MiniBand

I didn't think about this place for a while myself. We had 2 deaths in our family and just a whole bunch of other stuff. I was not filled when I went in last week due to my weightloss being steady and the fact I am a bit stressed out. I am happy to come back here and regroup. I have found myself substituting food with all kind of other things... mostly clothes because I don't have so much that fits me now. I also love makeup and obsessing over things I would never have obsessed over before. recently I ran into old friends that say they didn't even recognize me. I am not sure how to take it but I guess it is all good. I am worried that I can eat too much but I am still losing about 2 lbs a week and I am ok with that. :thumbup: Take care!

It is probably too late for this post but I found that singing actually helped after the surgery because I was able to breathe "better" than the average person especially when the breathing therapy lady came in with the little thing you blow into. Right after the surgery I was really upset that my throat hurt and did for almost a week. I made an effort to breathe more deeply even when it was slightly uncomfortable so I wouldn't lose my capacity and I think it really helps. One thing though, gotta keep hydrated and I am doing a lousy job at that. Hydration is also very very important. I find that I cannot guzzle stuff down. Last but not least, my confidence as a result of my weight loss is the biggest improvement to my singing that I could ask for. :thumbup:

I love it food WAS NEVER MY FRIEND. I found that this band really is working. I was supposed to have a fill yesterday. I am still losing so the Dr. said I didn't need one, and I was happy about that. I had such a bad 2 weeks, and I didn't turn to food for it. I am going to tell you what happened, not because I want sympathy but to explain how powerful an unfilled band is on me. Two weeks ago, both my husband and I lost our fathers 3 days apart. I will admit at my father's service, I ate things I shouldn't have eaten. I just ate so little of them, that I was ok. I didn't turn to food to get through the grief. I did adopt a new dog that needs walking though. Much better, and he is soooooo cute. You probably think, why now would I adopt a dog? Well just before my father went, I had been down to visit him and he just lit up whenever someone brought a dog. I have been thinking of getting another dog for a while now. I went to the SPCA to see what they had as they are around the corner from my house and there was my little guy just sitting there, waiting for me. Here's a video: Anyways... I am pleased as punch that I have my band now despite the havoc that the liquid diet has done and the lingering effects of that, I now understand why people say they wouldn't trade their band for anything. My scars are healing nicely and I got this stuff called kelo-cote to put on them, makes em soft and shrinking. I have had to buy a new wardrobe. Went from 18-20 to size 8 so far. Maybe I am not losing fast but I'll take the 7 or so pounds i have lost in the last 3 weeks.

Well the antibiotics have done what they were supposed to do so now I know what a normal person feels like after surgery. I am just a little tender still but I am not nearly as emotional and I am getting more and more energy as the days go on. Now if the scale moves I am happy :confused:

You aren't alone. I was banded on 13th and I have had gas and an intestinal infection which is probably worse than anyone can imagine. (I have very sensitive guts evidently from the liquid diet) Anyways I went back to the Dr. for my post op appt and told him to schedule me for removal surgery I was so miserable. He prescribed some antibiotics and I think they are starting to work. If you end up with a lot of mucus and it feels like ants walking through your stomach, you might consider finding out if you have sensitive guts too.

Jenn we wish you well with your journey. Sounds like you have enough going on. I know I was kind of in the same boat as you with my BMI somewhere around 37 when I started on my journey. I was under the BMI of 35 by the time I had my surgery. Right now my body is in starvation mode so I haven't been losing lbs but been losing inches for sure. Just went to Dots to buy some more clothes. Anything you all need us to answer we'll try but I think the self examination is a good place to start, I know why I eat, I get on the I hate myself and why not binge. What I want to figure out is why I get like that. I truly sometimes just loathe everything around me... but always me. So, I guess I have work to do.

Well I'll tell you what, you are right, your perception and relationship with food will change. Mine came before the surgery when I was pre-op and I had some major stuff going on and I could have gone out and had a hot fudge sundae. (or french fries or a belgian waffle) but I couldn't, I was on my pre-op diet. I felt what it was like not to be able to fill that void with food... so I ended up going and buying some new clothes because I went down from a size 18 pants to an 11 pre-op. And I am reluctant to report that shopping has sort of replaced food. I am only a few weeks post op and I am struggling with all kinds of things, wanting to replace food with other things and since I am post op, not feeling up to the rigorous exercise I'd like to undertake. That's what you gotta keep reminding yourself. The first big aha moment for me came when I completely stopped taking all my meds. I am just waiting to see if my bloodwork says I need to continue any of them. Also, post op I have a TMI problem most bandsters don't really deal with and hoping a course of anti-biotics take care of it, but it also has a huge effect on how I feel about food at the moment. I can honestly say, I don't turn to the refrigerator. I am probably in a weird place mentally at the moment so I wouldn't say my result is typical.

