Bandista

Hope you feel better, Bobbie. You did the right thing calling it in -- they will work with you to determine whether it's better to wait a bit or go forward. Do you like chicken broth and hot sauce or ginger, etc? Might want to stay clear of dairy, which can be mucus-forming....get well soon.

Great post; thanks!

Hi there, reporting in from Band Land! Everything went beautifully and I am recovering well. Just did a long walk with my IV pole up and down the halls for a while and some boullion is cooling as I write this. Let's see, 8AM registration then gown donning in short stay unit with nursing intake, anasthesiologist, hello from surgeon, etc. They put on an oxygen mask on me and the drugs into my IV then I woke up in recovery without ever knowing I was wheeled out of there. My surgery time was 9AM -- don't know what time it ended or how long I was in recovery -- an hour or teo? They let my husband sit with me and that was good as it was a bustling place and I felt some of that shoulder gas pain many people mention and mild anxiety. He did quite a bit of neck massage for me. It is still stiff in that area but I would describe it as discomfort rather than pain. I was coming off of the anasthesia with in and out napping until about 5PM. Very thirsty! Drinking lots of Water I brought from home -- we have beautiful water in our well and here in the city it is chlorinated. I am not taking the Dilaudid offered. Nurses concur better to stay away from that world of side effects if possible. Really hoping for narcotic-free experience. I think that pain medication can cause a kind of hyper-focusing on pain that makes it duller but more apparent if that makes any sense. There is ibuprofen in my drip. Have been doing yoga breathing -- have my sleep mask (CPAP) and I go home tomorrow following barium swallow. I have pain prescription filled should I need it as well as liquid Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Will keep you posted. Oh, I had a hernia. How many times have we heard that here but still I didn't think it would be me. Now I need to do hernia research as I don't really know what that is -- but it doesn't matter, all taken care of now. This actually allowed my husband to "out" my surgery to my parents in a way that keeps my lapband private as I am one of those who don't want many people to know. Nurses and aides all fantastic. Extremely quiet and near-empty by chance -- very nice for me to have my own room. I will go walking again soon, not to walk off any pain but more as a preventative thing and because I feel a little antsy. Planning to watch old episodes of all the Masterpiece Theater stuff my husband has suffered through once already. Hope our other Recent Bandits are doing well and every one else. Many many thanks to all of you who helped me get ready for this day. You are wonderful!

Automobile tire! But I'm just getting started -- going for the set of four and a spare!

Oh yes, left shoulder pain.....a couple of ice packs did wonders. Some people use a heating pad, which is soothing, but the ice really helped (can alternate). Walking through it -- helps move trapped gas. I took Tylenol and Ibuprofen as needed. It does go away!

I can cook but not bake so we'd be a good team. Sauté onions and garlic, celery if you like, carrots, mushrooms -- it's a free for all! I use a little high - heat oil like a safflower or canola, but olive oil is fine. This is a good time to put any herbs or spices as the veggies will carry the flavor. Salt and pepper, also rosemary is delicious. Some people like tarragon. I use Indian spices sometimes but of course that takes it all in a different direction. Now you can add the chicken -- pulled chicken from one you've roasted works really well, cutting up any of the white meat into small pieces. Then add the broth. Simmer to let it all come together. Enjoy!

Hi Tyler, I'm with you -- no surprises! Congratulations on your band....I am day 16 now and so, so happy. This was a life-changing event, not just the future weight loss and all that but I feel different in other ways.

Oh my goodness, what a huge loss! You have lost so much weight. Can you see it? Fantastic job -- you are really rocking this!

Roar! Congratulations -- happy for you! December 5 is right around the corner.

Princess Leah, hope you're doing well! I'm on day 16 so we are all together on this journey. Best wishes to you!

Yay Angie! So happy for you.....hope you have a nice relaxing weekend, as much walking as you can possibly do and all the movies and Popsicles you want. Congratulations on this big step toward your health!

Hi Dewey, thanks for a great post. I look forward to being a lesser person as well. And thanks for insight into fill world. My first potential one is 12/2. This whole thing is pretty exciting, I have to say! And 34 pounds -- yee ha! That is great.

Hi Anume! Congratulations -- you are doing beautifully! I may have to go Terry's route and only weigh-in at the doctors' offices so I don't drive myself absolutely nuts.

