Apples2

I will get it started. I am from Minnesota. My husband and I farm and have a drainage tile business. I had my own business for many years but sold to take some of the stress out of our lives. There are days I would love to head to town to work but then I just have to think about how nice it is to not have to jump in my car every morning to go to work. Anyone else want to share????????:wink2:

Kizzie...I am sure you are so relieved that you did not have a slip or a second flip. Sending good vibes your way for quick healing. What you have been through is hopefully behind you and you can start living a "normal" band life. All the best to you!

I have been told to eat no more than 1/2 cup 3x daily. Protein first and veggies and fruit if I can fit it into tht 1/2 cup meal. No Snacks. I am six weeks out from surgery and the hunger hit last week. I get a fill next Tuesday. I am going to talk to my surgeon about the portion size. I am now not getting anywhere close to feeling satisfied at this point. I was for five weeks so this has been difficult the last week. I find that I eat too fast when I am hungry. I had asked the surgeon's nurse during my last visit if the portions get larger as we go along. Her answer was no. But, most of the people in my support group talk about their 1 cup servings per meal with not snacks. (They have the same surgeon as me). I actually have had a lot of energy and feel great. I often worry that my body will go into starvation mode at some point and my motabolism will be even more screwed up than it was b/4 I started this journey.

Don't give up. There has to be other options out there. As Mac said, find another surgeon who does not require weight loss prior to surgery. Give it another try!

There are people in life that are just plain asses. Good move on making your next appt. with your dr. that has consideration for his patients. Good luck with your recovery and hope you have an easy transition into life with the band.

I think you named it...it's all on how you are built. I have skinny legs and larger through my torso (built like an apple). I have noticed that I am only down 2 sizes on the top after losing the weight I have. But, on the bottom I am down at least 4 sizes. Try to be patient. When you reach goal, you will figure out what styles work best for you.

Congrats on your engagement and upcoming wedding, Brandy. I love your idea of posting monthly photos to share with us. Keep up your good work and you will most likely have to take your dress in at the seams by the time of your wedding. Good luck with all of your plans and your future with your man!

Was banded 6/17/08. Things have gone very well up until yesterday noon. I was nervous while eating some deli turkey and immediately knew I was going to have problems being stuck. Pretty sure that I chewed well but thinking that it's something I just do not tolerate. I am getting some Water down but nothing else. Just so I don't drive myself silly worrying that I did damage to my band, can someone just explain to me what it feels like to be stuck and how long b/4 this might pass? I appreciate it. (BTW, I already talked with my dr.'s office).

Sounds like you have fit right into the band life, Brandy. Good for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have stayed away from any uncooked veggies just for that reason. We all make mistakes along the way. We find out what we can tolerate. I have had eaten most proteins except pork and steak. I am sure I will be paranoid for a bit when planning my meals. I am feeling much better in the last 2 hours. Think things have passed and my stomach does not hurt as much. I don't feel as if I have a lump stuck in my chest. Everything going good for you, Brandy?

Hi Brandy..I'm only home one day a week (this week 2) all summer so miss out on a lot of the conversation on here. Since this is my first sticking experience, I don't know what to think. Had a yogart at noon. It hurt to eat at first and just took it really slow. I feel hungry so think that everything has passes through. Were you really sore after getting stuck?

Previous response spells it out.:thumbup:

Hey LapBandFan...thanks for your response. I have been sooooooooooo careful since being banded to chew till almost a liquid. I was in a setting yesterday and was nervous while I was eating. I was sure I chewed well but must have not paid as much attention to my chewing as I usually do. Anyway, will baby my digestive system the next few days (or as long as it takes) to see what happens and what I can tolerate. I have my first fill next Tuesday and do not want to have to cancel it. Thanks for the advice.:thumbup:

I took off over 50lbs during my six month medically supervised diet. I started the middle of November. My BP was extremely high and knew that I did not want to wait for my band to get some of the weight off. I believe that sticking to this diet helped me in the long run with living with the band. My surgeon gave me rules for eating like a lap band person at the beginning of this process and I decided that if I were to be a success, it was best to start all on my own. As far as concerns go, I have really had none. My weight loss the seven months b/4 being banded was not extreme; just steady. I feel like a new woman with lots of energy and I am once again an active person. I can honestly say that the band is one of the best choices I have made in life. Good luck to you on your journey:thumbup:

Thanks for the quick response, Jack. I think that at this time I am just really irritated. The "stuck" feeling lasted about a couple of hours and then subsided. I could feel things trying to get through the stoma and that is what was most painful. I will take your advice and try a couple days of mushies. I don't think I will be eating deli meat any time soon. I feel fortunate that I have tolerated so many things. I'll just chalk this experience up to trial and error.

