pinknsassyemt

2 years ago yesterday I started my journey with Ralph (my lap band). The left picture was 3 weeks post op... So down 40 lbs from my heaviest... The right... This morning.

Ralph... Because my grandfather was Ralph and he was cranky and fussy and well if I don't behave... I Ralph

I wish I had done this... It would be a nice encouragement when I get frustrate with my "extra" skin now that I've lost my weight. I'd rather need to but a tummy smoother in a size 4 than wear a size 12 underwear and still get wedgies! Keep these pics handy you will need them in two years ur doing great

Name your band... Seriously it helped me develop a relationship with the lifestyle change... And I take are of Ralph..... Or I Ralph haha

I am 2 years post op yesterday, and I have the realize band. It was what my physician offers. 147 lbs lost I will say its all about the tool... I'm not sure what name is on it would make a difference.

I've been so stuck on rice (one and only time I tried it) I had to use my finger to get a good gag reflex... It absorbs fluid and just gets stuck hard core. Poopy.

I would recommend not leaving. A lot of us are health care professionals with first hand knowledge of the dangers. I am banded, and I have treated several patients in emergent situations with bands before so sometimes we have seen what the "stumbles" can cause and opt to share that. I have no idea what TMF background is, so I only ask that you stay and absorb the support, ignore the other stuff. From PERSONAL experience I too fell off a little not long after post op... I ended up having to get a UGI and swallow study and put back on liquids for 3 additional weeks so even someone with first hand knowledge of the dangers makes slips... Ur back on track and I find when I have a stumble I make a big note post it on the fridge that says "remember nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" and it detours me after ur first fill you will have plenty of reminders, promise

So June 13th will mark my 2 year love affair with my band named Ralph... I've done fairly well, from 282 lbs down to 150lbs, I feel content. My problem is, my surgeon left his practice and I tried and tried to find another one, and in the interim lost my insurance. I'm working with a 14cc Realize band with approx 4cc of fluid give or take... That's a whole other story. Anyhow I've mastered the idea of knowing my bands moods for the most part and do well eating and sometimes find I'm able to eat far more than I should. I of course know this means I need a fill, however other days I'm so tight I can swallow a protein shake. I've tried tracking this to see it it coincides with stress and so on. Anyhow, I can't see a dr because A. No one will see me and well B. No one will see me. I have since had a hysterectomy so I know my hormones can play a lot and find it hard to drop these last 20 lbs. anyone have some good motivators?!? I'm hoping just being back on the site will help.

Every bariatric surgeon in the local area... Most turn me away because of my lack of insurance, others apologize because of who my surgeon was and state that they don't involve themselves in his messes.

So I am 6 weeks post op, and noticed that my port site/incision was still rather swollen, but I brushed this off as needing more time to heal. On Friday morning I woke up, and I swear to you, thought I had an alien trying to escape from my belly!! I had this huge rock hard protruding fist size lump right behind my insicion. I went to work, and called my surgeon. In the office they decided it could be a seroma ( a collection of serum often related to tissue disruption and rather common). Most seroma's will form then redistribute over time. Mine however.. did not. I find myself laying on a table with 2- 60cc syringes in my belly sucking the life out of this thing. Whew.. Not so bad... and they even offered me a fill while I was numb. I passed since I am totally in the green zone and losing well. Anyhow... Fast forward to Sunday.. The alien is back, but bigger.. and red.. and warm to the touch.. Yikes! I call the on call for my physician while I am at work. ( I work at the hospital which my surgeon is from). They come to see me, and decide its best to give me some antibiotics.. Bactrim via liquid form it is for me.. ICK! I call the office Monday at the on call Dr.'s directions and of course they want to see me. My surgeon has his nurse practioner do another aspiration, again draining off 120cc plus and extra 10cc... it is getting bigger.. They discuss possibly inserting a drain, but I have a fever... Great... So.. they send me for a cat scan to make sure my port isn't being rejected, or misplaced... Everythings fine just a big giant seroma.. 1 hour after a draining it was measured at 8.9x3.4x4.7 cm... yikes~ I have to follow up again on Wednesday and still the possiblity of a drain lingers.. I was happy to hear that "Ralph" (my band) was in perfect position and he was fine. I just wanted to share this, incase someone else has the same symptoms, or if anyone has any brilliant cures before tomorrow... Nothing awesome about realizing you have a flatter tummy, and all the sudden it looks like ur hiding a orange in your waist band. haha

Mine is Ralph... First and foremost if I don't stick to the rules what will happen.. I will ralph haha.. and my grandfather is possibly the most stubborn but brilliant man I know.. I think its fitting!

I can honestly say that I have no regrets, not even doing it sooner. I have faither that everything happens for a reason, and until I moved forward, I don't think I was ready. This is a great tool, and a life changing event.

As an EMT, this is what I have to say... If your buying a braclet or an anklet and u want them to be pretty and "unrecognizable" I can guarantee you just wasted your money. When we get on scene we check necks and wrists and that is about it... if we are looking for a medical alert, it means your unconsious and fumbling through jewlery is the least of our worries... we do check, however we don't spend much time on it. PLEASE PLEASE WEAR MEDICAL ALERT JEWLERY WHERE IT CAN BE SEEN AND RECOGNIZED EASILY. Just a little suggestion.

