citygirl4616

Mine is about an inch or two below my right breast (below the bra line).

I have completely been craving healthy foods....veggies, grilled chicken, fish, turkey slices, salads. Then again, I am only 12 days post-op, and am still eating mushies, so it could just be real food I am craving. The oddest thing to me is that I have always been a total carb addict. I could go days without eating any protein, just cereal, pastas, bagels, rice, etc. Obviously, not healthy, and not good for weight. Now, none of those foods sound terribly appealing to me. It seems like not being able to eat carbs for a month (pre-op diet included) may have finally broke be of my carb addiction.

I haven't personally tried eating bread yet, but I have heard some bandsters just cannot tolerate untoasted bread. It gets to a very 'gluey' consistency once it is chewed, and just won't go down. Crackers, toast, and any crunchy carb go down much easier for some, but bread can be troublesome.

I went a little nuts with the eating for the month before my surgery. I just ate whatever my little heart desired, and gained 4 pounds in 4 weeks. By the time I was 4 or 5 days before my surgery, I was so sick of eating, I was just back to my normal diet. I am glad I got all of those cravings out of my system!

I have been weighing myself every morning because I was only banded 10 days ago and I am still losing pretty quickly. It is amazing to actually see the scale go down on a daily basis! Of course, this is only temporary. I am guessing by six weeks (or sooner), when my weight loss slows down, I will start weighing myself once a week, maybe twice.

I can 100% relate to you. I just started the mushee phase yesterday. The liquid phase is very depressing, but worth it. I lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks (and not Water weight!). During that liquid phase, you start to see food everywhere! I was thinking about it constantly. Going grocery shopping for my family caused such frustration and anger. It does help you really appreciate your food when you begin to eat again. I have never enjoyed a spoon of cottage cheese, with salt and pepper, more than the one I had as my first soft food. Oh...and a scrambled egg, with a little cheese....delicious! Who knew such simple, healthy food could be so satisfying?

My DH only knows what I weighed on our wedding day (which is currently my goal weight). He has never asked, and it never came up in conversation. Now, as I am losing weight, he asks how much I have lost, and what is my goal. I think he would be *shocked* if he knew the actual number. Especially since, at my highest, I was 30 pounds heavier than him (and I am 10 inches shorter!). Now, thinking about it, it is so odd that I have been ashamed to tell him my weight. After all, we have been married 15 years, he has seen me naked, he has watched me give birth to two children....my weight is just a dumb number on a scale! Interesting......

Awww...that's such great news to hear! Best of luck to you. Shopping for a wedding dress is going to be so much fun for you at your new weight....

I got banded one week ago, and am eating/drinking protein shakes, ice tea (decaf), SpecialK protein water, flavored fruit water, Jello, Better than Boullion soups and some diluted apple juice. I had some decaf coffee as well. It is pretty boring, but is going by faster than i thought it would.

I was given IV antibiotics in the hospital during my 1 night stay. I wasn't given any to taken at home.

Have you seen the Better Than Boullion broth mixes? They come in several flavors, and are pretty good. They have Turkey, Lobster and Ham, all are very flavorful, and a nice change of pace from chicken and beef broth. I buy them at my local Publix in the soup aisle.

I got banded 5 days ago, and physically I feel pretty good. A little pain near the port, a little lingering gas, but surprisingly okay. My Protein shakes are keeping me from getting weak and hungry, and I am staying hydrated. Here is my problem. I cannot stop thinking about eating and the food I cannot have! I am craving sitting down to dinner, and having a "real food" meal. I feel like an alcoholic must feel when they are put into rehab and go into withdrawal (although this is more emotional than physical). I miss turning to food for comfort after a hard day. I miss 'treating' myself to a brownie or muffin as a 'reward' for a job well done. I didn't realize how hard it would be to give up the emotional aspect of eating. How have some of you past emotional eaters dealt with this? Does it just go away on its own, or are there some tricks, and/or healthy replacements for the "high" that food provided?

I had to take an MMPI-II personality test. I am assuming you already have an established relationship with a psychologist or psychiatrist. Depending on exacting what your doctor is looking for, your current doctors may be able to help you get the pschy clearance your surgeon wants. The psych eval. is primarily to weed out those with undiagnosed eating disorders, and to make sure those who get approved for surgery will be emotionally ready for it.

