missybear

I had some irritation from the tape used to cover the incisions, but it was localised to the tape areas only. Best speak to a doc if its troubling you. If it spreads, you feel unwell or have trouble breathing go to the doctors ASAP.

Best of luck. The decision to seek help in the first place is a great step in changing your lifestyle and no doubt, you making the financial sacrifice to self pay will help affirm your decision in the years to come. I've become a lot more self confident at a number of steps in this path to weight loss and healthier living. I wish you the same positive experience

Hi Ms Sharon - I suspect you wont be able to eat much 3 days out. I recommend following your doctors post op recovery instructions. If you are experiencing extreme discomfort, cant hurt calling your surgeons office, explain whats happening, what you've taken and get their advice. My concern is the two may have nothing to do with each other - i've never heard of the back end causing acid reflux. Best of luck

This is the one time in life being lactose intolerant is a pleasant thing fortunately glass of milk often does the trick!

On the exercise front, if your uncomfortable going out, I could suggest some apps like butt and thighs and the belly buster apple apps. The show you the correct technics and are self weight bearing exercises you can do in the privacy of your own home. Lunges and squats are also great large muscle exercises. A change in diet and the types of exercises your doing may help kick start the weight loss journey. Best of luck

Rice and pasta were some of the first 'solids' I tried when I finished mushies and liquids. I found pasta pieces(like penne or shapes) were easier to eat in small bites and had more texture to ensure I chewed them well. Only advice is to ensure you focus more on protein and healthy vegetables, and then eat your carbs last. I find I often don't finish the pasta, rather leaving most of it on the plate and picking out the good bits. Also any chance you can share a meal with others, u can try a few things, but not have a whole plate in front of you? I haven't been in the USA for awhile, but I remember Olive Garden was rather a feast.

Drink plenty of water as well. A cup of herbal tea helped as well for a different taste

Chunky soups/casseroles blended, and over time leaving more chunks, soggy cereal, yoghurt with blended fruits, spaghetti mince

I'm 6 months out and whilst I've had a few issues with chicken on occasion (mainly plain breast meat) I've persisted and successfully had a chicken breast tonight. Like most meats, I find even chewing to a paste consistency, I need to take much longer breaks between mouthfuls say compared to vegetables or fruit. I think its Worth persisting with chicken ( and other meats), it's a great source of lean Protein and very versatile both hot and cold and cooked in many different ways.

I find a small bite can ranges around a 10c (Australia) or quarter (USA) sized coin. The size often is dictated by how long it is I'll have to chew for. I aim to have all bites the consistency of a paste and have it in my mouth for up to 30 seconds before swallowing . meats take longer to chew, therefore I have them in much smaller sizes. Items with skins like an apple or other fruits and vegies with skin i chop up in small pieces to avoid not being able to chew down to a paste the skins. a half an apple is all i seem interested in. Bread or pastas I eat as well but with tiny bites and longer pauses between mouthfuls, as they have a tendency to give me a pain if I eat them too quickly. Teaspoons and oyster forks I also use at home as utensils. They slow down my eating and comfortably measure out the size I should be eating. As for sips/gulping, I've always been a thirsty girl. After about 1-2 months post surgery I could get back to drinking my beverages at the former rate with prior large sips, however I don't drink with meals, I suspect I'd feel rather uncomfortable as a result of solid food and liquid in my stomach.

How's the bowel movements going? Could be the back end causing the bloating?

I've had trouble sleeping post surgery (I'm writing this at 12.47am with no sign of dozing off soon!) although I've gone through bouts of insomnia pre surgery as well. I found an iPhone app called Silva Relax that has helped me either get to sleep or on some of the worse nights, cleared my mind to help me rest, even if its not an actual sleep. Doc also recommended no caffeine after lunch, although I've not found much difference.

Ironically I've stalled as well at 6 months as well. I've focused on maintaining portion size and upping the exercise. I gave myself two weeks off 'dieting' and watching every calorie over the holidays. Fortunately no weight gain. Hoping after treating my body to some treats, I'm back to work, in routine, tracking calories and looking at changing my exercise routine to something more intense to jump start the weight loss again.

Definitely worth it. I appreciate your feeling like crap,I had the same feeling a week post op. I'm not sure if you've had surgery before, but other surgeries I've felt a bit out of it for a week as well, largely due to the anesthetic regardless of the procedure. Take the time off to heal, recover from surgery focusing on you and a bit of personal time to yourself. The time I had off with the lapband surgery, even feeling like crap allowed me to take a much needed break as well to get some rest, get my head in the right space looking forward to the new lifestyle I'd lead with the band and find a few treats like a walk with my dog, manicure and going to the movies that didn't involve food. Best of Luck and I promise in another weeks time you'll be feeling much better

I remember the feeling. I had 2 weeks pre op liquids then another 2 weeks post op on liquids, so 4 weeks all up. It was pretty tough especially towards the end, but looking back now its been definitely worth it. I chewed on ice post op to have the sensation of using my teeth, by the time it hit the band, its melted to Water, so it didn't risk undoing any of the surgeons handy work.