Well I am newly banded and right now it is consuming my life but that just because I am still on liquids. I know this phase will pass soon and hopefully I'll start to feel more normal. I had the same kind of questions you had California. I still have them. I think you should keep questioning yourself even til the day you get banded. Also you can't base your decision on anyone else than yourself. If your health and mental well being are in question, then you have your answer. For me I have diabetes, and other escalating health problems. I decided it was worth the risk to find out if it can help me. Best of luck in your decision.

I had my surgery 3/13 and I am still on clear liquids. I don't go to creamy liquids until Friday. I personally wouldn't chance my surgery but to each their own. You asked-- more importantly you may want to discuss this with your surgeon in case something happens down the road. Also, if you aren't sticking to the prescribed way of doing things now, you might want to think of your success of doing it your way? I mean sure it is great to say I broke the rule and nothing happened. But what if you actually followed what you were supposed to? Learning discipline now can only help you later on.

Yup, Friday the 13th. It only took me about a year to get approval! I have my Dr. appt for my clearances set for next week. I'll be joining you! M

Yay my post didn't get eaten. I meant was texting with my friend not testing. Well I can honestly say the distention in the tummy is going down but the wind is still traveling through it. Having a really hard time with liquids and burping. Also the TMI D thing still going on... imodium works but I don't want to rely on that all day. I can't wait until I am off Clear Liquids. I actually have not lost any weight. Oh and I am NOT in menopause... which explains why I am feeling way more yucky than I might otherwise feel. I think it also explains why I haven't really lost anything, generally for typical "P" whole week I gain 2 to 3 lbs typically and lose it by the end of the week... so 4 more days and hopefully I'll see the scale start moving. The liquids probably would help so I am going to be more diligent about taking them. We are puppysitting in an emergency and if this little guy keeps jumping on my tummy, I am gonna get whatever pitchers wear to baseball games. Still he is very entertaining but his little claws are really sharp and he likes to jump a bit. A week out and I am feeling pretty good. The incisions are looking good and not itching as much now.

Good news Dan! I never actually talked to Walter, I think I talked mostly to Kelley. Eventually I am going to send them a DVD of me in a show, but I haven't gotten it back from the production co yet. The next show I am in I am going to send it, so they can see how they impact people's lives in a positive way! :tt1: How am I feeling??? Well one week out and I took my dance lesson today. This past Tuesday was able to take bus ride over to Cape Canaveral to attempt to see a launch that was scrubbed which is about 2 and half hrs away... so I think very well actually. I am pretty excited. Keep in touch and let me know how it goes for you. It certainly has been a rollercoaster for me. This one ends well though... I am already off my diabetic meds. :ohmy: Take care! M

Dan that happened to me as well, however Walter and company was able to get my surgery approved. Banded on Friday the 13th for good measure LOL. Check out ambiguity of the your policy's wording, that what helped me.

Thanks! Great info! I got denied for that "lack of" multi disciplinary approach. If you are serious, make sure you document food intake, exercise logs and make sure your PCP knows how to document your weight loss attempts. Obesitylaw.com helped me get my band approved after this denial. I totally recommend fitday.com or something like that. Also if you go to a gym or something your receipts of monthly payments and exercise routines or whatever you do, make sure someone documents it. I got my boot camp guy to help me.

I will say one thing for keeping it quiet. I have had to be my own support system. Right now only really like 3 people know I had it done. It is very isolating. I just know that I don't want people watching everything I eat and judging me and that's what I got even when I was just talking about getting it done. I totally wish I could talk to people about it but I just don't feel comfortable. I went through infertility under a microscope and would never do that again. That was awful. I know it sounds bad but everyone has their own journey to take. What I do love is the support from this place. I went into the chat room today and vented and it was wonderful. Thanks everyone for listening! See less of you later LOL!

I was afraid of that answer. I was hoping the gas and the stuff would go away but you are saying it won't. I don't want pain when I eat. I already had that when I was on Byetta. Sounds like this is going to be worse.

Thank you for this thread. I am 6 days out and I was starting to wonder if I made the wrong decision. The rumbling and the diarrhea are enough to wonder about that. The pre-op started that lovely "D" thing so I am starting to wonder if I have permanently messed up my intestines. I know my GI is going to be upset with me... oh well. I plan on taking Probiotics as soon as I possibly can. (probably in 2 weeks?) And benefiber whenever it is feasible. Thanks for this thread!

I am definitely commisserating with you!!!! Well first of all the diarrhea is from the liquid diet. liquid in=liquid out most likely. My Dr. didn't warn me about the pre-op or post op but they told me to try some imodium. I did yesterday and it helped some but you need to check with your Dr. Your pants are tight because your surgical area is inflamed, and probably because of the other stuff going on with the diarrhea- BLOATING. Your stomach is trying to figure out what the heck happened here and your digestive system is in a temporary turmoil. Your Doctor wants your stomach to rest before introducing things to it that will cause it to churn. It is true every Dr. is different but your Dr. is going by what has worked best for their practice. I can barely get the fluids or the broth in a day let alone want creamy soup. The only I can really suggest is speaking with your Dr.'s office and asking if you can have the other things sooner. Hang in there, it will be worth it in the end (at leas that's what I keep telling myself! LOL)

I haven't told many people because someone else at work had surgery and she said everyone watches her eat. And other people just started giving me their opinion when I said I was considering it... that was enough for me. Still... It has been hard to lie. I finally broke down and told my supervisor I wasn't going on vacation but on medical leave and she asked me why and I told I didn't want to tell her. She was ok with that. I was lucky and was denied the first time and left it at that when asked and most people assumed it was because I was not heavy enough because my BMI was 37.5. I just let them believe that.

