serenity55

Hi and welcome! I'm terrified of needles, so much so that I've been known to walk out of labs while waiting to have blood drawn. So trust me when I tell you that the fills don't hurt me at all. I think that was one of my concerns when I started this journey, too. I get fills every six weeks, though I think there may be some folks who get them a little more frequently, every four weeks, maybe. Good luck, and keep posting! Debbie

Oh, my goodness, I'm so sorry your surgery was postponed. I know how disappointed I would be. But please don't give up. You may find that things will go really smoothly next week, whereas they might not have tomorrow. I hope the next week flies by. You can still post and read other threads and be even more prepared when you do go. Hang in there, and even if you need to write just to say how disappointed you are, stay in touch. Debbie

I know exactly what you mean. I think for me, it's going to be something I deal with every day, for the rest of my life, and it really does have to be one day, sometimes one minute at a time. There is a lot of comfort in knowing that I'm not alone. As I said earlier, I'm glad I have my band, and I was prepared to deal with emotions, but that doesn't make it any easier. Some days I'm grateful, and proud of my accomplishments, other days I think, Just who am I kidding? Those are less, but they're still there. I guess it's just life on life's terms. Debbie

While a lot of people say they don't remember being wheeled in to the operating room, I do. I remember lying there, listening to my heart monitor. I remember the anesthesiologist coming in and talking about tilting my head back "for easier intubation" which scared the living daylights out of me; because, like you, it terrified me. I'd had another surgery a few years ago, and a couple when I was a child. The last thing I remember was what they called a "time-out" where a nurse said my name, date of birth, the procedure I was having and my doctor's name, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery. It's really wonderful--one minute you're pre band, the next you're a bandster. I was up and walking that evening, and two days later, at home, I began taking short walks on my treadmill. It was uncomfortable for me to get in and out of chairs, but nothing I couldn't manage. I didn't take any medication when I came home. I'm excited for you, and wish you nothing but the best! Definitely keep us posted! Debbie

I posted a thread called, I Know it's not easy but ... What I was interested in knowing was that people have emotional struggles on this journey. For some, yes, it is easy, and as I said in my post, in the few blogs I've read here, and some bandsters I've talked to, it seems like it's been a breeze. It hasn't been easy for me, but I would get banded again in a heartbeat. I was simply interested in the emotional battles people were having. I don't recall anyone saying it was the easy way out--just easy for them. Debbie

Betsy, I agree with you. I'ts been a year, and my struggles are still in my head. I love my band, and would do it again in a heartbeat. I also knew going in to this that it wouldn't be easy, but that was all right with me. I've had some major nonscale victories, and have lost weight that I know won't come back. But it isn't easy, and I, as so many others have said, have to think about what goes in to my mouth. Sometimes I'm better than others, but even at my worst it's still better than my pre band days. Sandi, I read one of your posts on another forum. It's wonderful to have someone who's had such an amazing weight loss and is maintaining. Married, thank you for your kind words. Never thought I'd have a powerful thread. Self-esteem, don'tcha know--but that's another story for another forum! Debbie

Again, thank you all so much! I'm really glad I started this thread because now I can take comfort from it whenever I feel like I'm alone. I've lost two pounds since my last fill, so I know I'm heading in the right direction. Debbie

Boy, you're not kidding! My first scrambled egg was heaven! Poetry on a plate! :w00t:! Debbie

Bea, even though you're not where you'd like to be, you've done just great! You can be proud of the fact that you're where you are, and the weight you've lost will not come back, as it has with so many of us. Singulus, good point. People will think what they will, but we all know that getting the band isn't the easy way out; it's a lot of hard work. . Ladykcusa, I agree with you. I'm definitely going to take all this experience, strength and hope I've been given by everyone. That's what makes this site so wonderful. Debbie!

No, Patty, I'm not confused. I just don't believe there is a God. Debbie

Maryrose, thank you so much for your post. I need to remember to keep the focus on myself. It really is easy to compare myself to others. I'll never work out 6 days a week, though I have been known to walk (we have a track at work and I have a treadmill at home) at least five. In my early post op days, right after surgery, I walked twice a day. But I have had some major nonscale victories which, again, I need to remember. Your post is a great comfort to me. Guess it helps being the same age! :wink2: Hummingbird, I envy you, and thank you for posting. You are so right when you say we all have our issues, and I appreciate the fact that we can all talk about them openly and honestly here. Debbie

I grew up with the fire and brimstone kind of Christianity. Later I went to Mass with my best friend. I studied with Seventh-Day Adventists, talked to Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutherans and Episcopalians, who seem to me to be much milder. I've also dealt with born-again Christians. None of them have done anything which would lead me to believe in their God. Saying a prayer "just in case" seems to me to leave room for doubt. If you can't be sure that the prayers are what did the trick, that too, would cause me to question. Butting my head against a brick wall, waiting for answers and then thinking that whatever happens is God's will is not the way I choose to live my life. It still seems rather black and white to me. . Debbie

Milk shakes or smoothies weren't allowed for me. I can't speak for anyone else. Debbie

Hello! Congratulations on starting this journey! I had a two week pre op diet, and my surgeon's office gave me a list of the things I could have. You might want to check and see if yours will do the same. Some of the things I remember were, coffee, tea, (neither of which I drink) non fat milk, creamy Soups, (some people do home made ones) Protein shakes, sugar free puddings and Jello, fudgecicles, sugar free. I bought lots of soups, tomato bisque, and butternut squash, and others I can't remember. Some people have chicken soups, and strain out the meat for flavor. I just added a little pepper to make them spicy. Two days before my surgery I had Clear liquids, beef or vegetable broth. Oh, yes, you can have juices, too. I think the list I got included calories for different things, too. Good luck, and please let us know how things go. I hope this helps. Debbie

Christians only see black and white, there is no in between. Either you believe in God or you're a sinner. Other types of spirituality that I have heard about are not nearly as rigid, and therefore, in my opinion, not close-minded at all. Christianity really is a straight and narrow path, and I have heard many of them refer to it as such. Debbie

That is, of course, assuming that you BELIEVE in God! They don't call it the straight and harrow for nothing! As I said earlier, I'd much rather choose my own destiny than wait and hope that something I don't even believe in, decides that I do or don't need something. There is no proof, in my mind, that God even exists. Again, as I said earlier, it's all based on faith. Not enough for me. Debbie

Hello fabulous February bandsters! I know you're out there, so let's here from you! How are things as we Celebrate our bandiversaries? Remember what it was like? What's it like now? Any regrets? Glad you did it? I am! Looking forward to hearing from you all, Debbie :confused: :celebrate:

ButterflyGrl, I feel the same way. I haven't lost as much as I'd hoped to by this time, but I'm glad I got banded! Saahney, I know it's been a while, but how did your fill go? Debbie

I think it's safe to say that many bandsters used food, whether it was to numb out, because we were bored, because it was four o'clock and the sun was shining! LOL! When that is taken away, many of us feel deprived, because it means finding a substitute for our best friend. It can also mean, as in my case, asking if, in fact, there is anything to replace food. I'm learning that there are indeed other things, and each day I try to remind myself of them. But it is something I must do quite often. Some days are easier than others. Debbie

Didn't Karl Marx say that religion was the opiate of the masses? Somebody did. I think I'd rather achieve goals through hard work rather than risk turning them over to something that hasn't been proved to be real. I wanted to be a missionary. I wanted to get married. I wanted to be a "good Christian." I didn't get a husband. I didn't go overseas. And I didn't get any of the answers I looked for. And believe me, I read and reread the Bible. I did everything, prayed, screamed, cried, pleaded, and nothing worked. Which tells me that there's nothing and no one out there. If it works for all those who choose to believe, fantastic! I'm not one of them! Debbie

Isn't Christianity one of the youngest, if not THE youngest, religions? So if that's true, god can't possibly be that old, can he? I'm not trying to be facetious, but, I have heard that the early Christians took pagan holidays and used them, as someone else said, (but much better than I) to suit their needs. I knew a couple of people that were Jehovah's Witnesses. I guess one of them was trying to convince me of something, but all she could do was use the Bible, which, as I said in an earlier post, does nothing, if you don't believe. Debbie

One has to have a belief that god even exists before they can claim Jesus as their personal savior. Herein lies the rub, as they say Debbie.

You don't even have to believe while you're living. You can accept Jesus on your deathbed and you're in, so ... party on, folks! A chaplain told me once that if Judas had come to the foot of the cross he would have been forgiven. So why go through all the questioning and struggling when you can have what you want anyway? I even heard of Christians who were willing to believe that Ted Bundy "found the Lord"! What a crock! Just my opinion. Debbie

Hi, Just like you, I was afraid of all the complications, and I'm terrified of needles. But I've faced all my fears, and no, as the previous poster said, it isn't easy, but it really is so worth it! For me, the results were almost immediate. I could reach up to places on my back I never could before. I can now tie my shoes easily. I don't get winded when I walk. I'm off one of my blood pressure meds. As for the food, your surgeon's office will let you know what to eat before and after surgery. Usually there is some form of pre op diet, and then liquids after surgery for two weeks, sometimes more. Gradually you introduce soft foods, (mushies) and then regular foods back in to your diet. The important thing is to get in the right amount of Protein, which can be done through protein powders which can be added to things, or drinks. I choose at this point to get as much of my protein as I can from the foods I eat. I hope some of this helps. Congratulations and good for you for taking charge of your life! Keep us posted! Getting the band is the best thing I've done for myself, and I hope you will feel that way too. Debbie

Hello! and welcome to the forum! Since you've been around for the past six months, you know what a great place this is. Congratulations on being approved, and try not to re-live those feelings when they asked all those questions. Your life is about to change, and you will no longer have to feel that way. Good luck, and please let us know when you have a date! Debbie