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Hello to everyone. My name is Bret. I am 48 years old and have been overweight all my life. I have been discussing surgery for the last few months and am happy to say that I had the surgery on Monday December 11 2006. It is now Saturday and I am 5 days post op. I feel great, I'm losing weight and I'm looking forward to see what the future brings.

Just a few stats for the record. My starting weight was 395. My surgeon had me diet for a few weeks before the surgery and this week I'm on just clear fluids and as of this morning I'm about 377. So far so good.

Right now I'm still on the initial high of the whole thing and I am still pretty "Up". I expect some down days and hope this forum will help me through those. By the way. My surgeon told me that about 90% of patients are female. I am in the minority. I'm male.

My surgeon told me after surgery that it was a tough procedure because of my size and the band, although the largest made, was a tight fit. He expected me to have some trouble until the swelling went down. I didn't and by now it seems as if anything I eat passes freely. My diet has been lots of Tea, Water, Clear Soups, sugar free Ice Pops, Apple Sauce, Sugar Free Jello and Sugar Free pudding. I have cheated a little bit and today had a bit of tomatoe Soup which I guess technically is a stage 2 food, but it caused no problem.

I have an appointment with my PCP on Tuesday 12/19 to talk about the meds I take. My diabetes meds are time released so I cant crush them so I need to discuss alternatives. All other meds I have been crushing. BTW I forgot to mention I have a number of weight related problems. Diabetes, High blood pressure and high cholesterol. I also have a follow up appointment with my surgeon on Thursday 12/21.

Anyway. I guess thats enough of an Introduction. I look forward to interacting with fellow lap banders and I hope to be able to give and get support from and to you all.

Thanks,

Bret

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Welcome to LBT brett

Congratulations on beginning your own journey to the new YOU! I look forward to hearing of your progress.

Best wishes on your appointments I hope all goes well.

:eek: becky

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Thanks Becky, I will try and post progress as often as I can. I noticed in re-reading my original post how upbeat I sound. There is one downside that I failed to mention. These damn laproscopic incisions are itching me like hell. If anything in this world could drive me crazy....this constant itching will do it.

Bret

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Welcome Bret, Glad to hear you've had a fairly easy recovery, (besides the itching). Best of luck to you on your lapband journey. This is the place to me, great people, great advice and sympathetic ears.

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DrewsLou,

Thanks for the welcome. I note you mentioned a port replacement. I've not heard of that before. What happened to your original port that required replacement?

Just curious,

Bret

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Hi Bret, welcome to LBT!!

The itching is annoying, but it's a good sign and doesn't last long. It means you're healing! Take care of yourself and prepare for the hard part ahead--when your hunger returns. Don't worry, it happens to everyone, and once again it's a good sign that means you're healing. Eat what you need to stem the hunger; don't overdo it but definitely don't let yourself get too hungry between meals.

Good luck and once again, welcome!!

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Bret,

Welcome to LBT! Don't worry about port replacement just yet. Be good to yourself and nothing negative should happen to you. I had port replacement too and that was only because I needed to go to a smaller one because I got to my goal weight and it was sticking out too much. It was no big deal.

Keep the POSITIVE attitude and you should do GREAT!

Josephine

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.
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