My husband has never been 100% on-board with my decision to get the lap band surgery. I am getting such mixed messages from him, and I am really hurt. Here is the deal... He is a physician. He suggested I lose weight for health reasons, and said he will help me any way he can. He said he will cook healthy meals for me, run with me, hire me a trainer...whatever I want to do. Well, I tried that for 2 years (not the running thing, I hate to run!), and I kept gaining and losing the same 10 pounds. When I told him how frustrated I was, he said that if I started to increase my cardio, the weight would fall off (he lost 40 pounds when he took up running). I explained that we were different, and I think I would look into the Lap-Band procedure. He started calling his GI friends and surgeon friends, and got me Dr. Steinberg's name. All is great, and I start the necessary steps to get the surgery scheduled. Hubby calls Dr. Steinberg, thinks he is a great guy. He gets medical articles on the procedure, and asks around in the hospital about it. Last week, I said to him that my final payment is due next monday (I am self-pay). He makes a face, and says, "Why do you have to pay upfront?". "Because that is the hospital policy on scheduled, non-insurance surgeries..." Then he starts complaining that as a doctor (he is not a surgeon)...he doesn't require patients to pay upfront. Well....because his patients all pay a $40 co-pay. Then, last night, I mentioned how helpful I was finding this support board. Again, he made a face and said, "Why are you going on Internet web boards?" Now I am pissed! "Because I need someone to share this experience with, and I need people who I can turn to for support!" 2 minutes of silence followed. Then he said, "I'm supportive of you.". I said, "No you're not. You never ask me about me doctor's appointments, you know nothing of my pre-op diet, post-op diet, what to expect the first few days home, what meds I will need, what my life will be like after surgery!" Then he said, "You never told me you wanted to talk about it. I am afraid you think this surgery is an easy-fix, and you think the weight will fall off with no effort on your part. You know...you can't eat what you were eating before and you will have to exercise to lose the weight. Also, you may be in some pain after the surgery..did you know that?" OM f***ing G!!! Is he freaking serious! "Hey, doctor ass****, I gave birth to two of your children, I think I know to expect pain! Oh, and really? I have to change my diet? Like the 2 hour nutritional seminar went over, and the 12 page eating guide they gave me goes over? Maybe if you showed any interest in this process, you would know all this!" My therapist, and my step mother are more supportive of me right now than he is! Okay, it sounds like I am still a little mad! It is Monday morning at 7am. He already left for work. Before he left, he woke me up, and apologized. Both of our kids are going our for New Years Eve tonight, so it is just the two of us. I just don't get it! He was so on board, and supportive in the beginning. When I ask him what has changed, he just says he doesn't know. Sorry for such a long vent!

I had my surgery on 1/10. The 2 things I used the most was my lip balm (I kept it right by my bedside, and reapplied constantly), and my hairbrush. My hair was a mess, and I was glad to be able to brush it. The hospital supplied me booties and a robe. Gas-X has not been helpful to me at all. I bought a magazine which came in handy when I couldn't sleep. Also, I brough a toothbrush and toothpaste, but didn't need it b/c the hospital supplied me with them.

Good luck Jan. 10th bandsters. Just a few hours away at this posting! Will catch up with you all over the weekend! Gwenn

Hi Char...I am getting my surgery in Atlanta, at Dekalb Medical Center. I have to be there at 8am for a 10am surgery. I just took a long, hot bath to get my mind of the blinding hunger. It definitely worked! Now I am doing the full on beauty treatments....mask, mani, pedi., scrubs....anything until I fall asleep! Good luck! Catch up w/ you Friday!

Hi...I am getting banded tomorrow too I am so hungry right now. I have been on a 48 hour, clear liquid only diet since Monday night (broth, Jello, apple juice, etc.) I am pretty excited right now, but know by the morning my nerves will kick in. A fast forward 3 months sounds nice about now!

Hi.. I am getting banded in 1/10. The good news is I have always been fairly active, and belong to a gym that I actually like attending. How soon after surgery were you able to start taking the different classes at the gym (or doing the DVDs at home? I know I can go walking ASAP, but I was wondering about swimming, spinning, yoga, pilates, cardio ball, etc. You know...all those fun classes that make working out in the winter more fun! Also, I have a few sessions with a personal trainer, when do you think I could start some light weight training?

Congrats and keep us updated on how everything is going! I am getting my surgery in 24 hours, and hearing everyone experience is helping to keep me relatively calm. Thanks for sharing your experience!

My doctor has me on 3 weeks of liquids, then 3 weeks of soft foods.

My doctor is pretty conservative, and as the wife of a physician, that is the only way I would go. When I say conservative, I mean the following: 1 - Obviously, all pre-op testing is required, including MMPI-II test, note from primary care physician, pulminary clearance, etc. 2 - Post-op diet is a strict 3 weeks of a liquid only diet, followed by 3 weeks of pureed foods only. No solid foods until 6 weeks post-op. This helps assure that the band will stay in place, and not slip in the future. 3 - First fill appointment is after 6 weeks. The patients in his office have all been successful in their weight loss, and he was recommended to me by a friend who is a surgeon. I want the best medical care possible, and do not mind losing the weight a little slower. It was most important to me to find the most qualified and skilled surgeon I could find.

Hi Sherri! I am getting my surgery on 1/10 too! I started my 48 hour, pre-op liquid only diet this morning. It is totally normal to be nervous. Probably, as the surgery gets closer, your feelings will get a little stronger. It's OK. In a week, you will be a few pounds lighter. In a month, even more weight will be lost. By 6 months from now, you will be even lighter. Now think of what you would weigh a year from today without the surgery. For me, that thought alone gets any doubts out of my head!

Jim..I am so happy for you! Also, thanks for the detailed report! I am getting my surgery in 2 days, and as it gets a little closer, my nerves are definietly picking up. Reading your report, and hearing how great you are doing helps to calm me down. Keep us updated..and congratulations! Gwenn

Hi everyone! I am 39 years old from Atlanta, Georgia. My surgery is scheduled for 1/10/08 (2 more days!!!). I start my pre-op, clear liquid diet in the AM. I have only been overweight the last 10-12 years of my life. I gained weight with pregnancies, got into gourmet cooking and gained more weight, took up emotional eating, etc. The next thing I knew, I saw a photo of myself at a family event. I knew I was at my heaviest, but the photo made me cringe! "Who is that overweight, puffy lady?" OMG! That's me?!?!? I actually thought I looked nice that night! My face was so swollen! I was so embarrased (like it had happened overnight, yet everyone had being seeing me that way for years). I decided to give Weight Watchers yet another try. It worked for 2 months, then I fell off the wagon, gained back the weight, plus 5 pounds. I finally realized I needed a serious medical intervention...Lap-Band seems like the solution that will finally work. Going through these boards for the past few weeks has convinced me, that although this is no easy solution, it is the best solution for me. I am so excited!