laura71

Thank you for the warm welcome. Leigh...you are just beautiful! You could have purple hair and be a stunner. QUESTION...I'm one week out of surgery...(hooray) and my port is to the right of my bellybutton (I thought it would be closer to my ribcage) and IT FEELS HUGE!!! I'm gonna be honest here, I did this thing to get over my eating issues, for health (mental and physical) and finally...yes, I'll say it...to wear a bikini! I'm not wearing one if I have a golfball in my belly hanging out like "dogs balls" as my Aussie Friend lellow described hers! So...my questions are... 1. Will it go down, is this still swelling? 2. where are other peoples ports? 3. Please reassure me that even if I have a "port lump" it will be tiny and I can still wear my dreamed of bikini. Thanks! Laura

AND yet...I hang out here blogging! And today I have 8million (ok, exageration there) appointments at work and will be exhausted come nighttime. Had to fly to Kentucky and back yesterday...and the smoothie king in the DFW airport makes a MEAN protein banana strawberry smoothie! I love terminal D! I know right where the Smoothie King is, (It shares a space with the Dunkin Donuts. Which one would have I frequented BEFORE the band?!! Give you one guess. I'm the woman who once had 2 YES TWO extra large McDonalds fries while waiting for a flight...just walked the terminal until I found two different McDonalds. SIGH...those are not my proudest moments. Flight was bumpy and got a bit nauseous, but it passed and I survived. I will say ginger ale sounded nice...but I just sipped some cold water and all was well. Down another pound! I will feel so much better when I get on a regular exercise schedule, and I think that will help with the weight loss as well. Right now, just walking a bit when I can...but it's been cold, (FREEZING) and haven't had much desire to be outside. Suppose I'll have to hit the treadmill sooner than later. Hunger? I'm 6 days post surgery, and I do get hungry, but my protein shakes satisfy quite well. I didn't expect to, but I'm a bit bored. Will be nice to chew something. Been on liquids for 2 weeks now. Not as long as some...I know! Kudos to those of you who do liquids for a month or more! Post op appt is tomorrow, and I'm hoping to be cleared for mushies. Cottage cheese and Cream of wheat sound delightful right now. lol. (not together) Emotions? I loved nothing more than to settle down with a 2lb bag of peanut m&m's and write my papers which come due on a weekly basis...sometimes more often. Last night, cranked out 1006 words with nothing in my mouth. It was...different. I just had to force myself to do it...before, the candy was my "prize" for working so hard...lol. NOW the prize will have to be the GRADE or FEELING OF COMPLETION, or maybe a pedicure after a beastly paper is finished that is due Wednesday! I feel good, have been isolating less and less and have more hope for the future than I have had in years. We'll call this the Bandster Honeymoon, which must come before the Bandster Hell! LIVE WILD, Laura

What a great group of women...I've enjoyed reading your posts, and your positive supportive attitudes. I'm laura from Texas and was banded on 11/24/10. Self pay low bmi, and I haven't told my kids. So in this Sawyer, we are alike. I don't consider it lying, lol elfie, our family didn't do the whole santa thing either! I just consider it extreemely private. Like my sex life...I have one, I just don't talk about it with my kids. I didn't want them to know... 1. didn't want them to worry, and 2. I've never spent this much on myself in my life, and we don't have a lot of extra money around, and I guess I still think I should somehow be spending this money on the kids. (I paid for this by cashing out my ex husbands 401K that I got in the divorce...It's totally worth it to me to have to work a few extra years in order to get quality of life NOW...but, teenagers may not see it that way) AND 3. I did NOT want my ex to know, and I didn't think it was fair to ask the kids to keep something like this from him. So the "burden" so to speak, rests upon my shoulders. One thing I have mentioned to my boyfriend, which may or may not help with your dear man, is "please don't talk about my eating or food at the table" I know what I can and can't handle, and if I need your help, I will ask." I know they are concerned, but we are big girls (HA!) and are in charge of our bodies. FINALLY! Source: band�ed, band�ing, bands--verb--To assemble or unite in a group

