Alexandra

Everythign you describe sounds normal. Take it easy with the food! If anything give you any discomfort, take a step back and return to liquids. Even if you're not allergic, bandaids can cause problems for sensitive skin. My doctor told me to take them off because the scars would heal faster without them. And the rash I was getting was pretty nasty!

Laughing girl, thanks a million! I'm going to try it. Are they big pills? That can be problematic for a bandster...

This is a great idea for a thread, since almost everyone's insurance and/or surgeon requires some sort of history. Mine wasn't so much a list as an actual history. Here's the gist of it: ---------------------------------- Age 0 - 10: (1961 - 1971): Fat from the start; my family was always restricting my intake and talking about my weight. I’ve asked my brother for his memories and he concurs–most of our childhood was about my being told not to eat. Age ??: When Dr. Atkins first published his diet, my mother tried it on me. I remember testing our urine with ketone strips. Age 10: Diet camp. Lost about 30 lbs through strict diet and daily exercise. (150 lbs at end?) Age 10-12: Weekly visits with pediatrician; continued lectures f rom my parents. At this time I weighed over 150. Age 8-16: Weight Watchers, several times. Lost small amounts of weight occasionally, week to week; no major loss. Age 16: Broke 200 lbs; was 212 first visit with my "adult" doctor. By this time I had almost reached my adult height of 5'10". Age 20: Summer before senior year of college: Lost 30 lbs (hit 197 at my low point) as member of a WW-like group following a modified Atkins diet. Lived essentially on celery, diet 7-UP and turkey, and walked each way to work: at least 90 minutes every day. Up until this point I’d have said I was “active” with regard to exercise. I lived in NYC and did a lot of walking, but also played volleyball in high school and throughout college. Every summer I worked at a camp and was a swimming instructor, and I never owned a car at college. Age 21 - 28 After graduation I started working full-time at a desk job. Met (alcoholic) boyfriend and started drinking frequently. Broke 300. Sometime during this period I tried hypnosis. No effect. I also tried a hospital-based support group recommended by my nutritionist. Age 28-30: 1990: Medical fast (Opti-Fast). 12 weeks without solid food. Lost 75 lbs (230 at end). At end of fast I participated in a clinical trial of an SSRI being tested for weight-loss maintenance, and so was under close medical supervision for many months afterwards. During 1991 the weight came back on, and by spring of 1992 I weighed 280 and continued to gain. Age 35 (1995): 340 lbs. Went on an herbal concoction containing ephedra, lost 40 lbs. Age 35 - 39 (1997 - 2001): 300 lbs., then got pregnant. Between two pregnancies I got back down to 310. Age 40: A year after my second child was born, I’m now at 330. No longer worried about impairing my fertility and filled with new concerns about my health and future, I'm ready for serious intervention: surgery. ----------------------------- I had started with just a list but that didn't convey the lifelong nature of my battle with obesity. I needed to explain why and how I'd come to make the decision that surgery was right for me, how it came to be my last resort. Not only for my doctor and insurer, but myself as well.

Hi, Anne, and welcome! I'm glad you found us. I too found internet research absolutely mandatory while I was thinking about surgery. In fact, the only in-person research I did was attend my surgeon's required "seminar" -- and if that's all I did I'd never have had surgery. It was a complete bust. You should also check out Smartbandsters on yahoogroups. It's a very busy list but it has some of the most consistent and wisest posters I've seen anywhere. Nice to "meet" you!!

Lulu!! That's so cool!! I know it seems like a long time, but it will fly by. My surgery was scheduled almost 8 weeks out, and now that time is just an eye-blink. Congratulations!

Wow, do I need a fill!! :laugh Yesterday we had a birthday party for my older daughter's fifth birthday. I was too busy to eat much, and certainly didn't feel hungry throughout the day. The only thing I did wrong was not drink enough Water. But TODAY! My, oh, my. Did I mention my specialty is picking at leftovers? And there were three important things I didn't know about kids' birthday parties: 1. RSVP means "don't bother letting us know if you're coming or not." 2. Children don't eat more than 10% of what's put in front of them. 3. Parents don't stay, even if invited to do so. So, the food intended to feed 8 children and 12 adults ended up being picked at by 6 children and 5 adults. Can you say LEFTOVERS???? Today I've been eating almost as if there's no band inside me. Over the course of the day I've put away three chicken thighs, a piece of cake, several pieces of fresh pineapple, a yogurt (wink to the ladies), chips and dip, a piece of brownie ... and the ice cream in the freezer is calling my name. That's still less than I would have done pre-band, and in fact -- now that I see it written down -- it's not as much as it felt like. So that is a switch! But I am really ready for a fill, because it certainly wasn't me making decisions about food today. :ermm

