Mrs SmartyPants

Both prozac and percocet are available in liquid form - if your pharmacy doesn't carry them, just ask them to special order them for you - or see if your hospital has an outpatient pharmacy.

I was out for 2 weeks - and even with that, I was a little out of it my first week back.

I think it depends on the surgeon/psych, etc what the visit is like. At my doc's office, my first visit was a few hours long and included a visit with the surgeon, a visit with the nutrionist, a visit with the psych. MY psych eval was mostly about WHY I want to lose weight and what my 'expectations' were for the band. I don't think there's a right/wrong answer for the type of questions they ask, since they're all subjective. Good luck ! :welldoneclap:

GIRLLLLLL .. you're doing fine !! I don't consider those "slips" .. I consider them "living". Look at it this way .. "skinny" folks eat cake, M&M's, McDonalds, etc - they just do it in moderation. This band is for LIFE ... do you really expect to not have a slice of birthday cake EVER again ? I think that's a bit unrealistic and almost like you're setting yourself up. Having a slice of birthday cake at a birthday party = living. Having an entire cake while sitting on your couch = slipping.

If you're allowed - I have one "pre-made" sugar free Jello pudding cup with a dollop of sugar free cool whip every night for desert .. and it's REALLY good. It totally satisfies my sweet tooth - AND it's like 65 calories all together :welldoneclap:

I agree with you to an extent. I know *FOR ME* that I got fat not only eating the wrong things .. but also TOO MUCH of the wrong things. (coupled with lack of exercise = fat me) I was very honest with my PCP, my surgeon, my nutritionist, the psychiatrist (that I continue to see on my own) and myself. I know that diets have failed me in the past - so I refused to go into this with a "diet" mentality. I *WILL* eat what I want - just in moderation. I have chosen to use my band to help me live "inclusively" with the "eating" world around me - instead of worrying about what I can/can not have. NOW - that does NOT mean that I'm having McDonald's for every meal (like I used to) - or even that I'm having 3 burgers in a sitting (like I used to) ... but it does mean that the day that I wanted a burger - I went and got one. JUST ONE. By doing that, I satisfied the "craving" - and still managed to "cut" my portion to a 'reasonable' / 'moderate' amount. The skinny people around me all eat pizza, chips, cake, burgers, etc - but they eat ONE slice not 1/2 a pie - AND they don't eat it every day or 3x a day. I now "watch" what I eat during the day at work - and allow myself to have whatever I want for dinner (my dinner is a 4pm) within moderation. I don't feel "deprived" and honestly KNOW that I can live like this for good. I've managed to stay under 1300 calories / day - and am still losing - granted, I'm losing a lot slower than others, but I'm ok with that. (I'm also not exercising, yet). My dinners will usually be grilled chicken and whole wheat Pasta, grilled chicken caesar salads (with 'full fat' dressing AND croutons), grilled chicken and vegetables, tuna salad (with low fat mayo, not fat free) and a 'serving' of wheat-thins (16 crackers) etc - but when I want a slice of pizza, I have it ... and have yet to feel guilty about it :welldoneclap: I think we all have to do what is right for us - and for me losing a little more slowly than others while eating what I want - is just fine :wink:

MOM - Milk Of Magnesia :welldoneclap: I got the strawberry flavor :wink:

I do MOM once a week. For some reason, (TMI) it feels like I'm "stuck" down there - once I do the MOM, within 3-4 hours I'm going and I'm able to go for a few days without any problems. I drink lots of Water, so I have no idea why this happens.

I've read it. I thought it spent too much time (more than 1/2 the book) focusing on her and her life/accomplishments and not enough time on what it was like having the surgery - if that makes sense. It talks about her growing up, her relationship with her father, her son, her jobs/accomplishments, her television interviews, etc. In there, once in a while, she will mention what it was like doing these things as a fat woman, but it's almost like an afterthought. The 2nd half is better - where she talks about her surgery, etc.

I'm sorry for the confusion. My surgeon's office is in the hospital, so he sends you to radiology to do the swallow. If all's good - you go home, if there is a problem, you go back to the surgeon's office.

Hey everyone ! My first fill is tomorrow and I'm so scared ! I not only have a huge fear of needles, I also have a very low pain threshold. I am DREADING going in tomorrow - and I think it's mostly "fear of the unknown" - even though I've read all there is to read on fills. Here's the kicker ... I'm also VERY excited about getting my first fill and starting to lose some weight (I haven't lost since the week after surgery - and have basically just been maintaining) Anyone else have this irrational fear ? -------------------------------- UPDATE Well, after barely sleeping last night because I was so scared (I *TOLD* you I was a wus) - it wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected. I went in - laid on the exam table and told the doctor I was scared LOL. He had me hold my shirt up just past my port and told me not to move. Then he went in. I have to admit that I did feel it - and it was NOT pleasant .. but no where near what I was expecting. I felt the pressure, and I also felt the "gush" of Fluid. He put 5cc's in (he said I have a 15cc band) and sent me for my barium swallow (which was fine) :rofl: I bled a bit (enough to saturate a small gauze) - and it's sore now - about as much pain as when they have to take blood from the back of my hand - but I've had no "down time" since leaving the Dr's office. I go back in a month - and I feel a lot better about it ... because even though it was uncomfortable/painful - at least I know what to expect. Thanks for all your replies -

Just BTTing for the update .. THANK YOU all so much for sharing your experiences .. it really helped

I'll just jump in here and say that I had absolutely NO restrictions put on me by my surgeon as to what I could eat post-op, none whatsoever. So not all doctors subscribe to the "liquids for a month" theory. I figured he knows how he placed my band and what I looked like on the inside, so I left it up to him to decide how I should behave post op. I had a fever on days 2-4 post op and spoke to him a few times/day during that time, and he told me I could pretty much eat ANYTHING I wanted as long as I was able to. That week I had wonton Soup (cutting the meat out of the wontons) for every meal - since then I've been eating "normally". I am 5 weeks post op and will watch my calories/intake all day and have what I want for dinner. For example - I'll have slimfasts and soup at work and a slice of pizza for dinner. The *old* me would have had a 1/2 a pie. In all honesty, I haven't lost any weight during this time (I did lose during the pre-op diet and that first week post-op) but I also haven't gained - and once I get some fills, I feel like I'll be able to lose

I used alcohol.

