NewCC

On the food demon thing - thanks! When I read that we all want them to go away and then take in your entire posts - I can see it in others - they will start to go away. Maybe they are already going, a little with the decision to go ahead with the surgery, a little with the surgery, a little more as we did liquids, mushies..., We've proven to ourselves that we really want to be healthier and that alone should start to reshape our thinking. Off to Church! Thanks again girls~ CC

Hi everyone, I caught up on the posts - Lynette, congrats!! So many other thughts- was it Auntie Phil that has the soup stealing husband? so sorry!! It is kind of a funny story (when I picture it, the husband thinking he's so sneaky, slurping away at hot soup) except that I would have burst into tears at the time!! Don't let it get you down! I think our husbands really just want us to succeed and they don't mean harm, maybe....? I have to excercise! All of you are so diligent and I will get it together on that front. I usually have a trainer I see twice a week. It kills me not to go in but I was supposed to wait 30 (now that seems long???) days to do more than walking. I will probably get more motivated to excercise on my own when I restart with him. My good news: We have been traveling. East Coast, Midwest and Colorado mountains with only a day or so in between at home. I was SOOOOOOO afraid to get on the scale, but decided to be honest with myself so I won't let anything get out of hand. I thought I would have gained at least 5 lbs. (eating out, etc.) I am about the same!!!!! I weighed tonight and I ususally weigh in the morning, so I may even end up down a half pound or so. Amazing!! I guess I really didn't eat too much, although in Colorado it sure felt like it. I do think the altitude change made my band (the new one that comes with a bit of a fill when they put it in) a bit tighter and I would almost feel sick stuffed when I ate...which leads to a question: Question: I have a fear! I don't want to need to "feel full" and I don't want to "be stuffed." Thats how I got overweight. I want that "need" to go away! I want to truly only eat enough to get by, but now the band gets me to eat less BUT gives me the full feeling that actually fills an unhealthy need for me!!! A friend who had Gastric by-pass a few years ago told me that at about 9 months she felt that her "demons" (food issues) went mostly away. Do you all think this is possible?? Thanks, CC

SD Chick, I am newly banded and have to eat out a lot also. I have been choosing soup if possible. I have eaten a few onion rings (not healthy). As long as I really chew it, salad has been ok (but I haven't eaten much at one time). I ordered Mahi Mahi skewers figuring that fish was as close as I was going to get to "mushie" on that menu (they were out of soup). I actually have done fish several times now, and even a few bites of a sandwich. I know we are supposed to do only mushies and I've heard from others here that it is because we need to be gentle on our new stitches. This makes sense, so when I go off pure mushies I try to limit the amount I eat by a lot, just to be safe.

Jackie, I agree they aren't great. I only take two swallows at a time, three if I really really need to curb hunger. To me they are too salty tasting. CC

Kathy, OOOOHHHHH, so that's why the security people REALLY look the things over!!!! I wondered why I had this deep down need to hide the things! Really, they do help me curb the real food hunger that could get me in trouble weight wise and recovery wise. Off to the airport, New Whey packed, CC

Auntie Phil, I'm so glad for you - getting your cup of coffie back! Your little graphics are darling! Chim, I'm still keeping it a pretty big secret. But I admire any of you who can tell others. I think it's a sign of really healthy self esteem. Hello everyone. I am off for a quick trip to see the parents with one kid. The others are at camp. Have a great week! CC

Kathy, How about taking those New Whey Protein "bullets." Take a couple of swigs maybe 30 minutes (?) before going into the meal. That way you won't have the growling stomach and want to eat everything you see! I might help you keep at a nice slow pace so if the foods aren't mushie, you can chew them into mushies! I have ended up in situations already where doing that either has or would have helped me tons. Have fun! CC

Chim, I would love to sponsor you also, pm me the info when you are ready! Have you tried "Flylady" for help with the overwhelming room? She's great, not a preachy organized person. FlyLady.net: Your personal online coach to help you gain control of your house and home Her web-site is getting a little cluttered, but find the intro type stuff if you don't know her. I am spending my extra (b/c of less eating!) time doing some de-cluttering. Makes me feel so accomplished and keeps me occupied when I get a bit hungry! Just a thought! CC

Dini, Everything I've read indicates that prawn (shrimp) are very hard to pass through the band. I wonder if that was the problem more than the band restriction. Of course, what do I know!! CC

Thanks Ruby, I still don't want to share that I even have a band! So no chance I'll be preaching in the near future!! I hope to become more a person that just doesn't think about food, mine, yours or theirs. That is what was wrong in my family - a mother trying to control the intake and weight of everyone, every minute. Not fun! CC

Kathy, Impressed with the walking! I keep making excuses and that won't get me to my goal. Thanks for the inspiration! CC

One more thing! BURPING. I was grossed out when they told me to burp in recovery. I was raised NOT TO BURP! My husband was sitting there! Yuck. Now I discover that I really can burp! Not just like when you were a kid and you would try to do it on purpose and a little noise would come out. This is real. Question: Do you think this is forever??? Will I need to burp every time I eat?? Maybe I am skipping ahead too fast? More healing needed? Eating too spicy? Getting too much air when I eat? OR Does the band make air get stuck in my pouch? Burping help please!!! CC

