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I concur with joe. My surgeon says no drinking 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. If I had to wait 2 hours after I ate, I think I would go bonkers.

Congratualtions on your banding. I wish you much continuted success.

Thanks to a pre-op suggestion from the nurse at my doctors office I brought a hand held massager to the hospital with me. I also had my husband and son run the big electric massager over my back once I got home. I was banded Dec10th and very few gas pains. I would imagine the combination of all my walking and the massagers helped to get rid of it. That plus I drank probiotic liquid to get the beneficial bacteria back into my intestinal track after the surgery. Hope you are feeling your best really soon.

I couldn't figure out how to edit my previous post, so I am posting a followup. Here is a picture of the outfit I am offering. Yours for shipping cost! It is a size 24WP. Never been worn as I am 6'0" tall. Definitely a nice church outfit. I sound like I am trying to sell something but I am just trying to find it a new home where it will be loved... and appreciated ....and passed on after it has been shrunk out of! Please Please... it is so lonely in a closet full of tall clothing... it seems so sad. Won't you please help this lovely machine washable outfit out?

I was given a brand new 2piece outfit top and skirt by my neighbors daughter. More suited for a dressy situation. I also have some black crepe-type material pants that would go with the top from the 2 piece outfit. If you are interested I can snap a picture and send it to you. I really should have posted these before Christmas but just noticed them in my closet. I someone works in an office where they dress up it might be acceptable for that. Fran

Wonderful Ann! Great NSVs. That sure is a great feeling to have people make positive comments.

Bubbles! Those are awesome NSVs. Thanks so much for sharing. You are a few weeks ahead of me so I have so much to look forward to. I truly appreciate your inspiration. Fran

Wow -- thanks! My first fill is scheduled for next week. I read your directions to my husband. He doesn't think it will be a problem, so I guess I can go ahead and cancel my fill appointment. Just wondering, since I live by the beach, what do you think about a margarita fill?

My surgeon recommended 2 Flintstone chewables. One in the AM one in the PM.

Pete, Susan, and FWWAB, Hurray!!! Thanks for posting. I hope others will join in and post. I find so much strength in reading about others successes. I hope others do to. Each of you posted something I wasn't aware of in myself, enableing me to say, hey me too! I made Cookies for my son the other day and didn't have one! (NSV! Bypassing junk food) I am moving about and doing things I haven't done in several years because my foot pain from achilles tendonitis and plantars faciitis is gone (Hey another NSV!) Blood Pressure is a huge one, Pete! I have to check mine I haven't in a few weeks. Though I am not on BP Meds, I know that I had elevated BP in the weeks leading up to the surgery. Great going all of us! and this only gets better! Yippee!

There is light... lots of light. I feel your pain. I was banded December 10th, so a month ago I was just where you are. Starving! Hang in there. Drink some Special K Protein Water if you are allowed. Drinking protein will help with the hunger pangs. Stay hydrated. That also helps with the hunger pangs. As far as what to eat after surgery, I would definitely follow what you have been told by the surgeons office. I am on mushies now. For lunch I today I had tuna salad, pulverized in the mini-food chopper. Full liquids can include ---cooked refined cereals; farina, grits, oatmeal, cream of rice, cream of wheat, soy milk, sugar-free custard, sugar-freepudding. I would DEFINITELY check with your doctor. Best of luck during your journey. Fran

What a delightful read! I happened upon your blog and was pulled in. I am 4 weeks out from banding. Just yesterday I also experienced that magical "I can't believe it fits" moment with a favorite shirt I haven't worn in since 2002. From reading about you on your home page you mention you are tall, like myself. If your lovely clothes are going to be needing a good temporary home, where they will be apprecaited and loved, perhaps you would consider mine? I saw you live in Florida but you didn't mention where. If you are located on the Emerald Coast perhaps I could do a new portrait of you in exchange? Continued success on your road to health. -Fran

I was banded December 10th and figured this out. The IV antibiotics I was given in the hospital killed not only the bad bacteria in my intestines, but also the good ones. Thus I exprienced lots of monster sounds in my belly. Since I was on clear and Water consistancy liquids, I went searching for something with some active cultures that I could have. I found "Good Belly" which is a juice with active cultures, in the yogurt department of the grocery store. Within a day all those monsters were gone and my bowels were settled. I spoke to the doctor about drinking it and he gave his blessings. He also said unsweetened Kifer would have worked, though at the time I didn't want to do that because Kifer is thicker than water. Just a tidbit, hope it helps someone. Best of luck in your upcoming surgeries. Fran

You probably feel great because you did so much walking. Good for you. I was banded Dec 10th. I don't recall having a solid bowel movement for at least 5 days. You know solid in, solid out. As I recall, and someone with more experience may correct me on this, I think the small amount of food you take in will reduce the size of your stools. Hope that helps.

