kiz

I just made this for breakfast, and it was sooo tasty. :embaressed_smile: Mexican Egg Omelet Lightly spray skillet with "Pam" Sauté diced red onion Beat one egg Add chili powder and pepper to taste Pour egg over onions, turn over Add shredded cheese of your choice (I used ff chedder) Fold Top with Salsa

Thank you so much for that clarification, Brina. I had never stopped to think about the different type of tubes, and I had this big fear of being in a car wreck, or something similar, and someone trying to stick a tube through my band. I can't think of an emergency situation (within reason), that a NG tube would be placed. Your post made me feel so much better.

Seconding RM!!:wink_smile::thumbs_up:

Good for you for getting back on track CC. We all need wake up calls every now and then. Keep checking back in, and don't hide away again. I bet if you follow your rules, and with your new fill, you'll start seeing some success. I'm glad you shared your story, because it's easy for any of us to become complacent, and seeing that you're have a new resolve to improve your life is inspiring.

I had mine removed awhile ago. Not having it has never been an issue for me.

CONGRATULATIONS, MOM OF TWINS!!!! I'm glad you're doing so well!!

My doctor contacted my husband at 8:45am to let him know my surgery was over. I'm not sure how long it took, but I went in sometime after 8am. About 10am, the nurse woke me up in recovery. I must have been out sound asleep. I was groggy for a few minutes. She asked me on a scale of one to ten how much pain I was in. I said a six, she put something in my IV, and within minutes, I gave her a two rating. I would have said one, because I really wasn't in pain, but I could feel the incisions were there. So, don't worry, you'll be in good hands!!

From the Lab Band web site (www.lapband.com): "When the Lap Band® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is first placed, your surgeon usually leaves it empty or only partially inflated." dwrd73, your doctor is following protocol. Not that I need to tell you, but it's so important that false information is corrected.

I hope you have a detailed food diary to take with you when you go in for your fill next week. If you don't, start today. Even with no exercise, at 500 to 700 cals/day you should be losing weight. You obviously can't take in fewer calories, so although a fill should help you not feel hunger as quickly, that's not your problem. It sounds like you're getting a good amount of Protein and very few carbs. Either you need to shake up your diet or there's another issue causing your body to hang onto the weight. If it were me, I'd want to bring in the details of my diet including amount and foods I'm eating. I haven't had a fill yet, but my doctor's office has a form to complete and bring when we go in for fills with our food diary. Good luck, and I hope things turn around for you.

Good Luck!!!! Sounds like you're well on your way.

I'm just starting out, but I'm supposed to eat 1/2 cup meals three times/day and one snack.

Thanks for the link!! That looks like a great site, with lots of good info.

I had my surgery on Thursday, and if I had to, I could have gone to work on Monday, but it wouldn't have been my first choice. I was tired, and I felt more comfortable in a semi reclined position. You're much younger than me, I'm in my 40s, so that would probably play into your recovery as well. It does make a big difference as to what your job is too. If you're able to rest as needed and not lift anything to speak of, you should be fine. Really, though, you need to ask your doctor for his recommendation.

I just wanted to share some information I've found: From the Lab Band web site (www.lapband.com): "When the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is first placed, your surgeon usually leaves it empty or only partially inflated." (so, in other words, if your doctor places your Lap Band in empty, although rockbandster may disagree, the doctor is following the standards set by Lap Band). From this web site, I couldn't find the weight loss information on the Lap Band web site, (Compare Adjustable Gastric Bands - LAP-BAND vs. REALIZE Band) : "average loss of weight first year with Lap Band is 40% to 50%." The weight loss is given for Realize Band on this site as well, but its percentages loss is given three years out. So, not a true comparison. From the Realize Band web site(Realize Adjustable Gastric Band Health Benefits - REALIZEBand.com), the average weight loss after one year is: "Patients in a 3-year clinical trial lost a mean of 40 percent of their excess weight at one year." It's clear to me that weight loss with either band is similar, just as most of us have concluded. I think either go by your doctor's recommendation, if (s)he favors one over the other, and/or by your own research. I had a preference, but with all my research, I would be just as happy with either band as far as weight loss potential is measured.

