disneynut

Yep, definitely sounds like reflux. Before banding, I would be sound asleep and then all of a sudden I wake up with acid shooting up into my throat and nose. It feels, tastes and smells ghastly and it doesn't go down very quickly. I could feel it when I would clear my throat and was gagging on the taste. I would eat crackers or bread to try to absord the acid but the only thing I could take to get that taste out of my throat was Reed's Cinnamon candy. It burns like heck, but at least it drowns out the taste of acid. I used to use Zantac 150 mg. Most times it worked great but when I had something acid based like spaghetti sauce, it didn't always work so great.

Good luck Yoda on your second fill. Tomorrow is my first one and I can't wait to get it done.

Hmmmm. I guess I should ask my doctor, maybe I'm not getting enough vitamins. I just read the label on the bottle and it lists both children and adults 4 years or older, chew one tablet daily and lists just about everything at 100% of the daily recommended amounts for adults.

Rae, I'm only taking one Flinstones chewable a day. The instructions say that one Vitamin gives you 100% of most of the essential Vitamins you need per day.

I'm glad you posted it as well. I am/was (trying my darndest to change) a sweets eater, that's what got me to what I am today. I still have an occassional craving for something sweet, but not often. When I have the craving, I'll have one cookie, not a half dozen or more and then the craving is gone. I am not one to say I'm never going to eat sweets again, that is a recipe for disaster for me. Once you say to yourself that you can't have something, you want it even more. Moderation is the key and I hope down the road that I remember this, but for now, I'm doing it.

My nutritionist recommends nuts as a snack. Yes they are high in cholesterol but rich with essential oils and vitamins. Not something I eat everyday, but I do have them 2-3 times per week.

Flinstones chewables for me.

Hi Leah. The week and a half you have before your surgery date will go by very quickly and be here before you know it. I kept busy by cleaning the house and buying all the things I needed for after surgery. I made sure that anything that was heavy that needed to be put away or moved I did so. I filled up the dog food bin because I knew those 20 pound bags wouldn't move later. I took one week off from work and I was ready to go back. You will see when you are recovering from surgery that everything on tv has to do with food and it drove me crazy. The second week back to work, I was really tired from the middle of the day on but the pain was pretty much gone by then. I would say by the third week, the exhaustion was gone and I was completely back to normal. Good luck with your pre-op and your surgery. Hope you have a quick recovery.

At only two months out, it's the best thing I could have done for myself.

I met with my nutritionist for the first time since surgery and she is pleased with my progress. I get my first fill on Tuesday, June 6th and am looking forward to it. I'm glad the summer weather is here (except for the bugs - ick) so I can do the outside yard work. I used to hate doing the outside work, but now I love it, planting flowers and a garden, mowing, etc. I would rather do that than clean the house. It's so much easier to eat good food in the summertime with all the fresh and local fruits and vegetables. When it's hot, I don't like to eat larger, heavier meals, something light and easy. I'm hoping that I will lose lots of weight these next few months. I am planning to go to Las Vegas in the fall and I want to fit in the airline seat comfortably for once without having to put the armrest up and not to have to ask for a seat belt extender - this is my goal for now. Have fun at your reunion. I wouldn't go to one of mine if you paid me. I don't have any fond memories of high school, I always felt like an outsider. I hope all of our April group is well and progressing downward nicely.

Take a deep breath - now let it out. You have done your research and like the rest of us here, we have tried and failed to diet on our own. You are experiencing what we all did prior to our bandings. Two months out I don't even think about the port inside, all I know is that the band is working for me, everyday. You will do just fine. Good luck on your surgery. Keep us all posted on your progress.

BabyAnne, Good luck tomorrow on your surgery. The worst part for me seemed to be the anticipation of having surgery. I had never had surgery before but when I woke up that morning, all I felt was calm so I knew this was right for me. Once they get the IV's in and then whatever it is they give you to knock you out, it's over and you are waking up in recovery. I had some nausea, but no gas pain at all. It really wasn't anywhere nearly as bad as I had imagined in my mind. I stayed overnight in the hospital and they get you up to use the bathroom and walk around. You are sore but after the first night in the hospital, I used liquid tylenol maybe three times over two days and after that I didn't even need pain medicine. Just make sure you sip your Water and walk. A heating pad helped me a great deal, I'm so glad I had one. You'll do great!

I had 3/4 of a hot dog with bun for dinner last night - no problems at all. I love them on the grilled burnt yummy! Then again, I haven't had a fill yet either. This may change everything.

8 weeks out with no fill - down 30 pounds.

Hi fellow April 2006 Bandits. Can you believe that we're all coming up on the 2 month mark of our bandings? Time sure has flown by, we were all so scared just a short time ago. I get my first fill in one week. Have very little restriction, can eat anything up to this point with no problems at all, but I do eat a lot less than I ever did before. Am trying to be very good about food choices but when I get a craving for something, I have it, but usually just one and then the craving is gone. So far, I haven't had anything that has set back my forward (downward) progress. I am feeling great and sometimes I even forget that I have this band. I have yet to really start an exercise program. Right now for me, my exercise is getting outside to do the yard work. This weekend I managed to trim shrubs, mow the law, do some weed wacking, plant several bushes, flowers, seeds and dug out two stumps in my front yard. I think I lost 3 pounds working up a good sweat. It seems like right now I have more energy than I have had in years and it feels good. People around me that don't even know that I have the band are commenting about my weight loss. Keep posting about your progress. I'm sure everyone in our April group really wants to hear how we are all doing at this stage.:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

I love KK donuts but fortunately for me, the nearest one to me that I know of is at Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut, an hour and a half away. That is close enough!

Poodles - so sorry they can't do them both together. Have the band put in first unless the hernia is so bad that it is affecting your health. You will see that the pain from the lap band surgery isn't as bad as you think it will be and pain killers do exactly that. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I forgot one - I for once do not want to be the largest person in the room, office, restaurant - anywhere!

I want to be able to walk without breathing heavily, I want to not get diabetes or have a heart attack. I want to ride a bicycle, go white water rafting, go horseback riding. I want to be around for as long as possible and be healthy!

Pat, I have been overweight my entire life. I have dieted and dieted like everyone else here but it all came back and more. I'm like you that anytime something happens, good, bad, stressful, etc. I would eat. I attended the lapband seminar with my sister in November, 2005. I had no expectations going in at all about it but I went, I listened to the doctor, his nurses and people who have had the procedure done and realized after the two hours was up that this was for me. I attended the support group meetings, read lots and lots of information about the lap band and familiarized myself with all that was going to happen to me. I had the surgery on April 6, 2006 and even after two months, I have not regretted my decision at all. I have lost 33 pounds and have not felt deprived at all. When I'm working or at home during the daytime, I rarely even think about food. The nights are still a little tough, but I am keeping myself busy so that if the head hungries start rearing up, I am gaining control every day. I can honestly say that for the first time in years, I am eating right and healthy now. I occassionly allow myself a treat, maybe once a week or every other week, I am not willing to tell myself that I cannot have something ever again, I know I'm not strong enough for that. I can tell you though, food is not on my mind constantly and I am so happy I let my sister convince me to go with her to start this journey. I got approved for surgery quickly, recovered quickly, no problems at all. I can eat anything at this point (except for evil, evil pizza Hut pizza that I was craving really badly, that didn't work well at all). I was a big sweets eater (cookies, cake, pie, pastries) and right now and I hope for a long time, even though I allow myself a treat every once in a while, I really don't crave them much at all. I've got more energy, my confidence is myself is enormously high, I've got big plans for the future to finally do things that I have always wanted to do and this band will allow me to do these things. I am planning in August of 2007 to go whitewater rafting and I am not about to give up this dream. Go meet with the surgeon, see what he has to say and decide from there if this is right for you. For me, this was my last real shot at being given a chance to be a normal sized person and I don't regret taking this step at all. Good luck with your journey and with whatever you decide to do.

Nope, didn't get one either. Though after I was moved to my room they kept asking me if I had to go. No, I don't I told them and then they did a bladder ultrasound and told me if I don't go soon, they would have to put one in. Not for me I said to myself and miraculously needed to go to the bathroom very soon after that. I was fine without it and that was the reason I was up out of bed often enough throughout the night and got my my walking in also. They really do put a lot of fluid into you with the IV.

Congratulations MelAnne. I'm so glad to hear that you are doing so much better. I felt bad that you were so down about the band after only 3 weeks. I haven't even been to the gym yet, but it sounds like you are on the right track. It's nice that you will have someone going with you to keep you from quitting. You can show your son that this is hard work but when you keep going, you'll both be winners in the end!!! Keep up the good work!!!!

Diane - Good luck with your surgery tomorrow. You have a great attitude and you will do great. Have a quick recovery and let us know how you are doing. You can do this!!!!

I had my surgery at 3:00 pm and stayed overnight. I was home the next day around 4:30.

MelAnne Good to hear from you. I too was wondering how your were doing. I'm glad to hear that you are getting in more calories and are getting better. It is hard to eat 6 small meals a day but happy you are trying. Have you met with your doctor and/or nutritionist since your surgery? This is a life altering experience but with all of your research and our help, you will do just fine! Just think, before you know it, us April 2006 Bandits will be talking about our first year as bandsters!