MayBell

Hey everyone. Boy, this is such a journey, isn't it? I am anxious about getting my fill next Wednesday and keep counting down the days. I've been exercising quite a bit and joined an Anytime Fitness which is brand new in our little town. I really like it so far. I also joined my mom, dad & husband. I haven't lost any weight in the last week, and I'm trying to eat healthy and do what I'm supposed to be doing. It's a little aggravating. But I'm glad I got the band, because at least I know next week things should change, and if I wouldn't have got the band, I'd still be struggling along and getting frustrated and probably going back to what I was doing before! I can hardly believe I haven't had a cola since a week before the surgery. I don't even want one! Hope everyone has a great day!

Wow, 27 pounds is great, cherbear. I've only lost like 13. I've been exercising like crazy. About the loose skin, I've heard that exercising can really help tone it up and keep it from becoming a big issue. I'm hoping this works. My aunt had by-pass surgery 3 years ago and has a really bad problem with excess skin. Unfortunately, she never exercises, so I don't know if that would have helped or not. My doctor said that out of the 1300 patients they've done the lapband on, only a couple have wanted to have surgery for excess skin. So, I'm hoping this is the case. I can't wait to get a fill on the 25th. I'm at such a standstill. I can eat bread, pasta, rice, oranges, broccoli (things they said to be careful of). I don't know what will happen once I have my fill though. Bread does bother me a little if I don't chew it up good and take too big of a bite. Getting ready to have a 4-day weekend, and I'm very excited! I hope everyone has a great weekend.

My goodness, Adamsmom! That would probably drive me to eat too. I can't imagine having to testify against anyone in court. But I'm glad to know you are, for that little boy's sake. When my mother married my father she made him promise to never whip any children they may have with a belt, because she had received that kind of treatment as a child. How awful. Hang in there, I'll be thinking of you.

Hey everyone. I just weighed myself this morning, and I've lost 3.7 lbs in the past week. I had actually gained a pound in the past 3 wks. So that puts me at 13.6 lbs. That really excites me. I've been exercising at the hospital. The exercise physiologist nearly kills me. Since I'm 33 years old, I have to get my heart rate up to 160. I got it up to 156 the other night. I have a bone spur on my achilles tendon, and it hurts to walk. But I made it. I haven't felt like I'm extremely hungry. I've wanted to eat just out of boredom or whatever. I don't know about you-all, but I don't feel like food is very satisfying right now. It's like whatever I eat, I'm disappointed with it after I eat it. Do any of you feel like that? Hope everyone has a great day!

Adamsmom: I'm so sorry to hear you're sick. I hope you're feeling better soon. I had bronchitis around Thanksgiving, and it's bad enough without just having surgery!! AmyMoe: I totally hear you on the mentally feeling hungry thing. I'm doing better with it though. I accidentally ate too much one night, and it was really awful. It was like I couldn't stop myself, because after not having much other than puddings, jello, protein shakes, etc. my mashed potatoes with cream of mushroom soup-flavored with beef broth from a roast--was so good, I ate too much of it. I nearly got sick, and I was quite miserable for a long time. So I've been trying to make sure I eat much less. My husband will also say, "I think you better wait a while before eating any more." At first I was a bit annoyed at him for saying that, but I know he's just trying to help, and I swallowed my pride and thanked him for saying that. I can't physically feel my band on the outside, but I can definitely tell it's there otherwise. But I can feel my port under my skin. Mine is about 2 inches above my belly button. It still hurts when I bend over, but other than that I don't have much pain at all with any of my incisions. I've only lost 10.7 lbs. I've been staying about the same for about a week. I'm really ready to start losing more! I don't feel like I'm hardly eating anything at all--maybe that's the problem? Well, I'm going to be gone for several days. I'm going to something called "The Forum" in Cincinnati Ohio. It's supposed to help me improve my way of thinking, among other things. My husband went a while back, and he has changed a lot. So I hope everyone has a great weekend! Maybell

Hello everyone! I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since our surgeries. I am doing fairly well. I had 5 incisions. The only one that bothers me is my port. It is horizontal about 2 inches above my belly button, and it is driving me crazy. It itches all the time and hurts when I bend over, and underwear & pants rub on it. I can't stand most of my pants--I'm only comfortable when I can be at home in some loose pajamas. I went back to work last Thursday, so that's kind of been a problem. I've been eating pretty well. I've been having scrambled eggs, which I love. I made myself some potato leek soup out of my Cooking Light cookbook which was to die for. It's all gone now though. My doctor wants his patients to go to the Cardiac Rehab program at the hospital and learn how to exercise properly. So I've been doing that since last Monday. I think they're going to kill me. I've been walking on the treadmill and doing this arm bike thing for about a half an hour each. The goal is (because I'm only 32 years old) to get my heart rate up to like 160! Ugghh. I walked on the treadmill last night for 50 minutes at 3 mph and only got up to 135. My fat legs will not go any faster. My socks and shoes rubbed my feet so much it felt like I had carpet burn on my feet. And I have a heel spur on my left ankle, which gets flared up every time I even look at a treadmill. But I am determined to do what they're asking of me. They're a hospital, right? I've also been having a funny pain on my right side--where there aren't any incisions--under my ribcage when I'm walking for very long. I've had it when I walk around at work and when I walk the dogs at home. It hurts to breathe. I don't know what it is. I left a message at my doc's office 4 days ago and no one called me back. So I guess I'm not dying or anything... Today I get to start eating soft foods without being blended or mushed. I have to admit I've eaten a few things like this already--just some soft meat and rice. I've been fine with most of what I've eaten. I did eat too much one night though and was in terrible pain for hours. I didn't get sick. I almost did when I bent over once, but I didn't. Believe me, the pain was awful, so I will not be doing that again. I can tell when I'm full, and it was really stupid of me to keep eating that night, but my mom made some extremely delicious food, and I kept shoving it in! Why do we do that?? I feel really hungry at night and when I wake up. I can't have a fill til 6 wks after surgery. I was supposed to have my post-op tomorrow morning, but we're getting an ice/snow storm here, and I called and rescheduled it to next Wed. because I live an hour away from my doc, and I'm worried I won't be getting out tomorrow. I didn't get out today. I feel like I'm doing fairly well though, so I'm not too worried about it. Well, stay warm everyone. Happy two-week anniversary.:cursing: Maybell

