maggs79

Thanks for the advice!! I don't care so much about the food and drinks up there. I just don't want to try to be searching for a protein shake or something.

The surgery is a relatively simple procedure. Just make sure you follow exactly what the doctor tells you. And WALK. Even more than you think you should or want to! It really takes away the pain quite a bit! You will be fine. And this site is a GREAT source of support! Friend me!

That is wonderful!! And happy birthday!!!!

Yay for watermelon!! I am excited for that too! Great job on doing so well!

I had my follow up with my surgeon today. He said everything looks great! I've lost 4 pounds since Monday, not including the 4 pounds I gained in swelling and lost by Wednesday. So, yay for that! He said everything looks good and that my surgery was very straight forward and easy. My first fill is scheduled for July 12th and I get to start on mushies on Monday! Woo!! On to my "great news!" K, so I am a photographer--mainly children, seniors and families--and every year my company has a contest for what they call the "Chairman's Award." Basically that's a fancy title for photographer of the year. The prize is $25,000!! That's right, 25k! Last year I was a finalist and placed 4th. Still really cool to have been a finalist. This year the competition is a LOT tougher!! We've moved from in-studio sessions only to on-location photography as well. About 1,300 people entered this year (as opposed to the 460 last year) and......I'm one of the 8 finalists again!!! PLUS one of my images is up for top prize in its category!! :confused: (And I'm the only finalist that has been a finalist before! If I don't win, I'm going to call myself Susan Lucci! LOL) I am just SO excited and I had to share this news!! I got the call as I was driving to my doctor's appointment today. It made for a very good visit to the doctor! LOL So that leads me to a question. I am scheduled to have my fill on July 12th. The meeting/awards ceremony is July 15th and they always serve dinner and drinks, etc. Should I just wait an extra week for my fill since I'll have to be on liquids during my time up there if I don't wait? What do you think?

I'm still pretty sore around my port incision--had my surgery on Monday too. I'll say a prayer for you that you start feeling better fast! Have you tries Gas Ex strips?? They worked wonders for me! I never really had any pain from gas. Plus walking really DOES help. I walked SO much after surgery. ((hugs)) It'll get better.

I check it more than a couple times a day! (Which does nothing to help my work along, btw! Ha!) But you are so right...it's inspiring and encouraging to read what others have to say and see what others are going through. Plus hearing from a friend on here with encouraging words ALWAYS helps!! So thank YOU for that!! Today is my first post-op follow-up! I hope he thinks I'm doing well! I FEEL well!! Still just a little sore around the port site, but that's to be expected, I'm sure. Have a wonderful day!

Getting healthy is the whole point of the band anyway. Getting "skinny" is a perk. Ha! I'd also like to be a size 8-10...I don't think I've EVER been that size! Best of luck with your surgery!

You have my support, fully!! My surgery was Monday and it wasn't too bad. Yes, there is pain. Obviously, but it's manageable with the meds. Don't try to be a hero, first of all--if you are in pain, take the medicine. A hurting body is not a healing body. When they say you should walk, DO it! Even if you don't feel like you can or want to. That helped me tremendously. I have had ZERO gas pains and I think it's because I walked SO much right away. They will probably give you little medicine cups of water to drink every 15 minutes--it's the perfect amount to sip at first. Don't gulp it down. It took me about 3 sips to drink the whole thing each time. But I've had no problems keeping anything down this week. Best of luck to you! Keep us posted and let us know how you're doing!!! You will be fine. I'll say a prayer for you too.

I love reading your blogs! Because even when y ou are "wallowing", you're not! You're in the process of picking your head back up and moving forward! And that is what we all need to be able to do when something gets us down through this process! You are an inspiration to the rest of us and I'm glad I've found this site in order to meet people like you!

You will definitely be turning some heads by January! You're gorgeous as it is NOW! Just imagine how smokin' you'll be in a few months!! Any boy will be lucky to have you!

Yay!! Congrats on losing!! And I love your attitude!

