julie.ann

I have heard of it. I had some pain about a week post op while sitting at my kid's concert. I will be happy after my first fill to make sure my port is ok.

I just got a Wii Fit. I have a gym membership but finding time to go is tough. I'm don't know if I'm ready yet. I thought maybe doing the eliptical. I don't want to do any weights until I'm a month out...so it would be after my first fill.

It's great that you are getting banded in 3 days. You know what? I wasn't nervous either. I was so solid in my decision to do this. I am self pay. Yeah it sucks, but it will be worth it. Good luck and keep us updated!

Congrats on joining the band! It is amazing how different everyone's story is. I was wheeled into the OR at 11:00am and I was discharged from the hospital at 2:30pm that same day! No upper scope the next day. Does your band have a fill in it from the time of placement? Have a great recovery!

“In all fairness, some band patients do regain their weight. Many don't. The band is not magic. It's like any other weight loss program. It works as long as you do it. If you make a permanent lifestyle change and continue to eat healthy it can be permanent. If you drift back into grazing, eating junk or eating all soft foods the results won't last as long. It's not fool proof. Any fool can fool the band. Or you can choose to continue to work with it, heed the signals and do well. Like everything else about banding: your choice.” I’m not sure where I found this. It was from a bandster. I think this really sums up a lot about the band. I can succeed or fail with the band. This is still a war. I may lose a small battle, but as long as I still fight the war I’ll succeed with the band. I posted this as a response to another blog, but I think I’ll add it in here too….My blog is titled "My Secret Journey". I am the big mouth sharer everywhere I go. I'm sure people at work get tired of hearing all about my life. But this is personal. I think part of it is that I want the credit for the work and not for people to say "Oh she HAD to get that obesity surgery. She just lost the weight after that." I am not losing weight. I am getting rid of it. I think the term losing is a passive term and this journey is anything but passive!

My pre-=op was modified atkins. No bread, potatoes, pasta or rice. I kept calories counted on www.sparkpeople.com I lost 14lbs is about 2 1/2 weeks.

Are you on real food yet? Watch your protein. High protein helps curb your hunger. Look for the forum for October 2008. There you can find a lot of us that were banded last month. I can't believe you've already got a fill. I'm so jealous!

Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver is self pay only and takes $9950. Fills are free for the first 90 days and then $15 after that.

Hey guys I'm back. I'm about 10 days post op and feeling good. I have a question for you. According to my dietary guidelines that Paula gave me it had me on a liquide diet day 2-14 but able to start to transition to soft food during week two. Well I did transition into soft food on day 7. I feel great. It made me start to feel like I was healing. My question is with most people telling me this is a really fast transition to soft food I am a little worried that I read this wrong. What was your experience? Also I have my first fill in a couple of weeks. How did that go for you? I know every doctor is different. That is why I wanted to ask you about this. Thanks for your support. I know I am an October baby....but I kind of think of you guys as older (and wiser) sisters.

Actually I only had to do liquids for a week and I got to transition into soft food during week two. I am on soft food. I have to stay away from dry meats and hard foods. Otherwise I am pretty much back to normal diet. Eating has made me feel almost back to normal. How about you?

“In all fairness, some band patients do regain their weight. Many don't. The band is not magic. It's like any other weight loss program. It works as long as you do it. If you make a permanent lifestyle change and continue to eat healthy it can be permanent. If you drift back into grazing, eating junk or eating all soft foods the results won't last as long. It's not fool proof. Any fool can fool the band. Or you can choose to continue to work with it, heed the signals and do well. Like everything else about banding: your choice.” I’m not sure where I found this. It was from a bandster. I think this really sums up a lot about the band. I can succeed or fail with the band. This is still a war. I may lose a small battle, but as long as I still fight the war I’ll succeed with the band. I posted this as a response to another blog, but I think I’ll add it in here too….My blog is titled "My Secret Journey". I am the big mouth sharer everywhere I go. I'm sure people at work get tired of hearing all about my life. But this is personal. I think part of it is that I want the credit for the work and not for people to say "Oh she HAD to get that obesity surgery. She just lost the weight after that." I am not losing weight. I am getting rid of it. I think the term losing is a passive term and this journey is anything but passive!

Welcom Groupie! I know exactly how you feel. My blog is titled "My Secret Journey". I am the big mouth sharer everywhere I go too. I'm sure people at work get tired of hearing all about my life. But this is personal. I think part of it is that I was the credit for the work and not for people to say "Oh she HAD to get that obesity surgery. She just lost the weight after that." I am not losing weight. I am getting rid of it. I think the term losing is a passive term and this journey is anything put passive! Wow I think that will go into my blog! Anyway, welcome. I hope your skinny ass husband becomes as supportive as my skinney ass husband.