I stopped telling people I was considering even. Just the negativity... oh you don't need that... you are too small. I didn't even tell my own family because my mother is stressed out enough with my father being ill. I kicked the habit by going on an all liquid diet before my pre-op which reduced my appetite. All in all I ended up losing 30 lbs prior to my surgery which was March 13. My appetite has not returned. Best wishes but one thing I have to keep reminding myself is this is a tool, not a miracle. The weight loss has aided me getting off my diabetes meds so far. I have more energy and plan to exercise once I feel up to it. I have been trying to walk at least once a day while I am healing. The true formula is: less in and more burned through exercise. There's no magic in that. Just how we get there Hang in there!

Grr wrote a really nice account of my surgery so I could remember it. the server times out of course! Oh well.

Well I wanted to give a short account of my surgery so I can remember it later on... I checked in at 10:30 AM and the guy smelled of alcohol that was checking me in. I had to laugh... oh well. Went over and got into the pre op area. Made me take a pg test which of course is negative because effectively believe I am in menopause, am on day 40 something of my cycle, longest I have ever had but who knows if the stress of getting ready for this scared it away. They had to get a special IV nurse over because i have sort troublesome veins. Got that and then I got a shot of lovenox in the belly due to my father's history of blood clots I guess. (dunno) They started me on some kind of fluids in the IV. Pushed me over to the waiting area where the anthesigiologist spoke with me. Told him to be careful because I am a singer. (he didn't listen, I still have a little irritation LOL) Saw my doc and he asked me if I was ready and I said yup. Rolled me into the ER and I wiggled from gurney to operating table then they started strapping me down and put my arms out so I looked like a t. That's about all I remember. Woke up in post op and was pretty alert. They rolled some other chick in a few minutes later who was crying. I told the dude... get me out of here I don't want to listen to that. He made me breathe real deep to prove I could go out of there. Rolled me up to my room. Gave me more lovenox I think. Put something else in my IV. Put those inflating booties on my legs. Got a lovely room and bed. Overlooking the bay... large room looked like for VP, all mine. Husband came in. Got up and went for a walk rolling my IV with me. Night fell could see the sunset, pretty nice. Went back to room. Gave me some tray of some crap and told me to try to have it. I tried the lemonade and my throat was too iritated. Ate the ice chips. Decided to ask for osme malox and some pain killers. Got a bit loopy, was testing with friend, finally gave up and called her and then fell asleep. HUsband left to take care of our dog. Woke up by some respitory woman made me inhale into this thing. Said I was a champ. Went for another walk. Ate some more ice chips. Got them myself. Went back to bed but couldn't really sleep. Dozed on and off listening to my ipod. Nurse Came back and gave me some insulin because my blood sugar spiked a little due to the whatever's in the IV. Around 4 ish I asked from more pain killers more to go to sleep wasn't in much pain but the distention was driving me crazy. Got a little more insulin. Woke up around 6 or 7 and got up and took another walk and got some more ice chips. Tried to eat some Jello. Not too much fun. the tray it came on had a bug on it. Had to prove I could eat something so I ate some damn red popsicle. Someone came along and took out my IV. I went and got cleaned up and dressed so I could get out. Had a post op welcome to your new life class and went out on a wheelchair. Was feeling pretty crappy on the way home but stopped to get something at Walgreen's can't remember what it was... think it was maloxx or something. Damn curb nearly about killed me. Went home and got in my lazyboy sofa... and watched TV! Feeing like... damn get this thing out of me! Took a shower later on. Everytime I wake up, I feel a bit better. Today I don't feel like get this thing out of me... so... making progress.

I walked 3 times the night that I was in the hospital and then the day I came home. I think I walked around my house a bit when I got home and then yesterday I went to the grocery store and then took a walk in the afternoon down the street and back. Today I walked all the way around a mall. I rode a bus for 5 hrs round trip and didn't see the launch because it got scrubbed at the last minute. GRRR. So... overall I am feeling pretty good but the distention is distracting and the incision itching is pretty intense but from my recollection, itching is good because it means it is healing. Oh and the imodium is working great. No problems on the bus whatsoever! M

Well then....

Hey y'all, Just a suggestion.. this is pre-op forum. There is a forum just for us set up already for March '09 bandsters. It would probably be nice to use that forum... just an idea? Here is the link: March 09 Bandsters - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum