Sue Magoo

Hi: I teeter-totter with two to three pounds alot now that I'm getting closer to goal. I'm guessing that is why they tell you to weigh yourself just once per week so that it doesn't make you crazy! Congratulations on your loss. Sue

Hi All: How are you all doing? Any specific questions for this experienced bandster? I hope all is going well with all of you. Let me know if I can help. Sue

Hi: It seems that maybe one of two things is happening here, or a combination. Maybe you are swelling more than usual or your band is too small. The surgeon that I have stopped using the smaller bands last year because he had to reband 3 patients in one month because the smaller band ended up being too tight after swelling. He said he doesn't use the smaller band on anyone anymore. I hope the swelling goes down soon. Please let your doctor know if you are unable to keep liquids down. In a few weeks you'll probably be hoping to have that full feeling again. Until then, follow your doctors orders while you are healing. I hope the rest of your band adventure is a little easier for you. Take care. Sue

Nikole: Congratulations on your 2 pounds per day loss. I'm jealous of that. You're not supposed to feel full from the banding until you have restriction from the fills. I found that after about ten days from surgery I was dying to have something to eat. I called my doctors and he said I could start mushies. You may want to have some Soup more often. Have some fudgsicles too! Call your doctor if you want to start mushies early. He'll know the questions to ask to see if your body is ready for that. Take care, and congratulations! Sue

Hi: I'm not sure if it is normal, but please follow the doctors orders. If you go as high as 101, please call them. It could be an infection brewing that you cannot see. Take care. Sue

lessme: My doctor said not to expect to lose weight until I felt restriction. Luckily I felt it right away, even before band was filled. However, after about 6 weeks the restriction seemed less because I'd already lost quite a bit. I think that they say that a banded patient should lose 1 to 2 pounds per week on average on the first year. Go to your support group. It's really helpful to speak with other bandsters face-to-face. Good luck to you, and please be patient, even though it is hard. Take care. Sue

Rainer: You've done amazingly well. I have to admit that I have too. It does feel so good to be able to move again. I was getting bored with walking so I bought a trikke. Now I love exercising. It's so much fun that I forget that it's a workout because it feels like playtime to me. Enjoy your newfound freedom from the fat. I wish I had a trampoline because that sounds like a blast too. Thanks for sharing your happy feelings. I think that happy feelings can be contagious once shared! Take care. Sue

Stacy: You might want to bring a pillow to hug on the way home. I can remember that when the car hit bumps the "jiggle" effect bothered me. My surgery was about an hour but I had a hernia repair at the same time. Best wishes to you for a quick recovery. Don't be surprised if you gain weight the first few days - just Fluid and it goes away within a week. I gained 9 pounds and wasn't warned that it could happen. Take care. Sue

Mramey: I hope you feel better soon. I got nauseus with my gallbladder and the pain radiated from the chest through my back. Gall stones are common for people who are losing alot of weight quickly. If the pain gets worse, please call your doctor. If you can't keep fluids down, call too, or go to emergency room. Don't get dehydrated. Take care and keep us posted. Sue

Hi: Congratulations! A week off should be okay, but if you are lifting heavy things (patients) you might have a problem after a week. I believe that I had restrictions on lifting for six weeks. Best wishes to you. Sue

Hi: There's a few very easy things that I have. I buy granola and put a 1/4 cup of granola with a container of fat free yogurt - yummy. Sometimes I have six or eight townhouse crackers with a piece of fat free cheese split into four pieces so that it ends up being four "cracker sandwiches". Sometimes I can only eat three of them. I have Peanut Butter on crackers sometimes too. Another quickie BLT that I make is three slices of bacon cooked well and crumbled. Add that to a diced fresh tomato, and mix in some mayonaise. It's kind of like a blt without the lettuce and bread. A bunch of grapes are good. As with everything else, chew until it's pulverized, and take your time between bites. I look forward to reading the responses because alot of people have good ideas that we can all use. Take care. Sue

zillyanne: I gained 9 pounds of Fluid the first three days. My doctor said it was normal and not to worry. I stayed with the liquids and in about a week I lost those 9 pounds plus some more. So, take care of yourself as you are in healing mode. Stay with liquids, and you'll probably have a few days of "peeing like crazy" and all of that fluid will be gone. Best wishes for your lap band success. Take care. Sue

