I pushed it I could have but decided to wait another 2 days and ended going back on Thursday a week and two days after surgery. The extra two days...I kind of just shopped and got my house back on order. Im glad I waited....I felt really good when I went back later like I never had surgery by that time.

Please let us know how you are....will be thinking about you and hoping everything is okay!!!

You just joined!!

What a great idea about going into the chat room at the same time each week to get a support group going.

I think this would be as you said a great time to ask all those questions we all have and forget to post ask or dont get responses fast enough lol.

I would love to come in and chat,,,,the only thing is is 6PM is really early as I am a single parent and that is a really hard time, Im on the East coast and that would make it afternoon for the west coast. Is it possible to make it later so that all the people who have kids can sit and chat maybe after the kids are closer to going to sleep or after dinner for the east coasters??

Ill take any time of course that the consensus chooses but my choice is for as late as possible. 8 and later...for me...what do you think?? Not sure about how to make your own chat room on this thread...but maybe someone will know.

perhaps we can make a pole about the timing to go into the chat room on site.

Dont know how to do that lol but if someone does...I know Bob he made a pole before so maybe he can help here....

Let me know,,,again great idea. I love it.

and welcome to the thread!!

Hope you are feeling well. Keep us posted.

Well...must run Have a great night all...feel good.

Jodi

Thats awesome Jodi, I am still unaware of any of my weight loss since the 16 lbs. I find myself wondering but I cant bring myself to buy a scale. I will eventually, lastnight my husband commented on how he can see I am losing weight and pointed out the areas I need to work out on. I work out 30 to 45 mins a day in the morning and if I feel up to it I do it in the evening as well. My hubby is working on toning some muscles so he sometimes works out with me. i can see where in some of my clothes that I wouldnt wear pre op because they were too tight, but now I am. I am going to look into finding some cuter clothing at the thrift shops so I dont spend too much money because i the next yr I will need a whole new wardrobe.

But everyone has to remember the first 4 to 6 weeks is for healing so dont get to discouraged. I broke the other day and was really discouraged but I am only 4 weeks post op today! and I dont have a scale to watch my weight loss. and I posted a thing in the forum and everyone is talking and helping me. SO if you think this forum isnt helping you should try because this and the support groups really do work.:frown:

Okay guys, give it to me straight! When is this god awful feeling like I need to burp or I will explode feeling go away???? I am told that this is temporary but I feel frustrated and VERY unladylike (if you get my drift, and I most certainly hope that you are not down wind no pun intended).

Does this feeling ease up? Please let me know.

Ruthie:cursing:

This exploding feeling did not leave me until I was able to fart (Dont mind me, I try to be lady like) And I wasnt able to for about a week post op. The terrible gas pains lasted atleadt 6 days post op. But once you get past it youll feel great@@@!!! I promise:thumbup:

I will, I really appreciate all of the support even though it is just a few people. My Husband told me today that he can see a difference in me, although it not too too significant but he can see the weigh starting to come off.

That made me smile. This rainy weather here in New Jersey is also another addition to my stress and depression. I find myself more so depressed when the weather is not nice, especially with my boy being stuck in the house.

Rain Rain go away, leave and never come back!!!! I cant wait for the nicer weather to come back so I have more of a reason to get out and walk and play!

Well Anymore suggestions/insight welcome I will keep everyone posted:thumbup:

I ahve revisited the issue with my Doctors. They prescribed me an anti depressant that I was already on and my insurance didnt cover it that was back in November and I havent been on anything since then.

I do go to therapy every two weeks and I enjoy that, but its the behavioral health doctor is the one who took me off of the antidepressants. I dont go back to him for 3 months.

I am feeling a little better today, although not uout of the woods yet. I was going through clothes and I can find a cheap enough reasonable cute younger loooking store that sells fat clothes. I really hate the way I look when i get dressed because of the fact that I am 23 and i look like Im 50 yrs old because of the clothing that I seem to wear now.. Any suggestions?:thumbup:

I am feeling for you right now! I saw you are at 194 (I'd love to be here right now!!) which is a much lighter weight than most of us start out at! But....in almost 8 months I have lost 60 lbs. So just think...that could be you in just 8 months! Only 10 lbs away from your goal! And I could have done so much better if I had started working out sooner. I didn't get serious about it until about 3 months ago, which makes me so mad at myself! Plus, working out soon will help with your depression issues, I PROMISE!! Been there and I'm over that!! I have 3 boys (twins that are 7 and a 20 month old), a great husband, and I'm a teacher, so I'm a busy girl! Just be patient with youself! It is a slow, frustrating, GREAT process! You are going to be just fine!!! Stick with it and keep in mind that you just started! You will be back in your skinny clothes before you know it!! **chin up**

Thanks Spartan and thanks skinny.

Yes a journey does begin with a step. Sadly I had to wait until not to start it. my insurance required 7 month monitored diet. Which did absolutely nothing for me... I think I actually gained and lost and gained and lost with a 1200 cal diet and exercise.

I actually have been working out since my 2 weeks post op, and I feel good when I do. I just dont know I know it will take a lot of time. I am just depressed today.

Thank you all for listening and the support I really truely appreciate it.

So I was banded 3/2/10 and on my one week post op I lost 16 lbs.. I do not own a scale and my next Dr appt is on 4/14 so I will not know my progress till then. So items of clothing are becoming loose but I dont feel like Im making too much progress. I know I am not a bunch out but I feel I could be doing better.

This being overweight is killing me, my son is gonna be 2 in April and just right before I had him I was only 120 lbs (here are some old pictures of me in my profile) I just want to get back there and fit into my older clothes, when I was only 1 week post op I was down to 194 and I was so happy to be under 200lbs I just dont know what had happened to me.

I feel gross and ugly and FAT especially. I dont like the clothes that I fit into I dont like a lot of things about myself. I was on anti-depressants and just this past wednesday the doctor decided to not continue these meds. He feels as I continue to lose weight and everything my depression will lighten and finally go away.

I keep thinking to myself... what if that doesnt happen? I dont want to wait until next summer to hopefully have lost a good amount of weight to look decent in any clothing.

I just dont know. =(

Hello I was banded March 2nd, and on my one week post op appt I was down 16 lbs. Since then it has been two weeks and I dont have a scale at home so Im not sure of my progress. I go for my first fill April 14th so I am excited for that. It would be sooner but the Dr is away for Easter. Right now I am doing some intense cardio for 30 minutes and eating two meals a day with a Protein supplement for Breakfast. I am taking one a day womens Vitamin as well.

I am at the point where I get frustrated because i cant see the weight coming off fast enough even tho I barely eat. I am on a Full Bariatric diet now, the only things I cant have are breads, pastas, rice, caffine, carbonation, alcohol.

:thumbup:

Well tomorrow is my day. I have to be at the surgery center at 6:00 am and surgery is at 7:30 am. Today is all Clear Liquids which doesn't seem to be bothering me much....yet. I am sure I will be ready for mushies come Sunday. I only have to do a clear diet for 1 day before surgery and 3 days after. I have a question for all of you who have already been banded. My daughter has a 2 game softball tournament on Sunday and I was wondering how you were feeling 3 to 4 days out. Do you think you could have gone to a softball tournament for the day or is that pushing it?

Everyone is different. I was sitting in the car being lost a few hours 4 days after surgery I was fine in the car. My husbands best friends grandmother passed and we went to her wake and funeral. It was an all day ordeal and we were out and about and I was fine. It was also 1 hr and a half away too. The Day I went home from surgery I was out an about as well.

Glad to hear you are doing so well!!! Yes, I know how you feek about not having a scale at home..I dont either. I figure.....if I did Ill just be on it everyday..and if it didnt move Id be disapointed...this way...im totally shocked once a month to see how much ive lost so far.

So. far im a happy camper!

Jodi, I do like not having a scale at home, but sometimes I would like to know how I am doing. I would be afraid to have one at home for the fact that i would probably be on it everyday as well. I would just like to know my progress so far. I can tell I am slimming out, I just dont believe it. I have been stuck here for so long...:thumbup:

Hi everyone! I'm home. Had my surgery this morning with Dr. Trace Curry. I had a hernia that they had to repair, so I got a little more stomach gas they said. I have to say, that is the worst part of the whole thing so far. My port incision is a bit sore but not unbearable.

