To be free

It's been almost two weeks since I have been banded. I feel like for once in my life since the age of six that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and hope. I have always had to work at weight loss and never had a problem loosing but have had a problem keeping it off. No longer am I going to worry about what will happen after all the hard work is done.......I am just going to enjoy the ride. I no longer want to obsess about weighing myself (I have always been a slow looser), what I am going to eat, what I can or can't wear, I want to be "normal" or whatever normal is for me. As I have heard so much on this site...... I want to eat to live, not live to eat and that my dear is what I am going to do!!!!!

First let me say thank you to everyone, this site has been wonderful!!! I was banded 10 days ago staples out and most of the gas is gone but I am still a little sore and alot swollen on my left side were my port is (although I can't feel it, my surgeon told me it would be on my left side) How long does the swelling, slight brusing and soreness lasts. It is not as bad as being on full liquids though LOL Thanks again!

I was the 10th and are doing great, staying overnight in the hospital made the difference! No pain meds at all!

No, I never saw my surgeon on the day of the surgery. I stayed overnight and he came in the next day to discharge me but that was it. He was however great with my family after the surgery..... Now during my pre op visit he spent about an hour+ with 4 of us having the lap band explaining everything and anything. Even gave us a CD of him explaining everything so we could go over it if needed. Very straight forward and didn't sugar coat a thing and then individually for about 15min. I needed him to be the best at what he does and he is the best!!!! The aftercare from the hospital was awesome and that was more important to me. I went for my post op yesterday and was told I will only see him if something goes wrong.........

My pre-op diet was two weeks of a Protein shake for breakfast and lunch and then a high protein low carb dinner.......piece of meat and a spinach salad was the standard for me...... I thought that was tough....now I am on post-op for two weeks of "full liquids" wow could I go for that steak and spinach salad now!!!! I never thought I would dream of the mashed potatoes I can have on Tuesday (mushies)....... what's with watching food shows............I never watched much before......only once in awhile. Good luck and follow your Doctors pre-op rules..........

I was banded on the 10th and only had to do clear liquids for 3 days now I am on full liquids till week three......you always need to follow your doctors orders but I am allowed cream soups, pudding and nothing thicker than yogurt.......call them and ask if you can go to full liquids...the tomatoe soup shouldn't be a problem it is approved on my diet but the cheese..... Just pick yourself up, forget about it, don't let it happen again and go back on plan, we can do this! Before we could have something off plan and just have "fallen off the wagon" but this time we could do possible damage to our band.......

But could we keep it off without the band? I have been this big at least 3 times in my life, have lost and gained it all back and more. I am looking to the band to ensure that once I loose the weight it will be easier to keep it off. Life is too short to continue on this yo yo cycle, it has to end!

I am hungry also about two hours after I eat. I was banded on the 10th but have to do full liquids till the 24th then mushies for a week before I start regular foods. I went for my post op appointment today and found out that I won't get a fill for 6 weeks July 30th. I am hoping I won't be hungry once on regular foods, but if I am hungry now...... I know this is only a tool and will do whatever I can to stay on track......just can't wait till I am not hungry every two hours.... Good luck!

I am right there with ya! I am also on the liquid phase since Friday....better than clear liquid.... I am allowed cream soups (without bits)...and took some low fat cream of potatoe soup and puree'd the bits till there were none....that soup is saving me......I am also allowed the pudding, and yogurt, cream of wheat or rice, and strained baby food fruits.....every doctor is different though.......Hang in there a little more than one more week and we will be on the mushy stage...... we can do it!!!! You are not alone!

I was banded on the 10th and are on full liquids which means nothing thicker than yogurt or pudding, but I can have puree baby food, cream Soups no pieces, pudding, applesauce, juice, cream of rice, or wheat cereal.......I don't want to have a shake either, had enough of those.....but I do want to give my body a chance to heal. Look at it this way if you can do a two week pre op liquid and then a clear liquid then the above foods don't sound too rough for two weeks.....then it is on to mushy....I do miss my bread alot.....but I my thought process is if I allow my stomach to heal and follow my doctors recommendations then I may be able to eat all of my favorites later only in smaller portions. Good luck, hang on and just go back and stay on full liquids.....it is only for awhile and you can do it!

My information was submitted on a Thursday and by Monday I saw it on line approved. My surgeons office was awesome. I was just banded on Tuesday and I must say that I like the overnight stay that Tricare makes you have, to me it made all the difference..... Good Luck!!

Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I was banded on June 10th and look about 6 months pregnant, I cannot seem to pass the gas!!!! I have the shoulder and neck pain, I haven't used any pain medication because I get real nauseous and the pain has been tolorable but the gas is unbearable. I have always had problems passing gas...... Thanks for all your support!!!!

Wow! Thank you so much to all that replied!!! Every suggestion is great, it really helped seeing how long the gas lasts with others.....it helps us that were just banded that we are "normal" and that this too shall pass. I know we are all different but there seems to be a rang that everyone falls in and it helps to know. Thanks, again!!!!!!

