KSWAN

:welcomeB: Hi Yoda I am 2 weeks post op and still have the tape on my wounds. I did not need any other type of dressings due to this. However, a friend who had this done said their tape fell off after about a week and they used the butterfly bandages (you can find at any drug store). Good Luck to you and congrats on your decision! :clap2: :cheer2:

Congratulations on your weight loss!! :cheer2: I am 12 days post op and could not take the hunger. I stayed on strict liquids for 10 days and lost 12 pounds. During this time I was also so Very Tired :notagree . However, I then had to EAT :hungry: . I had a very small bowl of small curd cottage cheese with ketchup (all mashed up), pudding, and liquefied mashed potatoes (not all at once of course) over the last 2 days . This made me feel much better, but also gained 2 pounds . I am also walking about 1 1/2 miles a day and thinking this will offset the weight gain from eating. I so hope I am not endangering my band but needed something more than broth. I only have 50 more pounds to lose and I am sure this will take me longer to do, but I am So glad I chose the band as my weight lose tool. :confused: If anyone wants to comment on this choice please do so, as all advise to this newbie is greatly appreciated! :D Keep up the Great work all... :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: p.s. Oh yea...almost forgot (or didn't want to confess, I also had a chocolate bunny... but will try not to let that happen again....)

:confused: Thank you all for sharing your experience as I am just 12 days post op and have yet to try semi solid or solid foods. I have read horror stories of the innocent sounding BP (most horrible, wish you could die experience I have ever heard of) :faint: . Made me VERY scared :help: :help: to even attempt solid food :hungry: . I will be sure to heed all of your advise.... Keep up the good work, anything worth achieving must be worked for :clap2: :whip: :clap2: :whip: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

Hi, Can anyone tell me if it is Normal for my stomach to be so large I look pregnant? Someone actually ASKED me today if I was! It is mostly between the top of my pants to under the breasts and I am 6 days post op. I do not feel any pain other than the gas that I am walking on treadmill for but feel so LARGE. Any comments would be appreciated...ty Karen Swan

Thank you all for your comments! I do feel a little better, but am now 12 days post op and sill swollen. To answer another question, yes, I also can feel my port. It sometimes even rises to a small mound (seems this area swells as well at times, at least for me....). Can not wait till the swelling goes down. Feels horrible to have top portion of stomach look so large....(although this is really only problem I have post op, so should be grateful~~~Attempting to stop whining~~~lol)

Thank you for your answers. I also can not believe how "Full" it feels. I was beginning to wonder if the whole thing was some kind of hemorrhoid. I will sure be looking forward to having this diminish !

Dylansmom, thank you so much for this posting. I am 6 days post op and just trying to figure out what to eat each day. This is a tremendous help !

I have a closet FULL of 5/6. Even when I was getting to be size 8, I bought things in a 6 to wear as soon as I lost those 5 pounds (HA). So many of my clothes even have tags! I know that sounds crazy and I probably am a little, deffinately was in denial when I finally hit 192 at 5'7" it was time to make a change. So, I would be SO happy to get into my skinny jeans of 5 years ago. (Who am I kidding, when I get to a 6 I am getting all new jeans...lol)

Hi Mandy, Do not beat yourself up over this. I also had 2 regular hersheys chocolate bars yesterday. But, I walked longer on treadmill and as I am only 6 days post op. I needed this fix. I have lost 9 pounds now and did not gain any back due to this. It is hard going from eating to just slurping broth....Get back on the wagon and you will actually fell better for cheating, I know I do....

No problem Angie :-) However, new myself, I do not have a lot of answers...lol However, My husband knew I was looking into this last year at this time and had made the decision Not to have it done as feeling it was trivial to have this procedure done when all I need to lose is 40-50 pounds. Well, 1 year later and not a pound lighter, I jumped and chose this as the tool to use for the rest of my life. I LOVE the fact that I do not have to diet again (at least this is what I am hoping). My friend had this done 2 years ago and could not help but to lose, no hunger, no intake of food. As far as doing procedure in the States, no Dr would touch me due to BMI of 30 with good health. Dr Zapata did my surgery in Mexico and I honestly do not think I could have found a better surgeon in the States.....Hope all this helps and you have to make sure that this is Your decision....God bless

Thank you Jack !

Well, this is my first posting. I was banded Thursday 4/6/06 after a year of researching. I am now a BMI of 29 (was 31 last week). I am very glad of the questions and answers on this site as I am sure I will have many and at least now I know where to go to find the answer. First question, as I am in 1 week post op, can I have sugar free fudgesicle or will this cause enlargement as well. Is this really a liquid if eaten prpewrly? I have hung tight to broth and jello and apple juice, but was getting sick of that and needed a little something. Also, should I still have shoulder pain? I am taking tylenol but about every 6 hours it comes back. Nothing too bad just alarming. I am also walking treadmill at lowest .09 (lol) speed about 4 times a day for 5-10 minutes. I appreciate any and all answers, this was a scary but positive step for me. Godd luck and God Bless all of you....

Actually fudgesicles are fine. My next qustion is...I had a terrible bout with gas just now. Today was the first time I used gas X (wondering now if it does the Opposite!). Also, as many here I am sure know, Sugar Free items cause GAS, why am I instructed to use sugar free jello,sugar free pudding, etc.....? I really think this has a Major impact on my gas as well.

Well, as Funny as it is....I am 5 days post op and will NEVER eat real food again. You have officially scared the crap out of me !! BUT, I do have to say two of my friends were banded before me and when I at the FINAL deciding moment (Like my plane leaves tomorrow AM) asked them ,"Is there anything, anything at all that I should know about that would make me want to Not do this ?" and they did tell me of a little burping (kind of like throwing up, but food never reached stomach so non of that nasty acid). Well I am sure neither one of them have experienced this kind of torture or Christian as I am, I will have to break the commandment and KILL them! and darn I really did want some real food, was even looking forward to it.......Gosh I hope tht never happens to you again, but you sure can tell a story!

Hi There, I am actually 5 days post op and went to work today. I was banded 3/6/2006 and had pain for the first 2 days, nothing major but I have never had surgery and am a baby (lol). I do get tired more quickly but then I sit and take a rest. I am rather active as well, on a bowling league and am team mom/coach for daughters softball. I did have a low MBI, 30 do not know if that makes a difference. I am on liquids only, no shakes....I am sure you will be fine in a few days!

Hi Liz, Go to the website shedthepounds.com, it is a bariatric center in Largo and I called them, they do fills for patients who have had lapband done elsewhere. The first is 550.00 with floro and if they deem it safe to do fill without floro after that it is 200.00. I am 6 days post op and that is where I am going in 6 weeks. They were recommended by Ready For A change who is good information/referal site...Hope this helps and if you choose to use them let me know.... Karen

That is Very scary and told quit funny....sorry. I have not had a PB yet am only 6 days post op and am sure I will definately Not be laughing when I get initiated. Thank you for the warning, I am going to be afraid to even attempt real food again!

Angie, I was just banded on 4/6/06. I am 39 years old; was 192 lbs at band date; and am 5'7". I also have 2 children, quiting smoking; and do not have the will power to remain on a diet. I considered lap band for over a year. Cardiovascular as well as diabetes run in my family. I finally decided this is the "tool" I want to use. Most (well all) of my friends and family thought I was crazy as they only said you are not that big, you do not need that, etc...(in a nice way, but sometimes you just don't want an opinion unless it is to support your opinion...lol). Well, a size 14-16 when my closet is full of 5's and I weighed 125lbs 16 years ago is too much for me no matter what anyone else thinks. Had I weighed about 10-20 pounds less, I would have chosen liposuction but this was the best decision for me. I am healing fine, just a few pains under the ribcage and 5 days out of surgery. I have already lost 6 pounds and 2 of my friends in the States have had this surgery done. There insurance paid for it as would have mine had I gained another 40 pounds. However, that was not an option. So, off to Mexico I went. I also know of the unhappiness about your weight. No matter how many times others tell me I am not that big, to me I am huge and this brings about a lack of confidence. I am a very happy and comical person but the weight is one thing I am VERY unhappy about. This was my decision and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Good luck to you and keep me posted on whether you do decide to do this. But please remember it is YOUR decision that matters not anyone elses unless it is God's of course....God Bless

Well, this is my first posting. I was banded Thursday 4/6/06 after a year of researching. I am now a BMI of 29 (was 31 last week). I am very glad of the questions and answers on this site as I am sure I will have many and at least now I know where to go to find the answer. First question, as I am in 1 week post op, can I have sugar free fudgesicle or will this cause enlargement as well. Is this really a liquid if eaten prpewrly? I have hung tight to broth and jello and apple juice, but was getting sick of that and needed a little something. Also, should I still have shoulder pain? I am taking tylenol but about every 6 hours it comes back. Nothing too bad just alarming. I am also walking treadmill at lowest .09 (lol) speed about 4 times a day for 5-10 minutes. I appreciate any and all answers, this was a scary but positive step for me. Godd luck and God Bless all of you....

Thank you for your advice. I am sure this will go away and is not enough to make me scream with pain. I can take it, just want to make sure it will eventually leave. I do walk around and eat some broth then i usually feel better. Today is my first day that I have not yet taken any tylenol and it is already 4:00 PM.

Hi, there are no ignorant questions. Broth is chicken broth, beef broth. I purchase mine in the soup section. Boullion is the same, just not as tasty in my opinion.

Hi. I am new to board and was banded 4/6/06. I am on liquids and I have what feels like a lump under my right ribcage. I know the right side feels that way due to it being the port side, however, why do I feel this way on the left? It feels like when you are pregnant and baby is large and moves under your ribcage. This is a bearable inconvience, I just want to make sure this is normal? And if so, will it go away? Other than that, God has blessed me and I have had no major complications. Thank you to anyone who can help me out with this.... Karen Swan I have lost 4 pounds, that is a positive point. BMI now 29...only 50 more to go...lol

I will be buying these tummy tucking thongs as soon as I recoup enough to go to store (banded 4/6/06). I will be sure to tell all how they feel/fit. Thank you for letting me know where I can get these. I also HATE panty lines!

Sugar, I completely agree with you. I was just banded last Thursday, am a low BMI of 30 but for me this is high. I do not care what others say of my choice, it is my choice and if I need a tool to get back to my size 15 years ago, so be it. This is a tool and I will use it as such. I will not deprive myself of an occasional treat, but i can say my treat will be much smaller than it was before. I will not go off my post op diet as I did this for me. I wish you luck and God Bless, you have a GREAT atitude!

Well, this is my first posting. I was banded Thursday 4/6/06 after a year of researching. I am now a BMI of 29 (was 31 last week). I am very glad of the questions and answers on this site as I am sure I will have many and at least now I know where to go to find the answer. First question, as I am in 1 week post op, can I have sugar free fudgesicle or will this cause enlargement as well. Is this really a liquid if eaten prpewrly? I have hung tight to broth and jello and apple juice, but was getting sick of that and needed a little something. Also, should I still have shoulder pain? I am taking tylenol but about every 6 hours it comes back. Nothing too bad just alarming. I am also walking treadmill at lowest .09 (lol) speed about 4 times a day for 5-10 minutes. I appreciate any and all answers, this was a scary but positive step for me. Godd luck and God Bless all of you....