I hate to be TMI, but I have never prayed so hard to fart in my entire life! :thumbup: I have a heating pad and a thermacare on my shoulder trying to break it up and keep getting up and walking around. The walking isn't bad, either. Just that darn gas! :redface:

The gas was the same for me, that was where most of my pain came from. Like you I dont think I ever prayed so much to relieve myself. I did let out a few burps but that did absolutely nothing.

Gald you are home and doing well. my Dr said I was the last of his band patients to stay overnight. I told him thanks I didnt want to stay over night. I was also his last to have the swallow test bright and early the next morning.:confused:

Im glad everyone is doing well. I am a little antsy to see what is going on weight wise. I do not have a scale at home, so I will be waiting till 4/14 when my first fill appt is to find out.

I have been doing well, three weeks post op tomorrow. My insicions are almost all scabbed off. and they honestly dont look to bad. I am glad though that some of my clothes are not as tight as they use to be.

I'm not a big fan of fish, I'm learning to like it, but only like salmon, and the white fishes, however I do love tuna.

I have never had sushi so i don't know if i would like it or not, but i might be willing to try it. :cursing:

Im only a fan of cetrain fish like Tilapia, and tuna (in a can). I only like salmon in a philadelphia role for sushi. My hubby lovessss salmon and I dont! I miss sushi I havent had any since surgery, because I am not trying to do the rice thing yet!

I am anxious for 4/14 thats when I get my first fill! and I dont have a scale so I dont know my numbers all the time I go by the Dr office scale because anyother scale is different.

Hi Parisluver,

Good Luck on Friday I know you will do great. The liquid diet is not that bad, at first I thought it might be, but it really is mind over matter. I do tend to get bored with the broth as I am not a fan of beef broth, so I have only chicken broth. Also I had a lot of people in my group at the doctors office raving about this MISO Soup. They were saying it was so good and full of flavor. I purchased some to try and unless you really like fish soup it is NASTY!!!!!!!! I could not even get it past my nose........no one told me it was a fish broth.......YUCK!!!

Ah when you make Miso soup out of a package it does not taste good. I do like Miso soup from the Japanese steakhouses which they serve with ginger salad before a hibachi dinner. Rather tastes very good. I am not a fan of homemade miso soup. I do like sushi on the other hand.

DId anyone else receive a "card" with info on their band? I didn't get anything like that...

I received a whole little packet of information with a member ID number. It came with a little temporary ID card, and I went on lapband.com and I filled in my information and they sent me an actual patient ID card with all of mine and my Dr.'s information.

Jodi, glad you are doing well. I had to do the yucky swallow test the morning after, even tho the Dr. didnt put any fill in. I just thought it was odd that they would even fill before they put it in.

Glad everyone is doing well. I will be 2 weeks post op tomorrow, and one of my scabs washed off in the shower!! So happy that the scabs are going away so I can start the scar healing process.

I also get to start working out on wednesday, today I was having a little port site pain, and sometimes it hurts really bad. anyone else???:thumbup:

Hey everyone, I'm new to this site so I'm still trying to get the hang of it. Everyone seems really great and supportive. :thumbup:

My surgery date is set for March 24. I'm a little nervous but mostly excited. Can't wait to turn my life around.

Not sure if this is the right place to ask... but I'm scheduled for pre-op testing later this week, can anyone tell me what to expect with that?

The pre op testing that i had to do was actually go to the hospital where I was having surgery, and they too your vitals, drew some blood, checked my weight, had me sign paper and such for pre registering in the hospital so that way on surgery day you wont have to fill out a whole bunch of paper. Then after that we had pre op education which was a tour of the floor where we would be staying, and was given a goodie bag with a spirometer, pillow, theraband inside it. the support pillow was to hold against your stomach when you cough or sneeze. It helps with getting out of the bed.

I thought it was impossible to get stuck prior to any fills but I managed to do it yesterday. Just 11 days out of surgery and day 4 on mushies.

I didn't want to have to clean my blender or food processor. So, I just used a fork to mash up the tilapia I was eating. Well, I took too big of a fork full and didn't chew enough.

Thankfully, because I am so new, it only lasted 2 minutes or so.

Good luck!!

Btrieger I actually got stuck for the first time yesterday too. Only being the same amount of days post op, but Im a little further on my diet I am on my week of softs right before full bariatric. I was eating some string cheese and next thing I knew was I felt like I couldnt breath, and I excused myself to the kitchen thought I was gonna throw up but it passed through. It was only a short time as well. I think that even with no fills yet you still chance getting stuck!

