MaryD

Thank you so much for your response. Mine may very well be my post that you read about the 2-point banding entry. I have mentioned it on this site a couple of times. It may well be the reason I was able to get my first fill early. I guess when it comes to food I will just have to experiment in order to find out what I can tolerate. Until today's fill I did not feel any restrictions at all. I hope this fill will at least take the edge off my hunger. I get my second fill in two weeks.

I just had my first fill. Now I really feel like I'm on my way. I only have a puncture wound 1/2 inch in diameter and a port scar 1 1/2 inch long. Today my doctor told me I was one of only 4 patients in the world who have had this type of LapBand laproscopic surgery ( with only 2 entry points), and just the second one that he had performed. Could that be true? He was also able to give me my fill today very quickly and without the use of x-ray. I am on fluids the rest of the day, mush tomorrow, and REAL food on SUnday. Yahoo!! I have been on fluids for 4 weeks and mush for just 3 days before my fill. He told me I was not to eat red meat, chicken and bread, yet I have read posts from others who did not have these restrictions.

I am right there with you! I was banded August 6th. I did fine for the first couple of weeks, but I gradually got my appetite back. :biggrin: I have found myself nibbling at the crumbs left on my husband's plate, trying bigger and bigger pieces - nothing seems to bother my stomach. Tonight I had 1/2 cup of chili, which I chewed well and lovingly. Now I feel terribly guilty that I couldn't last this last 8 days on liquids, and I am promising myself that I will get back on track tomorrow. I hope the doctor really tightens my band to the max next week!

Wow, all of you that get pureed foods so early are lucky. My doctor had me on fluids two weeks before banding and now four weeks after banding. I was banded August 6, so I have one more week to go before my first food. I don't feel like I have had any restrictions. I am absolutely starving. This is the most willpower I have ever had to dredge up in my whole life! :thumbup:

Hmmmm...with all I read about how great the surgery went in Mexico, I am wondering if you picked up any information there on if they also do cosmetic surgery. I am going to have wings and droopy thighs, there's no doubt about it!

I am looking at all the terrific weight losses for all of you since you began the process. I lost 16 pounds before banding, then I was banded on August 6, and I have lost 13 pounds since banding. That seems rather slow to me. I am still on liquids until September 2, then two weeks of soft foods. My first fill is on September 9th. My question: Did you lose more rapidly before or after your fill?

I just had my post op - 2 weeks after surgery. I have been on fluids since surgery, and my doctor first told me that I would have to stay on fluids for 2 more weeks, then the "mush" for two weeks, and then I would have my first fill 6 weeks post op. I bargained with him a little, and he said that I did a good job with my fluids for two more weeks (making 6 weeks of fluids in all, including 2 weeks pre-op), he's give me my first fill in 3 weeks, which is 5 weeks post op. I am SOOO sick of fluids!!!

I am right there with you. Last year my first break was 11:45 A.M. That was 4 hours after students came into class. It was hard on my bladder last year, but if I get that same schedule this year, I will need to go to school wearing a catheter!

Doctors have their reasons for asking us to get ready for surgery the way they feel best. I was on fluids for 2 weeks before surgery. It is now 10 days after banding, and I am still on fluids. My question is, why do you only drink chocolate shakes? There is a link on this site to over 200 shake recipes. The variery is what keeps me motivated. I am amazed at how well I am doing - I would never have believed I could do this a couple months ago!

I lost 16 pounds before my banding on August 6. I have now lost a total of 25 pounds. When I lose 5 more pounds, I will have lost the same 30 pounds that I have lost and gained a dozen times or more. :thumbup: I won't really feel success until I get below those 30 pounds. That's practically uncharted territory!!!

Margie, like you, I am a little confused by somw of the acronyms, so I can't help you there. I am truly astonished that someone would tell you that you are "too old" for the banding because of the reasons you stated. I am also 61, and all 4 of my specialists highly recommended it. I was told at the bariatric center that they don't do gastric bypasses on us "60's" because of the higher risks, but the lapbad has been very successful on their patients up to age 65. You seem to have all the motivation and determination you need to be successful at this. Everyone getting this done has had to "go through the hoops" in order to be prepared for surgery. Also, insurance companies have different requirements. Keep at it - your time will come. I couldn't be more thrilled with my recent banding, and I am losing weight steadily. I can;t believe how much better I feel already. DO THIS FOR YOU!!

