lucie159

I vote for the PILLOW!!! you will only be able to eat/drink little sips of anything anyway.... so get the pillow!!!

Congrats Sugar!

I saw a news program that did a brain scan on people and how sugar effected some people and how it showed up in others... There are those of us out there that when we get a dose of sugar it acts like drugs to a heroin addict! People who don't have an addiction can never understand sweetie. Just like you can sympathize with a person who is addicted to alcohol, but you don't know their struggle unless you've been there. You do what is right for YOU!!! I am a firm believer in "Know your limitations!"

I had to do a psych test that was like 400 questions.. they asked me the same 40 questions 10 different ways... "Do you ever do drugs", "Do you turn to drugs when your unhappy?" Do you take recreational drugs?" GEESH.... NO NO and um... NO.. heheh (just kidding)!!!

CONGRATS!!! I know it hurts now, but believe me it gets better, Don't push to hard to do the side sleeping thing, it will happen... about 7 days in I was able to sleep on my side... try putting a pillow under your belly on that side. I had my surgery on 8/1/12... so I am just a little over 3 weeks out.. Try writing everything in a journal too.. it helps.. I have a little day planner next to my bed and journal everything... it helps me keep track of what times I took my meds and now what times I take my vitamins and calcium, plus I like to see what exactly I am eating or drinking.. just a tip.. keep in touch if you wanna ask questions..

Ok.. I am 21 days post op. I did great for the first 2 weeks.. stayed on my diet.... then I got hungry. And I started pushing it. Eating things I shouldn't have been eating... not huge amounts, just not what I should have been eating... like chicken.. and salad... I think maybe it was the chewing that tripped me up. Anyway.. I am putting this here for the newbies who maybe haven't had this happen yet. And I don't mean to scare anyone. Just sharing my info. I ate a braised kale salad with chicken, and it tasted awesome, but about 2 hours later the nausea hit. And then the unthinkable!! I GOT SICK! OMG... I thought things were tight when I drank too fast or ate too fast... but having things come out in REVERSE!!! OWWWW! I never want to do that again! So.. I think if I ever get all greedy and try to push myself to eat more then I should... all that needs to happen is throwing up to snap me back on track. I will do all in my power NOT to go through this again. It was awful! Nobody warns you about this!

That happened to me too. I thought it was a scab, pulled it and 2 inches of thread came out! ha. I freaked a little too.

I'm in the same boat Jessica.. I was banded on Aug. 1st... I am struggling not to eat like I used to. And beating myself up because I am failing. I feel like I did all those other times I started all gungho on a diet... weight watchers, atkins.. blah blah blah... and then ... two weeks later... TOTAL FAILURE! I am trying to stay focused.. and repeating my mantra... first fill.... first fill first fill.... sigh.

Can I come live with you? I want to can veggies and I love home canned pickles.. I live in Houston and here in the concrete jungle there is no where to grow a garden and if you do have space for a garden the sun will blister and bake it on the vine. So.. if you let me come live with you I will hand wash and dry all of the mason jars! I promise! hehe! I miss the sound of lids plinking in the summer!

Duuuuude! hahhaa

SO... I am now ... 18 days post op.. everything was going well.. all my incisions stopped hurting.. and then last week one of them started bothering me. Not the port incisions, but one next to it. Its a little red around it.. and every time something brushes against it.. it HURTS! I'm gonna be completely honest! I am afraid to tell the Dr. what if they tell me I can't have my first fill? What if it delays that? I'm already fighting to control my hunger... tell me I am being crazy... or at the very least.. tell me what I should put on it to make it better!

Both. Some have had it already, some are waiting for surgery.

That's mean... and you suck! hahahhaha

Hi Tori, my name is Lucie, I was banded by Dr. Reilly on 8/01/12... he's awesome! Your gonna do great!! I had mine done at West Houston Medical. They were great! The nurses are all really nice and the surgery went well. I took about 9 days off of work. Now I am just excited about getting my first fill on Sept. 4th. I want to feel that restriction again! The swelling from surgery is gone and now the hunger is more intense. But I'm holding on... just being really strict about my intake of food. Good Luck!

I need a lap band buddy in Houston. I just need someone to talk to that knows what I am going through and maybe we can support each other through it.

Mine is right in the middle. High, right below the ribs. I think it depends on your Dr. though. That is where most of my pain is though. Cause the incision is about twice as long as the other incisions. There are 5 altogether.

I'm two weeks post op... and I can tell you enjoy the feeling of fullness and restriction, it goes away very quickly. I am getting progressively hungry and still have two weeks till my first fill appt. now I am really on a strict liquid/food intake.. I plot my intake hourly, when I drink water, when I drink my shakes... its crazy, but I know that the fill will help. As for the gas.. when I first had the surgery, air gave me gas. ha.. that goes away..

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I did go back to work, I drive for Metro, so I took just a little more then a week off of work, I didn't know how the bouncing in the bus seat was gonna effect me, but I didn't want to take off more then the sick days I had accumulated. It was only troublesome the first 2 days maybe, then I was fine. I didn't have the shoulder pain, thank goodness, but I did have a pain when I took a deep breath right around my left lung under my ribs, but it only lasted a few days and I was fine. The problem I am having now, and I guess its not really a problem, is that I am more hungry. The swelling has gone down and I am in that stage where I still have two more weeks till my first fill, and my mind is freaking out cause I feel like I am gonna eat and gain back the 20 lbs I lost before they get in there and fill me up again!! haha.. Its in my head though, I am still just eating jello, and soup and protein shakes, but my stomach is growling more now. Keep in touch with me when you want. It would be nice to have someone right here in Houston to talk to.

Hi Juli, I'm in Houston too. I got banded on 8/1/12. Your gonna love it! I hope you have as easy a time as I have. I am just a little over 2 weeks post op and feeling great!

I was approved by cigna, I started my journey in april. When they first started it the insurance company required 6 months of weight monitored Dr. visits. then they changed it to 3 months. So, they request to Cigna was sent in late June, I was denied at first because here in Houston the True Results Outpatient clinic was not approved on the plan, but when it was resubmitted with the hospital my Dr. does his surgeries, I was approved. I got my band 8/01/12!!! WOOO HOOOO. Good luck!

I had surgery last week too, I am tired all the time too, glad to know that's normal.

I already knew they were gonna tell me to quit... so I did.. I took chantix for about 2 weeks.. and used electronic cigarettes to ease the transition... and tada... I quit! If I told you that I have been smoking 31 yrs you might be more impressed.. hahah... it wasn't so bad.. not nearly as scary as I thought it would be.

Ha! It's ok... its almost over... you can do it.. and just think after the surgery you may have to deal with constipation.. so be happy you poop now. haha

Good luck!!