coltorismom

me, too, sweetheart!!! I was a little puzzled when I first saw your message. I thought to myself, "Wonder how much that is." When I scrolled down, I discovered that it's IN FACT the same amount of weight I have lost!!! ONE ELEPHANT PENIS DOWN & ONE ELEPHANT PENIS TO GO!!!!!! congrats, sweetheart!!! keep up the good work!!!

my surgeon said for the first three months-no soda. however, my dietician said, "why go back after three months?" and quite honestly after NOW that it has been over three months, I can honestly say, "I do not desire to drink soft drinks." AMAZING!! I was your compulsive soda drinker. With God all things are possible. hang in there!

i'm not sure but i think I've met you. Were you at the doc yesterday? I do hope things get better with you & your hubby. I will pray for you. Actually, having only lost 38 lbs, people say,"Hi, skiinny!!" I think "yeah, right." You're doing well sounds like. Take Care!! monica

I don't know what your surgeon recommends, but MY SURGEON does not recommend traveling after a fill, because sometimes there CAN be problems with nausea, vomiting from the BAND being too tight. So, if you are away from home, your surgeon won't be accessible so that he may UNFILL if you need him to. Just my "two cents worth", which AIN'T much, but that's what my dr says. I had my first FILL yesterday & I'm on fluids until tomorrow. He said just start regular solids. I don't have to go through the mushie phase & all that stuff, thankfully. Take Care!

Yesterday I went for my post op follow-up & first fill. My surgeon said that usually during the first year his patients get between 3-8 fills the first year. I go back August 21 for my next fill. I am on fluids until tomorrow & then it's 2 oz meals 3x daily.

My advice would be to let Dad or Grandma do the heavy lifting (or aunt, uncle, cousin). The first week is the toughest. You will most likely have a lot of soreness in your incisions. I definitely did.My husband took off work for the first week. My mom came the 2nd week to help me out. Although my children aren't as YOUNG as your child, (mine are 7 & 11), they BOTH have special needs. The days were covered because they are in school, but I definitely needed an extra hand in the evening. Something my bariatric nurse advised me to do that might be helpful to you is to keep a pillow in your lap. My son (who is autistic) is VERY affectionate & loves to cuddle although he's getting older could NOT sit in my lap after I had surgery. She also said to let him sit BESIDE YOU on the couch & give you hugs & kisses that way he still gets that TLC & it's good for the both of you. This way is safer for you while your incisions heal. Best to you! coltorismom

Honey, I have a very strong gag reflex. Going to the dentist, for instance, seems like a life sentence for me. I have experienced very little nausea & in terms of vomiting, the only episodes I have had of that was this past WEEK when a flour tortilla (from a burrito) didn't go down so smoothly. Gag City!!! I did throw it up & do not plan on attempting burritoes in the near future. Other than that, haven't vomited the first time & have had barely even a 1 (on a scale of 1 to 10) of what you would consider nausea. Best to you!!! Hope you have what I've had or LESS!!!

hey, ya'll!!! Remember the FIRST diet soda ever created (I believe) called TAB back in the 80's. Yes, believe it or not it's still available at many grocery stores such as kroger or wal-mart. I was addicted!!! I drank anywhere from 6-10 (12 oz) cans per day sometimes. If I can give up sodas, ANYBODY can!!! My dietician told me horror stories long before my surgery & of course my doc says no. Crystal light (wal-mart brand, that is) is a delicious alternative. Morning sunrise orange is my FAVORITE.

my bandages fell off (each different times) but it was anywhere between 10-14 days. healing was very easy. hope you have the quick speedy recovery I have.

Take it from a former diet soda queen. Remember TAB, the first diet soda EVER to come out in the 70's or 80's. I used to drink SOMESTIMES 6-12 of them daily. Now, I am perfectly content with my decaf tea & crystal lite. I, personally, do not drink alcohol so I don't really know about BEER. I guess BEER is carbonated, right. When I went to my information seminar, I'd never seen so many FAT people in all my life! One table in the front row was vacant so I took a seat there. You'll be fine.

I would like to quote the lyrics of a favorite 80's love song (although I don't MEAN IT exactly the same way). "you're the meaning in our LIVES You're the inspiration. Remember the group Chicago. Honey, when I step on the scales & I see 199, there will be a sound of rejoicing my family & friends haven't heard in 15 years. I have lost (altogether) 36 lbs. I started at 314. I was 290 @ surgery on 4/23 & NOW i'M ABOUT 278. BUT I've yet to receive my first FILL. Congrats on your victory over the 200 & 300's . You go girl!

funny you should ask. When I came HOME from the hospital & stepped on the scale--I WAS 5 LBS up for weigh in BEFORE surgery. Well, I was MORTIFIED!!! How was this possible. not like i ate anything & my only source of hydration was IV for the first 24 hrs POST OP. Fluid RETENTION both from the anesthesia & pain meds. I bet you have fluid retention, sweetie. Keep your chin up (or CHINS) if your like me. ha ha ha LOL. YOU'LL BE back on your feet in no time flat. My surgery date was 4/23 & I am about 10 lbs. DOWN from my surgery weight. However, I lost 15 lbs during the PREOP diet. You know, the one EVERYBODY despises!!! All the best coltorismom

100% whey Protein , vanilla flavored (you buy it at @ Wal-mart) or you may order unjury on their website. I like the strawberry sorbet flavor. I'm more on the practical side so I buy the whey protein @ wal-mart because it is cheaper & you get more for your money & vanilla can be mixed with any fruit or flavor of yogurt. I LOVE to make Protein shakes out of yogurt. yum yum All the Best coltorismom

i called my nurse when my bandages started coming off. she said there should be no puss, no bright redness or hot feeling to the incision. if you are experiencing symptoms listed above, call the surgeon immediately.

I actually thought she was gastric bypass because of her RAPID weight loss. When Dr Phil interrogated her about how she lost the weight, she WOULDN' T reveal that to him. As for not being able to lose it on your own. All the band is simply a TOOL to aid in weight loss, not a cure all, magic potion weight loss treatment.Weight watchers or south beach are WONDERFUL weight loss programs for the those who are moderate overweight & it's best to get it off before you are 100 lbs overweight. However, WE ARE WHERE WE ARE. THE band is a great tool for the morbidly obese, like me & like STAR JONES, & like many of us!!! I must be VERY STRANGE, because I couldn't contain myself about my surgery--too excited about it. To me, it was like being ENGAGED not telling anybody OR being pregnant not telling anybody. There were those family members & friends that I ABSOLUTELY did NOT want them to know about my surgery because I didn't want to HEAR IT from them. I think we all have people in our lives who are judgmental & critical. I have a family member who didn't find out until AFTER THE FACT became upset that NOONE told her!! Oh, well life goes on!!

seems my quick replies are not so quick!!! dr geller is my dr. i went to suburban. may i ask, do you live in louisville? i am from taylorsville myself. dr geller is super good. I would highly recommend him. They don't do the OUTPATIENT THING. I had to stay 24 hours. Let me know how things go. You GO GIRL! blairseptemberfam@yahoo.com

I can tell you the first week (for me) was the most challenging. You need to get up & move around, but WITH THE OPTION of being able to sit down & rest (or take a nap) if you please. With the type of profession you are in, that wouldn't be possible I am sure. I am a substitute teacher for the school district & I took ALMOST 2 weeks off. Of course, my job doesn't require lifting/bending like yours. However, I have two autistic children & my daughter (who's 7) is the STRONGEST & hard to manage. Thankfully my husband was home with me the first week & my mom the second week. Hope all goes well for you!!!

sweetheart, don't fret you have been through a lot. if i listened to the opinions of others, I wouldn't be banded today & would probably still weigh 314. However, I must admit that I, too, cheated on the pre-op diet, but my liver WAS in great shape, thankfully. As for regrets, the first 24 hours post op when I was still in the hospital--Oh boy! I was beating myself up because I ALLOWED myself to gain so much weight & that I didn't do weight watchers or south beach sooner. I was very sore & groggy from anesthesia & wasn't thinking clearly. Now i am almost 1 month post op & I (thus far) do not regret my decision. I feel restriction with no FILLS yet. Keep up the good work. god bless.

forgive my ignorance, but i a doing my best to add my PICTURE to my profile. I have maybe i have actually figured it out as i am talking to you. i want my picture to appear underneath my name on all my posts.

Remember the first diet soft drink EVER. TAB. Yes, that was me prior to the BAND. tab tab & more tab. SOMETIMES EVEN 10 a Day. Do you know, I don't miss them AT ALL. So, take it from a diet soda ADDICT, Phillipians 4:13!! I CAN do all things through Christ. You can too So, just trust him

Since I was banded on 4/23, I am actually unable to vomit. My nurse practitioner at the family practice said that was typical.