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).

I used to have that butterfly heart. I wonder where it flew off to? I must admit I didn't even notice it was missing! Thanks for the heads up!

Orea

Well, it's the 2nd day after my first fill and I don't feel any restriction so I went ahead and scheduled my second fill for 9/2. On the positive side, I woke up this morning with a b-day present from my scale. I broke 200!

Congratulations, Dionna!! What a thrill!

Orea:thumbup:

Congratulations, Dionna!! What a thrill!

Orea:thumbup:

Thanks Orea! It will be great when all of us July Butterflies are in Onederland.

Well, it's the 2nd day after my first fill and I don't feel any restriction so I went ahead and scheduled my second fill for 9/2. On the positive side, I woke up this morning with a b-day present from my scale. I broke 200!

Congratulations!!!! I am now dreaming of the day that I too will enter the beloved "onederland".

I have an 11cc band. I just had my first fill today, and I surprised the PA that does them. I started by telling her I didn't want the 3-4ccs they normally do, because I haven't been sick at all since my banding and I didn't want to start now. She put in 2ccs and I was restricted on water, so she pulled 1 out and left me with 1 cc in. It still feels pretty restricted, so she told me to come back tomorrow if more needs to come out. I was surprised. It didn't hurt at all.:thumbup: I was prepared for pain, so I didn't feel the "stick" at all! It hurt worse when she pulled the bandaid off from to fill so she could do the unfill.

Wow. I got 3 ccs in an 8 cc band and feel no restriction. I guess it really is true that we all have different reactions.

What great news Dionna! I remember being close to onederland maybe 10 yrs. ago. It's been a long time for me and I hope we can all achieve it sooner rather than later. I need to lose 49 lbs to be there. That being said, I feel so much better already (physically and mentally) with what I have already lost. Keep it going butterflies! Yeah us!

Just got my fill yesterday and I feel no restriction. Is this normal?

I have to be on liquids for two days and mushies again for two days then back to soft foods :thumbup:

Do any of you eat noodles on soft foods? I'm really craving pad thai.

I'm just now reading threw the posts, sorry I dont go on the computer every day. You guys are doing great! And you have fills already! I dont get my first fill until Sept 17. (surgery was on the 21st of July) I am finily off fluids. Yea! I had to do it for four weeks. Now I am allowed mushie protiens only. This morning I had an egg. I think if I could have inhaled it I would have. I was good though, I took my time.:biggrin2: It nearly killed me to do it.

Tina

Just got my fill yesterday and I feel no restriction. Is this normal?

I have to be on liquids for two days and mushies again for two days then back to soft foods :smile2:

Do any of you eat noodles on soft foods? I'm really craving pad thai.

I am getting a fill today. I hope I don't have to be on liquids for two days. :cheers2: I am making taco Soup for a party on saturday and I at least want to taste a little bit of it. Oh well, I will just drink the broth. The price of losing a few more lbs is worth it.:wub:

I get my first fill on the 10th. I cannot wait as I am getting really hungry at times. It's strange because my band leads me to believe I can eat anything. I have no trouble with what I have chosen except on two occasions where I have PB'd. The first was whole wheat toast where I thought it was probably entirely my fault by taking too big a bite and not chewing it enough before swallowing. The other was today and I know this was not my fault. I took a small bite of a banana and chewed it completely. However, when I swallowed it did not stay down. Me, not believing I couldn't eat something I really like and is good for you, tried it again. And again my band said, "Nope!" and it came back up. I guess I now have two items on my list to avoid. Anyone else find food items you cannot tolerate per 1st fill?

Edited August 23, 200818 yr by BeverlyDiane

Dianne, I haven't heard of anyone PBing before being filled. You should definitely mention it to your doctor. If you have no restriction I don't understand why you would PB.

I don't have any restriction with my first fill either (3ccs in 8cc band) so I've scheduled another fill for 9/2. My doctor didn't say anything about any restrictions on the fill day so I specifically brought it up with the nurse and she said just take it easy today (the day of fill) and you can go back to normal food tomorrow. I guess even with fills, doctors vary in advice just as they did with the banding (post-op diet).

everyone seems to be losing so much weight, i'm just stuck. i know it's better then gaining but i sure do wish i would lose something soon just to get out of this mood if not anything else. I lost 13lbs on the 2wk . pre op and 14lbs the 2wks after surgery. I get a fill on 9/02 and can go back to curves the same week. i sure hope it helps. Of coarse i start thinking the stupidest things like what if i do everything i should and i'm still the one who doesn't lose, dumb i know. well, maybe i'll be in a better mood tomarrow. Thx for letting me vent, it helps

everyone seems to be losing so much weight, i'm just stuck. i know it's better then gaining but i sure do wish i would lose something soon just to get out of this mood if not anything else. I lost 13lbs on the 2wk . pre op and 14lbs the 2wks after surgery. I get a fill on 9/02 and can go back to curves the same week. i sure hope it helps. Of coarse i start thinking the stupidest things like what if i do everything i should and i'm still the one who doesn't lose, dumb i know. well, maybe i'll be in a better mood tomarrow. Thx for letting me vent, it helps

I was like you and I just had to have a good talk with myself. I went to the dr today and got my first fill. She said most people don't lose until they get the first fill. So, you are ahead of the game. You will lose. Stay on your program and do not lose heart. Now when I start getting down you can remind me that "it is all good".