Bandista

I hope you feel better. There are others here who have had trouble with ibuprofen. My surgeon has no prohibition on NSAIDS (others do). I have decided independently that it's not a good idea for me to take them. Let us know how you're doing! Hopefully things will calm down. Another thing that occurred to me is allergies -- sometimes when I have that going on I feel much tighter. I use warm tea a lot but have also had relief from cold -- and I suppose an ice pack on the chest area could possibly help (or is that ridiculous?). Sending best wishes!

Hi there and congratulations both of you for tomorrow. It's so natural to be nervous and I think the pre-op diet adds to that. I had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before and it was all so much better than I imagined. Be sure to take a sense of humor -- the gown and booties, paperwork, being rolled around on a gurney, etc. I'm a tea drinker and also stayed overnight, so I was glad for the tea bags I brought. Walking cannot be overemphasized -- the more you walk afterwards the better you'll feel. Every time I had to pee (or felt like it) I walked up and down the hallways then once home around the driving circle. I started with one lap and got up to thirty. I was over the moon with excitement -- so happy to be choosing myself and my health -- and I think that got me through the discomfort. Keep taking deep breaths and enjoy the ride!

My family likes to steer me toward what they want to eat because they know they are going to be getting plenty of whatever it is I do finally order. Lately I've been partial to crab cakes, usually in the form of an appetizer. Yummy! I'm going to learn to make salmon cakes with no breading. Oh, and last night we were at a birthday party. Gluten-free chocolate cake made with Quinoa. I had the teeniest bite just to try it (great to be able to resist if I'm not really hungry!) and it was delicious. If I had been hungry I would have had more. Quinoa has a lot of Protein and for chocolate lovers this could be an amazing thing. Steevia, chocolate, quinoa.....oh my.

These videos really helped me understand about the esophageal signals to the brain through -- the squeezes. I sort of picture that now when I'm eating and that helps me "listen" in to my body. And also I find I am chewing and savoring a lot longer in my mouth and I know that this is an important part of digestive health that I've probably been missing since I was such a fast eater there was never time for anything to mix with saliva. And TMF I just want to echo what others have said -- I'm so glad you're here!

You'll be snuggling again in no time.....just be careful picking her up as you have stitches and don't want to prolong recovery. Glad to hear you are doing well!

@@pdb45214 you will be making up for it a month or two from now. I can't believe how much energy I have as a result of losing bulk but also not overeating any longer. There's an efficiency that my body hasn't experienced in decades. It's great and you'll get there once your body has adjusted to everything. Congratulations on being banded and through the initial days following surgery. Happy napping -- summer vacation?

For me it was good that it took me some time to "get there" because I had such a learning curve in terms of slowing down my eating and not keeping going, etc., etc. I had my first fill at a month out and then regular visits for small fills. Every surgeon has their own way of going about this. Some people have primed bands at the time of surgery. I was glad I started with nothing and took it slowly so I could really learn to read all the signals. I feel so in sync with my body now. And having a dimmed appetite is a wonderful thing. I love my band and have loved these last eight months even with the requisite ups and downs, stuck episodes, etc. Best wishes to you!

Yippee! So happy for you. You are doing beautifully! We have very similar stats. I am a November 5th bander so almost October and we started at the same weight, etc. Band sisters!

Hi Sandy, I'm glad you're sorting this out so you are able to have optimal health and energy, etc. I'm not familiar with thyroid issues but just wanted to offer support to such an amazing person. I always love reading your posts. You're doing beautifully.

Hi there, the window of opportunity is wide open and you're going to soar right through it! I'm very sorry about the death of your father. So many if us used food as a coping strategy and the funny thing is it doesn't even really work. I benefitted from seeing a therapist and we broke down all the triggers, the ways I used food to quell anxiety, etc. It was tedious but I'm glad I kept at it as now I am not fooling myself about any of those old habits. It feels so good to have a healthy relationship with food now. You are getting yourself on track -- here you are. See that surgeon and don't stop until you are where you need to be. Best wishes -- put yourself first.

@@Lite'N'Sweet: CONGRATULATIONS! So happy for you......you are going to do beautifully. You have such a great attitude. Hope you're able to take it easy this weekend. I found the walking really helped so much. I liked my Popsicles a lot and I am a tea drinker so I pounded that down. I had a heating pad, too, and used ice a few times on the largest incision where the port is. Like others I filled a prescription and never opened it. I am glad I didn't use it because as it was I got very constipated and finally had to take something day four or five. Even with the discomfort post-surgery and hen the learning curve I have loved every single minute of being banded. I am just so happy. The weight loss is great of course but it's more than that. It's the strength I feel having defeated the appetite monster and the reclaiming of my life. It was so powerful to show up for myself in this way. Be proud of yourself because you are amazing and you've given yourself this gift of a healthy future. Way to go! And have fun with that baby, lucky lucky. Mine is all grown up!

