teresah24

hey all...well, I had a month of setbacks and gained a pound. It feels terrible but I don't know what I could have done to prevent it. Doc says this will happen sometime in the first year...this was my time. I am also experiencing trouble with by blood pressure. Am having trouble swelling (feet, legs fingers) so on a new diuretic. Doc thinks I am holding a few pounds of fluid. Cannot work out until my bp goes back down closer to normal (was 140/100 last week). Otherwise still loving the Band...50 pounds in 6 months is still great for me...still have 50 to go, but I can see this last 50 will be much slower to come off. Hope to be back in the gym soon!! :drool: Teresa

Hey all...just had my 5 month post op and I am down 46 pounds now!! Actually ran on the treadmill this morning (on and off for 10 minutes). Feel really good...still cannot eat bread but it is all well worth that!!! Good to see everyone is doing well. I do not have to go back to the doc till August 4th unless I have problems.

Great work ladies!! I posted earlier about my set back in April and May...just got cleared to go back to the gym June 1st. I was down 39 pounds on May12th. Go back June 9th. At my last post op visit last week from my most recent surgery (vascular port replacement surgery on May 6th- same doc that did my Band) I was down 44 pounds. I am hoping to be CLOSE to 50 pounds by the 9th as alot of this weight is fluid retention from the surgeries and the working out again should help. We are well on our way ladies!! Keep us all posted!!:wub:

MELLY GIRL!!! That's great!! I had a small setback in the past 6 weeks...had to have my vascular port (not related to the lap band) replaced on 4/30 and also had "female trouble" in April and had my uterous removed also the first week of May so...I have been on a no-exercise restriction since 4/9. I had only gained 1 pound back at my first bariatric checkup since my latest two surgeries, and doc said I was still retaining alot of post surgical fluid so I've been watching my weight closely at home. Also had 1cc added to the band. Per my home scales, I have lost almost 47 pounds now...we will see "officially" when I go back for my next bariatric visit in June. Per them I was at 39 pounds with the 1 pound gain. Am cleared to start walking and gradually work my exercise up from there on June 1st. Hope everyone else is doing good as well!! We have all kinda slacked off on posting...love ya'll and look forward to hearing from everyone. This is still the BEST thing I have ever done.

ME TOO!! I was banded Jan. 15th and went back for my 12 weks check up and wwas in "One-derland" for the first time in about 10 years as well!! Congrats to you and good luck as you continue your journey. Teresa

Good day all! It has also been a while since my last post. Glad to read that everyone is doing so well!! I went for my 3 month check up (well, it was about a week early) on April 9th...I had no idea how I was doing weight-loss-wise since I have stopped weighing myself so often...to my SHOCK AND AMAZEMENT I had lost another 11.2 pound since the beginning of March. Grand total of 38.6 pounds lost since 1/15. I am down from a size 20 pants/dress size and 2x top to size 14-16 pants (14 in slacks, and 16 in jeans for some reason...) and large tops!! I shocked the doc when I came strolling in...he just said, "WOW, you are looking great!" I am so short (4'11') that this weight loss has really made me look different fast. Still going to our hospitals Wellness Center to work out, take Body Vive class and lift weights 3 -4 times a week...and walk as much as I can. Still have 40 more to go...did no get an adjustment this time...will likely get a small fill in May. The doc does not want me losing more than 2 pounds a week... :wub: But I am LOVING THIS BAND!!!

I too am doing well. I am down from 230 at my highest weight pre-op too somewhere in the 192-195 range. I won't update my ticker until I go back for my next check up on 4/9 so the weight is "official". The weight loss has definately slowed down though but I figured it would. I am working out at the gym 3-4 times a week and taking 2 dance aerobic classes a week as well which for me is so awesome!! I have dropped from a size 20 to a 14-16 so I know its working. I also have stopped weighing so often. I don't want to get discouraged. I still can't tolerate bread but just about everything else is going down well in moderation. Still no chips and sweets but I admit to having some fried chicken strips a few times and I have eaten a few french fries twice but maybe 1/4 of a serving. :tt1: But my doc says that is ok to do occasionally and in moderation. Look forward to hearing from everyone!!

