Hi all you April Bandsters! We have our own April '09 Forum here. This will be our 1st Master Thread to chat, share dates, diets, feelings, etc. When it starts getting too long (loads too slowly) we can start a 2nd and so on.

Sherry (Sissyh1006) has started a list with all our surgery dates, so she'll be along soon and you can give her updates.

If you want a "Bunny Bandsters - April '09" signature line (see below) then click HERE (feel free to change anything). On LBT go to 'User CP' (in the top banner) then down to 'Edit your Signature' (on the Left column). Now copy the PICTURE of the Bunny signature with the peep and paste it into the edit your signature box.

Can't wait to meet you all! -BG

Hi fellow Bunny Bandsters. Its been a while since I posted. I've just entered my 4th week post op and am still on mushies. Am having difficulty getting enough protein without overdoing the dairy, which I think is responsible for substantial gastric distress (I'm trying to avoid being too graphic). I'm scheduled for post-op exan and fill on May 28. I guess I'm in bandster hell, because I'm so hungry, but am keeping my calorie intake under 1000 a day.

The weight loss has slowed a lot since the few days post-op, but I'm trying to hold my own till the first fill. I've lost three pounds in two weeks. I sure hope I get some restriction on the first fill. My doctor uses the fluoroscope for the first fill, and told me I probably wouldn't get more than 2 ccs. I got the Realize C band.

I'm doing some free weight work for my arms, and using the elliptical when I'm home. Exercise is a challenge during the week, as I'm working out of town Monday through Friday.

All the posts here have been so much help to me as I've gone through the early stages as a bandster. Hope everybody is doing great. Keep working it!

kittygirl

Oh wow, Kitty Girl, I so know what you mean about the milk thing! I was so having the same issue. It started with the liquids because I was using milk in soups and shakes to get the protein! I finally thought I would try Lactaid, it is an over the counter pill that you take with your first bite (drink :rolleyes2:) and for me it worked like magic.

Before surgery, I did not drink milk, my mom even told me that I quit drinking it after I stopped taking a bottle and that was a long long long time ago.

Hang in there and good luck with your fill! I am not scheduled for my first one till 6/3.

I'm doing pretty well. So far I seem to be satisfied with the much smaller portions that I used to eat and I'm not hungry all the time. I'm still on mushies and am only about 2 1/2 post banding. I hope these hungries you are describing stay away!:rolleyes2: My first fill is not til 6/10!

JayTee you're rocking the weight loss though!

Thanks for the encouragement!!! I count my weight loss starting with my consultation in October 2008 the Dr. wanted me to 60 pounds before my surgery and I lost 40 pounds so that is a large part of of my total weight loss. I am down about 19 pounds since surgery I guess that's nothing to brush off but I'm just anxious for it to drop off.....

Carol,

Thank you so much for jumping in with advice on the milk thing! I will buy some Lactaid tomorrow. Looks like I'll be on the milk products for another couple of weeks, so I'll get much opportunity to use them :laugh:.

I'm nervous about the fill but excited at the same time. It will be nice to have some restriction, as an aid to the willpower thing........

kittygirl

Hi Sissy,

I am the 22nd. This is great, everyone in one place.

b-lo

Hello all april bandsters!!! I have gone back to work and have not been keeping up. Said I would, but it's been harder than I thought. I went for my post op 5/12 and have lost 12 since surgery. That was surprising. I go for my first fill 6/8. Dr. said it would be 5cc's. I have been reading some of your posts, and that seems high compared to others. wow. I have been good with the food part. Don't know if I can eat a whole "meal", haven't tried. I have stuck to the soups, protein shakes, sf jello/pudding and sf popsicles. Found some new sf philly swirls that are awesome. Keeps the calorie intake down and me satisfied. Good luck to you all. B-lo

Hello fellow bunny's- I was just filled (1st time) with 2 cc's about 2 hrs ago..... What should I expect? What has been your experience if you have already been filled?

LisaMarie I am jealous of your 2 ccs! I just had my first fill tonight and only got 1cc. My band was filled with 4 and a quarter cc, so I'm not at a total of 5 1/4 cc. They will only do 1 cc at a time, but I can go again in 4 weeks. It was kind of a weird feeling.

They said my dizziness is probably not related to the band. And the pain is probably just a muscle pull. She did feel a bit of swelling.

I do have to say that getting a fill kind of feels like a new lease on life! I've been able to eat anything I want pretty much, so I'm glad to know that I have more restriction now. Here's to more weight loss!!!!

My band was empty to my knowledge so the 2cc's was the 1st... I am doing ok- Fuller faster wtih food food than liquids or soups.... but with the foods still taking likd 6-8 oz- I find the more I drink the fuller I feel... duh!!!!!!!!!!!! He said to call in 2 weeks if I am still hungry- and he will try again... we will see...

Vcatalina - great going on having a trainer and exercising!!

JayTee - impressive!!! You're doing great.

My incision got infected and is now clear but it opened up so I am NOT cleared to have a fill yet. Which up until two days ago was fine. I feel like I can definetly eat more in one setting. Our nutritionist did not put a limit on how much we can eat because he said everyone is different. So I've just ate till Im full. Thankfully I've still lost weight but now that I can eat more I'm not so sure how much more I can without a fill. And.... I'm having so much joint pain that I'm having a hard time walking.

Hopefully things will change soon.

Oh and shrimp doesnt go down, I got sick when trying fried chicken (not my idea but that was the only thing this pathetic restaurant had - so I returned it and ate when I got home). Beef...eeks...that was hard but ground beef is fine.

I've been sticking with salmon & chicken. So far that is ok! WHEW!

I got my first fill today 1 1/2 cc. That seems so conservative compaired to some! The band started empty. I'm slightly grumpy about it. There is no difference and now I have to wait another 4 weeks.

JayTee, How did your fill go. We had surgery the same day and I go tomorrow for my first fill. I haven't been posting, because my weight loss is less than mentionable. I can't walk distances because of the "new" hernia, so exercise is minimal. Hopefully the Dr. will give me an answer about additional hernia surgery.

Your weight loss is "super"

JayTee, How did your fill go. We had surgery the same day and I go tomorrow for my first fill. I haven't been posting, because my weight loss is less than mentionable. I can't walk distances because of the "new" hernia, so exercise is minimal. Hopefully the Dr. will give me an answer about additional hernia surgery.

Your weight loss is "super"

Oh the fill....well it went pretty well my port is directly under my incision at the place where healing is a little slower. Soooooo the doc went in about an inch from it and kind of went at it wasn't to bad just minor discomfort. BUT the post fill diet is going to be hell (sorry can I say that) I've attached it below it's also in the First Fills thread I'll complaining about this for weeks......:cursing:

FillInstructions.doc