What were you eating? At least it passed in a minute or so...

I was eating a stick of string cheese. I am on my soft foods stage, which is just about anything that I can chew really really good. I guess I didnt chew well enough and it blocked my stoma, but I gave it a minute and it went down. Now I continue to chew chew chew chew! I go in for my fits fill 4/14 but I havent really been eating too much as long as I get my Protein in. I basically have carnation instant Breakfast for Breakfast, then lunch would be 2 oz of veggies and 20z of Protein and the same for dinner. I am full at about 4 oz which is good since I have no restriction whatso ever.:tongue_smilie:cant wait to actually start working out next wednesday. I am looking into the gym where my Dr.'s office is. tomorrow night is support group for me, I urge anyone who is to get or has already gotten the band to continue to support group it truely helps.:thumbup:

Hey Folks,

My name is Sal, and I'm from Central Pennsylvania. I was just banded on Monday, March 8th, so I'm 5 days post op. I never got to see my surgeon at discharge, so I'm not sure what fill amount we started with. I've been taking liquids without issue - it hurt to swallow at first (most likely from being intubated), but I'm good now. The majority of my gas pains subsided on Thursday (Day 3) - the same day I stopped the Isopure and moved to full liquids - again, without issue. I did alot of research on the net and came back with a wide array of what can be considered a 'full' liquid. Everything from mashed potatoes to Protein shakes came up. I've since ingested Protein Shakes, soft scrambled eggs, liquified lentil Soup, and today, I broke down and ate the inside of a spiced apple donut (we had a dozen donuts here for company whom have been in and out all week to see me). Understand, I NEVER eat donuts. I am a huge Dunkin' Donut fan, and I always get coffee and a healthy, flatbread eggwhite sandwich for breakfast. Not to get off on a tangent here - I ate the inside of the donut, with an 8oz glass of milk shortly after it, and other than a little tightness at the stoma, I had no issues. My point is - I have it in my head that I'm not supposed to eat ANY solids yet, but being that I am really craving solids, had I known what to opt for, I would have probably stayed away from the donut. tuna fish, over-cooked Pasta, wonton soup, beef barbecue??? I meet with my Surgeon on the 16th, but I want to take a bit of something solid yesterday :wink2: Any thoughts or support would be greatly appreciated.

I know how you feel, I will be two weeks post op on this coming Tuesday. I went through the I want some solids phase for a few days I was on full liquids for only 4 days. I had cream of Broc. soup. and a lot of other heart healthy fatt free Soups. as I transitioned over to soft solids, I was able to eat blanched, then steamed broccolli till it was almost mush but had a solid texture to it. I was also able to eat some canned tuna, I used chunk ligh in Water solid white might be a little tougher to chew small enough just yet. I did have my first "stuck" episode today but I wasnt stuck for long.

Thanks Stevie! I will see what my doc has to say friday when I have my surgery... I cant believe today is already the 13th.. this month is Flying!

No problem, They had given me liquid tylenol with codeine for pain management after surgery, but about the pills I learned a lot at my pre op bootcamp(pre op education class).

Country, I tell my son that I have a boo boo, and he kind of understands, I actually show him my incisions so he kind of understands what I am talking about. He is pretty smart for being almost only 2.

So I got my first experience with getting stuck. It felt HORRIBLE!!!! I just got lost of pain in my chest, and it felt like I couldnt breath but I gave it a minute and it finally passed. :wink2:

Sorry to hear about you extra day in the hospital, At least things seem to be doing better... Hope you start feeling yourself really soon

Question for the banded people: are you guys allowed to take your regular meds? IE. blood pressure meds and such

Well my doctors said you can take any meds that are smaller then the size of an M & M. They cannot be extended release you need to see if they made them not extended release for atleast the first month. He also had us check for liquid forms of meds too. Birthcontrol we had to stop for 2 to 3 weeks because of the high rise for blood clots too..:wink2:

Hi Everyone....Glad to see all of you early bandsters doing well and this weeks bandsters are home and recouping!!!

So....Surgery was over Tuesday afternoon and needed to stay an extra day in hospital but now home resting comfortably.

