nymoosic

My hubby sauteed some scallops in wine, garlic, and a little butter. Nothing had ever tasted that good!!!!!!!!!!

I don't feel the band at all, but I can feel the port very easily.

I'm spending the money on jewelry because I have to buy clothes that fit. I don't have to buy jewelry.

When I get to goal I am having a piece of custom jewelry made. The necklace pendant will be in an "O" shape to symbolize the band and made of white gold. It will also symbolize the fact that this is an eternal battle and one that will not stop. On one side will be engraved my old size and weight and on the new side will be my goal size and weight. The "new me" side will be accented with a sapphire (my birthstone) to symbolize my re-birth. It will probably cost a pretty penny, but I can't wait to wear it around my skinny little neck!!!!

I am 5 weeks out and I'm still in agony near my port site. Went back to the surgeon yesterday and found out the reason - spasms in an ab muscle. He said he could feel it. I was told to take it easy and use warm things (baths, heating pads) to keep it pliable and do some stretching. I have screamed in pain out of the blue from this. The MOST painful thing I've ever experienced. I have stopped walking completely until things get better. I have also worn new jeans (two sizes smaller than my biggest ones!) and bent over in them only to scream once again. Loose clothes just work better with me right now. Don't be afraid to ask your doc for suggestions on how to make your pain better...It will improve I've heard. :smile:

Did anyone else wait 8 weeks for their first fill? I'm having a hard time doing this! I want to eat the entire kitchen....How am I going to make it another four weeks without gaining back the weight I've already lost? I am so frustrated!!!!

I'm five weeks post-op and still feel the strain and pulling in my abs whenever I lift something over 10 pounds. I would suggest taking at least two weeks and then decide if you need more. No sense rushing it if you have the time to take off. If you rush it, you may spend more time recovering in the end. Good luck.

I live in Schenectady.

Read, read, read....and do a lot of thinking. I originally researched bypass and in realizing it wasn't for me, found banding. It's a personal choice. I like to make pros and cons lists when making big decisions. My cons list was very short compared to the pros. Good luck in your journey!

My surgery used robotic instruments. I'm curious if anyone else had their surgery done this way, and if they had any problems with gas. I had no gas pains at all and was super surprised by that fabulous side effect!!! I do however still have serious abdominal pains near some of my incisions. Does anyone suffer from intense pain even five weeks post-op?

I've always loved big salads with tons of stuff, so I was not surprised at my first post-op meeting with my nutritionist when I said, "My God, when can I have a salad?" I'm not sure if it was the food I wanted or just the crunch/chewing. Also, I did notice my carb-addict self was not as crazed as before. I think all the Protein changes what your body wants. Enjoy the change!!!

I love how more than 30 people have viewed this, but no one has responded. You want us to tell you to go ahead and try mushies, but no one will tell you that. Speaking as someone who broke the rules and DID advance to the next eating stage and did fine, everyone will tell you to stick to what your doctor told you to do. I didn't, however, and did fine. I guess I'm one of the rebels of this board. I was banded over Christmas and New Year's and broth and water was just not doing it for me. There are people who have broken the rules and did fine (me, for example) and then there are people who have gone too fast and wound up in the ER. We can't tell you what to do...

Please help. I am 4-1/2 weeks post-op and every time I roll over in bed I am still in excruciating pain. (I finally started sleeping in bed this week. I was in the recliner for 3-1/2 weeks.) This cannot be normal, can it? I feel the same pain when I bend or twist the wrong way. Should I call the surgeon?

Thank you all so much for your responses. Sometimes you feel like you're the only one with a problem and then you hear from people all over the country who are having the same issues. I am so thankful for all of you. I will call the doc on Tuesday just to be safe.

You all are very fortunate. I am still in considerable pain at my port site. Nothing more than walking for me or I'm in tears. I'm getting very frustrated.

Once I lost my 10 percent and had the surgery scheduled I spent the last four nights before surgery having four "last suppers." I gained back 5 pounds but it was totally worth it!!! I'll never eat like that again...thank God.

I don't know if this will help you, but I still get that deep, tearing pain when I move the wrong way and I'm 4-1/2 weeks out. I still can't roll over in bed because it's so uncomfortable. I also had my gallbladder out before this and know what surgical pain is like. But, I'm even wondering if it should be like this at this stage. "I feel your pain!" Good luck.

I'm a Virgo and I healed really quickly (other than the port being sore) and have had decent weight loss so far. I do not have many ailments...I did this to prevent all the things that my parents have. Hopefully I will. Good luck!

She said the liquid was not available. I was just telling her what worked for me.

Great question. I'll be a month out from surgery tomorrow. I did not stick with the liquid diet for two weeks. I modified it because I was starving. So I added soups, puddings, yogurts, and cream of wheat from day 5 on...I started real food (minus breads and red meats) on day 13. I did not want to starve myself. I did not want to shock my body. I lost 9 pounds in the first two weeks and have lost four more for a total of 13 pounds in the first month. I am VERY happy with this. I do not feel deprived nor have I changed the way I eat drastically. I have never had a protein shake nor do I intend to ever let one touch my lips. I eat my protein first, I don't drink with meals and I have a little restriction even though I don't have anything in my band yet (not until Feb. 19!!!). I look forward to many more months of the same kind of weight loss. I can do this...no problem! All the best to you!

My surgeon never required me to crush meds...even in the hospital. Just take regular Tylenol. You'll be fine.

But, the point is that just having it there on the table is a temptation I'd rather not have there. I understand they're doing their job but it is frustrating and I've only been out to eat once since surgery! :welldoneclap:

Hmmm....I had my first cookie yesterday...okay, I had about 3 in a moment of weakness. I, too, was exhausted after that!!! Does anyone know if this is a common post-op thing? Getting tired after carbs? (I'm 3-1/2 weeks out.)

Just had a salad today - no problems. Obviously you need some sort of protein on it.

I am 3-1/2 weeks out and my ab muscles are still sore from where the port was stitched in. Bending over for me is sometimes very painful. I guess it takes time.