Bandista

I say shed the old stuff that's too big -- cause WE ARE NOT GOING BACK THERE! And shedding in general just feels good. Unless you are my husband or son, who rifle through bags in the car to see if I'm throwing out any of their stuff.

Hi Beautiful -- getting outdoors helps me so much, and then one foot in front of the other for enough days in a row and suddenly you are not just walking but you are a walker. Maybe some exercise will make you feel better......and don't worry about how long it may be taking to reach your goal as we are all just works in progress, one day at a time. So glad you are on the forum. It helps me to read how others are doing -- we are all in this together. Best wishes!

This is wonderfully written.....thanks for sharing your creativity. Poetry contest, any one -- how about Haiku?

Hi Jakki, I just had my first fill, too -- it seems like learning to listen to all the body's signals is the key to the whole thing. So happy to be in this place, a month out. Seems like just yesterday we were waiting to be banded! It's all happening, just a process.......good luck to you!

Hi there and congratulations on being banded! Many of us know the dreaded shoulder pain -- sometimes it takes a day or two to set in but when it's there, oh boy. Walk it off! Get yourself up and moving and move your arms, too. You will be feeling so much better in a day or two. I did liquid Tylenol and Ibuprofen as needed and I needed it less and less -- stayed away from the prescription narcotics which, for me, come with their own side effects that I didn't want to have to deal with. The great thing about the walking is that once you've taken those twenty steps back and forth, then thirty, forty -- it's amazing. It's like in a week you are suddenly a full-fledged walker. That was a goal for me, to actually like exercising. It happened, and I am so happy about that. And a month out and today my first fill, I am so incredibly happy to be banded. You have made an amazing decision for your healthy future and your happiness -- great things ahead! Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery!

Yippee! So happy for you!

Well, the long-anticipated first fill was this afternoon. It was over before I knew it! Very, very easy. Nice check-in with the surgeon and I told him how I've been getting hungrier and then hungry again sooner, etc. I did not have hunger immediately following the surgery and thought I might be one of those people who never require a fill. He thought that was pretty funny -- apparently that is very rare (except the plication banders). So this is what transpired: he felt around for my port and marked it with a pen (they don't use fluroscopy unless there's a problem), sterilized the area, gave an injection of pain killer (forget what it was -- Lidocain or one of the cains?) -- it was nothing! Then he was offering me an arm to sit up. He had already done the fill and I missed it because we were chatting. It was two and a half cc's -- no Fluid in my band at placement. I go back next week. I asked him whether we'd just be checking in and assessing how this fill is working for me or if I'd be getting a fill. He said definitely the check-in but most probably another fill. He described having a tennis ball size "meal" and not feeling hungry again for 4-5 hours as the goal. I drank a few sips of Water to make sure all was well and then downstairs in the hospital cafe I had a cup of tea with honey. Then I had a big walk around the hospital parking lot twice -- something I'm trying to do every time I go there, which is fairly frequently in these beginning stages. Tonight I will have a bit of the brothy part of a stew I am serving to family and friends -- we have kids over -- and tomorrow is supposed to be back to normal. Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom.

It sounds like you have really set yourself up optimally -- and that's what your band is there for, right? Congratulations on your son and now taking care of yourself. Sometimes hard for Mommies to do that and you are smart to be taking all the steps needed to insure your healthy future. Good luck to you!

I am so fascinated by all of this.....

Hi there, so happy for you! Great that you are getting your body into this mode of shedding, which of course will be so much easier once you have your band. Are you able to exercise also? That really helped me a lot. I was not an enthusiastic exerciser but since the band that switch in my brain is toggled and I am really enjoying working out and being a walker. I know that this is helping me in every way. Your perseverance is an inspiration -- thanks for keeping us posted!

I really loved my protein shakes pre-op but now I have no interest in them. Thinking of trying to fit one in, particularly if I'm getting the five o'clock hungries.....and we have so much fruit in our freezer. Maybe this is a good way to get more fiber, etc.

Nearly at Onederland -- yippee! So happy for you! How about something like a bracelet or ring, a pair of earrings?

A beautiful dress -- what a wonderful thing to be able to wear fun clothes that you love. Enjoy your new size, though -- it will be fun scoping out those size tens. You are an inspiration! Thanks for posting. I look forward to having a pretty dress or two next summer. That will be wonderful!

A robe for those walks, and slip-on shoes...... I had liquid Tylenol and liquid Ibuprofen at home -- was very glad I did not need the prescription pain medication even though it was filled and ready in case. Narcotics do such a number on the body. If you are prone to constipation you may want to take something for that ahead of time, and most definitely if you end up taking any narcotic medication. At home or if some one wants to bring you something: Popsicles! Loved having a popsicle -- a nice treat. I didn't bother with the fake sugar ones as I was having so few calories anyway. Teas...I am a tea drinker and enjoyed having tea as soon as I could.....Took my favorite teabags in a ziplock. Nurses got me hot Water and I had my only little tea party. Your big day is almost here! Best wishes to you.....I am one month out and so happy.

You're almost there! I'm with Karen on the walking -- what a difference that made. To the healing and recovery time but also walking in the hospital all I could then at home around the driving circle turned me into a walker. Now I actually look forward to doing it and let me tell you that was not me pre-band. The pre-op diet is so hard but you're getting your liver ready for a few days from now when the surgeon needs all the room possible for installing the band easily. Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery.

Hi Emjay, I was allowed egg drop soup -- it was very satisfying. Maybe ask your nutritionist about that? Also potato leek soup. There's a brand sold in our regular grocery store called Imagine and they have several creamy Soups that worked well for the stage you're in. What you're feeling is very normal. Getting rid of the hunger is why we went through so much to get our bands. It's a process, though -- the adjustability of the band is everything. I'm going today for my first potential fill. I was lucky to experience the dimming of hunger post-surgery but then it arrived. Still, I know what it's like and I want that feeling back. Are you able to exercise? I've been focusing on that whole getting through the stages and I think it is helping everything. The weight loss (stalled for now) but also the mental attitude. I was not able to enjoy exercising before. I did it but didn't like it and now I'm doing at least twice as much and I can really feel that connection with my body. Best wishes -- you are not alone and it's called Bandster Hell for a reason....

I go today -- excited, not too nervous but wanting so much for it to be "right." Have been doing really well and just lately a return of hunger.

So glad to read this thread through again this morning. I am going in for my first potential fill appointment this afternoon. Have been feeling hungry and hungry again sooner, etc. Lately I have little moments of panic as I don't want to be on a diet. I watch what I eat, etc., but it's a careful balance not to go the deprivation route followed by the inevitable swing the other way. I know the band will prevent that but the fill is key. And I know I am right at the most difficult time, a month out. Time for Super Attitude and Perseverance. Joy, joy, joy! We have got our bands -- we will get there....and hopefully enjoy the process along the way.

Hi BrownEyes, so sorry about this difficult time. What a trifecta -- your friend dying suddenly, having to put a pet down and Thanksgiving on top of it all. Sending best wishes as you recover from all that and start your process with fills. Good for you to be getting some exercise in and noticing already that you're feeling better. I can't believe what a difference it makes to my mood and energy levels, plus I know it will help with the weight loss. Take care and keep us posted!

It's interesting that he has gained quite a bit of weight himself -- maybe there is some self-loathing and sabotaging behavior going on. You deserve a loving and accepting partner in life, not some one who compromises your happiness through hurtful behavior. Just know that choosing ourselves first is the most important thing we can do. Putting other people's needs and desires ahead of our own has a way of whittling away at our self-esteem and undermining the joy of being happy and at peace with who we are. Best wishes as you sort out what you want to do about this relationship. Whatever you do, do it from a place of self-awareness and don't talk yourself into anything you don't want to do.

Hi there -- I hated the waiting, too, but now it seems like it went by in a flash. Time can be so weird! I started the process in June and had to attend a mandatory info session to get the ball rolling -- only they didn't have another one until August 6th. So that was a big delay and then all the appointments -- program coord, nutritionist and psych eval, then finally I got to meet the surgeon and was given a surgery date, November 5th. All in all a five-month process. One thing I'm really glad about is that I used the time to step up my exercise routine so once banded I had that to fall into right away -- and the band really changed my attitude and ability to work out. Long walks, etc. So that's good. And I got a therapist, too, and started journalling a lot -- just to get at those eating patterns and food issues to be sure I was as ready as possible. You sound very ready and I wish you the very best -- it will all happen and you'll be on the other side before you know it!

Great list! Getting a band was all about #15 -- time to put myself first and get healthy. Best wishes to you. My father has dementia and it certainly does change the perspective -- being in the now and celebrating one another, loving ourselves and others -- all so important. Thanks for a lovely blog today!

So happy for you! What a way to begin 2014.......

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!