daisydoodle

I waited about 10 days.....that's just me. Plus AF came to visit the week after my surgery....so as soon as she was gone I was back in action. Nothing acrobatic, but got the itch scratched. My doc said I could do whatever I wanted unless it hurt, and then stop if it did. No strict orders.... Have fun!!

I might become a saline junkie, who knows?

I went to another message board that I am on and someone told me (she says she's a bandster RN) that the first 3.5cc in the VG band stay in the tubing and it isn't until after that the inflation actually begins. She says that's why they are starting with 4cc in the first fill. I can't wait to ask my doc about this. I've had three fills and I'm only at 4.6cc. My body keeps tempting me to revert to my preband eating habits. Without restriction this is a huge battle. I read about others on the board that say they can't eat certain foods and others are really hard to go down. That's completely foreign to me. No PB's here. Just my head telling me, "you better quit eating because (the person I'm eating with) knows you had this surgery." Isn't that the pitts? Back to my doc on Thursday.....Fill 'er up!!!!!

I'm starting to get a little frustrated. I got the big VG band. (My doc says that he prefers this because it has chambers and not one large balloon and it should be less likely to cause erosion.) Anyway, I'm going in for ANOTHER fill because I still can eat like a "healthy girl", know what I mean? I had a cheeseburger, fries, and a piece of peach pie for lunch today! I know that this was a poor choice for me, and I don't eat like this all the time.....but you'd think that this would have been a difficult meal for me to polish off! I was comfortably satisfied afterwards. Somebody please tell me that restriction is around the corner!!

Yes, you are normal...I wondered the same thing. My doc told me that sometimes we will "spit" some of our stitches out. He just clipped them close enough to where they wouldn't catch on my clothing. I can't even remember what happened to them after that. They just went away. Good Luck!

JMHO....Just my humble opinion IMHO....In my "" OT....Off topic PCP...Primary Care Physician Hope this helps!

Because I spontaneously whacked all of my hair off too! I haven't had a change this drastic since 2nd grade. The jury's still out on if I'll keep it like this. Part of me still enjoys holding onto my youth through my longer hair.....but maybe it's time to grow up and be a big girl. What do you think? ---I apologize in advance for not knowing how to shrink this.

Way to go bandsister! I'm so proud of you!!! What another great opportunity for you daughter too!

When I was about 5, my parents left me with my grandparents for the day while they went out looking at property to buy for a lakehouse. When they returned that evening and were discussing the "signing of the papers" and all that mumbo jumbo, I kept blurting out "How MANY did you buy? How MANY did you buy?" Finally, I got my mother's attention and she said, "We just got one." I remember being so disgusted and saying, "But Mama, you said that y'all were gonna buy A LOT."

Today when I went in for a fill, (I arrived a few minutes early) I was flipping through a magazine in the waiting area and looked up to take a glance out the window. (My doc's office has a huge window with a beautiful garden courtyard in the center of the building.) You'll never guess what I saw in the pretty flower garden! It was noone other than MY SURGEON dragging a hose around spraying a litttle Water here and there giving all of the pretty flowers a drink! He was wearing his scrubs and a big grin. I got a kick out of this! I mean, of course couldn't he PAY someone to do this???? They called my name to go back just shortly after and I HAD to ask the nurse about it. She told me that my surgeon's wife had planted all of those flowers and that nothing pleased him more than to look after them. He uses it as a "de-stresser" in between patients. Of course, I love my wonderful husband. But in another life, I think I could have loved my surgeon too! Just had to share!

Meet The Barkers.....just to see how he keeps his pants up.

You are an inspiration to us all!

Yes, I'm one of those that has the big whopper Vanguard bands. My third fill put me up to 4.6cc. I hope this does the trick. I've only lost 1 lb in the last 6 weeks! My doc originally wanted to fill me to 5. cc but he is going out of town for a week and didn't want to risk me being miserable while he was away. He is very conservative, but I completely respect him and have complete confidence in him. Please let me hear from someone else that was on a VERY slow journey to restriction and now is happy with their progress. Most of my weight came off the first month. Since then it's been really S-L-O-W.

My heart breaks for you. I know all too well how deep and real the pain that you are feeling really is. Please take comfort in your wonderful memories and all the joy that filled the days that you and your baby shared. You will never get over it....but time does eventually soothe this ache. My sincerest thoughts are with you.

DeLarla... Remember when we met in LV and I told you that my hubby just had a vas reversal? Well, last week his doc gave us the news that he is "fully loaded and ready to go." Now I'd REALLY like to lose at least 20 more lbs before I got prego, but my obgyn said that I was in pretty decent shape now. The 25 that I have lost makes a big difference. I guess what I am saying is---we are officially trying starting this month. So keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted. I'd love to start a thread as my journal through banded pregnancy. Auntie DeLarla....

michelle....love, love, love the 'do!

Penni.....Can you pretty please help me scale my pic down some....I don't like being blown up SOOOO BIG! Thanks

I just love this picture of us. It brings back great memories. (Notice how I am stategically hiding my big old hips behind the tree branch!)

Do a search on here and you will get alot of info from Brandy that was banded and had a BEAUTIFUL baby. Like you, I was worried about having a "band baby" but both of my docs (band surgeon and obgyn) have assured me that pregnancy post-band surgery is a not a bad thing. It actually makes for a healthier pregnancy than being MO and PG! Good Luck!

I got the light vienna sausages and squished them up with a fork. I thought I had died and gone to heaven after two weeks of liquid mush. Now, it doesn't sound so good. Good Luck!

Try Walk Away The Pounds. It's easy....especially for beginners. I have it somewhere at home...haven't used it in a while....BUT MAYBE I WILL SOON!

I was so scared I was going to be some kind of freak of nature that wouldn't fit into social situations that involved food. NOT THE CASE! People that don't know I'm banded haven't suspected a thing. They just think that I am cutting back on my food intake~ hence my weightloss. The only trick you have to disguise is NO MORE DRINKING WITH FOOD! I just order Water and sip on it until my food arrives....after that, I just don't drink anymore. No one notices anything. If I'm going to have a cocktail or glass a wine, I order it before my meal....sip on it until my food arrives and everything is normal. This was a big concern for me. I appreciate your anxiety. I can only tell you that this has been a fairly easy transition for me and I don't regret it one bit!

I was a lower BMI and I have the "BIGGIE" size Vanguard band also. My doc likes it better because it gives him more wiggle-room so to speak. I will tell you that it has taken me a lot longer to feel the restriction that everyone desires and talks about so much. The good news is that this has been a very easy transition for me. I don't feel socially awkward, I can eat just about any kind of food. I just eat less of it. That will probably change as I get tighter though. Although my loss has been a bit slower than I had hoped, it has been everything I expected. Good Luck to you....keep us updated.

20lbs by Labor Day is my goal. I go in for my 3rd fill next week and I'm hoping it will be the one that actually gets me to real restriction. Ohhhh....to be 175lbs. I can't begin to tell you all the clothes in my closet that would fit me that don't right now. It would be like inheriting a whole new wardrobe. Keep me in line....PLEASE!

Lots of surgeons, like mine, hold seminars or open classes discussing the procedure. This is a great time to ask questions and find out what steps to take next. It wouldn't hurt to ask you family doc. Sometimes though, they aren't up to date on this type of surgery. I ended up being the one that educate my PCP and brought all info in for him to learn about the Lapband. On the other hand, if your doc is familiar with it, and you trust and respect him/her, it might be nice to ask what surgeon they would recommend. Good LUCK!