do_i_remember

I had one fill but I still feel hungry. Would another fill help or am I just going to have to be hungry the rest of my life? Does anyone else still feel hungry?

Have you tried lettuce wraps? I make mine with ground chicken, mushrooms and water chesnuts. I add a little soy, oyster sauce etc. I found the recipe by googling Pei Wei lettuce wraps. They're good and easy to eat. I also do a lot of Thai and Chinese because I can do strong flavors and I eat with chop sticks. Makes me slow down! LOL Also, I make couscous with lots of minced veggies, sometimes I add a little minced chicken for protein. I like a strong vinegar taste and this fits the bill. Good luck and I'm impressed with your weight loss.

I had one fill but I still feel hungry. Would another fill help or am I just going to have to be hungry the rest of my life? Does anyone else still feel hungry?

I know those conferences! Give yourself a break kiddo be proud of the fact you didn't gain! If you're anything like me I always gained two or three pounds!

I was banded at GBMC, Dr. van Ruden has left. I had doctor Babak Molinolmolki, Dr M, he took a little getting used to as he doesn't chat until he thinks thing through. What I liked about him is 1. He didn't let me bully him into doing things my way. 2. He does have a sense of humor once he gets to know you 3. I get really tickled at his shoes 4. his staff is great! Good luck

Hi, I live in Howard County and don't have transportation so on-line support has been my lifeline. I didn't go to any support groups before my surgery but my medical team was great! They answered every question, some times before I thought to ask! This website has very compassionate people who are going through the same thing. The surgery was longer for me because I had to have a hernia fixed at the same time but I encountered no problems and even with the extended surgery I took only one pain pill because I just knew I was going to hurt when I fully awakened. LOL, I didn't hurt at any time, don't think the one pill was THAT effective. Please don't be frightened. You have made a great decision that will improve the quality of your life. Please email me if you need someone to talk to before or after the surgery. I don't need to send you good luck, all of us got that luck when we decided to take our futures into our own hands.

Michelle2008 go to the website tickerfactory.com and it will lead you through the process.

Giving up soda was a major obstacle for me. I used to drink a two liter of diet Pepsi a day! I am now soda free! I did restart drinking iced tea a month after surgery. I must admit giving up soda has been the most difficult addiction to give up. It took me to such a happy place. I did allow one to go flat just to get the taste. Ugh! Now I know the addiction has changed from a physical to a merely mind problem. I couldn't believe the taste was soooooo bad! Now I can get to my happy place all by myself without the soda and food triggers. I can't tell you what a relief it is!!

Wow! you are an inspiration!

I know what you mean about drifting. I finally realized that there were so many things that I could not do any more. I didn't realize what I was committing to before I did it. I did however give up bubbly sodas and caffeine months before my surgery. I think it made it easier that I wasn't giving up everything all at once. I'm still learning to self correct and have had one fill. It surprises me when I forget to eat!!! Never before in my life has that happened. I'm so glad that you are on this site before your surgery so that you are more informed than I was and you know exactly where to go when you need help! I'm always around. Where are you being banded?

When were you banded? You are doing a great job! I am so excited about future possibilities aren't you!

LOL, you sound just like me! I was so tortured by this revelation that I almost gave up before my surgery. When I first had to wait I would set a timer and by the last seconds I had a glass of water ready in my hand waiting for the buzzer! But I did get used to it. It is so much easier than I thought. I had built it up into this tremendous road block in my mind that was really a phantom mountain. I now enjoy not drinking with my meal. I find that I can concentrate on the quality of my food and that diligently chewing my food has made drinking with my meals less desirable than I could ever imagined. I still wait thirty minutes to drink but my body AND my mind has adjusted and rarely do I drink any sooner. Good Luck! Trust your surgeon!

443-849-3779, his staff just call him Dr. M because no one can say his name. Let me know if you need anything else! Good Luck and be sure and let me know how is goes.

Suetigg2, that's where I had my surgery also. The main concern is getting enough protein and then worrying about your carbs. By the way the nutritionist at the Center is great, you can call her anytime and she'll give you any guidance you need. Any time you need help the whole staff, office, nutrition, nurses make you feel as though it is their life's mission to help you achieve your goal.

Hi, I live in Laurel, Howard County, I was banded in June. Since I don't have transportation I use this forum as my support group. Dora, congrats on your pending surgery. Good luck.

You need to get into a doctor asap! It sounds like you are dehydrated. My surgeon is Dr. Babak Molinolmolki with the Greater Baltimore Medical Center. He's a little aloof but really cares about his patients. He and his staff are always ready to answer questions. You might try giving them a call, tell them that your surgery was in Detroit but you now reside in MD and need follow up care. Please don't wait any longer! Good luck!

