Sarahkc

Hello claddagh66! My surgery went really well - especially considering I had some scar tissue from a previous Lap-Band (removed years ago). My healing and pain was not bad at all - I was on the meds for about a week and then just switched to otc meds. The bad part for me was that I was extremely nauseous on day 2 and couldn't keep anything down for about a day (liquid meds included ). They kept me an extra night to let it pass and it did. Its pretty normal for sleevers I was told. I was released mid day on day 4. Honestly it was horrible while it was happening but looking back on it, I survived and it wasn't that bad - I would do it all again already! I went back to work after two weeks - but I really could have managed if I had gone back after a week and a half. I have a somewhat sedentary, desk job so it might have been fine. My biggest concern was my energy level. I was exhausted towards the end of the day and I wanted to wait until my diet was advanced from Clear Liquids to just liquid (I was on clear liquids for two weeks and it was tough toward the end). I was pretty tired those first 2 weeks back to work and didn't expect it (so first month post-op), but it slowly got better and now I feel fantastic (sleeping better, exercising, not totally obsessing over food). Another things I didn't see coming, was I didn't expect my hormones to go absolutely crazy. Apparently toxins and hormones are stored in fat cells so when losing weight rapidly, some people experience mood swings or are super emotional. I also think it was because I was so tired too. I literally burst into tears when my punk neighbors stole ALL the Halloween candy at 5:50 pm on Halloween, and would also get angry at the stupidest inconveniences! The mood swings have lessened now thank goodness! Another minor thing I ran into was that I am often bored now – before surgery, I would spend a lot of my free time eating and/or vegging on the couch. And as bad as it sounds, I used to also smoke and drink and eat a lot – and plan activities around those things (drinks after work, dinners out). None of which I do now. It’s kind of weird to lose most of your vices at once, so now I just plan activities or errands for after work and weekends to fill that time/space (I also found I am not as interested in TV without snacking!). My goal weight is 165lbs and anything under that would be bonus. Phew – that got long! I hope it helps!

Hello! I had my sleeve by Dr. Courcoulas on 10/14 at Magee in Pittsburgh! I loved my doctor - she is incredibly informed about recent research findings and data because she is actively researching and presenting on bariatric surgery/weight loss. Her whole team is also amazing. They are incredible responsive and understanding about all my questions - especially her PA Vicki. At roughly 7 weeks out I have lost about 35 pounds from the start of the lifestyle program (about 25 from surgery). I am now 'regular foods' although I tend to eat soft foods roughly 80% of the time. I have also started exercising so I am hoping it boosts my energy and weight loss! I hope everyone in da burgh is doing well!

Hello October sleevers! My surgery date is October 14th in Pittsburgh and I can't wait! I had Lap-Band about 8 years ago and gained back all the weight I lost, plus about 25 pounds. With the band I lost more than 100 pounds but it was then removed due to complications about 6ish years ago. I started researching the sleeve when the scales kept climbing even with diet and exercise. I started the process this time around at 256 (I am pretty short too) and through the monthly lifestyle program down about 15 pounds. I have been approved by insurance and have almost all my pre-op tests completed (I have that physical and blood work next week). I am very excited to start on this journey again and I remember how much this forum helped me the first time around. I mostly just creeped on other posts last time, but it truly helped when I posted and participated - so here I am! I look forward to connecting with all of you and I hope everyone is as psyched as I am!

So I have been banded for almost a year (I am planning a party for me and my band!) and I have lost more weight than I expected to! I am down to a size 8 and feeling great… But I guess I am vain! I was wondering about everyone’s experiences with their ports becoming visible as the weight comes off. My goal is to wear a bikini this summer (with confidence) and I have been watching my port bump seem to grow as my tummy shrinks! My guy friend asked me if I had a tummy tumor last week! AH! Its not completely weird looking, but it is noticeable when I move and lay down. Any one else have this “problem”? Does it ever get to the point when u can see it with tee shirt? That would be weird! I know there is a procedure to place the port deeper… which I might consider down the road…. but for now I am just looking for some input!

