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Newbie, 9 days post surgery



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Hello! I am from Michigan and just had my Lap-Band surgery on Dec 9, 2013 so I am a newbie to everything! I have been struggling with up and down weight ever since I had kids, my youngest is now 19. The process for me to be approved for surgery with my insurance company was a bit of a struggle. The first time through I was denied for lack of documentation although they didn't let me know prior just what they wanted. I started the six month process over again and was approved just after Thanksgiving. I was ready and opted for surgery now rather that wait until after the holidays.

I am a week and a half into the clear liquid stage and for the most part, I am never hungry! Getting bored with broth and thinned greek yogurt, looking forward to next week and adding more food to my menu! Pain has been relatively mild considering, I usually only take Tylenol once a day. The biggest thing is remembering that I can't do everything just yet!

I am a mom of 3 and have one grand-daughter. My oldest daughter graduated in the spring with her Masters Degree and just got her first "real" job. My son and youngest daughter are both in the Air Force, 4 years and 1 year respectively. My son has an 18-month old daughter that currently lives in Germany. This is my reason for wanting to change my life and lose the weight. I want to be healthy to be there for them and to travel the world visiting them.

I look forward to "meeting" all of you, I have lots of friend in my online military support groups and know the importance of connecting with others who "get it". I know that I will find that here. No one knows just what you are going through unless they have been there themselves.

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Hi there and welcome! I have learned so much here -- there are a lot of knowledgable and compassionate people willing to answer questions or chime in about their own experiences. I have been banded six weeks so am new as well. It's the best thing I've done in I don't know how long and I only wish I had gotten it sooner as the last two decades have been one long struggle with weight issues. I am 52, live in NH where we have a lot of snow right now. This time last year I had never even heard of LapBand! I'm learning what it means to have a band -- have had two fills so far and go back Monday to assess for another. I think my surgeon is fairly aggressive. Right now I'm not hungry in the mornings so my first meal is "brunch" and I am enjoying good food in small quantities. We had a dinner party last night (my band is a secret) and I did fine -- delicious chicken curry and I just skipped the rice. Was not looking for more food or snacking later while we were cleaning up -- loving that release from food jail and having that appetite monster off my back. Best wishes to you -- look forward to seeing you on-line!

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Welcome to the Banded Life! I had surgery September 11, 2013. It's the best decision I've ever made in my life. I just wish I had done it sooner :) I've really enjoyed the people on this site and I've learned so much. Good luck to you!

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Thanks for the welcome! I have my first fill on Dec 30, so I am looking forward to that!

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one of the first things i did after surgery was get my passport. never had one before. but i plan on going on vacation with my daughter whose husband is welsh. they visit wales every year and next time i am going with them. hopefully a bit thinner but a lot more healthy.

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Good for you Terry! I have been to Germany twice to visit my grand-daughter. In March she is moving to England, I hope to be thinner and healthier when I visit her next. I know for sure that will make the flight much more comfortable too!

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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!
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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.
      · 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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