The procedure started off real easy and predictable....until after surgery.when I began to suck on ice chips..I started throwing up and feeling really nauseaus.......

Every two hours when the nurses got me up to walk I would get naseus and throw up; That lasted all night until I was wretching up just the ice chip Water.

In the AM they did a barium swallow and saw that I was obstructed probably from all the wretching. So...right then and there...the surgeon came in and took out the fill from the band and I emmedietely felt better. Apparently this happens..so now I am only aloud liquid diet and this will last till next Wednesday. My blood pressure was high and so I needed to stay another night in the hospital...and this really annoyed me...as every two hours they wake you and make you walk the hallways. lol

Since coming home Thursday AM. I feel okay..lots of gas but only in the lower abdomen. Ive been walking it off or at least trying. Last night was hard. I kept waking up from gas pains and walking the outside apt hallway. Probably woke the whole building.

Havent filled my pain killer script as im really not in pain. Just gassy and tired from being poked and prodded and given this anti naseau med and that one...etc etc. WOW what an experience. I hope that everyone else has had an easier time....

All in all it really wasnt awful...just alot uncomfortable!

Well...must go now....as im pretty tired.

Good luck all who are having surgery....this coming week....may you all have a easy and speedy recovery!!

That is odd that they gave you a fill while you were still in the hospital. I had to take a test before having surgery and one of the questions was will you get a fill right then and there in the hospital and the answer was false.

Every surgeon I have looked up never did a fill right in the hospital. Your body is working and learning that there is an instrument inside you, without the fill you will still start to lose weight, I dont go for my first fill till 4/14..

Jodi glad you are doing well now, and I hope this is an experience for you.

Glad to hear everyone is doing well pre and post surgery. Mine was done on march 2 and I stepped on the scale for the 1st time since the surgery and I'm down 9lbs!!! 9lbs in a little over a week! It's amazing! All this "fighting" I have been doing with my head when it's saying "you're hungry Theresa, it's time to eat" is paying off and it feels great! I'm doing super on the full liquid diet and can't wait so see what's in store! Well wishes to all!

Great job, I actually stepped on the scale for the first time after surgery on wednesday and I was down 8lbs from 3am after surgery. but gladly 16 lbs down since my one week pre-op diet. SO glad to actually be seeing the numbers going down, not bouncing back and forth. Finally, so I am also working on my progress with foods, I was able to eat broccoli great but it was like mush.=) I like it steamed and sauteed til it is mush though so I had no problem with it.

To the person looking for their port, it takes like a week after surgery to actually be able to tell where it is and feel it. I have to be laying down to find it sometimes, at first that is how I found my port. on your week post op appt, ask your doctor to show you.

Hi All!

I'm scheduled to be banded on March 17th and I am son excited! Here's a lillte about my journey.

Dec 2009 - Attended weight loss seminar

- Referred by my Primary Care physician for bariatric surgery

Jan 2010 - Initial consultation with surgeon

- Nutrition consult

- Cardiology evaulation (stress test)

Feb 2010 - Psych evaulation

- Surgery scheduled for March 17th

- Preop with Surgeon

Mar 10 - Began to eat everything in site and have gained almost 10 pounds since my surgery was scheduled. I understand this is called "Last Supper" Syndrome. Ha!Ha!Ha!

My surgeon does not require a presurgery diet except for the day prior to surgery which is a liquid only.

I am having my surgery in Atlanta, GA.

My surgeron is Dr. John Daly.

I am thrilled to be apart of the March Bandsters and I really look forward to sharing stories and hearing from all of you.

Darlene

Glad to have you as a March bander.

I am doing well everyone. So far the hunger thing is stil on control. I have lost 16 lbs since I started my pre op diet two weeks ago. I lost 8lbs since they weighed me after surgery! I am excited today was pureed staged, I move onto minced tomorrow. I had some heart healthy Tomato sauce, with a dollop of fat free ricotta cheese for lunch. And for dinner I had steamed/sauteed broccoli (I had no trouble eating it, cause I like my broccoli like mush) and a fat free mozzerella string cheese. I was stuffed. And of course this am I had my Protein.< /p>

I am one week post op, and i fell bloated or like I am retaining Water weight. Does anyone else have this problem? I am going for my 1 week post op appt. tomorrow.