kizzie

Until this year I thought I wasn't an overeater too.. until I really, I mean REALLY.. looked at the quantities I was eating.. I wouldn't eat huge meals either but the amount I ate in between meals caused me to gain weight.. I would eat when I was hungry..and I would eat when I was bored.. sad, happy.. all of the above!.. for me the band has given me something new to focus on.. I am willing and eager to try to change my unhealthy 'grazing' habits.. and eat three meals a day.. Currently (one week post op).. I am not hungry and haven't wanted to graze.. psychologically, for me, I have this new tool/friend to take care of and I don't want to blow it with my old habits..and hopefully I will enjoy the meals I do have more because I am not snacking and of course enjoy my new body and new clothes.. think about lifestyle changes and talk with your doctor about your concerns... good luck to you..

Hi again Billie! well after re-reading your post, I went to check out EXACTLY where my pain was.. I was presuming it was my port site. I felt all over the port region.. and couldn't feel pain.. until I went up.. OUCH.. IT ISN'T MY PORT.. it is about an inch above my port site.. just below my ribs.. I can feel a lump and it is SOOO sore!!.. really tender.. and I have NO idea what it is!???.. am going to the hospital tomorrow and have them check me out.. am in bed now with a small soft cushion under my boob lifting it off the site.. there shouldn't be this much pain after a week should there really??? it feels like it did on DAY ONE!.. if not WORSE!!... so if your 'golf ball' is the same as my 'lump' I will let you know what they say tomorrow.. you should get yours checked out aswell... I know now that mine isn't the port!. I have a feeling it COULD be part of the tubing???... soon find out!

that lump is more than likely the port/reservoir..where the doctor puts the 'fill'... that is where I am having the most pain.. it really hasn't let up since surgery... I have just checked it and there is no real swelling or any signs of infection.. will still call the doc tomorrow. I have another week before they take out my stitches...

Thanks Lisa.. I am quite concerned now.. as tomorrow will be a week after surgery. The other sites are just a little itchy but this one is really quite sore.. I can almost relate it to having an ulcer or something.. just OUCH.. very tender.. I am going to change the dressing again and have a look at it. Check for any swelling or discoloration.. and heat... I have had my hand there since the surgery so it is warmer than the others anyway. I have been so good with it.. I have changed my dressings regularly and cleaned them with betadine.. so I am hoping it is just something superficial.. and not that the bloody thing has moved or come unstitched!!

oh really!??... will call my doctor first thing tomorrow morning then..thank you

Hi all Advice please!.. My surgery was on the 18th June. I am on Clear liquids for the next two weeks. My diet sheet consists of: Water tea (black and herbal) fat free milk fresh fruit juices (no pulp) broth (chicken, meat or vegetable) I have been drinking a lot of flavoured water, regular water and teas. My Breakfast is usually warm milk with sweetener Lunch: Soup and fruit juice Dinner: soup and fruit juice I will have a SF Jello as a snack. I am not hungry at all. I have very little appetite. But I am drinking my fluids. I just feel SO weak and light headed!.. I took a short walk yesterday for about 15 mins and had to lie down for a few hours afterwards.. I am buying some Protein drinks tomorrow so I am hoping they help. any advice greatly appreciated!

I have been banded for one week now.. and all I can say is GO FOR IT!.. put your fears behind you.. it is so worth it!! I find I am smiling all the time!. this 'problem' of mine is FINALLY under control.. and I am so excited for the journey ahead!... good luck to you.. you have certainly come to the right place!!!..

I am going to contact my doctor today. The list was as I stated it. no Protein shakes mentioned at all..and very clear on fat free milk.. I guess as it is almost clear!!.. Unlike you lucky guys in the US. I cannot get anything here. There are no sugar free ice lollies, no sugar free Jello..( I thought I bought SIN sugar.. but it was SIN fat.. damn it)... and there are no Protein drinks here .. the clear kind. only the old fashioned shakes they give to old people and body builders... so am a bit of a loss for diet!!... will let you know what the doctor says. I only have just over a week of clears left anyway. .and still no appetite. I guess once I get onto full liquids the protein shakes will make all the difference.