It is officially my band anniversary today- and it feels better than any birthday I have ever had!!!! A year flies by when losing weight huh? Usually at this time I am dreading the spring because I cant hide under my layers in the heat! NOT THIS YEAR! I have lost over eighty pounds and amazingly fit into a size 6! I never thought it would be possible, and I still look at my pants and think “I will never fit those over my thighs” heheh. But they do! It’s funny that I look at my new clothes and think they aren’t mine. I guess my eyes and brain take longer to change then my body! But more importantly for today—any suggestions on a good way to celebrate? I met my goal at 165lbs so now all this is icing on the cake so I want to do something special for myself (besides getting ice cream or something destructive!). What did you do when you hit your goal or had a big band anniversary????

Okay, so I have done well with my band. Its almost a year and I feel great! I think I might be a tad tight though bc I have developed heart burn over the last months… but I haven’t been re-filled for 6 months. Well I can manage the heart burn fine with antacids and not eating before bed—but what’s worrying me right now is my uncontrollable cravings for milk! I hate the taste of milk- or I used to I guess. But now I drink about 40 oz a day! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> Yes it is great protein, but the two things that worry me is 1) it might be a side effect of some complication like slippage and milk is pretty much the only thing that helps the heart burn except for major antacids or 2) some women report milk cravings at early stages of pregnancy…. I am hoping it’s neither and y’all write back to me saying you have developed milk cravings as a result of banding too?!?!?!?! <o:p></o:p> Anyone with any insight please write!

Hey Fellow PA-ers, So like many of you, I had my surgery in Pittsburgh. I am a patient of Dr. Quinlin’s at St. Margaret’s – I am almost at my one year anniversary and down to 150 lbs! But I moved to Philadelphia for work, and am wondering if anyone here goes to a Lap Band support group? I get a lot of my questions answered through this forum, but would like the option of physically meeting others who have had the surgery. Also I am looking to start getting my fills from a Philly Doc after my one year anniversary (I commute to Pitt to see Dr. Quinlin every month as of now) and was wonder who other people see and like?

So I have another question for this group-- Anyone experiencing more drastic TOM symptoms after losing significant amount of weight? I have lost over 60lbs and have gradually noticed more symptoms- I now have increased fatigue, cold sweats, dizziness and migraines during my TOM.... I have have looking into it with my lapband doc, but my blood work looks fine! Anyone find themselves in a similar situation?

I didn’t know they had these kinds of threads for people banded in the same month!!! Hello fellow Marchers!!! I have just recently moved from the “obese” category to “overweight”—so that was a major goal of mine! I never thought I would be so happy to be overweight hehe I weigh about 175ish now, and am looking it hit a stable 155 by my band’s first bday!!! its not a far-reaching goal, but the weight is definitely coming off slower now, and the more weight I lose, the harder the next pound seems!!! Also another goal of mine is to really start concentrating on firming up my abs (I think I have muscles in there!) and my arms. I have taken up jogging, but with the winter here, I want to switch to swimming (at hours where no one at gym—I am not that confident yet!!!) Good luck to all!!!!

My favorite things: - Not feeling like I need to grab a pillow or coat and hold it in front of my tummy when i sit in a chair or couch - Having to buy smaller belts and actually use them!!! - Discovering old cloths in the back of my closet that FALL off of me - Being in a dressing room and having to request a SMALLER size instead of asking whats the biggest size they carry - Having to pull up my pants- not because they are so tight they hurt- but because they are falling down - Feeling my hip bones!!!! (i know it is weird... but it gives me hope that one day I will have a completely flat stomach)

I feel the same way! I have done pretty well with the band and my subsequent lifestyle changes—but my head still needs to catch up! I still dress like I am trying to hide my body (even my boss told me to buy new cloths)… And I have found that when I look in my full length mirror I eyes go straight to my tummy. My friend also told me that when I am out, I tend to put my hand on my stomach (or where more of it used to be!) like I am trying to hid it. I think when the weight comes off- we start to get greedy… I want it to come faster and in the “right” places (I didn’t notice how big my thighs were until my tummy got smaller!). I still hate pictures—especially the ones which are still unflattering after all my hard work. What helps me is to remember back to before the surgery… how hard weight watchers was (and how much hard it was when I gained the weight back and plus 10)… how I would sometimes have to leave a button undone on my pants….. How much I ate when I binged and how it made me feel…. And I especially remember the feeling of lying in bed and hopelessly wondering what life would be like if I was a “normal” weight. I may not be at normal weight… yet… but at least it is not hopeless! I try to keep those memories because the tend to fade with time and I need too keep the perspective that I am a healthier person now emotionally and physically no matter what the reflection looks like!

