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Hi all,

I keep searching and searching for active lap-band websites. I'm very pleased with this one so far.

I was banded about one week ago now, on June 15th, by Dr. Milton Owens in Orange, CA. I'm very happy with my experience with the doctor and his office. My insurance refuses to cover anything WLS related, so I'm self-pay.

During my first visit (6/6), I weighed in at 243.5lbs. My highest weight had actually been 247lbs about a month earlier. On surgery day (6/15) after 9 days on liquids, I weighed in at 234lbs on the dot. Tomorrow is my first "official" weigh in, 1 week post-op, so we'll see what happens. I'm very happy with the results so far and sticking to the rules by the letter!

I wish I could say that it has been an easy process so far, but it definitely has not. I rarely take any kind of medicine and I had never had a surgery. The anesthesia and pain meds knocked me out cold. The pain from the gas (OMG, don't want to remember) made me want to shoot myself the first 4 days after surgery. Right now I feel pain in the port incision/location of the port which I keep telling myself is obvious because a lot went on in that tiny area, so tough it out. No, it isn't infected, nothing's wrong. I'm just finding out that I'm extra sensitive to pain. I also have this very "tight" feeling in my chest, just below my sternum. I'm guessing that's the band and that my body just isn't used to that sensation yet. It's also difficult to take a deep breath, or to yawn deeply. There's a lot of change going on in my body due to the surgery itself that I had not anticipated and that sometimes makes me wonder if I did the right thing. I know I did... it's just those moments.

So... I'm hoping I get to meet lots of wonderful, supportive people here. I need a lot of support right now, and hope that someday soon I can begin to offer it to others as well.

Will look forward to catching up on threads/blogs/stories and getting to meet everyone :)

Leilani

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WELCOME,

Was banded myself on the 17th. I am feeling the SAME port pain as you, Most uncomfy for me! The gas pain was not great but I feel that less than the port. I am feeling the same sensation in my chest you mention too. I am reading a great book that is like my bible~

http://www.amazon.com/Bandwagon-Strategies-Success-Adjustable-Gastric/dp/0578061236/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308739710&sr=8-1-spell

I have found a lot of support here over the last month and I am sure you will too! Good luck to you and stay in touch. We are so close on our journeys~:rolleyes:

Hi all,

I keep searching and searching for active lap-band websites. I'm very pleased with this one so far.

I was banded about one week ago now, on June 15th, by Dr. Milton Owens in Orange, CA. I'm very happy with my experience with the doctor and his office. My insurance refuses to cover anything WLS related, so I'm self-pay.

During my first visit (6/6), I weighed in at 243.5lbs. My highest weight had actually been 247lbs about a month earlier. On surgery day (6/15) after 9 days on liquids, I weighed in at 234lbs on the dot. Tomorrow is my first "official" weigh in, 1 week post-op, so we'll see what happens. I'm very happy with the results so far and sticking to the rules by the letter!

I wish I could say that it has been an easy process so far, but it definitely has not. I rarely take any kind of medicine and I had never had a surgery. The anesthesia and pain meds knocked me out cold. The pain from the gas (OMG, don't want to remember) made me want to shoot myself the first 4 days after surgery. Right now I feel pain in the port incision/location of the port which I keep telling myself is obvious because a lot went on in that tiny area, so tough it out. No, it isn't infected, nothing's wrong. I'm just finding out that I'm extra sensitive to pain. I also have this very "tight" feeling in my chest, just below my sternum. I'm guessing that's the band and that my body just isn't used to that sensation yet. It's also difficult to take a deep breath, or to yawn deeply. There's a lot of change going on in my body due to the surgery itself that I had not anticipated and that sometimes makes me wonder if I did the right thing. I know I did... it's just those moments.

So... I'm hoping I get to meet lots of wonderful, supportive people here. I need a lot of support right now, and hope that someday soon I can begin to offer it to others as well.

Will look forward to catching up on threads/blogs/stories and getting to meet everyone :)

Leilani

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Welcome Ladies, both of you are starting on the journey to change your lives. I have been banded since Oct 30, 2009. I am not an expert, but am willing to try answer any questions you might have, It gets better, believe me. It is good that you are following your surgeon's orders to the T. Mine is real strict, but I try to do what he says, too. Good luck and congratulations on your journey to your new life. Karen

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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