Two words describe how I am feeling this morning.. "OH CRAP" I have repeated said phrase over and over.. under my breath!... ... I have been as cool as a cucumber about my 'procedure'.. really not nervous at all.. and hardly thinking about it actually.. THEN I woke up this morning and started to feel really anxious... saying silly things in my head to myself.. "ok.. last day of eating what I want without thinking (well aside from sensible pre op choices)... last day of bathing in the tub for a while, last day of swimming in the pool for a while... last day to sleep without discomfort for god knows how long??'.... EEEEKKKKKK I know the pros outweigh the cons by a long shot!! and I hope that I can add 'last day at 109kg!!!"... so I am looking forward to it aswell.. BUT BUT BUT . ...I have woken up and feel so nervous now!!!!!!...it isn't really the pain I am worried about either.. just the whole change in lifestyle!... and hoping I can handle it without drawing too much attention to myself!.. It is like.. "go to sleep feeling perfectly ok.. wake up!.. and have this THING to concentrate on!".. What will it feel like??.. How is it going to affect my daily life (aside from eating).. am I going to have to think about it being there all day long OR worse. am I going to forget it is there and boom block up the stoma with a piece of something... ???.. anyway.. GOOD LUCK 17'S.. BRING IT ON 18 !!!... I MAY BE NERVOUS BUT I AM AS READY AS I WILL EVER BE!!! Thanks for letting me vent a bit!!! ha..will be ok... will be ok... QUIVERING WRECK.. am in school right now.. kids on a break.. and all I can think about is tomorrow afternoon!.. May decide not to work in the morning???.. or should I? to keep my mind off of it??.. oh heck.. haha Just ignore me!.. Just as well none of you can see me right now.. I am walking back and forth forgetting what I went into rooms to pick up.. forgetting what I called someone for!.. distracted somewhat!.. ok.. going now!.. Kizzie

Good Luck To You All 23rds! Xxx Kizzie Xxxx On The Couch And Feeling Great!!!

Hi Amy I know you are concerned. It is only natural to feel that way with something new!.. I was anxious the day before my surgery. The day of my surgery I was fine. Tell the nurses and your doctor you are anxious they should give you a pre-med (diazepam or something similar) to calm you.. then enjoy a restful sleep!!... honestly you won't know anything about being intubated. They do that when you are fast asleep and in dream land.. and when you wake up you will probably have an oxygen mask on and be in a cosy bed with people around you. !!... Good luck to you!!... you will be totally fine!> I personally LOVE the feeling of the anasthesia!.. I heard my anesthetist say to his colleague.. 'put it all in"... I looked at my IV port and there was the syringe slowly emptying. I had a lovely smile from the assistant (VERY CUTE).. and he said "sweet dreams;.. that was the last I knew of it!!.. you will be FINE!....

I have been scouring the internet for liquid Protein drinks like Isopure.. I was quoted 245 Euros for some nasty Prosure milky vanilla drinks.. (18 servings)... and thought "THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE!!!"... So here it is.. Have NO idea what it tastes like. but need it, so have ordered it.. it is from Health Muscle & Fitness - Heroes Muscle I have found 'Reflex whey Refresh".. it comes in three flavours.. Rhubarb, Fruit Punch and Orange... 500ml gives 40g of protein!..It comes in sports bottles. 39.85 (GBP) for 20 bottles. so that will give me almost 3 weeks of protein... before I hit the Protein shakes stage have just ordered a case... they DO deliver to Spain (from the UK)... Bariatrics.com have a great Liquid Protein 'PROSTAT" 1ml = 15g of protein.. comes in Vanilla/honey, Wild Cherry and Butter Pecan..$31.99 for 30oz (Bariatric Diet | Bariatric Diet Foods, Bariatric Protein supplements & Vitamins | Bariatric Weight Loss Products) but don't deliver to Spain.. so will stock up on that when I get back to the US in September!!... Hope this helps!

Hi everyone. I am pre-op, waiting for a date. I am researching as much as I can and as I am sitting here I am sipping a cup of and not really thinking too much about how fast I am gulping it down. These questions have been going through my mind for the last few days. What did you find the most difficult to come to terms with after your surgery?. Which habits did you find hardest to break? If you feel really thirsty can you 'gulp' drinks? or is that where sipping every 15 minutes comes in??.. Thanks..

I have to give myself Heparin shots for 15 days after my surgery too.. Yes they leave little red dots..it is for blood clotting.. and to prevent DVT. I was told to take some flesh around the belly button.. pop in the needle. and push quickly.. I was told not to rub it or mess around with it.. no need for alcohol etc.. just grab, stick and push!.. done!.. It has to be done at the same time every day..

OH by the way. I have to give myself 'heparin' shots everyday for 15 days.. I remember reading someone else having to do this too..

Thank you!!!.. Feeling sore.. but you know what!!.. it is great!! as I know that pain is the beginning of new and wonderful opportunities to gain back control!!.. hurrah!!.. good luck to you .. it will come and go SOOO quickly!!!.. !! a wonderful experience!

