jnbwilds

I completely agree with Sherry - ask your surgeon for a referral to a nutritionist - right away! Now, I'm sure my nutritionist might agree with some of your surgeon's suggestions (especially those about potatoes and sugar) but it sounds to me like you need to hear from an expert. And, I agree with you on the weight loss - I'm required to keep a detailed journal, but as long as I'm losing 1-3 lbs a week, my surgeon only glances at it. If I slow down, he'll read the whole thing. (yikes...and what will he say about the fact that I made my carnation instant breakfast with coffee and creamer instead of skim milk!)

CindyLou & Traci, Well hi! I haven't found many Dr. McEwen patients out here so it is nice to see some fellow Hoosiers! I'm so glad to see that you had similar experiences to mine. Dr. M is delightful, his office staff are quickly becoming my friends, and the surgery center staff - good grief, I felt like I'd gone there for a spa treatment instead of for surgery! Happy to see you've both been successful. Perhaps we will meet up at support group some time.

Well, just got back from my first fill. I've had longer coffee breaks. Went in, weighed on the amusingly large scale, walked in exam room, listened to doctor and nurse complement my weight loss (giggled and blushed and told them to keep it coming), quick numbing shot, found port first try, band-aid, pat on back from doc, "Keep up the good work", drank a cup of Water to make sure not too tight, and out the door. 10 minutes tops. My car was still warm. (A rare thing during an Indiana winter). Now let's see if I remember how to live on liquids.

Lovely rewards! I like them all. A pedicure every 2 weeks. Hmmmm... now that is something to think about. I guess I'm hoping that as I continue to lose weight, reaching my own toes won't make me look like a fat girl trying to do yoga. In this case, I may be able to do my own pedi's! And I thought of 2 more. Once I reach a 50 lb loss, I'm posting before and after pictures up there at the front of the forum. (not really a reward - but a committment). And in a nod to Miss Angie - when I hit 50 lbs. gone, I will march myself to Joe's Crab Shack, order a pound of King Crab Legs (no bread or taters, thank you) and eat 'em up.

NewcastleMamma - Thanks! Don't worry about that fill - reading most fill related posts around here - most are quick and painless. I agree w/ StLouisGal, and my ticker weight begins the day I started my pre-op diet on January 7, 2008. I think I worked harder on the 4 weeks pre-op than I've ever worked on a diet in my life! My surgery was self-pay and I was determined to give it every chance to succeed. Of my weight loss so far, 27 lbs pre-op and 14 lbs post-op. I'm with you - I'm doing this for my boys (8 & 3). Our summer vacation this year involves an amusement park and so help me - I'm fitting on any roller coaster I want to ride!

Kandi, I'm also in Indy - and was banded by Dr. Keith McEwen. Dr. McEwen is the leading lap band surgeon in the state - so I might recommend talking with him. I'm not sure if he does fills for people who were not his patients, but it is worth the call. I have been extremely pleased with every aspect of his care. He is in Fishers and I'm linking his website here. LAP-BAND® Surgery in Indiana - Bariatric Surgery - Morbid Obesity Surgery - Keith McEwen M.D.

Love NSV's. Here are some of my fav's so far.... 1. No seat belt extender on airplane 2 weeks ago. 2. Fit in "skinny" jeans which have been in my closet for 5 years untouched. 3. According to new BMI, am now only obese.

Christine, I have been watching your progress and reading your blog since I first found this forum. I just figured it was time to say that you are awesome. I hope you know how many people here you have encouraged, inspired, and helped. Your authentic approach to sharing your story and your willingness to help newbies is "jusfantastic". You look beautiful. That picture in the jeans - good grief, what a transformation. And...thank you (I guess) for turning me on to the Half of Me blog. Although in my attempt to read all her freakin' hilarious archives in a few days, I am now physically attached to my laptop. My poor ignored hubby probably thinks, "oh, she's lost a few pounds, now she's on Match.com uploading her pictures."

Jack - you are awesome. I love finding your insightful and often witty posts throughout this forum. Sorry about that traffic! When I found out that my surgeon's office was literally within walking distance from my home (maybe not until warmth returns to Indiana, but technically doable) I guess I took the message from On High that I was supposed to bite the proverbial bullet and do this thing!

Oh, I'm so sorry! That sounds like a nightmare. Can you ask your doc to do a quick numbing injection FIRST, before using you for pincushion practice? When I went yesterday, I bravely told my doctor I'd be happy to have the fill without the lidocaine. He laughed at me and showed me the needle on the fill injection. I changed my tune. Luckily he hit the port first try - but I was numbed and didn't feel it anyway. I'm kind of mad at your doctor for you! If mine had gone badly the first time, I think I'd be nervous going in for more fills!

My little dude is 3 and about 30 lbs. My surgeon recommended 2 weeks before lifting him from the floor, but ok to hold him if he climbed on my lap right away. I think I made it 8 days before he did one of his trademark, "Mommy, carry me" moves from the top of our stairs when he launches himself in the air, trusting you'll catch him. It was either catch him or watch him tumble down the stairs. Not a tough choice really. It definately hurt in the port area and left me sore there for a few hours, but no big damage.

Tomorrow ladies...tomorrow at 3pm EST I'm gettin' that fill. And it couldn't come at a better time. I'm starving! Amy - thanks for sharing your experience. I'm not nervous about the needles, but I'm worried that I won't know what restriction feels like while I'm drinking Water - and I'll tell him to stop too soon or too late! My doctor does the numbing too - but I think I'll tell him not to bother. I'd rather take one stick than bother with numbing - which usually stings more than the actual stick! ooh, I'm so excited! Also excited to weigh in at the doctor's office. I'm half a pound away from a 40 lb. loss overall - and I'd love to make it by tomorrow. But I doubt that I'll get the same result at 3pm at Dr.'s office fully clothed than I get first thing in the morning after I pee. I am prepared to strip down to my wedding ring in front of the whole office if needed!

Excellent! Congratulations! Keep on swimming girl! I'm looking forward to my first appointment with my PCP because he doesn't know I had the surgery (one of the advantages of self-pay, didn't have to get clearance from Mr. "why don't you get a little more exercise") Hopefully he'll be so completely stunned by my fabulous results that he won't fuss at me over the surgery. (hee hee)

Love the Office!! Funniest show on TV in my humble opinion. Enjoy American Idol (but not the initial auditions - nothin' funny about bad singing to me). Sometimes find myself drawn to Flavor of Love - like staring at a car wreck - just can't help it. Watched food Network addictively (want Paula Dean to be my momma) but trying to replace with HGTV. Now, enjoy shows like Big Medicine and Biggest Loser - makes me not feel alone in a world of skinny folk. Watch Nascar (Carl Edwards is my cutie) and NFL (especially when Colts or Cowboys playing) and have learned to enjoy both to improve time with DH.

Grew up in Chicago area - a happy Hoosier now (Go Colts!). Live just north of Indy in the subdivision right behind my surgeon's office! Who knew health was less than a mile away the whole 7 years I've lived here!

Love this thread - Gibson, you're a hoot - I love your authenticity. So far, have been pretty good - flawless pre-op diet, stuck pretty well to the liquid/mushy/soft phases. But I'm happy to unload the few confessions I have. Bless me, I have sinned.... 1. Week 3 post-op: Appetite returns, weight plateaus, bitterness sets in. Go to movies with sister who cruely eats popcorn (asked me if I would mind - I lied and said no problem). Buy a carton of Dibs (little ice cream bites) and tell my sister to hold me accountable to eating a few and tossing the rest. Eat them all - and show sister empty carton. 2. A few times over past 2 weeks, eat 1 full cup of Soup or chili and record 1/2 cup or 3/4 cup in food journal. Become guilty over lies and erase lie and record truth (sometimes). 3. Had 3 oz. of salmon for dinner last night. Fish is salty no matter how much you chew it. Lusted after Water glasses by plates of DH and 8 year old. Took a big gulp of 3 year old's milk when no one was looking. Whew....I feel unburdened!

First - welcome back Karen - I wondered where you went! How are you doing - any bandster hell for you? I'm afraid I'm in love with my cute little dredlock boy - the first night he did "What a Day for a Daydream" with his guitar - I got a little hippie crush on him. Not sure he has the voice for the finals, but I want to see him at least a few more times.

I have a desk job - had my surgery on Thursday and was back at work on Monday. It seems like reading through the forum, everyone has different pain levels, and healing times. I'd plan for a longer time, as you can probably go back to work earlier if you are feeling good.

A foreign body? Suzanne - I'm frustrated for you! So, girlfriends - you know what's "foreign"? 100 extra pounds of FAT, that's what's foreign. Our bodies aren't meant to carry what's on them by the time we're morbidly obese. So I guess I'd rather have a few inches of plastic and tubing in my tummy, and trade that for the 100 lbs I need to lose!

I've been worried about restaurants too. Luckily, the few I've been to have been wonderful. I just say that I have a bunch of odd dietary restrictions and I hope they will be able to accommodate. I ask them to remove my water glass, bring a to-go box at the same time they bring my meal, and replace rice or bread with fruit. Both times I've done this, I've gotten a great response - and I've tipped well as a thank-you. If I did get push-back from a server, I would probably ask if there is a manager on duty I could talk with. If that doesn't do the trick, I would just put the restaurant on my "do not visit" list.

My surgeon also explained that there is a connection between the stomach and left shoulder - and than any messing with the stomach will cause referred pain in the left shoulder. It isn't gas (that is uncomfortable, but feels different). I actually was all prepared for it, and didn't have any shoulder pain at all, but I've heard a heating pad works well.

Yes! I'm also 4 weeks out and having the same weird back pain! I'm looking forward to discussing with my surgeon later this week. I've read on a few threads the idea that this is related to the positioning and tugging during surgery. I've also heard the weight re-distribution theory. Either way, I'm thinking a visit to a chiropractor with a nice follow up visit to a massage therapist will be just the thing! I'm trying to hold off until I've lost 50 lbs and then do the hour long massage as a reward!

I'm having this issue as well. I'm eating Activia yogurt and taking a supplement of acidophilous (sp?). These are both forms of healthy active bacteria that keep things moving in your digestive system. But the thing that works best for me is chugging a really warm or hot cup of coffee (doing half caf to make nutritionist happy) first thing in the morning.

I am staying on plan today, because I see my surgeon for the first time on Thursday - and I want to be under 250 on his scale (which is meaner than my scale) and I don't want to have to strip nekkid in the office just to be under 250. Whew...now that's a reason to stay on plan.

I'm sure I'm just being a broken record - but Land's End has got us big girls figured out!! Even at my highest weight, I could buy a Land's End suit via catalogue and every one of them looked good. They have definately earned my business - even though they are a big pricey. And they are so well made that you can wear them for years. I just got the catalogue, and I am circling the ones I want for this summer when I fully intend to be in a size 18!