Hey Mary, Yep, we are on the same wavelength. My appointment is next Thursday, and I actually don't want to lose any more weight before then. That is my 6-week mark and I hope to schedule a fill for shortly after that. So I don't feel guilty about eating the way I did today...I enjoyed the food, and I very much enjoyed the fact that even a pig-out day involved less food than it used to. But I definitely know what you mean about the work week being easier! As more time passes without a fill I'm worried I'll revert more and more to my old habits of taking big bites and swallowing them almost whole without thinking. I practically did that with this morning's chicken and only provoked a small golf-ball in my throat, which passed almost immediately. I'm ready!

Hi Mary, I've heard all sorts of theories for why restriction changes, and weather is certainly one of them. One person mentioned being tighter in the desert, while another talked about the changes in restriction as she traveled from sea level to a mountain. It's rampant! My theory is that it's not the band changing at all...it's you. Our bodies are something like 70% Water and what's not water is soft, mostly. Our internal organs are probably always shifting slightly in size, thickness, position, whatever depending on how our bodies react to stimuli, like hormones, atmospheric pressure, whether our team wins the Super Bowl.

Good luck, Lenny!! I'll be thinking of you on Tuesday morning, sending good-healing vibes over to West Orange.

Congratulations, bandster-baby!! Please do take care of yourself--but it sounds as though you know how to do that. Keep those girls busy, I say! And when they make a mess, keep 'em busy cleaning up. (You can clean up after them later on. ) Welcome to bandlandia!!

Antibiotics aren't the only culprit, unfortunately. I've known women who get them several times a year just because they're premenstrual. Anything that disrupts the normal balance of things can results in an overgrowth of yeast. Too bad I don't love yogurt.

I read this thread earlier and had a thought, but had to leave before I could post. Now I come back to see Alicia's post, and have two thoughts. Here they are: 1. I don't know about libido specifically, but I've had lots of other hormonal effects. I asked my doctor if weight loss can result in hormonal disruptions, and she nodded her head vigorously. So it doesn't seem out of the question that a drop in libido could be one of them. 2. YES! I got my first yeast infection in YEARS last week a day or so after lovemaking; only the second session since banding. It's awful! I'm going to try making yogurt a regular part of my diet to see if that helps.

There really is no reason to be hungry on even a full-liquids diet. Protein shakes -- homemade, not canned -- can be extremely filling, and Soups, yogurt, and pudding can help too. Don't be counting calories or worrying about serving sizes at this early point--just take in what your body needs to be satisfied and let you concentrate on healing. Kathy, you may have already gotten to soft foods by now, and I hope that's helping your hunger. Let us know how you're feeling!

Megan, great minds think alike! I asked these exact two questions on SmartBandsters months and months ago. Well, not exactly with the crazy tongue, but I was having a real problem figuring out how people chew more than a few times before swallowing something. I still don't know; I haven't reached a point where swallowing a bigger bite causes me any problems. But I can see where it will when I have restriction--and I'm positive that will provide all the motivation needed to change my behavior. Negative reinforcement is a powerful thing!! As for Water, I've been told that it's really not necessary to take tiny sips. You will figure out how much you can swallow at a time, and it may be gulps, even. I've been drinking in a sort of modified chug--swallow, breathe, swallow, breathe, swallow, breathe, put bottle down. I can take in easily 8-10 ozs at a time this way. Of course, that may change too when I have restriction, but even then I don't think tiny sips will be necessary. Straws can be problematic for some people, anyway; sometimes they can increase the amount of air swallowed which can be uncomfortable for bandsters.

