marypetunia

If your eyes are LITERALLY bigger than your stomach.... you're a bandster!!!

C- 291 (-51 total) Hit the 50 off FOR GOOD mark! YAY!!!:clap2:

Hi All! I'm 51, born and raised in Massachusetts, and married 28 years. Like so many of you I've battled being overweight ALL my life. I have NO "skinny" pictures in my family album. "Chubette" was a word I grew up with (pre "plus size" lingo for those yunguns out there...). I have lost over 100 pounds TWICE in my lifetime with the disappointing and devastating weight gain occuring within two years afterward. (Neither time did the 100 pound loss actually put me in the category of "thin".) There have been MANY MANY in-between weight losses ranging from 10-60 pounds at a time, NONE of them have obviously "stuck"! :faint: That is why I AM SO EXCITED :biggrin1: to DARE to BELIEVE that THIS time it will stay GONE FOREVER! I am not so ignorant to believe that it won't come with hard work and persistence, (As my history shows...) but what I needed most before banding was HOPE! Hope that THIS time will be different! That THIS time, even if not "thin" by the world's standards, I CAN BE less heavy and healthy (and STAY that way!) I read about the lap band on the internet years ago when I was in behavioral counseling for weight loss (which didn't work, obviously)... the hospital was just introducing the gastric bypass at the time which was offered to me, but I refused. I told them, SOME day, when this band comes to the U.S. (they had never heard of it) MAYBE I'll consider it! Well, SOME day has finally arrived for me and I feel wonderful, grateful, and HOPEFUL! A great BIG thank you to everyone who posts, I have "devoured" every wonderful word over the past couple months! This is a place of HOPE and I so appreciate you all! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Hi Tess, I can't wait till the weather warms up!!! Braved a few days last week bundled up, but am anxious for higher temps! I have been doing some indoor walking, but not that much. I actually got a job at Curves the beginning of January (Isn't that hysterical?? LOL!) just before my banding... I haven't been able to do the circuit yet, but see my Doctor tomorrow for first fill. He should give me the okay to exercise again I expect. But I still have some pain when stretching certain ways. How about you? Do you get any pain in your abdominal area at all when stretching? It makes me a little nervous since I don't want to mess anything up at this stage. SOON the weather will be in our favor... and I know you'll get excited to get out there. Congrats on you weight loss! That's alot and should make a big difference when you start walking!

It was suggested several times by medical staff that a bypass would be better for me... I absolutely refused that procedure, telling them if they couldn't do the lap, I would leave the program... I DO NOT regret that decision one bit! I'm 6 weeks out today and couldn't be happier!! (The complications from bypass just scared me waayyyy too much!) I feel great and it's working!

SO glad you are doing better!! DITTO to Milk of Magnesia (and enema if necessary) if clogged... It was over a week for me, and I finally called my doctor after a very loooongg night! No one had told me beforehand what would be safe to use and I knew fiber products were a no-no that early after surgey. My suggestion, don't wait too long before using the MOM. The anesthesia and pain meds can slow down everything!

Ok... I have Excel, but don't really know how to use it... I keep tabs on my daily food intake in a SPIRAL NOTEBOOK! Yep, god ol' pen and paper.... Someday, maybe I'll figure the computer spreadsheet out! I guess it would be much easier! LOL Love reading the posts.

Hi Sherry, Thinking of you as you prepare. Tomorrow will be a nw begnning for you! Welcome to the journey!! Blessings, Mary

Thanks for the website info, I'll check it out. I lived on Carnation Instant Breakfast for those two weeks which got pretty boring. the fruit punch sounds like a great alternative. My doctor doesn't fill the band at all with insertion... the restriction felt is mainly from the swelling around it, some people don't feel any restriction till a couple fills out. I'm glad for the amount I do feel at this point, hopefully you will too. Good luck! Mary

Hi Sherry, COngratulations! It will be here before you know it! My biggest suggestion is to have everything you need on hand at home before surgery, and don't be afraid to take pain meds if you need them for a few days! (I certainly did and they helped tremendously!) I was grateful to have my husband home with me a few days to help me get in and out of the chair, and be sure to walk and drink as often as you can.Everyone is different, so you may not experience much discomfort. Personally I felt like a tractor trailer truck ran me over, then an elephant got out and stood on my chest! LOL! It didn't last but a few days though, and I know it was worth it already! Don't worry about the eating part... you really aren't hungry at all for at least a week! The protien shaks are very imprtant so be sure to have plenty on hand. Once you're past your liquid phase, it's easy to keep to reduced portions of "mushies." So far so good for me... I won't get a fill until the end of February, but I know I can make it that far with what I'm doing. I don't have a lot of restriction, but DO feel SOME... I definitely start to feel a "heaviness" in my chest if I eat even a little more than the recommended 4 oz. What hospital are you going to? Congrats! You will do great! Keep me posted!

HI All, I'm from Worcester, MA and very happily banded a litle over three weeks ago! It is SO nice to be on this side of the band... Congratulations to those of you who are scheduled for upcoming surgery! I really think this is the best thing I've done for myself in a very long time! Glad to hear from others in Massachusetts!

Ok, go to Lap Band FAQs and Questions.... there's a great list there of the abbreviations. (You can use the pull down menu at the bottom of the page.)

