Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

I have seen many changes in just the 3 weeks post op. First the fitting of clothes. It is so nice not to tug and pull at my shirts all day long. The pulling at my incisions has improved and so has my one irritated incision. I can't believe I even went walking last night and did 1 mile and was not even tired.

Getting used to making sure I have enough protein while on th mushy stage has been a challenge. It has been difficult to get all of the requirements in. I'll have to make some preparations for next week to make sure I have enough small meals with me at work. I have plenty of protein drinks, but think I need to take more mushy stuff....

Does anyone else have issues with alot of burping? Even at 3 weeks out evey time i eat i start to burp . I am very conscious of quantity and stopping my eating before i feel restrictions.

I haven't been burping to much, but I have been having the weirdest noises coming from my belly! I swear, it literally sounds like leaky plumbing down there. Gurgling, bubbling, all of that stuff. Thank God I already talk loud, lol.

I love that gurgling! If one of my cats is walking by, I'll lean over and open my mouth to emit a long gurgling growl! We both find it very satisfying...

I don't burp but I get the hiccups almost every time I eat. I'm so sick of coworkers saying "so what did you drink at lunch? Ha Ha Ha!" I do get the gurgling sometimes too.

well i finaly hit 20 pounds down from surgery YAY and a NSV i went and got a swim suit to the other day to work out in and i got a 18/20 YAY!!!

anyway here are pics showing my progress....

Hope everyone else is doing great too

My reddness and itching around the icisions is worsening. The medication they gave me is making me so tired I am really having a hard time. I am supposed to go back to the doctor today about this. Feeling kind of discouraged.

Christine

Lisa- if your wound is open I would put a butterfly or steri-strip to close it(washing and drying well first), perpendicular to the wound.

nycm00- sometimes bacterial or fungal infections superimpose themselves on the dermatitis. Are you on oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone? That can give you fatigue. A .5 percent hydrocortisone topical preparation (ointment, cream or lotion) can be applied to the skin to relieve the itchiness, redness, scaling, and swelling. (get ok'd by your DR.) If you are concerned see a dermatologist.

(this is not me it's from here FDA Consumer: Contact Dermatitis: Solutions to Rash Mysteries (May 1990))

Fenton you and your cats have a very interesting relationship.

FrancesMP- way to go!! You look kind of shell shocked in the 2/15 picture.

As too burps and hiccups- yep I get a double burp, I think the first is the burp moving past the band and then up & out.:sad_smile: I get hiccups when I'm hungry. :scared2:

Ok Im going back to reading a certain book...

I am getting scared. I am on my fifth day of mushies. I am 19 days post op and yet I am only down 16 lbs. I know I was just doing the happy dance the other day - Thank you to all who joined me in celebration - but today I am feeling remorseful. I did what said I would not do under any circumstances. I cheated. I ate bacon! Damn that bacon. Ok I can't blame the bacon. I was the nut that cooked it for my daughter - I should have known better than to "try" those THREE slices. I must be crazy. But if three slices of bacon - and three nestle chocolate Easter eggs (top thumb digit size) would make me not lose weight I'll have to stay on mushies the rest of my life!!! I DO NOT WANT TO BE A BAND FAILURE!!!! If I fail my mother will never let me live it down. Of course, if I fail I may not have that long to live anyway at the rate I was going. I purposely stayed away from mashed potatoes just so I would not gain weight. I figured I'd do mostly proteins. I am mostly eating cottage cheese, rotisserie chicken, apple sauce, I've had five Vienna sausages (singles - not cans), Unjury protein powder and skim milk, salmon, and California blend veggies. Oh and no sugar added vanilla and chocolate pudding. I put the chicken, salmon, and veggies in my Magic Bullet. Oh, I'm pretty sure that I am eating more than four tablespoons per meal - more like .5 to a whole cup. Tell me what I'm doing wrong. Ok - more honesty - I have not been exercising for 30 minutes everyday. But in my defense I have been worse than a couch potato for five years. I don't move as well as I should. I have increased my walking - I'm pitiful - If I wasn't good looking I would be truly pathetic. I can barely move. I am not limber at all. So I am trying to get better at moving around I'm hoping that by the time I am six weeks post op I can not only walk two miles but that I will be ready to actually lift weights. I want to wait that long because the last thing I need is a hernia. I don't really know what that is, but I know I don't want one. Any help? - Please keep the reprimands to a minimum - I'm not really in the mood to be feeling beat up.

Edited April 11, 200818 yr by enjoylife

Diva, Bacon is not the worst sin you could have committed (it is Protein, after all :confused:). That said, don't go out and try to top it!

Keep repeating this to yourself until you believe it: "I will lose weight with this band when I have proper restriction. Until then, I will try to do my best."

Your best includes sticking to protein, veggies, some fruit, and staying within the rules of the stage you're in (mushies). In the end, your weight will come off. For now, just stay with the program, stay off the scale, and remember that we're all here for you.

