Sask Patient

Hey there! I was banded on Aug 20th and I'm down 25 lbs as of today. I just had my first fill yesterday so we'll see how it goes now. BUT - I say ABSOLUTELY get your pictures done! As tough as it is to do it is so worth it! I took a whole bunch right before surgery and they are even posted on this website (they are scary!!) and then I took more on the one month surgery anniversary (I was down 23 lbs). When I looked into the camera after taking each pic (I take my own with the timer function) I thought "aw geez-I don't really see much difference", but then I put them onto the computer and really looked at each shot before and after, side by side and whole SMOKES is there EVER a difference! I'm sure you will see one too! I take them in a door way and always wear the same clothes and pose the same positions. It's pretty amazing and I am so glad that I am documenting the journey. It's totally a personal choice but for me, I am glad I'm "taking notes". It helps on those days that I'm not totally on my game too. GOOD LUCK and keep us in the loop!!! Stace ps - I will try and get the updated pix posted in the next day or so...

Hey there - I was banded on Aug 20th and since being back on solid foods I can't say that I have been a stellar student. Before that I was the perfect patient, but once I got back to solids I found I was easily able to eat more and more. My dh works out of town so half of the time I am on my own. The other 1/2 I've been eating what the rest of the family does (my dh is a wonderful cook and often has supper ready by the time I get home from work as he is on days off when he is home). I didn't even realize that I was eating way too much. Then I remembered the cup to cup & 1/2 rule and saw it on one of the forums and it reiterated what I had forgotten... that we are to stick to one & half cups of food... I've been going way overboard. I'm also in that "Bandster Hell" stage where I have no restriction so everything goes through the stoma very easily, which means I think of food a lot and I am hungry often. I've tried since to cut the portions down but I am still scared that through all of this I may have stretched my pouch. And, to make things worse I had a TERRIBLE Binge on Sunday night... it was bad. I would drink water to flush the pouch out between eating more and drink to flush the pouch and eat more... it was awful! My first fill isn't for another week and a half. Has anyone else gone through anything like this?? There is no fluro where I get my fills. Does anyone know of any other way to tell if my pouch is stretched? Should I go to straight fluids for a few days again? I just feel scared and frustrated with myself. Any help at all would be so appreciated!! Stace

Thank you all for this wonderful advice! :blushing: Everything you have all said makes so much sense. I am so relieved in knowing that in all likelihood my pouch is just fine. That was my biggest worry of all. Since losing it with thast terrible binge, :sad_smile: I have gone back onto ShrinkYourself.com as of Sunday so I can work on my emotional eating issues again (I think they will always need to be worked on!) and I will also get back onto TheDailyPlate.com and start tracking my intake again. I appreciate that you have all sent your warm support and so I will take your kind advice and stop beating myself up. What's done is done and I can only move on. Today is a good day-thanks largely in part to your responses. :rolleyes2: I am going to CURVES for a good workout right after work, and I can not wait to get sweating again! One day at a time... I just gotta remember that! Thanks again everyone! You are the best support system!!! :thumbs_up: Stace

Thanks so much guys - I appreciate your kinds words and that you can understand where I am coming from. My fill has to stay Nov 1st unfortunately because I have to travel 2 1/2 hrs away and it was the first date that I could get that works for the RN performing it, myself and my husband's schedules. I'll be booking my second one right away in hopes I can get in again early Dec. (I'm guessing that I'll need more than one fill for sure!). Bonnie, I hadn't posted anything on this site for over a month myself so I think just getting back on here and conversing with folks going through the same thing will help all in itself. CONGRATULATIONS ON 40 POUNDS!!! That is so tremendous! I'm at 20 now (gained 3 back). So far tonite I haven't eaten a thing since 8PM and definitely won't now, but I will have some more water... And I will keep my exercise regimen up. I started back at CURVES last Saturday and joined the Smart program which is a great workout. Thanks so much again for your encouragement guys! You are so right - I haven't come this far to let old habits and demons win!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!! xoxox Stace

Hey there Dee! I am in the same boat - it is SUCH a big learning curve hey?? CONGRATS on your 22 pounds!!! I'm 4.5 weeks out and at 23 pounds lost so far (so happy!!) and I get to start solid foods again on Sunday (so excited!!). I've had the same problem as you this week - eating too much but not realizing until quite a while later. I've even had some heartbearn so that's a sure sign I ate too much. Something that I've noticed happens is as I am eating I feel like I could burp, but I can't so I think that's what some would call a "soft sign". It seems to happen fairly early on in my meal so I've kept eating... it really is a time of learning to listen to our bodies. I agree with what was said earlier-haven't done that for a very long time so it's going to take time to get used to my what my body is trying to tell me. AND if you aren't using smaller plates and cutlery, try that too, I find it makes a huge difference in "seeing" that you have a full plate/bowl in front of you. It may sound silly, but I'm totally enjoying learning all of these new tricks! Anyhow - good luck Dee - feel free to PM me anytime!! Stace

Great goal! :tt2: I start on mushies this weekend... feeling pretty great except for that port side tightness and a bit of pain (banded for 2 weeks yesterday) but hopefully I can handle walking my dogs on my own soon. They've got 150lbs of tugging power between them so I want to make darn sure I'm healed enough - don't want to get hurt. I sneak out the backdoor and head down the alley without them right now so they don't see me go... they are so spoiled, but I feel guilty leaving them behind! They have me wrapped around their paws alright!:thumbup: Can't wait to see where we all are by Christmas... 200 or less would be absolutely AMAZING! :smile2: Good luck everyone!! Thanks for this great incentive! Stace

Hey there Heather - don't get down on YOU... as my patient facilitator says, this is the time for healing, not the time for losing, so if you can help it - stay off of that darned scale for at least a couple of weeks. Focus on eating the right stuff and staying the course that way. And as the ol' bandster saying goes... "walk-walk-walk" "sip-sip-sip" Before you know it the fills will start and the weight loss will truly begin. I think I've possibly put a few back on too and I'm just 2 weeks banded today. So, I'm just stayin' off of the scale, trying to move as much as I can, and getting ready to start the "mushies" phase this weekend-that'll be exciting! Good luck and keep us in the loop - remember that when you get down there is a whole LOT of folks on here that'll pick you right back up again!! Take good care!:thumbup: Stace

Hi guys! This is a great thread! :party: I was kinda worried that I was drinking too much too fast too... but this sure puts my mind at ease! I'm pretty sure I don't have restriction either because I can drink quite a bit at once (& belch like a lush too!:w00t:) but I'm down 15 since my pre-op diet 10 days prior to the Aug 20th surgery so, I'm totally happy with that.:thumbup: Mushies start on Sunday for me - can hardly wait for egg salad!:sad: Thanks for the peace of mind on the sip vs the gulp!!! Stace