ReallySmrtGrl

Just went through a 6 day, um "dry" spell after my 2nd fill last week. Today was a hallelujah day after some help from a little pill I picked up at the pharmacy. Hello new life! The pounds shed are definately worth it. Usually there is no discomfort and typical BM's every 2-3 days. Good luck and happy pooping!

It's great your attitude about the situation is already changing. It's quite freeing to be able to "say yes to what is" (Eckart Tolle). You can't change what is, only your reaction to it. You can choose to suffer or not. Congrats on getting banded and starting this amazing weightloss journey. And also thanks for sharing it with the rest of us. You cracked me up too! Best of luck to you and your mom.

The band restricts air that would normally pass through easily, but now gets stuck and thus that feeling. Feels like you have burp but it kinda hurts because you can't. My doctor told me to try not talking as much, not ingesting so much. That wasn't so easy for me. Walking helps tremendously. A good hour walk is great for that, and helps your recovery too. Good luck and congrats on your band!

Surprisingly, baby Cereal is delicious. Who knew? I like Gerber Rice, Grain mix. It's a nice warm, creamy treat and quick to make. I also eat a lot of refried Beans w/ cheese, yogurt smooties and mashed potatoes. Ah, these are all sounding so good right now. Had my 2nd fill two days ago and can't eat mushies for a few more days.

Congrats on your loss. That is truly amazing. I'm surprised to hear you only had to be on liquids for one day, mushies for another. I just had my 2nd fill two days ago and my doc says with every fill I have to be on liquids for 1 week, mushies for another week before going to solids. With this 2nd fill I already can tell I have much more restriction. I'm hoping to find my sweet spot here and really loose. I'm down 25 lbs since my surgery on Jan 29, 2009, 2 1/2 months. I know I can be doing better.

I'm 1.5 weeks post op and have weird pains around my port area. I'm fairly certain it's not gas because it feels quite different. I want to assume it just healing. Sort of like when your stitches itch. The pain is a sharp, stinging sensation. I keep having to rub the area and look in the mirror to see if it's ok. All looks good - no extra swelling. Got my stitches out 3 days ago and had pains for last 2 days. Is this normal or should I call my doc?

I rode a chicken bus to my surgery! Seriously. I'm staying in Guatemala for a while and decided to take advantage of the affordable rates here. Felt very comfortable with the doctor who was highly trained in the US and the great accomodations at the private hostpital in Guatemala City. Ok, so here's the chicken bus part. We live in Antigua, about a 1hr bus ride to the city. We don't have a car so my awesome hubby & I hopped on a chicken bus at 5am, it was still dark and there was standing room only. But the conductor wouldn't let anyone stand so we squeezed in between people in the aisle as more and more people loaded on at each stop. The ride from Antigua to the city is over a windy mountain road and the drivers are CRAZY! You literally have to hold on to the rails going around the curves. People do the sign of the cross. I'm not kidding. Once we started up the hill the internal lights were turned off and all you could see were outlines of heads in the dark and the road fast approaching and curvy. I thought to myself "oh my goodness, this is the bus of death". But we made it just fine :redface: The surgery coordinators met us in the city and drove us in a car to the hospital. Surgery was on Jan 29. Came home the next day. Everything went just as planned, except I found out I'm allergic to penicillin. They had to give me a hepinephrin (spelling?) shot during surgery because of the reaction. All else was good. A bit more uncomfortable the 2nd day as to be expected. Scared to cough. Crushed pills taste horrible but making it through. Oh and by the way, we had a car service drive us back home from the hospital. I wasn't about to risk the chicken bus post-surgery. But what an adventure!

Glad to reead this thread. Good advice - the kind they don't tell you in the brochures! I'm getting banded Jan 29. Good luck all! I'm still curious as to how you really felt the first day or two after surgery. What kind of painkillers did they prescribe? How bad it the pain?

I'm having surgery on Jan 29. The surgery is just a moment in time, I'm sure I will be nervous for it closer to the time. But for now, I'm nervous about the after-life. The rest of my life living with the band. I am ready for it, BUT this is a change in a MAJOR way. I had a burger & fries for lunch today. Man was it good. I'm sure I won't miss it as much as I think, but geez this is major... the gravity of it is sometimes overwhelming. On the other hand, as they say "nothing tastes as good as thin feels". Good luck to you all!

I'm pre-op so can't advise on the technical aspects of your fills, hunger, etc. But I can say that 60 pounds in 3 months is amazing! Congrats and don't loose sight of the success you have already had. It has inspired me so thank you for sharing.

Hello! I'm new to the site and scheduled for lap band on Jan 29th in Guatemala. I live in LA but am visiting Central America for a while and here I disovered Angels Abroad, a Medical Tourism firm and boy were they ever angels. I never thought this type of surgery possible due to the cost, but in Guatemala its 1/2 the cost than it is in the US. My doctor is American board certified and trained in the US for several years. I am anxious for my new life to start and mentally preparing for it now as I just started this process 2 weeks ago and am already going under the knive in 2 weeks. I see for many it has taken months. I feel blessed to have this amazing opportunity. In reality my weight loss journey started over 20 years ago. I am saying goodbye to the old life, old ways and starting anew. In some ways I mourn the loss of the misery which provided deceptive comfort for so many years. I look forward to hearing your story and sharing with you. We may be just one in 300,000, but it's happening to me. And it's happening to you.

Thanks for the advice. I'm told they will hook me up with a doctor in the states for fills. I will be sure to inquire further about that and even get a name & call before surgery.

I'm going to Dr. Rodrigo Gonzalez. No pre-op diet so far. Not sure there will be one, but they will let me know next week. I read it varies for each surgeon.

Congrats! I'm in Guatemala (live in LA) scheduled for Lap Band on Jan 29th. I am living here for about 6 months, but found my doctor through AngelsAbroad.com. The price is 1/2 of what it is in the states. My doc is American Board cert and practiced in US for several years. I will keep you all posted post-op on care, etc. So far so good. Private hospital that seems nicer than many I've been to around Los Angeles.

Today is two weeks from my surgery date. This lap band journey started only two weeks ago, but my weight loss struggle (ok, journey) started over 20 years ago. There is a range of emotions and thoughts going through me now as I strive to mentally prepare myself for this major life change. The surgery is just a moment in time, an event like a wedding. You work and work and prepare and plan, but it's over before you know it. What's left is you and your new husband and the road ahead. Although you know others who are married, you never know what its really like, how challenging it really is until you have your first major fight or have to make a major adjustment to your routine or way of doing something you've always done in order to accomate your husbands' needs. I know my life is about to change in a major way. As I sat in the park last night eating a fried pupusa and drinking a chocolate rice drink, I think to myself that this won't be possible again after the surgery. It's bittersweet. Intellecutally I know it's the experience of being in the park with my husband that is the most important and not the food, but something inside also feels sad. I mourn for the loss of this life that has brought misery yet strange comfort so many times and celebrate what is to come.

Today is two weeks from my surgery date. This lap band journey started only two weeks ago, but my weight loss struggle (ok, journey) started over 20 years ago. There is a range of emotions and thoughts going through me now as I strive to mentally prepare myself for this major life change. The surgery is just a moment in time, an event like a wedding. You work and work and prepare and plan, but it's over before you know it. What's left is you and your new husband and the road ahead. Although you know others who are married, you never know what its really like, how challenging it really is until you have your first major fight or have to make a major adjustment to your routine or way of doing something you've always done in order to accomate your husbands' needs. I know my life is about to change in a major way. As I sat in the park last night eating a fried pupusa and drinking a chocolate rice drink, I think to myself that this won't be possible again after the surgery. It's bittersweet. Intellecutally I know it's the experience of being in the park with my husband that is the most important and not the food, but something inside also feels sad. I mourn for the loss of this life that has brought misery yet strange comfort so many times and celebrate what is to come.