Ellen11703

Hi TinyDancer! Before this fill and when I was going over my food journal with my PA she told me I was making good choices but that I she considered them still soft foods. So she told me to start eatting 3-4 oz of solid Protein at the start of each meal. (I was eatting a lot of ground beef, gr turkey and salad) So I started having an egg scrambled each morning than later in the morning I have my Protein Drink. I am so full I can barely eat a lunch. At dinner I have been having a piece of chicken or shrimp or fish and a little salad. I can barely eat it all. I have really been full ... I hope it lasts!! I've also been weighing my portions to get a better prospective...I was really undercutting my servings by quite a lot. No wonder I was hungry! Just some food for thought (pardon the pun! LOL!) Maybe you'll get another fill at the next appointment and hopefully that will do the trick!! Of course we all wish this was a magic bullet and the weight was off already. But just think about next summer and all the things you'll be better able to do and wear!! That's motivation for me! Enjoy your day!

Hi Katieann, I guess were are triplets now! LOL! I think if we wait a bit we may find that we are really quads or quints before long!! LOL! Wow I read your previous post and you have done great with your weight loss pre-op! That's Fab! 82 lbs! Malt o Meal - I haven't seen that since I was a kid! Of course I haven't really looked either. Does it still have the picture of the little boy on the front?? Anyway I lost another 7 lbs since my fill last week so that's 34 gone!! I really have noticed that some of my clothes are actually getting quite loose! So maybe I will have to get some new clothes for the fall! Sorry to hear about your bi-pap episode guess you won't try to do that again! Nice to meet you! Keep in touch!

Had my first fill last week, Wed June 18th. I was told it could take as long as 2 weeks to feel any effects, but I definetly feel a difference already in my decrease in appetite. I have even dropped 6 lbs since the fill! Bringing it to a total of 33 lbs lost. Another NSV this week is that all of my blood sugars have been in the single 100's and in the 90's. My PMD told me when I have a full week of sugars 100 or below to call him to adjust or start taking me off my meds!! That will be a big success!! :sad_smile:

Hi Not So Tiny Dancer or should I say soon to be a TinyDancer LOL!! (it will be true) I too was banded on May 7th! Guess were band twins! To answer your question, I have lost 27 lbs to date. I was at a bit of a plateau for a few days and now I had my 1st fill on last Wed - June 18th. So I am hoping that I start to see the scale moving again real soon. I have really noticed a big decrease in my appetite since this fill. So I am keeping my fingers crossed. Have you gotten a fill yet??

Hi Dori! Nice to meet you and a band twin at that!! I really am a creature of habit. I could eat the same thing day after day and do ok. So a typical day is: I have a 16oz protein drink for breakfast (115 cal) I have a Fat Free Yoplait Yougurt (blue label) for a mid morning snack. (100 -110 cals) I have another 16oz protein drink for lunch. (115 cal) Mid afternoon another Yoplait (100 -110 cal) I usually take my walk around 2 pm When I get back I either have a Sugar Free Jello (10 cal) or SF Popcicle Brand Ice Pop (15 cal) some times I have both. or 2 Jello's or 2 ice pops. Depends on how thirsty and hot I am. Dinner: Mon - Thurs I have 3 oz of chopmeat (260 cal, 20 prot but 18 fat) 2 tablespoons of Low Fat Small Curd Cottage Cheese (90 cal, 6 carb, 12 prot, 2.5 fat) with a tablespoon of salsa I have a vegetable sometimes 4 slices of tomato (9 cal) lettace (whatever I feel like - 1/8 of a head is approx 9 cal & I can't eat that much of that) OR Marinated in Vinegar Cucumbers 1 cup (36 cal) Later after dinner I might have another Ice Pop, or Popcicle Brand Fudgecicle (40 cal)(if I am dying for a chocolate fix) or a sf jello or FF Yoplait. I drink water and crystal light all day long and average about 130 oz. So depending on the day and my choices I average between 650 and 960 calories. When dinner comes along as you can see I can eat quite a bit! I am hoping when I have my 1st fill - I hope next week at my next appointment Wed. June 19th, that I will feel more full. At least I am hoping I will be getting a fill!! But I think all in all I am not making terrible choices. I am certainly not eatting what I did pre-band!! Fri- Sun I have to be a bit more flex. as my husband likes to eat out. But I find plenty of band friendly food out there. So that's my day! When I am dying for something salty and tangy I have a glass of Campbell's Tomato Juice (8 oz is 50 cal) it does the trick for me. Now that the summer is here I have been compiling a list of things to throw in the cooler to have on the beach. Like those little convience containers of cottage cheese & celery sticks and of course ff yoplait and water!! Hope I gave you some ideas.

