Connorsmom

I know how you feel. I was banded on 1/24/05 and have lost 31 lbs so far. I have a tiny bit of restriction (some things get stuck) but not nearly enough. I can eat pretty much anything but do stay away from bread, sandwiches, stuff like that. I do still have my sweets but I do try to make good choices. I missed my first fill due to snow but am scheduled again for 4/15!! Good luck you are doing great Lauren

The first one is the night before surgery (yuck!!) 330lbs The second is now -31lbs What a difference 31 lbs can make!! Lauren banded 1/24/05 first fill tommorrow!!

I was banded on January 24th and as of today I has lost 30.5 lbs!! Very happy and never want to see 300 again!! I feel so much better and have found this program pretty easy - I have learned to make some better choices, although I do still have some sweets here and there. I am still learning how to chew, chew, chew and trying to really avoid the pb triggers ( bread and meat). Going for first fill on Thursday and cannot wait for more pounds to melt away!!! Lauren 330/299.5/175 Dr. Bertha Banded 1/24/05

I was banded on the same day as you and lost 25 lbs the first four month. I have since gained 2 lbs!! My first fill is on the 24th of this month and I cannot wait to see the pounds drop again. 26 lbs in a month is alot of weight and your body has to catch up!! Have you had a fill yet? Be patient (but I knw how you feel) it will happen. Lauren

Agh!! I think I have gained about 3-4 lbs!! I am not filled and have some restriction (trouble with bread and meat) but other than that I can eat anything and have been doing just that. I am trying anything, good and bad for me. I know my portions are about 1/4 of what they were pre-surgery but since being on liquids for a month I feel like I am eating sooo much!! I also have not started exercising yet - I just bought a dvd yesterday to get me started. Anyone else have these problems?? I need motivation again and cannot wait for my fill!!! Lauren

Do you go by your scale or your doctors scale? Can your weight be 4-5 pounds heavier with clothes on and at night? On my 1 month appointment I was 305 in the am with no clothes on and at 2:00 pm at the doctors office the same day I was 309 with clothes on and again the same (309) when I checked at home later the same day. What is that about?? So according to his scale I have lost 21 lbs but on my scale I have lost 25lbs - which do I go by?? Lauren

what I have lost so far (25lbs)!! Since the doctor has given me the go ahead to try anything I have been doing just that - mind you I cannot eat as much as pre-surgery but I had 2 chocolate chip Cookies yesterday and a brownie bite - it tasted awesome but I felt kinda yucky afterwards. Any tips to keep this weight off or should I expect to gain a little back before first fill? Lauren

meal last night - 1 small piece of pot roast, 2 pieces of carrot and 1/2 mini potato and I was full! Chewed really well and took small bites Go back to doctor tommorow - I hope it was ok that I started to eat before seeing him! Lauren banded 1/24/05 Dr. Bertha

Hi Alex - I won't be able to make it tommorrow night - my husband works nights (he is a cop) and I don't have a sitter for Connor. Hopefully I will make the next one. Lauren

and after surgery my port was very detectable - I could feel it easily but now I cannot and am nervous. Where did it go?? I have to push kind of hard and feel around and I "think" I feel it but not sure. Lauren

I asked this question on another board and the responses I got have made me feel bad and that I have done something wrong and messed up this whole journey. I am 3.5 weeks post op - doctor wants me on anything that can go through a funnel (Soups, Jello, hummus, etc). I have been following that part and sticky to mushy foods, Protein shakes and Water. This is the problem - I have taken a few small bites of my sons meals like a tiny bite of chicken,Pasta or sausage. I have always done this to test for temperature and to see how it tastes and I have done it a few times since surgery. Have I done something really bad? I know it is considered cheating but I am concerned now that I messed up the band. The answers I got on the other board told me that I am not commited to the changes I need to make. I think that is a crappy thing to say - I have lost 23 lbs since I started this and I feel great. Am I a failure cause I sure feel crappy now! Lauren

I have not vomited and the only pain I had was on Monday when a small piece of bread that I did not chew well enough got stuck but it did go down. Alex - my doctor is Bertha too - he said no solids until week 4

I am 2-1/2 weeks post-op. At my one week follow-up doctor said I can have anything that can go through a funnel - he ok'ed hummus and oatmeal. So since then here is what I have tried: Tomato Soup butternut squash soup hummus farina oatmeal spinach dip (the one you put in the bread bowl) guacamole refried Beans pea soup (had some very soft carrots and ham but I chewed it really well) chocolate covered halva (had to have something sweet but through the rest away after a taste!) cheese chewed to mush a few goldfish crackers chewed to mush mashed potatoes polenta veggie pate I have to say that some of these items won't go through a funnel but are they still ok? Lauren Dr. Bertha 1/24/05

I was fine last week but now I am feeling hunger pangs. What can I do? I am on full liquids. Any advice? Lauren 326/318/175 Dr. Bertha 1/24/05

How can you tell if you have restriction or not. Today I had a whole serving of pureed carrot/ginger soup and was fine. I feel like I could eat anything. But after I eat or drink I am still getting that sharp pain in my left shoulder that I have to relieve with a burp. What is that? Lauren

I was banded on Monday and have been doing clears and now full liquids. How do I know when I have had enough - I don't get a full feeling yet I am not hungry - I do get nauseaous sometimes but feel better after I drink something like a Protein shake. Can too much liquid make you vomit?? I just cannot tell how big of a sip to take and when to stop drinking or does the liquid just go through. How soon can I try fat free pudding? Help - confused Lauren 326/326/175 Dr. Bertha, NJ

Hi! I was banded on Monday. I too had bad gas pains but was able to burp from the beginning. It does go away and when I drink something now I always burp after. My pain is moderate at this point and I was out and about today for a couple of hours. Still trying to figure the drinking out - afraid to drink too much because I don't want to vomit and afraid I am not drinking enough. I have been nauseous a little bit here and there. Lauren

is the big day - the beginning of my new, healthy life! I am excited and nervous - weird emotions going on but mostly excited. Wish me luck - surgery at 7:30 am Lauren 326/326/?? Dr. Bertha Morristown, nj

Well everything went fine. I had surgery at 7:30 and was walking out of the hospital at 11:30. Yikes - I have quite a bit of pain from the gas. Everytime I inhale it hurts and the incision where the band is placed is pretty sore. Any suggestions?? Thanks for all of your support everyone

and I am dying - How do I get through this day??

My little inspiration, Connor

Hi Both doctors are really nice - I am also having the band surgery on the 24th with Dr. Bertha!! Lauren

Am I being crazy?? I have been under twice before but last time I was 17 and now I am 31. I am so afraid of not waking up and everytime I think about I get sick because I imagine not seeing my son again. Please help calm my nerves - surgery is coming up fast - January 24th. Lauren Dr. Bertha 326/???

coffee?? Yes or no How do you "sip" all that Water and do you have to literally sip forever? How soon after surgery were allowed to have some water? Will I be starving during the healing stage?? I guess I am afraid I will not be able to do this, so many unknowns!! Lauren 326 1/24/05 Dr Bertha

Hi I am Lauren and I am having the lapband with Dr. Bertha on January 24th. I had the pre-op class today and was reassured as well as scared with my decision. It is weird, I am not sure how to feel at this point. I am excited to get going with this but at the same time it does not feel real. How will I deal with this drastic change in my diet and the fact that I cannot cheat! How will I feel after? I have a 14month old son and he is my motivation for this decision. I want to be the best mom I can for him. Anyway, thanks for listening. Lauren 326/326/healthy