saqueen

Just a bit curious; I notice that some people have got higher goal weights, than for example, myself, which is doctor stated 145, me stated 135 - 125. Are you taller? I'm 5'3". Obviously body build has much to do with it, but wonder if I am being too optimistic and wishful.

I tried applesauce.......once.....only once.....never again......I have one pill which tastes very, very, bad. :crying:It is horrible. :eek:Nope. :ohmy:Not good at all.:smile2: bllleeeccchhh, shiver, gag. :drool:I seriously could taste for a couple hours afterward.:biggrin: I cut the pills up into very small pieces and drank them down with anything. Now I know why dogs don't like you stuffing their pills in liver sausage...but, the liver snausage would definitely have tasted better:tongue_smilie:

My doctor for chronic pain advised me NOT to expect a miracle with the banding, but did say I would have to have some improvement to the joints. I started my preop visits last July. Banded finally mid March. I still have MANY bad achey days, but I fight them. I recently started walking and found I could do 1 1/2 miles right out of the gate. Some days, especially pre menstrual, I hurt ALOT, but take the ibu, and just get moving. I notice that some of the hot spots aren't as bad; I attribute this to healthier eating. Also though, my pain magician put me on Soma 4 times a day. I can really notice if I've been lax in the dosage. I'll wake up feeling my brain and body quivering. As always, get plenty of sleep. Since I have minor sleep apnea(it would have gotten much worse), I am hopefully getting some improvement there. The way I see it, ANY improvement is better than living in constant pain. Good luck.:w00t:

Thanks for the support! My high weight for my height and body type(I really DO have a large frame:), not just an excuse, so my Doctor says 145. But, I would REALLY like to get it down about 10 pounds more. I want to LIVE the rest of my life, and spend it doing fun things and catching all those rich men, lol.

Congratulations!! You have done an awesome job, and I KNOW it wasn't easy. You are an inspiration:)

I live on ibuprofen(600mg) and soma(muscle relaxant) for fibromyalgia and arthritis. If you take a little food with it, it doesn't just "sit" there alone. I use to get heartburn before the band when I would take the meds, but haven't had it a day since.

Have you tried sugarfree candy? I've found that it tastes like real candy. one or two pieces a day and that's it. 10 calories. Lifesavers make a sugarfree strawberry swirl; sweet and low has some awesome butterscotch and fruit kinds. I know it's not the real sugar fix, but it helps. How about sugar free fudgesicles? only 40 calories, but SOOOOO smooth and chocolately. I found some sugar free frozen ices, but they are almost still too sweet. I also found some sugar free coffee additive in flavors, hazelnut, french vanilla. Only 30 calories for 1 tbsp, but I find 2 tsps is just enough to make a cup of coffee soothing. Good luck:)

Pain is different for everyone. I have fibromyalgia, so sometimes my nerves "over react". There was a dullish ache at first. Getting up out of the bed hurt like heck, but once you get walking, it works itself out. Felt like my guts were going to fall out. I took the tylenol w/codeine gladly. The more you get up and move around right away, the better it is. After about 2 days, I was moving fine. It was difficult to sleep the first few days also. I found piling pillows up at an angle helped for sleeping because I couldn't do so on my sides. By day 5, it was great. remember though everyone is different, so use your own judgement on your pain.

Well said. You have an amazing outlook, and a wonderful Doctor;)

You are doing QUITE WONDERFUL BY THE WAY!!:tt1: START LOOKING UP THOSE SUNDRESS:thumbup:

This will be hard, but the less you concentrate on the surgery itself, the less you'll worry(maybe). I read those menus and stuff until midnight the night before, and found myself wondering how in the heck could I do this? My main concern was I convinced myself I was going to die, and what would happen to my daughter. Everyone I work with had been re-assuring me that all would be fine;but I had turned myself into a basket case. While waiting to go into surgery, I texted a co-worker with explicit directions on what to do if I "croaked"(exact word:redface:). gave her phone numbers to call for someone to get my daughter, what to do with my paychecks, etc....She thought it was hilarious, and told everyone(I agree it was). Despite all your worries and imagining the worst, you'll soon be over the discomfort, and you'll feel as if you never had the surgery. It will all be worth it when you start seeing the difference in the mirror, and start receiving comments from people. As much as I made myself crazy, I knew in my heart I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE, and needed to have the surgery, even if it DID kill me. I did it for my daughter more than for myself. She needs a mother to be with her as she grows, and having lost mine when I was 13, I knew I couldn't do the same to her. There are far too many reasons to HAVE the surgery, as opposed to not. Cry, scream, worry till you've got it all out, then plan for your new life! You will do GREAT!!:tt1:

The closer my surgery got, the more I second guessed myself. I poured over all the information and thought OMG!!!!!! What am I doing??????? Right up until they put me out, I was ready to walk out of the hospital. Now, I would do it over. It will be worth it. Even if you cry right up to the minute(I did), you will be glad you did it. Good luck

Congratulations! Every day you will feel better!

Very true Penelope. However, I find it difficult to understand why "waiting for the restriction, waiting for the fill" should be reason to over indulge. I was not condemning or judging anyone in particular; just commenting on the fact it is more depressing to read about "needing the fill" in order to lose weight, as opposed to following the food guidelines. If I were to post I'd just consumed an entire gallon of ice cream, I would totally expect someone to ask me why in heck did I go through all the pain and work of the whole process, only to sabotage myself.

Maybe I'm too new and idealistic, but I am finding it thoroughly depressing to read about everyone overeating and eating the wrong foods. If you've been told certain foods aren't that good for your weight loss program, why are you eating them? If you know that the band is only a tool, why do you keep pushing it by forcing as much food as possible? It sounds like there might be a problem with other issues besides just "being hungry". I can understand an occasional cheat of a bite of something, but not gorging on it. I made the decision for banding to lose weight, so I make every effort possible to follow as I've been instructed. I don't think you should rely completely on the band to help with weight loss; you need to consciously make an effort every single day to watch what you are putting in your stomach. Over eating put us where we are at today, and I for one desire to change my life as it has become.

Canned broth is better than boullion as it has actual protein grams in it. I continually sipped beef broth mixed with V8 juice. Try to puree some soup and add more chicken or beef broth, then just a tad of instant potatoes to SLIGHTLY thicken it. Keep drinking fluids.

Once the initial swelling of the abdomen began to go down, I "discovered" the port. Actually thought I had developed a tumor or something lol. One month out, and I still have some tenderness and swelling. Check with your doctor nonetheless.

I have chewable Centrums and chewable caltrates with vitamin d + calcium. not too bad; you get used to the taste

:biggrin: HELLOOOO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!