Dear Rozi, I had absolutely NO vomiting, I woke up in pain and somewhat nauseous, but as soon as I told them, they gave me meds that knocked me out and took care of the nausea. I ended up staying overnight at the hospital because of the pain, and I was really glad I did. I was pretty good in the am though, got up, washed, walked, took more pain med, and headed home. I have had NO problem with nausea since. (I'm following strict instructions on what to eat). I had a wonderful core group of friends who prayed me through it, and I truly had great peace. Just before the surgery I asked Jesus where He would be and He gave me a wonderful vision of Him standing next to me in the OR. It really helped. You are absolutely right about the complications being easier to correct with the band... it was my thought all day that I hadn't really made a strong point about that... I was glad to hear you think in that direction. The band complications can all be taken care of pretty easily... major complications with the bypass are life long and considerably more difficult to correct. I was told that if the band didn't work for me I could opt to do the bypass later. If this doesn't help, I know I won't go the other route, it just seems way too risky for me. I am SO GRATEFUL for the chance to have this tool to help me get healthier. I joined Curves a few months before surgery, and do you want to hear something REALLY funny?...... I'd quit my other job to have more time to exercise, and GOd gave me a job at curves! ( I weighed 333 pounds!) LOL! I started just before the surgery and have gone back to work since but can't exercise yet. But He knew exactly what I was going to need to keep me on track and getting healthier! Put your trust in Him, Rozi, He WILL direct your path. Guaranteed!!! There is a place on this site that has a list of abbreviations... I'll see if I can find it again and direct you to it. There is a TON of information here, it is really great. Just go t a search box and type in a word, and up will pop tons of posts about the subject. Blessings to you tonight, Rozi!

Dear Roz, Every choice is individual, but I was firm in my decision to have the band and NOT the RNY. (Despite many trying to convince me otherwise.) For me, the band is SO much less invasive, and can be reversed if necessary. My primary doctor, just two weeks before the surgery, told me I'd made a wise decision... she said they are seeing SO many more bypass patients having difficulty with vitamin deficiencies (needing regular B vitamin shots...) and anemia (some actually living from transfusion to transfusion...) that this less invasive procedure was a good choice for me, even though they thought I wasn't a good cadidate originally because of my size. SO far so good!! I'm two week out and feel really good about the decision. I made up my mind to follow all directions to a T and make this work for me. I know I have a LONG road to go, but am greatly encouraged that it CAN happen. Good luck in your decision, I'm sure you will choose what's best for you.

Dear Choirgirl, Congrats! I feel the same way, I was banded on Jan. 12 and a half bowl of broth fills me up! Not being hungry is a very new sensation for me and I love it! I see the nutritionist tomorrow and will move on to cream soups and mushies... mmmmm.... They keep teling me I shouldn't feel any restriction, but whatever it is (I'm assuming swelling...) it's working. I know this could be a "honeymoon" phase, but if it's any indication of a consistent weight loss from here on out, even at a slower pace, I am SO HAPPY! So glad for you as well! (I tried Yahoo too, but couldn't follow the posts easily, I am thrilled to find this site!):clap2:

No, I only had to fast the day before surgery. It's just been these two weeks after surgery for protein shakes and clear soups, etc. My next two weeks will be cream soups and "mushies." I don't know that I could have survived a whole week before surgery on liquids, too! Even with the weight loss I feel bloaty still, but know it will pass eventually. My understanding is that this phase of eating is to let the stomach, especially, get used to the band, not overworking it and letting the swelling go down so it settles into place well without taking chances with slipping. I can't really say I'm starving, just really getting bored with the same things. I just tell myself, okay, it's only two weeks out of my life, I can do this! :thankyou:

HI guys! Really enjoying your posts! I use Carnation Instant Breakfast (sugar free in the blue box) with 1 cup 1% milk for my Protein drink. It comes out good in the blender with a couple pieces of ice. I also found a sugar free chocolate syrup and sugar free kahlua syrup to add for a different taste. (local supermarket) I have only a few days left on this yummy phase, hallelujah!!! I went to Nurse Practitioner today, down 12 pounds since surgery. YAY! I don't care HOW the weight comes off, in my book it's OFF! Double YAY! Incisions look great and I see the nutritionist on Friday for my diet change. Can't wait to have cream soups! YUM! I was surprised about the nuts too! It's encouraging to hear though! I thought I'd never eat them OR popcorn again. Who knew? Have a great day!!!! SO glad you are doing well! PS. I can't figure out the ticker thing either... I think maybe my browser just isn't supporting it? I have a Mac.... not sure, usually I can figure things out...hmmmm....

Hi Jennifer! You will do great! I'm still in the fisrt phase after banding Jan. 12, but already feel encouraged and motivated that the band is going to be SO good for me! Keep us posted and BE ENCOURAGED!:clap2:

I am now jsut 10 days out and will see the nurse practitioner for the first time tomorrow. The recliner is still the only comfortable sleeping place for me, but I did go back to work after one week. I was still sore, but only had to work half days which I was grteful for , and was VERY tired after three days in a row. Glad to NOT to be doing full time, it would have been too much for sure. Yes, I'm sure much of the pain we're getting right now is bloating and gas, and our insides and muscles settling from the jostling around during surgery... Besides the stomach cramping, I had an excruciating experience with constipation last week, and will be vigilent not to let that happen again! It is getting better every day and I'm looking forward to moving on from the liquids after Friday's appt with nutrition. I've been sticking precisely with the Protein shakes, clear broth, popsicles, etc. I've made up my mind to stick to what I'm told, I don't want to take any chances on messing something up now. I'm looking forward to sharing and listening as experiences happen! Each response feels like a friend cheering me on, it is really nice and I so appreciate you all! Happy sleeping! :notagree

Dear Alex, THANK YOU for sharing your success! It is SO encouraging to me, who is just starting this journey! ENJOY your kids! :thankyou: