merrywait

How many ccs in your band before you got good restriction?

How were you closed up? If you had stitches or staples did they hurt coming out?

Thanks guys. It is really great to here everyone's eating schedules. They vary so much. I am 6 days post-op with no nausea, vomiting, or regurgitation. My body seems to be telling me to step it up a bit from shakes and blended creamed soups but I am worried about damage to the band if I start mushies/solids too soon.

I was banded Monday and my doctor said to handle gas pain by: 1. Lay on back and massage the soft area just between the shoulder and the chest to dissipate the gas. 2. Do deep shoulder rolls. Slow and as big as possible. Good luck!

I am still on full liquids and am wondering what kind of eating plan/schedule everyone else was on in the first few weeks post op? Right now I am sipping Protein shakes and Water throughout the day with 1/2 cup for lunch and dinner. Wanted to know what everyone else did and how was your weight loss in those first few weeks?

I had to spend a week in Las Vegas at a Conference the week before my surgery. I managed. I did what I needed to do and that often meant going to my room with a bottle of Water and a REALLY good book. What kept me on track was knowing that when my surgeon opened me up, he would be able to see if I was really serious about my commitment. Believe me, the first words out of my mouth post-op were, "how did my liver look?" I wanted to know the sacrifice paid off...and it did. You can do this! If you were not a super strong gal you would not have made it this far!

I am opn the lower end of the BMI also. My doc said I could get in the pool at ten days post-op. Begin light exercise, gentle biking, at one week, and deep abdominal, such as Pilate's and Yoga, at 4 weeks as well as regular cardio workouts. I was banded Monday and feel great! Surround yourself with positive folks and thoughts. We are only limited by our own beliefs. Rock and Roll girl, you got the goods! You made it this far for a reason:thumbup:

Congratulations!!! Hope your recovery is as easy as mine has been. Get plenty of rest and don't forget to sip,sip,sip that water!

Thanks everyone! It really has been such a great experience! Today, 2 days post-op, I have not taken any pain meds. It just feels like I pulled a muscle in my left side and that is totally manageable. And I have already lost the surgery weight gain plus 1 pound! And I got a shower!!!! Today I started full liquids and felt the restriction for the first time. It is heavenly to sit down to 1/2 cup of blended cream of chicken Soup and be so full afterwards. I can sleep on my side easily, have done from the first day home and was able to give my babies, 3 and 5 year olds, baths tonight. No doubt I had a superb surgeon but I think one's attitude is the real key. This is my choice and I welcomed the band into my body like a little, very expensive:laugh:internal personal trainer. Great luck to us all!!!:cursing:

Got banded yesterday!:scared2: No gas pain, no swelling, no bloating! Only five small bandages. My stomach looks like it did before but with those five tiny Patches. No seepage, no bleeding! Up and rolling within hours. I can't feel a thing. Is it really in there?!?!? Hope everyone has as wonderful an experience as mine!!!

Thanks to both of you! I am very excited and nervous and right now, with lasagna in the oven....very hungry. But broth will do. HA..yes i sleep lying down except during boring lectures.

Just a few quickies before the world changes.... How long till the gas/shoulder pain passes? When will i be able to lie down for sleeping again? When will i be able to bend over to pick things up again or give my girls a bath?

July 28 but we still don't know the time.

OH! Thanks so much to you all! I am very serious about what I am about to take my family and myself through. I know I am going to have to commit and work and I am OK with that. I just want to know that I will succeed if I do my fair part. I do feel very strongly that this is the absolute best choice for me but after my "talk" by the PA. I was feeling rocked. Looking at your tickers, you are outstanding examples of success:thumbup: with the LB. I hope to soon be one too. Thanks for propping:smile2: me up!

Last week I went to get my surgery date set. My surgeon's P.A. is the one I spoke to. She did EVERYTHING she could to try and get me to switch form the band to a G.B. I do not have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other co-morbidities. I have a BMI of 42. BTW, my surgeon is Blue Cross Bariatric Surgeon of Distinction She went on and on about what a hassle the band was and what would happen if I was on vacation and it got too tight or too lose. She said no one would touch it. She said we had better never move cause other surgeons won't do fills on patients that are not theirs. She mad it sound like I would never be able to travel again and that the band would become nothing but a hassle and a curse to me! Then she launched into the problems. She said 80% of all Lap Bands have problems. They get so tight they can't swallow their own spit, band erosion, reflux, esophagus dilation, having to get fills or unfills every few weeks, not losing any weight. Yet when i asked how many bands they had have to remove she said only one since they began doing them. Finally, she wrapped it up with the fact that, if I was lucky, I might lose 40 pounds of the 100 i need to lose.:smile: She said the only way for the band to work was to follow the diet without one goof-up and to exercise like a Trojan Warrior!!!! Why, why, why??? Please tell me it ain't so!!!!!