Hi Blond Chick! Welcome!! You don't say how long ago you had surgery. I think sit-ups and weightlifting are the sorts of things you can do at whatever level you're comfortable, but probably not for several weeks after surgery (at least for the sit-ups). You want to give your body plenty of time to heal completely before putting any stress on the muscles. 8 weeks? And my doctor didn't say anything at all about alcohol in general. More than a little probably isn't the best idea, though, because even besides the empty calories it can lead to eating more than you might otherwise want. Which, with the band, can lead to major ouchies. :sick

Amber, I'm not the voice of experience you requested, but I'd like to share a thought or two. First, it's not a good idea to compare fill amounts with other people who have the same band. The exact same amount can have very different results from person to person--there is just too much individual variability for restriction to be easily predicted that way. Also, one of the reasons you hear that several fills may be necessary is that several fills are advisable. I've heard that filling quickly at the start greatly increases the risk of problems, and could result in the fill having to be completely removed so the patient's stoma and esophagus can rest and heal. So it makes much more sense to "creep up" on the right amount of fill, bit by tiny bit. I don't think of it as "one fill" versus "several fills" -- I see it more as a process of adjustment that gradually results in the perfect amount of restriction. We have to be willing to take the time it takes so that we get there without difficulties. If I could be assured of good restriction without pain or problems I'd be willing to get adjusted weekly! Good luck with your first fill! I'm sure it will be the scariest one. After that, it's all smooth sailing.

Jenna, I know you've heard that it often takes three or even more fills to find the "sweet spot." Don't get discouraged!! It's been four weeks since your last fill and it seems like you should be able to have it "tweaked" by now if you need it. Restriction is supposed to slow you down, and if it's not doing that it's not doing its job. Get another adjustment and I'll bet you'll see things differently.

Wow, Nicole!! That's an amazing loss, good for you!! Not to be a wet blanket, but now that you're starting solid foods don't be surprised if the loss stops for a while. We ALL know it's nothing to worry about and it DOES NOT MEAN YOU'RE FAILING, but when you've seen the numbers go down day after day it's a shock when it stops. In the meantime, while you're getting used to solid food and thinking about maybe scheduling a fill, you'll be doing it in clothes that fit differently and maybe even buying new ones. Yahooooo!!! Congratulations!!!

Linda, I'm so sorry you had such a hard time of it! Surgery is hard no matter what kind it is. I suppose all of those symptoms and problems could have occurred with a tonsillectomy or anything else. Thinking of that, ask your husband if he would feel negatively about surgery if it had been some other type--say, a lumpectomy or something. You're being treated for a life-threatening disease. Surgery is never a walk in the park but even with the problems you had you will feel better before you know it. Congratulations on taking a very important step!!

Hi Kathy, In the US the cost of banding and all the related care (surgeon, hospital, anaesthesia, etc.) can easily amount to more than $20,000. If you can find a place that does it as outpatient surgery it could be somewhat less. But you're definitely talking five figures. In Mexico I understand it can be had for between $7000 and $10,000 depending on where you go. But you will have to find a US doctor for followup care if it's not convenient to travel to Mexico for fills and so on.

As far as I can tell I'm able to eat anything I want. I do have to be careful about taking too-large bites, and it doesn't take as much to make me full. But otherwise I feel as good as new--better!

That list seems like a progression from clears , through full liquids and on into mushy foods. You are probably on the full liquids stage now, where essentially, anything you can suck through a straw counts as a liquid. Many doctors only require "clears" for a day or two after surgery. Here's your list divided into categories: Clears coffee, tea, (clear) fruit juice Vegetable stock and Crystal Light, Nutrasweet Kool-Aid Clear broth or Lipton Soup bags sugar free Jell-O or Popsicles Full liquids Blenderized soup Vegetable juices Skim milk or Lactaid milk Yogurt Sugar Free pudding Mushy foods Cottage cheese Applesauce, oatmeal, grits or cream of wheat. Well blended mash potatoes I imagine you were told not to start mushies for at least a week after banding. Once you get there, try things like refried Beans, tuna or whitefish salad, gefilte fish, really thick Soups like black bean, or chili. At that point pretty much anything goes if it's soft enough to mash with a fork.

Hey Bandstertwin! How ya doin'? All best wishes to you for your first fill. I have an appointment for Oct. 2 at which I hope to schedule a fill for shortly thereafter. It's getting a leeeetle too easy to eat about now! That's interesting about the band sizes. I'd thought there was only one approved for use in the US. Maybe the ladies in the office were rounding the numbers up? There's not much difference between 9.75 and 10!

Hi Kevin, Congratulations, and welcome to Bandlandia! Rest assured, all of the discomfort you're feeling now is just post-op stuff, and as time passes it will all do so too. Rest and be good to yourself!

Thanks so much for sharing your milestones and goals with us! It truly is inspiring to see people having so much success. Be sure to keep us posted on the airline seats!!