mercedes

Hi HL. It was sort of like that for me too. I heard about lap bands the last of June. When I read about it, I knew that this was the answer to all of my prayers. I had wished for years and years that somebody would invent something like this. The more I read and researched it, the better I felt. I told my husband about it and his initial reaction was to poo poo it. I told him (with my most serious face) that I was serious about this. I told him to look into it himself and let me know what problems he saw with it (He is an MD). He did so and came back with the opinion that It was a very simple, non invasive procedure. He thought it was similar to tubal ligations. At one point he sort of hesitated again. I told him he was not my friend in this then. I told him how people go out and get boob jobs and lipo and all sorts of elective surgeries that were far more dangerous. I told him that if I had to, I would sell my horses(which I dearly love) and horse trailer and would do it without his blessing. He wrote me a very sweet letter and he agreed that he had no good reason to appose it. I promised him that I would pay back every penny to him. I called and made the soonest appt. for the best MD I could find (Dr Ortiz in mexico). So I heard about it the end of June and had my surgery Aug.5th and I'd do it again in a minute. There are reasons why MD's in the States choose bypass over lap band, but none I've heard are very good. I predict that this is going to be the BIG thing here soon too. Sometimes the FDA and things make simple things so difficult. It works well. Its a very effective tool to help in weightloss. It's not an "easy way" out! For people like me, it was the only way. I had tried everything else. If your husband says that it's the easy way out, ask him "Why then, would anybody prefer to take a harder way?" Why does he want things to be hard for you? Doesn't he love you? Life is hard enough without deliberately choosing a harder road for no good reason. If you/me could have lost this on our own, we'd have done it by now. It's not like it's a sin or wrong or illegal!!

Hi all! I am now 5 days post op. I cant get in more than 400 cals a day with clear liquids. It's usually right around 325-350. It's the weirdest thing to feel incredibly hungry yet full. At night, I am awakened so hungry that it is incredibly painful. I'm afraid to drink anything because I'm going to lay down again. So, so far I'm up at 3AM starved every night and then again at 6AM. I kept some gatoraid by my bed last night and took just 3 sips and it worked, and I was able to lay right back down since I didn't take in much. Am I going to be okay for another few days at this low cal? I guess I will.

I had mine done the 5th of Aug. I was a little scared. But all my real fears were put to rest with wonderful MD's who knew their stuff. It's just not that complicated a surgery. Day 4 and I'm still okay : ) I'm not sorry I did it and I'd do it again in a second! I shouldn't have been as afraid as I was. It's an adventure. I am looking forward to Friday when I can have thicker drinks ; ) Have a nice meal (last supper) tonight and have a good night's sleep! Hopefully all will be better than you expected, like it was for me.

I will do it today!!! Thanks!

P.S. And "NO" my pillow wasn't missing : D

I have enjoyed and learned a lot on this post! I go out for a birthday dinner for the first time this friday (which is exactly 1 week after banding) and I don't get to eat with everyone. My husband was afraid this would bother me, but I don't think it really will. I'll just have a drink of juice and be totally too full for anything else I suppose....but maybe I will have cravings??? First time so I'll just have to find out by experience : ) None of them know I've been banded so they'll just think I'm dieting....again. Good advice about putting the glass far away so that you don't just instinctually take a big drink to wash down a yummy bite! Last night I dreamed that I ate a whole burrito and forgot I had been banded. When I woke up, I was sooo relieved! Stupid dreams!!! Put me in a flipping panic!!!

Hi Flygirl, I do have kids and I'm 43yrs old. Their ages 15/13/11/8 and they are all boys. I could not stay down in bed for any time. Befor I did this, I figured I was in pretty good physical condition pre surgery (other than the fat) and I am fairly active (have to be w/ boys) so I really believed that I'd recover real well. Luckily it's been pretty good. Had a bad night last night though. I was soooo hungry that even the benedryl didn't make me sleep through it. I just layed there hoping it would subside. I dozed for a while again but then I had a very bad dream. I dreamed I ate a burrito and forgot that I had a band!!! I was so afraid of barfing or making my band slip. Then I woke up and WHEW it was only a dream!!!! You are lucky that you get to have mushies so soon. I have to wait 2 1/2 weeks more! The cream of wheat sounds good for a thick drink. My first day of mushies I want one sweet thing, those little prepackaged containers of flan. Are you extra hungry at night? Daytime I'm fine. I just take a drink and I'm good...even the no calorie stuff fills me fine. I'm just going to have to take double benedryl tonight so I can sleep through the hunger. Monday morning was my last day of pain meds. (I also took liquid Tylenol.) I feel pretty good. What have you been able to do today? When are you going to get on the scales for the first time? I think I'll do that on Friday. I have 2 nieces that live in the Denver area. What area do you live in? We almost moved to the town that bordes Utah, can't think of the name right off. Kinda near Moab. I'm from Utah but live in the east now (for the past 15yrs).

OOps sorry for the repeat info on the Benedryl! And some of the other stuff too! My post could have been 1/2 as long! Sorry.