I SO KNOW HOW YOU ARE FEELING!!!. I felt FINE right up until the day before my op!.. I was pacing.. picking things up and putting them down again.. having no idea what I was doing with myself!.. the few hours prior to departure felt the longest.. but once I was on my way.. the time FLEW BY..and here I am two days later.. back at home.. on my bed.. slight discomfort.. but doing great!!.. and you will do too!!>. my tip!.. KEEP OCCUPIED.. MOVIES ARE GREAT.. PHONE FRIENDS AND FAMILY.. ...maybe even sleep!!>. ( I couldn't sleep the night before surgery!. I kept waking thinking I had missed my appointment!).. GOOD LUCK!!!!!.. It is a very strange feeling to be NERVOUS< ANXIOUS AND EXCITED!!!... but we are all here for you.. keep posting messages!..that helped me too!.. If you look back I was even waffling nonsense!>. but it is good to keep talking about it!!!..

BANDED AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am finally back at the house. I left here at 1.15pm arrived at the hospital at 1.45.. My oh so considerate friend said "do you mind if we go and get coffee first.. I didn't get mine this morning?".. WHAT!??. anyway. I let her get her coffee while checked in.. they came for me at 2..and took me to a beautiful room overlooking Marbella harbour.. gorgeous sheer curtains (blue, cream and brown) with beautiful wallpaper on one wall to match.. so they told me I would be seeing the surgeon 'soon'.. The nurses came in and did my IV port and my ECG.. then they changed me and got me into bed..they also gave me some diazepam.. NICE.. so I lay there quite happily until 3.30. The surgeon came up went through everything with me again.. and I followed him down about 20 mins later. I was taken to a pre-op room where I switched beds.. put under green etc.. and put on a net hat.. then they wheeled me to the theatre. The anesthetist was lovely..and there were lots of people getting busy around the room. My surgeon and his assistant put the surgical stockings on me.. which was amusing in itself.. and while I was having heart monitors attached. I heard the anesthetist say to a gorgeous guy at my iv port to 'put it all in'... well the next thing I know I was waking up.. so I guess 'put it all in was the anasthetic".. I did wake up with an oxygen mask on and the heart monitor still attached. I felt pain immediately and they straight away gave me morphine... the surgeon told me the surgery went brilliantly..no problems, that my insides were 'perfect'.. and he was very happy with the surgery. He said it took about an hour and a half... They filmed the surgery and will give me a copy later.. so will be happy with that!!.. I stayed in recovery for 4 hours.. then they took me back to my room at 10pm.. I had a terrible night.. just dozing really.. I was told to stay on my back and not to have anything to drink before the next day... my lip did get stuck to my braces though. and I have a big cut there.. The next day the surgeon (whom I am in love with now! ha).. Dr Orellana checked me over and told me everything is fine..and to start moving and sipping Water.. I was then allowed herbal tea and water.. My pain is like chronic indigestion. With stabbing pains in my port area. Sitting and standing is very difficult actually. I feel that pulling on my port side (under my left boob).. and the strain in all of my cuts. The cuts are beautiful though.. very small and very clean. They told me to stay an extra night as I was still suffering pain and they know who I work for. (all the people in the house and the kids)... I was relieved. I asked for a sleeping pill.. so after a bed bath I took that and slept for a good 5 hours or so.. I did wake up a few times in pain .. but they kept pumping me with paracetamol (IV).. and tremadol..so I was good!.. OH! had some Soup last night.. just very thin chicken.. WAS HEAVEN ON A SPOON!!!!!!!!.. four spoonfuls and I felt the restrictions.. but I took my time and it was great!. I got back to the house at 4pm..they were great!.. am in my room now.. just had a strawberry jelly.. quite hungry as I have eaten only that and soup since TUESDAY!.. will weigh myself later!. so here it goes!!!!.. not sure what to do with myself.. hard to lie on the bed. not sure how I will sleep.. the hospital bed was wonderful!.. BANDED!!! HURRAH!.. the cut next to my port is really sore too!..breathing deeply really hurts..maybe I ate too much Jello at once.. mm gonna take some getting used to!.. well.. pain killer is taking effect so willtry to sleep for a bit. .then go for a walk!.. stitches due out on Wednesday.. first fill in 4 weeks. On Clear liquids for TWO WEEKS.. then simple PUREE for two weeks after that.. I have ready brek! .. forgot I like that!.. so for now am on.. Soups, fresh juice (no pulp), jello, ice pops, water, tea, milk (fat free or soya) and I can even have some coffee with my warm milk and sweetner .. so not too bad at all!..

