Amanda Mae

Good question ... not sure if you have to stay over night but if you do - take a laptop!! I would have been bored out of my mind if I hadn't. I did sleep some - usually right after they gave me medication - but I was up walking the floor a few hours after I got out of surgery. I had a really hard time sleeping in the hospital because of these stupid massage things they put on your legs to prevent blood clots - so I was up almost all night. The laptop and walking kept me entertained until I could go home. as far as home - if its possible - call your doctor Monday morning or when you see him before surgery and see if you can have any prescriptions then so someone at home can go get them filled for you and they are ready and waiting at home for you. I had to stop at the pharmacy on my way home - and although I felt great I was a little run down and didn't feel like sitting at walmart for a 1/2 hour waiting for them to fill medication. I would also have any liquids you are going to want for the first two - three days. If there are recipes you want to try or anything - have someone go pick it up Monday while you are in surgery. I was ready to leave the house and walk around the grocery store by the second day but make sure you have someone with you - no lifting and take it easy. You need to make sure you walk a lot after surgery to keep your body moving again ... a little walk around the grocery story to pick up what you need for the diet is a good way to do it.

Skinnyminime ... Great suggestion on grouping people on facebook.... Before surgery only my husband, best friend, and her husband knew - not even my parents. I had surgery the week before my 30th Birthday and I remember when I finally told my mom - it was only because I had to. She called to tell me that her and my sister were coming to visit for my Birthday and that they had this huge day planned for going out to lunch and getting me new clothes - I finally broke down and told her and she was excited for me. After I had the surgery there were only two people at work who knew, my boss and a good friend who has been super supportive. Everyone thought I was on vacation for a week when I got back... I never lied but I didn't correct them either. Now that I have lost 70 lbs since I started and 60 pounds since April people are asking how I'm losing weight. I have found that its easier now to explain to them that I had lapband surgery earlier this year and clearly its been successful. I haven't run into any negative reactions yet - quite the opposite - a lot of encouragement actually. I'm a plant manager so I'm one of less than 10 women in the plant - now when I walk through in new clothes or with a little more confidence the guys give me a thumbs up and compliment me on "dressing up" more often. It's nice! There were a few people that I go to lunch with that notice sooner than others that something was different and I again - I told them but asked them to let me tell others when I'm ready instead of it going through the gossip mill. I guess it's all part of the journey.

Good Job!!! that's very exciting. I wish I would have started losing weight that fast. I started out really slowly until after my fourth fill but some people don't ever need a fill - hopefully you are one of them!!!

I asked my doctor where the port was when I went back for my follow up visit. I could feel something right under my skin that I thought was the port but it wasn't ..just scar tissue. I actually haven't lost enough weight yet to feel my port but its down lower like right above and to the left of my belly button. The doctor said as I lose more weight it will be easier to feel.

My doc's office offered two options - you could follow the liquied diet that you do on your own or you could purchase ready-to-drink protein shakes, soups, and granola bars and you were allowed to gave any combination of 6 items per day (but only one granola bar per day). I did this option just because it was easy for me - the shakes came in little juice boxes and it gave me some variety - not to mention the granola bar each night was a god sent after liquids all day. They also told me if I absolutely had to cheat to do something like a couple bits of grilled chicken breast or tuna - something high in protein and not much of it.

I was banded on April 12, 2011 and I have lost 60 pounds since then... and feeling great! I have 70 pounds to go until goal and can almost fit in my favorite jeans.. but I can't wait until they are too big also ..

Good luck with your surgery ... you sound very determined and I'm sure you'll do great! With yucky hospital food gaining weight hopefully won't be an issue.

I'm trying to get back involved in the forums... I was banded in April and for the most part doing really well... I want share my successes and help others as well so this is me trying to get back involved .. I just had to have my gallbladder out a couple of weeks ago which was unexpected - I hadn't had any problems with it previously that I knew of and now they think I have an ulcer in my stomach. It seem odd that I never had problems before the band but it also seems that the problems I am having aren't related to the band at all ... too strange. So how is everyone else doing?

If you are only on your second adjustment you might be still getting use the size of bites you can take and how much you have to chew. I know that after the first three fills I had I was learning a little more each time ... when I got my fourth fill I had to learn a lot and learn fast. It has taken me some time but I think I'm finally figuring it out which prevents things from getting stuck. As the band got tigther I also noticed that I needed to leave more time before and after eating from my last drink. The first few fills I could drink and then eat a few minutes later which is not good ... now I have to wait at least 45 minutes from the time I take a drink until I eat or I get sick. Sometimes the mental struggle is worst than the physical one!

Congratulations.... I did the same thing last weekend .. I'm into a size 20 now and had things ranging up to size 26. Some of the clothes were hard for me to part with but I as I brought new clothes out of the attic I was excited to get back into some of my old time favorites!!! It's a good feeling isn't it'?!

GNC women's ultra mega - chocolate powder ... even has 10g of protein!