Hi ePencil -- love your name! Congratulations on your surgery and best wishes for a nice relaxed weekend. I think the walking helps everything. Even five minutes plus five minutes plus five more will get you there. Loose skin is a problem for many and there are so many factors, like amount of weight lost, genetics, etc. Just like some get stretch marks more easily, etc.

Dreading this! Hope you feel better, Ineed2dothis4me! And good luck with your first fill. I am really working on slowing down -- so hard as of course I am a recovering shoveler. You've inspired me to have another practice session today. Have done this a few times -- eating with the clock. Small spoon or fork, me and the second hand which is so slow it's unbelievable. A forkful of food, feel the sensation, return fork to plate. This part is hard as I do not want to put down the utensil. I then look around, notice what's going on inside and out, then pick the fork up again, empty. Take it to my mouth, feel the tines of the fork on my lip. Put it down -- again I resist that. Now maybe thirty seconds have elapsed. This time I let myself load the fork. I wait til the second hand hits the minute mark then I repeat the whole thing. Thirty bites thirty minutes of mindfulness. Hope this will help me the rest of the time. Doing the empty fork pickup in-between bites seems to slow me down quite a bit. I have to really take my hand away. Maybe I'll be a better conversation partner at meals!

I love juicing but for me it was another brain warp around my relationship with food. A few years ago I did a three-week juice fast. I have my own juicer -- don't buy bottled anything, just juice beautiful organic veggies, fruits, etc. The feeling of clarity is wonderful -- and somewhat addictive. Skin gets so clear, shiny eyes, etc. Plus if you really love veggies there's nothing yummier. We have a large garden so that aspect is very satisfying, too -- juicing your own beets, etc. Obvious problem is having to go back to food and then, if there was a weight loss intention, the inevitable regain plus. I do think there are some serious health benefits to occasional juicing -- giving the digestive system a break, colon cleansing, etc. -- and I will probably use some fresh-pressed juice after fills or when I feel like my band needs a reboot. Will be nice to do an occasional day of juicing without the dieter's tapes playing in my head. I'm not there yet!

Monday! You're almost there! Congratulations on that. I had a two-week pre-op and that's about what I lost. Or less. Went back up at surgery time and more after (fluids), then down, down. I know it's hard not to obsess over the scale but try to relax and know that the real goal is a healthy liver to make the surgery as easy as possible. I don't think surgery and recovery were nearly as difficult as the pre-op diet. Trading in all that anticipation for the joy and relief of finally getting there made the temporary pain/discomfort easy to go through. Best wishes for a nice relaxed weekend.......we will be thinking of you on Monday!

Hi Raedale, thanks for posting. Getting off the BP and diabetes meds -- way to go! Our son is graduating from high school next June and one of my goals is to be really healthy by then. I'm sorry to hear you've had trouble with your port. I hope that is getting resolved quickly so you can heal up and continue along this path of good health and happiness. I know what you mean about the self-confidence. I was sinking in that department. An introvert by nature, work from home, just not comfortable in the world the way I want to be. Changing all that now! Thanks for an inspiring post this morning.

Mine is above and to the left of my belly button. I find myself putting a hand there as a reminder. Grounds me.

Nothing like a private class -- that's great!

Yippee! So happy for you.......best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Hi Betsy, so happy for you to have made this decision for better health! I am newly-banded and SO happy. Good luck with your process. Mine was about five months. Seemed so slow but really it flew by. I used the time to read lots and lots of posts here to understand how to be successful. The people here are warm and so willing to answer any and all questions. I'm really glad to have increased my exercise while I was going through all the hoops of various appointments, etc. That made me readier for surgery and able to step up all the walking once I got my band. Makes a huge difference! Also I got a therapist to have some one to track with. I needed to look once again at ways I used food to soothe stress or boredom, anxiety. Best wishes to you at the beginning of your journey!

Hi Freedom, thinking of you this morning -- best wishes for a speedy recovery. Don't forget to walk as much as you can; you'll be so glad you did! And TwinsMommy home already. Hope your recovery is going well and you have a nice quiet weekend planned. Happy Friday all!

Good morning -- checking in at 227.5; got all the twinkly lights up.....fending off the darkness of this time of year!

I'm right there with you, trying to learn how to listen to my body -- am I hungry or do I just think I should eat, or is it just that I could eat, etc......we will get this! Thanks for the great blog. Hope your second fill went well and you are getting into the swing of things. I am right behind you (banded 11/5). Have a great day!