tigers1998

Well Johnny, I was on my pre op diet during the July 4 weekend. I chose to stay in the house in my room most of the week. I unfortunately had to work that weekend. I was not very amused. I really wanted some Mutton. To top things off, I started having a issue with the drooping pants about three weeks before my surgery. The problem has gotten worse over the past weeks. Its kind of bad when you go in for lap band surgery and people think you have already had it because your clothes are that big on you. I had been on protein shakes for six weeks already...so progress was being made. Anyways, I loved your blog. It made me laugh. I look forward to reading more of your exciting moments in postbanded life.

I can imagine what the day was like at work without food. I have not returned to work yet, but I know one of the new changes I will have to make is preparing and packing food for work ahead of time. In another note, Congrats on your weight loss. I know you are excited about it.

Just a couple of statements I wanted to make. One, I really enjoy blogging. It makes me feel less alone in my journey. I am honored and humbled whenever I receive a response stating that I have made someone laugh, or smile, or feel less embarrassed about something they have done or thought. Two, I would love to have more interaction with other members. There are so many options on this site to connect with others. I'm not sure which option to choose from one moment to the next. In so many words, HELP! I am still a newbie and I would really like some friends. I want to follow the blogs of others: I follow you, you follow me and so forth. I just learned how to make a ticker the other day and I'm still working on my signature. So feel free to friend me, leave comments, show me the ropes. MOST OF ALL: If there is one thing that I wish ALL OF YOU to know it is this: No matter how you started this journey. No matter where you are on your journey. You are SUCCESSFUL because you are STRIVING to LIVE a BETTER, HEALTHIER, and hopefully HAPPIER LIFE. You are MOVING FORWARD because you are reaching out to others and utilizing the tools necessary to keep you on track and motivated. You are an INSPIRATION, because every time you post whether to ask or answer a question, to motivate or encourage, or you are simply a kind hearted hot mess such as myself (smile)...you are REINFORCING another person's resolve to keep reaching for their goals and UPLIFTING another's spirit. So please, DON'T LET A BAD DAY, A FOOD SLIP UP, THE SCALE, OR CRITICAL PEOPLE RUIN YOUR MOMENT. Whenever you feel discouraged or down, REMEMBER that YOU made the choice to LIVE. I wish you all the best and MANY DAYS OF LAUGHTER!

Okay I have figured out how to get the link to my blog now all I need are the buddies.

I am new to the site and just started a blog. The purpose of my blog is to shed light on the funny side of this lap band journey. I know I have had several comical moments so far. I also believe laughter is the best medicine. One problem, or maybe two. First, I don't know how to get the link to my blog so I can share it with others. Second, I would really like to link up with other members, read and follow their blogs. I only know how to excess the forums right now. So please drop me line, befriend me, teach me about the world of blogging and I will provide comedy relief and friendship.

The funny side us the name of my blog. I don't know how to get the URL address.

I received a card stating that I have had lapband surgery please allow me to order smaller portions and/or order from the kids menu. I honestly didn't know I needed one. But some restaurants won't allow adults to order off the kid menus.

Eight Days Out: So I was resting after taking a relaxing shower. For days, I have observed my incision sites. To some people this is just another recovery situation. For me a source of fascination since this is my first major surgery. I did not receive stitches or staples, but my incisions were secured with body glue aka Dermabond. I wasn't sure if and/or when I could put anything on my wounds. I only knew I was free to take a shower and not to rub them when I was washing or drying off. Up until last night, I just left the skin untouched. No lotion or aloe or vitamin e and etc. Just plain dry. Yesterday, my skin started peeling. Of course I did what any normal human would do, I silently freaked out. After a few minutes staring, I realized that it was the glue peeling and not me. So, I dry off, dress as usual, and go to bed. In the middle of the night, I wake up to intense itching. For a moment, I am reminded of the time when I was little, I spent the whole night scratching my belly only to look in the mirror the next morning and find what I thought to be a series of pimples or a very big mosquito bite. So as any normal child would do, I walk into my parents room and inform them that I am now an adult because I have acne on my stomach. Latter on, I find out that I actually had chicken pox but I considered it a rite of passage anyways. Or maybe, another night in my childhood, where I woke up again sure I had reached puberty this time because I have one big case of acne on my stomach. Only to later find out that it was a giant ringworm and not acne. I was a little discouraged but I survived to see another day. ( I was somehow under the assumption that you could get acne anywhere and acne meant you were grown.) So here I am at 33, pretty sure that I have passed the acne and ringworm phase, but itching all the same. So I go to my source of wisdom and superhero of all the scary moments in life, my mom, and loudly say: Either my incisions are itching or I may have another ringworm. After the stern mother look ( we all know it), She gives me aloe and vitamin E to rub on my incisions and once again saves the day. So now I have yet another experience to share with you on my Lap Band Journey. May the Aloe be with You!