I have the Realize Band, and so far I couldn't be happier. I haven't been hungry since the surgery, and my doctor offers a fill in one month, not six to eight weeks. My recovery has been fantastic, and I have had very little pain. I got to compare both bands (Lap Band and Realize Band) side by side, and there was no question in my mind that the Realize Band was the best choice for me. My doctor, whose office is qualified as a Bariatric Center of Excellence, gives the patient the choice of bands. My doctor is very pleased with the results he's had in his practice from both bands. So far, I've lost almost 20% of my excess weight, with the majority of the loss in the last week since surgery. I haven't had a chance to spend a lot time on the Realize web site, but from what I've been able to do so far, it's been very helpful. One of the major reasons I chose the Realize Band was the great anchoring method it uses for the port, and the size and shape of the port. I've had very little port pain, and from what I've read, that seems to be a major issue for people. Also, I loved the Realize Band's pillow system. It's much softer than Lap Band, and such I plan to keep my band for years, I felt it would be much safer to have against my stomach as a foreign object. Also, the band itself was wider, which I felt made it safer as far as potential slips. I'm certainly not trying to discout the Lap Band. I think each person needs to weigh what is important to them for the long haul, and those were a few of the reasons I felt the Realize Band was the better choice for me.

ttyson, it seems like the second day is the worse for a lot of people. Hopefully, tomorrow you'll feel better, and if nothing else, you'll be another day closer.

For me, part of the reason I ate when I wasn't physically hungry was that I felt because I'm already overweight, I might as well eat when the urge hit me. I'm only three weeks into to this (two weeks pre-op diet and one week post-op), but not only have I not eaten outside of the required diet, I've not wanted to. I finally feel like I can lose this extra weight once and for all, and, more importantly, keep it off. That's always been my biggest dilemma; keeping the lost weight off. So, while I don't know for sure what my future holds, this ability to feel full on very little food and then to stay full, plus the confidence that I can keep these lost pounds off, is keeping me honest.

I found this article to be interesting, especially since I'm brand new at this (banded today!): Newsmax.com

Full disclosure: I'm only a week out, but I've noticed that I'm not craving anything, and I've been three weeks on restricted foods (pre-op and post-op diets). The major change for me is what I'm drinking. I gave up my beloved diet cokes when I first started the process, and exchanged flavored waters for them. However, since being banded, I haven't touched any of my supply of flavored waters. All I've been wanting is plain ice cold water, and lots of it.

Hey Scuba, if you're having surgery today, I hope everything is going well for you, and that your fears were laid to rest. It really is about getting healthy, and I admire you for tackling something that was hard for you. Hopefully, your doctors and nurses were sensitive to your concerns. I know mine went out of their way to make sure I felt very comfortable. Titantiff, I hope you don't let these few negative posts send you away. First off, your post was flippin' hilarious - "underoos and sharpies" - lol! Secondly, I've received so much support from this site, and for the most part, I've found people to be very generous with help and resources. Also, if you go to your control panel, you can put posters on ignore. I hope you stay.

After reading about everyone sleeping in a recliner the first night, I figured it was a good idea. I also was a little concerned about getting a fluid buildup in my lungs, so I thought the slight incline would be helpful. About 3 am I woke up and walked around some to stretch and had some water. The couch looked so comfortable, so I laid down on it and when I woke up, I was curled up on my right side. After that, I slept in my bed, and after about four nights, I could lay on my left side (port side - that sounds like a boat - haha). I'm seven days out, and this morning, I woke up on my left side, my back to the alarm clock, and I reached around to turn it off, without thinking. EE-OW! I felt like I ripped my port out. Well, not quite that bad, but, boy, did it sting. I'll be a lot more careful about that move for a long time.

nayray!! What exciting and wonderful news!!! Congratulations!!!!

I was able to compare the two types of bands side by side and I really liked the Realize band much better. The band was wider, so I felt safer about the possibility of a slip. The inside of the band, the "balloons" were also quite noticeably softer to the touch compared to the Lap Band. I felt much more comfortable about that being against my stomach for years to come. Also, I've read, but I don't know this to be a fact, that the Realize Band may have fewer issues with food getting stuck. The port seemed to be the same height to me, but the lap band port was shaped like a cone, and the Realize Band was flat. I much preferred the way the port was attached to the muscle by the Realize Band, because it seems to be much more secure with the hooks, and it looks like it'll be more comfortable in the long run with the flat top. My doctor will use either band, and he leaves it up to the patient to decide. I was banded last week, and I have no hunger issues yet, and I feel great.

When you've had time to read these boards more, you'll see that there's as many different pre-op and post-op diets as there are posts. Some people have no pre-op diet and are going out to eat a last dinner the night before, while others are on clear liquids and have to have an enema the day before. I was somewhere in between, which worked out well for me. If you follow your doctor's instructions, I'm sure you'll be fine.