Jodi_620

I was on two weeks liquid Protein pre-op. I think I lost around 13 pounds but there was no specific weight loss requirement, the point was to shrink the liver in preparation for surgery so there was no focus on how much I lost during this time only on what I ate (or I should say what I did not eat). It consisted of Protein shakes, powders, chicken or beef broth, Jello, sugar free popsicles, Crystal Light.

The diet that surgeons instruct patients to follow varies from surgeon-to-surgeon. What is it about your nutritionists guidelines that has you concerned?

WTG mumof2boys! Isn't that a wonderful feeling???? I am in a size 8 right now, down from a size 18...the 8's are getting a little loose but still fit OK. I started in a size 2X(some 3X) tops and am wearing a very loose size L tops right now. But I have vowed not to buy any more clothes until I reach goal. I am saving my money for that day--when I reach goal I will reward myself with a huge a shopping spree!

I am not familiar with this happening. I know that in the beginning my weight was coming off very quickly and I would lose fat around my stomach causing me to need three fills within seven weeks time. I would get a fill, lose a lot of weight within a week and a half and need another fill, but adjustign the band was all I needed. I have a 10CC band...

Yes, I was sorry to hear about this tragedy on the local news this morning. My thoughts and prayers are with you and everyone involved with this horrible situation. Stay safe & Stay strong!

You may have swelling due to the previous PB's. Add to that the stress you are going through and you have problems. Go back to liquids for a few days then slowly build back up to solids. If that doesn't do it then you may want to consider a slight unfill.

Wow, that is a good amount for your first time! Glad everything went well.

I am told not to have anything to eat or drink four hours before a fill. (Pouch should be empty) Good Luck with your fill!

Sorry, that was me....fixed it here. NAME------------------------START----------------CURRENT---------------GOAL--------------TO GO 1000words..........220............208............210...........0 annjones...........277............264............267...........3 AuntieGG...........286............277............270...........7 BandedCG...........273............236.5..........220........16.5 Bandana............165............165............160...........5 Barb12590..........185............180............175...........5 Bea1128............190.5..........186............180...........6 Bonnielass.........168............162............159...........3 Brandy.............198............189............190...........1 Bunkey.............165............165............160...........5 Charlietuna........163............160............150..........10 crzytchr...........250............240............240...........0 CubsGirl...........150............141............140...........1 Cutiew/booty.......224............216............212...........4 Fordgal88..........274............208............198..........10 Imgoingdown........239............199............189..........10 janesays...........230............218.4..........215.........3.4 Jodi_620...........160............152............148...........4 karebare714........283............269............265...........4 kikival315.........219.5..........212.5..........210.........2.5 LauraP.............170............170............155..........15 lcwils01...........227............225............213..........12 Leslie2lose........229............223............219...........4 LilMissDiva........253............242.4..........239.........3.4 LisaLef............270............238............235...........5 littlefroggy.......211............196............195...........1 Long2BThin.........216............201............205.........(4) Loveislovely.......223............208............208...........0 ltgordon...........264............255............250..........5 Mair...............231............225............220...........5 Mamanmidwife.......264............258............250...........8 misskitty84........313............263............243..........20 mominlv13..........270.2..........265............260...........5 Puddin499..........255............255............250...........5 pvtash61...........223............223............219...........4 SanDiegoPhotog.....263............191............179..........12 Sistergrl25........359............289............264..........25 skyjoe.............322.4..........312.2..........289.4......22.8 Tabithan...........246............238............236...........2 Terilynn112........224............224............200..........24 Tuger..............192............192............185...........7 twinmommie.........207............198............193...........9 wowox7.............173............163............163...........0

Thanks for directing me to your blog band_groupie...and thanks for the blog, I really did enjoy it. I had seen on the news where they had the post Super Bowl parade in Pittsburgh and even the motorcycle cops were spinning the terrible towel! Thought I would tell you a story about my cousin who went to a Super Bowl party at a local bar and being the jokester that she is, took a Steelers sweatshirt and glued red feathers all over it...there wasn't one bit of black or gold to be seen. When they saw her coming all dressed in red feathers they almost refused to let her in; that is, until she showed them the sign on her back that said "Pluck It"...needless to say, before the end of the night there was not one red feather left on her shirt!

NAME------------------------START----------------CURRENT---------------GOAL--------------TO GO 1000words..........220............210............210...........0 annjones...........277............264............267...........3 AuntieGG...........286............278............270...........8 BandedCG...........273............236.5..........220........16.5 Bandana............165............165............160...........5 Barb12590..........185............180............175...........5 Bea1128............190.5..........186............180...........6 Bonnielass.........168............162............159...........3 Brandy.............198............189............190...........1 Bunkey.............165............165............160...........5 Charlietuna........163............160............150..........10 crzytchr...........250............243............240...........3 CubsGirl...........150............141............140...........1 Cutiew/booty.......224............216............212...........4 Fordgal88..........274............208............198..........10 Imgoingdown........239............199............189..........10 janesays...........230............218.4..........215.........3.4 Jodi_620...........160............152............148...........4 karebare714........283............269............265...........4 kikival315.........219.5..........215............210...........5 LauraP.............170............170............155..........15 lcwils01...........227............225............213..........12 Leslie2lose........229............223............219...........4 LilMissDiva........253............242.4..........239.........3.4 LisaLef............270............238............235...........5 littlefroggy.......211............205............195..........10 Long2BThin.........216............204............205..........-1 Loveislovely.......223............208............208...........0 ltgordon...........264............255............250..........5 Mair...............231............225............220...........5 Mamanmidwife.......264............258............250...........8 misskitty84........313............263............243..........20 mominlv13..........270.2..........265............260...........5 Puddin499..........255............255............250...........5 pvtash61...........223............223............219...........4 SanDiegoPhotog.....263............191............179..........12 Sistergrl25........359............289............264..........25 skyjoe.............322.4..........312.2..........289.4......22.8 Tabithan...........246............238............236...........2 Terilynn112........224............224............200..........24 Tuger..............192............192............185...........7 twinmommie.........207............198............193...........9 wowox7.............173............163............163...........0

I also do not fall for the 8 glasses of water a day rule. But I am a true believer in getting plenty of fluids. I drink a lot less than I did pre-band and I have to be mindful that I am getting enough fluids . There have been times when I have not and would become dehydrated, signs for me are severe leg cramps at night, muscle weakness and dark orange urine. I also notice that my weight loss is better when I am getting at least half my fluid intake from water.

I have found that this site has some high traffic times when I can not get in. I just wait for about 30 minutes and usually can get in.

I had been a lifetime dieter so I always kept a stash of "skinny clothes" in my closet for the next time I lost weight. I started in a size 18 but had size 16's and some 14's boxed up. I think I had lost around 30 pounds when I pulled out my "skinny clothes". At around 45 pounds I had to start buying clothes. How much weight you lose before you shrink out of your clothes depends on your body though...45 pounds off someone who is short is going to look different than 45 off a tall person (I am 5'4) I bought cheaper stuff from Walmarts clearance racks or I went to thrift stores and found some great deals second-hand. I am in a loose size 8 now. I still wear my size 12's and 14's around the house they hang off me and DH jokes but until I lose the last bit of weight I am not going to buy any new clothes.

Sorry to hear that 62Peachy. My original insurance didn't cover WLS either. About 8 months later I was able to switch to DH insurance and get it covered. Best wishes to you too.

What part of what I paid seems too steep to you?

If I understand correctly it is not on any TV lineup, the programs can only be viewed online.

Clifford, Unfortunately GasX will not help this kind of gas. It is great for the intestinal gas but not this. What is causing it is the air that was pumped into your abdominal cavity during surgery, not all of it has escaped and it has traveled up into your upper back. Eventually your body will absorb the gas and express it through your lungs. Pain meds help a little but increasing your activity and moving around as much as possible is the best way to get the gas absorbed the fastest. Dop't overdo it but try to get your heart rate up just a little by walking and moving around as much as your body can tolerate.

I am not sure that you will do much damage with soups but you need to get this behavior under control before you go on solids. Do you measure one serving of Soup then go back for a second serving or do you take too much right off? I put the correct serving of food on a small plate and wrap and refrigerate what is remaining. If after eating that, I feel like I want seconds I make myself wait, I remind myself that I can have more when I am hungry again and the urge usually passes. Otherwise, do you have access to a counseling to see if you can figure out how to control this? It may be stress or boredom. A counselor may be able to help you identify triggers that cause you to keep eating when you are full. My surgeon explained that many people need this along with the band to be sucessful. I know that it is very hard to make these changes but if you stay strong and stick with it, it does get easier.

You are oficially in what is called "Bandster Hell". You have the band but it is empty and not doing much to control your appetite. It is normal and we have all been through it. Some people gain 5-10 pounds during this period, the only way to avoid that is strong willpower. Once you start getting fills the hunger will be better controlled. I couldn't feel my port very easily in the beginning and it would have been too painful to try. It was deep in my abdomin and I had to lie on my back, lift my legs up and press deep to feel it. The port incision is the largest and most sensitive one and doing that so soon would have been excrutiating. My port is just above and to the right of my belly button.

The stuck feeling is different depending on what is stuck and how bad. Sometimes it is just a gaggy feeling. Have you ever been drinking something and took too big a gulp causing that air bubble pain in your chest? When you are really stuck, the pain is very close to that only it can last longer.

Worldwide Pure Protein shakes have 35grams of protein per shake and they taste pretty good (as shakes go anyway). I got mine at the local Vitamin Shoppe www.vitaminshoppe.com. I believe you can get them at Trader Joe's too. I know they can be found online as well. Calories: 160 Fat: 1G Carbs: 2G Protein: 35G

It really is a great way to get clothes especially when you are still losing. I am currently wearing a great pair of Ralph Lauren jeans in perfect condition that I got at Goodwill for $8.00 and my favorite pair are a perfect fitting pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans that I got at Salvation Army for $6.00...the high end ones not the cheap thin version that stretch out of shape by the end of the day. I don't feel so sad when I have to donate these second-hand clothes...there has been a time or two where I paid good money for clothes and only wore them a couple times before I had to give them up.

What makes you believe that it is not from the gas? If it is mainly on the upper left side that is likely what it is. Or perhaps it is from the way you were laying during surgery?