I was just thinking the same thing, I started full liquids today and was full on less than 2oz of real thin cream of rice cereal. I heard something about protien bullets but don't know too much about them.... I was told to get 60-80g of protien a day.... and I want to but can't....

I was just banded on June 10th and had mine, they said it happens all the time and are used to it...they just said no tampons during surgery, they gave me a pad to wear and a pad for the bed in case....once back up in my room I was allowed to wear tampons...... no problems at all. Funny though that I was more worried about that than anything else. Good luck!!

Well, it is done! I was very lucky to stay overnight, don't know what I would have done if I had to go home after the surgery. I had the best care!!!!! I was at Ocala Regional Medical and was banded by Dr. Jawad awesome! I checked in at 6am, was in surgery a little after 8. Of course it was that time of the month for me, I was more worried about that but all went ok, it happens and they are used to it. They hooked up my IV and gave me lots of meds because I told them that I get sick from anesthesia, , I remember changing beds in the OR and having a mask of "oxygen" put on me....yeah right oxygen, next thing I remember I was in recovery with the shakes real bad.....then the nausea, it was so bad... I was put up in my room and just layed there all day dealing with the nausea...finally around 5 it left, I believe it was from the pain meds they gave me after surgery Demoral maybe..... anyway I decided at that point I would rather have the pain than the nausea so I opted for no pain meds. I had a good night, slept for a few hours then got up to walk....did ok, still had no pain meds....nausea for me is the worst, even more so knowing what kind of complications it could pose in having the band if I vomited. I was discharged around 2 the next day and made the long hour and a half ride home....thanks for the pillow for the stomach suggestion awesome!!!!! I had to be on clear liquids till today and have been dealing with the gas and shoulder pain but overall doing well....I do look about 6 months pregnant and have staples........not looking forward to having those taken out. I never thought cream of rice Cereal with a little sugar could taste so good!!! If I can just get rid of the headache and weak feeling I will be good to go. Thanks to everyone for the support and advice......loved the pillow!!

Clear liquids for me, I got some Isopure clear and that has helped me alot......Good luck to you too!!!!

I will be there with ya in spirit..... I AM TOMORROW TOO!!!! Good luck!! I am only down 7 pounds as of last Thursday, I was allowed to have a low carb meal at night so I think that is why I only lost 7 but I'll take it. I must say I am excited, nervous and worried!

Unjury at Unjury.com has a unflavored mix as well as flavored. It is the only one recommended by the Nutritionist at my surgeons office that spoke to us during our pre-op appointment

I had Tricare and it was not a requirement for them but it was for the doctor. They just want to know that you are mentally prepared for the procedure, lifestyle change and for the commitment the band requires. It is only a tool and they need to know that you are ready to use it!!!!

I have not been banded yet, but if your doc doesn't have a emergency number I say go to the Emergency room.....my first thought was low blood sugar but the pain? Please don't wait go to the ER even if they are not familiar with the band they can still evaluate by doing tests and you will have peace of mind, worrying can make things worse. Good luck, keep us posted and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

I like Ladies Lounge...... sounds like a place we can go, relax, sit down and talk about anything and everything........

I have been an emotional eater since I was about 8 or 9 (didn't know it then) but I go on binges when I do eat for my emotions and it is for all stressed, happy, sad, bored....... I am going to take up painting again to have something different to do...but I was told that with the band it is physically unable to eat mass quantities of food at one time.....so I think that will help me out.... because other than those episodes I can stick to a good food plan.

I agree, Stevia is the best and only all natural, sugar free sweetener out there. I do agree with the nurse that artificial sweeteners make cravings worse. In fact I am having a real tough time because I am doing my post-op diet and I have to have shakes with Splenda, Sucralose (splenda) or Nutrasweet. I can feel a difference, I have numbness in my arms, my brain is foggy and the list goes on and on..... splenda has some nasty side effects in those that are sensitive to it. Just search on "side effects of splenda" on line. I have been using Stevia or very little natural sugars. Overseas and in Japan especially they use mostly Stevia, diet coke and pepsi are made with it along with many other items. Here in the US the FDA will not approve it so it cannot be used in processed "sugar free" food it is still in the same class as Vitamins and other health foods. That is all about to change soon, I hear that Coke is pushing to get it passed and will soon be marketing diet coke with Splenda. In fact I am going to the health food store tomorrow to see if there are any alternatives or I am going to find out if I can do low carb...... A little something with regular sugar is better in my opinion than alot of something with Splenda.....I know I didn't get obese by eating just one bite to satisfy my cravings......Stevia helps

Thanks, I can't wait to try it.....there are only 4 net carbs in a half of cup of pumpkin so a tablespoon would be next to nothing as far as carbs go!!!!!! I am on day 3 and it is better....... Thanks again