Terrisioux

Hi all, Terrisioux here...I got my first fill on 04/17/08. MAN, it burned like hell! NE one else have that? My doc only put in 1.5 cc's and told me I should come back in 6 to 8 weeks to get another fill. He also explained to me that I should only be eatting a cup of food or less per meal. And that the band's main job was to not only restrict my intake BUT more importantly to make me feel fuller for up to 5 or 6 hours after each meal. He said once the duration between when I feel hungry gets shorter and shorter that is when I need another fill. That was the first time I had heard that explanation. Did you all know that already? Knowing this helped change the way I was looking at what the band was designed to do. So now, I'm very careful to NOT go over a cup of food. It's amazing, I still feel hungry after eatting that cup of food but like he promised me, after 15 minutes I feel SO FULL and it truly does last 5 to 6 hours! So hopefully this post will help at least one of you? : ) Hope all of you are doing well, ESPECIALLY my fellow March 3rd Banders!!! How are you all doing? Take care, happy weight loss and I'll chat with you soon. Terri

Hi Evansmom and the rest of my fellow banders! I as well am feeling less and less restriction as the days go by. I don't get my firt fill until April 17th and am very excited about that. So make sure and post how it goes Evansmom with your first fill. Hungry4help, sorry you had a bit of a time with your fill and thanks for the advise on asking for a local. I've been worried they might have a hard time finding my port as I can't feel it at all. Can the rest of you feel your band on the outside at all? Take care all and will talk soon! Happy Weight Loss!!! Terri

Hi all, I'm glad I read this post. I haven't even had my first fill yet, that happens April 17th but I wanted to read up and see what you pros are dealing with and read what you all thought of the band filled. But now I'll know what is going on if later on down the line I am too full. Can I ask a stupid question. What does PBING mean? I'm guessing vomitting? Thanks all and good luck to you Susan and Brenda. I hope you both get some relief soon!

Hi Beehawk! For the gas pain use a heating pad on low heat and lay it on across your shoulder blades. It is the best thing ever. I also used the Gas X Strips with the heating pad. I had some trouble sleeping as well but it was due to the pain from the incisions. I couldn't get in a comfortable position. But you're still healing so try to be patient. I promise, it gets better and you will feel like a whole new person in a week or two. Be forwarned, you will have a day of blues when you question yourself if you did the right thing. It's going to be fine! You'll get through the post op and see the lbs disappearing and you will be so happy you got banded! Hang in there, the sun is about to come out!!! Terri :ohmy:

Hi all, I was banded on March 3rd and for those that are just going through post op or haven't had your surgery yet, listen up! : ) For the gas pain, the Gas X strips help but the real soother is a heating pad on low heat on your shoulder blades. I got that from this site and it was a life saver. The other thing I really want to tell you is DO NOT remove your Steri Strips. They will fall off when they are ready to come off. Don't help them along either! : ) I took mine off myself, BAD MOVE! My doctor never said a word about the steri strips so please learn from my mistake. I think the downs are the downs! You do get blue, you question whether you did the right thing but that must be some sort of post-op syndrome because the blues do go away. For me, I'm so happy I did this now that the surgery and pain is behind me. I've lost 13 lbs since being banded and feel fabulous! I feel like I will always be in control now with my lap band to aid me! : ) I can't wait to have my first fill on April 17th and really start seeing some serious weight loss. One thing I loved as far as foodies go is the chicken broth, (made me feel like I was eating something, and it was warm and comforting) and KFC's mashed potatoes. FABULOUS! ; ) Good luck to all! Terri

Hi all! Evansmom you cracked me up with the "honeymoon is over" statement. : ) It might be but now the comfortable relationship with our bands is starting so that's cool too ehh?! ; ) I didn't do as well after surgery as it sounds like most of you have done. Some people think its because I had some other surgeries, (partial hysterectomy, bladder con. where they go in through my belly button, and an appendectiomy) all in the same general areas. BUT OMG, it took me two solid weeks to feel good with the incisions. Of course I'm sure me taking the steri strips off early had nothing to do with the slow healing process. LOL But now I'm feeling great! I've lost 13 lbs so far and feel like I'm at a stand still. I'm ok with that but am looking forward to my first fill which will be on April 17th. Seems like a long ways away but my doc wants to fill after 8 weeks instead of 6. Darn it! ; ) I know its coming though. I've definitely cut down on my portion size of any types of food. During the liquid phase, the mushie phase, and even now in the regular food phase. My lunch buddy here at work says she doesn't think I am eating more the a cup and a half max so that's cool. AND I feel full! How great is that! I can hardly wait until this thread group is still sharing in a year!!! We should have a reunion. LOL : ) Or maybe just share photo's online! You all have been such a great support. And even when my energy was low and I didn't feel like posting it was great reading yours and KNOWING I had this support group! Keep up the good work everyone! Take care and I'll talk to you all soon! Terri