I went to NYC days 6-10 post surgery. I had read (sometimes not wise!) about flying being a problem, hence worry. Worry wasn't needed. Flying was no problem!! I even ate a tiny bit of the meal each way (chewed thousands of times!) It is pretty easy to find food in NYC, but I found my most mushy options were carbs. Now I feel like I will need to break the carb addiction thing again. If I eat the ANY carbs I seem to crave them. Back to the protein shakes for a day! I am actually enjoying feeling my tummy rumble! I means my body will use some of the stores I created over the years and I am LOSING WEIGHT!! Yeah. Oh, and my doctor gave me an antibiotic for the area near my port incision that was warm to the touch, knotted and red. It is feeling much better 7 days later. It probably was a slight infection, but he doesn't want it to have been one - because he said he has never had any patient get one. I'm guessing when I go back he'll proclaim it was nothing. That is probably why he has never (over 3000 lapbands) had anyone get infected! Thank you everyone for helping me get through the early days. I no longer regret my band. Now I look at others and hope they can have one someday too! CC

My Dr. wants the pre-op diet to shrink the liver and get some fat off of it. It is near the area where they place the band. I think I helped me in other ways too. It reminded me that I can go hungry. Hunger pains won't kill me - in fact they will make me healthier by helping me lose weight. I am only two weeks post surgery but I find that remembering how well I kept the pre-op diet helps me get through the liquid and mushy stage that you must do after surgery. The weight loss prior to surgery is very encouraging too!!

Kelly, My experience: I had the painful swelling below my port site making me lopsided. I knew it wasn't right when it became redish and warmer there than other areas. I finally just went to the office (this morning) and made them look at it. They called in antibotics immediately (redness and heat) and I will see the Dr. tomorrow. He was away in surgery all day today. I am feeling a tiny better with the med. in me for an hour so far. Hope you improve soon!!

Wow, terrible weekend. I called the Dr. 3 times over a 2 hour period just to get him to call me back - and sort of disregard my concern. By Sun. night I had a hard, swollen, red, warm spot the size of my palm (at least) under my large incision. (It looks like I have a pear inserted between my ribs.) ANYWAY, called the Doctor twice last night (answering service) and he never called back. This morning I went to the office. The employees looked at the sore spot and got him on the phone. They called in an antibotic and he will see me tomorrow morning. I am feeling like this was a bit of a take your money and run deal. If I had been on insurance - would I have gotten better response? Most of us are smart enough to know when something is wrong with our body. Yes, this proceedure is new and different for us, but I knew it wasn't right. They are all claiming that this never happens, he always calls back. Part of my research was checking to see if people who have used him/his group, felt good about them and their follow-up. Maybe it was just a fluke, but I am still regretting the surgery. I should have just sucked it up and lost the weight without the extra tool! Ouch!! Maybe tomorrow I'll see the light!! Thanks for the encouragement to perservere and see the Doctor! CC

I still have severe pain on the center left side below my largest incision. This area is swollen, hot to the touch, and turning a spotty red color (under the skin). I had my surgery Thurs. AM. Dr. isn't calling back. Concerned. Any similiar experiences? Thanks CC

Did they say what the rash like thing was, or why you had it?

i have hunger under the pain, but hard to put much in with the pain level. You sound like you are doing well, Congrats!! CC

Chimboree!!! Are you still on? Do you have a big red area under the painful port site. Mine is still hurting badly and is hot to the touch, and is swollen. I wondered if it's normal? Is that how yours is? I think we were same day or a day apart (Thurs) I put my question on the post op board, but then saw that you are having same pain. Will you compare notes with me? CC

On my way, thanks! I just started catching up, will never get there, but you made this one nice and noticable! I am better on the dry heaves (nothing to vomit!) but do have a small fever and redness under a very swollen abdomin. I think my obgyn did a much better job at stitching. These scars are going to be giant. Hope everyone else is doing a ton better than I am. I am soooo still regretting! CC

I tried to catch up as much as possible, I'm sure I missed a few. I am still (36 hours banded) feeling nauseated. bad dry heaves at night. I am still in the 'why did I do this to myself stage" I started a migrain today on top of it. Opened my capsules and dumped them in sugar free jello - yuck. DH, who wouldn't even talk about it the night before became wonderful yesterday and tonight. I have to go to bed. Thanks for the support, prayers for those going tomorrow. CC

I surviver! I was done by 9 am. But I am having, still, extreem nauseua from the anesthesia. I dry heaved a ton at the surgery center. That hurts. I had forgotten that I do have trouble after being put under, but with the band it really hurts! Up 5.5 lbs due to liquids that i can't yet get to come out in abundance. I think by Sat. I will be glad I did this. Best wishes to all those going tomorrow. Everyone I dealt with today was wonderful. That made it better. CC

Thank you for the support. I am calming down. I don't usually freak out. You are all right - I will be glad I've done it and I do know why I chose this proceedure. My very best friend is going through a terrible time with a daughter with AML. We did talk today and with everything going on (it's beyond hard) she is totally supportive. I just can't bug her much right now - and she is at a hospital across the country! Not crying anymore. I will go love on my kids! Thanks guys!! Thank you thank you thank you!! CC http://www.sydneythweatt.com (my friend's website)

Thanks Auntie!! I really am getting all the worries, what if I'm the one in a thousand that doesn't wake up? I have 3 great boys, 15,13 and 10. I stopped working the day the first was born. What if something goes wrong....I didn't tell my parents because they make such a giant deal about food/weight. They are both thin, but it's because my mom is anexoric for the whole world. But they are my parents, should I have said something "just in case?????" And husband (no D tonight) won't talk. Cry, Cry. CC