Hi Again, I can start having protein shakes and thicker drinks on Friday (1week after). I have to stay on the thicker drinks for 1 week, and then I have one week of mushy food, then I can start real food. Why have you only been out of bed 3 times? The first night I thought I was supposed to get up and walk, so I tried and I felt wooozy and had to lay back down and get my pain meds and sleep til morning! The next day I felt pretty good, just some soreness and pain when I'd try to move after being stationary for a while. The more I moved, the better I felt. Sunday, I flew on a 4hr flight, plus 1hr more home and was ready for bed afterwards but I felt too hungry (1st time) to sleep so I took some benedryl and had the best sleep! Today I felt so good that I went to Target, took my son to a dentist appt., cleaned the kitchen, watched the kids swim (layed there because I needed the rest after all that action!), and then went with my husband to my son's football practice to keep him company. I did drink too much at the practice and I'm feeling it now. Gassy pain or full stomach pain. First time today though so that's way better than yesterday. Hardly any hunger today and that is good news too. How do you feel today? Are you from Colorado? Who was your doc? I would love to stay in close contact w you! I wish I could figure out how to do the ticker thing but I'm too computer stupid I guess ! I've tried, but can't figure it out. I'd ask my husband to do it for me but then he'd know my weight! haha! I took some more benedryl just a minute ago so I'm ready to have another nice night of good rest! Hope you have a good night too!

Hi Flygirl, We had the same band date! Where did you have yours done? I'm feeling so much better today. I had to take a benadryl last night because I was too hungry to sleep : ) But I slept all night, mostly on my stomach and woke up feeling great. The liquids are really filling me today and I don't feel too hungry. I just finished a small glass of beef broth. Mmmmm.

Hi Jodie, I think I remember you posting here that you can hardly walk and that your condition is so bad that it is even very hard on you to type. If you shared that info with your friends, maybe they think that you can't dance anymore and that you wouldn't be able to handle a night out. If you were my friend and had told me of some of the physical disabilities that you were having (and they sounded very severe) I would be afraid that you'd get hurt or collapse while out. So you might need to let them know that you are feeling able to do those kinds of things again and I betcha they'd lose their fear and invite you out. It's worth a try : ) Good luck and have a great day : )

Hi Guys, I leave on the plane for San Diego and then on to TJ tomorrow morning!! Thanks for all the advise and hope. I do not have an MD lined up for after care as suggested by all here. How bad is that???? The reason is because I am not 100lbs over weight and I never would have been accepted as a lap band candidate in the US. (I'm 50lbs over weight, with a BMI of 30ish) I felt as though my only choice was to go ahead and do it, then just start begging for follow up care after : ) There is a doc in our city that does some lap bands and I suppose I'm going to ask him if he'll follow up when I get back. I sure hope I'm one of those who has few/no problems!!! If you don't hear from me on monday, that means I died.... I feel like I'm about to jump off a cliff into a pool of Water. Just closing my eyes and having faith that all will be well! I'm almost as worried about the plane flight, I hate bumpy scary flights Wish me luck and send your prayers!!! Mercedes

My number one goal is to remain a PB virgin : ) That whole thing scares me to death, but that's what I've needed all along to motivate me....fear.....

Dr. Ortiz says to have some metamusil to curb hunger. You get to start on thicker drinks now, like protein shakes, right? And yogurt too! I was just there for surgery on the 5th, just got home today. I'm getting pretty hungry now too. The first 2 days were easy because my stomach felt restricted. Good luck!

I made it and I didn't die : ) I think I'm going to like it. Banded 8/5/05 Dr. Ortiz Starting weight 171 Goal 130

Help me get over being scared. I'm going to get banded 8/5/05 in TJ by Dr. Ortiz. Tell me how I'm going to eat and how this band will make me feel when it comes to eating? How has your life been forced to change? Do you still go out to eat now and then with family? Do you have to be prepared to barf at any moment when food gets stuck or is there time to let it come back up when you are ready/prepared? I am not planning on telling anybody except my husband and one of my sisters that I'm even doing this. Will people know that something weird is going on with me? During the first 3 weeks of liquid dieting, am I going to just wish to die from hunger? Or am I going to feel bad enough from surgery that I won't mind it too bad....you know.....like when you are sick and don't feel like eating? :paranoid

P.S. I'm going to write a letter to my family (Husband & 4kids) incase something bad happens. Did any one else do this?

Hi Just, I fly out in the morn. to see Dr Ortiz. I hope hope hope I am in as good a shape as you in 2 days! My stomach muscles should be really good too (under the lard) because I have been doing sit ups like never before since Feb and I can really tell too. I hope that I am in good enough shape to come out of this in flying colors as you did. I'm so glad you did.

I know how I am. I forget sometimes which things I have promised to keep secret. At least after time has passed I know that this can happen with me. So I try to remember that I am like this and that other people will likely share my secrets with others over time too..... that is if they are interesting enough secrets to tell : )

Hi Sonnie, so scary and also hard to deal with : ( Do You have any advice for us about to have it done? Do you have any clue why you developed such problems w/ reflux? Any advice about doctors or fills or anything? I go to Mexico day after tomorrow and I'm hopeful that all goes well, but it is an expensive risk isn't it!

Hi guys, can I ask, why do you have to do liquids only the week before surgery? I haven't done that and I'm having the surgery this Friday in Mexico. Should I start on liquids now, I wonder, and do them for the next 4 days? I haddn't asked them about it and they never mentioned it???

Hi All, When you say that you can use it or blow it, what do you mean? What do you do when you "use it" to your advantage? What do you do when you "blow it"? How do you avoid blowing it? Thanks Sue for sharing your experiences : )

I have a question, and I know that I will be asking the Dr. specifics on this, but I guess I'd like to hear from you if you know. I have been lifting weights with a trainer since February and I'm wondering if I'll ever be able to do power lifting type lifting again? My favorite lifts are the dead lift and squats but they are very strenuous (sp). I never thought I would enjoy weights, I thought it would be so boring and unproductive. Boy, was I wrong. I can tell such a huge difference in my body and I really want to get back to it as soon as possible after surgery. Anybody been through this? i i

You all are going to be sick of me. I'm trying the ticker thing again.

I just want to see if I got the ticker from the ticker factory working.