Butterfly Queen 111

Thanks Ladybug. (((Hugs)))

No because you will still have anesthesia in your system and you may be a danger to yourself or others,even if you do not feel "loopy".I was banded and had imbrication (stomach folding and suturing) and did it on an outpatient basis and still my surgeon would not let me drive myself home.This is just not safe for you to do.

I found this tip in Jean McMillan's book Bandwagon:Mix a lttle meat tenderizer with warm water (about as much as a shot glass)and drink it.This will help remove the blockage. I hope you feel better!

I am so glad you are feeling better.Take care of yourself.Also I know this is off topic,but l got the meat tenderizer tip from Jean McMillan's book Bandwagon.I just finished reading it and it was very funny and enjoyable.Jean has a lot of tips and information that she has included in Bandwagon and she has just recently made a cookbook for bandsters that I purchased today.I know I will be referrring to Bandwagon a lot on my journey becasue it has a section on what to do when something goes wrong, too.

My surgery was August 31st and I too am using Mederma ( you can purchase this at your local Walmart) and yes it does work grat to fade scars.Just remember to keep your scars out of the sun and they will fade faster.If you try to tan on your belly in a tanning bed or by laying outside where the scars are located they will stay red a lot longer.And if your scars are noticeable you can always cover them up with Dermablend makeup and some powder dusted over top of this. You can buy Dermablend at (I think) Hudson Belk's.

Me too.I am a self pay patient also and I am playing it safe as well.I don't want to even take a small chance in stretching out my pouch for any reason.Even when I take my fizzy powdered liquid Vitamins I shake them up really well with Water and let them sit until they are "flat".

I meant to say stool softener not laxative-No you don't want to take a laxative becasue you may redecorate your surgeon's office.stick t the tool softeners they are much more gentle/less explosive.

I read that you can mix a ittle meat tenderizer with warm water and drink it and it helps the blockage go down.

Like the other poster said here-the 1st 4-6 weeks are for healing,not weight loss.I was banded + I had imbrication/gastric plication (stomach folding/suturing) August 31st and since then I have lost 32 lbs,however,I was on a strict liquid diet from August 17th-September 3rd,and then full liquids.I have passed the mushies stage and I am now able to eat solids,taking it very very cautiously.I have my first fill in my band on Oct 14th this Friday.I think I lost weight before my 1st fill because I started excercising and attempting to lose July 19th which was the day of my consultation and then I cut out all excersice for September as my incisions would hurt if I moved around a lot.Don't fret...everyone loses differently and your turn will be soon. There are several things to factor in when you are not losing as quickly as you think you should- One of these goes unnoticed,but think of the unhealthy items you ate before surgery-if you were like me you ate sugars,starch,artificial colors,preservatives,etc...so in essence your body may be going through a "detox: phase right now because you are no longer feeding it bad stuff in large quantities so it is going through a 'shock' if you will. Our bodies do go through a shock even when we pick up healthy habits-this is why you feel like you are going to die when you begin an excercise program because it shocks your system-you are doing what the body is not used to so you feel pain,but it gets better and turns into feelings of feeling great and having energy after a workout later on . I would say that as a whole we are an "instant gratification" society and this is why we want things to happen now.It is normal to want the weight to come off in a week-we all feel this way. If you just have patience and follow the band rules for eating and incorporate some movement you will do great! I know waiting is the hardest part but we all are trying to undo years and years of bad habits involving our food choices,Body Dismorphia Disorder,quality of food,portion size,social pressures to eat,body image issues,compulsive eating,comforting ourselves with food,etc..There is way more that we are healing from than just wanting the pounds to come off. Good luck on your journey! And don't be sad-there is a whole new life waiting right around the corner just for you!!! ((((Hugs!)))))

Thanks Stacy glad you enjoyed my post!

Thank you and I am glad you enjoyed my post.Our journey is not just about fixing the outside,it's about fixing all parts of the equation-our intentions,our minds,our hearts,our relationships with others around us,how we feel worthy,how we take care of and value ourselves and how we see ourselves.Somewhere along the way we all became out of balance in these aspects and we became obese.We must go backwards and heal and forgive the things that happened to us so we can move forward.If we find out what made us turn to food for comfort,we can forgive that in our lives and replace turning to food with healthier habits. Good luck to all who follow in the footstepsof the brave men and women here who opted for surgery,beat obesity and came out on the other side as new and improved people. :-)

Congrats and I think when woman said to your boyfriend "I am not going to let her get skinny." about you, I would have told her "Oh,is that right?Well,it's too bad that my being skinny is not something you have control over!"Then laugh it off. Or I would have told her "And I am going to make sure that you gain the 70 lbs of weight that I lost!"Some people really like to think they control the whole Universe but they do not.Just remember that mean people suck and ignore them accordingly. And you are noticing how jealous people are over the weight loss-be advised that there are more small jealous, shallow,petty stupid people on Planet Earth than we need,causing trouble everywhere every single day.You can't do anything with these idiots because if they were not having personal problems with your weight they'd find something else to be angry about like your new shoes,your hair etc,etc,etc.The possibilities are endless.The Devil himself controls people like this and they are like a cancer in the workforce. To me there is nothing more pathetic and weak than a bunch of stupid jealous women at work that spend their day making gossip and trouble instead of working and minding their own business. Uggh.

