BandedBrunette481

Thanks for all the advice!! I'm trying to eat as healthy and protein packed as possible all while staying in my 2-4oz per meal range. I think you all are pretty much right, calories counting is more for later food stages

Congrats!! I know it's scary but you're going to do great! You're taking an important step tomorrow towards a healthier life and you won't regret that! I'm one week post op and I couldn't be happier

I think I might name my band Seraphina! It translates into "fiery one" and my band is definitely got a lot of fire in her personality. Also, I decided it's a girl because she is way too all over the place with her feelings to be a guy

Welcome! I was banded close to you (on the 18th) and I am also looking forward to adding new foods to my diet, even if they are mushies lol. I've found a lot of inspiration online in places like Bariatric Pal and on blogs. It's really motivating, isn't it? Best of luck to you on your journey

I had my LapBand surgery two days before you and I also had a hernia repair done at the same time. I'm finally to the point where I'm not really in pain, but I am uncomfortable a lot of the time. It sounds bad, but you kind of get used to it lol once the gas pains go away you'll feel much better. I still don't feel hungry either. I feel full most of the time actually. The nurse told me that hot liquids like tea and broth are best to have if I'm in a lot of pain and to use a heating pad on my stomach/chest. It really does help! Other than that, you just have to tough it out. I've got to go back to work on the 25th so I've been weaning off my pain meds the last few days and I definitely don't feel like I'm dying anymore lol so don't worry, it gets better

I have a page on my blog about recipes you can try I've got a LapBand but we go through the pureed stage as well. You can always adapt things to fit your nutritional recommendations. Best of luck to you! http://blissfullybanded.wordpress.com/blended-foods-aka-mushies/

I wonder if there is a different set of requirements for band vs sleeve. Dr. Wallace had a good talk with me when I told him I wanted the band. He told me to consider the future, what happens 10 to 20 years from now. He said I should think about the idea of having a medical device inside me for the rest of my life. What happens when I am 80 and it is causing other issues. That's 40 years from now. I could not get my head around that so I changed to a sleeve. Yikes! He didn't say any of that to me....When I told him I wanted the band he was super supportive....he just told me to make sure I was happy with slower weight loss and the possibility of not losing ALL of my excess weight. I almost wonder if they try and push our decisions based on what they think is best for us because they want to add to their success rate. Who knows. Hope all is well for you and your pre-op diet is going well

Ahahaha! I hope you picked Shrinky Dink!

It was just a typo for bonded I believe

I literally LOLed at this!! Love it

I was at a BMI of 40 during my pre-op phase. I think the reason your surgeon said that was because LapBand patients typically don't lose as much weight as other weight loss surgery patients. He's probably wanting you to do something like the sleeve or gastric bypass because you have a better chance of losing more weight with one of those type of procedures. But like you said, some people lose plenty of their weight from the band. It's all how the tool is used! It's your decision though and it sucks he won't consider you for it!

I was banded on Tuesday of this week and I had a hernia repair as well. I've struggled off and on with GERD my entire life and I actually did notice that it's a little worse post-op! I get that dull ache you described as well as a churning feeling. It goes back and forth. I've been taking liquid Rolaids for it right now. I have an appointment with my surgeon on Monday and I'm going to ask him if he thinks I need a long term treatment like prilosec or nexium.

I had my LapBand surgery on Tuesday the 18th! My surgeon said I also had a small hernia that he repaired while he was in there. I came out of surgery with 6 incisions and LOTS of gas pain. I don't know what I was expecting, but that pain was way worse than what I thought it would be!! Maybe I have a low pain threshold lol idk. I battled some nausea in the hospital and my first day home, but I've been on the move, pacing around the house and I'm finally starting to feel better. Gas-x strips have been a staple for me and so have ice chips. I'm looking forward to healing up and being able to go back to work already. I'm so excited to be starting this new chapter in my life!! Heck, it might even be a whole different book now

I was banded a few days ago so I'm experiencing the gas pains as well and they really are awful!! The heating pad has helped me like a few other posters mentioned. Moving is the other thing. I seriously have been setting alarms so I don't sit for more than 3 hours at a time. The more I sit, the more the gas sits in there and causes pain. Also, it sounds silly, but when I feel the trapped gas in my stomach, I have my mom pat my back and essentially "burp me" to get it to come up. I figured if it works for babies it might work for me and it did! Haha. So if you have anyone to pat your back for you, give it a try!