Hello KyBandChick. I'm sure you'll do fine. I sent my husband to CVS to pick up my meds (he also dropped off my Rx for Celebrex), and they didn't fill it because insurance wouldn't cover it! I would have paid for it regardless, but my husband came back without it. So I have just gone without it. I'm really doing a lot better today. I think the group we're going with are great. St. Mary's staff was friendly, concerned, quick. I was really impressed. They all did an excellent job. And Debi (who's also had the surgery) in the bariatric office is wonderful. Have you tried any broth? I don't know if you can get any, but Watkins brand chicken broth is really good. I ordered some from a lady I work with, but I know Watkins has a Website, and people at fleamarkets sometimes sell it. It is really tasty. Or Debi said you can drain the noodles & chicken out of chicken noodle soup and drink that. With it being so cold out, it is hard not to drink warm stuff. I've also sipped on hot tea a lot with a tiny bit of sweet-n-low in it. My throat was very sore after the surgery, and I did have some mucus come up, but it is much better today. I've had two of those Campbell's Soup at Hand Creamy Chicken soups. I didn't drain anything out of it. I know you can't have that til 3rd day after surgery, but you might want to get some. It has really been great to get something different after a week and a half of the same old stuff. The day of surgery and the day after I drank hot tea, chicken broth, apple juice, tomato juice. The apple & tomato juice didn't really sit very well, but I had to have something besides broth and tea. I also had popsicles. I have now been putting honey in my hot tea, which is what I've always drank in it. I think it also helps soothe an irritated throat. Well, I'm kind of long-winded. Sorry. I know you'll do great. Keep us informed on how you're doing. Maybell:smile:

Hi everyone! Boy, I'm glad to have that ordeal done. I did the barium swallow before my surgery, and I'm glad they didn't make me do it after-it about made me sick before! They did do a chest x-ray to make sure the band was in place. You guys are fortunate to have been offered some good pain med afterwards. My doc sent me home with OTC Aleve. That doesn't really help the pain all that much, I don't think. I've been taking the gas-X strips 2 at a time every 4 hrs. It must really be helping. I haven't had really awful gas pain. I did after I got out of surgery and was waiting for my chest x-ray. As soon as I got to my room I had my husband get me 2 strips out of my bag, and it started helping immediately. I'm not allowed any Protein shakes until tomorrow. I've been on all clear liquids-pretty much broth, juice, and hot tea, and popsicles. I'll be glad when tomorrow gets here, and I can have something a little more substantial. My doc also found a hiatal hernia in the pre-ops so he fixed that too. I guess that's a good thing, but I'm sure it does cause more pain. I am really sore. Being in a sitting position is the only thing that doesn't hurt really bad. Hopefully in a few days, it'll be much better.:sneaky:

Well, tomorrow's our big day! I'm having my surgery at 7:30 AM EST. I've got to be at the hospital at 6 though (yuck). But I guess it's good to get it over with early. I'm ready to get on with it. My hubby is taking me. My doctor told me to bring the gas strips with me to the hospital. I'm also supposed to take 1 Tums a day and he had me get Pepcid. He's also supposed to give me a prescription for Phenergan. So I guess I'll be loaded up on stomach meds. I've already been taking the Pepcids before I go to bed, because the liquid diet's been hard on my stomach (reflux). I don't usually have a problem with this, but I have since I've been on the liquid diet, so I'm glad I'd already bought some for the surgery. I hope all goes well for everyone. I can't wait to get the actual surgery part over with!

You-all really inspire me. Here I'm thinking how am I going to get my 30-pound spoiled rotten dog up on the bed when I can't lift anything? It's funny, but that's one of the only things I've been extremely worried about. My doggie loves to sleep with her mommy and I like her there, but she's too short and fat to get up there herself, and I don't think she'd use a ramp. I guess she'll have to stay down for a while. I hope it doesn't hurt her feelings too much! I am a little worried about the pain and nausea. I get nauseated very easily, and the most painful thing I've ever had done was my wisdom teeth cut out (and that was horrible.) For some reason I'm not really very worried about being extremely hungry. I've just got it in my head that I'm ready to eat a whole lot less to look and feel a whole lot better. I'm really getting excited. It feels like the 13th will be the first day of a very wonderful thing, and I cannot wait! I hope all goes well for everyone.:thumbs_up: