Lattedah

I had my surgery on 3/12 and will return to work on Tuesday, 3/25. Like most people the first 4-5 days were a little rough... sore and gas pains. I could have probably gone back to work this past week with no problem, however, I'm fortunate to have enough annual leave available, so I took the extra days just to adjust to the band and working through the liquid diet phase -- I will only have one day back at work before I can begin mushies! YAY!!!

AJ... sorry you're feeling depressed! I was just banded on 3/12 and I did also go thru some "OMG...what did I do?" moments and surgery (any surgery) is a trauma to your body and the anesthesia just does a body weird! :thumbup: I wasn't hungry for the first 4-5 days and tho I was uncomfortable and sore, I felt lucky, because now, I'm starting to get hungRY! I also had that horrible fear of "I'll never eat again." I so hear you. Here what I'm doing to work it out. 1. I do try to stay away from the Horrible complications with Lapband threads. 2. I know that I will eat again and I do go to the thread of "what did you eat today" There, I see that people eat all sorts of different foods and I know I will be able to eat what I want, just not as much and that's the point of all of this. 3. I have lost 26 lbs and already my life is so much better... I FEEL GREAT! I can't EVEN imagine how good I'm going to feel when I get to goal. 4. And, I know that when I reach goal... I won't gain the weight back again... I've NEVER had that security before in my life! Hope you feel better soon and find peace with your initial decision to have the band. I know that I have and I'm still have a week before I can even eat mushies... (((HUG)))

Actually, last week was a bit of a blur for me... I had good days, and not so good days. You're body and mind are just trying to adjust to everything. And, oh... the gas. yes, that's been a constant companion... and as you said... "this too shall pass!" LOL. Hang in there... in a few weeks, we're going to be chatting about how happy we are to get through all of this!

Hi, Harley... I was banded on the 12th of March and I'm here to give you good news! It's very normal to feel the way you do. I spent the first 4 days drinking Water and some juice... I had light, white grape juice and white cranberry juice. In between drinking the water, I would sip on the juice and it was so refreshing. I did NOT want anything like a shake at all. Finally, I started feeling better and better and I've progressed to a shake, Soup, water, juice. I feel really good and you'll feel better and don't worry if you feel bloated...that also will become less and less of an issue. Time heals all things! Concentrate on feeling better and taking care of yourself. This is such a great decision we made. Take care.

Thank you, Chickie (you are beautiful, btw!) a great inspiration... :biggrin: Thank you, also, Denise... I think I'll try a softner and won't worry so much. I'm just so glad to be banded and hopefully have the chance to look like Chickie! :thumbup:

Okay, I hate to ask this question, but I was banded on 3/12 and for the first 4 - 5 days, I barely got anything but water and juice in... I've just started having a shake or soup in the last day or two... I have not had a bm since the day of surgery. I don't feel blocked... just don't feel like I have anything "to give" Is this weird?

Dear LBTers! I'm getting my band tomorrow, March 12th. I'm very excited... and get this... I'm also very nervous. Not sure if anyone has ever felt this way before surgery! :thumbup: :thumbup: LOL. Just wanted to send a general thank you out to everyone I've had the pleasure of communicating with on this site. You're all so terrific, inspiring and supportive. I look forward to the ongoing post as I join the banded! Take care, all.

Thank you so very much for your support and prayers!

Chickie, you are and look amazing! Thank you for sharing your before & After photos and your story... and wow... you're just so inspirational. Congratulations! I'm getting my band next Wed, March 12th and I just feel so blessed to have this chance to turn my life around. I love this site as it introduces me to people like yourself, who have used the band to help them make the biggest change in their lives. Thank you, again. Cheers. :thumbup:

Just a "light-hearted" interjection here in this discussion about "fat" people. A woman I work with told me that her grandson likes to use her as a pillow. When he's sitting with her, he likes to plump her up like a pillow. She told him once that it was a good thing she was fat so he could make him so comfortable. He replied, "Grandma... you're not fat... you're fluffy!" I thought that was the most adorable reference to being overweight ever! :thumbup:

WestCoastFatGuy... Wow. I think you're awesome. Thank you for sharing your wonderful words. Yaz, good luck to you. Sheri

I'm having my lap band procedure on Wed. March 12th. I'm taking off through March 24 (Easter Monday). I figured, about 12 days would be perfect... I have a desk job as well... but I just want to be really comfortable with my after band behavior. Plus I have a lot of vacation time, might as well take the spring break while I can! :thumbup:

Hello, all... I am scheduled for surgery on March 12. Wow, so much going on in my head. I'm excited and... I am nervous and I admit that I have second thoughts at least once a day. These second thoughts are quickly silenced when I remember exactly why I made the decision to have the band. I cannot loose the weight on my own and I'm okay with admitting that. I know the band will empower me to do what's best for me. Since making the decision to get the band in mid-January I have quit smoking the day after the seminar on Jan. 15th - cold turkey. I have made it through 1 week of the high Protein, liquid diet without loosing any friends! I just keep surprising myself by doing things I'd been telling myself for oh so long, I just couldn't do. Imagine that. P.S. So, take that, second thought!

