BUNNY7

Thanks Brian. That's what I want... to have a few bites and just can't face any more! How many oz of soup are you having per serving/meal? So good to hear that you threw that sandwich away... wow and congratulations! You must have felt so empowered and encouraged. Taming our appetites/overeating impulses feels to me to be like taming a lion. When you manage it it's fantastic. That would have been a huge thing for me too though forbidden to touch the stuff at this point. I'm terrified of the band slipping! Thanks for responding and hope your week is full of successes. ps We don't get those wonderful ice lollies in South Africa. : (

Hi Amy.... just hang in there. I'm almost 3 weeks down the road and same happened to me in the first weeks. No loss and then BOOM 2 lbs drop and then no change (even went up the scale on some days!) and then WHOOSH down again. I'm on the pureed diet now and the weight loss isn't so dramatic but still going down a kilo (2.2lbs) a week. I haven't lost anything this week but am hanging in for my 'official weigh day on Tuesday. You can do it and it will come down as long as you're not cheating your band with sweet stuff like milkshakes and chocolate drinks. Keep reading the stories on this site as they are hugely encouraging. We're with you in your journey. Warm wishes Des

Great thread... thanks! Banded 9/14/10 My Ups: Losing 10 lbs since the pre op diet and surgery Having a great support from my husband & riends My wounds all healed and no pain anywhere My double chin almost gone Not vomiting once Crossing my legs easily Having a friend who had it done in January - my mentor! Having only 8 days to my next diet stage... soft mashed food. DOWNS No post op follow-up call from my doc No effective support groups Not getting a feeling of being satisfied after eating Wanting to nibble all the time and it's only 2 weeks 4 days post op!!! Feeling sad when the family have a barbecue and I've got a tiny cup of pureed soup! Having to wait 3 and half weeks for my 1st fill

Hi there Brian. I am feeling exceptionally well and enjoying the pureed food after the liquid diet. My BIG WORRY is that I think I'm eating too much! The 'baby food' jar sized portion just doesn't nearly satisfy so find myself going for seconds an hour later. I'm pretty good with the type of food - fat free veg Soup, low fat smoothies. I feel like I'm in a no mans land pre first fill and my body isn't talking to me about having enough. Do you experience this????

Hi Brian ... good on you for doing this as we need it. You are being so proactive and supportive of the group. Thanks! I am finding your eating out experiences very helpful as that's just around the corner for me - banded 14Sept. Have a nutritious weekend! Des

I had a huge emotional dip 3 days post op and just felt like I wasn't coping. I also just wanted to chew anything so pureed a few nuts in my mouth. I'm a comfort eater so this is my danger moment when I'm depressed. The good news is that it passed and those down evenings (always after 5pm) are getting further apart. I try and keep busy until bed which has helped so much. It's a lifetime of bad habits we're trying to undo so don't be hard on yourself and be real with your beloved. I suspect a lot of people have the downers but don't want to put others off so don't say anything! I'm feeling great today and it's a good week. You will get there!!!

We have to get over our embarrassment as this is just part of having a banding. Had the same experience as you did especially early days. Read that they inflate the stomach for easy location to place the band around. Consequently there is a lot of 'air' inside us that must be released. I'm trying to be matter of fact about it but my family is giggling so having a sense of humour about it helps. I explained to my family that this was just how it is at the mo - seems to have freed them up too so it's quite noisy in the home at the moment!!! A lot less gas as I've arrived at the end of my second week post banding. (banded 14 Sept).

Hi all - everyone seems to be doing sooo well!!! Today is 2 weeks anniversay post op - banded on 14 Sept. The official weigh in day I've made for myself is Tuesdays - same day as the op. So happy this morning as I have lost 14 lbs since pre-op weigh -in and 5 lbs this month. On puree diet (mushies starting today) Scrambled egg for breakfast, banana and yoghurt snack so far - YUM. So nice after the 2 week liquid diet. Started at gym yesterday on a reclining bike for 25 min. Trying, trying, trying.... eating/drinking SLOWLY. I'm challenged not to wolf it down so using a small little teaspoon. Hope you're all faring well and that the port pain is lessening - wound healed but still sore inside!

I do feel for you but am wondering as to whether you have gained muscle rather than fat? I know there is a scale that can do the reading which good gyms have. Would you feel happier if your weight gain is associated with muscle which is much heavier than fat?

You have just proved what all the literature about banding says. Each of us loses in different ways - a sudden drop is nice but slow and steady is what I'm looking for so that I don't get saggy and baggy. Thanks for posting - we can't make hard and fast rules and everyones different. Important thing is to keep going....

It's so good to hear that all of us are doing so well. We are also all going through similar things: bitter pills, strange bruises and sore ports - all normal part of the early days. I had no problem in cutting my tabs in half (with scissors) and just swallowing them with a bit of juice. I'm still doing it with my daily vitamin capsules with no pain or problems. I realise this may change once the band is tightened when I will mix it with a bit of yoghurt. Watched an excellent UTube clip last night showing a banding being done. A doc explained what was going on and now I realise why we're all so tender! We have lots of stitches inside. By the way, the itching means you're healing!!! Good luck to those who are being banded in the next 5 days. We're all waiting for you on this side.