Hi! Saturday, June 7th was my 1 month Bandiversary. I lost 21 lbs, very quickly after surgery then the scale stopped moving for almost 2 weeks. I was being very careful with my food choices and logging everything. I was becoming a bit discouraged ... will I be the only onr this doesn't work for???? How could that be when I am logging between 600 - 800 calories daily and walking on at the very least most days 2 - 3 miles daily? I will say I was finding my clothing was becoming looser. Well I kept it up and got on the scale yesterday and was repaid with a 7 lb weight lose!! I guess my body was just trying to hold on to the weight in case I was staving LOL!! Like that might happen in the near future!! LOL!!~ To say I am delighted is an understatement! :biggrin:

Good Luck Terri!! Will be keeping you in my thoughts this morning! You'll do great! :confused_smile:

Hi All, I was banded 2 weeks ago on May 7th. Today was my 1st post-op appointment, I have lost 20 lbs. I am so pleased! I was on a 1 week liquid diet pre-op and 2 weeks post-op. Today I graduate to a soft diet ... I just hope for a little longer anyhow ... that I continue to experience the rapid weight loss. I have not been hungry ... God Bless that Band ... so I am a little apprehensive about starting ... gulp ... FOOD!! LOL! Never thought I'd be hearing myself say that!! LOL! BTW, Kalalily mentioned cottage cheese and yogurt ... that sounds interesting ... I might give that a try! Thanks for the suggestion! Anyway wishing us all continued success!

I had my 1st post op appointment this morning. I was seen by Diedre H PA and she was great! She answered my questions... here's a slight shock I had a mesh hernia repair, though I and Dr Geiss knew I had an small umbilical hernia, and I would say most of my preop pain was in that area , not to mention my umbilicus was more black than blue! I just figured they were looking around with the scope and that was the cause but I was going to ask. I never had to, Diedre told me right off! I also previously had mentioned here that I didn't get an Implant Card and she went right out and got me one, and it's the correct one for my AP Band. So now I am finally graduated to the soft diet. dinner this evening ... 3 really small mushed up meatballs with sauce. SO YUMMY!! LOL! I am so looking forward to a nice piece of flaked fish this weekend!

Hi Vinny, Glad to meet you. Being nervous is normal, but know you are in good hands! Learn as much as you can, be educated about as much as you can. Ask questions, everyone here and at the doctors office is available to answer your questions. Amanda is so right ... start practicing some of the bandster practices now and it will be second nature afterwards. I am usually calm as a cucumber, but I will tell you I was so nervous while I was in the holding room before going to the OR, I was shaking! My husband said he never saw me so nervous! My nerves were unfounded! But normal! I did great and so will you!!

Thanks Amanda! I will definetly do that! I have been keeping a food journal since the week before my surg and have logged my Water intake, Calories, Carbs, Fats and Proteins. Might as well start off making all the right choices!

The day of discharge the hospitals (i think) dietician came in and she gave me another book of the diet. It had basically all the same stuff in it I'd heard before and was given by Lisa Gentile. The book had 2 set of rules, one for Lap Band System and the other for Realize. She told me I had the LB Sys and those gudelines were highlighted in my book. The realize sys did have a faster progression. Of course I am on the 2 week liquid, followed by 3 week soft diet. But ya know what I am fine. And 16 lbs down sure feels great! I made my self a list of lots of options so I don't really feel deprived. But I'll tell ya, I have my Dr appt on Wednesday and the thought of a thumbs up for a bowl of applesauce or bowl of egg drop Soup or hot Cereal (grits!!! Yum!!!) is starting to seem gourmet! I can't wait to Celebrate my wedding anniversary with a bowl of clam chowder ... pureed of course!! In fact I think this week I will start making an in depth list of all those soft and mushy things to enjoy for the next 3 weeks!

Hi Candle! Although Dr Geiss did give me info about the Realize Band along with the Lap Band system info, it is the Lap Band System that he used for me. I would imagine that he uses whatever suits each patient best. What I didn't get when I left the hospital was an implant card. Did any of you get one?? I didn't remember to ask till the day after I got home. I will ask when I go for my post op appt on the 21st.

Thanks Amanda! I appreciated the thumbs up!!

