auntlucy

I had them too. It was an allergic reaction to the adhesive. The doctor told me to just let warm, soapy water wash over them when I showered. He said I could try some ointment, but to be very careful NOT to get it in the incisions b/c it would prevent them from healing properly. That frightened me, so I didn't use the ointment. Mine ended up scabbing over. Over time, they healed. But, you are right...they make you itch like crazy!

Yes, I have. But, it's not from lack of nutrition in my case. My doctor said I'm getting plenty of protein and such, but that my body is just under stress from the changes. I'm taking Biotin and liquid vitamin B drops. It seems to be helping.

Your thoughts are completely normal. In a few days, the pain shouldn't be as bad and you will be a little more comfortable each day. I had some of the same feelings, and I can tell you I would go back and do it all over again for the results I'm getting. Hang in there!

I don't live with my parents, but we are very close, and they only live a mile from me. I told mine that I was tired of struggling with my weight and that I needed a tool to help me. I told them I knew that there was no magic wand that would take it away, but that I needed a tool to be an aid. Then, I told them that I was considering surgery and that I had researched all of the different types. I told them a little about each and that I was leaning towards the band, but wanted to go to the seminar before making a final decision. I asked them if they wanted to go to the initial seminar. That way, they had a chance to learn about it and ask questions. Since you have already been to a seminar, maybe you could go to a second one (assuming your surgeon offers them) so your parents could go. When I first told them, I asked them to not make up their mind until they had done some research. After the seminar, my Dad said he would support any decision I made but would prefer if I got the band b/c the bypass had too many risks from what he heard. They have been very supportive. My dad wanted to know that I was doing it for the right reasons...to be healthy NOT just to get skinny. Good luck...let us know how it goes!

The silver lining in your cloud is that you recognize what you are doing and that you are making changes to get back on track. The struggle we all have, even with the band, is to not fall back into our old habits. I know in the past, when I would "cheat" on a diet, I would think, "oh well...I already blew it! what's the point!" You should actually be proud of yourself for getting back on track.

Yippee! Well, it's official. I'm finally under 300! I weighed 295 on my scale this morning. I've been adding 3 lbs to that number b/c that seems consistent with my doctor's scale. I am so excited! That gives me a total of 55 pounds lost! Now, my next goal is to hit the 75 pounds lost mark. Just 20 pounds to go. Let's all do it together! It's funny how for most of my life the scale has been something I avoided. Now, I can't wait to hop onto it Sunday morning so I can see my progress!

Yes, that may have been me. Mine has gone down. At times it seems more prevalent than other times though. I'm honestly not too worried about it. I'll take the little lump in exchange for losing weight.

In the past, I've always given myself a free pass on vacations to eat what I wanted. Well, that was before the band. Now, I must continue making changes in my life, and that includes vacation time. I'm leaving for a week-long vacation Monday, and I'm determined to lose weight while I'm gone. I'm going to set my goal for 2 pounds while I'm away. I'm hoping to hold myself accountable by putting it here. Any tips or encouragement are appreciated! How have you all done with your weight loss on vacation?

I would absolutely do it again. It has been the best thing in the world for me!

If you are in the wedding (couldn't tell from your post), I don't know how you can back out with such short notice. I find it odd that your surgeon can't do it for another year if you don't do it now. You might want to look for a surgeon that has more date flexibility. It is a hard decision, but ultimately you need to think about which one will have the most impact in 10 years.

Unfortunately, I don't know that words can make them change. You might just need to have a discussion wtih her to say, "I respect your opinion. I hope you can respect my decision. You are right that I have tried to diet many times over the years and that I have not been successful keeping it off. I have decided that I need a tool to help me succceed. It will still be up to me to use the tool correctly. This is a very personal decision, and I would love it if I could talk to you about it and find support in you. But, if you can't support it, all I ask is that you respect my decision." Ultimately, you are doing this for you, and not her. While it is harder to do it without support, you can do it! The best way to make ehr change her mind is to prove it to her!

It happened to me when I lost a lot of weight in high school 20 years ago (wow, was it really 20 years ago?). You expect it from high school kids, but as adults we really should be able to expect more from our "friends". For those of you who have made the difficult decision to move on from those friendships, I applaud you! That is certainly the healthiest approach, assuming the situation couldn't be resolved. Hang in there Christina!

Everyone, just hang in there. I was where all of you were after my surgery, and now I've lost more than 50 pounds just a few months later. It does work! I know it's very frustrating at times, but just stick with it. monicasf, My doctor wanted me walking as soon as I felt like it after surgery. I couldn't lift anything more than 10 pounds (I think that was it) until 7 or 8 weeks out. But, I even started doing pilates (modified) after 3 weeks. You might want to check with your doctor, but it's probably fine to walk.

And, yes, I did feel more restriction after my first fill. Even more after my 2nd.

monicasf, don't panic! It is completely normal. When I started eating solid foodsd again, I gained a couple of pounds, and then I hit a plateau. I still followed the plan and only ate what I was supposed to eat. After a few weeks, I broke through the plateau. Your body is in shock! Just hang in there and stick to the plan. Remember that right now your job is to make sure you make those lifestyle changes. 20 pounds so far is great, and you should be excited about that. Keep up the good work, and you will just keep adding to that 20!

Welcome skinnydeb! Dr. Hamn (Dr. Cribbens' partner) did my surgery.