Great news.... it's so encouraging when that happens. It seems to be the way one goes with losing the weight. A few days the same and then a drop. I've been the same weight for three days now so expecting the drop tomorrow.

Wonderful news and you're doing so well Lorraine. Keep taking the pain killers as it really helps in those first 5 days. By the 5th day I managed without so you can see how quickly the body starts to heal itself. Great about your hubby - mine has been fantastic and so supportive. Just what we all need even if it's a friend, family member, whatever.... CONGRATULATIONS NEW BANDLETTE

Hi Trish and congrats - you've done it!!! Great that you're part of the September Sweeties and best of luck for a great journey to your goal. It's liquids still but remember your tummy has been shoved around, strangled and stitched. It needs to be allowed to rest, be still and have very little demanded of it so stick to those clear fluids and you'll heal QUICKLY. I'm talking to myself as much as I am to you. Look forward to hearing how it went. Best wishes, Des/Bunny

Great! I'm also a teacher but have retired now - you never want to stop teaching though so am doing other kinds. I'm battling with the liquids only but went on UTube and watched a banding op. Did me a lot of good as it showed how much my poor stomach has gone through. Determined to really keep to the right measured amounts! I've been a little casual about the 2hr stretch between meals. Hope you're cruising along happily!!

Congratulations on the banding! I had mine done 10 days ago. When I woke up the pain at the port site was a 10 for me - screamingly sore but I couldn't scream. Just big tears (thank the Lord for them) and they immediately gave me injections for it. I was very tender - mainly at the port site for the 1st week. As I write this I can gently press all my wound sites and there hardly any pain at all. I really get sore if I stretch/bend over at an angle or pick up anything over 7kgs - so I don't! Keep an eye on your wounds - if they're very red, especially around the port and it doesn't improve, ring your doc. Please don't leave it ...Let me know how you're going.

No prob Shurmeka.... just so impressed with your weight loss!!! I have such a long way to go still and can't imagine being down that amount so perhaps I'm the one feeling discouraged! When did it get easier re the eating?

You finally did it!!!!! Congratulations on loving yourself enought to go through with it. Yes, you HAVE done the right thing : 0 )

I'm so proud of you!!!! Well done for making an excellent choice for yourself. After all you gone through so much already - you DESERVE for this to work for you. I'm terrified I go in for my first fill only to be told by the doc that my band has slipped....eeeek! That thought keeps me in check and I don't want to go through surgery again. I have 4 weeks to go for my 1st fill - 16 October. Look forward to hearing about your one.

My heart really went out to you.... we all have food addictions and I get it. I was banded 2 weeks ago and I miss my old food 'friends'. My motivator was seeing all these health problems developing since I've reached my 50s - blood pressure, cholestral, knee problems etc etc. I just knew that if I kept this up, I would become a burden to myself and my family through either a heart attack or a stroke. It's taken me almost a year to decide to go for it and while it's hard at the moment, I am determined to see this through. Start researching, reading all the stories, become your own expert and then decide when YOU'RE ready. I prayed a lot about this and that helped too. God Bless you.

Hi you Sweet September Bandsters.... we are just going to be fabulous. Good luck to those who are going to banded in the next 6 days... you're part of this group. Last minute advice.... let some one feed you small teaspoons of chopped ice when you come out of theatre. Your throat will either be dry or a bit sore. Mine wasn't but very dry. Here's to new beginnings... Warm wishes to all of you

I'm having a very similar experience in that I feel I could go ahead and eat anything but am scared. I did come across a post that said that if you have food that isn't liquid (can be drunk through a straw) your stomach will begin to churn and move (peristalsis) to digest and break down the food which can cause the band to slip. Also the new pouch can be stretched before we've begun. Remember the band is stitched into place so we have to keep the stomach as still as possible. If you hear anything more please post. I encourage you to stick to the mushies - presume that's what your doc told you to do. I don't think one feels the band slipping so perhaps we both need to be careful till 6 weeks is up. Good luck and keep trying - I;m walking the same journey with you.

Wonderful news Christi and so sorry you had a tough time with the needles and veins and drip... horrible. The nerves surrounding my port were 'screaming" when I came round which was immediately dealt with by morphine and injections at the site. Whew! It seems we all have one challenge or another but they do pass. Glad you're resting and taking it VERY EASY.

Hi Moni - congratulations on starting the journey. It's still sore when I stand up from a low position so it does take a while for the healing to be complete.... 6 weeks is what the tell us. It does get day by day but did find my bra line irritating as the port site is just below. Gas is a problem for me too but not painful. I have had hiccups the last two days but that passed too. Just drinking a cup of hot chai latte before bed which I find satisfying - I use fat free milk. We'll make it... 5 days to mushies

Thanks for the EAS suggestion. Protein shakes aren't the thing where I am (South Africa) but I'm aware of the value of it. Will give it a try - hope I can get a small sample tin.