dwrd73

Congratulations Gary!!! I also dropped a pants size. I had to buy a new pair of pants because all my pants were too big. I've been feeling great and I agree, this is the best decision I've ever made. I love my band.

Congratulations to everyone on your weight loss for this week!! I'm down 3 lbs this week. I was excited to see that this morning b/c on Monday I was only down 1 pound. I'm not extremely hungry, but I am eating something every three hours. I think the smaller meals more often are helping to keep my metabolism going. I also started going to a gym this past week. I've only gone twice just to work out on the eliptical machine. It's easier on my knees than the treadmill. Roheryn - Thanks for starting the thread.

Go to GNC or the Vitamin Shop. They have a wide variety of high protein shakes. Also you may want to talk to the nutritionist at your doctor's office. He or she should have some recomendations.

Did you call your insurance to see what they require to be approved? I was also told I wouldn't be approved and my first appointment was cancelled. I called my insurance and found out i would qualify and had to fight to get my appointment back. Finnally the insurance lady in at the doctor's office called my insurance and discover I was right and that I would qualify. Call your insurance and find out their qualifications.

My first fill is coming up in two weeks. But when I saw the doctor last he said I would have to go on liquids for one day after a fill. I'll let you know it that changes but one day is what I am expecting.

Congratulations!!!! I remember the day I was approved. It really is exciting. Concerning a diet...your doctor's office should tell you the pre-op diet he or she wants you to follow. I had to follow a liquid and veggie diet for two weeks prior to surgery. i actually lost 12 lbs on it.

The first week after surgery it took a while for me to be able to drink anything. There were even a couple days where I didn't drink much and started to feel a little dehydrated. Just keep sipping away. As long as your urine is clear or light in color you are probably fine. That's always the guide I use to see how hydrated I am.

Bassriley - I had the same diet until I met with my doctor towards the end of my solid liquid phase. He told me I could go ahead a try mushies for a few days and as long as everything goes down well I could move on to solids. I've bascially eat more mushies than solids. My doc wants me to be on complete solids for two weeks prio to my first fill which is on Oct 2nd. So, technically I should be on all solids as of today.

The only thing I've tried on your list was good old cheese pizza. I use to eat pizza with pepperoni and mushrooms and I was able to eat nearly the entire large pizza if not the entire thing. However, I was able to enjoy my favorite food and only eat in total.....one slice. It was great. I actually cut the slice in half so I told myself I ate two. Whether or not it is the best food for me or the healthiest I feel it is important to be able to enjoy the foods you love from time to time. I'm glad I'm banded. It kept me from eating the whole pie. AirKuhl - I also had the worst PB on scrambled eggs. I couldn't believe it. I still haven't had my first fill and so far everything seems to be going down really well. But those eggs. I was in pain and throwing up for half and hour.

I have to admit I already tried some pizza basically b/c I am not feeling lots of restriction. I chewed it really well and it was thin crust. I didn't have any problems but i did fill full fast. I could only eat about one slice. Actually I was glad because I use to be able to eat nearly the entire pizza. I glad I got banded.

Last year my school ordered wanted to order shirts for all the teachers to wear on special days. Last year when I put on the shirt I ordered it was too tight and I never wore it to work. I almost put it in the trash. I'm glad I didn't b/c now the shirt fits perfectly. I've worn it twice to school. NSV - Non scale Victory

This depends on your doctor. Lap Band or Realize my doctor ONLY implantes them empty. He is more interested in one's stomach healing properly then ones restriction level.

I get my first fill in a couple of weeks but last time I saw my doctor I asked if he will use lidocaine. He responded positively and said of course b/c sometimes it can be like a pin cushin trying to find the port.

Congrats to everyone!!! I missed last week's weigh in, however I lost 1.5 lbs this week. That's a total of 25 lbs since the start of my pre op diet and 12.5 since surgery. I'm happy with the weight loss so far but I am not feeling much restriction. I did for the first ten days after surgery but now very little. I can't wait for the first fill on Oct 2nd. My favorite mushie meal is refried Beans with cheese, fresh chopped salsa, and a little taco seasoning.

