Bklynike

How did your surgery go yesterday? Things with mine were great, and I expect the same with you. How about that gas? I feel pretty good today because I think I have walked most of it off and my husbands has been rubbing my shoulder and back. The pain I am having is when trying to get up from a seated positon at the port site, but that too shall pass.

Please let me know how you are doing. I hope you are doing great. It is the start of your new life so enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Hi, Rose:

I am so glad you had a good weekend away. I am scheduled for my 2nd fill on the 25th, next Monday. I am losing consistently about a pound a week, but I really thought it would be more. I am NOT hungry between meals - luckily. I am not cheating with things I shouldn't eat and I feel really good. However, I really thought I would have a 2-4 lbs loss per week. I don't feel any restriction, but when I start to feel full, I stop eating. I only eat 3 meals a day. Tonight I had a chicken thigh, no skin, no bones, that I cooked stove top with cream of mushroom soup and brocolli. I was stuffed!

I weighed in today at the gym and I'm down to 212.2. I thought I would have been further along. But when I think approx 39 lbs in less than 4 months, I'm doing great. Tomorrow starts week 17. How about you?

Uploading a photo is really easy. Simply take a digital and upload it to somewhere on your computer. Then go to your photo album, browse until you find the picture you want to upload and upload it. Thanks for commenting on mine.

I'm so glad to hear your doctor didn't talk you out of weight loss surgery. I understand that the sleeve is the new gastric by-pass and that it is not only healthier, but you have a faster recovery from it. Unfortunately, a lot of insurance companies will not cover it yet, but I am hoping that will change soon. My insurance would not pay for my lapband, but I am hoping people who cannot afford to "get healthy" with surgery will get assistance in the near future with insurance. Good luck to you.

Take one step at a time and you will reach your goal.

I can't wait - what did your doctor say? Are you on pureed food, liquids or regular foods? How are you feeing?

I had a great visit with mine doctor today. So far, I have lost, according to his scale, 15.9lbs since the week before my surgery, which was June 21st. I am now on regular food. I feel great and I hope you are doing as well.

Let me know what is happening.

Hi, Cris.

How are you doing? I haven't heard from you in a while. What have you been up to? It has been 2 weeks now since our surgery and I hope you are doing well. Please keep in touch.

Congrats on your surgery. Do you notice any change yet? I feel remarkable and I hope you do too. This was a big step for us all to take and I know I am going to do whatever I have to do to make this work for me. And I am sure you feel the same way. You go girl!

Turns out I didn't need the fill yet. I have another appointment on the 19th, but the doc said if I find myself not losing weight, hungry or eating larger portions to call and they will fit me right in. When I do have the fill, they want me on liquids for 5 days. I am amazed your doctor wants you on solids the next day. It's amazing how each doctor does things differently. Good luck.

Good to hear you are doing so well. My surgery was also at 8:45 and I was released around 11. The gas is mostly in my left shoulder and side of my neck. But I am walking back and forth in the condo and it seems to be helping. I see my doctor on July 6th. I am on liquids until tomorrow and then full liquids for 10 days. I can't believe you get to eat pureed already. You go girl.

I am in North Miami, FL. I just visited my twin sister in Great Neck NY for a week at Memorial Day. I go up every year - we call it our twins weekend. It is just the girls and it is a great get away. My husband holds down the fort here.

Please keep in touch since we are now band-sisters. My name is Eileen, by the way.

I understand you are nervous about the surgery, but in all honesty, you should be more nervous about what can happen without it.

I had so many co-morbidities that I was afraid of having a heart attack and dropping dead. I am diabetic (Type 2), high cholesterol, high blood pressure, my thyroid wasn't working well, sleep apnea and I just felt old, fat and uncomfortable all of the time.

Since my surgery my meds have been cut in half and I am warding off another bout with cancer. Yes, I am a breast cancer survivor. Had a mastectomy on January 5th, 2010. I had emergency gallbladder removed on July 19, 2009.

