Janine

Tammy and Nurseamy, Goodluck on your fills. So am I getting this right that you only have to wait a couple weeks for fill 2?

Hi Marchies, So to all of you that have had your first fill do you feel any difference? Have you had any PBing episodes? I am having my fill Thursday and just really wondering if there will be a noticeable change.

Medge I have been wondering about the drinking with snacks question too. I fear during the summer, with being active outside and the heat will I have a "drinking problem". My friends laugh at me because I literally count down the minutes until I can drink after each meal. I am a huge ice tea addict. I mean it was so bad, as I lay in ICU after the surgery they want to give me ice chips, all I want is a cold glass of ice tea. I can't wait to hear what kind of restriction we Marchies will have after our first fills. I would love to know how long to wait before fills.

Hi Everyone, We all sound like were kinda all in the same boat. My fill is scheduled for May 3, I am 4 weeks out and down 24. I have found to curb hunger is to eat something that is protein. I have a huge sweet tooth, but just a piece of cheese or some egg salad takes the edge off. I have been buying the double filet of fish sandwiches from McDonald's. I only eat the fish, what do you guys think? I know its not ideal, but my job has me going into fast food restaurants everyday. I work for an alternative school. Everyday I go to the fast food restaurants and pick up lunch for the students. The smell of those darn fries just kill me. Hey I am so happy, I have sleep apnea, which can cause night terrors. My night terrors have diminished greatly. I am beginning to think I believe the doc's when they say losing 10% of your weight makes a difference. Have a great week everyone, I am going crazy planning my sons Bar Mitzvah.

I had two vertical c sections and had no problem. The surgery is just below your breasts so it is not near your uterus. By the way for the first couple days I compared the surgery to a upper c section, that heals a lot faster

Tammy, Good for you, change is great.

I would say it feels like a upper c section.

Tiff- I read on one of the post somewhere that you will have a couple days of a plateau weight, but during that time inches are coming off. Then you wil drop a couple pounds then plateau then drop inches......it keeps repeating. I truly believe this. I stayed on the exact same number for over a week, but my clothes got looser. Now I just dropped 2 lbs overnight. It's weird.

ok, 1 last question, how long do you have to wait in between fills?

Jono, Boy, Can I relate to your feelings. I have a friend that is close to 400 lbs as I was going through surgery her bowel ruptured it nearly killed her. We have been convelesanting together over the phone. At first after her surgery she was all geeked to lose weight, now with Easter she is back to her old eating habits. She is obsessed with food, it has really saddened me to listen to her fail once again.. I never thought I would have this mind set, but I look at people with their love and addition to food and it makes me feel odd. I have been in this food addicitve hell since I was 8 years old. I finally feel liberated. Valerie Bertinelli was on the View the other day, she has been struggling with her weight over the last year, she was asked to be a spokes person for a diet program. So she is trying to lose. They showed a clip of her at about 13 on One Day at a Time, she said, Wasn't I cute back then, then she said the producers said she was too fat and needed to lose. Oh Society... My biggest challenge will be to get rid of clothes, that is a huge step I think. I have a Columbia coat that I want to sell on Ebay, but in the back of my mind I think what if I am not successful. Yikes! What if I need that coat next winter. I am sorry so long, guess emotions are running high!

So I am at work standing around with a group of co workers. My lower stomach is growling like you can't believe. Somebody says "What's that noise?" Yes, It was my stomach. Why do you think that is happening? Do you think it is so stretched out that it is calling for food. My upper stomach is fine. I can't believe we have a snow storm here in Michigan. I have been exactly the same weight for a week now. I know it is because I have not walked. I am so amazed that you can stay on the same weight. Before lapband I would flucuate several pounds everyday. It is very weird. I have dropped 2 sizes, I am so happy. It is weird how people that know you have this done look you over all the time. It kinda makes me uncomfortable.

Well Gals and Guys, I guess we are truly in bandster hell till we get a good fill. We have all lost, I say we can do this! Let's all support each other through this time.:clap2: One huge advantage we have is that it is spring, we have daylight longer, and hopefully the weather will break here in the midwest and we can walk, walk, walk. We are now done with matzah and chocolate bunnies, YAHOO! Momlambert and Dem, seems like 2/3 - 1 cup is were we kinda want to fall for food. I think this is doable, it has to be. Ok, I feel better. Good luck to everyone for a successful week of big losers. Toodles,

So I am on regular foods now. Almost 20 days since surgery, and no restriction, and a huge appetite. So I have to ask the people that are eating regual foods, what are your volumes like? I am wide open so it is truly dieting until my fill on May 5. I am definetly not drinking at all with eating so that's a good thing. Just extremely concerened about how much is too much during a typical meal. Kythera- Hope you feel better real soon.

Lori' Congratulation 's on the jeans. What a great feeling it must be. I am still in my big jean's not sure why, people are saying my face looks thinner though. So all is good. Up here in Michigan it is snowing:think, I soo want to be able to walk outside, it is soo cold. I know spring is just around the corner though:)

Pouch Layering- My dietian told me to layer how I eat, for the best success. You need protein the most, consequently it is usually the heaviest item so eat that first. Then have fruit or vegetable, if there is still not a sensation of fullness, have a little carb's. So probably this a.m. I will have an egg, a couple spoons of applesauce, then maybe a 1/2 piece of toast. This is just my dietians plan, please follow what you have been instructed. Tammy, I am with you, I am so afraid of a gain... AFRY, I sure give you credit for not going on the scale, I am an addict..LOL Cate, What do you mean about going back into ketosis? I just want to say that I love this group. I glanced at some postings for other months, and they are not as positive and upbeat. GO Marchies!

