TrimKim

Hi All- I live in Lenore Idaho and was hoping there might be some Banders that I can talk with locally. I don't know of anybody who has been banded or even any that have had gastric bybass so I'm feeling all alone here. I would love to meet someone who lives close by between hear and my Dr. in Spokane. So if there is anyone who lives between Lewiston, ID and Spokane, WA please give me a shout and lets share our banding exerience. I get banded August 27th, three weeks from today! Yea! Looking forward to hearing from you:-) :bounce:

I need someone to give me a swift kick in the patooty! I am 9 weeks post op and haven't lost a pound since starting on semi soft foods 6 weeks ago. And that wouldn't be so bad if I was trying, but honestly I have no restriction and can eat whatever I want.. and often do. I don't count calories, don't drink enough Water and, aside from the occassional walk about once every other week, get no excercise. What am I thinking? I underwent surgery to get this weight off! Before I had the surgery I told myself that I was going to work hard and follow all the rules and sham on all my fellow banders that didn't do that. And now it's as if I am sabataging myself. This is suppost to be my last chance. Why can't I take this more seriously? I got my first fill three weeks ago (2ccs in a 10 cc band) Tomorrow I go back for another fill and hope to God that he gives me another 2 or 3 ccs. I need some restriction. I need to be reminded that I have this thing. Cuz right now, I have no reminders. On a positive note, I have an appointment on Thursday with a personal trainer. I will work out with him twice a week with the intention of doing cardio on my own two or three other days a week. I'm really agitated with myself. This was the most extreame measure I have ever taken to loose weight and I'm not even trying! Can someone give me some words of wisdom on how to deal with this? Please.:notagree

That was so funny! Thanks for making me feel better. You're right! I can do this. IT's all about focus and commitment. Old habits die hard, but I can and will do this. Thanks again for the laugh!

Jillybean- I know what you mean about the slow weight loss. Since I started regular foods I haven't lost anything! But I have also been sick with chest cold and have not walked or excercised. I'm feeling better so will start walking again with the hope the I will drop some more weight. I have had one fill at 2 ccs and feel little to no restriction, but I am trying really hard to not overeat. The band is helping if only because I don't feel hungry, but I still think I can eat more that I would like. Drinking lots of water helps too. I am going to start logging all my calories to see if I am perhaps eating more that I thought. If that's the case I will cut back and get back on track. Hope that helps you. Good luck to you.

Sandy Pants- I live in Lenore (Orofino) Idaho and also have Dr. Pennings in Post Falls. I have been driving all the way to Post Falls for all my appointments and one fill so far. How did you manage to find a fill Dr. in Lewiston. Does she/he work with Dr. Pennings? I know Dr. Pennings includes a year's worth of fills with the procedure. But I would love to not have to drive three hours to and from for each fill. Because you are so close to me perhaps we could meet or something.

Does anybody ever find that the longer you can't eat the more down you feel? I always knew I used food as a source of self-medication, but lately, after almost 6 weeks of not being able to eat regular food. I find my moods to be like a roller coaster. I'm 11 days post op and was on a liquid diet 5 weeks before surgery. Now that I'm beginning to feel better after surgery and getting my appitite back I find myself getting a little depressed and extreamly frustrated because I can't eat solid foods for another 11 days. Can anybody offer some words of comfort and reassurance in the area? Thanks!

Lucky you. I have three weeks straight liquides. Two week mushy. At week 6 I can slowely begin to introduce regular foods. My Dr. is preety strickt, but has an awesome success record. It's tought, but I'm certain that I won't do any damage by going slow. Good luck to you and welcome to the BANDWAGON!

Most have their first fill 6 weeks post-op. That's in insure that you have healed and have begun to slowly introduce regular food. They want to determine from your food consumption and weight loss to date how much restriction you currently have so that they can gage how much of a fill to give you.

Thank you to everyone that replied to my distress call. I was so moved by the words of encouragement that they made me cry. Today is a new day and I will continue to move forward as I feel better and stronger everyday. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN! And you're right, "THIS TOO WILL PASS!"

WOW MBOROHONEY- I'm sooo sorry to hear you are having problems. I will keep you in my prayers and try not to whine so muc. I know it could be worse for me and I am terribly gratful at this point for the blessings in my life. I hope that you have a favorable outcome and please keep us posted on your condition. BIG HUGS! Kim

I can appreciate a good glass of wine as well, but one or two each night isn't going to do you any favors in the weight loss area. Try this. Cammolie tea is excellent for helping you rest. I love a cup with just a tsp of honey before bed some nights. It is also called "Sleepy Time" tea. Some boxes have a picture of a bear in a night cap. You shouldn't have to give up on your melot, just think about limiting your self to just a few glasses a week instead of every night. hope that helps.

I was courious to know how many people have lost a significant amout of weight and gained it back. I have never lost more than 20 pounds before I gained it all back, so I was surprised at this sight how many people have had great weight loss success prior to getting the lapband.

