TexasFire

Hello ANNIE...you can get a ticker from many places, but the two most common are Graphical Tickers for your Signature, Message Boards, Blogs and Web Page and Ticker Central - The ULTIMATE resource for pregnancy, birthday, TTC, wedding, anniversary, christmas and more tickers to start. There are many options in putting your ticker together, so GO WILD, GIRLFRIEND! LOL :clap2: Stef

Very good! I'm so curious if we will actually feel it tighten around our stomachs? I sort of relate it to being afraid of heights and addicted to bungie jumping of all sorts. I know its not near the same, except that if we DO feel it, that has got to feel weird! I guess I like weird! (That explains my wonderful, goofy husband! LOL) Happy Saturday to all!

I was banded on the 8th, so surely someone else will be the June Guinea Pig before me! LOL Mine is July 2nd...who's going for a fill before that? Someone posted a calendar with all our names on it for our band dates, but I can't recall who? I would love to see that again if it is updated! That's quite a task, though, with all of us! Have a fantastic weekend everybody!

Good luck tomorrow, LadyHR! Isn't Dr. Marsden great? I assume you are in the HEB area? I'm guessing your screen name is your profession? I was in HR/Operations for many years, too! Send me a message when you are on next to let me know how things went!

For me, I was only down a couple of days. Then I was out and about again doing whatever I wanted. Initially I hurt, so I wanted to stay in and down. Then when I started moving around, I realized it is true...get moving! If you get moving right away, you should feel better sooner. It has been two weeks since I was banded, and I'm going like crazy now! I still have pain in my side from where they stitch the port to the muscle, but the doc says that will get better, then worse at about 4 weeks, then should be completely gone in six weeks. So I will deal with it till then! I'm just so happy I did it, a little pain is expected and WORTH IT! Good luck tomorrow! You will be naturally nervous, but it will literally be over and they will be kicking you out before you know it! You will do fine...keep coming here to check in, ask questions, and answer them for the others that come behind you. See you on the losing side, Stef

Well I went to my surgery follow-up appointment today, and everything is wonderful! The doc took my bandages off (thank goodness), and my incisions look great! He said the weight is coming off well and I made my first fill appointment for July 2nd. YIPPEE! When I had my surgery, I didn't get pictures like everyone else did, so I was going to ask him about it, but he beat me to it. He had them for me...very interesting to look at a picture of your actual band on your own actual stomach! He also took a picture of my liver "because it was just so pretty". He's a goof! I really like him. But that was good news that my liver looked so good that he was impressed! LOL I don't know where I will put these pictures...they don't exactly go in the family album! But I want to do something with them...something appropriate will come to me. I hope all are doing well today! If you haven't hugged someone and told them you love them yet today, you still have time! You'll make their day! (Or they will wonder what you are up to! LOL) Take care all, Stef

Yes, it is amazing how different docs give widely different advice and instructions. Mine told me I can take any medicines I need to...even my horse-pill size glucosamine! He said I do not have to take liquid medicines becuase the stomach is still the same stomach, just smaller. So it would take a little longer to dissolve, but would dissolve just as if I weren't banded. He also said that 90% or better of all his patients have no problem with carbonation. I don't drink sodas at all, so it didn't mean a whole lot to me until he said that included beer! YUM! I love to have a beer with dinner sometimes, so this was wonderful news! He said, in fact, that the world's leading gastric surgeon (name escapes me now, will get it if anyone is interested in this next statement) from Australia is about to or has just published a study showing that patients who regularly had a glass of wine or beer actually lost more and faster! Something to think about, huh? And if you like beer, you should try Michelob Ultra. It is much better for you and it tastes great!

Oh, thank you, Jackie! Because they don't look like they will be falling off very soon. Oh...I hope, I hope, I hope...