I was banded on Nov 19 and my first fill isn't until Jan 9. I feel like I'm constantly having to explain to people the fact that right now I have no restriction so I am basically the same as BEFORE the band only with stitches. I feel like everyone is "watching" me and expecting the weight to FALL right off - *I'M* not even expecting that ... and I'm the least patient person EVER. My dad (who PAID for the surgery) asks me EVERY time he sees me (3-4x/week) how much I've lost - and the answer is the same "around 25lbs" - so he'll say "that's what you said last time" ... This weekend we went out to Breakfast with my dad and I ordered an omlette and as soon as my food came out, he started saying how I'd never lose weight if I kept eating like that - and that I should have only taken 2 bites and left the rest, etc. The worst part is I started crying and ended up having only 2 bites. My husband wants me to explain to my dad how the band works, well I've been explaining it for MONTHS. I'm under so much pressure and I'm SOOOO hungry - that I try to be proud of any changes I make. (ie. 1 burger with no bread instead of 3 burgers with fries) I HATE eggs. But, they've got their share of Protein, so I had them. I've been having oatmeal every freaking morning for the past 2 months - I wanted something different. How do YOU deal with folks not understanding that it's not going to "fall off" ?

woooooo hooo !! CONGRATS !! I had to lol at your title ! and I can't wait till I am on 'that' side of the fence !!

I say .. grab a hold of those 50lbs before they become 75 or 100. Honestly, as much as we'd like to think our surgeons and doctors think of us .. they rarely do. We are one in a group of thousands of patients they see. Trust me, you'll be fine. AND if he DOES say something (by looking at your weight last time in your chart and noticing the increase) I'd say something like "well, duh - that's why I'm here .. I want to get this under control" - he can't argue with that

fully clothed here

Thanks everyone I actually don't mind that I told everyone SO FAR, everyone has been very supportive - including my dad (I mean he PAID for it, after all) ... it's just weird feeling like I'm living in a fishbowl.

I had a high Protein low carb / no sugar pre-op diet (1 week) After surgery I was put on the same - so I had no "liquid stage" or "mushy stage" - my doc told me to eat what I felt comfortable eating. I was banded on Nov 19 and since then I've lost maybe 7lbs. I will say this: I'm starving. The fact that I haven't gained any weight is ALL willpower. The fact that I haven't lost any weight is I'm HUNGRY. SOOOO - I will eat what I want, but I'm doing my best to watch my portions. Right now I feel very much "in limbo" .. we'll see what happens after my 1st fill (Jan 9) 6 weeks post op.

LOL I had to laugh at this (not in a 'making fun of you way') - but because I *am* a professional photographer and I think I chose this career because it AUTOMATICALLY puts me behind the camera :scared: I actually took a "self portrait" of myself on our last vacation with my son in the background to "prove" I was there. I told my husband that my son will grow up thinking he was raised by a SUPER cool dad who took him on lots of exciting and exotic trips ... and had the presence of mind to hire a photojournalist to capture every moment.

I've been pretty much the same weight since I was banded. No wait - I lost like 7lbs the week after banding - but since then I've been approximately the same weight (within 3lbs). I have definitely been eating more - and since I have no restriction it's all a matter of willpower to control my portions. I look at other folk's tickers and am amazed at how much they've lost .. but then I think "well, at least I'm not gaining" - which had I not gotten the band, I'd totally be back to my old eating habits again. Thankfully, even though I don't have any restriction ... I still have the "mental" reminder and that helps me control my portions. What helps YOU get thru the fact that you're weight is stagnant ??

I'm going to go all out. The other day I was craving a cheeseburger. C-R-A-V-I-N-G. So I considered going down to the cafeteria at work and getting a turkey buger - but then it hit me. The turkey burger is only MARGINALLY better for me than a "regular" burger and it doesn't taste the same ... so in essence I wouldn't be calming the craving. SO - I decided to wait until I was on my way home to stop for a burger. Let me preface this by saying that pre-band I could (and did) eat 3 burgers at a time (plus fries) : I got ONE burger - and removed the bun - and ate it with a fork and knife. I got the "satisfaction" of calming the craving - and don't feel guilty at all. I figure "skinny" folks eat a burger "once in a while" - and since I will be one of them one day .. I can too Am I rationalizing my bad behavior ?

Thanks folks !! I felt bad .. while waiting in that Burger King drive thru line ... for a second, then I got over it as I enjoyed my yummy burger. All the "skinny" folks I know enjoy "bad" things once in awhile. The reason I am where I am today is because I OVERindulged in the bad things ALL THE TIME. I just knew that if I didn't have the "right" burger (with ketchup, mustard AND mayo along with lettuce, tomatoes and onions) it wouldn't satisfy me - so I would have wasted the "cheat". Certain things I don't "mind" or miss substituting - like sugar. Others I refuse to compromise on. Burgers fall into the latter catergory.

I am a little over 2 weeks out (banded 11/19) and had been feeling great until this morning I'm nauseous and dizzy - and just all around feeling crappy. Yesterday I didn't eat much (just didn't "want" food - as amazing as that sounds) and I'm thinking THAT may be why .. Today I've had oatmeal for Breakfast and it didn't help. Anyone have this issue ???:sick