giveyouthemoon

DO NOT STOP DRINKING! Always have something ready. Just KEEP drinking. Now is not the time to worry calories. JUST KEEP DRINKING. Have a Protein drink then have a fruit juice ready...then tea...then Soup....more Protein Drink....more juice. It's the only way to stay sane. My gosh don't wait for two hours!! No no no....always keep something going and always keep sipping away!! You WILL survive...I *promise*!!!

Aw don't beat yourself up about it, okay? I actually see it as a good thing. You are *so* ready to have this done you're willing to do anything to get there. I just think it's your lil' ol' brain working through all the crazy thoughts that are natural around a procedure like this.

I have to swallow slowly and take some time, but I swallow a pretty big capsule twice a day. It can be done, but like everything else that goes in your mouth with the band, it must be approached *slowly*.

WOWOWOWOWOWOW!!! That's amazing. Thanks for the inspiration!

Whoo hooo, and another baby band was born! Huge congrats!

My experience is that a fill usually 'settles in' to be tighter. That being said, after the rough fiil, you might be a skosh swollen so I agree with what others have said...be easy, liquids and very soft mushies only for a week or so to see if things ease up.

So, like many of you have mentioned here....my first fill didn't really "kick in" until about a week after and then hoo boy did it kick in! Wowzers. I used to scoff when folks here would say "I ate a few forkfuls and was STUFFED". I thought "yeah that will never be me". I'm here to testify....:hand on bible:...it's true. WOW. I humbly bow before all you amazing bandsters and your generosity with your experiences. I have learned much from you and will do my best to continue to pass on my own experience. Wow. :full: What a concept!

Everyone has it to some degree or another. But some people have more, some have less. I was told by my surgeon that he had to use the 10 inch in length band (still 4cc's) because my stomach was so large. Not large enough to qualify for the Vanguard band, but still larger. That says to me I have more fat on my stomach, hence more restriction. If Soonergirl has the same size band and less fat around her tummy, then it will take more fill to get to the same level of restriction. capishe?

Ah Soonergirl, I understand the "sweet spot" varies person to person. I'm sorry you don't have that level of fill yet. Stay strong band buddy!!! We were banded around the same time so we have to stick together!! (by the by, I probably have restriction from one fill because my organs are so fatty and yours aren't....so take THAT!)

:arms out: C'mon...gimme some sugars....c'mon...you know you wanna... Big HUGE hugs. And props to you for recognizing what you really need instead of eating to tamp things down. You are evolving my dear friend. How wonderful!

Egads, truer words were never spoken. Two PB's in two days. File me under "slow learner"

I would have a talk with myself about the importance of pain meds and not being a "hero". I got into real trouble with pain on my first day out of the hospital and it took me a long time to come back from that. I would also ask myself not to roll over in the middle of the night that first night because I yanked hard on the place near the port and suffered that for a very long time. Gentle. I would also, as others said, remind myself about the nature of a sip. Got into trouble with THAT. I would thank myself for walking as much as I did because I had NO shoulder pain. All the laps I did on the floor with so much determination paid off immensely. Oh, and I'd tell myself that the severe bloating was coming because THAT was an unpleasant surprise!! And I'd hug myself hard for doing such a wonderful life affirming thing for myself.

Great NSV!!! I'm excited! I too have lost weight in my wrists. Soon I'll be able to wear some old bracelets again and I couldn't BE more excited!! Yay you!!!

I got a fill finally and it was a hell experience (no need to go into it all again) but it's okay, I got the fill and it has really set in. I had two PB's in the last two days because I was pushing the bounds too much. I got REALLY depressed about the PB's, they were both just really, really dumb. They mean it when they say that it make take a week or two for the fill to "kick in". That being said.....as of this morning I've lost 30 lbs since surgery and add that to the 6 pre surgery so I'm at 36 lbs. Wow. I'm also fighting the "female trouble" right now and that always makes me stall. I seem to go stair steps style when I lose. Nothing for a couple weeks then *whoosh* a couple lbs go. Weird.

DeeJay...if you haven't been stuck or PB'd then you are just fine. Me on the other hand...I had two bad PB's two days in a row and now I'm scared youknowwhatless. I'm SO taking it easy now. All liquids or VERY liquidy mushies. So scared. And a little depressed. I know better but I pushed the bounds, I tried to eat too much and too fast. And my band answered back SWIFTLY. Hard lessons learned. Just keep doing what you are doing!!

