molinomama

Have you been drinking enough water? Don't let it go on another day without consulting your doc, you don't want to get dehydrated. Good luck.

Congrats! 66 pounds is great. I am curious, in what time period did you lose this? You said you have been eating inappropriately for the past 5 months - but have you still been losing - just slower?

I have found that not drinking much with meals is my key to getting a "full feeling." It was my habit to drink 2-3 glasses of tea with each meal, so I have had to work hard to stop this. I still drink alot between meals and that helps. I do have about a half a glass with meals. For me the "full feeling" starts as a brief feeling that something is "stuck" and normally, I would take a drink and feel fine and keep eating. Now I stop the and then I realize I have had enough. It definitely got easier to identify after my first fill, which was 4cc. Good luck!

I also use the Citracal Calcium Citrate "Petites" and they work great. I get them at Walgreens. I take them one at a time and have had no problems. Sometimes it takes trial and error to find what works best for you.

I was banded on 12/18/08 and was itchy for the first 3 weeks. Itchy all over, no spots, just general itchiness. It went away and I have not had it reoccur. The doctor could not give a reason.

I was taking 2 5mcg Byetta injections prior to Lapband on 12/18/08 . I was titrated off the Byetta during pre-op. Since the surgery, I have continued on Lantus, though I went from 80 units at night to 20 at night and 10 at noon. I have lost about 25 pounds and am now on regular food. I have to watch my carb intake, but still stay reasonably well controlled, with appropriate rises after eating. My goal is to come off all meds as my weight loss continues. I have always been sensitive to exercise and the more I exercise the better control I have. Good luck to you.

Sorry to hear about your high sugars. I have been banded now about 6 weeks and currently take 20 Lantus at night and 10 at noon, with a 25 lb weight loss. When doing the liquids only, I was usually around the mid 90s. Now that I am eating regular food I am trying to maintain low carb and keep to very small meals. My sugars after eating go about 135-170, and come down appropriately. I definitely do better when exercising. At this time, I am content to have my surgeon monitor my meds, but I think if I had problems like you are experiencing, I would be back to my endocronologist. Like you, the more meds I was on the harder my weight loss was. Good luck.

I would love to meet, cannot this weekend. How about Saturday, January 31st. Let's set a date, then we can pick a place. I will coming down Hwy 29 to Pensacola, so somewhere off the interstate works for me or on Hwy 98 or Gulf Breeze area. Hope everyone is doing well. I have my first fill next Tuesday. Today is 4 weeks post op for me and I had food today! That scoop of tuna was simply delicious. I am actually a little nervous about eating, a little concerned I will overdo and start going backward.

Prior to WLS, my diabetes meds were Byetta 5 twice a day and Lantus 80 mg at night. I was banded on 12-18-08. When I started my 4 day preop clear liquids, I stopped the Byetta totally and stepped down my Lantus from 80 per night down to 5 the night of surgery. After surgery, I was told to go back on Lantus 20 at night only. Then after 2 weeks, I went to 20 at night and 10 at noon. I am just finishing full liquids today and my BS's stay between 80-100. I am a little anxious to see what happens when I begin mushies tomorrow. I plan to stay as low carb as possible to keep my meds down as I continue to lose. Good luck and let us know how it goes. :sneaky:

Anyone tell me the choices for Lapbanding in Orlando? Looking for a program with good support before and after. Any and all feedback appreciated.

I am curious, was it your insurance who said this was an outpatient procedure or your surgeon? The more I read this site the more I realize there is no consistency or "standard of care". Some are inpatient, some outpatient. Major variance in preop and postop - regular food right away to 4 weeks of liquids. I actually meant to ask my surgeon about this today, but forgot. I was an overnight, on IV's and a catheter until the next a.m. when I had to pass a barium swallow test, then urinate before going home. In all, still less than 24 hours inpatient, but definitely felt well cared for and confident to go home. Since it is less than 24 hours, it is considered outpatient, I wonder why more don't do it this way. Glad you are now on your way, sorry you had to have such a rough start - and what sounds like an unnecessary rough start.

Hi fellow Holiday Hotties. Count me in for the challenge, here are my stats following my postop appt today. Preop weight: 224 Current weight: 207 Goal weight: 135 Jan loss goal: 15#

There is an interesting thread about "First Bite Syndrome" that may help you look at how not to get stuck. Here is the link to it: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/first-bite-syndrome-84030/ I am with Pete - getting stuck is one of my big fears. I plan to eat my first "meals" at home and not in public until I get a handle on what I can and cannot do. I also wonder if it is like Water skiing. You have to go ahead and fall once - to get over the fear so you can concentrate on having fun.