What a great group of women...I've enjoyed reading your posts, and your positive supportive attitudes. I'm laura from Texas and was banded on 11/24/10. Self pay low bmi, and I haven't told my kids. So in this Sawyer, we are alike. I don't consider it lying, lol elfie, our family didn't do the whole santa thing either! I just consider it extreemely private. Like my sex life...I have one, I just don't talk about it with my kids. I didn't want them to know 1. didn't want them to worry, and 2. I've never spent this much on myself in my life, and we don't have a lot of extra money around, and I guess I still think I should somehow be spending this money on the kids. (I paid for this by cashing out my ex husbands 401K that I got in the divorce...It's totally worth it to me to have to work a few extra years in order to get quality of life NOW...but, teenagers may not see it that way) AND 3. I did NOT want my ex to know, and I didn't think it was fair to ask the kids to keep something like this from him. So the "burden" so to speak, rests upon my shoulders. One thing I have mentioned to my boyfriend, which may or may not help with your dear man, is "please don't talk about my eating or food at the table" I know what I can and can't handle, and if I need your help, I will ask." I know they are concerned, but we are big girls (HA!) and are in charge of our bodies. FINALLY!

I'm still on shakes, doing ok 80 percent of the time, but it was windy and cold on my walk yesterday, and all I wanted was some soup! Thought about blenderizing some bean soup I have in the pantry with extra water to make a thick broth...and then, I thought again. And I drank my shake. brrr. WHY? I comitted to myself and my doctor to a certain plan of eating pre and post op in order to make this surgery a success. This includes sticking to the foods that will allow my body to heal, and then, eating what the nutritionist has prescribed in order to allow my body to lose weight. WHY WOULD I MESS WITH THAT? I just spend 10,500 dollars and risked general anestesia in order to get "the band". NOW I have the tool, and I've got to do my part. I get very confused when I read on the boards and see in the chat rooms members encouraging other members to "cheat" or start certain types of food before the dr given the green light. WHY would a person risk stretching out the pouch or damaging the band in this way? AND, isn't "cheating" what got us into this mess to begin with? I am by no means perfect. I'm sure I will have my days of overeating and slider foods, and I'm just now getting into banster hell, where I'm hungry but have no restriction. But I came into this procedure with the full knowledge that the first few months were ON ME, so to speak, or were my responsibility. I saw a member post, "I didn't get the band so I would have to diet" DID YOU READ ANYTHING HERE BEFORE HAVING THE SURGERY? EVERY successful member I've read has followed some sort of reduced and healthier eating plan, along with exercise. AND EVERY member I've seen struggle has been lax about following dr. and nutritionist reccomendations. I've read a lot of peoples stories, and have tried to see what is the difference between the bandsters who are at goal and the bandsters who have been banded for a few years and still struggle, and the difference is not the dr or the band, but the PERSON and PERSONAL choices. I write this not in judgement, but as a reminder to myself, to help me learn from the experiences of others...THIS IS MY JOURNEY, and if I want to be successful, REACH GOAL, and ultimately have the band work for me, I have to do a great deal of the work. Which is why I had a protein shake when I wanted bean soup. Small I know, but it's a start.

OK...so yesterday, my bandages came off of the bellybutton area. I was feeling around, and there is a marble sized lump next to my bb. Is this my port? I know the surgeon told me it was to be on my left side up high under my ribs, and I thought I had felt some discomfort there as well. Is it a cyst full of toxic puss waiting to burst into my system? That's my current theory. AGGGGG. I don't have an appt til Wed, and I feel GREAT. Just freaking out about a lump! Did he leave part of a sponge in there? or Part of the laproscope? lol. I'm sure it's all find, I'm just a wierdo. A lumpy wierdo. Had two protein shakes yesterday, and some broth and jello. all went down well and not experiencing any physical hunger yet. Yesterday was the first day I've had head hunger. Just wanting to CHEW something. But not terrible, I journaled and turns out, I'm just worried about getting everything done in time for the end of the semester, and working full time. School and work keep me pretty stressed, and I like to CHEW away my stress. NO MORE though! Went to my son's varsity basketball game yesterday, as well as running some errands. It felt great. I've missed two of his games feeling "fat" and isolating in my food, but a big committment to myself about this band was to stop isolating. Turns out, no one cares how big I am, no one even paid much attention to me! apparantly, the world does not revolve around my size or weight, and people at a basketball game are actually most interested in what's going on on the court. Starting to live, just a little, and it's all good. Live wild, L

I was banded Wednesday afternoon, the 24th, so 2 days after you, and I have to return to work monday. I technically will be working a half day sunday as well, a side job of decorating houses for Christmas, but am taking my daughter for the heavy lifting and some of the ladder work. No one knows I had this surgery, so missing work is not an option. I've been out and about and feel really good, but remember, everyone's journey is different, and you have to listen to your BODY!

Took a shower exactly 48 hours post op, and man oh man, did it feel GOOD! Had a little trouble shaving my legs (found a big strip i completely missed!) but other than that, all was well. Went out shopping last night, and went to Pei Wei with BF for dinner. I told the man taking our order (who was the manager) that I was having some "tummy trouble" no further explination, and could I please have a cup of the wonton soup broth. They were so nice, and accomidating! Clear broth with a touch of lemongrass. YUMMMMY. AND, the manager sent out a "to go" portion to our table before we left and said he hoped I got to feeling better soon. All you have to do is ask with a smile, and people are usually more than willing to help out! Weight wise, down 3 lbs since surgery, (one lb a day) but I start proteins today, and don't expect to see losses that quickly anymore. I was basically taking in no calories during the clear liquid stage. I can honestly say, this is the first Thanksgiving in which I have ever lost weight. Something to be thankful for. So...today starts protein shakes until my post op appt on wed Dec 1. Then the dr will check me out and recommend what's next. More protein or mushies I assume. I feel really good, just a little tender around incision. (I had the spider procedure, and only have one incision thru the belly button.) Google it! It's way cool. Emotionally, I've been trying to journal or blog, and have kept a grip on things. Find myself being more vocal about feelings and opinions. Those around me are somewhat suprised, but they will just have to deal with it. I can't use food to stuff such things down anymore. Love being on the site, but can't get into chat rooms lately...has anyone else had that problem?

Well...I'm a bandster! And I made it through Thanksgiving, slowly but surely. I made the rolls, the pie, and of course the gravy, and my kiddos and ex husband did the rest. I told them I had been ill and threw my back out so could not lift anything. (I had been nauseous a bit...but the back was definately a fib! My front was what was hurting much more than my back) The surgery went well, (I suppose, I didn't see the surgeon after...he must have gone to his turkey day celebration!) And the nurse I had in the surgery center was a real bitch, when I was coming out of anestesia, I started crying and said to her, "you don't like me, I know you don't like me". She acted so mean, I figured she didnt! I'm sore, but moving, and feel like I need to toot but just can;t! I also feel very satisfied with my sugar free jello and my chicken broth. Slow sips. I have never spent a Thanksgiving feeling so satisfied. It is truely wonderful and the liquid diet is not challenging at all...especially when I keep telling myself, "this post op diet is what your body needs to heal" I want to heal quickly and well, and will do everything in my power to see that it happens. I've read too many posts on this site where bandsters "try" out foods before their dr's give the green light and wind up having problems. WHY would a person risk that? I just spent 10,500 dollars on this, not the mention the inconvience and discomfort, I can definately go without for the prescribed amount of time. I figure I've eaten my share of solids, that a month or two of liquids is not going to kill me! (Actually, I've eaten MORE than my share of solids, that's why I'm in this mess!) I have a huge paper due for school and have to be back to work on Monday, so lots to do this weekend, and I really shouldn't try and write graduate papers while on liquid lortab. Or perhaps my writing will be more fluid! hee hee. Can't wait to take a shower this afternoon, when I hit 48 hours post op! Live wild, Laura

and I'm scared. Or perhaps anxious is a better word. I have absolute confidence in my surgeon and his team. My boyfriend is a champ and will care for me better than he does his spoiled dog. I've purchased all necessary supplies and food. I have 4 days until I have to go back to work. AND I HAVE TO LEARN TO GET MY FIX FROM SOMETHING OTHER THAN FOOD. I admit it, I've "Iused" food my entire life to deal with every emotion imaginable. I commit to the eating plan my dietician has put forth, I vow to give up slider foods. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I COMMIT TO GIVE UP FOOD AS A PACIFIER WHEN I'M UPSET OR AS ENTERTAINMENT WHEN I'M BORED, AS CELEBRATION WHEN I'M HAPPY, OR FOR ANY OTHER EXTERNAL REASON IMAGINABLE. Food is now fuel, and ME, Laura, am responsible for dealing with emotions. I saw a Russian figure skating coach on tv the other night, and she was shouting at her pupils in a thick boris and natasha accent, "THIS IS YOUR LIFE NOW, THE OLD YOU IS DEAD! STEP OVER THE OLD YOU, AND FIND YOUR NEW LIFE. Find your new life, Miss Laura, find your new life.

Doing well! Thanks for the good thoughts!

I'm hungry, thirsty, and anxious. Headache starting from lack of my morning coffee, and it's all worth it. I could not get off work until 12, so my surgery is not until 130. ugh. That's a dang long time to be fasting. I'm gonna be one crabby child support officer today! Feel sorry for those deadbeat daddies! LOL. Never let personal and professional lives mix. Only one person at work knows this is happening, and she's a vault. Only one person in my private life knows this is happening, and he sleeps with me and is my ride! This is for me, funded by me, and all about ME. No other opinions needed! Thank you very much.

Going in for surgery tomorrow. Planning on following the dr's orders to a t. this is a new start, and baby, I'm working it. hee hee.

OK, So I'm on the pre-op diet, and in two words, IT SUCKS. If I could eat this way, I would NOT need the band in the first place. THAT SAID, I am committed to do everything and anything my MD dells me to do in order to make this a success. INCLUDING the preop and post op diet. I am fearful of the bandster's hell for the few months following surgery but before true restriction kicks in. I told my boyfriend about my concerns, and he was actually really helpful and made a good point. He said, "well, you've always been able to stick to something for a month or two, you've just never been able to maintain it for a lifetime...so just get thru those few months" I'll just take it a little bit at a time and hope restriction comes sooner than later.

Ms Jeanette! I'm getting my surgery done by Dr. Smith on the 24th. Best of luck to both of us. Laura

I'm getting banded next Wednesday (YES, the day before Thanksgiving!) and the only person I've told is my boyfriend, and only him because he's my ride. I will have to get up Thanksgiving day and cook a big meal for my two teenage children. Think I can pull it off? Why the privacy? My kids would freak about my having an "elective" surgery, and I don't want my daughter to get the wrong idea about body image. I guess I'm doing this for me, and I don't want any opinions from the peanut gallery.

I'm Laura, a low bmi self pay who's decided to give myself a tool in my arsenal in my lifelong battle against obesity. I'm just tired of fignting so dang hard and never feeling satisfied no matter how much I eat. All of my siblings are at least 100 lbs overweight, and I'm close to being there myself. I know I could wait a few years, gain 25 lbs, and get my insurance to pay for everything...BUT...this is not how I want to live my "one wild and precious life" I'm turning forty in a few months, and feel 40 years of scratching and clawing in a constantly losing battle of weight loss and weight gain is just about enough. My surgery is the day before Thanksgiving, and I'm nervous and excited. Mostly nervous because I'm afraid that once again, I'll blow it. I know the band is not a handful of magic beans, that it is a weight loss aid, and I still have to eat right and exercise. That said, I'm so comitted to doing my part. New lease on life. New stomach, new me. hee hee.

I'm 6 days away from my surgery, and turn 40 this January. I'm so nervous of failure as well. I completely understand your feelings. I'm self pay, and wonder, "what if I spend all this money, and can't or won't do MY part" because I realize that the band is only a tool, not magic, and I have to do my part as well.

I still haven't told anyone, and the day is getting closer. Have to shut down the laptop on this site everytime my kids run through my room. I just don't want them to know for some reason. They are both so thin and in control and are varsity athletes in their respective sports, and got their FATHER's (my ex is a 6'4" Norweigan Viking) genes. They hopefully will never struggle with their weight, but they don't understand my struggle with mine, nor do they understand why I just don't eat less. (sometimes I don't understand it myself) Now I will be "eating less" just with a little help!

Oh yes! LOL. the flu is already in my near future! I'm planning on doing much of the work before Wednesday, and just putting the turkey in Thursday am. If I can't, I'll call my ex husband (he's invited) and tell him I have the flu and make him come cook it all. Always have a plan B!