Bandista

Hi there, so glad you are pursuing channels for meeting with your medical professionals. What do you mean by horrible habits? Do you think you have been in the green zone yet? You mentioned the possibility of being too tight -- what does that mean?

Congratulations on your surgery date and getting started with your pre-op diet -- I remember how excited I was and can hear that in your post. In fact I'm STILL excited 11 months out and so happy with everything this last year. Weight loss is great but then the getting out of food jail part, rise in self-confidence and return to self -- so amazing. Wishing you the very best. When we choose ourselves and our healthy futures first, what happens is astounding. For me that's what choosing to be banded was about-- a gift to myself.

Turmeric and a little honey make a nice remedy and delivery method for curcumin....and curries, yum. I love a good curry -- especially lamb or chicken -- and dahl has a lot of Proteins in it (lentils, etc.). I used to refrain from using coconut milk in curries because of calories, but I don't count those anymore -- just listen to my body and eat really well. Small portion world is such a luxury! Lyme, ugh -- been there done that with the co-infections, etc. Went with plant-based herbal protocol but did have to do some of that nasty doxi -- I am finally well again, especially following WLS and getting my body kicked into healing mode. Hope your son is doing well, Beni. Sounds like you caught it early. Hard to sort out the arthritis and Lyme symptoms or other inflammation-related issues but what we are putting into our bodies makes a a huge difference.

Sympathies to all my fellow arthritis sufferers out there -- youch. My own surgeon has no problems with his patients taking anti-inflammatories (!) but I know it's not a good idea and so I stay away from either over-the-counter versions or the ones prescribed by rheumatologists who seem to have nothing else to offer. I recently started using an anti-inflammatory gel called Voltaren and I think I'm getting some relief from that. My arthritis is better with exercise and that keeps me moving -- an hour in the car and I have to get out and walk, walk, walk. I have a drink that works well for me as an anti-inflammatory -- I fill up glass bottles nearly to the top with Water then add a splash of unsweetened cranberry and a half a cup of aloe vera. Seems to help a lot, as does ginger tea. I've tried to identify particular food triggers but not much luck with that -- was off of Nightshades for almost a year (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes) but did not seem to notice a difference there. I do know other people who found eliminating those really helps them. Last year I started taking collagen -- we get Great Lakes brand. I mix a tablespoon into my Greek yogurt along with a few nuts, a little GF Cereal, etc. (so it's not a slider for me) -- the collagen is tasteless and jacks up the Protein (six grams on top of the twelve for the yogurt). I love cooking with homemade stock! We roast or grill an organic chicken weekly and all the bones, etc. go into the freezer bag along with veggie ends, etc. then we boil them all up from time to time to make chicken stock for soups, sauces, etc. For dark stock (beef, lamb, etc.) the oven needs to be at 500 then put the bones in for 20 minutes to release, then into the stock pot with the veggies, herbs, etc. I always add a bottle of wine (alcohol cooks off). Freezes very well. The addition of stock into dishes made with ground meat makes it soft and yummy -- easy to swallow, etc. And so flavorful. Thanks for a great thread! It's raining here today and maybe a good day for boiling up some chicken stock -- freezer is getting full and there are a zillion leeks out in the garden that need harvesting. Stock here we come!

Sandy, you are hilarious! And @@PuraVida37, right there with you sister. I've been doing a lot of walking -- lower half is looking hot but.....oh, the muffin top. I'm going to be humming that tune all day now. And I don't mind my mommy belly too, too much, but I have to admit our child was adopted so all that baby weight was really just stress and food.

Post-op I found warm tea and broth to be easiest for me to swallow. I couldn't handle the thicker things, like Protein shakes (plus I was sick of them from two weeks on pre-op diet!). Also I really enjoyed popsicles during this time. Hope you're feeling better today -- there is a turnaround point for each of us. I found the walking really, really helped me. Plus I had to take something for constipation. Even though I didn't take pain medication post-op (the side effects seem worse to me than the discomfort), I had to address constipation at 4-5 days out. Best wishes to you! You are on your way -- worst is behind you!

Congratulations on getting your surgery date! I hardly feel the "pinch" when I get a fill -- doesn't hurt at all. I remember how nervous I was for the first one and then the surgeon gave me an arm to sit up. "It's over?" I hadn't even noticed! Best thing I did prior to surgery was up my exercise -- didn't want to but so glad I did. The walking post-op was so good for kicking my body into healing mode and starting off this new chapter in my life. As I've lost weight the exercise has helped me tone up. I am also 53 and may have a little paunch but agree with Pink Dahlia that if that's the case at this point I don't really care. Happy not to look like Mrs. Winne-the-Pooh anymore!

I'm so glad I got myself into a routine beforehand so I had something to step into right after surgery. Kicked my body into healing mode and made the whole recovery process so much better. Had to talk myself into it but after faking liking exercise for months then one day the magic happened and I thrive on it now. Can't believe I'm the same person!

I always think of Bridget Jones and her giant panties -- so funny! Here's to delicate delicates.....

I didn't know about Plication when I got banded but I am interested in that -- those people do very well and it's just a stitch or two, right? As for a corset, the other day I bought a piece of Shapewear. It was a riot trying that stuff in -- felt like I needed a dresser! The one I got has hooks and eyes down the front and it is tight. I wore it out for a concert evening 4-5 hours and was glad to take it off again. But I felt so held together, flat tummy. Loved that.

Boy oh boy, I know this one -- the whole taking up of time and space, being "too big" in a way. So, when we were bigger we were taking up less of that kind of space -- offing ourselves? And the getting too personal, feeling judged. I find myself worrying over offending two different people this week. As I come further into my own this will be inevitable, I suppose. If I stand up for myself or elect what I want instead of meeting others' needs first, then there will be times when things don't line up. Yikes, disappointing some one? Well, I disappointed myself for years instead -- no more. And no tamping down those feelings with food so there they are, front and present. It's great that you were able to really tune in and notice that you weren't getting a stop signal -- and that you chose healthy food to eat. As for the Wham Bam Thank You Mam, maybe the doctor felt like he got too personal and he pulled back for some reason of his own -- thoughts of Italy might have swept him away for a moment and he felt uncomfortable. The last two times I saw my Bariatric surgeon I found myself to be quite effusive -- I'm so excited, and being in that setting is a reminder of how far I've come. I think I blow them all away a bit, that I am an unusual person anyway, artist type, etc. Shy but then spurts of Not Shy. I look forward to being in situations where people are not comparing me to what I was like before, seeing me as a size change, etc. I want to be taken as I am. Your posts are wonderful -- yes, lucky us for being on the sidelines.

Boy oh boy, I know this one -- the whole taking up of time and space, being "too big" in a way. So, when we were bigger we were taking up less of that kind of space -- offing ourselves? And the getting too personal, feeling judged. I find myself worrying over offending two different people this week. As I come further into my own this will be inevitable, I suppose. If I stand up for myself or elect what I want instead of meeting others' needs first, then there will be times when things don't line up. Yikes, disappointing some one? Well, I disappointed myself for years instead -- no more. And no tamping down those feelings with food so there they are, front and present. It's great that you were able to really tune in and notice that you weren't getting a stop signal -- and that you chose healthy food to eat. As for the Wham Bam Thank You Mam, maybe the doctor felt like he got too personal and he pulled back for some reason of his own -- thoughts of Italy might have swept him away for a moment and he felt uncomfortable. The last two times I saw my Bariatric surgeon I found myself to be quite effusive -- I'm so excited, and being in that setting is a reminder of how far I've come. I think I blow them all away a bit, that I am an unusual person anyway, artist type, etc. Shy but then spurts of Not Shy. I look forward to being in situations where people are not comparing me to what I was like before, seeing me as a size change, etc. I want to be taken as I am. Your posts are wonderful -- yes, lucky us for being on the sidelines.

I am happy to report that I weigh less than my husband now. Geesh, that really bugged me! I am in the eighties now and that is a tremendous relief. On my way to the seventies next, one mini-goal at a time. Meanwhile, I feel so good in my body. Yesterday I spilled on my top and had to run into a store to buy a shirt. Grabbed a medium and it fit perfectly. Medium! Imagine that -- me? Yippee! I figured while I was at it I'd peruse the clearance section. Came up with a nice pair of summer pants in size ten. Last November I was an 18 (sometimes a 20) so this is tremendous progress. So pleased with how everything is going. It doesn't feel hard. I'm not on a diet. I'm becoming addicted to exercise. So many victories! The ongoing support of this forum has helped tremendously. It can take a while to get into the groove but boy, once there it's like soaring.....

What Terry said! I remember how excited and nervous I was as the date and time got closer -- and being on a pre-op diet can bring a lot of stuff up, too. I had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before and I was surprised at how much better it was than I thought. I was glad for a sense of humor as it is all kind of bizarre -- the paperwork, elegant gown, being rolled on a gurney, etc. The thing about elective surgery is it's just that -- something we are choosing. So it's not like you're there as a result of injury or illness. I hate going to the dentist and compared to that it felt like a breeze. The discomfort after was not bad -- I filled my prescription but did not take any of it as I don't like the side effects of narcotics. Good luck to you -- keep your reasons for doing this at the front of your thinking. Reclaiming life is a powerful thing.

I can't tolerate artificial sweeteners. I fill glass bottles almost to the top with water then add a splash of unsweetened cranberry and 1/2 cup aloe juice. It is my comfort drink -- delicious, clearing, good for my digestion, etc. Also I really like ginger tea, hot or cold. Good luck to you and best wishes as you heal up; take good care of yourself.

Yippee!

Way to go on working through so much -- keep working with your medical professionals to get to your green zone.....

Mine was two weeks liquids and I actually started a little early because I was so excited to be finally, finally getting there -- and I knew every pound I lost on pre-op was one I'd never EVER see again -- for the first time in twenty years! One thing we have to totally get from the get-go is that our process is our own, no one else's. Some people have lost more than me In the last however many months -- others wish they had my success -- can't go there. It's what I'm doing right now that matters. You, too. And YOU ROCK! You've chosen yourself and your healthy future first, way to go. That's what it takes!

If we are not in the green zone we are just on a diet -- and we know how well that works! Time to meet with the surgeon to assess for a fill. I am a person who thought at first I wouldn't need a fill (did not have hunger post-surgery for a few weeks) then I've have had seven or more to find my "sweet spot." It's a moving target -- got to work with it.

Thinking of you -- sending very best wishes. This is what we are are here for.....I know we are geographically separated, but in virtual world we are right here. Let us know how you're doing!

Hey there, congratulations -- so happy for you! Have been wondering how you're doing as I'm not on MFP much these days. So this is what you've been up to! Way to go.

My insurance company was 40 BMI with no exceptions for co-morbidities. That made me. A nervous wreck as I was a bit under -- wish I had slouched to be shorter and changed that formula rather than gaining weight and trying to dress heavily for weigh-ins, etc. Geez, not fat enough for WLS? Ridiculous as I should lose a 100 pounds according to those same BMI charts. Otherwise the pre-op was stress-free -- I was SO excited about everything. Processes vary but I'll tell you mine: We live in a rural area and the mandatory info session is only every o'er month and I missed June so had to wait for August, but after that things got rolling pretty quickly. Meeting with LB program director, nutritionist, psychiatric evaluation, then the surgeon. After that I got my date -- November 5 -- and had a few more appointments. Labs and a second visit with the nutritionist to go over the two-week pre-lop liquid diet then the big day. I was nervous as I had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before but it was all so much better than I thought it would be. Better than going to the dentist! I was choosing this and considered it (still do) a gift to myself. I was glad I decided to get a therapist as an independent third party to track with. We really worked on breaking down my triggers plus reviewing reasons for the surgery, etc. as I considered this a drastic step. The other thing I'm glad of is that I upped my exercise prior to surgery. I didn't want to but I did it. This gave me something to step into after surgery, and I mean right after. I walked the hallways up and down and then at home around our driving circle more each day. This kicked my body into healing mode and helped release any trapped gas, kept my spirits high and got me really on track with my new banded life. Finally, this community was very helpful to me (still is). I read so many posts, but I skipped negative stuff. It got to be so I could just tell from the title. I asked all my questions and wrote down ideas in the notebook where I tracked all those appointments. It was fun making lists of my reasons and the things I look forward to being able to do once thinner and healthier. Those goals are great to review. Some one suggested I write myself a letter and I did. It's in my jewelry box and I'll open it when I reach goal. Taking measurements is a good idea as there are times when the scale isn't moving but the body is reshaping -- watch for those pants sizes going down and don't get hung up on the scale! Best wishes to you -- I am so happy to have done this.

Sending best wishes your way, Terry -- let us know how you're doing, what the results are -- hoping just a small unfill is in your future or that there is some medication issue.

That's where my port is located as well and it took longer for that incision to heal. Best wishes to you -- surgery behind and now it all begins! Almost a year out now and I can barely recall those early weeks but I do remember how much the walking helped.