Since you are a single mom, the best advice I can give, being only 4 days postop myself, MORE IS BETTER. Take as much time off from work as you can. If you feel like going back sooner, great, if not you have the extra time to heal. Get an adult to help you the first 2 or 3 days. You will be glad you did. I'm sure your son would love to be a help to his mom too. My 10 year old son did. I would count on sleeping in a comfortable chair and ottoman or recliner instead of climbing the stairs at least the first few nights. The pain meds can make you dizzy and you don't want to fall! Make sure you get everythink you need to recover before you go to the hospital. (ie: heating pads, tylonal liquid, your RX pain meds, Gas-X, liguid diet supplies for post-op.etc.) Make your son's meals before surgery and freeze them. Or just buy a bunch of stuff he can make himself. Arrange for someone to taxi him for the first week after surgery because you can't drive. The main thing to remember is to concentrate on taking care of yourself. Give your body what it needs to heal quickly and try not to overdue it before your'e ready. Everyone wins in the long run. Hope that helps. Oh and by the way, I had my surgery 4 days ago and am feeling much better today. I want to do more, but when I get up and move too much, I feel like I've run a marathon. The first day post op was a blur. Day two, I was moving more, a little uncomforable due to the gas, but the pain meds help. Why it helps with gas I don't know, but don't think your a bigger person if you don't take them. the Dr. gives them to you to make your recovery more comfortable. USE EM if you need em! Day three was very gassy, farts galore! Stay close to the bathroom, I had a few near misses. And here I am at day four and feeling ready to face the world, all be it slowly. Good luck to you. And remember your attitude will effect the way you recover so keep it positive. :heh:

1. I had to do 5 weeks liquid Optifast Preop. 2. Absolutely noooo food in the stomach during surgery. He has been know to see evidence of people eating their "Last Supper" and sewn them back up without doing the procedure! 3. Three weeks liquids only post-op 4. Two weeks mushy foods gradually introducing solids by the 6th week post-op. 5. No liquid calories 6. No carbonated beverages 7. No caffinated beverages I'm sure there is more, but this is all that's coming to me now. He's good though. I trust him and know what his track record looks like. So far, 4 days post of and I'm progressing nicely.:clap2:

Thanks everybody. I'm feeling amazingly better today. Still a little pain the chest almost everytime I drink, but I can handle it. If nothing else, my body is kind of teaching me what I can and cannot accomadate. Just now I thought I wanted something other than an Optifast shake.... again. So I had a warm cup of chicken broth. Very yummy, but I think I sipped it too fast. 1 cup in about 5 minutes. And now I feel like I ate a seven course meal. If this is what is to come when I start solids that would be so liberating! Do be full after just a few bites will be like nothing I have ever experienced in my life. Wooo whoooo!

Hello fellow bandsters- I'm three days post op and so far haven't had any pain or discomfort that I couldn't deal with. But this morning I woke up with pain in my chest. It's not constant, but rather dull continuously. Then sharp with what I guess must be a gas bubble. Is that pretty normal? I also feel like I have something caught in my throat and can't get it down. I'm only on water and Optifast. And having a hard time getting down the three shakes and 48 oz of water my Dr. wants me to get down. Surely I could't have a slip. I haven't done anything to cause one. Can someone please assure me that this is just gas and will pass? Thanks so much.

I've heard bunches about shoulder pain resulting from gas. Well I have the gas, that's for sure, but 3 days post-op, all my gas pain has been in my gut and chest. Does it move up to the shoulder or is there hope that I could bybass the shoulder pain all together? And how many days does it take the gas to get out of the body? I have never heard noises like the ones my gut as been making the last three days. I'm grateful though that my recovery hasn't been bad at all. I have been able to rest and my family has been so helpful and patient with me. This last day I have been a little grumpy. But I think that's a sure sign that I'm feeling better. Ha. Please share your recovery experiences with us. Pre-banders want to know what it's like. I know I did.

Hi Everybody- My band day is Monday morning at 7:30. Yea!!!! We have to be at the hospital by 5:45 am so we will be staying overnight at a nearby hotel due to our 3 hour commute to the hospital and most likely returning home the same day. Can anyone suggest some items I would want to be sure to take with me to the hospital to make my short hospital stay and commute home as comfortable as possible? Also what items do I want to be sure to have at home for my recovery? I have a heating pad, liquid tylonal and my Clear liquids. What am I missing? Thanks for your input. I'm sooooo excited... scared..... nervous etc. Preparing for the ride of my life! :whoo::whoo::whoo::sick

Momma- You are in the exact same position as me. It was like reading my own post. I too have about 85-90 lbs to loose. I too have Tricare. I too have the same weight history as you. And let me just say... GO FOR IT! If you can self pay you owe it to yourself to fullfill your lifetime desire to feel good about yourself! I will be banded Monday the 27 of August. And I can hardly weight. Keep in touch. Send me a private message if you like. We can talk.

PERFECT! Thank you so much! I love this sight. Everyone sharing their experiences is making this whole process soooo much easier!!

OK, had my pre-op visit yesterday. After the support meeting and before the Dr. Appointment, I found myself questioning as to wether or not I really want to do this. Don't eat this...can't eat that... PBing... sliming... tiny bites... chew to mussy... little sips of Water... forign object in my gut. Nothing about eating is ever going to be normal again! Not to mention the effect it is going to have on friends and family. Everything about my life is going to change drastically! Oh yeh, I knew all this before, but now that I'm in the home stetch (Banding in 12 days) I'm just sitting here dismayed and trying to figure this all out. Yes, I still want to have the surgury. That hasn't changed. But please, somebody tell me it's all going to worth it and it's really not that bad. Please!!??? :faint::straight:paranoid:ranger:

Thank you so much Raven! You're right about "before" eating not being normal. I know that's true. And I know this time I will have success. So yes, I'm ready... Thanks to all my band buddies! You all are a terrific bounding board.

Don't worry, the first few days maybe even a week is really hard. But you will start to feel better, I promise. And it will start to feel more natural, your body will begin to know what to expect and every little meal will be a celebration. Not to mention the scale will reward you every morning. Consider yourself lucky, my Dr. requires 4-6 weeks of liquid pre-op diet.

Someone told me that if you keep clothes that are too big then you make it easier for yourself to wear something comfortable in the unlikely event that you gain weight again. So if your skinny clothes ever start to feel tight your only option is to get the weight off instead of slipping into the fat clothes that you saved. Makes sense to me. I'm not there yet, but as soon as my clothes are loose, they are out the door... just like the fat that went with them.