A lady at our support group asked that very question, if Glucosamine could be taken with the band and my surgeon replied "knock yourself out". Sorry about the hip pain. I get bad hip pain too (esp if I work out too hard) so I can only imagine what you are going through.

If he's a new guy to the group then maybe he's feeling a skosh insecure and overcompensating by being a dirtbag. If you are going to have to work closely with him then personally, I suggest you try to set up a half hour one on one with him with the context of "strategy setting" or something like that. Tell him that you want to insure that the work you are about to do together will be successful for you both. Appeal to his desire to do well in his job. Be open and straightforward. Don't get into any "I think you don't like me" or emotional stuff. Business like.

My drs said that reflux, esp right at first, is VERY common with the band. Your tummy has just been squeezed down and they said at first that causes acid to come up through the stoma. My dr. prescribed Prilosec and I had to take it morning and evening for two months. **CALL YOUR DOCTOR** The acid could do damage to the band.

Yes. Only four very close people to me know I have the band. You know what you do? You tell people "I'm lo carbing" and pretty much they will be supportive. Everyone thinks the 300 lb girl should lose weight so I seem to get much support just by saying that. People will leave you alone if they think you are dieting....everyone can get behind that. And one person has said "wow, you sure don't eat very much" and I say "oh, all this Protein makes me feel SO full!" You have to be confident about yourself and the band. If you feel okay with it then people will leave you alone.

Okay, this is not really something I "miss" per se, but this is a rough adjustment for me.....eating is kind of a pain in the @ss these days. I was thinking today about how easy it used to be. Hungry...eat whatever...don't worry about chewing well. Problem was....not hungry...eat whatever too. I really have to *think* about what I eat and HOW I eat. But this is a GOOD thing. My surgeon calls the band "surgical behavior modification" and boy he's right. Since I'm only two months out I know I'll fall into an easier routine with things but for now it's still a major adjustment...esp since I got my first fill. Here's my #1 bandster lesson....if you think you've chewed enough....chew more. And then chew some more. And even if you took a small bite...don't swallow the whole mouthful first....swallow in stages (and if your esophagus sings at you, stop swallowing and keep chewing). This slowing down my eating is an amazing process and I can finally see JUST how fast I was wolfing down food. So what do I miss? Not much. Everything is a matter of perspective and adjustment.

Ok ya'll....a little back story on me....I dated someone for seven years and about a year and a half ago we broke up. It was devastating. Left me upside down. A year and a half later I haven't dated anyone. No attention from men. Weight higher and higher and higher. Well, now, almost 30 lbs gone from the band (and a lot left to go) and an amazing person has come into my life. And I'm FREAKING out. He's so amazing and I have zero self esteem. He really likes me and I feel like I should run away. People said to watch out for the band, that you carry yourself taller...that you get more attention. Holy crap. I feel like I've only made a dent in this issue. Am I ready to let someone into my crazy mixed up life? Thoughts? How have ya'll handled it??

Wow bushbaby...that's awesome advice and I've never heard anyone say that.....feel the fear and do it anyway. That's perfect. I often get myself crippled up by fear but I love that easy statement....it's okay to feel it..to have fear....but feel it and then do the thing anyway. Wow. I'm going to have to go write that down and post it on my mirror.

Ya'll are amazing. Thanks for stepping up and being great support. Ay god...I don't know what to do. Yes, I'm super happy and proud to have the attention of a good man. And yet....and yet...... Well. All I can do is march forward and that I will. Will keep my amazing LBT friends posted. This could get interesting!!!

True...tho I've been tested. In my original rant I forgot to mention that about 8 months after the bad breakup....my father died. I lost the two most important men in my life within a year of each other. Easy to see why I may consider any man around who might be in my life to be a bit...suspect. No wonder I'm flipping out. Funny to freak out over a GOOD man, eh? Self esteem...a funny issue.

Sweetie, blood sugar is not about eating sugar. It's about how much insulin your body releases when you eat. Some folks, their body does too much insulin and that causes blood sugar to drop and you get symptoms much like yours. I just suggest seeing your doctor right away. Don't hesitate on weird things like this.