Hi MsJessy, Thanks fo the good wishes! Once you have completed all the clearances and Dr Geiss' office receives them they will go over them and then contact you about a date and set up a hospital orientation with June W. Then you will go to the hospital for your preop and go to your own MD for medical clearance approx 1 week prior to your surgery. The late afternoon before your surgery the hospital will call and tell you what time to be at the hospital. The day of you will go to admitting and be admitted, they will take you up to the 3rd floor and go thru the preop setup, Dr Geiss and the anesthesiologist wiil come in and talk to you and answer any last minute questions. You will be given a light sedative and taken to the OR, change tables and then you will be put out. About and hour or two later you will wake up in Recovery and they will monitor you for a while your family can came see you. Then you will transfer to 1 East. The rooms are nice. The staff is great! I have been in many hospitals and will tell you the care is the best!! The next day you will have a floroscope to be sure the band is in proper placement. You will be given a clear Fluid meal of Jello, tea, Water and I think and italian ice. You will be again seen by the doctor, given pain meds for home and then discharged home. That's it! :wink2:

Hi you all! Just stopping by to let you know I had my band placed last Wed., 5-7-08 and am doing well. For those of you coming up this month I wish you all well and look forward to sharing notes and ideas with you.

Just thought I'd let you know I had my band placed last Wed., 5-7-08. I am home and despite some gas and some abdominal pain which is now quite tolerable, I am doing well. I am now on the full Fluid diet and its been fine...I have not been hungry at all! I have even lost 13 lbs! I am amazed!! Thanks for all your pre-surgical support!

Hi Candle! Holy Cow, is your ticker true?? Have you lost 111 lbs since August?? Please say that it's true! I can only hope I have half the results you've had!! Today I start day 6 of my liquid diet and although my stomach growled and grumbled all day, I must say I am doing okay. I have been keeping a food journal and logging liquids, amounts, Calories, Carbs and Fats. (To keep me honest!! LOL!!) I am really getting excited!! My bag is packed, I'm ready to go...hmmm that sounds like a song from the 60's! Anyway, thanks for the positive thoughts and energy! I really appreciate it! I will keep you all posted!

Thanks Big Dawg! Dr Geiss is my surgeon also. Great job on your weight loss!! Looking forward to seeing those numbers fall myself!!

Hi Everyone. I'm from Babylon, Long Island, NY I am being banded May 7th! By Dr Geiss Wishing you all Good Luck and Continued Success!

My update Wed. - started my liquid diet. So far I am okay. Thurs. - I had my pre-op at Syosset. Today I get my Medical Clearance from PMD. Then I just wait till Tues. for my call and OR time for Wed. May 7th. Can't believe it's almost here! Congrats and continued success to those who've already been banded and for those of you still to come Good Luck!! :wub:

That's great that you already attended the seminar, Jess. One more thing to check off your check list. I'd say I was there 2 hours total from door to door. After I signed in, they gave me the paper work to fill out and when that was done I'd say maybe I waited 10 min. tops til I was called in. After I saw the PA I waited maybe 5 min to see Dr Geiss and then after that right in to the Coordinator. And that was it. Sort of like speed dating LOL! Not that I'd know!! LOL! When you go into the hospital, go straight ahead to the front desk and someone will walk you over to his office. The office is down the hall to the left of the front desk. I was a nervous wreak going to that appointment, I don't know why?? I am Never nervous! But rest assured Dr Geiss is the nicest, kindest man/DR. In fact he passed me a few times before I saw him in his office and each time he asked if I was okay and I assured him I was. He later said that he thought I looked nervous LOL! He put me at ease immediately. You/We are in very good and capable hands! I haven't been banded yet .. that's May 7th. But if there is anything you need to know that you forget to ask that I can help with feel free to ask, I'll tell ya what I know and what my experience is.

Hi MsJessy, You really don't need to do anything before your appointment except watch the online lapband video, you will receive the link and a patient code in a letter in the mail. Bring all your insurance info and list of any meds you take regularly including OTC meds. At your appointment you will fill out some paper work. You will see the PA and she/he will go over the video and answer any questions. Then you'll see the doctor, he is very nice and will give you more info ask you questions and answer yours. Then you'll see the coordinator and she will give you the list of required tests and all the referrals you will need, some requirements are specific to your insurance provider. You will get a folder of info all about the procedure. You will need to attend a meeting of the Support Group which is scheduled for the 1st Tuesday of each month, 6:30 - 8pm at the North Ritz Club, which is diagionally across from Syossett Hospital on Jericho Tpk.. Make sure you sign the sign in sheet. You can bring a guest. It is very informational! I didn't need a physical from my PCP, you will have that when you go for your medical clearance. The only blood test needed was a Thyroid Function Test, T3, T4 and TSH. The usual blood work you'll have done at the time of your pre-op work up. (10 day before at the hospital). You will need a Psych and Nutritional consult,you can see your own, but you will still need to see their staff nutritionist, they have two, who will go over Dr Geiss' specific diet details. She spent almost an hour with me. It was quite informative and you will get a binder with a ton of info. Go with all your questions, keep a list if you need to! I hope I was able to provide you with some info.

Hello! And I am also scheduled for Wed., May 7th. Looking forward to making the journey with you all!

Thank you for your reply! I got my call this morning and I am scheduled for May 7th. So now the wheels are finally in motion. Thanks again!