My primary doctor gave me the best advice possible. I started protein shakes on May 3 2013. For two weeks, I replaced one meal a day with a protein shake. At the start of the third week, I went to two shakes a day and one meal. I had no snacks in between, just water. From May 30 to June 3 I was on vacation, so for five days, I ate whatever whenever (my last pig out session.) The surgeon and I assumed my approval letter from insurance would come in around the time I came back from vacation but things didn't work out that way. So back to the shakes twice a day until June 26. On the June 26, I went to protein shakes only every three hours ( the actual pre op two week diet). I was banded on July 10, and I seem to be recovering remarkably well so says others banded before me.

******INSTRUCTIONS POST SURGERY: 24 HOUR LIQUIDS ONLY. TWO WEEKS: SOFT FOODS ONLY. TWO WEEK FOLLOW UP. FIRST FILL IN FOUR WEEKS.******* THREE DAYS AFTER SURGERY: YES IM SO HAPPY! I FINALLY GET TO EAT FOOD! ALBEIT SOFT FOODS ONLY! Well no one warned me I may get too happy. First sign of hunger was an experience. My stomach woke me up out of a solid sleeping session. I thought maybe I was snoring until I actually heard my stomach growl. What do I have to eat is my first thought: I have apple sauce, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, orange sherbet, steamed vegetables, baked tilapia, pudding, and of course protein shakes available. I am excited: so I decide I am going to have a piece of fish, some mac and cheese, and some mashed potatoes. A few hours and much moaning later, I have learned a full meal is not going to happen FOR A WHILE. Okay so next growling session, I have mac and cheese and potatoes. A few more hours and groaning sessions later, two starches are not an option. SO, next time I have a piece of fish - only. This seems to do the trick. However, I am surprised I am hungry again three hours later. This time I have a protein shake and go to bed. Next day, I am starving again, this time I think I have it under control. I am going to eat oatmeal. So I have a pack of Maple and Brown Sugar and a pack of Apple Cinnamon. Yea, that didn't work either. Next, I try just a scoop of mashed potatoes. That seemed to work. Later I had orange sherbet popsicle and some fruit. This seems to work. So next I try the cabbage my mom cooked ( although she warned me that it would probably cause me gas). So, I get two big spoons full and some potatoes. Many hours and LOTS of moaning later, Cabbage not good and small portions only. What have I learned from all of this. One: The three big meals a day - NOT Going to happen. Two: I will be hungry more often and that is not only to be expected but its a good thing - my metabolism is working as it should. Small portions are the way to go, and each portion should not contain two of the same thing. No double portions of starches .....LOL. What am I doing now: One small portion (a small cup) of meat, one small portion of fruit, one small portion of oatmeal, one small portion of vegetable, and one small desert - spread throughout the day. For the late night URGES --- A PROTEIN SHAKE. Learn from my mistakes. Don't get super excited. It wont pay off in the end.

Well I have had years of stomach pain. I had pain every time I ate. so discomfort while eating is nothing new for me. But trust me as I stated I learned what wasn't going to be acceptable in the food department....very quickly. As to why my doctor allows me to eat soft foods now: I am really not sure. But he stated to do that after 24 hours.

I am excited for all of you. You wont regret the journey and all that you have done to get there will not be in vain. Good luck. Banded for seven days now. Ask me anything.

I guess in a way my birth defect has given me a running start to weight loss. Being that I was unable to eat these foods without pain before I had the LapBand. I would never wish the stomach issues I had on anyone, but there is a silver lining at the end of it all. I thank you for writing this post. I look forward to reading many more.

52 pounds is quite the achievement. I am so happy for you. Did the fill hurt?

Congratulations!

Seven Days Post Surgery: Burping: Such a simple body function or so it used to be. Now I find that it is one of the hardest things I have to do. Hiccups are even worse. Laughing now brings me a combination of joy and pain. It is amazing how many actions involve using your stomach muscles. Even putting lotion on my feet makes my side sore. This is all part of the process I am told. Well, I say to that: BOOOOOOOOO!!!!. However, my healing body seems not to care what I think about it. I remember watching videos of hernia repairs and lap band placements. Whenever I wonder why my stomach is sore, I am reminded of how the herniated part of my stomach was not only pulled back through that opening in my diaphragm but a band was wrapped around it as well. How the overstretched opening in my diaphragm was stitched to close the gap around my esophagus. How more stitches were placed in my abdominal wall to secure the port of the band. Yes, My poor belly has been through much and I expect it to heal over night. How dare I? LOL. So I endure the burps when they come, try to avoid hiccups as much as possible (the hiccups don't happen often), and as far as laughing goes...well some things can't be help. I have laughed and smiled my whole life. When others are asked to describe me: one of the first things mentioned is that I smile ALL THE TIME. The surgeon even mentioned this to my family after surgery: she was smiling in her sleep (happens often with pain meds). Now, that is probably something worth investigating!

