Kareen022

Howdy! Well I am up here in Dallas. I just had my surgery on December 18th. I was soo nervous too. I had had many operations before in the past too, but it was usually taking something out not putting something in. So I was very nervous myself. A couple of thigns really helped me the day before! I tried to stay busy and talk about how I felt with the people I was close to. Cheesy! But it works. And I have to say--The number one thing that helped me was to go shopping and look at the hott stuff I would be able to fit into when I would lose my weight. It's really not that bad. I was in pain, but it has been total worth it. I know you'll do great! Tomorrow when your nervous--take a stuffed animal like I did hahaha! (What my Grandmother gave it to me, because she couldn't come). Keep me updated!!! -Kareen, Texas (the best state ever)

Well Howdy Sue! I am finding that being banded so far is painful. I am still really tender, still having gas, and just not doing well it. However, I love the weight loss and I am slowly getting better. I am very excited to see my results!!! I get my first fill on January 14,th. Which stinks for me, because I won't get to eat real food until January 20th and seeing as I am still on the liquid that means from December 18 until January 20th I am on mushy liquid food haha. Oh well! How about you? How has your band been for you?

Oh wow, good luck with that. My insurance was a mess trying to get them to cover it. Just keep calling and bugging them. That's what I did...it seemed to help push things along. It seems like you deal with so many different people and places that you aren't always sure who to talk to. You'll get there, just try your hardest to be a little more patcient. And like I said just keep bugging the heck outta them. Good Luck!!! --Kareen, Texas

Howdy Matthew! Here is what Lap-Band does. It's a tiny band that is placed around your stomach in order to create what they call a "pouch". You can only eat 4-6 oz of food at a time or else it will make you sick. There are also food restrictions. However, doest prevent you from getting hungry most of the time too. When the band is placed on your stomach they also put a port in your side. About once a month you go in for what they call a "fil"l. This is a simple shot of saline that is injected into the band around your pouch to make it tighter again. As you loose weight the band slips or loosens, making your pouch bigger and allowing more food intake, which is why you have to get a fill. When you have reached your goal weight, as long as you maintain within 5 lbs, they let your band become bigger so you can eat "normally" again. You still have eat healthy and learn your portion control. However, this band is only a tool to help you achieve your success. You, yourself have to realize that this band is not an easy way out. It is a life style change in your eating habbitts. I am 20 years old and just had lap band 1 week and 4 days ago. It's a tough process, but very worth it!!!!! -Kareen, Texas

Well mommy's alway know best don't u think!!!

Why thank you! :party: I am excited to be here.

Howdy! I am 20 years old and I just got banded two weeks ago and I have also been getting a little bit hungry. The reason for this is she is not eating her Protein shakes!!!! She should be eating 2-3 a day. If she is eating all three, then there is no way she is really hungry. She is probably having an emotional withdrawl from food. You can also contact her doctor to inform them of the problem too and they can tighten her band. However, I noticed you said you had made her runny mashed potatoes. I know you're trying to help--but don't do that. lol It can really hurt her. The reason the doctors want you on liquids for a week to two is so that everything inside of you can heal. It is imperative that you do not feed her the mushy foods yet. Here are some delicous foods that she can have on this liquid phase. She can have 3 of the following per day in addition to her protein drinks: -Fat Free pudding (Like the Jello premade cups) -Sugar Free Jello (Its so good) -Sugar Free popcicles -Apple sauce -Light yogurt (I recommend Weight Watchers, it cannot have fruit peices in it) -Baby food (I like banana) -And broth Also if she is having a hard time drinking her protien like I was I have a delicous receipe called Christmas in a Cup! It counts a meal replacment. Here are the instructions: (Only Consume after 1 Week after Surger) CHRISTMAS IN A CUP 2 Cus nonfat dry milk 1/2 cup palin coffee creamer (If you can't find powder you can use 1 tsp per drink) 1/2 cup Splenda 1/3 cup General Foods International Vanilla Creme sugar free drink mix 3 Tbsp Sugar free white chocolate instant pudding mix 1 1/2 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice 1 tsp ground cinnamon Sift all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. To make an indvidual serving: Add about 3 tbs to 8 oz of steamy skim or 1% milk. You warm up 5 oz of milk in a pan, and then add the mix and enjoy! I hope that helps and tell your daughter to hang in there, because she'll be even more gorgeous and healthier when she's done!!! Good luck! --Kareen, TX

I have some great advice for you. I am a daughter myself so I understand. The most important thing is to hear her out. Here are some points that might help her understand. -It's only a tool to help me be succesful in the long run -It is not like gasteric, its less intrusive -It's safe, reversable, and I can eat normally when I am done -I rather have a surgery and be down for a week, so that I can be healthy than be overweight and have years of my life taken off because of it I hope things go well and good luck. Just remember though, even if your daughter doesn't support you--you know what's right for you and you need to do whats right for you.

Howdy! Well I am 20 years old and was about 130lbs over weight before I got banded two weeks ago. I highly recommend Lap Band. At such a young age it is easier to adjust to this life change. The band is really a tool to help someone learn how to eat, what to eat, and be overall more healthy. It is very safe, it's removable, and best of all it stays in for life. So it will always be able to help her. I hope that helped, if you have any more questiosn feel free to shoot me an e-mail: kk0194@yahoo.com Oh and one more thing I saw--whoever said that the DR won't do lap band if you're 16 is wrong. My Doctor performs surgery on patcients as young as 17. So there is hope for her and all doctors will do it at the age of 18. So don't let that be a determining factor. Good Luck! -Kareen, TX

TELL HER YES MOM!!! I am 20 years old and I just got banded 2 weeks ago. The surgery was hard on me, but totally worth it. I am up on my feet and have lost 27 lbs since December 3! I know how hard it is to be overweight at our age. But lap band is such a postive life change that when you do it at twenty is the right tool to teach you to eat right the rest of your life. Tell her not to be scared mom! Here is my e-mail feel free to have her send me a message if she wants to talk or has questions. kk0194@yahoo.com And you're doing the right thing by at least talking about it. --Kareen, TX

Well Howdy from Texas! I know you're scared. I just got banded about 2 weeks ago. I was in a lot of pain at first, but now I am doing amazing! I love it and it will be worth it my friend. Now I saw you asked someone else about down time and liquids and all that. Everybody reacts differntly to pain. Some people were back to work in 3 days. I expereinced a little more pain and it took me about a week to really be able to do things on my own. But either way--I would gladly trade a week of my life to recovery than die years before I should. The Post-Op diet depends on your doctor. Typically there are 3 stages. Stage 1-Liquids (This can last for a week or 2..my doctor wants me to do it for 2) The reason for this is so that everything can heal before the pouch fills up with solid like food. Some foods I eat on this are: -My protien shakes (Adkins brand) -Applesauce -Fat Free, sugar free pudding -Baby food (banana is my favorite) -Sugar Free Popcicles -Light Yougurt with no fruit chunks (I suggest the Weight Watcher Brand) -broth Stage 2-Mushy foods (This also can last for a week or 2. My doctor also recommended this for 2 weeks for me. I haven't started this phase yet, but I do Thursday). Some foods I can eat are: -Creamy Soups -oatmeal or grits -Mashpotatoes and gravy -quiche (no crust) -Soft scrambled eggs Stage 3-Solids (Not to that stage yet :crying:--but its obvious what it is) I hope that answered some of your questions! Good luck!!! I know you'll do great!!! :frown: Feel free to message me if you have any more questions. --Kareen

Hey Darling... I am a college kid and I just had lap band about 2 weeks ago. I was scared to death too. In fact I started crying when the took me back. haha- But don't be scared, I am not going to lie though. Personally I was in a lot of pain after the surgery and really needed help from the people around me. But about five days later I felt really good. So the surgery is worth it, no questions asked. As far as making changes--that is important. What you have to realize is this isn't another diet. This is a long term life style change. You need to exercise and learn how to eat. Exercising is a lot more fun though when youare thinner. Just keep in mind when you are done losing your weight they do loosen the band and you can eat normally. So you can potentially eat anything you want again someday, but next time it will be about self control. However, if you start gaining weight, because you revert back to old habbits, then they will tighten it again. The most important part of this journey is having a strong support system. I suggest that you attend support group meetings in your area, talk to you family and friends about what you're going through, and also talk to people on this webiste!!! You'll feel wonderful when its said and done! You will look and feel like the happy person we all have hidden under all our fat! :frown: So keep it up and good luck girl--you'll do great! --Kareen, TX