It is very confusing, you would think there was a "standard protocol" for being banded. I had a 4 day clear liquid preop, followed by a 2 week clear; 2 week full liquids and then on to 2 weeks of soft/mushie. After each fill, it goes back to 2 days of each. I finish my 2 weeks of clear today!! Yeah - I already made some homemade potato soup to have tomorrow - pureed, but that is okay. I am at "regular" foods on Jan 30th, just in time for my first fill and another round of the liquids. While it is frustrating - especially here at the holidays, I understand the medical reason, so plan to do my best to stick with it. Good luck to all of us Holiday Hotties!

Have you had a fill yet? Are you drinking with your meals? Also, was that your previous eating behavior? I am finding staying busy has helped with the snacking urges. I sometimes feel like a hamster on a wheel, if I slow down, those urges get strong. Good luck!

Do you have any co-morbid conditions which make weightloss harder such as Diabetes or PCOS?

That is the same place I had my gas pain the first few days after surgery, it was initally very intense, but has become just tingly and I just got it again after having my broth tonight. I am assuming it is gas from eating. Did you have gas pain right after surgery?

I was banded on Dec 18th and am supposed to be on Clear Liquids for 2 weeks, Full liquids for 2 weeks and then Soft/Mushies for 2 weeks before finally arriving at "Real Foods". I have also been very hungry, but find that having Protein drinks have helped. Also, I drink water or ice tea fairly continuously. I understand from previous posts that "Bandster Hell" is just something you have to get through to get to the other side where the real Lapband Program begins. I do believe it is aptly named, but since I recognize giving your body the time to heal is critical to long term success, I just keep talking to myself and stay busy. Good luck!

I am also 8 days out. How does the Isopure taste? I tried mixing unflavored Unjury protein with some Crystal Light and it smelled so bad I could not drink it. I have been drinking the Atkins protein shakes, but really want some variety. I have to do clear liquids for another week, then full liquids for 2 weeks past that. I have been told to be sure to get 60 oz of fluid a day and 2 protein shakes.

Merry Christmas to all! I am a week out today and still on clear liquids for one more week. I find it amazing how much difference there is between surgeons on their pre-op; surgery time and post op. Mine was a 4 day clear liquid pre-op; hospital overnight; 6 week post op of clear liquid progress to full liquids progress to soft mushies in 2 week intervals. I have little to no pain at this time. I started protein drinks after day 3, with a minimum of 60 oz of fluid per day. I think it would be much easier to tolerate were it not the holidays. I am definitely looking forward to moving to the next stage. Because I know much of my weight change at this time is fluid, I won't weight til I go to see my doc next week. The most exciting part is stopping almost all diabetes meds and having average blood sugars of 85!! What a wonderful Christmas gift that has been. I expect 2009 to be a year of changes and growth (personal not physical!!). Happy Holidays to all!:tongue2:

I had my surgery on Thursday, Dec 18th. I have been keeping up with my liquids by having a drink constantly beside me and continually sipping. My doc's routine is 2 weeks clear liquids, 2 weeks full liquids and then 2 weeks soft foods. Right now, I am on 2 protein drinks a day, so I am trying to take them at "meal times", am and pm. So far so good. While I am sore, my real pain is that shoulder pain. It comes and goes - I am ready for it to be gone!! Thanks for all the good advice on this site - it made my preparation much saner.

I had my band placed on the 18th and so far so good. I would still like to meet in January and will start a thread after the first. Merry Christmas everyone.

I am scheduled for surgery on Thursday and started my preop 4 day clear liquid only plan on Sunday. I came down with a cold on Saturday - congestion, cough - no fever. When I went in today for my pre-op, the said I might have to have my date postponed!! They did blood work to see if my white count is elevated - will get the results tomorrow. Anyone experience a cold/sinusitis at the time of their surgery?

I had my surgery - no problems. It was just like you said, checked my blood work to be sure my white cell count was not elevated, put me on antibiotics for protection. I was still congested, but not really bad. I am now 5 days out and feel good, still some congestion, but think that is my usual sinus stuff. Thanks for all the support!

Presurgery, I was on 2 shots of Byetta a day, plus 80 Lantus at night. During my 4 day Pre-op diet, I stopped the Byetta and stepped down the Lantus to 5 the night before surgery. My post surgery diet is clear liquids for 2 weeks and during this time, he has kept me off the Byetta, but put me on 20 of Lantus each evening. My blood sugars are great. I just hope I lose enough weight during this period that when I move to soft stuff, I don't have to increase my meds. Of course, like everyone, my ultimate goal is no meds! :tounge_smile: