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Do you ever feel normal?



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I have been going back and forth with this surgery for almost a year. I have been reading alot on this site and it is very helpful. I was wondering if after a while if you always feel the band or if you ever just feel normal again? Can you tell you have a band at all times? Can you feel the port?

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I have been going back and forth with this surgery for almost a year. I have been reading alot on this site and it is very helpful. I was wondering if after a while if you always feel the band or if you ever just feel normal again? Can you tell you have a band at all times? Can you feel the port?

only 2 mos after surgery--i feel COMPLETELY NORMAL--like i never even HAD surgery--getting my first fill today!

and no, can't feel my port--will see if the dr. can feel it! i got a "low-profile" port--so i'm sure that is why i can't feel it.

anyway, very pleased that i feel so normal--but wanting to feel restriction again, as i was happily NOT HUNGRY, but filled up on very little. that is what i'm hoping for with fills!

so far, so good--like my band.

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I have been going back and forth with this surgery for almost a year. I have been reading alot on this site and it is very helpful. I was wondering if after a while if you always feel the band or if you ever just feel normal again? Can you tell you have a band at all times? Can you feel the port?

Interesting question. I guess my best answer is that I have a new "normal". By that I mean that I'm not feeling like I did before the band, and that's fine. I've gotten used to having my band, and it's become second nature most of the time. For example, when we go out, I find I look for menu options that are healthy, and that would make good leftovers as I can't eat a full restuarant meal.

I don't feel the band itself, just the effects if I don't chew well or make a bad choice. The port, I can feel from the outside, and a twinge now and then if I bend a certain way.

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I felt a little strange after surgery for awhile - like, what have I done and what the heck is in me. That passed pretty quickly and I do feel normal. I can feel my port sometimes but it isn't noticeable and mostly i don't thinik about it. The other day it felt 'bigger' than normal and it felt hard when I touched it but that seems to be gone. Sometimes if I sleep on it 'wrong' I may feel it but it's never lasting or really painful.

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Hmmmm, day to day do I feel normal? No, not really. My head hasnt caught up with the weight loss, but when I catch a glimpse of myself or see a photo I think HOLY COW! I LOOK COMPLETELY NORMAL. That's the most awesome feeling in the world.

I cant feel my band and I can eat almost everything, but I always am aware when I'm eating. You get used to it though, its not horrible to live like that, it makes me feel in control and reminds me taht I've come from a place I am NEVER going back to. It makes me motivated and keeps me focussed.

The times when I've felt frustrated because I just want to stuff my face and not have to eat slowly and carefully are very very few and far between. I dont need that satisfaction any more and when I really feel I do, there are things I can eat around my band (like cookies). I didnt do it for months and months and months after I was banded, now occasionally I do eat five or six in a sitting, but these days more and more I think its just not worth it. I've lost the desire. So I feel more *normal* in that way.

It IS a different way of living but its a better way.

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Lol considering that Just got banded yesterday I look and feel like just got into a knife fight. I expect to feel normal after a month at the latest, the port is the most annoying thing for me right now.

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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!!
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      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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