mummybandit

TulipStar, can you tell me exactly what this surgery involved? Was is a general or a local anasethic- do you have another scar? I am hoping the recovery will be no where near what my actual lap band sugery was. this is only day surgery but I am concerned - I have two little ones to take care of and my husband will be away at work until two weeks after I have the surgery done.

Come on guys - I've always found this to be a really supportive and positive place to visit. Being judgemental and condescending is no help to anyone. While some may not be interested in celebrities - and believe their lives are their own - others are interested and take comfort in the fact that someone they perhaps look up to (for whatever reason) have been through a similar struggle and looked for a similar solution. Let's try and support each other and if you don't agree - then don't respond.

Maybe I'm wrong here, but I know in Australia the Atkins diet has had really bad press about being a very unhealthy way to live long term. Not to mention the bad breath issue. I think by all means cut down on carbs - but almost eliminating an entire food group from your diet can't be great. I thought the point of the band was to be able to eat everything in moderation. I think the way we can succeed is by not feeling we are on a "diet" but eating much smaller portions of generally good food and exercising. Good luck.

Thanks everyone - you've confirmed what I thought. I have made an appointment with my local doctor though because the area is very red and looks a bit infected. A friend who is a nurse said it was better to get it checked in case it was a low grade infection that needs clearing up as I don't want to drive 2 and half hours on the 17th and not be able to get my first fill. Thanks again everyone. You've put my mind at ease.

I don't go to see my surgeon until the 17th of December (he lives a long drive away) so I thought I would check with my the band family to see if anyone can help in the meantime. My port scar looks great except for one little spot in the middle that is red and inflamed with a small scab (banded 23rd October) Of course I picked it today (I Couldn't help it) and low and behold out came a small twisted piece of "string" - obviously a surgical suture that hasn't yet dissolved. It broke and I have been left with a small hole in my scar with a piece of string hanging out of it. I am worried that I won't be able to get a fill on the 17th -(haven't had one yet) or that something that was supposed to be stitched in place no longer is. Will probably head to my local doc to get it checked but was wondering if anyone else has had anything similar happen or knows what may be going on. Thanks in advance.

Oh Lizzy, you definitely need to have either someone there to help you or have them stay elsewhere. I too have two little ones - they were 3 months and 2 and half at the time of surgery and I had to have my husband there. I thought I would be fine to have my son in hospital with me (who I'm breastfeeding) but boy was I wrong. I also bounced back quickly from childbirth etc but I found myself in a lot of pain afterwards and by trying to do too much too soon, I actually made it worse - the gas pains in your abdomen and shoulders are the worst. You could be fine as some people are but you also may find that you are on painkillers for at least a few days and a bit sore and sorry for yourself as I was. Once a week had passed I was fine and now know it was the best thing I have done but I had my husband there 24/7 to help out. Make sure you get some help and congrats on being banded.

It sounds to me that your brother is also a bit jealous of your relationship with your mum - hence all the "sheltered" "not normal relationship" comments. I just wish that people who have never struggled with their weight and their relationship with food would stop thinking that you can just stop eating junk, exercise more etc. My brother has made the same comment to his wife - who really struggles with her weight and me. I struggled with my weight - (albeit no where near to the same extent that I do now after two children)- when I was an elite basketballer playing and training 6 nights a week. Can't do much more exercise than that. The classic thing is he is a smoker and drinker and they are really hurting his health but he is "addicted" and can't give up. Food addiction is exactly the same - it is a very difficult thing to control and unlike smoking where you don't have to do it - you have to eat to live so your addiction is with you all day every day. If he or anyone else ever says that this surgery is the easy way out - ask them if they have a band and if not then they can shut the hell up. The surgery can be very painful - (mine was) and the post op diet is really hard for some people- tell him to have nothing but liquids for a month. Then tell him to change his lifelong habits - learning to eat slowly - chew everything so much more takes time and effort - so easy way out my arse. It is a tool to assist you and will not do the work for you. (Mind you it is all worth it and you are making the right decision) But I do hope you can patch things up with your brother and he can be supportive - I think writing the letter is a great idea because you can get out everything you want and need to say without interruption. Then it is up to him. Hang in there and I wish you every success.

Hi Holly, Just found this thread. I was banded October 23rd - and the name is Mandy. great job on this.