GOOD LUCK RONDA! I leave the house in 30 mins too!!.. best wishes

Today is the day.. !!.. I have two and a half hours before I leave the house. I have cleaned my room.. made my bed all lovely for coming back tomorrow. I have laid out my painkillers, fluids and liquid Vitamins.. I am about to call my parents in New Zealand and reassure them that I am 'fine'!!.. and then my sisters in Aus and England... .. I may sit and watch a bit of "most haunted' on youtube.. silly me I watched the 'Pendle Hill' episode last night and subsequently scared myself stupid..and didn't go to sleep until 4!!!.. well at least I was distracted!!. (hence watching another one.. great for distracting and scaring the bejezus!!)... so there you go.. will be popping back and forth to get some final words of encouragement from this wonderful 'Godsend' of a site.. and you wonderful people!.. (in between my urgent rushes to 'pee' again!!.. how many times can a girl go in a few hours!???).. ha See you all !!!. Good Luck 18's!!!.. don't get too nervous 19's!!!.. Kizzie

HURRAH THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE... however. I haven't SLEPT!.. maybe two hours that is it.. EVERY hour waking up and checking the clock!.. bathroom again.. Ronda you are SO lucky with your time! Darn shame my surgery isn't until 4pm!!.. leave the house at 1.30am (Spanish time)...it is 7.30am here now so going to try to sleep a bit more!.. that will help! wishing all my 18th bandsters a truly WONDERFUL DAY!!.. only a few more hours to go!!!.. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!.. see you on the OTHER SIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S Thank the lord my NERVOUS day was yesterday!> I am soo excited today. I spoke with my two sisters and both of my parents last night so am feeling confident and reassured!. All of them (none with a weight problem) were VERY excited for me and all said " you are doing the right thing".. so they are here with me in spirit!!.. see you later alligators! Kizzie.

I am so sorry!!!>. that is just awful that you had to go that far and then be told you can't have the band.. I feel just terrible.. and have no idea how you must be feeling right now.. I can't really say much more.I don't think there are many words that can comfort you right now... but please know that my heart goes out to you .. and I hope there is SOMETHING else that can work for you.. big hugs and best wishes to you Kizzie..

I know EXACTLY how you feel!.. I had a room mate live with me in my parents home. (My parents lived overseas).. so she split the bills with me 50/50.. for a few months anyway.. THEN she was having friends over all the time and eating my food.. going off for the weekend and leaving her dishes and crap everywhere for me to clean up.. ANYWAY. to cut a very long story short.. I went to visit my parents for two weeks.. she stayed. When I got back she said that she needed a plumber and an electrician to be called out and had receipts (these I later found out were friends of hers)... to do 'some work'.. on the boiler which apparently broke the day I left!..I had to pay her back... mmmmm She didn't pay the last three months of rent.. and when I did finally tell her to get out, she had left a lot of her belongings behind.. I thought. HECK I will keep these as payment.. oh no can't do that!.. I was at work one day.. and when I got home SOMEONE had broken into the house.. refitted the window..and left broken glass on the floor.. and removed EVERYTHING of hers out of the window.. (a large bookcase of hers was left..they couldn't get it through the window).. I called the police immediately and they said 'SORRY.. WE TOLD HER TO GET HER THINGS OUT.. YOU WERE HOLDING THEM WITHOUT CAUSE'.. can you BELIEVE that.. they said .. "She had every right to get her belongings back in any way she could and she left the house without damage"... MAD was not the word.. IN THE END about three weeks later I was sent a COURT ORDER Demanding I pay HER back for the cost of the van and removals company to get her things!!!... THANKFULLY I didn't have to pay as she didn't show up.. but let me just say. I had her move in with me as a favour to HER .she had nowhere else to go!.. and look what happened!.. So there you go... I would just hand it back!.. BUT make her feel jolly well uncomfortable doing so...not an experience I would like to relive. She is out there somewhere probably scrounging off of other people.. I was told her parents move house every SIX months.. to avoid paying council taxes, tv licence and the rent!!!....they will be caught someday. This was in the UK.. by the way. good luck.. just leave it out on the street!.

Ha Ronda!. I am trying to keep busy too!.. am doing all my awful paperwork .. just to stay busy. My surgery isn't until 4pm (spain time) tomorrow. I leave the house at 1.30pm. I am even contemplating teaching in the morning just so it flies by a bit quicker!!.. not sure I can hang around my room and repack my bags half a dozen times!.. taking the kids to school is probably my best bet! .. GOOD LUCK!!. and happy dusting!! lol (just off to re-organise and alphabetise my library!! )

Best wishes to you Apple!!.... thinking about you!!! (note to self.. shave pits and legs b4 departure tomorrow! ha thanks for that one!!!)