You should really try to get the amount of Protein your doctor recommended. My doctor recommended 60-80 grams a day. I try to get the upper end of that. The protein will help you keep your energy up and is important to your healing. I can't stand the protein shakes either. I used the Protein bullets. Here is a link: New whey liquid Protein 42g - 12 Vials by IDS Sports, supplements.Net Each "bullet" has 42 g of protein, and I typically use half at once. You can drink it straight or mix it with Water, juice, etc. My favorite is the fruit punch flavored bullet, and I mix it into a glass of fruit punch flavored crystal light. It saved me! Good luck!

I bought a slushy maker which made shaved ice and added crystal light to it. It helped satisfy my need to crunch.

Thanks christafin! I am proud of myself, and it's a great feeling. My first 2 weeks after the band I lost 18 pounds. Then, when my doctor put me on solid food, I gained a little of it back. (Don't freak out if that happens.) It's very normal. Your body will likely be in shock after a while and start reacting strangely. My doctor told me after surgery that my job wasn't to lose weight but to let my body heal. He said that after my body healed, my job was still not to lose weight, but to learn how to change my eating behaviors. He said he would tell me when I needed to focus on weight loss. He still hasn't told me, and he doesn't need to. I have hit some plateaus, and that's normal too. I just kept doing what I was doing, and eventually (sometimes after a week, sometimes 3 weeks) I broke through the plateau. And no, I have no problems with crackers. I try not to go nuts eating them b/c I need to make sure I have room for my Protein. I need my protein to fuel my body, but also for my hair. It started coming out about 5weeks ago (even though I was getting a lot of protein). The doctor said my body is just in shock, and he assured me it will grow back. Fortunately I have a lot of hair and no one has noticed, but it does make me nervous. Good luck! I'll add you to my friends list, and then you can stay in touch if you have other questions or just need a kind word!

Sure...I actually use a packaged mix that I've only found at Super Target. The brand is called Cugino's Chili Fixin's Mix. But, I don't follow the directions on the package. I brown 96% lean ground meat in a large skillet with 1/2 of a diced onion. When the meat is cooked, I add in 1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes and 1 14 oz can of tomato sauce. (I like a tomatoey chili!) I also add in the mix and 3/4 can of Water. I let it simmer for half an hour, and it's done! It's so easy, and I figured the calculations out. 1 cup of it has about 200 calories and 26 grams of Protein. I usually make a double batch at a time, and after it's ready, I put 1 cup servings in small ziploc bowls. It's so easy to grab one of those and pop it in the microwave and know that I'll get some great, tasty protein. I take it to work for lunch a lot. I hope that helps!

christafin, I'm happy to help! You really need to follow your doctor's directions. Basically, they want to keep your stomach as still as possible so it can heal. When you put food in it, it churns and grumbles and can hurt the healing of the band. I know it's hard, but it will be over before you know it. Did your doctor tell you to get Protein supplements? That helped me. I used the Protein Bullets. It comes in a tube and each tube has 42 g of protein. I used half a tube at a time. You can either drink it straight or add it to Water or crystal light or juice. It has the consistency of Jello before it sets. I like the fruit punch flavored bullet mixed with fruit punch crystal light. Getting the protein in will definitely help you feel fuller and keep your energy up. My doctor let me have sugar free popscicles, and that helped to feel like I was eating something. I also bought a slushy machine that crushed ice. I added crystal light to it, and I'd crunch on the ice. If you tried that, it might help trick your mind. I was banded March 10th, so it's been a little over 4 months. I've lost 52 pounds as of last Sunday. I even lost 2 pounds on my vacation last week! I feel like I'm doing very well. I stick to the program that the doctor and nutritionist recommended which is high protein. I try to get 80 grams a day. I've had 2 fills so far and am up to 6 ccs in a 10 cc band. I've only PB'd once when I accidentally swollowed a bite of food that was too big. I eat small bites and chew, chew, chew! I try to stick to around 1100 calories a day. Here are some typical things I eat: Breakfast: Yoplait light yogurt or 1/2 cup egg beaters (sometimes with vegetables and cheese) -- I don't typically eat much for Breakfast after my last fill because I seem to be tighter in the morning. Lunch: 2 to 3 oz of chicken or fish with a small salad or fruit; OR 1 cup lean chili (I make my own) with a few low fat crackers Dinner: similar to lunch Snack: Sugar free pudding, fruit, additional protein, etc. I am so happy I had the surgery. My surgeon was Dr. Stephen Hamn in Plano. I've been very happy with him. I find that I don't crave the same things anymore. I've shifted to thinking of food as fuel for my body. Occasionally, I'll indulge in a treat. My favorite thing is Paciugo (italian ice cream). I get a small cup of that and am in heaven. It's made with milk instead of cream so it's healthier than regular ice cream. I do exercise 3 to 4 times a week. I'd like to do it more but it's really hard with my schedule. I do pilates and swim. Hang in there! You will be on soft foods before you know it! You can do this. Just take it minute by minute.

I just saw your post, but I'm glad you did well with the surgery. It's so great that you could get the prayer support you needed. I'm praying for you today. The days after surgery were more difficult than I had anticipated.

Debbie, good for you for taking your life back! I wish you the best as you go down this journey! Your surgery date is right around the corner. Just think about how great you are going to feel 3 months from now!

Welcome christafin! Hang in there! It gets a whole lot better. The early days were much more difficult than I had anticipated too, but now that all seems so long ago. Let me know if you need anything or have any specific questions. I'll be happy to help a fellow TX girl!