Bandista

@@☠carolinagirl☠ thank you! And you're right -- no crummy day for me. I'm going to kick up my heels and just be glad I didn't read any if that negative crap when I was on the forum doing my research. You, Jim, Missy, Catfish, TMF -- lots and lots of others. How could I have been so lucky? Well, I AM lucky. Lucky to have my band and lucky to have my life back. Probably also lucky we don't have TV here, since I seem to get riled up over that kind of thing.

@@zoeiyla hi there, I was banded November 5th last year -- so incredibly happy with my life now! And I definitely recall the excitement and nervousness leading up to the big day. I had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before and I'm 53. It was all so much easier than I thought it would be. I am a person who hates to go to the dentist even just to get a checkup. I'd rather have laparoscopic surgery than a dental procedure anytime. For me the recovery was not bad but you will definitely not wanting to be lifting a six-month old as you'll have stitches inside and the abdomen is tender those first few days. I found walking really helped with everything. If somebody can get her in and out if the carriage you may have your new favorite walking partner. Check in with your surgeon on how long before lifting is recommended. Hard to put yourself first with a baby but you'll need to baby yourself for a few days. What nice timing for you to be having your surgery post-partum. I wish I had done that -- mine is 19 now! Good luck with all -- glad you're here.

Thanks for starting this thread -- I came back here after the Rosie thread which left me so disheartened. I need to be with band-positive people. Instead of getting a lift here today I feel sort of crummy now. The good news: I already had an aggressive one-hour walk around a beautiful lake early this morning and I am not responding to my feelings with food. I'm here instead. Have a great day every one, and yes, I love my foreign object.

I expect that kind of comment from Rosie O'Donnell but I don't expect to feel berated here for choosing one surgery over another. This is where I come to feel better, usually by trying to make others feel better. If people sound defensive perhaps it's because we keep having to defend a basic medical procedure. I did my research, I chose what was right for ME. Not any one else, just me. Why not support me on my weight loss journey? Are there people who want me to fail because I elected a different avenue? We are on the same path of wellness. Be supportive, PLEASE. It's the Star Belly Sneeches all over again. Now, what I thought I'd be writing before I read all those comments -- great piece, Alex, and thanks for all you do for the WLS community through this site.

@@JazzyJeff so irritating about the number of hoops and the fees, etc. but you are getting there! The surgery I would do again anytime but all the crap leading up to it, ugh. Still, in retrospect I probably needed that time as I was on here reading a zillion posts and just getting myself ready, it's a really exciting time but it can be a little frustrating. Patience, grasshopper! And congratulations on choosing yourself and your healthy future....you're going to look back and barely remember this part because you'll be on your way to strength and vitality, a healthy body.

My mother is old now so I cut her a lot of slack, but boy oh boy it's pretty interesting to step back and look at the situation. She handed me every single damn diet book on the market and she will not stop talking about whatever diet craze she's on and how this is IT. The key to the whole thing, etc. But she has not noticed that I have gone from a size 18 to a size 10 jeans, and 1-2X tops down to mediums and larges. I think she is just too self-absorbed or that she cannot see me. The real me. Also I am so much more powerful now -- outspoken, truth-telling rather than keeping quiet. That's probably a little scary for her. I'm sure glad I never considered telling her about my decision to get a band. On the subject changing, I do that, too. Great strategy! I have a little line-up of topics. How 'bout those Red Sox, lol. Good luck to you -- enjoy the perspective and know that you are what matters. You're doing this for you.

I'm coming up on a year of happiness with my band -- I am thrilled to rediscover myself. The vitality effects every part of my life. Like others, I try to just skip over negative posts. There are people with axes to grind and people who chose a different WLS surgery who chime in about the band as though they know what they're talking about. I find I can't read comments in other places, like NYT on-line, etc. because I start to get disgusted by humanity, but all in all I'd say we have a pretty good group. There's part of me that wishes we were still LB Talk but this is still such a great place to find support (thank you all by the way). Now if I read "foreign object" it makes me guffaw. Humor has always worked for me.

@@blacktxbelle so happy for you! I can really identify with what you say about finding the new normals and how the thought processes are changing. It's amazing. I am so much happier now that I'm at peace with food. That constant chatter was taking up a lot of unnecessary space in my life.

Before being banded I could not resist -- I felt powerless. Now I can, most of the time. It's amazing, this thing! And for me it's better to go ahead and have a little of whatever it is than to deny myself. The miracle is that a little will do it. I was a "finisher" before.

Yippee! So happy for you -- one year out looking and feeling great!

Hi Louise, whenever the scale isn't moving I find my jeans are fitting differently -- you are doing great, just keep on keeping on.....and so glad you're seeing the surgeon to find out what's up with the fills. I am one who needed several small fills to get to my green zone. Best wishes for a great autumn!

@@rkidd10129 some days I can honk on a bottle of cold "juice water" (I make up bottles of water we a splash of cranberry and aloe) and others I can't.....congratulations on your surgery and starting with fills. It took me several but it was good for me to have the steppingstone approach so I could work on slowing down and paying attention. You are on your way -- enjoy the ride!

@@sbrown1 hi there and congratulations on your surgery. For me that discomfort went away a little more each day and I'm pretty sure it was the walking that helped most. I also had the feeling of fullness which I think is inflammation from the surgery. Just as my hunger returned it was time for a followup visit with the surgeon and I got my first fill. Tat was a month out but we are all different. These early weeks are a great time to be practicing tuning into your body, really listening for signals. As for liquids, obviously you don't want to get dehydrated. I didn't force anything -- just sipped my tea. Oh, and I enjoyed Popsicles during this time but a half a one would do it for me. Best wishes - glad you're here on the forum!

Just chiming in to send best wishes your way. Pat yourself on the back -- gently! -- for everything you are doing to address your health issues. Tell yourself how amazing you are. You ARE! Choosing weight loss surgery is choosing yourself and your healthy future first -- that is an amazing accomplishment in itself. The pre-op process can be so stressful, and for those of us who are stress eaters that can be a particularly difficult time. And as others have said, if we could lose weight through dieting why would we elect surgery? Duh! You are strong and you are on your way. Just keep reminding yourself of that. I am a big believer in positive self-talk these days. For me weight loss surgery stopped the constant chatter in my head about food and for whatever reason now I am able to walk away from whatever it is, or have a tiny amount (versus being a "finisher" or the old, "I screwed up so I may as well go all the way"). Good luck with the process -- and so glad you're here on the forum.

Best wishes to you -- let yourself really heal. Inflammation is inflammation and that definitely effects my band. Be gentle with yourself -- you're taking good care. Keep tuning in and tap those medical professionals as often as you need them.

We are all so different and then our surgeons have different methods -- for me (only me) it takes about a week post-fill to know where I am. Good luck to you -- way to go with the really listening into the body. That's what it's all about.

My money is on the recent laparoscopic procedure but you should check with your surgeon. So glad you got out of the red zone, yikes. Keep tuning into your body so you can report fully and also have a feeling of what's going on yourself. Listen to that.

I count off on my fingers after a "meal" and check the clock -- one, two, three, four hours. So if I finish at noon I should not be looking for food again until 4:00 or 5:00. I wonder how on earth I'll ever make it, lol, then I mostly go right though without even realizing it. I still graze but I try not to......that's an evening problem for me.

Hi there, I had to do a lot of behavior modification as I ate so fast. And, yes, I still do eat too quickly sometimes, but now I get the feeling -- the indication that not all is well -- ahead of time and I stop. That part was hard for me as my instinct was to have just one or two bites more then stop. Um, no. I think you're doing great -- so happy for you! It takes a little time to find the groove but that's what it's all about.

I remember all that build-up and excitement, nerves, etc. I had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before (and I'm 53!) -- it was all so much easier than I thought it would be. Maybe because we are choosing it so it's not like being injured or I'll. I looked at it as a gift if was giving myself. Best thing I brought to the surgery was my sense of humor. Now I'm grinning all day because I'm just so happy -- weight loss is great but the getting out of food jail part has been huge for me. Good luck to all!

Way to go getting through -- and it sounds like your body is detoxing. Maybe more water to help flush out your system and reduce any lactic acid build-up, etc? Best wishes to you....exciting times!

@@endzone big day! Take it easy and have a good recovery time. The walking really helped me so much. Whenever I got up for anything I'd walk, walk, walk -- I think it kicked my body into healing mode and helped relieve any trapped gas. I still got the dreaded left shoulder pain -- think that was day four -- but a heating pad really helped with that. All in all I was so elated and just so happy to be banded. I didn't take my prescription medication but got very constipated -- that's something to stay on top of and I'm surprised it isn't addressed more in post-op instructions, etc.

I love my big 32oz jars if water mixed with a splash of cranberry and aloe -- and I can guzzle it right down, just after surgery I think I was not able to drink as fast but as I healed up I could go right back to drinking as pre-surgery. Best wishes to you and congratulations on everything!

I don't use any artificial sweeteners and believe they are poison. Stevia is getting a lot of attention -- it's a plant and I'd rather get my food from a garden than a lab any day. It's a shame that 100% stevia is a little more difficult to find -- have to check labels very carefully. Even Coca-Cola sees the handwriting on the wall. They are partners in Tru-Via (probably spelling that wrong.....).

Follow your doctor's post-op instructions -- don't put yourself or your band in harm's way! I don't know what else to say.