Hi June Jazzies. Haven't checked in for a couple of weeks. (Home only 1 day a week during the summer). Had my 6 week visit with my surgeon a week ago. Had the chance to get my first fill but was still really tight. I flew to FL and back the week b/4 and that had tightened me. Turned down the fill and the day after I experienced extreme hunger and it has been the same since. Emailed surgeon's nurse today to see if I can get a fill b/4 my next appt on 8/19. Hoping I can. All in all things are going great. Now that I am hungry, I need to remember to eat slowly. It never seemed to be a problem b/4. My surgeon has a strict regimen of eating only three times a day with 1/2 cup servings each meal and absolutely no more than that. I have stuck to this diet faithfully and as of today I am down over 75lbs. (Started pre-op dieting mid-November, 20, 2007). I am sure the weight loss will start to slow so am preparing myself not to be discouraged when that happens. Sounds like you all are doing well and adjusting to band life. I am hoping that I do not run into any problems along this road. I love how my band has performed (not just right now during this hungry period) and never want to have to deal with living without it. Wishing you all continued success!

Cat is allowed in my diet so you should be OK. As far as the Wiskers goes; that is not allowed in MY diet so CALL YOUR DOC IMMEDIATELY but first, cough up that hair ball so you do not choke when you are calling your doc.:eek:

Just had to say congrats and good luck. Wish you all the best!!!!!!!!!:biggrin2:

We have a son that served a year in Iraq. He was 24 when he went with his unit of 150...90% were high school buddies. Some didn't come back. Luckily he did. He is now 27. He was a gunner and rode like a sitting duck every day while patrolling the streets in Bahgdad. He saw plenty of action. He is a very strong person but there is nothing that can prepare a young man for what they went through. Our son works with us. Today another bout of PTSD (post tramatic stress disorder) re-entered his life. I feel so helpless. His first order of business when this happens is to call one of his soldier buddies. I sent him home and gave him tomorrow off and we'll go from there. I know he has learned the tools to get through this bump in the road. I just get so scared for him and know this is something he will maybe have to deal with for a lifetime. We are so proud of him and every other person that serves our country. We have him back. Others have not been that lucky so I shouldn't complain. I just needed to talk.

After having my band just a short three weeks, I am already attached to it and would do whatever it took to keep it. I think I would check with my dr. to see if he could put in a new and revised band if I were you. Hope your revision journey is a short and painless one. Wishing you all the best.:tt1:

Thanks for sharing the story of your complication, Shortgal. I have been following Sades story and wish you both well. Sorry you have to go through another surgery but try to look at it positively. You will soon be on the road to having your band function as it should. I admire you for continue to lose and maintain during this time. Good luck to you and let us know how things go. God Bless

Hi kids!!!!!!!! Just came across this thread. I am only at my computer on Mondays so I am a little behind the times. (I live at the lake during the summer...come home Mondays to do bookwork, laundry, etc.). Sound like everyone is doing fantastic. Thanks, Cathy, for starting this thread and being such a great motivator for everyone. I will be three weeks post surgery tomorrow. Things are great. I have been on solids for a week and it's going great. It's amazing how I know when my last bite is. Hunger is under control but know I will need a fill when my dr. allows it at six weeks post-op. Weight loss is in the normal range from what I have read with everyone else. About 17lbs since surgery. It's amazing to try on clothes that I tried on a week ago that were tight around the belly and today they fit. Things like that keep a person motivated. I know I have said this b/4 but my outlook on life is just so much more positive. As Longtobethin said above....she always felt she was taking the same route her mother took. I felt the same way. I felt like I was spinning out of control and that I would be the lady in the store riding around on the motorized cart when I was in my late fifties. I would do this all over in a heartbeat. I wake up smiling and I go to bed content with how things are going and look forward to a bright future with doing things I haven't done in the last 13 years. LIFE IS GOOD. Will check in again with my Jazzy June friends next week at the same time. Hope everybody has a successful week. All this is so easy. I feel like I have been released from the food Prison! Take care!

Hi all...Just checking in. It will be two weeks tomorrow since my surgery. I can honestly say that this surgery was a breeze. Had MAJOR trouble though with shoulder pain. Met with my surgeon a week ago and he said he knew that it would not be easy with the shoulder pain he thought I might have. I attributes it to the hernia repair. (My hernia was larger than a baseball) Anyway, things are starting to calm down in the shoulder. I cannot take pain meds so it has been a long two weeks. Screaming pain every time I swallowed (even saliva). I never even felt my incisions. Eating is going great. Doc put me on soft foods last week and tomorrow I start regular. I am eating about 1/3 cup of food three times a day and I am full. Not much hunger between meals. I can already say that I think this is one of the best things I have done for myself. I am down over 60lbs (includes pre-op diet). I am so happy and can already see the difference in my outlook on life. Hope everyone is doing well and recovery quickly. To the last of the June Jazzies.....Good luck in surgery today and God Bless.

Hi Honey, welcome. I was also banded on July 17. Hope things are going smoothly for you and that you are fitting into life with the band. I already can say that I think this will be one of the best things I have ever done. I love the support here and the information available. Good luck