I'm having no luck with the scale either, but I know that what I wrote above is true. I just have to wait until my doctor lets me have a fill -- hopefully at 6 weeks.

Thanks Chica. Trust me I have no intention to try to top bacon. In fact I made some for my daughter this morning and I'm telling you I couldn't even smell the stuff. i had no desire for it. So far today I've had apple sauce for breakfast (I'm out of milk) pureed chicken for lunch and a chocolate no sugar added pudding cup for a snack. This weekend I will be living off of cottage cheese and protein shakes (mainly because I purchased two huge vats of cottage cheese and when I got home realized that they expire on April 13th. Thank you for the encouragement (and the mantra).

The Diva- I did the same as well on my week of mushies-2 pieces of bacon.. Ughh! It must be the aroma:) Don't be so hard on yourself! I am willing to bet that this is not the reason why your scale is at a stand still. 16lbs in 19 days is amazing!! You may be at your first plateau.. I am at a wall with my loss currently as well. At some point your body has to catch up and say "holy crap, what are you doing to me?!" It just seems as though we are NEVER happy with the numbers we see. As for me, I am on strike- no scale until Monday! This every day thing is killing me! I put the scale in my husbands truck this morning, and off to work the scale went! bye bye lol..

I think it's so hard to finally be on our "bandster" way, see good weight loss, then all of a sudden it comes to a screeching halt! What a mix of emotions! Keep your head up, and know that you will start losing again soon.. You are soooo not in this alone! Best of luck to you:)

Frances- You go girl- You look great! I love the 2/15 "deer in the headlights" look:) Keep up the good work!

Lynnt1215- I am with you on the clothes fitting better! I too don't have to tug at my shirts all day to make sure everything is hidden. What a great feeling:) I am having an issue with getting all of my Protein in as well. I feel like there is only so much time in day, and every second I'm forcing something into myself to keep up with the protein goal. Uggh.. This too shall pass:) I haven't had any issues with burping, but a lot of times my stomach makes a crazy grumbling, gurgling noise, it almost feels like my belly is eating me from the inside out lol..

Hope everyone is doing well.. TGIF!!!

:)Kerri

Edited April 11, 200818 yr by k_podski
slippery fingers;)

Howdy!

I had the worst hiccups for the 1st week after surgery. It wasn't that they lasted for a while (cause they did), but that they hurt! I still get them but not as much.

****TMI**** - stinky pee and stinky breath have hit...... UGH, I have never been able to smell my own breath before, but now I can.... ew! My toothbrush and I and now spending significant time together.

Last night I turned wrong and had a sharp pain that was sharp enough to wake me up. I moved a little tenderly after that. I didn't have any pain today, but a little soreness. I hope I didn't do anything! It was in an odd place, on my ribs to the left... I guess if it doesn't really hurt, I shouldn't be worried.

Lynn: I'm with you. My jeans are fitting better every time I put them on! woohoo!

Diva: I wish I had lost as much as you! I lost 8 pounds in 15 days. Don't dispair, I'm sure the scale will move soon. Plus, if you figure you loose 10 pounds a month, that is 120 pounds a year!

Amanda: good information as usual!

Kerri: I'm with you about the scale. I do have one, but am forcing myself to get on it only once a week. It is tough, but it was driving me nuts!

I would definitely call the doctor and get it checked

shouldn't have anything coming from it

:thumbup:

sharon

I had a NSV yesterday . My only pair of jeans that fit were in the wash so I asked my neice if I could wear a pair of hers . I wear size 18 she wears size 16 . When I was up stairs trying them on I could hear my neice and her father laughing at the idea that I thought I could fit in her pants . She called up and asked if they fit and when I said they did and came down in them the whole family was shocked that they fit . I then said to my neice "Do you know what this means ? You need to lose weight too. " The pants were a little tight and I had a muffin top but they weren't so tight that I felt uncomfortable in them but tighter than what I normally would wear . The last time I had on a size 16 was when I was 16 .

It is so great to see that everyone is doing so well. Today I am 3 weeks post op and feeling great. I am mushing it pretty well - its a trip getting my lunch and Snacks ready to take to work every day and trying to keep a bit of variety so I don't get bored. I have not yet been really hungry so I am happy with my couple ounces of Protein and some pureed veggie. I am happy with the weight I have lost so far. I certainly do not expect it to come off overnight since it did not appear overnight. My coworkers are all so supportive of me. They even compliment my lunch choices.

My only complaint is still being more tired than normal - I am hoping that if spring ever comes and brings some sunshine I will perk up. Of course my days off are usually dark dreary and rainy and I am at work when the sun shines. I need some beach time........

I have a couple of challenges coming up - a retirement party and a wedding shower - it will be interesting to see how I handle those - it will be different not having a cocktail and eating everything is site. I hope I make good choices.

My post op check up is for May 5th and I will have my first fill that day.

Everyone- have a great weekend! :thumbup: