Hello everyone. Just wanted to give you my update. I have not posted since my surgery because my computer at home is incredibly slow with dial up. I had lap band surgery on Jan.19 @ St. Mary's in Richmond, Va. So I just celebrated my one month anniversary. First ever overnight hospital stay wasn't too bad. Pain not as bad as I expected. I had dermabond instead of stitches. Incisions were mostly healed in one week. Had problems initially with sleeping due to comfort and pain ( I prefer sleeeping on my stomach and side and I couldn't do it for about two weeks). Was started on soft/mushy foods after one week. My biggest problem, once on soft foods, was the gas. I had no idea gas could hurt so bad. I had many sleepless nights and grumpy days. I had tried many things (gas-x, maalox, etc) but nothing worked. I was to the point where I was scared to eat at all because the pain was that bad. :sick I finally decided to try Beano and it has worked wonders. No more gas pains at all for the past two weeks and I have tried a variety of foods. It's like a whole different world. I had lost 5 pounds with the pre-op diet and so far another 17 since the surgery. So that's 22 pounds since around 1/8. I was out of work for four weeks because of where I work and my duties.Today is my first day back. I think I am on my way. I have recieved alot of postiive comments from family and co-workers. My weight on surgery day was 300.5 and today I am 283. My heighest weight ever was 368 but I had lost 60 pounds prior to deciding on the surgery. I can't remember weighing less than 300. Today I even have on a size 22 pants. I have not worn a size 22 since I was 17 years old in high school and I am 38 now. I have to toot my own horn. :clap2: I heard about PB and I have even experienced that a couple of times already. I have no regrets other than I wish I had done it sooner. least. I do have a question for the people who have already been banded. How often do you weigh yourself?

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!! and thank you so much for the update!

as a prebanded person I crave all these accounts!

22lbs is AWESOME! You should be so proud.

Sorry, I'm a newbie. What is PB? :confused:I'm just starting the process and going to a seminar tonight so this is all very new to me but I'm feeling SO desperate and am hoping this is just the tool I need.

How long did it take you all to go from the first stages (like attending the serminar or researching the Internet) to being banded? I want to do it TODAY!

You are doing fantastic. That is great!

Crishell,

You are doing great! I had my surgery on Feb. 9th and everything is going great. I am lucky that I have not experienced the gas pains that I read about. I hope that won't change but if it does, I will buy some Beano.

I orginally told myself not to weigh for a while. I wanted to feel the difference in my clothes first. However, I bought a new scale and decided to weigh myself. I really think you should only weigh yourself once a week or every two weeks. We tend to become a slave to our scale and I don't want to weigh myself daily because it is not neccessary. Once a week should be the most that you weigh yourself. Same time each week.

Oprah's trainer said that you shouldn't weigh yourself for 3 months after starting a diet. Your Water weight flucuates so much that it can be discouraging to weigh yourself too much. I don't think I could wait 3 months to weigh myself but once a week is plenty.

Keep up the good work!!

Crishell, Congratulations on your band and on your weight loss so far. I was banded on 1/30 and am doing well. I am down 26 lbs and feel great! Best of luck to you on you weight loss journey-Gigi