Band_Groupie

:cursing: Alright Paxie...ONEDERLAND!!!

Sorry, I can't share my 'cake' Today is my six month Bandiversary! I can't believe it's been six months already! The six month diet pre-op seemed to take foreverrrrr (sorry newbies)...this past six months...OK, Bandster Hell was a little slow, but time just sped up after that. I wonder when I'll ever stop feeling like a newbie? I still learn something new here every week...the band journey is consistent in its inconsistency so there's always something new to learn. OK, you can have just a bite of this one (it's SF). Let's see, what's happened in six months with the band? I've: - Become an April 'Bunny' (and Hef still makes us weigh in weekly) - Had 4 fills and now have 5.9cc/10cc LB - Had to return to the hospital the week of banding; overnight on my 50th birthday (no problems) - Gone from a size 22 jean to a size 16 - Made it through Bandster Hell while starving (but still losing weight) - Had a few gain weeks - Lost 46 lbs. since banding (65 total) - Had a few plateaus - Gone from a 34.8 BMI (37.7 originally) to 27.2 and moved from an Obese to Overweight BMI - Paid my full insurance deductible - Moved into Onederland - Learned how to slime and PB like a pro - Reached weighing less than DH - Attended the Semi-Annual SWA (Scale Whores Anonymous) meeting - Made lots of LB friends - Reached my Sweet Spot - Developed Acid Reflux - Stopped 'Dieting' What's happened in six months in my life? I've Celebrated: - My 50th Birthday - Our 27th Anniversary - Our DD's College Graduation and her first (and second) 'real' job - Our DS1's HS Graduation and his move to college - My father's 80th Birthday and I've: - Seen my DD buy her first car and get her first speeding ticket - Visited my Alma-mater- OSU game- and watched them lose in the last minute - Watched DS1 get on another Honor Roll and in his second expensive fender bender - Been on vacation twice (SC and AZ) The LB is like life...there are ups and downs, highs and lows...it's a lifestyle...and I'm loving it! P.S. FYI-I posted what I found out about hair regrowth as a comment to that blog. Click HERE

I'm sure you know that you're both going through 'Bandster Hell' (got a band but no restriction yet, but lots of hunger). At this point it's all up to you whether you lose, maintain or gain weight (many do gain during this period). You'll get there with more fills. ...and kcweir- I don't know how she knew 'things would be very different now' because unless the fill is done under flouro she couldn't know the restriction level...we're all different and some need their bands almost full before they get restriction. If you remember the food and liquid gurgling through your band right after surgery (without the pain), well that's how I tell I have restriction. My doc makes us drink a glass of water right there after a fill and I can feel the water gurgling through the band. If things don't tighten up keep getting those fills. Patience...you'll get your tool helping you soon! -BG

Besides homemade broth SF popsicles were my savior....they even come in tropical flavors...gives you a crunch. I also used the K2O protein water mixes to add to all my water. You can do this! CONGRATULATIONS!! -BG

Glad to hear they all recovered just fine. It's always so scary for us moms when it's our kids that are sick. -BG

60 pounds is awesome WL!!! Some need there bands almost full...so you'll get there, we're all just different. Three weeks of vacation and three pounds (that you've already lost) is not bad at all. Going away from home is almost always a trigger for me...it's hard to be eating out a lot. Eating breakfast does seem to help me with the rest of the day and if I get at least 20g of protein in at breakfast then I'm not playing catch-up with the protein total for the day. Keep up the good work, and thanks for the shout-out, that was so sweet! -BG

YAY! A normal 16 is awesome! Sounds like the Sweet Spot to me, but I know it's a hard decision to make (not that we can't go back anytime for a fill). I'm sure DD was as proud of your new pants as you are! -BG

You'll feel a lot better a few days from now. Your body is just getting rid of all the gas they pumped into you to do the surgery. A heating pad helped me with the bloated feeling and walking helps the gas to migrate out of your body. The belching hurt because of the stitches on your stomach and the stoma is still swollen from the surgery. Belching itself in the future isn't a problem (I still belch a LOT), but you do need to keep a careful eye on the reflux which can lead to serious issues (It sounds like you've got a plan to treat that though). Best wishes! -BG

I love days like that...you deserve to pamper yourself! Great NSV on the jeans!!! -BG

Up and down a lot last night still, but I slept better late morning (didn't wake up until 10:30 wow) and now the fever is finally under control. I feel so much better. Thanks for all the 'get well cards'! Sorry for the whinefest...I just felt like a mess that day. Virus in my eye muscles...ewww! -BG

*Post Deleted for Lap Band Book

Just few more days GF! Get those FF refried beans lined up...some salsa and cheese ontop (I ate that more than anything in the mushies stage). Greek yogurt with SF preserves and healthy harvest applesauce flavors with a little nutmeg or cinnamon ontop... Now I'm just making your mouth drool, sorry. You're doing great!!! -BG PS Tickers don't show up automatically in blogs, just posts and threads

Julie Ann you look amazing! Love the new pic! You're always an inspiration and have such great and useful advice. Your blog has been invaluable to me. You look fantastic!!!! -BG

OK, I didn't realize you can't keep anything down but water!!! Guess that's what you meant by the title, sorry. You need to call your doc and get in now, not Thursday. No question that you are too tight and you can quickly get dehydrated. You don't want to find yourself not being able to swallow your own spit in the middle of the night...and that can happen quickly (your stoma will continue to swell as liquids have trouble getting through). Please call them today...sometimes even .1cc out can be enough to make a huge difference.

My doc says I should never be drinking meals/protein, if so, then I'm too tight. I too drink a cup or two of hot coffee and it loosens me right up.

Hearburn/Acid Reflux is the most common side effect of banding. It can have very serious repurcussions so you need to seek some treatment immediately. I just posted a blog here on LBT about what I found out, and no, I'm not too tight, but my reflux isn't to the point that I'd need an unfill (signs of needing an unfill are problems at night or getting tighter). Even I though started a treatment plan and I've had immediate relief. For more info, read the blog HERE

Agree with the above. If you haven't loosened up enough in a few days that you can eat the 1C of SOLID foods (or whatever amount your doc recommends), then you need a little unfill. You're past the Sweet Spot right now. My doc recommends 2 days of liquids and then ease back into mushies then solids...if you've gone back to solids too fast (the food you mentioned sounds like mushies though and if you are having a problem with mushies that's not good) it may just be some swelling of the stoma, but you should know in a day or two. Good luck ! -BG

Sorry, no leak here. I'm sure you realize this, but odds are this can't be a problem with two bands and if it's not where they could nick it with a fill then I'd wonder if it's the doc putting it in. Perhaps it's time for a second opinion before you go through this all again? So sorry for all your trouble, and best wishes! -BG

I couldn't agree more with the above. My doc offered both the Realize and both sizes of the Allergan LB-AP (APS or APL- he picks the size based on anatomy when he does the surgery). All of them are the new versions. It was my decision which brand I chose. He doesn't even carry the old styles from either manufacturer (at the time I started reasearching this it was spring of '08 and I'm not sure how long they'd been out, but they weren't brand new then). I would wonder about any doc that's still putting in older versions (I'm sure it's a $$ thing for him).

Just a brief update. As you know, the ancient laptop I've been using (used one we got for DD to use while she was in France since she has a desktop-now in her room) has been giving us fits all along. It has been in and out of 'computer rehab' for a year now and the latest intervention sent it to rehab for more psychotherapy about a month ago...there's a desktop in the basement, but I've been missing the convenience of the laptop. My family just called me downstairs (so I drug my bum out of bed). They'd gone out, bought me my very own new laptop, and set it all up for me (they wanted me to 'Give it a try!' so here I am)! DH said he'd found out Friday that the hard drive on the old one wasn't worth fixing this time (I hope the rehab facility gives it a nice memorial service). My first computer that's just mine (and they didn't even know it was my 6-mo. Bandiversary this week LOL)!!! My Family Rocks!:wink:

Just my experience...I thought I was chewing well...and I thought I was eating slowly enough. What I found out was that I wasn't doing either well enough. After every fill I have had to retrain myself on both of these things. Even chewing things to a pulp isn't good enough if you have too much in your mouth to begin with. I also didn't realize how much eating too fast can lead to being stuck. If you're having stuck problems and yet you say you're in 'bandster hell' then something is wrong. 'Bandster hell' means you DON'T have restriction yet and you certainly do have some. Just remember when you get that fill to really slow down and chew well. Like I said, I had to retrain myself with each fill. Sometimes it helps to add some sauce or alternate the items you're eating (ie. a bite of bread then a bite of veggie then a bite of chicken). Best wishes...you'll get that 'hungry button' turned off soon enough, just hang in there! -BG

I agree...it's as much a matter of choice as it is about fills. Read my blog (here on LBT) on reaching my sweet spot; Click HERE

Thanks, I'll have to give these a try. Their website nutrition facts aren't really good (under serving size it says 'varies'), but given the calories/protein you gave the chicken has 1070 mg of sodium/sv....yikes!!! But some of the other ones are half that.