One thing I wish I had prepared myself for is how uncomfortable I was due to the gas they inflate your body with. I have a really “un-technical” understanding of the surgery, but they use gas to inflate the cavities so it is easier for the surgeon to see and work. This inflation is used for most, if not all, laparoscopic surgeries. Well, after the surgery there is gas still trapped somewhere in the body, and it is “uncomfortable” as it dissipates. Walking around helps a lot, but the first 3 days are hard b/c of that. I was not sore from the actually surgery, just the residual gas from the inflation (kind a weird to think we are balloons!). The only other thing is that I was cranky on the all liquid diet. My doctor is kind of lax on the strict guidelines of when you can eat certain things, so I was on non-clear liquids 4 or 5 days after surgery (but I was fast healing-- I was walking around 3 hours after surgery and am a notorious “non-sweller”). BUT…. I did not drink the recommended amount of calories when I was on Clear Liquids, and made myself feel sicker by being cranky and more tired than I should have been until I was allowed to drink Soup and things. That’s all I can think of!

Okay, so I have been banded since March (time flies when you’re losing weight!) and have had minimal trouble with my band. I don’t know what I would do without it! So I have gotten better with the lifestyle changes, but not so good at judging when my last two bites should be. I know a lot of these threads talk about PBing and throwing up. But what happens to me seems to be neither of those. I will stop eating and 15 minutes later I will have this “different spit” in my mouth (sorry I so lamely explain it). Then I will spit up like 2 bites. It isn’t violent or even unpleasant- and I don’t feel sore after. Does this happen to other people? Is this PBing? It happened like 4x a week, so I am starting to think I am too tight…. But I can still eat my recommended portions. I am also kicking my butt, because I should have learned by now to stop eating 2 bites earlier!! I just need to know that other people have these quiet and almost easy episodes where smaller amounts of food comes up… is this what people mean when they say they throw up? When I think of throwing up, I think of stomach flu/food poisoning sick…. Am I being stupid? Also am I being stupidier bc I might lose my band if I continue this? And the big question... am i totally weird if i dont mind these little throwups? ( i think i know the answer as soon as i typed it... but tell me what you think)

MINE DOES! I am right now sitting at my desk eating prezels!!! I typically can't eat more than 5, but after the whole mini bag i am fine! I am also taking longer to eat things during this time though. I think its in my head because I am used to associating this sluggishness and B*itchiness with eating. When PMSing the hungry feeling makes me notice the other feelings like being tired, annoyed, and pissy. The only one I have control over is the hunger- so thats what I always try to fix! I gravitate to food (and will eat for 45 minutes even though not "hungry"). You are not alone! Now if only we could fix our heads like we have our tummys!

Like most people who are overweight, I have developed a thick skin. I was banded this past March and have lost 40lbs since then. I have totally changed my lifestyle habits to aggressively loose the weight. I go to the gym 4 times a week, swim and play tennis. I feel good, healthy, happy and proud. I think as I thin, so does my “thick” skin. I am overly sensitive about my weight now. I look in the mirror a lot (mirrors were not my friend before), I weight myself everyday, and feel guiltier when I slip up on my diet. I don’t think I truly knew how unhappy I was when I was heavier and what I really looked like. I have invested a lot of time, energy and money into the “new” me, and I am very overprotective of it. That’s why I think 4 people destroyed my confidence this past weekend and obliterated whatever skin I had left. I was walking home from watching a football game at a bar. And three young guys and a girl were in their car at a stop sign. I noticed one guy from the bar I had just left, so I guess I looked too far into the car. As they drove away, they loudly screamed “Lose some weight!”. I was horrified and shocked. I can’t stop hearing it in my head. I know it will fade and that they are senseless monsters, but I can’t stop wondering where my walls of defense have gone? I spent so long putting up my guard that I couldn’t even register the hurt as it hit me. I have spent months feeling good about my band and myself, that it literally knocked the wind out of me. I have mentally kicked their butts on the treadmill, but I am so angry at them and myself for feeling so hurt by something so insignificant. Has anyone else noticed they are offended more easily or so caught up with their weight they don’t notice the drastic changes in their old defenses?

Thank you all so much for your encouraging words! It makes me so thankful there is an outlet like this. That was my first post! Like much of my “before” life, I have been an observer more than a participant. Their mean words have faded because of your kind ones! Thanks again!