Stephieeve...That sucks that you didn't get a fill. It really sounds like you could have used one. You feel like you have been failing? Have you gained? Hey don't let anyone make you feel worse. Some times things get tough. That is a way of life. We all have to understand that there is going to be a time that we find this monster (obesity) a harder fight than we planned. Did you fall off the wagon? That's okay. You are okay. Do you remember what it was like in the beginning? My pre-op diet was tough to start, but made me feel so much better. I know it seems like a long 3 weeks to wait for another fill, but no matter what that day will get here. One day at a time. Every time you want to eat ask yourself "Am I hungery?" That seems to help me most of the time. Make sure you are getting enough protein to help fight off hunger. That helps me a ton too. You can keep doing this. Put an extra 30 min of exercise into your week. You can do it! You have lost 50 lbs. Take out those old picture and take a look at where you were and how far you've come! You aren't alone. Stick with it. I have my fill the day before you do. I updated my signature with a count down. I am looking forward to it. Stay on the boards an keep looking for that support. You are a strong woman. You can make the most out of it...and not beat up on yourself for the slip-ups.

Good luck with your journey excarolinagirl. I hope the end of your journey is a great success!

Welcome! I got banded on the 29th too.

Carly, You are great! I am so happy for you! I can't wait to be where you are. There are so many just starting the journey by finding out about this tool and how to change their life. I posted on my blog that I fell off the wagon last night and I am so happy I could jump right back on instead of blowing it for the rest of the day or week or month or year. It is people like you that share this fight against the monster of obesity that keep others going and I hope we do the same for you. I know just what you mean about your weight affecting "where I went (and IF I went), what I wore (usually black), my confidence level and social interaction (or lack thereof), and virtually every other aspect of my life." I could have written that myself. Keep working on this great new life we have been blessed with! Lots of love.....

Penny, Try to sip all day. That overwelming thirst leads me to believe that you aren't getting enought throughout the day. You must stay hydrated! Hang in there.

Do you mind if I ask where your doctor is from?

11/7/08 I fell off the wagon…..Ok it was more a jump….or leap. Yeah, Leap would probably cover it. I know that I shouldn’t have, but I did. I have been having a hard time getting in even 900 calories. Of course the monster I fight (obesity) tells me….well I have been so low on calories it won’t hurt. One time. One meal. I’ll write it down and figure it in. I don’t have a fill yet. It will be okay. After almost a month with no bread, pasta, potatoes or rice I ate pizza. I feel like crap. My chest hurts because I ate too much. I wish I could rewind. I am so happy that I can start over right now. I can’t think about what this has done to the scale. I won’t think about it. Yeah…..maybe that was a little too Scarlet O’hara. Sorry I am feeling a bit dramatic. I almost want to puke, but I don’t want to take the chance of hurting my band. HA! That is almost funny. If I didn’t want to hurt my band I wouldn’t have eaten pizza. I ‘ll tell you what really got me started. I stepped on the scale yesterday and I had lost a total of 26 lbs. I was on cloud nine. It was the first time I had been in that area for about 2 years. Today the scale gave me back 3 lbs. I was tired, sore and frustrated. It isn’t a good excuse to do that. I won’t step on the scale until Monday. I need to stay off of the scale except once a week. I have that compulsion to weigh everyday. Now that I have the Wii Fit (I just got it yesterday!!!) I even have another excuse to weigh. I’ve got to stop that.!

I have to agree with Anne. I worry about his voting record. The race for president brings promises and pretty words. I have hope because as an American we must hope for a better country.

Do you feel any restriction?

Help me. I just had two sugar cookies....well the dough anyway. I am thinking about having frozen pizza for supper. I haven't had bread, potatoes, pasta or rice for a month. I have been very good. I am not usually hungry....well I eat if I am. I have been eating 3 meals a day and a protein drink 3 times a day. I ate around 800 calories yesterday and 900 the day before that. Before that it is 600 and then down in the 300 range because I was on fluids post-op. Would it really be bad to have a piece or two of pizza? I need more calories anyway. I am afraid if I start to eat something I shouldn't then all will be lost and I will start to eat like crap all the time. What should I do? I can't be good forever. I have done good until today. HELP!!!

I am so sorry. I don't understand why he couldn't remove half of it. I think he would be worried about soft calorie syndrom. I would suggest starting in the moring with warm liquids. I've heard that can help loosen things up. If things continue like they are I would call him again. I don't understand docs that don't listen to their patients. Hang in there. You can pull through this.

That's right and great job on getting back on track. We are hear to listen even when you just need to confess. None of us are perfect. Keep posting!!! group hug:grouphug: