Autumn444

That to me is a dream job! I envy you! ~sighing~

The first three days of a liquid diet is the hardest. Keep in mind that this is for YOU! That you are worth the effort that this is taking. Just keep picturing the weight melting off you the moment you start having negative <but normal> thoughts! YOU CAN DO THIS! Yes, it is hard, Yes, you will want to stop, and yes, the doubts will creep in... Just let all those thoughts walk on by and embrace yourself for the strength you have! Have faith my friend!

I told my husband and his family.... Sadly my mother in law decided it was her news to share and told many other people. Now I get looks whenever I see them.

My mother in law had the RNY surgery 2 years ago. I cant believe how much food she can consume now. It scares me to think what may happen to her.... I dont think the RNY surgery gives them the ability to really think about food as we banders do.... Its slower for us.... We have more of a chance to struggle a bit and think of why .... The RNY's just lose and then sadly regain the weight.... And the sad thing is, it can really cause deadly problems.... I am so glad I chose the LapBand

This is an intresting question...... I asked my doctor prior to banding if I was to go on a low carb diet or something like that.... She put her hand on my shoulder and said, You are not to deprive yourself. You are just going to limit your ability to consume more than you should. If you were to deprive yourself, it will be such a psychological restriction that more often than not plague you with more eating issues. She also said that food one should enjoy. Just in small amounts. Dont deprive, just eat in moderation.... So indeed this Band is a lifestyle change :-) to learn moderation and enjoy the foods I eat.... all is good

Hi Laurie, Well now, so many new and exciting things are coming your way! I can understand wanting to be fit and healthy for the up and coming events. I have a 16 year old who is in many activities in school. I am usually the mom that helps out. Trying to do this with bum hips and weight baring down on them has become a nightmare. I have 2 kids in the 5th grade. Soon to be in junior high. I dont want to be the fat mom. I understand where your feelings come from. This is one of the major reasons I took this step to get the band. Recovery was not hard, but it wasnt easy either. I stayed in the hospital a day longer equalling 2 days total. It was because I had nausea problems, and also could not get around very well because of the weekness in my hips. Anastetic does slow one down. When I did get home, my husband was a God send! He took a week off work to help me. He did the shopping, took care of the kids, cleaned the house, and prepared meals... Including my own. He also helped me get up and into bed when I was to sore to do it myself. You will be sore. There really is no getting out of that. You and I are the same hight and about the same weight, so I feel for the most part, I can say that you will be sore. Gas pain was not to bad for me. It was more the pain of where the port is. It still is tender, and I still need to take care not to twist to much to avoid cringing. I have lost a total of 31lbs since surgery. I did not have to go on a liquid diet like most on here did prior to surgery. I just had a liquid fast the day before surgery. this is because my labs/bloodwork came back clean. You doctor may require you to go on a liquid diet prior to your surgery. By far this will be the hardest of the journey. That and getting a hold on the psychological issues of eating. I understand the community and relationship of eating. I come from an Irish family that thrives on food, family, laughter, and celebration. But I am understanding that this can coincide with me and my lapband. I know I can have the luxery to cook/prepare meals for my family, without needing to indulge as I once did. I have lost my taste for a lot of the foods I once loved... And its okay.... I find it to be a blessing. This I felt was going to be my hardest obstical, only to find that my body is altering it for me. Please do get into the doctors and investigate your choices Laurie, I believe it will be the best thing you ever did for yourself. I will be here to cheer you on! Autumn

Another thing I am finding less enjoyable is potatoes.... GOOD GAWD! An Irish woman turning her nose up to the potato! Its unheard of! Made them last night with Easter dinner, had a small bite of them, and they did not bring me the pleasure as they once did. Have I just turned off my need or want for any Carbs? It sure seems as if I have! It will be intresting to see where this will take me!

Hi Elizabeth! Welcome to LBT! First I just want to say well done with the first 10 lbs! It is still a lose. Dont be to hard on yourself. If you have been exercising, you could have lost inches and gained muscle. So it is not that you havnt lost weight. Try messuring yourself as well... It may be just that. Also, I visit Scotland about every 18 months or so. Love it there. Please keep us posted with your progress, or if you ever just need support! Take Care!

Welcome Grandmasoon2be! I literally feel your pain! I have bilateral hip dysplasia. From the time of 3 to 13, I had 10 hip surgeries and a mother who felt she needed to comfort me with food. I have always been over weight. But like you, I did not put on most of my weight until I had my 3 children. I was banded on March 29, 2007. Only a week and a half ago. I was scared to resort to something like this. So I thought! Since I have had the surgery, it has been a blessing! Not just with the weight loss already, but the mind set that comes with it. I have learned to turn my back on foods I once overly enjoyed.... lol Have no taste for them now. Not to mention you will learn to understand that food is to feed your body with what it needs to survive. Not to feed your mind, emotions, bordom ect..... At least this is what I am getting from it. The band will be body changing with time and effort. However, it has already changed my way of thinking about food, the way I eat, and who I am as an overweight person, who I will become as thinner, healthier person..... So many blessings! I wish you well on your journey! If you ever would like to chat, please send me a message, It would be a pleasure to cheer you on with encouragement and friendship!

You should stay on a full liquid diet for 24 hours and then mushies the next day... If there is a lot of swelling, there is more of a chance of you PBing again. Take it easy.... Hope all is better soon.

I was banded on March 29, 2007, and I too have this lump where my port is. The doctor said it is swelling and will go away in time.

After fills, you will indeed need to go on at least one day of liquids then one day of mushies. However, as always, all doctors do things differently. I wouldnt put that magic bullet away. I too am on mushies. Nothing I would like better than to be able to eat whole food again. But I have lost a lot of weight, and I would not trade that for the world. Chin up.... only a little bit to go.

Hi there - I too was banded on the 29th of march. I am on the mushie stage now without problems. I just take it slow. My doctor has had the same diet for all his patients for over a decade now without complication. As long as one takes it slow. I think you are fine. I believe you probably have healed up some, and your swelling has gone down giving you more room to feel hunger. Let us know how things go. I wish you well.

Well, Autumn is not my birth name. It is a name that was given to me by a dear friend in Ireland. I have been called that for many years. Just a couple of years ago I finally leagleized it as my own. :-) 444 hmmm... well, 4 is my favorite number... I just did it three times... roflol

Chinese calender is based on the year that you were born. Not the month.

Gemini here! June 9th

Wonderful that you posted this! Not only is this issue <being fat> overly abused, but also extreamly ignorant! We are who we choose to allow ourselves to be. Fat or thin. We all create our own feeling, thoughts, ect. So when someone does look at you in a funny way, or disgusted ect, know that it is their ignorance that is the disease not your body or lifestyle! CHEERS FOR POSTING THIS! I hope that young girls get to watch this as well.... self awareness is a beautiful thing!

My doctor had me 1 day Clear Liquids before surgery. 7 days of modified liquids <meaning all clear plus CIB, creamed soups, cream of wheat> I just started today on mushies! I just had a very small bit of egg just to see how it reacts with me... lol It was weird to chew foods again! All doctors are different. I am with a doctor that is the number one doctor in bariatric surgeries including lapband. Their diet has been sucessful for over a decade now. I wish you well... and do call the doctor. It never hurts.

I am so pleased to hear that you are doing well! Keep hydrated and walk over anything else. It will make your recovery easier. I am only 6 days post op myself, and I am finally taking in about 300 calories. However, make sure even over eating that you drink, drink, drink! It will help clear out everyting. Including the adverse effects of the antibiotics if they gave them to you via IV. I am so pleased for you! Please keep us updated with your recovery! Welcome to Bandland! Autumn

Well done Syn! I am only 5 days post op. Had my surgery on 3/29. I am handeling it well now. Thought I was going to die the first couple of days however from the pain meds they were giving me. thank Goddess I figured it out and changed to good old faithful Tylenol. I am worried about the port fill, but you made it seem like a piece of cake. Maybe not chocolate <my fav>, but possibly a nice spice cake with buttercream <wicked grin> Thanks for sharing your experience! BB Autumn

Oh you poor thing Syrah! I dont know what to say except I will be sending you positive energy that you will not get sick. I can not imagine how to handle that right now. Dont stress... It will only make your band constrict tighter... Hope you can hold off a couple of days at least from work. It seems that you need the extra benefit it can give you. Keep us posted. Autumn

I feel your pain.... I too have a overly active gag reflex. I also have allergies and it causes a great deal of congestion and mucus. The best thing to do is to cough it up. Also ask your doctor if you can take some Congestion thinning meds... Mucinex is way to large of a pill or i would highly recommend it. It is what i used prior to surgery. Also, you may have a lactoss ot milk allergy causing you excess mucas. You might want to try a soy or rice based milk for your shakes. I dont drink shakes for that reason. I have been getting my protein from Isopure liquid. There are several flavors to chose from as well. I am still on a all liquid diet... so the diarrehea started for me this morning. My first BM since 3/29. However, it seems to happen when i am going for a walk, or am sitting up for a long while. Annoying it is, but it will past once we get on more solid food. I hope this helps some.... Wish you well Autumn

Hi all, I live in La Mirada, on the boarder of Buena Park. Would love to have a support group around here! My doctor is in Fountain Valley, and yes, they have their own support group. However, it is a long journey for a mother of 3 to make every week to Foutain Valley. I was banded just this last thursady the 29th of March. Everyting is going well!

Hi all, It sounds to me that we are just overly swollen from our new bands. Last night, I was trying to swollow a quarterd pill, and i gagged on it. For about an hour after that episode, I felt like something was still there. It was very uncomfortable. Hmmm... It came right up, but i didnt try to take the pill again. I ended up sending my husband out for liquid pain reliever. We all heal differently. My doctor gave me several different things that could happen. Such as the band caused more swelling than most people, or the actual inflamation around the Whole stomach area that was intruded upon could cause the extra pain and discomfort. However, She said 9 times out of 10, its extra air. The air that is put in your stomach during surgery plus the extra air we take in when we eat. However the one thing she did warn me about is that if I have apnea <i dont thank goodness> this could indeed cause extra discomfort within the chest area because your body is struggeling to breath. I hope these little things she shared with me can help one of you. I wish you all the best!

Banded on the 29th of March - home on the 31st of March 2007. I am doing a lot better today! I weened myself of of the pain meds the doctor gave me, and now only taking tylenol when needed. I have mostly been consintrating on my liquid intake. Have not had any head hunger yet. Have been loyal to doctors orders for a week of liquids. I have started a diary of sorts to list everything im drinking ect. Even meds. I think this will be helpful. i also lined up my mes cups to show how many isopure drinks I should have. It has made things a lot easier. Have been walking better. Not hunched over as I once was. I am using the elastic tummy suporter when I walk and sleep. This has even alowed me to move around a bit in bed! I was able to sleep on my side with a pillow behind my back! Also, something I highly recommend is a wedge pillow! I bought the whole body set that comes in three pieces, but for sleeping, I use the middle size one. It helps eleviate gas, apnea, indigestion, back pain, snoring, and the best part is, you can get out of bed better when you have that extra support. I dont know who it was that suggested toilet tongs, but my goodness was that a brilliant idea! Not only for the toilet, but also for the shower! This has helped me in so many ways because i have a hip condition that leaves me less ab;e to bend ect! So thank you to whomever it was that suggested it on here. You are the best! Also, can anyone tell me how to put a little bar up about my BMI and weight loss goals? Thanks