Last night I felt tired, so I thought I'd take a "nap" around 7:30. Welllll, I woke around 4am! And I figured there was no point in being awake at 4am! So I took some liquid Tylenol (I've stopped taking the Vicadin already), had some water, walked around for a few minutes, then went back to bed! Slept till about 8am! I suppose my body needed it, though. I feel a lot better today! My port incision is still sore and a bit swollen, but it's getting better everyday. Never did have any gas pains. *yay!* And last night I sort of got to sleep on my side a little bit with some pillows behind me. Much more comfortable! I went out briefly yesterday. Just drove to Walgreens a few blocks away for the previously mentioned liquid Tylenol. (Crushed pills are so gross!) Just that little drive took a lot out of me! Not sure I was really ready for that. Perhaps that's why I ended up being so tired so early. Today I am staying in, besides a walk outside. Tomorrow I have to drive over an hour into the city for my follow-up. I hope I've lost something, but if not, I won't stress too much. I'm still swollen and healing. There is plenty of time for losing later. This is still the best decision I think I've ever made regarding my health! I'm so excited to see where this goes! Blessings! xo

Have fun at the game!!

I know the feeling about the soup! I'm tired of it too! I never really liked it before and now I'm just plain sick of it! Ha! Best of luck to you!!

Yay!! Congrats! Keep us updated!!

My doctor said 5-10 pounds a month is normal and good. So you are right on target! He also said if you lose weight too fast you may also end up with some hair loss! Eek! It sounds like you are doing great! Congrats and keep it up!

Have fun getting the "whiny" beat out of you! And I agree completely with your blog today. It's something I know I struggle with as well. Thanks for sharing.

Happy 3 week b-day!! That's exciting! Also exciting to me to hear that you're up to working out only 3 weeks out! I plan on going to the gym in my apartment complex starting next week, but ONLY to walk on the treadmill. Well, we'll see how I feel. Thanks for your comments on my blog, btw! Have a great day!!

I am SO glad to be able to have a protein shake!! It makes me feel so much better than drinking water, V8 Splash and jello could ever do! My swelling is going down too, I can tell. The pain is also I think reduced quite a bit. I woke up at 4 am a little thirsty. Had some V8 juice and some tylenol and that did the trick to let me get back to sleep. Still using an icepack, but just for comfort alone. And STILL no gas pains! I think I may have gotten really lucky with that. We'll see! I had gained 4 pounds from the swelling and water retention from surgery, but I've lost that now. Let's hope the weight continues to go DOWN. Though right now I'm not as concerned with that I am with just healing and feeling 100% again. This hasn't been as bad as I had imagined it, to be honest. I only hope it continues to be a blessing and not a curse. Thanks again for all the feedback! You have no idea (well, you probably do have an idea, actually) how much it means to me to hear from all of you. :tt1: Have a great day everyone! xo Maggs

I know all about takin' those pain meds like they're goin' out of style! And yes, the port incision is most definitely the most tender...ice packs are an arm's length away for me right now. I can't start protein shakes till tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it! I'm so sick of chicken broth. Blech! Day two has definitely been more difficult than day one. But it'll all be worth it. Keep in touch! Best of luck!!

Very inspiring!! Thank you for sharing your story!! Blessings and continued success to you!

I am SO happy for you!!!

...is currently an ice pack. Ha!! I can hold it perfectly with my left arm against my belly while I type on the computer. Couldn't have planned it better myself. :tt1: Still doing ok--no gas or nausea to speak of. Just sore and a little tired, but that's fine with me! Oh, and today I really want a piece of pizza. Haha! Not gonna happen of course, but living in Chicago, it's like a LAW to always be up for pizza. LOL Full liquids tomorrow! And that protein shake is calling my name! (I never thought I'd ever be saying that sentence in my lifetime!) My follow up is Friday! I hope my doc thinks I'm doing ok. I took a shower today--best feeling!! I just stood there like....yeah... Ok, this blog was kinda random. And I haven't even had any vicadin yet!! Haha! I think I'll keep it short tonight. Hope everyone else out there is doing well!! xo

And it is! Yesterday was my surgery and although there was some pain all day, it was manageable. I had a nice night's sleep and had some hot tea and more jello this morning. Took some Vicadin again too--not going to try to be a hero at this point in the game. Good news, though--still no nausea or gas pains! I really hope this lasts! Seems too good to be true! I'm a bit more swollen today, but the icepacks help with that. All in all, not feeling too bad! :tt1: I'm going to take it easy today and for the next few days, but I'm very optimistic about my healing process! There is this TINY irrational bit of me, though, that does worry this won't work for me. Has anyone else ever had those worries? I'll feel better when I see and feel some results down the road, I am sure. Thanks for any advice and encouragement! Have a great day everyone! Maggs