JustWatchMe

Woo hoo !!!!

My surgeon told me flat out that this band was permanent. He did initially ask why I ruled out the sleeve. I told him my reasons and he accepted that. He still does many bands and his is a Bariatric Center of Excellence. By reading these boards I've learned that too tight leads to many problems. And PBs, stuck episodes, reflux, etc. are signs of being too tight. So I'm very aware of this and cautious. I want my band to last and I am scared of erosion and slippage. I also know that with proper monitoring I can make sure I'm not developing problems. Right now that's easy to see with good satiety and steady weight loss. When I get to goal and maintaining, it will be more of a challenge but still my responsibility to listen to my body and have the doc check my band annually. I'm still in the honeymoon phase but I know this is a lifelong commitment.

That said, I really didn't have a soft foods phase. I had six weeks of full liquids (example would be cream soups), then regular food. Some soft foods I think might be chili, scrambled eggs, hummus, ricotta or cottage or cream cheese, puréed anything (I used my blender a lot and added more protein and veggies to soups that way). Protein will satisfy you hours longer than starches. So try to make protein your main ingredient and build around it. Don't be afraid to eat nontraditional foods. I've had hamburger for breakfast and eggs for dinner many times. Who cares? If it's healthy and it works for you, then do it.

Every person has their own instructions, but my nut advised against potatoes and other starches because they want me to focus on proteins first, then veggies, then carbs last, if at all. I'm five months out and that still guides me. Good luck!!

@@wadeg7, this is so inspiring. Congratulations !!!

Har!

I took Aqua Zumba this winter and loved it. Unfortunately the summer session is weekdays while I'm at work.

@@shantra, good for you! You will do this! Stay connected here. It really helps for motivation. Good luck.

Love this !

Yep. What they said. I was happy to go back to my desk job the Monday after my Thursday outpatient surgery, but everything else I did, like stairs, lifting, bending, etc was tiring. I waited four weeks for my Aqua Zumba class and still felt sore and tired afterward. Our bodies have been traumatized whether we admit it or not. Take it easy. But do walk. That will help your healing.

I'll second that.

I had a pair of professional fitted slacks I have not worn in five years. No elastic whatsoever. They were tight even when I bought them. I tried them on a month ago and they were still tight at the waist. Today I tried them on and they are baggy!!!!! I'm wearing them but they kinda look like clown pants. Moral of the story is don't miss your clothing size window! Dig through that closet frequently. This made me very happy today. *clownish grin to go with my clown pants*

@@jessiquoi said "i believe when we're tense our body fights everything we're trying to do." Amen to that!

@@Jack said, "Priority must be given to whatever is most important in our lives." A form of this statement has been my life motto for years. To paraphrase, if you want to know what your values are, look where you spend your time. We make time for what and whom we value.

Thank you !

I had a tiny 0.25 cc fill yesterday. That's three for me making 7.25 in my 14 band. I'm almost five months post op. I can still swallow Tylenol caplets so I'm good. Stil on liquids until dinner tonight. The fluoroscopy room was in use when I arrived so this time my fill was done without it. But it went fine. I actually swallowed my Tylenol pills as a post fill test while she watched. I asked why some people need adjustments long after finding their green zone. She said the stomach doesn't stay the same size over time. Because it expands and contracts it gets used to lower or bigger amounts of food over time. That of course can affect how tight the band is at any given time. Made sense to me. This is a lifelong process and as long as I stay connected to my doctor and get fills as needed, I expect the best outcome.

Hey your surgeon needs to know his stitches didn't hold. Call ASAP and demand they squeeze you in. I'm sure he'd want to address it immediately. Good luck.

I'm not diabetic but you're not in the green zone yet so hunger is still there. Wishing you the best. Good luck.

Sciatica is the worst. Hope things work out for you.

Yes! Woo hoo!

"So rejoice that you have crossed to the other side, away from all the madness...." That's how I feel. The madness is over.

Ask us! Most of us have read one or both! (It can be a pop quiz.).

I'm divorcing and will soon have to change from my husband's excellent BCBS PPO insurance to my own company's plan. They offer a decent (so I'm told by coworkers) BCBS H M O and a pricey BCBS PPO. I haven't shopped for insurance in decades. If I go with the PPO I can keep my primary care physician, my dermatologist and my band doctor. If I go with the H M O I have to switch bariatric teams. I'm still looking into the options and providers but I do know that I definitely want an office with fluoroscopy like I have now. It's also a Bariatric Center of Excellence which is important to me. This change will likely happen in January if my husband is able to drop me from his plan during open enrollment. Not sure if it will happen then or later when the divorce is finalized, date unknown. My question is, for those of you who have changed doctors with LapBand within the first year, what advice do you have for me? I'm happy with my team but the only thing I dislike is the distance from work. The fills are hard to schedule because I can't get them after 4:30pm and it takes an hour to get there. Otherwise I am very happy. But to have a high monthly payroll premium deduction for the PPO is a big hit now as I'm starting over with two girls in private college. I'm in the near west Chicago suburbs (DuPage). Anybody love their WLS doctor in this area? Edited because bariatric pal didn't like the H M O abbreviation. .

Thanks, I needed that today. Having an emotional road bump today and just getting through it. Happily, my band got adjusted and I got the teeny fill I wanted, so 48 hours of liquids means I can't medicate with food even if I wanted to. Lol. Small blessings.