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

Hey March 3rder's! I'm getting a little nervous but more excited to start this journey. I just wanted to check in with all the other 3rder's and see how everyone is doing. I'm going for my pre-op tomorrow. Have already pre-registered at KU Medical Center and just want to get past the 3rd. :biggrin: I only have to do one day of liquid diet prior to surgery day and am pretty happy about that. Tomorrow night is going to be my farewell to BEER!! I bowl just to drink beer! lol Not really, well kinda. I'm going to miss my beersies A LOT! But it is so worth it to give it up. That's probably what helped me gain a lot of this weight in the first place. :smile2: Any of you worried about certain things you will be giving up? Take Care 3rder's, looking forward to comparing notes on March 4th! 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!

OMG Hungry4Help! I have had so many "lasts". : ) I ate steak Tuesday night, yummy! I had rolls with Sunday dinner...totally had to many! My farewell to beer is tomorrow night...and I'm going to go eat a BIG BOYS Italian Steak sandwich this weekend. YES! I'm totally have my lasts! What kind of post op foods are you stocking up on? I'm going to my pre-op appt. tomorrow and am sure they will give me a list but curious as to what all the rest of you are stocking up on. I'm definitely getting some GAS-X Strips cause it sounds like we will need them. I plan on eating the hell out of Hot And Sour Soup post op but not sure when to go to mushies. I'm nervous! Thanks to you all for sharing! Happy Weight Loss!

Hi Sadie! Congratulations! Glad to have another resource to share experiences with after getting banded on March 3rd. I'm a little nervous but ready to get done! OUCH!!! Two of you self paying. I'm sorry about that but what a great investment for you both!!! I'll be talking to you soon! Terri

Oh my gosh Whimsy, a CARE BEAR! How cute! My girls were so into Care Bears when they first arrived on the scene. Thanks for sharing!

Oh and Kimmie K, hang in there! I have UHC as well and was approved. Keep the faith, I'm sure your surgery will be approved. I have another co-worker with UHC that was approved as well! It will go through! Feel free to vent anytime! That's one of many things I love about this site! :thumbup:

WOW, you guys are clever and very creative! I voted for Marvelous Marchers but then I read the Shrinking Shamrocks and thought that ROCKS! Either of those two would be my vote. I love Kimmie K's glitter! Kimmie K, could you make one that says Shrinking Shamrocks if that is the final decision? Or is it a site that anyone can go to and make glitter files? You all are the best! I'm so happy I found this site! Happy weight loss everyone!

Hi Sheri! Congratulations on your upcoming surgery date. It seems like there are quite a few of you that have the surgery date of March 12th. I couldn't agree with you more Sheri, this site is so informative and has the best people as members. Everyone is so supportive, welcoming, caring, and happy to share their experiences. I as well have great support at home but having you all here that are in the same boat is awesome. HECK yeah 46 is still very young! I'm 43 and am glad I'm doing this now. I met a woman that was 62 and had this procedure done and had lost over 100 lbs. She was so happy she did it and said she felt 20 years younger! So we should feel like we are in our 20's I'm thinking! lol WAHOO!!! Take care Sheri the best of luck to you! Terri

Hi Kerrie Marie! Congratulations on your approval and good luck with your surgery! Looking forward to sharing our journey with all the Marchers! Hey all, if you're interested, a friend of mine that has had great success with this surgery sent me a link to watch the actual surgery on YouTube if anyone is interested. I found it fasinating to watch but of course use your own discretion. Here's the link: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5ICI9q7nxU]YouTube - Lap Band Surgery[/ame] My friend by the way was banded in August 07 and has lost 81 lbs so far! He looks fabulous too. Isn't that amazing! 81 lbs in 6 months?! Take care everyone! Counting down the days until March 3rd!!!

Hi Whimsy! You seem to me in your posts to have the best sense of humor. I like that and as well get through this life via my sense of humor. We are going to so be shopping for fun very, very soon! Right now I don't want to buy a lot of new stuff as I am hoping to go from one size to other rather quickly. I mean months of course but that's fast to buy new ward robes for each size. SO my daughters, GOD LOVE EM, have taken me to Vintage Clothes stores. There is one here in KC called Ditto. They only sell gently used name brand clothes that are so cute. So I plan on shopping there a lot during my first year after surgery. OK, you got me a little nervous about this Upper GI/Barium Swallow tests. I don't think I have to do that. My doctor has said nothing about that one and I am so OK with skipping it. LOL I as well have my pre-op on Feb 28th. Let's compare notes after that date. Good luck on this whole process and I'll chat with you soon! GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE MARCH 3RD BANDERS!!! Happy Weight Loss!!! OH BOY!!!

Hi Evansmom again! : ) My doctor told me no more beer as it was to fizzy and would back up on me and that it was to high in calories. I like my beersies when out with friends. But I have a friend that had the lap band surgery done and he has found that he can drink like cranberry and vodka just fine but has a lower tolerance for alcohol now. For me I think a drink like that in moderation will be fine. But then again, everyone seems to be different on what they can tolerate or not tolerate so I guess I'll know after the surgery. : ) Hope this helps, I would be interested to see others replies as well on what their docs advised. ONE thing I definitely have noticed, a lot fo inconsistency from one doctor to the next.

Hi Evansmom! I see you are a March 3rd Bander too! I also read that you are being banded with the Relaize Band? That sounds really cool. I have not heard of that band before but will ask my doctor about it on my pre-op appointment, Feb. 28th. I hope he is using that type already. Good luck with your upcoming surgery and hope to share our stories soon! Happy Weight Loss!!!

Hello Whimsy! I am a 3/3/08 bander as well! I can't wait to get the surgery behind me and start losing this GOD AWFUL weight I've been lugging around for 26 years. Since my first baby. Dang I use to have the cutest shape ever! LOL I hope to find that girl and shape again someday. Or close to her. I'm a bit ansy but the excitement of what's to come out weighs (no pun intended...lol) the nerves. You know? I am just so ready!!! I've been looking at smaller size clothes and thinner girls faces just to keep me excited. I'm so tired of the fat around my neck! : ) I scoured this site when I first got my date but have been so busy since then I haven't had a chance to log on. I'll check back though and see how you and the other MARCH 3rd well and March Banders are doing. This is such a great resource of information. Also, my doctor is only making me do one day of liquid diet prior to my surgery. WAHOO! : ) That makes me happy! Take care all of you and hope to compare stories as we go through this journey together!!! Happy Weight Loss!!!