Thank y'all for the kind words and advice. I am too stubborn and independent for my own good a lot of times, but I usually find that if I want something done right and when I want it, that I usually have to do it myself! My mom gets sooooo upset with me over this, but it's just how I'm wired. It bothers me that I cannot physically do what I want and need to do at this point. I will do better, though. I will take it easier. I guess that means I can't haul a load of kitchen countertops today, huh? LOL I hope everyone is having a good week so far and losing well. Does anyone know what is "typical" as far as weight loss stages? I'm losing like crazy right now and if it were to continue at this pace, I would be at goal in two months, so that can't be right. It would be so nice if that would happen, though! I have my follow-up with my doctor Thursday and I will ask him then. We are all pretty much in the same time frame and none of us may know yet! HAPPY TUESDAY, EVERYBODY! IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD DAY! Stef

Here's question for ya... I shower every day, wash my incisions with soap and water without letting the shower spray hit them directly...but my steristrips look dirty and disgusting! I know it's because the blood they soaked up earlier, but I just wish they would come off already! I can't stand to look at them! Can you buy this tape at the pharmacy and can we change them out at least? I am a clean freak and they really gross me out.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: Bad, bad, bad day... I really overdid it today. I having been hurting so badly all afternoon and evening. I flip houses for a living, and I guess I just wasn't ready to be loading and hauling all those building materials this soon after my surgery. It wasn't really heavy stuff...light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, and miscellaneous "stuff". It was the four ceiling fans that did me in. I was a gonner for the day. I knew better, and asked for help at Lowe's...but after I pulled my car up and no one was in sight to help, I loaded the entire flat cart into my truck myself. DUMB! I hate asking for help, though, so I surely wasn't going to ask twice. (I'm a little stubborn, ya think?) I hope I am better in the morning. I was doing so good about not taking my pain meds, too.

That is a good guideline, thank you. I guess, since it was my first real meal, that I should have gone slower and paid better attention to what my band actually thought about that guideline! LOL I am so jealous! Your doctor allowed you to go swimming? I specifically asked about that because I'm in the pool every day possible, and my doc said no for two weeks after surgery! You lucky dog! Your incisions must be closed with something different than mine and I should have thought to ask about options. Oh well, it's been rain, rain, rain here anyhow! Good luck to all new bandsters this week! You will do GREAT and we will see you on the LOSING side! Stef

I was feeling more than a little hungry in the evenings. I added fruit to my evening shake. Costco has frozen organic blueberries, strawberries, mixed berries, and a tropical mix. I'm sure you can find them in most stores, though. They are great to add to the protein shakes and give you something more for your tummy to hold onto that is okay for you at that stage. Don't be nervous about the next stage. Just take it slow...chew, chew, chew...and above all else, wait in between bites to learn how to recognize when your band is talking to you and telling you when you are full! I learned that the hard way tonight, and it is not fun to overdo it! If you are really concerned about your port, call your doctor. I think if you had done something to it, that you would feel it for sure. If I strain to much even picking up my 4 pound pomeranian to put him on the couch, I definitely feel it! Good luck to you! Stef

You all are right. Surely a slip up like this can't undo what we and our doctors have put in place. All the comments below make good, logical sense and I feel 1000% better now.:amen: Now if only my gut would ease up! LOL Lesson learned! Good night, all...and have a fantastic week! Stef

Okay, today's posts are so appropriate for me. I am on mushies since Friday, and having zero problems eating anything. I'm sticking mostly to canned chicken with a little mayo, colby jack cheese, fish, tuna and my protein shakes. I've lost 13 pounds in nine days and very pleased with that, of course. However, tonight my family went to Texas Land & Cattle for Father's Day. I ordered grilled trout with garlic mashed potatoes. I'm not ready for salad yet, so I ordered chicken tortilla soup. I ate approximately half of everything...maybe a little less than that. This was the first regular meal I've had. It's been over four hours and I am still miserable full. I don't tend to worry about very much, if anything, but this has me a little concerned. I know WHAT I can eat, but have no clue HOW MUCH. I thought I stopped in time, but obviously I did not. Now I read about rupturing stitches without even feeling it, slippage...and I'm a little worried. I wish there was a way to KNOW! I'm pretty sure everything is okay, but not knowing is bugging me. I'm hoping to feel better very soon. I sure will slow down more and pay very close attention to my band from now on!

Good morning, everyone! Happy Sunday and Happy Fathers Day! Make it a good one! I wish everyone a blessed week and a LOSING week! Stef

Years and years ago, a picture was taken of me sitting cross legged on my mom's front porch with a litter of adorable calico kittens. What my mom and sister remember is that in that picture, I was wearing a bandana as a belt! (Not to mention the little white tank top with no bra! LOL) I don't think I can get a bandana around my thigh right now, much less my waist! I want to be able to wear a bandana as a belt if I want to!

I thought I would start a thread to ask for suggestions. This may not be the "Exercise Forum", but this forum gets more activity, so I cheated! LOL I want to load up my Ipod with songs that are fast, upbeat, happy...for when I start excercising. What are your favorite songs for exercising (sp)? I want to get lost in the music and just GO! Thanks, folks! Stef

I found the perfect search and got a HUGE return when I used my Limewire account. I will post the list this evening. It's a pretty long list! (Some of the one's listed here already are on it, too.)

Yes...a pound is a pound is a pound. True. But the saying refers to (as you basically said) a volume comparison. In that respect, muscle most definitely weighs more than fat. And we want our bodies to have less volume, right? LOL I know I do! :biggrin1:

I was just coming on to make a post about not being sure about "where I'm at", too. I was banded the day after you. I'm fighting terrible "head hunger" and sometimes real hunger. Bouillion helps, I've got a FANTASTIC protien drink (I'm incredibly picky, too), and the Protein helps. I'm drinking plenty of liquids like Water, but mostly Crystal light. I have ZERO restriction that I can tell, which makes me feel that I could eat anything safely. Of course, I know better and I'm behaving...but I cannot wait to scramble an egg on Friday morning! This is starting to bug me! I know I'm not helping a lot, but maybe it helps a little to know that this is probably just the "what the heck am I doing" phase. I bet we just need to figure our bands out. I HOPE! Veterans...what say you?:help:

I am so sorry that everyone can't shout this wonderful news from the rooftops! My family, friends, neighbors, AND the neighbors dog (LOL) all know, whether they wanted to or not! Not everyone agreed with the concept, to be sure, but most of that is through lack of education and I just don't even entertain their objections. My decision is an indiputable fact that I will not debate with anyone! BUT! I'm as stubborn as THREE mules, so in this instance it came in handy! I think every single one of you who are banded, getting banded, or thinking about getting banded are very brave...and in most all cases it is not a vain, selfish act at all, but a tool to create better health and better quality of life. And if your quality of life is better, it will spill into the lives of those around you such as your spouses and children, extended family and friends. The band is a wonderful thing and ALL BANDSTERS *ROCK* !!!!:rockon: Congrats to all and no matter if only you or the whole world knows, you are wonderful folks!!!

Oh boy! What a day! I had surgery last Friday, and decided I would go back to work today. I survived, but it was not the brightest of decisions! My day involved a lot of driving and a lot of walking. By the time I got to my sixth stop, I was in so much pain from the gas, I thought I was dying! Stop me in my tracks...steal the breath out of my chest...PAIN! I know the activity only served to help make the gas go away faster, but I couldn't take it any more, so I cut my day short.:faint:So I came home, took a healthy dose of pain meds and took the best nap ever! LOL:notagree I'm glad I did it...getting out and about...and I'd do it again. I will just make sure I am closer to home when I need to bail out! And I got on my scale tonight and my body fat is down 1.8% and 8 pounds are gone since last week! I know a lot may be water or something, but I'll take it! Good night, y'all and take care, Stef

Congrats, Annie! I was banded last Friday! I look forward to seeing you on The Losing Side! We have quite a large groupe of June Bandsters here for you! Take good care, Stef

I've been all through my paperwork and can't find any directions as to when the bandages can be removed. I have white pads 1.5" by 2" covered with clear plastic. I'd love to remove them, but unsure because I had surgery only two days ago. When did y'all remove your bandages?