klf... yes, please lets do keep in touch. We can be excited and nervous together! :thumbdown: To add signature stuff to the bottom of your posts. Go to your profile page. Select Edit Signature (will be a list on the right of your screen). You can add your name, data if you want and insert pictures. Also, to start your own ticker, double click on my ticker (or anyone's) and it will take you to the link that will let you set-up your own ticker. It's fun. Can't wait to keep in touch as we make this great change in our lives! Sheri

oops... I hit the wrong button and posted too soon. I wanted to add to the things I've learned... 5. I will find a way to deal with my emotional eating. 6. This band will be my friend and I can work with it or against it. 7. AND, if I don't fool myself and I DO work with the band, I will be successful, happy and proud. Yay! Good luck to both of you and look forward to hearing all about YOUR successes! :thumbdown:

Hello, Klf and tskelli... thanks for starting this post. I've been on this forum since January (when I first seriously looked in to the band) and now I'm also getting banded on March the 12th. From what I read on LBT, everyone does go through this phase before the surgery and some even after the banding has been done. The first 6 weeks after the band can be tough for some and others seem to make it sound like a breeze. I'm thankful for my surgeon and his staff for giving so much information and also thankful for this site which helps me beyond belief. I know these things about being banded: 1. I am confident that I made the right decision. 2. I worry if I made the right decision. :thumbdown: 3. This will be the biggest change of my adult life. 4. I will loose weight. 5.

Kat, the Atkins Advantage shakes aren't bad... and I'm using them mostly because of the higher Protein... but I do think, I'm going to try a few others this week... Lori, sorry I didn't answer your question about the sugar free syrups... I thought I could buy them grocery store, but didn't see any at Safeway... I'm going to try maybe someplace like Wegmans... the foofy grocery store... :drool:

Hey, Kat... the Atkins Advantage drinks have about 9g fat and 4g carbs... I'm sure there are even less fat in other drinks... but my doc's office said it was okay to drink..

Hello, Marvelous Marchers... Well, I'm on the 4th day of liquids and it's not so baddddddddddddd................ (Faint!) ha ha... I've discovered I'm not a fan of the beef broth, yeah...not so much. Love the chicken broth however. Also, although I've settled on Atkins Advantage for most of my Protein drinks, I have found a little slice of heaven... SlimFast Cappacino Delight. I stick in in the freezer (in the can) for a few hours and then shake it up as much as I can and stick a straw in it and it's just like a Starbucks frappacino. I've been having that for dessert. I think it has a bit more carbs than the Atkins drinks and only 10 g protein. Lori, I bought the bullet, but forgot I had it! Thanks for reminding me and I'm going to try adding some ice and that yummy sugar-free syrup to the Atkins drinks. Patchelton, I'm going to try those Worldwide Protein Drinks from Trader Joes... that's a lot of protein. Did you say you actually tried them? How did they taste compared to like Atkins?

Hello... I am going to be banded on March 12th and I have been meaning to stock up on the gas-x. My surgeon's office told me to also buy sugar-free Citracel for regularity. They also said it makes you feel full (fiber). Interesting thing: I'm currently on the liquid diet phase... it's not been easy...but getting easier. My cravings have changed from pizza, cheeseburgers, french fries to foods such as chicken breast, tuna, baked fish, baked potatos, green Beans and corn. I have no idea what this all means except to say at first I was grieving the high calorie foods that made me fat... but then I started thinking how delicious normal, healthier food sounded. I'm also pretty lucky, although I have researched the band for years, I just made the decision to have it in mid-January and I'm scheduled for surgery in mid-March. That went very quickly. I'm thankful for that and so very excited about getting the band. Cheers and best wishes to us! :laugh:

LJM... Wow, you look great! Congratulations... you DID it! Hope you're feeling better, rested and home soon!:eek: Be well. Sheri

Thank you, Jack...:biggrin2:

Angie4B1g posted a question on another thread about the lady (model) at the top of the home page which made me think about becoming a suggesturer... :huggie: Who is this lovely woman? Is she a random model, or is she a forum member? Suggestion: It would be interesting to have a photo of one of the LBT forum members who've reached goal at the top of the forum page... or maybe a rotation of members. I realize this might be a bit difficult as far as getting a professional photo of the members, however, it was just a thought. Thanks for letting me suggest. :w00t: Sheri

Hi, Sheri and all... Good luck to you, Sheri. I'm also getting banded this month, Mar 12th. I love this forum and have found great comfort from these nice and supportive folks. I'm very excited and a little nervous my self. I'm sure that's normal. Again, good luck and we'll be thinking about you...

Thank you so much, Gibson... nice to meet you and everyone on this thread. LJM, Good luck on your recovery. Turler, looks like we have similar kitties... :w00t: Fenton, I'm awfully sorry about what you went through on 9/11, but very glad to hear that you're also getting the band and feeling more optimistic. Ginny, congrats on having your adorable son after all you went thru... and good luck with the band as well. Hi, Gillebean, good luck to you on your lapband journey. Mazziemommy! Wow... you're weight loss is inspiring... and I hope that you find strength in dealing with your seperation. Life can be so hard. Welcome, Straindgal and Mr. Juggles... hope you find the answers you need in making a decision about the band. Hope I didn't miss anyone, if so, not intentional... I am happy to meet you all.