If you're looking for some help with other weight loss surgery related terms, I made a glossary of terms on my blog! Check it out if you're looking for other definitions http://blissfullybanded.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/weight-loss-surgery-glossary/

Oops! Double posted this one, sorry!! Go here for the original. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/298552-officially-banded/

I haven't been on my journey as long as some of the other people on here, but it still feels like I've been waiting for this day for forever! As of right now I'm scheduled to be to the hospital by 11:30am tomorrow, but my surgeon said that time might change and they will call if it does. I had to drink a bottle of magnesium citrate as per his instructions as well and that has been awful! I've heard not everyone has to do this and I'm kind of really jealous of those people lol I've had to stay close to the bathroom all day. To top it off, it's that TOM and it decided to show up this morning, as if I needed the extra hassle right now! I'm just hoping the rest of today flies by and I can manage to get a little sleep tonight. I really can't wait

There are a lot of differences among the different weight loss surgeries, but generally you can talk about the stomach stapling versions versus the LapBand. Here are some things to consider when deciding about a LapBand: It's adjustable to fit your individual needs, it can be removed/reversed if necessary, it has a lower success rate/lower weight loss rate, it requires more post-op care (there will be fill appointments and such, and I'm not sure how much those cost for self-pay). Why did I choose it? Because the though of having my guts rearranged and taken out freaked me out, for one. But I also like the idea of it restricting my food intake. That's what I need, personally. Obviously all weight loss surgery patients have restricted food intake, but if you have something like a sleeve and you overeat too often, your new stomach is going to stretch right back out and you'll gradually just be able to eat more and more unless you have the willpower to get back under control. At least with a LapBand, if I notice I'm starting to be able to eat too much, I can go get a fill before it becomes an issue. It helps you check yourself before you wreck yourself, haha All the more power to the people who are successful with weight loss surgeries like the sleeve, but I just know it's not for me.

They will tell you right off the bat at the first seminar you attend that weight loss surgery like the LapBand is just a tool. It requires an entire lifestyle change for it to work to its full potential. The LapBand won't make good food choices for you. It will help with hunger and portion control, but it won't stop everything from getting through that you shouldn't be eating. If you are committed to making the change, the LapBand will definitely help you achieve that, but the psychological side of eating will take some work. I think with the right support, anyone who is really set on changing can totally accomplish what they set out to do

I went to my first seminar in November of 2013 and my surgery is tomorrow, so it took me almost 3 months exactly! If you have any other questions feel free to ask. Also, you can check out my blog (the link is in my signature below). I detailed every step of the process from seminar to surgery so you can read about it if you're interested

Be happy you get to eat food!! Today is my last day of the pre-op diet and all I could have was protein shakes, broth, suger free popsicles, sugar free jello, and diluted fruit juice! I would kill for a salad right now! Haha

There's a Chinese food place right down the street from my house and when my family ordered from there one night I got a wonton soup. I poured it through a strainer, gave that part to my mom, and drank the broth. It was delicious!! The closer to the end of the diet I got, the less hungry I felt. And when I did feel hungry it was usually time for me to have a protein shake anyways. I think what helped me the most was staying busy. Do things you love or tasks that take a lot of time to get your mind off it and the time will fly by! Good luck with the rest of the diet

Generally speaking, everyone around me has been really supportive of my decision to get a LapBand. But, the farther along in my journey I get, the more I'm realizing a certain member of my family is doing a better job of pointing out the negatives and just generally discouraging me from things I feel excited about than giving me the support I need. So my question is, how do you deal with people who are bringing you down? Especially when it's close family members that aren't exactly open to having honest conversations?

Congrats! I'm getting banded on the 18th so I'm going to be in recovery mode soon myself and I'm getting a tad nervous! Are you still in a lot of pain at this point? Or just discomfort?

My big day is on the 18th and I'm on my last day of the liquid diet (tomorrow is clear liquids only) and I have to say, at this point I'm not even hungry anymore. I drink the shakes because I have to, not because I'm starving. Of course, I mentally want to eat real food, but it's easy to get past if I just focus on something else. Staying busy will be your best bet! The first 4 days or so are rough, but once you get past that, It's much easier than it seems, I promise. And when you're done you'll have a whole new appreciation for food. Seriously! I crave vegetables and fruit right now instead of sweets! It's an amazing transformation to feel yourself going through best of luck to you!!