Congratulations and keep up the good work. If you can't brag here, where can you brag. My weight lose seems to have slowed down a bit (only down 1.5 pounds this week). At least it's weight lose and not gain. I'm scheduled for my first fill on Oct. 2nd.

Congratulations and welcome!!! Keep up the walking to get all that gas out.

I didn't vote b/c my doctor basically changed my post op diet after seeing him 10 days after surgery. I never cheated while on the clear liquid post op diet. It was very easy b/c I was never really hungry. He basically said I could go ahead with full liquids, if everthing seemed to go down well then I could move on to mushies and even try some solids. So far everything seems to be goind well. However, I thought I would feel full sooner when eating. I thought I would only be able to eat about 1/2 a cup of food and generally I can eat double that until I feel full.

I have to take several pills. My doctor had me start my BP pill the day after surgery. I haven't had any problems. I take most of my pills in the morning with my protein shake and I feel full for while.

Surgery went well on Monday. Everything went well until I had the morphine. It made me extremely sick. I had to spend the night but after getting sick on the morphine I was glad. The next morning I had a swallow study and saw the band on the x-ray machine. Whatever I had to drink for that did not taste very good and made me a little sick again. I came home Tuesday afternoon. Today is the first day back that I have more energy and the gas pains are finally subsiding. My wife had her surgery on Tuesday. Her's went well but she had to spend an extra night in the hospital b/c her sugars were not completely stable. She just got home about an hour ago. She is doing well now.

I'm banded!!!:tt2: I wanted to get back here to post sooner but I really did not have the energy. Today is the first day since Monday's surgery that I've felt like sitting down here at the computer. Surgery went well. I was extremely nervous but I was taken care of very well. The only pain I had after surgery was from the gas. It felt like ball in the middle of my stomach. I was given morphine when I got back to my room and I instantly got sick. I tried the morphine a little later and got more sick. So I ended up staying off the pain meds until the evening. I had to spend the night b/c the next morning I had to do a swallow study. The liquid I drank for the test was awful. I actually made me sick again. I was cool seeing the band on the x-ray machine and watching the liquid go through the band. I came home Tuesday and since I've been home I've been walking to try and get the gas out. I didn't expect the gas to be as bad as it was. It's much better today. I've been off the pain meds since Wednesday morning. I'm not hungry at all. I keep telling myself to drink so I do not get dehydrated. My wife had the surgery on Tuesday. She ended up spending two night in the hospital. Doctors wanted to monitor her eating and sugars before she went home. She is doing well now and just got back home about and hour ago.

Yes, my mom spent a few nights to help out with the kids. My in-laws also helped by taking our kids out for dinner for a few hours each night as well. I was a big help justing knowing there so someone else there to help with their needs. Right now we are both feeling much better. Still some gas but not as bad as before. My incisions are now starting to itch, which is always a good sigh that they are healing.

Down 9 lbs this week. 7.5 since the surgery on Monday. So far that's a total weight loss for me of 20 pounds. I'm still on the post op liquid diet. The liquid diet before surgery was hard for me and i cheated a few times but now it is extremely easy. I'm not hungry at all. When I see and smell food I remember how good it tastes but I don't feel like eating anything. I hope this feeling stays with me for a while. Not doing a whole lot of exercise besides walking to get the gas out. However, after reading all your posts i feel more motivated to start the exercising.

Wow that's cool. I would love to have a copy of my surgery. I will have to ask during my next visit.

Congrats Nena!!! I was also banded on the 25th and today is also the best I have felt since Monday. I'm looking forward to tomorrow b/c it can only get better.

Congratulations!!!! Banded yesterday and already on the boards. Good for you. I was banded on Monday and I'm now feeling good enough to spend some time here on the computer. Keep walking and drinking.