Cindy C

How do you win? Can we vote? Good luck!

I lost 145 lbs. The girls went from DD to C. Which is fine with me. My back feels soooo much better!

You'll want some liquid Emetrol for nausea. It's cherry flavored. CVS has a generic. Liquid tylenol for pain is good to have in the house too. Your doctor will write you a script for liquid vicodin but its a bad idea to take it on an empty stomach and since you won't be eating... After a couple days of liquids you're going to have the worst tasting mouth you can imagine. Lemon flavor helps. Get some sugar free hard candy. I found that Minute Maid Light lemonade helps a lot. It comes in 12 packs with the Coke but its not carbonated and only 10 calories per can. Take your favorite pillow or two to the hospital. The ones at my hospital were like cardboard! You'll probably want comfortable (loose) pj's and robe, otherwise you'll be stuck wearing one of those horrible hospital gowns...2 if you don't want to moon anyone! LOL. Get some canned broth. The kind in the carton is best. That way you can just nuke as much as you want and reseal the container. Take something to the hospital to keep you occupied....book, lap top, magazines, knitting...whatever you like to do. That's all I can think of at the moment. Good luck to you. You're about to do the best thing you could do for yourself!

That's funny!!

Absolutely normal. The port was sewn onto a muscle. Until it heals, you're going to feel it. It gets better.

Thank-you. And I'm sure you will!

I found the gas pain to be the worst in my left shoulder blade. I went to the chiropractor every 2-3 days the first couple weeks and had him adjust my mid-back. It helped immensely! Good luck on your surgery.

I just discovered a new snack food. They're called "pop chips". They're potato chips but they aren't fried or baked. They use heat and pressure and they pop, kind of like popcorn. 120 calories per serving (23 chips). 4g of fat and 20 carbs. I eat them with salsa. Makes a great low cal nighttime snack.

I did the same thing Monday! I went to Tigers/Yankees game and ate about 2300 calories of ballpark garbage! But Tuesday I went back on track. Sometimes you just have to treat yourself. We all do it!

Babs, everything you're experiencing is perfectly normal. You should only be sipping an ounce or so at a time. I remember the gas pain. It was awful but necessary. They have to blow your body up with gas so they have room to work during surgery. Unfortunately, it takes several weeks for it to all dissipate. Walking and moving helps hurry it along but what I found really worked was the chiropractor. I went every 2-3 days for the first couple weeks and had him adjust my mid-back. Instant relief!!!! Good luck. I have a feeling that you will be successful!

My whole life, my periods were so regular I could set my watch to them! About a year after my lap band, it was practically non stop for almost 6 months. I discussed it with my primary and we decided to try endrometrial ablation. It's a very simple outpatient procedure where they burn the walls of the uterus. I don't know whether the problem was related to the weight loss or not. I was 49 but blood work showed I had NOT entered menopause. Within 2 weeks the bleeding completely stopped and I haven't had a period since (almost 2 years). Besides my lap band it was the best thing I ever did for myself, medically. I don't know how old you are or your plans for the future but this procedure also ends the possibility of pregnancy so it may not be right for you. As for the weakness and depression, that's not normal. Make sure you're getting your Vitamins and Protein and talk to your doctor about it. As the weight comes off, you will find your energy level going through the roof! Good luck.

Wait for your doctor to return. You'll be fine! You probably won't have much restriction after your first fill anyway.

You need to get more calories. 500 isn't enough. The body has a mind of its own and will hang on to every calorie because it thinks its being starved. You need to "confuse" it. Kick it up to about 1200 for a few days then come back down some. Keep exercising too, but mix it up. Do weights one day then cardio the next. Your body won't know what hit it and the weight will start to drop again. Good luck.

It's probably harmless but if it happens again I would tell him it makes you uncomfortable. If he keeps it up after that mention it to your HR department.

It's called "progressive burping" or "PBing". You ate too much or too fast or didn't chew well enough. You were just banded less than 3 weeks ago. You still have swelling from your surgery and should still be on liquids and soft foods until you're healed.

Rachel, everything is fine in moderation. You should be able to have a piece of your own child's birthday cake!

Thanks!

It's normal. Just take it easy til you heal.

That could do it too. I lost the first hundred really fast too and had the same problem. Congrats, BTW!

You both need more protein and a good multi vitamin.

It sounds like you don't even have restriction yet. I hate to tell you, but you're a long way from sweet spot. It's all trial and error. You'll be too tight, you'll be too loose but eventually you'll find the right amount. Everybody is different. My friend and I both have 10cc bands. I have 5.8 in mine and it's just about perfect. She has 6.2 and can eat anything. Just be patient and go to your appts every 4 weeks and you'll get there.

All the exercise in the world will NOT get rid of the skin! I was in the gym 5-6 days every week for almost 6 months in prep for my tummy tuck. He still removed a whopping 10 pounds of skin!

Don't go too nuts! You're down 3 sizes in 3 months and it's only May. I have as feeling that you'll be down a few more sizes by the end of the summer. Go to garage sales and salvation army type stores. I made the mistake of buying clothes every time I hit a new size. I have boxes and boxes of "fat clothes". Some of them I shrunk out of before I ever got a chance to wear them. I hit a plateau and figured I was as thin as I was gonna get so I loaded up on size 14's. Well all of a sudden I started losing again and am now a 12. Not going to shop anymore until I'm a 10!

Peter, you're pre-diabetic with high blood pressure. You need to do something about that. If you drop the weight and resolve the other medical issues you will add many years to your life expectancy. Once the weight starts coming off, you'll have so much energy you won't be able to help yourself from burning it off. Tell your wife that you understand her concerns and that you will follow through...then DO IT! It will benefit her as much as it will you!

If you really want to eat bread, get those thin, round, whole grain buns and toast them.