Hi, sorry to hear your down. Sounds like there is a lot going on in your life with the band just one aspect that is stressing you. Any chance you can speak to a counsellor or even your GP and check your not suffering from depression? Being tired, not wanting to do anything or face the world is a common symptom. I noticed in your pic you have kids. Is there anyone who can watch them for an hour or so to let you get out of the house and just go for a walk to clear your head? Some small steps to take care of you, both physically and mentally may help you find a way past this tense time.

For me, stuck or something not agreeing with me and my band,I get this tightening in the chest, I feel very uncomfortable, a little nauseous as well. My mouth gets very wet with a thick saliva. I find getting up and walking can help.

I've found both forms of chicken and turkey have been getting progressively more 'stuck' over time. I've found despite chewing the hell out of it, I've needed to wait much longer between bites, even up to a few minutes, sometimes with a walk around required. Just seems to take its time passing the band. I've found it's worth persisting given I prefer meat as a form of protein.

Welcome. Sounds like your on the path to making your decision, just a question of when. Your finances are sorted, doc has agreed. Guess my question is are you ready? Do you have the support around you for that first week? Are you and those loved ones around you willing to make the ongoing lifestyle changes? All up I only needed my family to help for the first week in terms of getting to and from hospital and just having someone around to give me a hand. After that its all me to have the willpower and discipline to say no to bad or excess food. Are you concerned about the surgery itself? Can your doctor give you some clear statistics on the risks of complications? Do you have any other friends or relatives to ask how they adapted? I was fortunate to have 2 friends that also had the surgery, talking to them helped a lot and helped me decide to go for it. If you don't, there are plenty of people on here who can share their experiences. Perhaps the new year will help you seek the change your after. I found changing jobs was the push I needed to say goodbye to old me, and work towards healthier new me. Best of luck, let us know how your getting on.

My doctor advised the mid range of the healthy weight range on the BMI scale was a good goal to set, which is around 66kgs (145) I'm 5'7" and starting weight was 99kgs (220). Happy to say the start of 2013 i will be in the healthy weight range with my current weight 75kg (165). This is the first time since I was a kid I can ever say I'm in the healthy weight range. Whilst I'm rather happy to have made it this far, wearing size 10 clothes and having more energy than ever, I definitely think the remaining 9kgs is within sight and although it won't be as fast and as easy as the weight loss to date, I'm giving myself 6 months to get there, at a 1.5 kgs a month (around 3 pounds) as a realistic goal

I miss my diet coke, but found a new passion for iced tea. We have a great shop in Australia, called T2. Lots of fruity and herbal tea varieties. I brew the tea and then add chunks of fruit or herbs like mint for sweetness. It gives me something to enjoy now soda is off the cards. I've also found adding things like lemon, cucumber or mint to just plain Water feels like a treat. Diet cordial or diluted juice frozen and blended up like a slurpee could be another option. I prefer to save my calories for food, drinking them away just seems like a waste.

Does anyone know what's going on with all the Spam hitting the forum discussion boards?

Hi ladies, I'm researching into Options later regarding a lift and/or implants. Just wondering if many bandsters had implants alone, or typically have them done with a lift at the same time?

I've been banded close to six months now and stick to the visualization of a cup or a fist of food as my meal. Through the lapband and other weight loss attempts I found I also had to turn off the economic food brain inside my head, telling me things like its better value for money to get the large, or the food like seafood or good lean Proteins are so much more expensive at a restaurant or supermarket than something less healthy for me. I eat out with work and travel fairly constantly. When I do have to eat a meal out, if it comes out in a huge portion I evaluate it first, set myself a limit, sectioning parts off and committing to only eating that part. I've asked waitresses if I can take the left overs as takeaway. I was shocked I once got an extra 3 meals out of the most ridiculously sized seafood Pasta dish! And if they won't, just ask them to take it off the table ASAP.

I noticed your diet included tea and your getting your liquids in. Are you drinking with meals? I was instructed to only drink up to the time if the meal, waiting 30 mins after to resume drinking. I've noticed if I am out, say at a restaurant and drinking throughout my meal, I tend to get hungrier later. I visualize the liquids are pushing the food through the band faster, rather than the food passing the nerves surrounding the band at a slower rate to help give my brain the sensation of satisfaction.