Erin O'Donnell

Hi! I turned 20 in June and got my Lapband on August 13th. I felt exactly the same! Nervous and excited and slightly overwhelmed! But what helped me the most was reading forums on this site/app and watching YouTube videos of successful banders the people on YouTube that the person above me listed are definitely great to watch! Watching their videos and Actually seeing the process and their success is very encouraging! I am no where near as far along in the process as those youtubers but I, too, have a channel all about my journey so far with Lapband if you're interested here's the link to one of my first videos: I hope I could help a little bit! If you have any more questions about anything you can totally ask me and hopefully I can be helpful lol! Good luck with your surgery!

Hi again!! So I'm getting my first fill on Friday in NJ, but I go to school in Richmond, VA so this Sunday I'm going to have to drive all the way back from NJ to Richmond, just 2ish/3 days after my fill. Will I feel okay to drive that soon after a fill? I'm assuming I'll be fine but it's my first fill so idk...thanks!

Hey everyone! I'm going to go grocery shopping later and was curious what other people have on their grocery list...I wanna try some new things

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I didn't end up going shopping today because of the weather lol, but I will definitely be adding some of the items to my grocery list

I've been banded for just over a month and I've barely lost 4 pounds since surgery. It's beginning to worry me. I guess I'm just wondering if this is 'nornal' or at least something that other people have experienced? I haven't gotten a fill yet but I will be on this coming Friday. Hopefully once I get that then things can start moving a little? I feel like I can eat just as much food as I could prior to this surgery and I'm bummed out about it. I'm also still in college and having the self control is a lot harder when your appetite is just the same as it was before. Ugh. this is one of the main reasons I only decided to tell a few people about this surgery. I don't want people to have expectations and then have them be disappointed or judge me when I haven't met them. I know this whole journey im going through is for me and my health, but it's really hard not to care about what others think and expect. Gahh...I don't know. Tomorrow's a new day. Hopefully it goes better than today... Thanks for letting me have this little vent sesh

Hello! After surgery my doctor told me to go on the South Beach Diet until I come in to see him again (which is on the 21st). I was wondering if anyone else had to do this diet post op? I am finally able to start incorporating harder/more solid foods into my diet and am going to start this diet. Does anyone have any good/quick/easy recipes that follows the south beach diet? Thanks!

Hey everyone! So I kind of debated whether or not I should put my YouTube channel out there or not..and I've decided that I will. I think it could be helpful..maybe?...to some people. It's just vlogs about me and my progress with Lapband. Here's the link to my latest video if anybody is interested lol: That's it! Hope everyone is doing well! -Erin

Oh cool! I'll check you out and thanks!

Hey! So I've noticed that the skin in the area around my port site is numb (I'm 2 weeks post op, by the way..). It doesn't bother me or anything, I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

Hi! I'm 2 weeks post op and I am DYING to have something I can chew...does anyone have any tips on beating these cravings?

Aww that's no fun. Sorry to hear you're still having gas pain. I'm day 10 post op as well and don't have any gas pain...hope you feel better ASAP

Feeling nervous is totally normal, especially with something like lap band that requires a serious life style change. I am only about a week post op, but once the surgery was done I felt a little silly for feeling as nervous as I did prior to my operation lol! The surgery it self is a breeze (assuming you have a good doctor and good nurses) and even recovery isn't terribly bad, though everyone is different. But I'd say that if you don't have any adverse reactions to the anesthesia (nausea...) and plenty of pain meds, than there's not much else to worry about. good luck with your surgery! Feels good to be on the other side

I think everyone is different, but by days 3 and 4 post op I was verrrry hungry! And I was nervous to move on to anything thick until day 5 post op. I'd say it's probably normal. I think it has to do with the amount of protein you're able to get. I was barely getting 1 gran of protein per day the first few days. But on day 5 post op I decided to move on to thicker liquids, which for me included protein shakes. I had about half a protein shake and I felt so much better! Now I'm 7 days post op and have had nothing but creamed soups and I don't feel nearly as hungry as I did a few days ago.

Haha! I like IMALEAF

So, I'm only day 5 post op, but pizza is my favorite food ever! And I realize it is not good for you and I by no means plan to eat it very often once I'm allowed to start eating solid foods, but has anyone had any trouble eating pizza with their band? I've heard that breads and pastas can be hard for people with bands to eat, so I'm wondering if this includes pizza? I hope not, lol.

Hello! So I'm day 3 (or 4?) post op but I'm already beginning to worry about getting those 'stuck' episodes. I've always been terrified of throwing up and even with a stomach bug rarely throw up. If I'm understanding correctly, when you get stuck you have to kind of burp it up, right? Is it really that bad? Is there anyone out there who have never experienced a 'stuck' episode? I want to avoid them at all costs after reading what it's like. Is that even possible? :/

Oh and I'm 20, also in college! I don't live at home while attending school though. I start classes on Thursday! :/ it should be interesting going through this huge life changing surgery while also in college. It'll be a challenge but it's gotta happen. I'm only 5 days post op and will only be 10 days post op when i start school. Yikes! Well, good luck with this and attending school!

Oh my! I'm so sorry to hear this is what you've had to listen to your whole life! I'm the only obese person in my family. In fact, I have 3 gorgeous, thin, talented younger sisters, and 2 handsome an cute younger brothers, none of which struggle with weight by any stretch of the imagination. This js true of my entire family; aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. They could eat anything they wanted all day long and suffer no consequences. All I ever want to do is go shopping with my sisters and buy stuff from the same stores but my family is so so supportive and never put me down for my weight. I can't imagine what I'd be like today had I not had the positive support of my family. I went through a period as a child where my step mom would make underhanded comments about/towards me and it really made me feel bad. I'd go cry to my mom about it all the time, but that was put to an end and my relationship with my step mom is great! Just know that we're all beautiful.. You don't have to be thin to be beautiful. Good luck with your journey! I wish you nothing but the best!

Thank you everyone! I feel a lot better about it now. I know it's no fun but I know it's not really the end of the world either

Nice! That's good to hear

Ahh its torture, isn't it? My family had pizza tonight...it's no fun. Me too! I will have to make it happen once and a while. I can't imagine never eating pizza or pasta again. how's your recovery going?