Sleeved12/29

First, I want to say I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your father. I know how stressful that can be. I think 12lbs post op is great. I was banded 11/18 and am down total of 24, 6 from pre-op and 18 post-op. I went in a few weeks ago to see the nutritionist. I was complaining about the loss slowing down once I hit solid foods. My surgeon popped his head in & said if I wanted to lose 100lbs in 3 months I should've had bypass. He stressed that the band is a tool....not a fix all. I'm exercising almost every day. I only lost one pound last week BUT at least I didn't gain one lb. My clothes are fitting better. I feel better. I'm totally off metformin for diabetes. Please be patient and give it time....I consider my band to be my new little friend.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your Aunt. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. My band seems to tighten whenever I'm under a lot of stress. Everything gets stuck.

Molly went to the rainbow bridge this morning around 11:45am. The vet gave her a sedative, then the cather and she was gone in seconds. Never opened her eyes. She went very peacefully. I think the stress has tightend my band today. I had stress hunger today and was afraid I'd eat my way into a coma but my band was very tight and just a piece of lunch meat got caught. I'm really glad I didn't get a fill yesterday. My other furbaby, Gretzky, is a little sad but we think he knew Molly would not be coming home. He's a bonecancer survivor. Thank you all for listening to my running on...I'm just at a loss right now...she was with us for 16 years.

I decided against getting a fill today. Just too much going on here right now. I'm going to call his office and make an appointment for one next week or the week after. Regarding portion size: no more than 3oz beginning with protein. When I asked about calories, he said 1,000 to 1,200 max. He asked if I was exercising and I told him yes. He said I could "treat" myself a few days a week with 1,200 but should stay in the 1,000 range. I told him I was not hungry in the morning and he said I should not go more than 12-14 hours with out food...mostly due to the diabetes WHICH was in the NORMAL range on my blood work last week. He was very happy about that and said I should go back on the Zocor since my numbers were high. LDL was 177. Over all was 268. He also lifted all my restrictions so I can finally run the vacuum cleaner. Hubby just hits and misses (mostly misses). I've lost 24 lbs over all. I'm happy with that but have noticed my portions are getting larger. He also stressed I should begin now chewing my food...said it should take up to 30mintues to eat a meal or I'm eating way to fast.

Thank you everyone. I know we are doing the right thing. It's so very hard.

Teri, I am so sorry for your loss. We are going through the very same thing. Our 16yr old boxer mix has been going down hill these past few weeks. Now she can't walk and is having mini seizures. We are taking her to our holistic vet tomorrow at 11:40am. Our 18yr and his best friend want one more nite with their four legged best friend. I have cried the past few days. She has been a wonderful family member. She was always so gentle with our son....they grew up together. I have another fur baby. He is a cancer survivor. He was amputated Nov '07 and through prayer and holistic meds, he is on the sofa beside me. I will keep you and yours in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep our family in yours. This is so very hard. My band has been very tight these past few days and I don't even have a fill. I think it's my emotions. I belong to a dogs with bone cancer support group. Whenever a pup passes, we call it going to the rainbow bridge where pain is no more. Your fur baby will welcome my Molly there tomorrow. They will both be pain free and happy. They know we love them...even though it's very difficult to let go.

Boos02, I second your primary goals!! I have started exercising and yesterday actually did my 3 miles Walk Away the Pounds tape. I have a doctor's appointment today at 4:15. I'm not sure I'll need a fill. I've been pretty stressed this past week and I've really noticed a lot of restriction. Does that ever happen to you?

Hi Pat, I see my surgeon today at 4:15.When I asked him during the last visit if I'd be getting a fill, he said we would see how things are progressing. He said some of his patients do not need fills for 2-3 months. I'm very restricted in the mornings. I've lost 24lbs (6 were pre-diet) and I'm happy with that. I wasn't at first but will take each pound as it comes. I'll let you know if he gives me a fill today. We had a quiet Christmas. Our 16yr old dog is not doing well. Our 18yr old son has begged us to hold off putting her down as he thought she would pass in her sleep. That's not gonna happen so we are scheduled to meet the vet tomorrow at 11:40. My band is really tight today. I've cried most of the morning. I guess stess does play a big part in all of this.

