Lauren825

I'm on day 21 post op, and yes, I can tell it's time for a fill too! The swelling has gone down so there is a lot less restriction, and I'm starting to feel more hungry than I have in weeks. They can't fit me in for another 4 weeks though, so I'm going to have to really watch myself.

Hope you are feeling better!!

I'm two weeks post-op, and honestly, it wasn't until about day 6 or 7 that I started to feel normal again. You're almost there!!

Glad to hear you're still able to go out and have fun . . . Pre-band, we used to go out for Margarita's once in a while, and I wasn't sure if I'd still be able to do that or not?? And you're exactly right, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!

Irish Car Bombs?? OMG, how did that work out with the band??

How funny, I haven't owned a scale for several years because denial was easier that way. I just bought one two weeks ago, right before my surgery, and now I actually look forward to getting on it!

Well thanks for the vivid description . . . lol!! Seriously thank you, I've been wondering what this "sliming" thing is, so I really do appreciate the explanation. I wanted to make eggs yesterday, but after reading that they caused sliming for someone else, I passed. I'm too scared!

Hope you're feeling better!! :-)

You're so funny, but I know exactly what you're saying . . . I have truly missed my collarbones!!

Congrat's and good luck!! Surgery is a breeze, really. Just make sure to give yourself plenty of time to recouperate afterward. Tomorrow, it will be a week since I was banded, and I'm still not 100% yet . . . I'm getting there though!!

I am 6 days post-op, and I thought it would be like having my gall bladder removed too . . . it wasn't!! Maybe because I'm in my 40's, and that was in my 30's, I don't know, but the pain in my stomach muscles is searing at times, although it is finally starting to lessen. Yesterday was the first day that I completely put myself all together (hair, makeup, etc.) and went out for about 6 hours. I came home exhausted!! Baby steps, and we'll get there!! Good luck, and congratulations!!

Ravendays, your bee sting description with and escalating burn is exactly right!! Thanks, now I know I'm normal (well sort of :-) I think asking for help to hoist me off the couch has to have been one of the most humbling parts of this experience.

I was just getting ready to do my own blog, but thought I'd reply to yours first because my issue is similar. I was banded on Wednesday (four days ago), and my abdominal muscles are still killing me. I need help standing and sitting and am still on pain meds . . . a big no no for me!! Just wanted you to know you're not alone.

Congratulations on your weight loss, sounds like you're doing great. I am being banded tomorrow . . . nervous but excited!!

By the way, the picture you posted of Signal Hill is gorgeous!!

Good Luck to you!!! I'm being banded the next day, on the 9th. Very nervous, but ready to get it over with. Wondering what the magnesium citrate is for? Haven't heard or read anything about that??

Thank you for the tip about the gas!!! I am being banded in four days, and I have been reading how painful that is in so many people's blogs; I think that is actually the part that has been scaring me the most! I will definitely mention that to my doctor. Congrats on your weight loss, sounds like you're doing great!!

Thanks for adding me as a friend. I agree, we should keep in touch! Good to have people who are in the same place to compare notes with. 9 more days for me . . . final countdown begins!!

Good luck to you !!

I am being banded on the 9th, the day after you. It seems like everything happened so fast. My first appointment was the last week of Dec. 2010, and within three weeks, I'd had all my tests and my insurance authorized my surgery for Feb 9. With that said, I feel like it is all so sudden something has to go wrong, so I understand what you were saying in your post. I only started on this site a few days ago, so I am just reading your blog now. Anyway, I guess we'll be going through this together!! I am excited, but getting a little more nervous each day.

You have such a great attitude!!

Congrats . . . it sounds like you're doing great! I know when I was pregnant, I craved a salty margarita more than anything, and I really didn't drink them that often before. Think it was just the fact that I knew I couldn't have it. Probably the same with you and McDonalds :-)

Rachel, I haven't been banded yet, but I did spend nine months on a protein shake diet a few years back (lost 80 pounds, but found them) . . . anyway, I used to mix in a couple drops of extracts like banana, vanilla, peppermint, amaretto, etc. to break up the monotony. Just a thought :-)

Shonette, thank you so much for the information. I guess I will learn along the way through trial and error. I appreciate the advice from someone who has the band. It looks like you have done great!!

Bunnkykins, while I can't really say my hunger has gone away, it is nowhere near as bad as it was the first two days. The shakes are actually pretty satisfying. I was told two weeks for the pre-op diet, so you're lucky to only have five days! Starting to get a little nervous, in a good and bad way, now that it's getting closer. I know it's the right decision, it's just the fear of the unknown . . . We'll get through this though, and hopefully look back and laugh!!

Oh my, you sound like me! My husband is a marathon runner and thinks that if I'd just run marathons, I'd be fine . . . lol!! He eats desert TWICE every night, but I am constantly starving myself with my weight yo-yoing up and down. I know he's right about the exercise, but I've never been a runner, no matter how thin I got. He's hyper and can't sit still though.

Bottom line: People are different!!

I will be banded on Feb 9th, so we are on about the same track!!

So you've lost 130 pounds in about 9 months . . . that's amazing!! You should be so proud of yourself!! I am being banded on Feb 9th, and from what I've been reading, everyone seems to hit plateaus, but you've done really, really well. Thanks for the post, you give me hope. Best of luck to you!!

Yvette, your post was so funny, and came at the perfect time for me!! I went to Target and got a brand new scale yesterday (the expensive one!) Haven't had one for a couple of years, because denial is easier that way. Well I waited until this morning to unwrap the scale and weigh myself, stepped on and it said I weighed 350 pounds, which scared the daylights out of me, because I knew I couldn't have gained nearly 100 pounds since I was weighed at the doctor's office last week . . . I stepped back on again and it said I weighed 130 pounds . . . IN MY DREAMS!!! Defective scale . . . I got a dramatically different number ever time I got on. Finally made my husband get on . . . it said "error" . . . lol!! I will be returning the "expensive" scale today and settling for the cheap one that works.

Glad to hear that everything went well. Thank you for such a thorough blog; it reallly helps to know what to expect. Good Luck!!