DON'T TAKE OFF THE STERI STRIPS!!! LOL..I'm glad you read my post Sadie! OMG, you are going to go with your SO and wait in the waiting room for her. You are a real trooper girl! I hope she does well and you get to leave relative early! If you need to fall asleep you do just that! :smile2: You've done great on the weight loss so far. I've only lost 4 lbs since surgery. My daughter says my body is freakin out and thinks I'm trying to starve it so it won't let go of the fat. That my body is storing up what it can to last through the starvation period. GEEZ body, you got a lot to hang to let it go! :sad: Well take care and good luck tomorrow! Terri

Hi Sadie! Hi ALL! Sounds like we are all dealing with a lot of the same issues. My doctor did not tell me any of the things I am reading here which is a little frustrating. He just told me two weeks of liquids, two weeks of mushies, and then go to regular diet??? Well I did about three days of liquids but was really hungry and went on to a few mushies. Felt much better after eating something a little more substantial. For the gas pain, OMG the heating pad is the thing! Just press the pad up to where you are hurting the most. For me its been in the shoulder blades. I learned about the heating pad not from my doctor but from this wonderful site! I would be lost with this site! I was really feeling good and almost completely out of pain but then I thought oh it looks like my steri strips are ready to come off. Well I took them off and went back to day three of pain where the incisions are concerned. Wished I hadn't of done that! Was suppose to go back to work tomorrow but feeling scared to do so now with this new pain. Uggghhh! I know this is all part of the process but I'm so impatient that I just can't wait to get through the healing process and start living life with the band. So what did your doctors say about walking every hour and small sips of liquid? I got none of that advise. Again, I feel very frustrated by my doctors lack of instructions! Thanks all and good luck to all! Terri

Hi all! I was banded yesterday as well and am impressed you all are doing so well. Yesterday I was in a lot of pain. Especially whenever I would have to stand up. I made myself walk as around the house as much as I could and it did help ease some of the pain. Of course the pain medicine helped a lot too! :shades_smile: The heating pad has been wonderful for the gas pain in my shoulders and the gas x strips has been helpful too. Today I feel so much better. The pain level yesterday I would say was at a 10 but today between a 2 and a 3. YEAH! I've been starving. But still just staying on the liquid diet. chicken broth, juice, hot and sour Soup, diet Jello and I did have some applesauce that made me feel really full. I've also been taking chewable Vitamins yesterday and today. My doc said 2 weeks of liquids, 2 weeks of mushies, then two weeks of regular foods then my first fill. When are you all scheduled for your first fills? Take care everyone! Oh and whimsy, my throat as well was pretty sore due to the breathing tube during surgery. But we did it! Our first step to a healthier, fitter us has been taken. YEAH!!!

Hi all! Surgery went great, was home by 2:00 PM and was very sore! Still sore today but no where near yesterday. THANK GOD for this forum as the heating pad was a GODSEND for the gas! And the Gas X strips, those were so helpful. Had to sleep sitting up in the recliner as I was so sore in from all the incisions. I was also STARVING yesterday. Anyone else? I'm still on a liquid diet for the next two weeks before I go to mushies. Today not so hungry feeling. Glad to hear the rest of you are doing well! I'm so excited to hear about all of our progress in this weight loss journey. GOOD LUCK to all you future banders. Feel free to ask any questions. :rolleyes2: Happy Weight Loss! Terri

My doctor didn't say anything to me about Citrate either. I'm on the liquid diet and can't have anything after midnight either. Which that won't be a problem as I have to be up at 4:45AM to be to the hospital by 6:15. Surgery at 8:30AM and my doc said I should be home by 2:00PM. WOW, modern medicine, you gotta love it! : ) GOOD LUCK to everyone, I'm sure we all do great!

We're almost there all! I've been on my liquid diet today and it hasn't been to bad. I'm just glad my doc only made me do the liquid diet for one day. You folks that have had to do it for 2 weeks prior have my respect. I know I would have cracked and ate. Well I just wanted to wish all of you good luck that are having surgery tomorrow as well. And although I'm nervous I am so ready to keep moving forward. Best wishes to you all! I'll be chatting with you soon to compare experiences. Take care and happy weight loss! Terri

WOW NANA! You've been on liquids since Feb. 19th? Isn't that strange how some docs make their patients do this two weeks prior, some 3 days, and some, like mine one day prior. I wonder how come the inconsistency? I'm going to ask my doctor about the REALIZE band Nana. I've just been reading about it but not sure what my doc uses. I hope its the REALIZE band though. Please let me know how you are doing with that type of band. BEST WISHES Nana! Happy Weight Loss!