Rachel412

I haven't even gotten my first fill yet and with something funky going on around my incision- they don't know if it's an infection or fluid that needs to reabsorb- they won't do my fill next week until it's totally cleared up. BOO!

My nutritionist recommends 60-80 grams a day.

Mmmmmmmmm Pho. I bet it's just fine. And once you've moved on and can have meat, even better!

Wow, I am so sorry

10 minutes?!? um... no. i don't do that. providing you've chewed well, food passes through your band quickly. and usually you can feel it going down (well, maybe you can't, i can) and once my swallowed food is past the band, I know it's "safe" to take another bite. I can't imagine waiting 10 minutes!~\

That's awesome, congratulations! Does onederland feel as amazing as I assume it does?

It's possible, but if you're not sure if it's hunger, it's probably not My stomach did all sorts of funky things the couple of weeks after surgery. When you start to get hungry again, it'll feel like the hunger you're used to, and you'll know it for sure.

I had the normal 4 tiny incisions and 1 "large" incision when my band was placed a month ago. The incisions have all healed nicely, but over the past few days I have noticed that there is a red area around my large incision. It's a bit puffy, and a bit sore, and warm when I touch it. I called my surgeon's office today and they want me to come in tomorrow to have it checked out. I'm just a little confused because the actual incision was all healed up nicely, so it's not like I have an open wound. I'm confused as to how I could have an infection that shows up AFTER the wound is closed. Anyone have any thoughts, or did anyone else deal with this? I'm a little worried because my first fill is scheduled in a week. I'm hoping that won't have to get delayed if there really is an infection.

Exactly what Vicky said!

The scars are similar to scars you'd get with other laproscopic surgeries, so you could probably say "I had my gallbladder out" or appendix when questioned, and 99% of people wouldn't think twice. What other questions do you have?

Well, the PA said she doesn't know if it's an infection or just some liquid that hadn't been absorbed yet. She gave me antibiotics just in case and I'm keeping my fill appointment for next week. Unfortunately if it it's not cleared up by then, they won't give me a fill

Yikes! That's part of why I'm not telling people either- where I used to live and work, there was a practice that banded a TON of people but seemingly provided no nutrition education, because they all lost 30 or 40 pounds and then ate a ton of slider foods and gained it all back plus more. Everyone knew they'd had the surgery, so my whole workplace pretty much decided that LapBands are a crock. Made me so glad I'm in the practice I'm in

Huh... interesting. Mine keeps changing from bright pink-y red and puffy to looking less puffy and sort of yellowy bruise-like... but then the red comes back late in the day or the next morning. I'm all sorts of confused

Yep. I can feel it in the morning, not any other time of day. I drink hot tea before breakfast to loosen it up.

It's true that only you can control what you put in your mouth, but remember, that's what all of US are doing. So while I can't control YOUR eating, if I can control mine- while in bandster hell with no fill whatsoever- then I know you can do, it too! Would it help you to have another bandster to be accountable to? Like a bite it, write it partner?

I agree with Laura Jean. Remember that you control what you put in your mouth still! I've tried a couple of different psych meds and they've never affected my weight- I did that all by myself

My doctor required it, but I didn't actually do it until a few days before surgery Don't tell! The headaches did go away after a few days. Do it now, before surgery so you don't have a raging headache when you're in the hospital. Trust me!

WOW!!! Amazing, congratulations!

My break was entering the program in October, being told that BCBS always approves quickly and scheduling surgery for December- then being told that whoops, my BCBS was different and I had to do a 6 month diet first. I admit, I wanted to give up right then and there, but I did it and now, looking back, that 6 months went so fast!

Wait... do you need her referral to go see the bariatric practice? She's making you do all of this before you can seek out surgery? I'm confused...

You'll always be able to eat more than you should, since food passes through your pouch really quickly and ends up in your (still large) stomach. If you eat the amount you're supposed to eat, are you satisfied? Or do you still feel hungry 30 minutes later? If you're still hungry, yes, you should probably get another fill.

You might want to check out Alien Bandit's blog, she takes a lot of stomach pictures and I know there are some of her pre-plastics, when her port was pretty obvious. http://alienbanditin....wordpress.com/ ETA: http://alienbanditinkorea.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/the-end-is-coming-the-end-is-coming-pre-tummy-tuck-photos/

Congratulations! In my practice I saw the PA, nutritionist, social worker, and surgeon all in the same day. It was a long day but well worth it. The labs and EKG were in separate offices but they also arranged to have those on the same day. I had to do an upper GI too- done one the same day as the EKG. As for telling or not telling people, the only people that know about my surgery are my immediate family and my BFF. I don't want other people to know because I don't want them thinking I'm taking the easy way out- THIS IS NOT EASY- or comparing my weight loss to other people's.

That's great! But almost as importantly, did you find out what he was so mad at you about?

Yes, walk as much as you can, and I also found a heating pad to be very soothing on my aching back and shoulder and even on my incisions (with layers in between of course). I used the heating pad every time I sat on the couch for a good two weeks, mostly over my big incision/port area. The heat seemed to dull the pain.