This is the link for the shake recipes I have been using. There are more than 200, and I have found a lot of them that I just love. I don't feel as though I am dieting at all, yet I am steadily losing weight. I copied them off and put them in a notebook. Variety is the spice of life! Enjoy!:wink2: http://lapbandtalk.com/f82/200-protein-shake-recipes-49774/

This is the link for the shake recipes I have been using. There are more than 200, and I have found a lot of them that I just love. I don't feel as though I am dieting at all, yet I am steadily losing weight. I copied them off and put them in a notebook. Variety is the spice of life! Enjoy!:wink2: http://lapbandtalk.com/f82/200-protein-shake-recipes-49774/

This is the link for the shake recipes I have been using. There are more than 200, and I have found a lot of them that I just love. I don't feel as though I am dieting at all, yet I am steadily losing weight. I copied them off and put them in a notebook. Variety is the spice of life! Enjoy!:wink2: 200+ Protein Shake Recipes

Don, I am the one with the 2 incisions and the APLarge band. I have a doctor's appointment on Friday, and I will ask him more questions about the type of band I received. Anyone who has had their 1st post-op: Do you have any suggestions about the questions I should ask my doctor at this appointment? I always seem to have questions when I get home, but never think of them in advance.

Just being able to buy undies in beautiful colors would be a big bonus for me. I am so tired of white, beige and black!

I have to be the queen of the liguid diet. I was on all liquids 2 weeks before banding, and I am to continue on them 3 weeks post banding before I "graduate" to mushy foods. I am now on day 17 of all liquids, and I don't see too many others who have this restriction. That's okay, I will make it through until August 27 on fluids, then 3 or 4 weeks of mushy foods - that means I won't really be able to CHEW until late September or early October. Some of us just have tougher doctors, I guess.

Have any of you had extensive bruising after banding? When I came home Wednesday, I had a small bruise next to each of the 2 incisions. Now 3 days later, one wound has almost no bruising, but the incision for the port has a bruise the size of my hand. Is this normal?

Have any of you had extensive bruising after banding? When I came home Wednesday, I had a small bruise next to each of the 2 incisions. Now 3 days later, one wound has almost no bruising, but the incision for the port has a bruise the size of my full hand. Is this normal?

My post-op is Friday, August 15th. I have a houseful of company coming for that weekend to celebrate my 62nd birthday. I teach school and go back for teacher workdays on August 19th. I hope I will be feeling like my old self in a couple of days.

Karen, my doctor mentioned one hernia after the surgery, but I am not sure if he repaired it. I will have to ask him at my appointment next week. I have noticed that my bruising around the port incision has spread some this morning. I hope I haven't done anything to make it worse. When do you go back for a post op checkup?

Hey, Carlene, thanks for the good wishes. I certainly hope things improve with your family. You sure have a lot on your plate, and I don't mean food. I am sore and bruised, but able to get out, drive, shop, and all the other good stuff. I have not resumed my Wii Fitness program yet, but I hope to on Monday. I am sure I will make mistakes similar to yours. Some of us are hard-headed and only learn by personal experience. The biggest challenge I have faced so far is learning to slow down when I eat or drink. It just doesn't come natural, and I have to constantly remind myself. Take care of yourself, Carlene.

Lizalee, yes this is a new technique - faster healing and less pain. I just have one puncture-type wound about 1/2 inch in diameter and I do want to correct the size of the port incison. It is 1 1/2 inches, not 2 1/2 inches. I feel great today, just a little stinging at the incision when I get up and down. Other than a few burps yesterday, I have had no gas at all.

Wow, aren't we August banders doing great!!! Today is my first day after banding, and I have lots of energy, just a sting where the 1 1/2 inch port incision is. I think I said 2 1/2 inches yesterday, just want to correct that. I never dreamed this part would be so much easier than the 2 weeks of fluids pre-banding!

Karen, my doctor made sure I knew the type of LapBand he used as I might need that information in an emergency. However, I do not know who it is made by. Sorry. He did say it was better than the others he had used.