Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

lovesgrapes, thx, i'll try that tonight

I have been getting creative with refried beans too. I'm going to try the Boca crumbles to switch it up a bit. I usually do beans, low fat cheese, salsa, guacomole and low fat yogurt. I transition to real food this weekend. Can't wait!

Hi All,

I just came back from my first fill and was wondering if anyone had any of these things happen. The Nurse Practioner tried to find my port with the needle and instead hit a pocket of fluid. She tried three times. She had me stand up and lay down. Finally she called the Dr. in. He said it was just healing fluid and drew off a couple of syringes full. Nothing to worry about.

My port was actually to the left and higher up. It took him one try and he put 7cc's in an empty 14cc band. Can you feel the fill going into the band? I felt sort of a vibration I guess you would call it. The water they had me drink went down okay, but gurgled some. Is all this normal?

Thanks!

I'm goig for my first fill on Thursday. Tomorrow will be 4 weeks exactly since being banded. I have to admit I'm a bit scared about the excessive tightness people tell me about. Are you feeling excessively tight?

I have been getting creative with refried beans too. I'm going to try the Boca crumbles to switch it up a bit. I usually do beans, low fat cheese, salsa, guacomole and low fat yogurt. I transition to real food this weekend. Can't wait!

that's what i was saying and i'm where your at. banded on the 22nd and starting real food sunday and i can't eather. i think i'm gonna try to start with deli meat,what about you?

I get my first fill tomorrow. Trying to find a doctor to get a fill is impossible started calling 2 weeks ago. Can't wait, have started eating horrible foods but I still have not had my weakness of sweets for almost 7 weeks. I know the fill is going to help me I just hope that i have some restriction!

Good luck every one. Sounds like you all are doing well!

Orea, love you picture!!

Thanks, Joiful! Good luck with your fill tomorrow. :-) Let us know how it goes.

Kimaly - My doc gave me some guidance. He said oatmeal or Special K for breakfast, to try eating a half sandwich for lunch and then a lean cuisine type meal for dinner. I'm not much for frozen dinners so I'm not sure yet what I'll do, maybe marinated chicken breast or grilled salmon. I also just got a cookbook, "Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery". It has some great recipes in it.

canned chicken mashed with a fork and mixed with Tostito's Creamy Spinach Dip...yum!

I just want to say that the chicken with the spinach dip is so yummy I like make some each week. Also I have tried it with Tuna and it is just as good.

Yeah I have lost a total of 19 pounds as of today. I was at the girly doctor today and they weighed me. The nurse said it was the first time she had someone get on the scale a say yahoo!!!:whatchutalkingabout

To tell you the truth I used to me one of those people who would grown when I saw my weight but not today:shades_smile:

Hi,

No, no tightness. But I am my second day of liquids. I was told I could go back to real food tomorrow. But I think I will do a day of mushies before I try real food again. I wasn't scared at all and it didn't really hurt. Just had some odd things happen.

Help Butterflies, I´m eating too much in the evenings.

I´ve had my first fill almost two weeks ago and I feel like I have great restriction during the day, but after I have had some dinner, it seems like I am picking at foods in the fridge. While I am picking at more healthy options than I would´ve before the band I think I am over eating. I am so scared I am stretching my pouch.

Any suggestions to avoid doing this is welcomed....

HI there, I think the answer could be to increase your fluid intake at night. I have been struggling with picking and food urges and a fellow bandster reminded me that we should still be taking in 8 glasses of fluid a day at least. Perhaps drink more in the late afternoon before dinner and then, when you feel like picking try some lo-cal sweet cordial drink etc. The other thing that works for me is a stock cube in hot water if I'm seeking out the savoury flavours. Having a jug of suitable drink made up in the fridge so that when you start to hover looking for something to munch, it's easy to grab that drink instead. Hope that helps - I just know I confuse thirst with food urges.

Kimaly - My doc gave me some guidance. He said oatmeal or Special K for breakfast, to try eating a half sandwich for lunch and then a lean cuisine type meal for dinner. I'm not much for frozen dinners so I'm not sure yet what I'll do, maybe marinated chicken breast or grilled salmon. I also just got a cookbook, "Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery". It has some great recipes in it.

I'm not a frozen food eater eather, and to be honest i really can't think of any one thing that i feel like i just can't wait to have. i get hungry but most of the stuff i used to go crazy for doesn't even apeal(sp) to me right now. But i do think i will try to find the book. oh! and i'm gonna try that chicken stuff everyone keeps talking about, and i can do that to night.

Melanie and Mrs JJ - It sounds like your picking and hunger may be more "head hunger". I battle with it at night too. I'm not really hungry, but I'm so used to picking or thinking about an evening "snack" that it is habit. I agree, try more fluids. Another option I've tried is SF hot chocolate. Yes, it's summer, but it's chocolate and it does the trick!!

I just want to say that the chicken with the spinach dip is so yummy I like make some each week. Also I have tried it with Tuna and it is just as good.

I'm not familiar with the spinach dip. Is it high in fat?