Wow, way to go -- you look amazing! So happy for you!

You are glowing with health and happiness -- thanks so much for the boost this morning. Staying the course for sure. Best wishes!

I had trouble with shakes post-op and still do if I try one in the morning or after a fill, etc. We are all so different but then we find these things in common. When it was time for me to have full liquids I did fine with potato leek soup but not a protein shake. This is such an individualized experience. You will find your way at your pace, and that will have a lot to do with the noticing that you're doing now. It's all about the esophagus squeezing and sending signals to the brain. With the band, we slow down and let that happen, then miraculously we find satiety. Okay, not a Miracle but science and to me it is amazing. You are doing beautifully and you will get this! It takes a bit of time so just work with your doctor, keep on it and you will go through the stages and find your green zone. It's an amazing thing to have the appetite shut down and to be able to make good choices. Listen to your body.

@@bulawookie you have so got this -- hard at the beginning when appetite is not dimmed yet, so much behavior modification, etc., but then all of use sudden it's like the stars have all lined up. This is what is happening to you right now. And way to go on the exercise, wow!

My surgery last November was life-changing. I started my research just over a year ago and was banded November 5th. I'm now eight months into my new life and I'm so happy with the choice I made. In choosing weight loss surgery I was really choosing myself. While I knew that getting a band would help me lose the extra weight I have battled for so many years, I wasn't really prepared for just how powerful I'd feel as a result of making this decision. I have shown up for myself and my healthy future. I chose me, and my self-esteem has skyrocketed. This morning I was at 191. It feels great to be in "Onederland" and now I am looking forward to seeing the eighties soon. I always believed that the closer to goal the more difficult it is to lose weight. I'm thinking of throwing that idea out the window along with some others that I've already let go of -- for example I no longer believe in my body going into starvation mode. I also don't think anymore that I "should eat" if it's been a while but I'm not hungry. Let's face it, I have all this fat stored in case food supplies run short. Now that I'm banded, I'm having way less food and guess what? My body is releasing the fat. I also no longer believe that being a fifty-something female is a deterrent to weight loss. It's coming off fine. When I set out to do this, I gave myself a year. Not a year to get to my goal (100 pounds off which would put me around 150, which I think might be the right place), but a year to change my lifestyle. It turns out this did not take nearly that long. I feel like my body understands what's going on and that the new behaviors have integrated now. Because we are all different, we each have to find out what is ideal for our particular body and that can take some time. I'm glad I was able to be patient as I did not reach the green zone until I had seven fills. These were small frequent fills -- and doctors really vary on their approaches -- but for me it took about 4-5 months to reach the green zone. What has worked for me (and there are many, many approaches!): I eat when I'm hungry but I don't eat if I'm not hungry. It turns out that because I spent so many years depriving myself of food, eating when hungry is the hardest for me of the two. Now I welcome a sign of appetite and I think carefully about what would be good for me to have. I am not on a diet. I stop eating when I get the signal that I've had enough. I was a grazer and I have to be careful not to fall back into that habit. When I've finished, I've finished. I glance at the clock and mentally calculate 4-5 hours for the next time that I may need to check in with myself to see if I have an appetite. I don't eat in the morning because I'm not hungry yet. Sometimes it's eleven o'clock or noon, but I have even waited until afternoon. My body tells me when it's time for food and I know that it's nearly always Protein I need first. I don't worry about grams of protein per day or counting calories. I enjoy a Protein shake once in a while as a treat but I don't rely on them because of the slider effect. I don't end up feeling sustained on a protein shake and I know I need real food well-chewed in order for my band to work. I'm pretty sure exercise is the magic ingredient to success. I walk every day that I can, and I work out in our basement. If any one had told me a year ago that I would be doing everything I'm doing -- and enjoying it -- I would not have believed them. That's it! Here's to being patient with ourselves and figuring out what works for us individually.

Choosing to have weight loss surgery was incredibly empowering for me -- I showed up for myself and my healthy future and I haven't looked back since. It has been a very exciting process. Be prepared for a lot of appointments and hoops galore, but it's all worth it. I started my research in June of 2013 and had surgery in November. Those months of reading posts, asking questions and sorting through which information was applicable to me or resonated for my situation, etc., is what gave me the confidence to go forward into the unknown. I got way more information here than I did through my hospital. Even though I love my surgeon and they have been great, this is the place where I can get my questions answered. Welcome aboard!