I wish you the best of luck and will be here if you need a shoulder to lean on or have questions to be answered.

I read your response to a woman who is having trouble with her band and her doctor is of no help. You said your doctor talked you out of the lap-band, which is a shame. I had my band 4 weeks ago and I have never felt so good. No one can make the decision for you, but you should reconsider doing this for your good health and longer life.

Thanks for responding to my blog. I wish you the best of luck tomorrow. This is the greatest gift you could possibly give yourself.

Just a few things to remember - when you get home you will be sore. Take your pain medication and relax. But Tues, if you are watching TV get up each commercial and walk, even if it hurts. If you don't walk, you will not get rid of the gas. If you don't walk you will be more sore. So start moving on Tues.

Best of luck, again. Please keep us informed of your progress. Blogging or journaling will help your journey. You have friends here.

My girlfriend, the one who turned me on to my wonderful Lap Band surgeon did just that. I will definately try that after Thanksgiving. Thanks for another great tip.

Wow, you are doing so well. Thank you for the encouragement.

Thank you so much for your kind words. We all have our separate journey, but we all want the same things - better health, longer life and a knowledge that we did everything we could to be a better us.

Hey Rose,

I find I might be eating a little less than before. I don't feel the "restriction" everyone speaks about, but I do try to eat slowly and when I find I am not hungry anymore, I stop eating. I rarely find myself hungry between meals, but I really didn't before either. My normal schedule: breakfast at 6:30, lunch at 1:45 and dinner around 6-6:30.

I am scheduled for another fill later this month, and I am thinking about having it done. But I am losing weight consistently and I can eat anything comfortably. So, I'm not sure. How about you? Eileen

You must be getting so excited and anxious to join those of us who have been banded and feeling great. I hope you will post when you have time to let us know how you are doing. It is the greatest gift you can give yourself.

Remember, walking is the most important thing after the surgery to get rid of the gas you are going to have in your upper back and shoulder. It will pass, just give it a couple of days. Some people use GasX, but I just walked. Take it slow the day of surgery, but the next day push yourself to get up and walk. I watched TV the day after surgery and on every commercial, I got up and walked back and forth in my condo.

I will be thinking about you - we all will.

I love your photos. What a difference - you do notice it don't you? It is amazing. You are shining now. Keep up the good work.

Hey, Cris:

Do you feel like you need the fill? Sometimes around 11:00am I start to feel hungry and get that stomach growl that is so loud everyone who shared my office start laughing. But then I realize I hadn't been drinking my water. I get so involved at work; I am training some new employees so I just forget. But other than that, I am not really getting hungry. My surgeon said if I don't feel that I need it next week, we can wait another week. He says usually 4-5 weeks and most patients need it. I think I feel I am doing well now and I am afraid to get so restricted that i have problems eating at all. He said they usually add about 2cc a fill. How about your doctor?

I thought once you were on thyroid medication you can never get off it, but my doctor says depending on my numbers, I could stop it. It is a very low dose.

How are you doing, girlfriend? What are you eating? Have you seen your primary or surgeon yet? Get a blog going so we can keep up with your progress.

If you click on my Avatar, it will take you to a page that at the bottom right hand side it will say photo album. You can click on that to see the green shirt photos. You can do this to see anyone's photo albums.

Hi, Winks:

Thanks for adding me to your friends list. I used to love posting here, but I am now sure how to do it anymore. The old site was much easier to navigate.

thanks for the friend's request. I am honored to welcome you. I am originally from Brooklyn, NY and have lived in FL for 30 years. I had been banded on 6/21 and I have never been so happy. This is a great site. You will make some good friends, learn a lot and get to dish. Welcome to the greatest journey you will ever take and we are all along for the same ride. Isn't that greeat. A website dedicated to us. You go girl!

Hi, Fire Girl. I live in North Miami, just south of Hollywood. Are you in the area?