Bandista

I'm with you on peanut butter being the devil -- got a good laugh out of that title. Time for an exorcism -- get it out of the house! If you find yourself wanting to buy another jar try to remind yourself that you want to be thin and healthy even more than you want peanut butter. And that's a LOT. I know, I know, this isn't a diet -- we are supposed to be able to have everything in small amounts, etc. But crack is crack, especially to a recovering addict. Signed, your fellow peanut butter worshiper

Carolina Girl brings down the internet with outpouring of love and enthusiasm. Inexplicably attracted to hearts and dancing puppies, experts from around the world are gathering to further understand this phenomena. Said one technical consultant, "I was hired to help fix the healthcare web site but these Lapband support people are just so much nicer."

Hi Georgia, if you just had surgery last week you are probably bloated and retaining fluids from that -- maybe that's what's making you feel fat. Also pain meds, etc. can take their toll. Is your digestion working properly again? Hope you feel better and that you're able to take the time you need to fully recover. I had LB surgery and hernia repair 9 days ago and there was a day when suddenly that fluid released and I dropped significantly. Best wishes!

Fingerless gloves!

I can PM but I can't post a new topic. The title goes in fine but in the body of the post everything I type is invisible. The cursor progresses so I know the letters are there but they are transparent. How weird is that? And when I try to access the link for reporting technical problems it does not work. So if any one from software development is reading this, those are a couple of problems.....

Best wishes for smooth sailing tomorrow and a speedy recovery. I think you're going to do beautifully!

I've had mild left shoulder pain intermittently since banding eight days ago. Ditto on ice packs. And walking. The walking seems to help everything. I can re activate the pain in bed by rolling over -- I usually sleep on my left side. I hope it goes away for you soon!

Hi Mona, so glad you found LB Talk. I've been on here since June and was just banded last week. Let the good times roll!

Day 8 here -- have been cruising along but then overdid it yesterday and have had a very quiet day today. This coincides with a return of hunger. My husband heated himself up a pizza. Trader Joe's gluten-free in the toaster oven smelled like chocolate to me. Weird! Then I couldn't stand to listen to him eating it. I didn't want any -- very happy with my little bowl of cottage cheese and applesauce -- but the way he was going at that thing then drizzling olive oil on the crusts and wolfing those down with the loudest crunching sounds ever. It was extremely irritating and fascinating all at once. I can tell I am going to be observing a lot of eating around me and I just hope I'm not going to need earplugs.

Excellent! You are one step closer all the time....nice that you have the reassurance of competent medical staff, good environment, etc. Kind of a trial run! I didn't have an EGD but I did have a hiatal hernia which was repaired in my LB surgery -- they found it when they got in there.

Hi Garfield, thanks so much for the inspiring post! You look so healthy and happy -- love, love these success stories and am determined to be one myself. Best wishes!

That's hilarious -- out of the mouths of babes! Better than any mirror, that's for sure. And it sounds like you have a friend for life there. Lucky goddaughter!

Thanks for this. I'm really working on trying to listen to my body and interpret signals correctly. Everything got so scrambled over the years that it's hard for me to know when/if I'm truly hungry. Newly-banded and hunger has not returned yet so I am just taking baby steps. Guess this is what learning the band is all about -- learning when food is required and responding appropriately. I want to enjoy my food and then stop. The band is allowing me to do that, even if it is just applesauce and yogurt right now.

Sounds like things are moving along already! I felt very impatient with the process over the summer but now, looking back, I can see that time was important for me. By the time I got my surgery date, I was so ready for the band and all the changes in my life. Getting the exercise equation in place was huge, and I also did a lot of journalling, lined up support including a therapist for discussing eating habits, head hunger, etc. I'm only one week banded but I feel like it's all happening now. The band is in place and I'm very happy about everything. Good luck to you in these coming months -- you are going to do beautifully!

I brought my CPAP machine to the hospital and they hooked it up afterwards, monitored the oxygen levels (as they do for every one) and I was able to sleep on and off that night. It was definitely not a big deal. I am really hoping to be able to ditch the machine at some point after significant weight loss -- that would be so great! But meanwhile it's a love/hate relationship. Love it that I can actually reach a deep state of sleep but hate having the hassle of the apparatus. My husband calls me Aqua Girl. Good luck with your upcoming surgery! Mine was a week ago and I am so happy! For me the absolute best thing was walking. When I had to get up to pee after the surgery I got my robe on and took that IV pole up and down the hallway each time. Continued walking at home, too, and now I am walking so much more in my life. I think this really helped with the healing and I know it's going to help significantly with the weight loss. Also I did not go the narcotics route. For me that's just more to recover from, the side effects, etc. And I don't like that out-of-it feeling. Was able to do fine on Ibuprofen and Tylenol. Best wishes to you!

Wow, you look great! Congratulations on all the hard work that brought you this success. I am very excited to be newly-banded, too, and stories like yours are so inspiring. Thanks for the lift!

I would call the doctor...they want to hear from you with any concerns!

Lovely ring! What a great reminder of the way you are taking care of yourself. You've got me thinking about a reward of some kind; that will be fun to mull over in the coming months. The band is definitely a gift to myself, that's for sure.

This is great! Love the "textbook" part. In other words, perfect.

Thinking of you, Terry, and sending best wishes your way. I'm sorry for your loss and all you've gone through; it's wonderful that you have remained on track throughout.

This is great! So happy for you. I feel really good, too. Wonderful decision. For a long time I have felt like there was some kind of betrayal between me and my body. Out of sync. Now it's like the band has brought me back to a sense of wholeness again.

Hi Tyler, good luck with everything! Nice that you don't have to be there at five, that's for sure. Are you staying overnight or out-patient? I am one week banded as of today and I'm so happy. Best wishes to you....

Hi Brown Eyes, there is no fluid in my band.....will see surgeon December 2nd to determine fill or no fill. So far no return of hunger.

Shel, I just have to say this is hilarious. Sounds like the plot for a funny play -- WLS enthusiast unwittingly stumbles on to a pro-fat site!

So happy for you! You are going to look great in those family pictures. You are beaming already -- thanks for the inspiration. I am just beginning -- today is my one-week Bandiversary. I already feel like a new woman inside. Add time, perseverance and enthusiasm to the equation and I look forward to being where you are now. Family pictures, hmmm. We have never done that. Maybe next spring I will work on arranging a shoot. Every one will be flabbergasted as I have run from the camera for twenty years. My husband says our kid won't know what his mother looked like. Maybe I can change all that. Good luck to you!