OK I am in Lap Band HELLLL!!!! I was banded on March 20,th. My doctor has me on softs progressing to a regular diet through the week as tolerated. I have one thing to say...bring on the food:hungry: This is horrible my appetite is back to the way it was before surgery. Tonight was the Passover meal, I tried to keep everything to a teaspoon. It was so hard, I am so worried. I am going to the doctor on Thursday, do you guys think it is at all possible to get a fill 16 days out??? My pouch is not talking to me.....the dietian kept saying your pouch holds 1 ounce, thats it. I must have a grand canyon hole under that 1ounce pouch. LOL I am eating alot of Protein and layering the pouch the way I was told. I am not sure if I am getting in enough liquids between meals though. I have not drank with any of my meals, which is actually been easier then I thought.

DEM I am with you, my swelling has gone down but my appetite has crept up. I can't believe how much of my life revolved around food. My DH and I went shopping to a city about 2 hour away. Normaly we plan where we will go for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Life just isn't all about going to places and eating things, this is so hard but I now realize what a problem I had. Then I am a shopaholic for cloths, don't want to buy them if my size is dropping.... My day in the city was not really fun:cry. But it will be once I am down and can buy new cloths. My DH is overweight, it may be my imagination but he seems to be eating for both of us now. I know he is also suffering from this radical lifestyle change. If anyone gets cable there is a show on discovery health called Super size surgery. This show has been dealing with mostly lapband stories, following people as they have the surgery, change their lifestyle, and have plastic surgery for the sagging skin. It has been very good.

Mrs. Husker' I am with you I have alot of head hunger. We were banded on the same day, I see. The aroma's and textures of food I see, is what is so hard. But, I can say I am not really hungry. How are your pants fitting? Mine are STILL so tight. I am now able to sleep on my tummy, so I am hoping to squish the swelling and gas out.LOL:) Welcome too all the new March banders, the pain will pass before you know it.

Ok, So I am Banded on March 20. I am down 20 lbs which I am thrilled about. BUT, my pants are so tight. I have my chubby checker pants on, the bigg kahunna's and they are still so tight.LOl I would think by now some swelling would have gone down. What do you think?

Anyway my biggest concern for my journey was that I have chosen never, ever, to eat or drink anything using any type of sugar free substitutes. I hate it. YUCK! I feel even if I am a slow loser, I will be ok with my decision. When I met with the dietitian I shared my concerns, she said I do not see a problem, if I was to have the Gastric Bypass I would have to have sugar free for the rest of my life for "dumping". But not a concern with the lapband. Also I am a huge ice tea addict. Just ice tea from a tea bag, ice, and a squeeze of lemon. Since being home I have had regular popsicles, regular Jello, and broths. Then went to full liquids having regular fudgcicles, and puddings and custards, and yogurts and coco wheats. I am however having fat free cream Soups. So I went to the hospital weighing 266 I crested at my highest from the IV's at 271. I am now officially 5 days post op and I am down 15 lbs at 256.:clap2: So here is my thought.....you have surgery, your body is in complete shock, then you recover by being told to have only sugar free products and broth. I think that you throw your body into a survival starvation mode. I feel that you need some sugar and calories to stabilize your system. My thought may come back and bite me in the tush, but I am not convinced sugar free with the chemicals is the best. I would love your thoughts ,I think :nervous. Yikes! Here is a rumor I heard, for every hour that you are under sadation, that is how many days you will feel foggy from the anestitia(SP)? I am feeling much better. Good luck to everyone having surgery next week. __________________

Ok, Ok, Are body is not in shock...... We are going through some physical changes, brought on by laporospic surgery. I am getting agitated by this thread.........

Wasabubblebutt, I am sorry I have to disagree. We lapbanders are not here because we are all completley physically fit and have been sporting a 1200 calorie diet. We are here because we are food addicts who have put our body in danger by stuffing it with a huge caloric diet. There is no way that you can tell me that your body is not in shock. You have gone from consuming not only a huge amount of calories but also a huge quantity of food. Then you have the surgery, you cut your calories by atleast 3/4 during the healing stage, and the portion down enormously. I have heard on the fourms again and again people saying, "I am doing everything correct and I have not lost." Then somebody consoles them by saying, "YOUR BODY HAS TO CATCH UP TO YOUR DIET, drink Water and do what the dietian says and the pounds will drop." The person then writes back, Yes, you were right, I had a big drop. Just for the record I did end up in ICU because of that darn sleep apnea:cry, Guys I can't wait to rid myself of that.

Hey Harlynana, What did you do with that hunk of cheese on the soup? Can we have Gooey/melted cheese? I really don't know if he did a fill but I am shaped like an apple, and my chest is very tight when I eat.

Hi Guys, I am so, so, sorry that this thread went this negative direction. Just for the record I am NOT a rebel rouser, and I am in fact following my dietitian and surgeons directions to a T. I was just kinda interested in the sugar free "versus" regular sugar post surgery diet ways and what people are doing. I give the people credit that can stomache(no pun intended:)) sugar free foods. My DH is diabetic so he has no choice so I am actually around it. I have just crossed over to mushies and am so afraid to leave liquids. Peace out everyone, toodles.

I hear you about making dinner. I cook for 6 here at my house. I was making pasta and needed to check if it was done, I instictivly put it in my mouth. Oh My Gosh, I realized I was on full liquids and spit it in the sink. It was a close one! I went to McDonald's this morning and bought a sausage patty, I put it in the magic bullet. It was pretty darn good. April, I hear you loud and clear about the thin people not understanding and the chubbier people treating you like some kind of trader.,