I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes. My 7 year old son and I went for a 30 minute bike ride again. We did some hills today. Son came home and took a 3 hour nap. When my husband asked our son, "Did Mommy kick your butt on the bike?,", he replied "No I kicked Mommy's" :thumbup:

Congrats on your date! I wish you much success. I do agree with previous poster, the Myoplex shakes are good but my budget likes the powder that I mix myself better. That said, I use the EAS whey Protein sold at Sams Club. It comes in the the normal vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Im not wild about the Strawberry but the Chocolate and Vanilla are quite tasty to me. I mix it with Unsweetened Soymilk and a few ice cubes in my Vitamixer. Comes out nice and creamy. Recently I found some sugar free syrups in the coffee isle at the supermarket. The Kaluah is a wonderful change! After doing Protein Shakes for a few weeks I certainly needed a change. I also mix the Protein Powder in sugar-free pudding. Thats yummy! Best wishes! Fran

Great idea, Erica! I went back to the Y today for the first time in over a year! My husband and I are on the board of directors for the YMCA in our town, and it is dang pitiful I haven't been there in over a year, except for board meetings. Though in my defense I have been nursing achilles tendonitis and plantars fasciitis for over a year and have been trying to stay off my feet becuase they hurt so much. Miracles of miracles with my 23 pound weight loss my feet problems have subsided quite a bit, though my right tendon is hurting today. Anyway, back to matters at hand..... I walked on the treadmill for 35 minutes. Plus, my DS and I went for a 25 minute bike ride.

I don't know why but I never seem to get started on the new year until the first Monday in January. So... today is a new year! Yea! No New Year's resolutions for me. Everyday I am going to have a new day resolution. I am going to try to improve everyday. Some days I might hit the mark, other days I might. Today I weighed 269.6 on the tanita scale. Fat percentage 51.6 What I ate today --- Protein Shake with sugar free kaluah syrup! protein water 1 bottle water with unsweet cranberry juice 20 oz 1 oz mixed nuts (cashew and almonds) I worked out today... did the treadmill for 35 minutes.

I don't know why but I never seem to get started on the new year until the first Monday in January. So... today is a new year! Yea! No New Year's resolutions for me. Everyday I am going to have a new day resolution. I am going to try to improve everyday. Some days I might hit the mark, other days I might. Today I weighed 269.6 on the tanita scale. Fat percentage 51.6 What I ate today --- Protein Shake with sugar free kaluah syrup! protein water 1 bottle water with unsweet cranberry juice 20 oz 1 oz mixed nuts (cashew and almonds) I worked out today... did the treadmill for 35 minutes.

If you can get away with it, just tell them you are shorter than you are or if the doctor measures you at the office, don't stand up straight.

Megan, I can honestly say, I was scared as well. I had a C/Section in 2001 and I still remember the pain involved with that. I was banded December 10th and can't actually say I have had much pain at all. Looking back I would have to say, If I knew now what I knew then I would have had no fear at all. The best thing you can do to have a successful surgery and recovery, is listen to and follow all of the surgeons instructions and after surgery walk as soon and as much as possible. Best wishes for a good surgery experience and outcome.

I am covered by Anthem BC/BS through a dedicated unit of a large multi-state grocery store chain. I was covered for my Lapband and the great thing (though I didn't know this until after I had done it) is I wasn't require a six month trial. Make sure when you talk to the BC/BS rep you ask if the six month trial is required. Good luck

So easy particularly if you have photoshop. Create a new blank image. Open the images you want to combine to the new image. duplicate the layers from the original images (the ones you are combining) into the new blank image. You may need to transform each image in the newly create image so they fit. (Ctrl + T). Don't forget to hold down the shift key when resizing so you retain the image size ratios. BTW -- congrats on the weight loss and the changes you are seeing. Fran

Hi Peach, I was banded Dec 10th. So I haven't very much to offer as experience but it is my understanding, that at this point it is entirely possible to have no restriction. My surgeon told me that success at this point is mostly due to willpower because there is nothing in the band until they do the first fill at six weeks. He also said it may take several fills to feel restriction. Do your best to eat healthy and follow your surgeons recommendations, including the exercise. I hope the new year brings the sucess we are all seeking! Fran