EricaLyn

I guess I don't understand why people even buy cookies, cake, pie, ice cream, candy bars, etc. and bring them home. I admit that if those items are in the house, I'll probably eat them, so I just don't buy them and bring them home. I read so often on this website that people just sabotage themselves by allowing these foods to come into their home. Most of us are doing this to save our own lives, why do we keep putting the proverbial gun to our heads?

Hello - I was banded on May 13th at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. I had a great pre-op experience. The nurses were great. The surgery was in the morning, around 10:45 am or so and I was in my hospital room (for a one night overnight) by 2:30 pm or so. I can't remember exact times - some stuff is still a blur. They gave me Jell-O and broth with sips of Water. I had some Oxy as a pain medication (.5 ounce at a time (a total of 3 in the course of 20 hours). I was released the next day around 1pm. I could have gone sooner, but they were trying to get my prescriptions written for liquid doses instead of tablet. My pharmacy didn't carry the liquid Oxy so I've been without pain medication since the morning of my discharge from the hospital. I've done quite well without it. I have six incisions. They're all about 1/2 inch wide except for a large one (I'm assuming this is where the port is), which is about 2 inches wide. I've not thrown up, gagged or PB'd. I've stuck to my full liquid diet. I'm on a full liquid diet for two weeks post-op, then blended diet for 2 weeks, then mushies for 2 weeks and then regular food. I do get hungry, but I have some Soup and it typically goes away (about 4-6 ounces of soup). I've been trying to get more Protein in, but that's difficult with being on just liquids. My husband found me some vanilla yogurt that is high in protein (12 grams of protein per serving, which is 4 ounces). I add in some honey and it tastes pretty good. I'm drinking plenty of water and Crystal Light Iced Tea (I love this stuff). I've lost 11 pounds since the day of surgery. While I haven't measured myself, I can totally tell I've lost inches. My clothes are hanging on me and I just feel fantastic. The incisions are probably the most irritating part - they itch - all the time, but I know they're healing. I'm happy with my decision and with my progress!

Here's a yummy Protein shake: 8 ounces non-fat milk 2 tbsp Protein Powder 2 tbsp SF Peanut Butter (or LF peanut butter) 2 tbsp honey 1 small or medium banana Some ice Blend YUMMERS!!!!!!!! I actually used chunky peanut butter and it was delicious! I couldn't drink but 4 ounces so I gave the rest to my husband. He took one sip and raised his eyebrows up and said, "Ohhh this is gooood" and then he finished it. I tried it last night without a banana and it was awesome!

Hi - I have acrylic nails and actually got a new set put on the day before surgery. I did the pink and white French style acrylics with a clear top coat and I was just fine. You can still see my nail bed and the doctors and nurses didn't say a word about it. Well, the nurses did compliment me on how nice my nails looked!

The past couple of days I've worn my same 'large' clothes and they're obviously bigger on me. Today I wore a shirt that is very 'curve' hugging and still no comments. I'm not expecting any comments really. I don't need them. I think it's just funny my co-workers notice diddly squat. About 10 years ago I lost over 100 lbs and no one said a word. This was at another office. One day I said something to someone about losing weight and she said, "You haven't lost any weight" and I about fell off my chair. I was shocked. So the next day I brought in a photo of the entire department that we had taken about a year before and she nearly screamed out in shock. She said, "I never saw you that way! You've lost a TON of weight!" It was very weird. She ran around showing it to everyone and the comments didn't stop after that. People couldn't believe I'd been THAT fat. It was complimentary and offensive all at the same time. LOL I think I'll have to go away on vacation for a few weeks around here befor anyone notices. As long as I notice though - who cares!

No pain at all. The hardest part is exposing your breasts, but you get over it. =) It's a breeze. All you do is lay there and breathe.

The dorks in my office haven't noticed anything. I'm down 36 pounds and not a peep out of any of them. My family flips out every time they see me because they see me getting smaller, but the people around here? Major duhs-ville. I'll probably drop 100 lbs and someone will say, "did you cut your hair?". Actually, I did get my hair foiled this weekend from my naturally dark brunette hair to A LOT of blonde in it. One person has noticed and she's not even in my department. I don't think I'll have to explain anything to anyone around here. They're just not that observant!

My mom works with a woman who had gastric bypass. This woman has had nothing but problems since day one. She lost a bunch of weight, but her health is in the toilet. She's so disappointed with doing gastric bypass. I chose lapband because I didn't want my interior re-routed. I just wasn't interested in cutting on my stomach. We may lose it slower, but I think our bodies respond better - skin, tissue, muscle - it all just responds better. We didn't gain this weight in a couple of months - why should we lose it in a couple of months? Slow and steady does it every time!

I have UHC as well. I was told by UHC that lapband surgery was covered and I received a letter saying it was a covered procedure, but that didn't mean I'd been approved. It's a cluster, for sure. Keep the faith - it will happen!

Here's how I'm coping: 1. When my husband wants to cook meat (right now I can't have that) I ask him to grill it outside on the deck on the BBQ. That helps with the smell. 2. He's helping clean up his dishes more than before. It's hard to clean up the dirty dishes when everything smells so good. 3. I don't go in the kitchen when he's cooking his dinner. (I ususally cook dinner, but until I can eat regular foods again - he's on his own) 4. I make sure I have my dinner (Broth, Soup, etc.) before he eats. That way I'm full when he's ready to eat. Kind of bites that we're not eating together right now, but it's just a temporary situation. 5. I tell myself that I can do this. It's just for a few weeks. Suck it up and get over it. 6. I might whine. But just for a little bit. 7. And the old standby. I tell myself, "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels".

I just had my surgery a week ago today (May 13th). I too was freaked out. I had the pre-surgery jitters. I sat on my couch the night before and told my husband that I must be crazy - I'm not doing this. We both just looked at each other because we knew that I didn't mean that. My chances are better with the surgery than without. Without surgery, my BP remains high, I continue to have Type II Diabetes (which was worsening) and my thyroid had recently decided to crap out. I didn't want to stroke out - I HAD to have this surgery. I got my will together (I'm always harping on my family about wills - You're getting on an airplane?! Where's your will?!) and spelled out my wishes to my husband as to where I wanted my ashes scattered, play this song, please remarry, etc. I know that seems ridiculous to some, but I needed to do that. He patiently listened and let me get it out. It was important to me that I work through this process in the way that comforted me best. We have a business so I made plans on who would partner will my husband to help run the business. Somehow in making arrangements I calmed down and realized I wouldn't be leaving everything a mess. I know I have OC issues and it has been a battle my entire life. At the hospital my mom and husband prayed with me and I went into surgery. My mom kept telling my doctor, "God bless you". It was kind of funny. I knew that this was what was best for me and that I just had to trust my doctors and nurses. I'm down 11 pounds since surgery and I feel great. Still healing, but moving around great and feeling better every day. As my mom always says when someone is sick or recovering, say this mantra, "Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better". You can do this.

My surgery was May 13th and today (May 19th) is my first day back to work. I'm feeling good, although I will probably go home at lunchtime as my incisions are rubbing against the desk and that is causing some pain. I have high BP and diabetes and my meds are getting adjusted so I'm not going to play around with dizziness, fatigue, etc. When my body feels like resting, I'm going to let it. But I found a week enough time to recover. I'm thrilled with my choice for lapband. I've lost 11 lbs since surgery. I can see the weight loss in my face, hands, legs, stomach. It's amazing. My husband can't get over it. I'm so excited for this journey.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. I'm just waiting now for my "after 1pm phone call" from the hospital telling me what time to show up tomorrow for the surgery. Last night I told my husband that I thought I didn't need to do this. He just kind of looked at me and waited for the eventual, "no, I do need this" reply to my own statement. The commute was awful today. My co-workers are driving me nuts. It's been a bad morning all around. The stress of the day is eating at me and I just wanted to leave and go home. I feel like crying. What the heck is that about?! I KNOW I'm doing the right thing. I'm not questioning that...it's just that my emotions are so wonky. I'm driving myself nuts. Anyway, I just needed to get that off my chest. I can't concentrate at work and I know I should be home finishing up the house cleaning and laundry since I'll be recovering for the next couple of days. I'm usually so together. I feel like I've mentally gone off the deep end. :wink2:

Thank you both for your responses. They helped a lot. I think I am going to leave early. I'm no use here and I need some time to gather my thoughts together. I am worth it. I know I need this surgery. I think maybe I'm flipping out because I need this surgery so badly. I love my husband and my family so much. I've got to lose this weight before I have a stroke. My BP is so high, my thyroid is conking out and I have Type II diabetes - I want to LIVE not just muddle through. Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to pack up and head home. I look forward to posting an encouraging report after my surgery!

I think it's from gallstones or your gallbladder acting up. When I lost 100 lbs 10 years ago I had these horrific pains at times. Sharp, deep, stabbing pains. I'd actually have to go lay down on a co-workers office floor and stretch out to get the pain to subside. The pain did eventually go away. IMHO I think it's from weight loss and a low fat diet, but I'm not a doctor.

My doctor and insurance require an overnight. I'm being banded tomorrow - ohhhh the butterflies!!!

Wow - you've lost a lot of weight! Congratulations! If anyone is going to know how to do it, you certainly would be the person I went to for advice. Glad you agreed. Some people might not and they can do what works for them. It's an individual battle and I know what works well for me. Again, congratulations on your success! I hope to be there soon!

Hi Carla - Welcome to the LapBand Forum. First off, you're not alone. We may not be there with you physically, but we're all here in the same journey. Know that you are supported and that when you need to vent, cry, complain, Celebrate we'll do that with you (we hope you'll do that for us too!). I've gone through alone periods in my life - I moved away from home, my sister got married, my parents moved away, broken relationships, etc. In those moments I learned to celebrate my aloneness. I realized it was a gift and to enjoy those moments. We never know when life will take a new path - we meet someone new, our career takes off, etc. Take this time to become a better YOU. Concentrate on you for now. You've been a wife and mother for many years - it sounds like you need some "Carla" time. I found these quotes and thought they may help: I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude. Henry David Thoreau Being solitary is being alone well: being alone luxuriously immersed in doings of your own choice, aware of the fullness of your own presence rather than of the absence of others. Because solitude is an achievement. Alice Koller Take care of you, Carla. Enjoy this journey!

I completely agree. When I hit a plateau I "shock" my body too by eating more for a day or two. It works wonders. I lost 100 lbs doing this 10 years ago. (Unfortunately gained it back plus some after a car accident - darn it!) Anyway, I would maintain my strict diet and when I would hit a plateau I actually would indulge in a piece of pizza or a cheeseburger or whatever - nothing crazy - just some extra fat and calories and EVERY TIME the scale went down the next day. I didn't go overboard - it was just a treat. I probably would do this once every month or month and a half. It worked for me. I need to remember this in my current weight loss journey. Thanks for the reminder!

Everything in its time. I had to wait too for the doctor's staff to get things done too. I just had to keep believing that my surgery would happen when it was meant too. Keep the faith.

Hi Debbie - I have Type II Diabetes. My doctor told me that weight loss will put my Diabetes into remission. She told me that Gastric Bypass will do it faster, but the Lap Band works effectively as well. I also have very high blood pressure and my doctor is hopeful that this weight loss surgery will lower my BP as well. What does your husband's PCP say? My doctor actually recommended me for Gastric Bypass surgery, but I'm not interested in rearranging my insides, so I chose Lap Band. Hope this helps.

I'm on the 13th as well! I'm so excited and a bit nervous and kind of anxious and well....kind of flipping out. LOL I've been on a 1000 calorie diet for 5 weeks now. My 3-week pre-op diet has gone well. I'm on all liquids right now. It's tough. I'm really hungry. Not just head hunger either. Feeling weak and light headed. Of course today is Cinco de Mayo and the entire office smells like a Mexican restaurant. AND one of my co-workers made this awesome Bundt cake - it looks heavenly. Ack. I just keep walking past as I go about my day. I'm losing a ton of inches, but the scale isn't budging which is frustrating. I've been holding at 25 lbs lost and 295 lbs. My goal before surgery was 290 lbs. Hopefully I'll lose another 5 lbs before May 13th. I'm also starting to think about the foods I'll not have again, i.e., popcorn. I'm so hung up on popcorn right now I can't stand it. I know I shouldn't even think about entering a movie theater for a few months. Happy to have another May 13th bandster!

My surgery is on May 13th. Who is your doctor? Mine is Dr. Wright. Have you attended the free seminar yet? My process was a bit slow too. They seem to be very busy. Very nice, but very busy. I made sure I called them often and stayed fresh in their minds. =)

16 lbs isn't a lot of weight to lose since April 22nd? Are you kidding me? I'd give my right arm to lose 16 pounds in two weeks. That's awesome.

THANK YOU!!!!! You are a life saver! You have made my day! I'm a huge cheese fan and I've tried so many low-fat versions only to run to the trash can disgusted. This is a great article! I'm off to buy cheese!