FIVE DAYS OUT: LEARN FROM ME/ DON'T FOLLOW IN MY FOOTSTEPS: SO, I am five days post surgery and two days without my pain pump. I am feeling better than I have felt in years. Although sore from surgery. Per post surgery instructions, I am supposed to walk some each day. Not a long marathon, just a little walk. In other words, just like most surgeries, get up and move every so often. So I decide to get some fresh air. When I get outside, I walk a little and I look at my car. It hasn't been turned on in six days. I go to turn it on and that's when I get the worse idea possible. Let's go for a drive. Why not, I am not walking or standing, I feel good, and I have watched all the TV I can stand. That drive turns into a trip to the store and a walk around. Yea you guessed it. About halfway through, my stomach was hurting and I started to sweat. Lessoned Learned: Outside from Being Very Sore today and Now being watched by family, friends, mentors, and spies, Two weeks of rest means exactly that Two Weeks of Rest. A LITTLE BACKGROUND; This is the first major surgery I have ever had. I do not write these things for people to follow. My blog is just a journal about my learning experiences and things not to do. I am healing remarkable well and should continue doing so borrowing the fact that I make less and less mess-ups. I have had stomach pain all my life: nausea, cramps, spasms, gas, reflux....the whole gambit. My tolerance level is very high. So, I am learning what's good and what's not. Please take this column in the humor that it is intended. Oh and feel free to fuss. I probably do deserve some lecture.

Dear LBT members, Since joining this site I have received invaluable information and many words of encouragement. I have been banded for all of five days now and I have made some crazy decisions (aka mistakes). To know me is to know that this is common. I have often believed that was put on this Earth as a source of Comedy Relief and a beacon of Joy in tough times. Im cool with that. I do believe laughter is the best medicine. If you can't laugh at life than you will most likely cry through it (or some other unhappy thing.). Anyways, I have also be sadden by some of the posts I have read. It hurts me when others are hurting emotionally and physically. For the later, I can only refer you to the doctor. I don't know how to cure a lot of physical ailments. But emotionally, yea who hasn't been there. So in the spirit of concern and wanting to help, I wish to understand something. Why are there a lot of people who are discouraged when they overeat, or their not losing weight fast enough, or they still feel fat after losing so much weight? Some close to me even admit to feeling bad when they overeat. As for me, I felt pain when I overate, when I ate, and when I didn't eat for years: physical pain. I guess the emotional never needed to take root. Im usually the "oops that was not the smartest move I just made" type of person. Have I had body image issues: Yes. But I know what I want fixed is not going to happen without surgery: Im top heavy and have been so since I was eight years old. I just make peace with the issue until I can do something to change it. Im most emotionally effected when I make mistakes that affect others. Even then I used to take the path of NOT wanting to eat. This does not make the situation better...by the way. Making peace and if possible fixing what I have done is what solves the problem. That and I have a very strong spiritual belief system. (This is not everyone's choice though so moving on.) What I want to say is this: Early on I learned through trials and self inspection, that you have to love yourself where you are NOW, not focus the thing you are trying to fix, but love YOURSELF IN THE NOW!. Reflect on what it is you really want in life. I want to be healthy, I want to have a family of my own, I want a job I enjoy. I love me even through the mess ups. I share my mistakes with others, we laugh, we cry, we watch movies, we shop, whatever....No being down on yourself. Do I have moments, yes I do. THAT'S WHEN I FIGHT FOR MY JOY! You are beautiful as you are now: All you are doing is improving your health so that you can shine a lot longer. Take control of your goals, don't let your goals control you. And laugh at the boo boos. Its alright. I promise. Good things are ahead. If all else fails, you can always ask me what "brilliant idea" did I carry out today. I have most likely done something comical. LOL.. no seriously, Love yourself and keep a good support system. You will go far.

Banded: July 10 2013: I had my concerns going in. What will I be able to eat afterwards? Will I ever have to have surgery again? Will I be able to eat afterwards? How many times will I be poked with a needle? Can I have a steak, Im starving on this pre op diet? This is going to improve my health right? Will this shrink my top half? Why are my fat rolls shifting downwards as I lose weight? Can I drink milk? You know important stuff like that. *Smile* With any surgery there are risks. As long as you communicate with your doctor, stay on top of your appointments, have a good support system, and be patient, I think you will do just fine. As I have stated in all my other posts, Love yourself in the now and good things will follow. Now on to the important stuff: is there a lap band love connection site? I would be very interested.

Yea no more freedom trips for me for awhile.

Don't be so hard on yourself. You took a couple of weeks to over eat. I did so three days post op. Yes, I learned the hard way. Its a lesson I don't have to learn again. Unfortunately, my monthly is scheduled to come on in the next day or so. In my past, I am usually a bottomless pit a week before my monthly. Constantly hungry and to be honest no idea why. During my monthly, I want little to nothing to eat. What have I learned so far: it will take some time to curb your former eating habits. Good thing about having the band is that you get the indicators of wrong decisions pretty quickly. So don't be so hard on yourself. We all make mistakes. Emotionally, You have always been and will always be a beautiful spirit and a good person....that's what you should tell yourself everyday. Love you as you are now, and you will love you through the good and challenging moments later. If ever you need a good laugh, you can always ask me what genius (aka crazy) thing have I done today. Im usually good for a laugh.

On that I have readded the protein shakes to my diet. Working on other proteins to eat ---- soft food,

He did not give me a list of soft foods only that they be soft foods only. Cabbage - Very Cooked cabbage. Soupy Cabbage is what I tried. Doesn't work for me.

He definitely did not want me to exist on shakes. Soft foods.