CTman

Hey CTband FAM, I havent been here in about 5 months. How is everybody doing? I wa not very focused over the summer. I have had 3 fills and am at about 5.5cc in the band. I do have some restriction. I think Im ging t go up tp 6.0 cc very soon though. I am currently 265lbs. and would like to reach my goal by March2009 . 65lbs. more lbs to go!!! The 1st meal of the day is the hardest. I have to chew chew chew. Gas continues to be an issue but I am learning how to adjust to it more and more. :frown: Today not too much wanted to stay down but tomrrow will be better. Hang in there everybody, we can do this. YES WE CAN :thumbup: Peace, CTman = Chris

It may take a few days but lay in any position that is comfortable. I now feel very comfortable laying on my stomach. It helps with getting rid of some gas

Hey Everybody, I havent been here in a couple weeks. I hope everyone is progressing well. April 4th I reached my 1mo. post op and had my 1st fill. I had a slight restriction right after surgery and now a little more. I see Dr. Erhlich in 2 weeks and I'm going to request a second fill. My port sight had just stopped being sore but it has kicked up a lil sensativity getting a fill. I am currently stuck at 269.0 so Im increasing the liquid protein and exercise. Best wishes to all of you and keepin going, it's going to pay off in the end. CTman

Hey Ct Bandsisters, I hope all are healing and loosing well. Today is my 2wk. preop and all is going great. The gas is almost completely gone. I still have a black and blue that is fading on my stomach and the sites are healing well but itchy. I'm walking everyday and joining the gym next Fri. CTcutie welcome to the fam. This site and especially this spot is full of the most supportive people you could ever meet. The Optifast shakes are good. I cheated 1 day and lost 15 lbs in 2wks. The chocolate was my favorite but they are all good. Ffld County Bariatrics are the best. Dr. Ehrlich was excellent to me. They kept me well informed and I researched a lot before I even went to the initial seminar. Surgery was a breeze and post op hasn't been bad at all. Good luck and remember you can do all things through HIM that gives you strength. Blessings to all of you ~ Chris = CTman PS. SHARONA - I made some changes just for u !!!

Sharona, OUCH !!! How is the beach and a scale "prissy". I like beaches and warm weather is my favorite. Hopefully all goes well for you today. When u wake up I hope you're lighter and nicer. CTman

Hey Ladies, Well I've finally made my 1st week. The post op diet is going well. The gas pains have decreased. I went to my primary phys. today. He was very happy to see that I have been losing. I see Dr. Erhlick thurs. AM , I hope I'm down to 270 by then. Im walking morning and evening now and increasing my Protein intake with powder. Im working to get this 5lbs off by Thurs. Cmon ladies let's press in and exercise some more to lose a few more pounds. We can do it. The CT Band Fam Rcoks !!! Sharona u will be in my thoughts and prayers tomorrow. Let us know as soon as you can about how well you are doing. I'm so excited for you. You know we have to work on the CT fellaz. I didnt realize I was the only one. They don't know what they are missing.

Ok here goes, my 15 yr. old is helpin me out, hope it works....

Girls I dont know how to do the ticker, Im really bad at those kind of things. I weighed 301.9, 2weeks prior to surgery. After 2weeks of Optifast the day of surgery I weighed in at 287.1. It's day 4 and I went on a 20 minute walk with my wife. Tonight I weigh 274.1. I am able to get down all the fluids I want and protein. I have to admit I did have a 1/2 a cup of blended smooth clam chowder and have not had a problem. The swollen belly and gas are my only issue. Shortgal you are right everyday gets better and better. You gals are the best band sisters in the world. Your support has been outrageous and I love and appreciate each of you. :thumbup: I'm lookin forward to the calender and we do have to get together this spring/summer to celebrate our weight losses and reached goals. Blessings ~ CTman

Hi Everyone, I was banded on 3/4 at 11:30AM. I woke up a lil disoriented but quickly realized I was okay and on my way to the Recovery Room. Pain has been minimal, gas has been getting better everyday. I'm struggling through the clear liquid week, next week is full liquids, week (3)purees, week (4) mushies and then full liquids. It gets difficult when everyone else is eating but, I have been constantly reminding myself why I did this. Good luck to everyone, we can do this.

Hi Big Unc and Ousooner, Thanks for your well wishes. Yup I was banded on 3/4/08. I'm doing much better than expected. I started walking as soon as they let me out of the RR bed to get into the chair in my room, The first night I had some gas pain that they were very attentive with handling. I have had no other pains, no nausea, no vomitting. I walked another 10 laps and ate breakfast and most of lunch before leaving the hospital. I've been lapping the house and today I think I'm going to walk a few blocks. Next week I'll be starting to do some working out at the gym. Thanks again and lets all keep encouraging on another. CTman

Hi Ct Band Fam, Sorry I didn't get back to you all but I was answering my family's emails and calls late into the evening. I am so very thankful for all of your well wishes and concern, I am blessed to have all of you in my online life. Well I arrived promptly at 9am, I went into the recovery room at about 9:30am, of course they were behind schedule sooo they played the stall game, introduced me to the anesthesia team, Dr Erhlick also came in and really helped me to calm down, and then took my glasses so it was a blurred walk to the OR, It also got colder at every turn. The OR was an ice box and Renae came up and reassurred me that everything should be completed in about 45mins. Gail started the IV and I woke u to someone saying Chris, you're in the OR and your okay as I began to calm down I was called a "freakazoid", I guess I was a little too disoriented for some of them. I woke with no pain. At 1:30pm I was finally taken to the RR and then to my room at 3:30. I walked about 5 laps around the unit after dinner and then 5 more before bed. The nurses were excellent. I did take pain meds twice due to gas pain but was able to take in fluids all night. I went to sleep around midnight. At 4am I woke and walked 5 more laps to get rid of the gas pain. went back to sleep, Ate breakfast and most of lunch ( decaf tea, 2 equal, jello, sugar free juice). Then my roomate left, I met with Renae again and she said I didnt look like I'd had surgery, I was discharged about 12:30 today. I made a quick trip to GNC to pick up a few things, sipped apple melon isopure with flavored no cal spring water,took some liquid tylenol, napped and then sipped broth, relaxed on the couch and in my bed and drank more protein drink, decaf tea and called it a night. Im looking for the gas to calm some, I have walked and taken some Gas x strips so we will see what tomorrow brings. The long and short of it is Im doing much better than I expected and I hope all of you that are waiting have even less to deal with. It'd official CTman id BANDED!!!!

Good morning KBosco & Beachcomber, Today is the day and I will be arriving at the hospital at 9am scheduled for 10:15am. I'm bringing my laptop so hopefully I can get a signal to chat and post later. I must admit I'm just a little anxious but I'm ready. Have a great day CT band fam and I'll talk with you all later. Blessings, CTman

Hey guys, I'm Chris and I am being banded this morning (3/4) in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Good luck guys, CTman