sparkle

I saw a thread a while back where all the August Bandsters had touched base with each other. Well where are my September friends? I am 5 days banded. September 12 was the big day! Things are pretty ok. I am off pain meds completely, but started having some symptoms of esophagus irritation. I called my surgeon and he is calling in one of those reflux meds. I choked down some Maalox. (that stuff is Grade A GROSS) and it’s a bit better. I still feel like I have a lump in my throat that won’t go away and a mild pain behind my breastbone. Other than that, everything is slowly feeling more normal. I think I even slept on my side last night. Not the port side of course. sleeping on my back is so hard for me. I have always slept on my stomach. The total liquid diet is a challenge to say the least. But I am trying to be disciplined. I am down 15lbs since one week prior to surgery. Yeah! So anybody else very recently banded? How is it going?

Well as my husband says... Welcome to Maryland, have you paid taxes yet? hehehhe Can't say I am much of a support person as I haven't been banded yet. (next Friday is the big day) But hello to any fellow Marylanders anyway! PS... I should have mentioned that I am in the Frederick area, and I commute to Reston, VA to see Dr. Pinnar.

OHHHH.. That place is crazy yummy. I have eliminated all white food at this point so I must stay away, but YUM YUM YUM is Panera.

Well, I got my third fill on Monday. I am up to 2.5cc's and FINALLY feel some restriction. Although, truthfully, I think I still need more. I have only lost about 18lbs since the surgery (3 months ago) and boy I am feeling discouraged. Anyone else have to have so many fills before getting adequately restricted? You know the psychological element of this whole thing plays such a role with me. I am so flipping performance oriented, and a perfectionist! I realize that I am scared to go home for Christmas, because I don't want to hear my mother say... "Gee... I thought you would have lost more by now." (Before I got the surgery, one of her friends who wants to have RNY, spent a considerable amount of time convincing my mom that Lap-Band's don't work!) Ugghhh... I am thinking of doing Atkins for the next week to convince her. Good Lord.... see what I mean about being screwed up in the head about this? Ok... enough whining! On a positive note.... Last weekend I bought one of those Gazelle excercise machines so I don't have to be trudging around in the snow. It's really ideal for me, because of the low impact. It's quite fun, so I am hoping the added excercise will help speed up the weight loss! Also, even with only losing 18, I am already down a dress size. I was a 26, now the 24's are very loose. All I want for Christmas is for my cherry red size 22 skirt to fit. Anyway... enough blathering on. Happy Holidays everyone! 255/237/150

Shelly- LOL! Haha! You did indeed make me feel better. Wow - nine fills. Sounds like your doc is probably very conservative with the fill amount. Mine too obviously. I called the doctors office today, and I was shocked that they are going to let me come back in two weeks for an additional fill. I do have a question though. With this fill... I do feel some restriction. Basically, I just have to make sure to eat slowly or the golf ball emerges. However, I still can eat in much larger quantities than 1/2 cup. Shoot, I can still eat way more than a full cup, but just slower than previously. I "think" that means I still need more restriction, right? The goal should be 1/2 - 1 cup to feel "full"? Your comment of 1/3 piece of chicken and some green Beans sounds fantastic! Donali- A voice of reason in this little community. It's funny, though I don't post often, I do read most everything. About a week ago I was talking to my mom on the phone, and she was saying how she had to give up chocolate because she just had no control over it. (she also struggles with her weight) So anyway, I was basically summing up to her a post I had seen from you a while back about cake, and not letting it rule you. Giving yourself permission to eat cake whenever you were hungry, if that's what you wanted. So basically, cake didn't have this obsessive type thing for you. ( gee- i sure hope it was you who posted that) Anyway, your good advice and positive outlook makes a difference. As far as her judgement on my success or failure, I will just have to FORCE myself to not be defensive and read more into her comments than are really there. Lord knows I have been known to overreact to critcism. Jenn- You know I SHOULD have measured when I got the surgery. I know everyone said to, but I just didn't. I think I didn't really want to know? But fitted skirts don't lie! I can take them off without unzipping/unbuttoning!

Ok, my surgery is next Friday and my surgeon informed me that I must be on a liquid diet with a max of 50 carbs per day! Uuuuuggghhh! So I guess that means only low carb protien shakes?! I went to walmart last night and bought 4 different kinds and they all taste GROSS! Is there some particular brand that anyone has had good luck with? Please God tell me there is! I can't have the slimfast or carnation because of the carbs. Sad Sad Sparkle drinking yucky stuff.....

Hey there- I had this too, and actually it was fairly uncomfortable. It kind of hurt down behind my breastbone too. I called the surgeon, he said it was either esophagus spasms or irritation from some reflux. He gave me a prescription for a reflux med and told me to drink some of the liquid antacid. The liquid antacid tastes disgusting, but does help.

Lenny and Gator, Glad to have you along! Gator- So tomorrow is the day! Yipee! I hope you get some rest tonight and aren't too worried. I definitely wouldn't be overly concerned about the incisions. I have five, but 4 of them are really really small and healed within the first week. Only the one near the port is larger. I would say an inch to an inch and a half is about right. Although it seems to be healling quite nicely as well. I "think" that incision was stiched. I can't say for positive and the doc didn't say... but it kind of looks like it was. Anyway, good luck tomorrow. Lenny- so are you trudging through a pre-op diet? liquids? No-carbs? Bleckth! :mad: Wendy- thanks for the info. Sounds like you are doing GREAT> 24 lbs in a month. I will be thrilled if I can do that!

Welcome to bandland. I started a September bandster thread under the support section. Come and say hello. I was banded 9/12 so we are right there together!

Hi there Jadrad- Welcome to bandland. I echo Chris that every day feels better. Today is my one week anniversary and I am feeling pretty good. I have 5 incisions although one of them (i guess where the port is) is much larger than I expected. Three of the incisions are already pretty much healed. It's just the larger one that is still sensitive. I have bandaids on them, and yesterday I wore shorts that the waist band was laying on top of the larger incision, and it didn't hurt. It's nice to be back to almost full mobility. I am notiicing that I still tire a bit fast, but I am happy with the recovery so far. Dezzy- I feel the same way lack of restriction. I know it's "normal" and these weeks aren't for losing weight, but for healing. It is HARD not to want those instant results!I lost 9 lbs in the week before surgery and about 6 lbs since then and I know I should be like- great!, but I have scale addiction and keep wanting to see those numbers go down down down. Ginger- Two more days! 255/240/140

Wow! Sounds like you are doing great! You also sound very disciplined... I'm jealous. I am still on liquids. I have been sort of "pushing' it though, by blending soups etc. So did you get a nutritionist with the surgery? Or was that something you just decided to do on your own? Great job!

Well hello! Sept 22 is fast approaching Ginger! Yeehaa! Desiree, Girl! I hear you LOUD and clear on the liquids. Are you not on to "mush" yet? Isn't it interesting how something like cottage cheese and applesauce can sound soooo yummy?! Have you tried putting chunky Soups in the blender? I made some clam chowder really thin with extra milk, and then blended the tar out of it. The potato in there worked well as far as being a little more filling. September bandsters rule!

Glad to hear all is going well! Keep us updated.

thanks Alex for the tip... I bought the pre-made variety, in the cans. Barforama! I saw the powder, but thought surely that must be worse. But I can see the value in doctoring it up or something. Liquid diet wouldn't be so bad if the carb thing weren't an issue. This should prove to be an interesting 7 days.

Hello everyone! Greetings from Maryland… It has taken me a while to post here though I have been lurking for some weeks. I work at a college and back-to-school time is insane. This is a really great site and it is so encouraging to see so many people receiving support and encouragement. I am also completely enchanted by this dancing banana! It has a hypnotic effect on me… :banana must look away… must look away! Hahaha! Ok, on to more serious subjects… I am due to be banded Friday, September 12th. Yikes! I wasn’t really scared until today when I had my last visit with the surgeon prior to banding day. All the sudden, I was sitting on that bed/table thing that you lay down on (is it just me or are those things from Hades??!!) and I realized that it was only 10 days away. Whoa! I have never had any surgery before, so I am nervous. The doctor and his nurse were great though. I just have to keep taking deep breaths… So I am 31 years old, 5’4, and weighed in today at 254. My goal is 150 lbs, which seems so far away it is almost laughable. I have been overweight since puberty and just like everyone else, I have been on a zillion diets, lost some weight with a few, but inevitably gained it back. The two major factors that really motivated me toward surgery are that I was recently diagnosed as diabetic, and I have never been able to get pregnant. The doctor says my screwed up insulin levels and fat keep my estrogen so high that my body never has its cycles. (sorry if this is more info that some can bear… especially the men) I want to have a baby or two, so I am desperately hoping that this surgery will make that possible! I feel the dreaded clock ticking…Uugh! Thanks for listening to my drivel! Ciao! Sparkle :banana

Thanks everyone for the warm replies. 9 more days!