My nutirtionsit (sp) said the same thing. Exercise does help a lot. I was walking on the treadmill at first but have been doing my Walk Away the Pounds tapes now. Once I can use my upper arms, I plan on dusting off my Gizelle and walking on it as well. I was banded 11/18 and I still feel a little restricted. If I eat too fast...it gets stuck. I can't eat when I first get up in the mornings. My weight loss has slowed down but I'm still losing. I've lost 24lbs total...18 since surgery & I'll take it. My surgeon told me that if I wanted to lose 100lbs in 3 months I should have considered bypass. Hang in there everyone...it will get better. I DID eat a few Cookies and didn't feel all that guilty. Why? Because it was a few instead of a few hundred. My nutritionist also said if I lose 2lbs a week, it will be over 100lbs lost when my 1yr band-a-versary comes around. WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER!!!!!:tongue_smilie:

CottageCheese with my meats sounds interesting. I love cottage cheese. Will have to try it in the near future. I've not tried any red meat yet. I cut my chicken up in really tiny pieces and it went down fine. I've also had lunch meat honey ham. It went down ok (cut it up in small pieces as well). I was craving salmon the other nite. Hubby went to Applebee's. I was really hungry and didn't chew the first piece so it stayed a while before going down. I was only able to eat 1/2 of it. I was very full. Haven't tried bread, pasta or rice. Those are my weakest links. I'm afraid they'll get caught. Is anyone having problems with protein shakes? Just opening the lid to the container makes my stomach turn. I'm trying to get all my protein in without it. I've tried three different brands.

Hi Heather, It seems whenever I eat too much I have port pain...it's like the port is telling me I pigged out. My surgeon said no ab exercises or weights for 8 weeks after surgery. I have an appointment this Monday so will verify that. I also have a Tony Little Gazelle that I can't use yet. I am doing my Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds tapes w/o the weights. I hope I can start using AB ball soon. I was in a car accident this past February and all my back strenghtening exercises require the ball. Remember, we are still healing. I have more energy and want to do more BUT don't want to injure myself.

Ladies, we have to be strong. We can do this. I had two sugar cookies last nite. I felt guilty BUT then I realized this time last year I would have had a dozen cookies. Just think if we didn't have the band what our weight would be. I am having restriction. A lot of foods are getting stuck...even when I chew and I haven't had a fill yet. Has anyone had this problem? The second cookie set there a while before it decided to pass thru. Kinda scared me at first. It was a real wake up call.

I had the cravings when I was on liquids and mushies. I have had salad but the nutritionist said I should wait 'til I'm 8wks out before I eat fresh fruit. She said canned was ok but not fresh...especially this time of the year.

I'm with you in the cravings dept. I craved cesear salad and grilled salmon. I couldn't even make my son a salad...hubby had to make it. I had the salmon on Saturday and finally had a very small taste of salad last nite. I would also like strawberries but wil wait on those.

Lynn, thank you for the kind words. My hubby called the holistic vet this morning. He feels she is having seizures...he just saw her last week. Hubby picked up drops to give her to help with the seizures. We've decided to stay home over the long weekend. Just go to 8pm service tomorrow evening and spend the rest of the time with her. We're going to blow up beds in the family room and sleep with her.

Apples2, Thank you for your kind words! It's been a really tough day for Molly. I just pray she makes it thru the holidays. She has been such a good friend to all of us. I also have a 12 1/2 yr old sheepdog mix who is a cancer survivor. His lft front paw was amputated 11/07/07. He's a trooper and loves Molly like they were litter mates. I just pray when she goes that he doesn't follow. I don't know if I could take it right now.

Thanks...I'll try that. I seem to be so hungry when I get home. I do really well all day. Then bam!! I was off today and did really well. I had to force myself to eat. I don't know why I want to eat as soon as I close the garage door. That was my biggest problem before banding...yet when I'm home I don't have these cravings.

PJ, I'm sorry to hear of your loss. We are in the same position. I posted here last week regarding our 16 yr old dog, Molly. We took her to the holistic vet this past Thursday. It's just a matter of time. She is falling a lot now. She had an acupuncture treatment which seems to have helped a little. She still eats really well. I'll keep you and yours in my prayers. It's a tough decision but they have been our friends and they depend on us to make the right decisions. We are here for you!

Amber, thanks for letting me know it's not just me! I see my surgeon 12/29. I'm not sure I'll get a fill at that time. I'm still doing ok with eating every 4 hrs or so. I've lost 23.5 pounds (6 were pre-op). I too am not hungry in the morning...I feel very tight. It's sometimes difficult for me to eat before 9am and I'm up at 5 and at work by 7. BUT I'm pretty hungry when I get home. I have an hour commute each way. At first I was drinking my protein shake on the way home but if I get stuck in traffic, I barely make it home :smile:. Any suggestions?

I think I had my first pb episode yesterday....I'm not sure. We had just gotten back from the grocery store and I was putting food in the fridge. I really got a little too hungry. I opened up a package of turkey pepperoni and had a few slices. They would not go down! I thought I'd chewed but guess it wasn't enought. I started to hiccup but had the stuffy feeling in my chest. Finally went to the bathroom and tried to get it up...the only thing that would come up was a lot of clear phlem....and boy did it come up. After another few minutes, I felt the pepperoni pass thru...this was very scarey. I don't even have a fill yet. Has this happened to anyone else? I was banded 11/18.

Joanne, I'm sorry to hear about the loss of you furbaby. Cancer in our pets is a horrible disease. My baby was diagnosed with OS (osteoscarmoa) in October '07. We had his left front leg amputated November '07. When we took Gretzky back to begin chemo, they found a tumor in his anal gland. At this point, my baby was so ill. We were told 3-6 months if we didn't do chemo. We decided on holistic meds. That was almost 14 months ago and his sitting on the sofa with me as I'm writing this. I lost my mother in July 06 and Gretzky was diagnosed with OS Oct 07 PLUS I had a teenager dealing a lot of issues....I gained a lot of weight during that period of time. If you ever need a pair of ears to listen about your baby, e-mail me privately. We also have a 16yr old boxer mix. Our vet told us this past Thursday that she has a few months at best. They are such a big part of our family....

My surgeon told me no weights or ab exercises for 6 weeks. He said that area needs to heal. I have Tony Little's Gazelle and wanted to begin using it since I'll be 4 weeks out tomorrow....Can you believe it 11/18 bandsters???? He told me no 'til after he sees me 12/29. He is allowing me to do my Walk Away The Pounds tapes as long as I don't do any AB exercises. I also had a hernia repaired during surgery. The treadmill is so boring to me...even if it's in front of the tv in the basement. I've been stuck at 22lbs and hope it starts up again soon. Tomorrow I start real food....I'm elated and nervous at the same time...how does everyone else feel?

I was banded 11/18 and my next appointment will be 12/29. My surgeon said as long as I'm losing, he may not give me a fill....that will be 6 weeks. Tomorrow is my last day of mushies. I'm not really hungry between meals. I not a bit hungry in the morning. I have to force myself to eat. My band feels really tight then. I fixed a roast with all the trimmings in the crockpot yesterday. I ground up the meat & veggies in my magic bullet and it was heaven. Didn't look that great but looks aren't everything . I took left overs today for lunch. I was told it looked like I was eating cat food....it was very filling & I really didn't care. I'm not sure I'll need a fill 12/29...will just have to wait and see. Every surgeon is so different. There are three surgeons who work out of the hospital I went to. All three have different guidlines. Only mine (of course) put me on the 2 week pre-op diet. And he's very conservative which I like.

Well, I stopped taking Lexapro after surgery. I stopped my Metformin & Zocor per my surgeon and just forgot it during recovery. Saturday my hubby asked me if I'd stopped my "happy pills"...I was ashamed to tell him I had. He could tell...my anxiety is horrible.. I went back to work today and came home wound up and extremely tired. Popped open the bottle and down the 10mg went. I also have an appointment with my primary care next week for blood work. I'll discuss it with him at that time....I too gained 30lbs when I started taking the meds. BUT I'm not sure if it was really the meds or losing my mother to ALS & having an unruly teen...still have the teen