This morning I stepped on the scale and it ready 209.... My pre pregnancy weight, which I haven't seen easily for 5 almost 6 years!!! Almost brought tears to my eyes... Next stop Onederland :-)

This is what my trainer has put into my training effect. Time Endurance Pace Are the three factors, you should set a goal for where you want to be so for instance this is my treadmill plan Goal Time 60 min Goal Endurance 3.5 incline Pace 6.0 mph Current Settings Time 30 min Endurance 2.1 incline Pace 2.5 miles So every workout change ONE portion of your plan, and only increase it by 2. So tomorrow I will do Time 30 min Endurance 2.3 incline Pace 2.5 miles per hour and then the next workout Time 32 min Endurance 2.3 incline Pace 2.5 and so on My trainers thought process is that if you don't push everything all at once, and make it a gradual increase its going to be better for A. your body, and B. your progress.. Hope this helps..

My surgeon was happy with my 4-5 lbs a week average when I saw him last week and opted for a no fill. I am getting hungry between meals, but I have made appropriate food choices and maintain my calorie count. My surgeon explained it like this.. I started with 4cc in my band btw. Anyhow, if the band is working, and the weight is dropping at a steady rate, there is no point on wasting a fill right now. There is only so much that can go into a band, and I needed to save my fill for a time when I needed a little nudge. I met a woman the other day, that never had a fill and lost 125 lbs. It is possible that u have JUST enough restriction that u may not been durastic fills. Just a thought.. So no fill for me, and I am a ok with that

I was 4 weeks post op.. Now mind you this girl used to knock back 15 Gin and Tonics a round... I picked Crystal Light Lemonade and Raspberry Vodka as my post op drink of choice.. and yes it hits you a lot faster, half a normal sized drink I was feelin a wee bit tipsy.. Enjoy and have fun :-)

The band will limit your intake, but ice cream, Soups, mashed potatoes are all slider foods... The band doesn't do magic with out a magician... Good luck!

As an EMT this is on my QUICK purchase list... I have been intubated for severe allergies many times, and all of my coworkers strongly suggested it because of the BLIND NG.. I have had one before, and trust me the shove until it goes down which could cause potential band damage. Better safe then sorry!@

I guess had someone in my life not been open and honest about their choice for surgery, I wouldn't have had the knowledge to move forward for myself. While I respect someones decision to keep it personal, I have opted to be open and a huge advocate for the band. If someone asks why I eat so little, or how I am losing the weight I definatly take the opportunity to educate. I actually know of 3 people in my life that are now looking into weight loss surgery or programs because of me. I will never be ashamed of my banding, and I had amazing confidence and self esteem pre surgery so I think maybe that plays a lot into my process as well.

I just saw at my local grocery store that Starbucks has a 100cal frappachino on the shelf... I bought a 4 pack, and allowed myself one as a treat, working it into my calorie count and it was amazing!!

This is what I do, and I am 23 days post op and I am averaging 70-90 oz a day of water/crystal light. First I bought a fun cup, if its astetically pleasing your more likely to look at it, I purchased one that I was about to decopage my daughters picture too. It holds 16 oz. I take 7-8 rubber bands and place them on the cup, and each time I fill it, I remove one to keep track of my Water intake. I find that through out the day if I notice its noonish, and I have 5 bands left I know to pick up my pace. Trust me, once u start getting enough of your fluids you will love the way it makes you feel. Good Luck, hope this helps!

I was born 11/23/82, my daughter was born exactly 23 years later on 11/23/2005, and it never fails that everyday I catch the clock at 11:23 every day one time or another. I also was randomly assigned locker number 23, and my combination code starts with an 11. I am a strong believer in numerology... those numbers are now tattooed on my foot for my daughter and I, and I play them in roulette anytime I go to the casino. Great stories, thanks for sharing sometimes I wonder if I am the only one! Tamera

I developed an amazing "mushie" food for myself. In my mush phase I am allowed 3 servings of crackers/melbatoast/or dry toast. This is my personal fav I created! 2- 3oz cans of chicken breast 1/4 cup fat free cottage cheese 5 small mozz balls 2 tbs philly cooking sauce- italian herb and cheese 2 tbsp creamed spinich 1/2 cup Pasta sauce Mix chicken, cottage cheese, mozz balls, philly sauce, and spinich. I mash it with a fork really good and place in small 1 cup ramikens. I top each one with pasta sauce. Bake on 350 for 15-20 mins or until it bubbles. I then eat it with a fork alone, or with crackers or dry garlic toast. Makes 2 servings. Per serving break down- Minus bread/crackers 154 calories 6.2 g fat 18.4 g Protein 6.8 g carbs

I developed an amazing "mushie" food for myself. In my mush phase I am allowed 3 servings of crackers/melbatoast/or dry toast. This is my personal fav I created! 2- 3oz cans of chicken breast 1/4 cup fat free cottage cheese 5 small mozz balls 2 tbs philly cooking sauce- italian herb and cheese 2 tbsp creamed spinich 1/2 cup Pasta sauce Mix chicken, cottage cheese, mozz balls, philly sauce, and spinich. I mash it with a fork really good and place in small 1 cup ramikens. I top each one with pasta sauce. Bake on 350 for 15-20 mins or until it bubbles. I then eat it with a fork alone, or with crackers or dry garlic toast. Makes 2 servings. Per serving break down- Minus bread/crackers 154 calories 6.2 g fat 18.4 g Protein 6.8 g carbs