Hi there, you are in what is referred to as "Bandster Hell." It's the time when you've gotten your band but still going through the phases. Once you are at the right adjustment you will have the appetite monster off of your back and it will be so much easier. Many of us will say that it was good that it took the time it took because of the necessary behavior modification. The learning curve. If we could have been successful with diet and exercise, why would we have gotten weight loss surgery? The band is about dimming the appetite but it's a process to get there. Meanwhile it's really important to eat real food and focus on the Protein first then the veggies, no sliders. Good luck to you -- you will get this! It's a frustrating time.

Way to go -- so happy for you! I love my band, too -- these last eight months have been amazing and I am truly grateful.

I had the feeling of fullness for quite a while following surgery and even thought maybe I'd never need a fill because this went on for a while. When I told my surgeon this at my one-week followup appointment he thought that was pretty funny. By the time I had my four-week appointment I my appetite had returned and I was ready for my first fill, and now I've had six more small ones. For me those early days were a taste of what it's like to be in the green zone. But even before the green zone, I still couldn't drink a Protein shake in the morning. That "full liquid" feeling is just too thick for me -- easier to have food but since I'm not hungry in the morning I just wait until later. The Protein shakes I had for pre-op just didn't work for post-op -- so much for that investment! My surgeon had no protein goals for me following surgery, just to stay hydrated. I loved my popsicles (a quarter or a third at most and I was done) and also warm tea. Good luck to you and congratulations on getting your band.

Don't worry about these ups and downs post-surgery -- perfectly normal! There's so much inflammation and retention then release, etc. Follow the plan and you will do beautifully. And congratulations -- very exciting to be on the other side and beginning this new chapter in your life. Here's to health!

I started walking in the hospital and didn't stop......congratulations on your surgery and welcome to banded life. Exciting times!

I think most if not all of us worried that we would be the one person who couldn't do it, that it wouldn't work, etc., etc. It's very natural to have pre-op jitters. Add to that the pre-op diet and many emotions can come up. I worked with a therapist to help sort out the various triggers. We really broke down the specific behaviors. It was tedious but I'm glad I did that. There are still certain situations that make me turn to food and I have to remind myself, "oh, I don't do that anymore." And I can do that because my appetite has been dimmed and I don't have that monster on my back now. Best wishes to you!

Congratulations on getting your date and on all that is to come! I thought it would be harder than it is -- perhaps because I worked so hard (to no avail) to lose weight for so many years. Diet after diet. You know the drill. I was willing to work very hard and thought I would be doing that with the band. I am pleasantly surprised that this is a very happy and easy lifestyle for me. I am not on a diet. I am satisfied with small meals at the right intervals. I don't feel deprived -- I feel happy and satisfied. This seems like some kind of miracle after all the years of fighting my appetite. The band has to be at the right adjustment for this to happen, of course, and that takes time. I had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before (and I'm 52) and the surgery was so much easier than I thought it would be. I went to all of my follow-up appointments and was also surprised at how easy that was. I was glad to touch base with my doctor even if I didn't need a fill at that particular visit. I recommend a good sense of humor. In getting a band I was giving myself a gift and choosing myself first. I have been excited throughout this process of reclaiming my old body and getting healthy again. It's a wonderful thing.

As you can see, you are far from alone! I had such a difficult time slowing down. In the beginning I practiced some with the clock and the hardest part for me was putting the utensil down between bites. I didn't want to let go of my little spoon or shrimp fork -- clinging to it! So funny. Anyway, I really worked on that and now I put down the utensil as a matter of course, pick it up empty, load it and put it down then finally pick it up and have my bite, then put it down, etc. It's kind of a game with me and it draws out the time between bites. I used a minute to practice and that was a long time. Now that the new habits are integrated into my life (and this took a while, I'll tell you!), I can just feel when I should have another bite, when I should wait a little longer and -- most important of all -- when I should stop completely. I also chew a lot -- keep the food in my mouth a long time which is great because it tastes so good. Think of all those years bolting my food I didn't get to savor it like I do now! Also, and this is a little weird so forgive me, if I find I have that bite of food in my mouth for a really long time and I am resisting swallowing it and sort of playing with it and feeling kind of bored, this tells me I really am done. I have even spit food out for this reason. Good luck -- you will get this!