I used supppositories-dulcolax and they worked well.If I had to do it all over again I would have taken a laxative prior to the day before surgery like my surgeon's office suggested.

Hi Newbie-The testicle/bladder trouble seems unrelated to surgery and could be related to a number of things.Make a doctor's appointment ASAP because it may be your prostate,kidney or bladder stones/infection or possibly an STD.I am not trying to scare you,offend, or gross you out but testicular pain is probably not a side effect of surgery so you should get it attended to immediately.

Dear Sumthin- I think a percentage of us may suffer from Body Dismorphic Disorder (look it up on the Web)whenwe see ourselves as fat even when we are not.I believe I had this when I was 16 and weighed in at 140 because I thought I was morbidly obese then so I just "gave up". You should find a counselor to talk to about this because these feelings are real.It may also help to have a series of photos taken (1 per month) where you are wearing the same outfit.This will make you consious of the clothing becoming larger on you-thus you becoming smaller. This journey is a physical journey and a mental journey and step by step our minds have to come together with our bodies and spirit.Somtimes this is more difficult than we anticipate but it is easier to acheive if we are aware of the need for it. Remember that lot of our thoughts and emotions played a part in becoming obese-especially comfort eating/compusive eating/reacting to bad circumstances.We are all on our way working on undoing those patterns.We are all in the process of healing our lives ,our realtionships with food,our health and our bodies.We are becoming Brand New again. Good luck to you on your journey and don't forget to pause in front of the mirror each day and tell yourself "I am beautiful,and I am worthy of becoming my ideal weight and returning to complete health." ((((Hugs to you.)))))) :-)

Remember which of the two has no calories, and is great excercise.LOL.My doc said sex when you are ready pain-wise and alcohol only in moderation only after complete healing-about 6 mos.I am totally over alcohol though so I could care less bout that.Be aware that all bandster-related texts that I have read state that alcohol hits you harder after surgery because it stays in our small pouch and gets you drunk quicker,Some folks recommend drnking at ho me the first time just until you find out what will happen to you/how you'll react.I think the last thing I would wanna do is drink for the first time in public and then possibly vomit unexpectedly.

I totally agree.Let's all play nice.Remember when we all started this journey and had to learn everything from scratch.Please give J a break already!

J- After you are fully healed you shouldn't have any problems ''feeling'' your port or it getting in the way.Also the band is way down at the end of your esophagus/top of your stomach,not near your mouth so no,it will not ''get in the way orally" either.Now, I have rad some folks say their port is tender from time to time such as after doing sit ups,but I would think this will eventually go away.

I was banded August 31st and the throat pain from the tube was a problem for me for 2 days.Drink warm broth and if you can,sleep with a scarf over your mouth to recirculate the warm air so your throat doesn't get worse.You can also gargle with warm salt water but be careful-stop if it makes you gag.There is a spray out on the market that has a numbing medicine in it -I think Chloreseptic makes it and you can buy this at Walmart.Good luck to you!

I am almost 4 weeks out and it just keeps getting better and better and better.This is the hapiest I have been in a long time just knowing that if I follow the ''rules'' and do as I should I actually have a chance to be thin and regain my heath! That to me means no more CPAP machinewhich =better sleep (God willing)and relief for my Osteoarthritis pain in my knee which = better motion/mobility.(God willing). Another benefit is I am no longer ravenously hungry to the point of feeling like a "bottomless pit"when I eat.I had a bad problem with emotional overeating that after I conquered that habit,I knew a band would further help me in that habit not returning because it will be ther to remind me that I may have pain if I overeat again ,for whatever reason.I handle my emotions differenty and I get out /express what is bugging me instead of destroying myself with food,cigarettes,or alcohol.; Newbie,if you do the best you possibly can to follow the band "rules" you will be very successful and over time you will not think of food the same way ever again.This may seem frightening for you now but over time you will look back and feel as if this was the best thing you ever did for your health and self esteem.I have lost 30 lbs already and that is from July 19th -September 26th,and I am feeling better every day. Yes,it is a complete lifestyle makeover but what you will gain in health,self-worth,and how others will treat you better is priceless.Good luck to you on your journey!

To lose this awful double chin and buy a pair of sexy tall riding boots that will fit over my slimmer calfs.To regain the confidence I once had and buy a new exciting wardrobe that will show off a slimmer waist and a womanly shape instead of looking like a damned shapeless box all the time, I want to get rid of my fat clothes to charity never to be seen or heard from again.I want to be able to wear a sexy halloween costume for a change and feel great doing it.I want to see others respect and flirt with me.For once in mylife I want o be seen as a powerful woman who is in control of herself instead of the one who hides in plain sight because of her weight . I want to be smaller than I was in high school.

Yayy Shirley! I wil think of you when I can finally see my collar bone.Good job!

Get your prescriptions -pain medicine-and anti nausea medicine if your doctor will give it to you- filled in advance and have them waiting at home for you when you get there.I recommend Gas-X thin strips and a good heating pad -these are lifesavers when the horrible painful gas pains hit.You also may want to get some gelatin cups (the pre-made kind that come in a 4- or 6- pack).If you are a lady you may want to bring a few sanitary tampons/pads as this surgery often brings on a woman's cycle.

I feel you on the #2 thing-get some Dulcolax suppositories.They work like a charm! LOL!