Nechama L

How did you all decide what your goal weight was?

You should try Miralax...

Amy, my Patches look just like yours!!

I am not nauseated by the smell of food, but I would very much like to chew something again! Today I managed to down both my protein shakes, had a sports bottle of water and a bowl of soup. Oh, and a small cup of milk. I also took a Viactiv. I feel like I am slowly weaning myself onto all the things I will have to take daily. Still have a terrible headache on and off from either the anesthesia or simply being dehydrated but I am not sure how I could possibly be dehydrated. I have been taking my son's liquid generic tylenol and it is nasty! Way too sweet. I will have to find some alternative. I have been up and about, doing chores both yesterday and today (laundry, dishes, etc). It is hard to sit and do nothing with two kids around.

You are most definitely not wrong. And, while your daughter is an adult, I think that it is never too late to teach her the value of thinking of others before herself. It sounds to me like she is either extremely selfish or jealous. Is she heavy? Could it be that there is an aspect of jealousy behind her behavior?

Still no shoulder or gas pain! Yay to Shauna for getting a date! Good luck to all the July 1st banders! Are we all staying on this thread or migrating over to the post-op? How's it going to work?

REPOST FROM PRE-OP BOARD Greetings from the other side of the banding journey!! I am home from the surgery which took place at 8:30 this mroning. All in all, REALLY not bad. I don't know if my pain is on a lower level because the surgeon used the same incision sites from my gall bladder removal, but I CAN say that I have only taken the liquid vicadin once since I have been home. I was not nauseous after I woke up but I tend to respond pretty well under general anesthesia. They had me up and walking within a few hours and sent me home with orders to come back in 7-10 days to meet with the nurse about my incisions and to have an esophogram before that appointment. I don't look forward to chugging more barium but apparently I will be having a lot of esophograms because that is part of the annual physical now to make sure that the band is doing well. I am able to drink my clear broth and juice and Water without any issues as well. Again, don't know if that is because I am taking sips or because I am just responding well to the band, but it is comforting! As far as the gas issues I have seen others have after surgery, I have not had any pains at all. I find that weird so I expect that it will kick in tomorrow. I did bring a pillow with me to hold against my stomach in the car on the way home and that was a huge help, so I recommend it to everyone. That's all for now! Have a good night

Greetings from the other side of the banding journey!! I am home from the surgery which took place at 8:30 this mroning. All in all, REALLY not bad. I don't know if my pain is on a lower level because the surgeon used the same incision sites from my gall bladder removal, but I CAN say that I have only taken the liquid vicadin once since I have been home. I was not nauseous after I woke up but I tend to respond pretty well under general anesthesia. They had me up and walking within a few hours and sent me home with orders to come back in 7-10 days to meet with the nurse about my incisions and to have an esophogram before that appointment. I don't look forward to chugging more barium but apparently I will be having a lot of esophograms because that is part of the annual physical now to make sure that the band is doing well. I am able to drink my clear broth and juice and water without any issues as well. Again, don't know if that is because I am taking sips or because I am just responding well to the band, but it is comforting! As far as the gas issues I have seen others have after surgery, I have not had any pains at all. I find that weird so I expect that it will kick in tomorrow. I did bring a pillow with me to hold against my stomach in the car on the way home and that was a huge help, so I recommend it to everyone. That's all for now! Have a good night

How did you choose your goal weight? Is there a formula?

My nutritionist said there is even a portion plate you can get so you are sure you are eating the right amount. I will borrow my daughter's utensils I guess! LOL

If I were in your situation, A) I would have insisted on speaking with my surgeon and See A. You have to be your own patient advocate. That being said, I was surprised to see that you wrote that the band is put in with fluid already in it. I wonder if that is standard.

It's like the adware that somehow knows what ads to post on the side of your screen when you are on social networking sites.

She's beautiful!

Watching the downhill self destructive path my now 600-pound mother has taken.

Amy, this was amazing. Thank you so much for putting into words what we all experience.

BUMP! Come on! 110 people viewed this and no one responded! I am sure someone out there has a thought about this!

I would say stay away from juices in general. You are just drinking your calories, no matter how diluted it is and that is never a good way to go. There are a ton of Water flavorings that are sugar free... For the ticker, go to a www.tickerfactory.com . Choose weight loss then follow the steps. Once you get to the screen which says "Done! Your ticker:" copy the code in the box called bbCode. Then go to your profile, choose update and paste that code into your signature. Hope that helps!

I joined a gym a couple months ago and have been working on their machines. I challenge myself in each 1/2 hour workout to burn more and more calories. So far my highest is 261 calories in 1.07 miles.

I would strongly recommend that you pump and store prior to surgery. There will be a lot of stuff going through your body from the surgery that may not be safe for your baby to ingest through the breast milk. In addition, you will likely want to take some pain killers at least the first and second day and that also may not be safe while nursing. Speak with your surgeon and your ped to make sure that the medications are an ok category to be taking while nursing...

Two days to go. Tomorrow they will call me with my surgery time. Last night my husband asked me if I was scared. I said nope! I see this as the light at the end of a long tunnel. Just thinking of being able to shop in a store, being healthy enough to LIVE and enjoy my children and, G-d willing, my grandchildren, that is my new lease on life. I will never make the mistakes my mother made and I will love myself I look forward to letting you all know how it went as the pioneer of the group

I always find that updating my ticker helps me with not feeling discouraged! Every pound counts!

Do a Google search. There are a ton of chewable and liquid vitamins out there including the calcium ones. My nutritionist said I could take Viactiv and I figure, why not get some chocolatey goodness for my effots?

OMG, I just searched it. That is hysterical!

I am also 5'6" and was measured at 5'5.5! I was thinking the same thing re: the BMI, but didnt really care as long as it got me approved!

My mother, who is currently 600 pounds, was against the surgery when I first mentioned it to her for myself 3 years ago. You will always have people who are against your efforts to improve yourself, and a lot of time it is simply because they are jealous that they are not brave enough to take the plunge and improve THEMSELVES. If you are ready for it, go for it! All the best of luck to you