Hi: I've had issues with breakfast too. Not because of the food, but because I want to drink coffee in the morning. I drink coffee (2 to 3 cups) from 7:30 a.m. until about 10:00 a.m. Then, I wait about an hour and have something to eat. It's usually something easy like some crackers with cheese, or yogurt, or a granola bar. Then, I don't have lunch until around 3 o'clock or so. This has been working for me. Best wishes to you to find something that will work for you. I don't recall if you've mentioned whether you are exercising or not. I think that's the key to my success in the past year. I've actually grown to love exercising - especially my trikke. Take care. Sue

Amy: The heck with them! You go girl and one day nobody will comment about your size! Congrats on your loss so far. Keep up the good work. Sue

Hi Everyone: I am wondering about BMI goals. I know that for me, the top of my BMI range is 159 pounds. I currently weigh 182 pounds (ticker not updated). So, I have 23 pounds until a healthy BMI. However, I'm already able to wear some size 12 pants. I think that if I lose 23 pounds I'll be in a size 10 and that's too thin for me. I'm already getting comments from people about getting too thin on the top half of my body. Frankly, if I lose 23 more pounds I think I may look gaunt. So, I'm thinking that I may want to set my goal 10 pounds above healthy BMI, or 169 pounds for my 5' 7" frame. I will ask my doctor next month, but I'm looking for all of your expertise. What's the harm in being ten pounds overweight, versus the BMI healthy weight range? Is there really much difference? I'm 48 years old and don't want to be thin. I want to be average-sized. I just don't want to be fat! I'm almost there now. Please tell me if you know if there's much more risk to someone's health if they are carrying an extra ten pounds or not. Thanks everyone. Sue

Kizzie: My heart goes out to you. I hope that it all turns around to the positive soon. I almost feel guilty for having gone through everything so smoothly. Take care, and hopefully you, your doctor, and your body will have more success with the band soon. Sue

Thanks Christine and Jacqui. I'll let you know what the doctor says next month. It's so good to be "almost" comfortable in my skin. I wish this feeling to everyone. Take care. Sue

Hi: Try sitting in a chair and putting your legs out in front of you. Now, lean as far as you can toward touching your toes. I found this to be helpful once for me. I hope you're unstuck soon. Sue

Aubrie: There's a woman who has been on this forum that had some fabulous plastic surgery results and she put pictures up here. Her name is something like JulieNYC. If you have some time, take a look at her pictures and you'll see how great her arms (and everything else) turned out. Sue

Reenie: Have you talked to your primary care doctor? I think you should go that route before the podiatrist. Could be something going on there. I would guess that it won't be band related. Hope you find relief soon. It's hard to be active when you have pain in your feet. Let us know how you make out. Sue

Julia: That doesn't make any sense at all. Your doctor will probably have some literature you can take with you. Good luck with your appointment. Sue

Hi: Day two isn't so bad. Just make sure you have liquid pain medication and lots to drink by the bed. You'll probably be sleeping alot. You should be able to get out of bed without help, but you probably won't be out of bed for more than a few minutes. If you have a reclining chair, put the necessities next to the recliner - clicker, magazine, beverages, liquid pain meds, laptop. I hope all goes well. Sue

Annie: It's all about the risk factors for me. The risk was much lower with lap band. I've lost 142 pounds in 15 months, so it's been great! I don't think I would have lost alot more with Gastric Bypass, anyway. I feel great and I don't look sickly. My before & during just got posted today if you feel like looking. Good luck. Sue

Karri: No postings on this thread for ten days. Are you healing well? Please keep us posted so we don't worry about you. Crazy, I don't know you, but I almost feel like I do. We're bandmates, and in about a year I'll be having ps too. Hope all is well. Sue