Got my fill last Thursday and it was like pulling the brakes on a runaway semi. I CANNOT eat bread...at all in any form. Anything rough gets "hung" but eventually goes down. I got 2.5cc in a 10cc band. Everything I eat goes down very slowly. Think I have lost another pound or two...my home scales are pretty accurate but they weigh me 6 pounds lighter than the nice one in the Bariatric office. I lke my weight at home better:blush:. I am keeping a food diary because I was getting too few calories and not enough Calcium. Sample day of my menu: breakfast: 1-2 small eggs boiled or scrambled in Pam or a yogurt lunch: 1/2 cup Healthy Request Sirloin Burger soup with a serving of baked crackers. Sometimes a fruit cup or a pudding if still feel hungry. supper: the other half of whatever I had for lunch or tuna and crackers with a veggie of some kind. Have not found a veggie that I can't digest, even after the adjustment. I really need some help on the menus...lol...I like to eat but not much of a Bobby Flay... But don't regret the surgery for one second...even when I am choking down toast. Any good menu choices out there for a novice chef???

Just had my first fill today. Down another 4 pounds in the last 2 weeks. Got 2.5cc's put in this afternoon. Was not bad at all!! But I have already have gotten over that part since I have a Mediport in my chest and I get that flushed every 6 weeks. The stick was not any worse than a blood draw to me. Also got the clearance to work out as I feel like (was only allowed to walk on the treadmill or outside till today) so I did a 1 hour 15 minute Cardio-pump class and SURVIVED IT!! Hope everyone is doing well!!!!

Hey all...lost my password and didn't have time to mess with it till today. So far, doing great except a little tenderness still around the largest incision. Most everything else has worked itself out. Did get to start regular diet on the 12th. Havig trouble getting the caloric intake my dietician wants me to get (1000-1200 cal a day). I am hovering around 800-900 cal. a day. but my weight loss has dramatically slowed down the past week or so. Due to the Ice Storm Kentucky got a few weeks ago, my follow up appointment got bumped a week and a half. So I don't go for my fill (if needed) till the 26th of Feb. Only thing I have found so far that does not agree with me is white bread untoasted. Can eat "wrap" breading (like for a Mc'Ds Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap but that will not be a habit...my 16 year old brought it to me when he came home from baseball practice yesterday afternoon. Since he got a Big Mac he didn't want me to suffer, he said. He is a sweetie...). hope all are well!!!

Was banded in January 2009 at Murray Calloway County Hospital by Dr. Brian Swain. I have Bluegrass insurance. Copay of $1500 for sugery, and the other DOV are out of pocket. Doing great so far!! Go for first fill next week.

I am so jealous, Peanutband!! I tried to eat an open face grilled cheese Thursday night (one slice bread and a slice of lowfat cheese) and the bread stuck like glue. It was not toasted however...but I didn't want toasted bread (lol). I felt like it was all gonna "come back up" so I took a Phenergan (doc prescribed as post op med...never to throw up he said...) and it finally passed. And this is with no fill yet...scarey. Good luck to you!! You look like you are doing great!!!

good luck!!! let me know how it goes today. I get my fill on the 26th. I too felt swollen (still do some) at first but it is getting better. still feel bloated alot though...I guess it is normal?

hey. just started the regular food diet on Thursday at supper. Have been eating 2 boiled eggs and a 1/4 cup cottage cheese or a 1/2 cup of All Bran cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk for bkfast. Tuna salad or a serving of Oscar Meyer smoked turkey slices, 1/4 cup green beans or other lo cal veggie, a sf jello and a 90 calorie serving of baked cracker crisps (12) for lunch, and something similar to lunch for supper. That makes me FULL. Anyhow, I am having a hard time getting ENOUGH calories. Never thought I would say that!! I am supposed to eat 1000-1200 calories a day, but so far yesterday was the only day I was over 1000 calories, and I had to snack on 12 baked crackes and a glass of skim milk a few hours after supper to get there!! Anyone else have that problem? If so, how did you tweak the diet to get enough caloric intake w/out overeating?? I am not hungry between meals. I was losing really good every week and now it has slowed to a crawl...help please!!! SOS!

no, I go back for next visit on the 26th...that will be 6 weeks so that will be the time I guess!!

I didn't have steri strips...I had surgical glue and some internal stitching.

hey mellygirl. I live in Murray in Calloway County (about 45 minutes southeast of Paducah). We got absolutely hammered by the ice last Tuesday. There is still a big portion of our county and the surrounding counties that do not have power yet...they are saying it could be up to 30 days for some of them...) My follow up was scheduled for last Thursday but Murray still had spotty power, pretty much no landline phones working and NO cell service for AT&T (which is my carrier-no landline phone anymore) and my surgeon was closed...he is in Murray at the Murray Calloway County Hospital. WOW...that slow on I-65...that has to be a record or something...lol. I know I always feel like I am on Star Trek in "Warp Factor 9" when I exit at Etown to head to Louisville!! Keep in touch felllow Blugrass sista!!

The post op visit was good. Met with the dietitian and went over what I was eating and any problems I was having. So far none with specific foods but I am really trying hard to keep on the diet. I too am on soft foods till I meet again on the 26th. Met with my doc and he checked my incisions and we talked about stuff like the tenderness/pressure in my abdomen (he assured me that was totally normal due to the slowing down of the digestive tract and the decrease in fiberous foods in my current diet) and he added Miralax for my constipation (which is totally normal as well due to the same things I mentioned above). I am adding more Benefiber to my day. I use the drink powder sticks but they only have 3 grams fiber per packet...and will be getting the Fiber One drink mix sticks at WalMart tomorrow as they have 10 grams of fiber per packet. I too am struggling for things on the soft diet to make it more interesting. I went out to a Thai resturant at lunch and got soft egg noodles and tofu (not a tofu fan) and some type of brothy soup. The portion was WAY too big so I had a small bowl of it for supper. Probably not the best idea, but it tasted good and it ws soft and I really really tried to monitor the portion I ate. As for the adjustment/fill, I will get one on the 26th if needed. Hang in there!!! I know it gets better...but then harder at the same time when you go to regular foods...and battle those old overeat demons...feel free to share with me anytime!!

we are very very cold here...like 17 degrees before wind chill...but we did not get snow here today. They got it near Louisville...I am in far western Ky in the federal disaster area from the ice storm. I fared alot better than some. Some here are still w/out power in this cold! thanks so much for asking!!

hey hey!! How is everyone? Haven't been able to post in awhile. I live in Ky and was in the middle of the huge ice storm and just got my power back on after almost a week off due to all the storm damage...anyhow was banded 1/15...went back to work yesterday and go to the doc in about an hour for my post op visit and my first official weigh in. Per my home scales I have lost close to 28 pounds since 12/19 but we shall see what the expensive scales say...on the soft diet now and besides learing to deal with the gas and the slight tenderness still in my mid abdomen everything else has been great!!!

Mellygirl, I am in Ky too...my power went off in the night Tuesday and just got my power back on Saturday night around 10pm. Still have LOTS of debris to clean up and lots around me still have no power. Anyhow, I am a 1/15/09 bandster too. Go back for my post op visit with the doc this afternoon. I was supposed to go last Thursday but since the ice storm hit, everything in my town still had no electric. So big first "official" weigh in this afternoon at 3pm. I know per my home scales I have lost around 30# total since the preop diet and me cutting out the Mcd's trips started 12/19/08. I am not having any real big troubles...still battling the gas pains and the (sorry) constipation but it is getting better each day. And i am still a little tender around my mid abdomen, and I am on the SOFT diet right now till 2/12. THEN I will probably get an adjustment. I do not regret one second of my choice to have the surgery!!! Teresa

sounds like a great recipe!! will need all the recipes I can get...been an unhealthy eater a long time...

Thanks. It is that kind of gas that seems to be trapped between shoulder blades...I just keep the Gas X strips close by. It has gotten alot better since this morning. walking around helped. And I was reding about the different post op diets. strange isnt it? seems like the doctors would be much the same. I was on clear liquids with a few exceptions for 9 days prior to band. then clear liquid only for the next two days. tomorrow I can add cream soups, milk, yogert and sf pudding for 3 days, then pureed for a week. then soft diet till 4 weeks pass. then slowly start adding regular food. I have not been hungry at all roday. just very thirsty. Still feels 100% worth it to be banded now!

had my banding yesterday at 9am. slept alot yesterday. feel pretty good today. of course, the belly is a little sore. pretty gassy. otherwise it was not a bad experience at all. looking forward to cream soup and milk tomorrow. good luck to those with upcoming surgery.