I know that getting to know a new person after being a character in fatdom is going to be hard. So many people assume that when they go back to being thin that they are reclaiming themselves. I think that is a big mistake. Because our journey into fatdom has changed us, we are different people, we tend to be more compassionate, understanding and patient. Because most of us have been judged wanting because of the weight we have changed fundementally. Being afraid of who you will become I think is natural. We will have to re-examine our values and beliefs. But think of it has a wonderful journey that you are on. You've learned different coping skills, (not just food wise) and you probably developed a different set of values. How exciting at any age to be self aware enough to truly examine our live, belief, work and plan for the future. Good Luck!

I got my first fill and for the first time since EVER I forget to eat! I have to force myself to remember that I have to eat protein and make sure I take my vitamins. I hate taking my liquid vitamins! I figured out what people mean when they say they slimed! Yuck, but better than the pain. I try and eat slower but sometimes I forget and go too fast. I'm still losing weight but still eat more at each meal than they predicted. Maybe with one more fill. It's hard to stay energized. Reading other people's blog helps me keep on track. I've been invited to a friend of my daughter's house and I just can't force myself to go. I didn't leave the house for two weeks until my daughter took me to the grocery store. I just don't want to be around people. I'm not sure why. I wonder if that is common?

I got my first fill and for the first time since EVER I forget to eat! I have to force myself to remember that I have to eat protein and make sure I take my vitamins. I hate taking my liquid vitamins! I figured out what people mean when they say they slimed! Yuck, but better than the pain. I try and eat slower but sometimes I forget and go too fast. I'm still losing weight but still eat more at each meal than they predicted. Maybe with one more fill. It's hard to stay energized. Reading other people's blog helps me keep on track. I've been invited to a friend of my daughter's house and I just can't force myself to go. I didn't leave the house for two weeks until my daughter took me to the grocery store. I just don't want to be around people. I'm not sure why. I wonder if that is common?

I was banded June 09, 2008 at GBMC in Baltimore by Dr. Babak Molinolmolki. I had a hernia fixed at the same time so my surgery took 4 hours and I spent two days in ICU. What a great place! They had the coolest bed, with a flip of the switch it morphed into a chair and had a built in scale! I have heard all the warnings about not eating bread but of course I had to try. Not problem maybe because it was a tortilla but haven't had nausea or pain. I do have a lot of trouble making meals last 30 minutes, I even eat with an expresso spoon, who would have thought that eating would be so boring? I knew that I would still have head hunger but I thought that my appetite would diminsh, it hasn't is that because I haven't had my first fill? Getting pretty discouraged I'll take any advice you're willing to pass along!

I was banded June 09, 2008 at GBMC in Baltimore by Dr. Babak Molinolmolki. I had a hernia fixed at the same time so my surgery took 4 hours and I spent two days in ICU. What a great place! They had the coolest bed, with a flip of the switch it morphed into a chair and had a built in scale! I have heard all the warnings about not eating bread but of course I had to try. Not problem maybe because it was a tortilla but haven't had nausea or pain. I do have a lot of trouble making meals last 30 minutes, I even eat with an expresso spoon, who would have thought that eating would be so boring? I knew that I would still have head hunger but I thought that my appetite would diminsh, it hasn't is that because I haven't had my first fill? Getting pretty discouraged I'll take any advice you're willing to pass along!

Yes, no lifting! You are finally doing something for yourself! Go ahead and buy two pair of loose fitting slacks or knit pants. To go on a plane in jeans and sit for any lenght of time will be painful! I have two pair of soft knit with loose fitting elastic bands that I washed every day for the first week! Jeans will rub your tummy and you will be uncomfortable and possibly in pain. Good luck on your surgery and BE Kind to yourself!:ohmy:

I am 61 and was banded on June 8th. I didn't have any complications but my surgery took 4 hours because I had to have a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time. Even with the extensive "remodeling" I was up and about without pain a couple of days after. My doctor decided to do lapband rather than bypass because I have diabetes II, COPD and various other problems. I've already lost 20 lbs and still have my first fill to do. Although I originally wanted the bypass I'm glad that I went lap band because it is reversible, less invasive and can be easily tweaked to my needs. I interviewed several doctors before I chose my doctor. Good luck.

When my mom lost her weight she went to the DMV and told them she had to have a new license. They took a look at ther picture and at her and agreed that no one would recognize her so they gave her a new license with a great new picture!