Jachut, you make me laugh. As another Aussie, i too have experienced the Tim Tam orgasm and sorry but you guys who don't live down under have no idea what you are missing. Yes, I'm sure they would count as a mushie but I don't know how much nutrional value they have. Anyway, reading your posts has made me feel great, I too am very tall 6foot and as a former elite basketballer, now mother of two, my weight has got out of control. there is no way I could live on so few calories and not be able to live a normal life so your story gives me great hope for the success of my band. I have been very naughty so far and am eating solids 3 weeks after banding but not having trouble with anything, in fact I feel great, particularly after losing so much weight - (I am still breastfeeding so no doubt this helps). I am chewing lots and eating smaller portions but not depriving myself of anything so I don't feel like I am on a "diet" at all, which is supposed to be the point of a lap band, or so I thought. I am looking forward to heading back into basketball next season a lot lighter and fitter than the last one. Thanks for making me feel so positive about the band - and laugh about the Tim Tam orgasms - and you look great in your two piece.

I had a very painful time after the surgery so definitely be organised with all your juices, drinks etc if you live alone. Might be an idea to have family or friend to stay for a few days just to make sure you are OK. Some people don't have very much trouble at all after the surgery, others really struggle. I wish I had known how hard it would be to stick to liquids only and how much I would miss chewing. Mind you now that I am eating solids, my jaw sometimes gets sore from chewing so much. But I think everyones experience is different, you just have to get through it the best you can. Hope this helps.

Hang in there Holly. I too am finding I can eat anything however, I am getting full a lot quicker and by following the other rules like chewing well and eating slowly, I am not eating nearly as much. Also, because my brain knows I have had surgery, I am finding it a bit easier to be better with food choices. All this stuff about protein and sprinkling it on stuff amazes me, cause in Australia - my surgeon at least makes no such demands. All the calorie counting and stuff that people are doing would drive me crazy because to me that is "being on a diet" and I didn't think that was what the lap band was about. Obviously you need to make good choices most of the time but by eating much smaller amounts of everything and realising that you can't consume massive amounts and then eat again a short time later, you lose weight. I thought that the idea was everything in moderation. I worry about the whole "Atkins" approach because it has received some really bad press over here - and a number of dieticians and doctors have said that it is not a healthy way to live. I actually tried the Atkins diet - years ago - (haven't I tried all diets) and I was really unwell - no energy etc and I needed carbs for playing basketball. It is so hard with so much conflicting information but I guess everyone finds what works for them and hopefully we will all keep losing to be healthier and happier.

You are doing such a good job and doing all the right things. I was banded on the same day and I haven't been nearly so good. As a breastfeeding mum (my second son is 14 weeks old) I was dying on nothing but liquids and mushy foods. i have been really careful and haven't gone near red meat (not that I like it much anyway) but I have been eating quite a lot of solid food. I am amazed by how easily it is all going down, although I am eating much less and chewing really well. I can't get my first fill until the 17th of December although it won't be a lot due to the breastfeeding. But chicken, pasta, rice fruit etc no problems. I still only have a smoothie for breakfast and a cup of soup for lunch but I am having solids in the evening. One thing I have been trying is thinking about the quality of the food I eat - and I've decided if I am going to eat something "not so good" I have to make it myself. That way I burn up some calories with cooking (dancing while you do it helps too) and usually by the time I get round to it, I realise I don't really need it anyway. I lost heaps of weight in those first few liquid weeks 10 kgs - approx 22 pound but I have slowed now that I am eating some solids. Probably a good thing though, otherwise my skin won't have time to adjust. Hang in there, keep with it and we'll all lose heaps of weight together.

I went to my chiropractor 8 days after being banded. He doesn't do anything as drastic sounding as "the rack". In fact never heard of it here in Aus, but I had no problems at all. he just didn't adjust me from lying on my stomach - just lying on my back and side and then did my neck whilst sitting up. Didn't affect me at all so as long as he knows you've been banded then I wouldn't think it would be a problem.

You poor thing. Know just how you feel. I was banded almost 2 weeks ago and ended up at the hospital with these pains because they were so bad, I was doubled over and crying and I am not a sook (delivered a 9 pound 13 and 1/2 ounce son and a 10 pound 11 and 1/2 ounce son naturally, so I know pain). I couldn't believe how bad they were and no one had warned me about gas or anything else. Anyway after going through numerous tests, x-rays, and a ct scan to make sure there was no leak etc. it turns out to be something like gas etc that you just have to deal with. (My doctor is 2 hours drive away and his office number wasn't answering) I was trying not to take any pain medication because I am still breastfeeding but I found that making sure I took this on time and rested made a real difference. After a few days it had gone - thank god and I am now feeling one hundred percent. I found this forum after I had been through all this, just wish I had found it before because I would have saved myself 6 hours at the hospital. Hope you are better soon.

Hi everyone, I was only banded 8 days ago and would like a little advice from experienced people as my surgeon has the personality of a rock and I don't find him easy to talk to. As a 182cm (6ft) former basketballer who had tipped the scales at 130kgs(286pds) I felt I really needed to do something drastic. Hence the band, but my second son is only 3 months old and I am still breastfeeding. After a horrendous first few days with the most extreme side flank pain ( ended up at the hospital but nothing wrong) I am now feeling pretty good. However, I am feeling better because I put a little solid food in my stomach. Within an hour the pain had subsided and has not returned. I have been eating a little bit of solid stuff each day for the past 3 days,(chunky soups, tuna mornay etc) chewing well, eating slowly etc and have had no troubles at all. However, my husband is worried that I will do some damage to the band or myself although I think unless I vomit, this is unlikely to happen. As a breastfeeding mum I am obviously very conscious about nutritional requirements etc and found this difficult with liquids only but don't want to damage the band. Anyone else start eating a bit early?? Or hear of difficulties etc..

Hi everyone, I was only banded 8 days ago and would like a little advice from experienced people as my surgeon has the personality of a rock and I don't find him easy to talk to. As a 182cm (6ft) former basketballer who had tipped the scales at 130kgs(286pds) I felt I really needed to do something drastic. Hence the band, but my second son is only 3 months old and I am still breastfeeding. After a horrendous first few days with the most extreme side flank pain ( ended up at the hospital but nothing wrong) I am now feeling pretty good. However, I am feeling better because I put a little solid food in my stomach. Within an hour the pain had subsided and has not returned. I have been eating a little bit of solid stuff each day for the past 3 days,(chunky soups, tuna mornay etc) chewing well, eating slowly etc and have had no troubles at all. However, my husband is worried that I will do some damage to the band or myself although I think unless I vomit, this is unlikely to happen. As a breastfeeding mum I am obviously very conscious about nutritional requirements etc and found this difficult with liquids only but don't want to damage the band. Anyone else start eating a bit early?? Or hear of difficulties etc.. (accidentally posted this on the intro site too)

She too didn't seem concerned about me having the surgery, so I guess I am being overly worried. Having a breast feeding mulit vitamin everyday and a meal replacement shake, which contains lots of protein.

Don't back out!! This is something you really want right? Straight after my op - I bawled and thought I had done the wrong thing but after a week, I know I have done the right thing for my health and well being. There are some great threads on here to help you out. I don't know anything about where you are or your obesity centre but all the people who have been through it and come out thinner and happier on the other end can't be wrong. You will be OK.

Don't understand why you need to lose weight before the surgery - isn't this what the surgery is for? To help you out!! In Australia - my part of it anyway - we have no pre op diet at all - in fact I ran amok leading up to surgery. Or is it a health with operation thing?? Anyway - hang in there - if you have to do it just think it won't be long until you will have more help (band) and it will be easier. Wishing you all the success in the world.

Thanks so much for your responses. Definitely great advice from everyone, particularly on the "cheating already thread". Unfortunately there isn't anyone else at his office that I can talk to and he just says "continue with fluids" until week four. He had no problems with the surgery on a breastfeeding mother, in fact he was going to do it when my son was only 6 weeks old - but needed to postpone it. (Thank goodness in hindsight) - although we have already discussed that I am not going to have very much adjustment done until I am no longer breastfeeding in around 9 months time. I am trying really hard to get all my nutrients through liquids alone and now that I am no longer in pain, I think it will be easier to stick to this for awhile longer. Not complaining about the weight loss already though - 8kgs (17.6) pound in 8 days. My son also seems his normal self - happy and contented so my milk must still be doing ok. I'll hang in there - really glad to have found this site though.