reverie

First congrats on starting your journey to get banded! Sorry to hear that your family isn't too supportive, but we all support you here and you know what's best for your health, right? Per the seminar it is usually general information. How the Lapband works, what to expect after surgery, pre-surgery preparations, the type of lifestyle changes that will have to be made, etc. It's a good chance to meet your surgeon indirectly. I didn't see my PCP before the seminar; in fact she was clueless as to what the Lapband is. :cursing: In any case, going is up to you. Maybe you want to go to the seminar, get a good grasp and things, and then if you decide you're ready to be banded, I'd then visit your PCP if all signs are pointing towards yes. Best of luck!

Congrats on what sounds like a great surgery!! I couldn't imagine being poked 6 times; I hate needles, a whole bunch. I think I was most afraid of them! Either way, great to hear that surgery went well. Take it slow and get your rest. You'll be losing in no time. :cursing:

Recently I've been doing p90 which involves weights and sculpting on one day and cardio the next. I've been doing the ab portion that comes with it as well (crunches) and nothing has been bothering me until this past week. Usually I can feel my port (its moved though) but yesterday after doing my crunches I was pretty sore near my port area. I assumed it was nothing and just went on about my day. Today after doing push-ups I realized that the area near my port incision was sort of tender. If I touch it it hurts. If I press a little bit I feel something about the size of a ping pong ball. It's sort of hard but it hurts to push on. Could this be an adhesion? This is the first time I've felt this and I just got off the treadmill and man did it hurt to run. I had to hold that area the entire time. Any ideas? I don't see my surgeon until Sept. 13.

I'm wearing size 14s now; started in 20s. My goal is to be a 6, but who knows. :thumbup:

I started off being protective and some people still don't know, but I have told more than I thought I would, ie. coworkers. In any case, it's great that you have such a great support system. It is so helpful to have one throughout the journey.

The emotional/mental issues definitely don't just fix themselves. Even after being down 60+lbs and getting a new compliment each day, I still really struggle with the self-confidence factor and while I do see a skinny(ish) person in the mirror, I do still feel like I weigh 245lbs, not 180lbs. I'm guessing it comes with time but I can say I do feel a little bit better about myself. Seeing the scale drop and buying smaller clothes does help in a sense!

Leave them on! If they are the steri-strips (sticky and applied right to the skin) you want them on for as long as possible. If the ends start to fray you can cut them, but definitely don't take them off. Pulling them can pull your skin apart plus they are good to have on to allow your skin to bind back together. I think mine stayed on for a good week or two and my scars look great.

I do low carb but nothing extreme. I do still eat bread sometimes but I do stay away from the rice and pasta. I usually try to stay under 50 carbs a day. My biggest problem before the band was eating rice/pasta, so I've tried to steer clear of it before I reach my goal. I don't think you should do NO carb, that is silly. Your body does need carbs but it's a matter of getting in the healthy complex carbs and not the ones from junk food.

You'll be fine; many just prefer to use Splenda or some other sweetener that is considered to be a bit more "healthy."

Just like Betsy said, you're okay! Don't worry about a pound. There is no way that you gained a pound unless you went completely crazy this week. Remember that you're just now introducing normal food back into your system, so it may take a few extra days for your body to get the hang of things again. Don't dwell on it and don't let it get you down! You're doing great; keep your head up.

It will get better! It's all part of the rollercoaster sadly, but after awhile things do change. I remember my parents going out to dinner and having the nerve to ask if I wanted to go with them, while I was on the liquid diet!! But today it's definitely a lot better and hardly an issue. Keep chugging along, its all worth it in the end.

Congrats; you look great! I'm half way as well and can't wait to be at my goal.

Good luck with your surgery! As for the next few days post-op, definitely focus on healing and getting the rest you need. Don't push yourself to do anything and definitely don't force yourself to get in all the protein that is recommended. Try to sip as much water as you can and definitely walk when possible. It helps greatly with the gas pains as does Gas-X.

Congrats! Surgery will go great. Keep the positive thoughts and best of luck on your journey!

Does your surgeon allow JellO or anything? If not maybe ask what kind of foods you can add in to keep you from being so hungry? The protein shakes will keep you full for awhile but definitely not for too long! I'd call and ask for suggestions as to what you can safely eat. In the end, keep your head up and keep pushing! These few weeks will seem like a breeze once they're over with.

I didn't really try to conceal it; a lot of people I work with know that I had some sort of surgery, others I just told them I was doing a detox (LOL). But, it was definitely hard to eat soup/mushed stuff for weeks when everyone else was enjoying pizza. We had 2 office parties during that time and it was SO hard. As for the protein shakes I'd make them at home and bring them along with me. I also bought the ones that are pre-made which made things a lot easier. I never got weird looks drinking protein shakes; seems a lot of people around here bring them in for snacks, etc.

You will be fine!! Don't worry so much. As long as you meet the requirements and you're willing to commit to the changes required, you'll get approved. No need to stress out; it only makes the waiting worse.

I wouldn't eat rice 4 days post-op. It does expand in the stomach and 4-days after surgery seems a little bit too early to have to deal with that. Rice is known to cause issues with a lot of bandsters.

Congrats on starting and best of luck! Sounds like your journey is off to a really smooth start.

Definitely if your insurance covers it, stay. If not, I'd go home. My doctor planned for me to stay but I was up and walking what seemed like miles around the hospital floor so he released me.

Congrats on being banded! As for advice..there's definitely a lot, but for one remember that the next few weeks are for healing. Don't get discouraged if the scale isn't doing what you want it to do. Focus on your water/protein and things will get better! Try to follow your post-op diet as closely as you can; slip-ups happen (I had a few) so don't get down on yourself. Though it really does help to follow your post-op plan as it allows you to heal properly and allows you to be able to see the lifestyle/eating changes you have to make. Best of luck!

I was banded in May but I just wanted to say welcome and good luck on your journey!

I'd try a soft protein..maybe fish, beans? It's really up to you. I wouldn't eat something like pork or beef; try to stick to something that is solid but isn't so tough to digest.

It will go away. Take some Gas-X and walk, the gas will start to spread out. Try a warm compress on your shoulder if it hurts that bad. You'll be able to burp again but I wouldn't worry too much right now.

Definitely happens! Stress = tightened band for me. You may want to stick to liquids/soft foods for the rest of the day. Hopefully you feel better tomorrow!