jess-band4/06

I am seven weeks post op and have had one fill. I eat 1000 calories a day and track my eating. Most of the time the food I eat goes down pretty easily, but I stay with moist/soft foods. When something does not go down well I get pretty severe chest and back pain. Does anyone else feel this? It will often happen at dinner. Typically I eat the following: B:3/4 cup cottage cheese 1/4 to 1/2 cup Cereal sn 8 oz yogurt L Lean cuisine or ww meal--200 cal sugar free pudding or carrots and hummus-ff chips D protein/veg sn;cottage cheese or yougurt-fruit What do you all think?

I too was a devotee of the diet coke and diet pepsi products! I gave them up when I was banded on 4/10/06. I really thought I would miss the soda more than I do, but I am really addicted to Crystal Light---fruit punch, orange, Target brand strawberry lemonade is great too, Walmart fruit punch, and Arizona diet iced tea. I like the green tea and blueberry the best. I like the teas b/c they give me the caffeinne boost. Say no to the bubbles

Dear Jodi, You are an amazingly brave person! I felt like as I was reading your story, I was reading my own life story. I am 34 years old and have been on too many diets to even count losing and regaining each time. My first diet was in 1982-I was ten years old, it was called Lean Line a NJ type of Weight Watchers. I was banded on 4/10/06 and as of today I have lost 39.5 pounds. I am quite excited, but anxious too. I think we all have different relationships with food. I can eat happy, sad, nervous tired etc. I too have vivid memories of food. My father died of a massive heart attack when I was four years old. One memory that has stayed with me was that fruit/candy baskets came to my grandparents home and my thin cousin was given a candy bar and I was given an apple. UGH!!! My mother too is my rock. My husband has never battled his weight, so he is unable to really give me the support that I would like, but that is not his fault. I have two wonderful children . My ds is seven and has the precursors for weight problems and my dd is very thin. I hope to be a good role model and to have my ds spared a life of food fixation I think what you have done is amazing and if I can help you in any way to stay the course please email me. Jessica

I am asking for all of your help!:help: My DH, DS, and DD and I are going on our first family vacation since my 'banding'. Okay, my questions are...how do handel the many dining out options and I write down and count calories of what I eat each day-what's the consensus on doing that? What about doing it on vacation? I am very anxious:paranoid Thanks, Jessica

I have been walking four times a week for thirty minutes each time. I began strength trainig this week. 36 lbs lost since 4.10.06-----yeah!

I was banded on 4/10/06 and I felt port site pain for 2 to 3 weeks. Even now I know when the weather is going to change-I get some pain. Good Luck, Jessica

Welcome! I am sure everything will go very well. I too have two children. A boy and a girl ages seven and five. It is a difficult decison to make whether to have the surgery. I was banded on 4/10/06. I have been overweight my entire life. I was able to lose weight with Weight Watchers over the years, but after I had a total hysterectomy in April 2005 I kept gaining and gaining. Good Luck! Jess 35 down--------80 or more??? to go

First I need to thank all of you for sharing so much information. It has been incredibly helpful. :clap2: I was banded on 4/10/06 and had a 1cc fill on 5/23/06. Recently, I have not felt as much restriction as previously. I have lost 35lbs and I am thrilled, but I do not feel as full at some meals:hungry: as I do at others. Any ideas?:help: Thanks in advance, Jess

I called the Dr. today, just waiting for a call back.

Wow! You have done amazing! I was banded on 4/10/06. I have lost 35lbs...I want to lose 80+ I was banded at GW University Hospital in DC

I did not have an injection at home prior to surgery, but I am sure I had it at the hospital. Jess

In reading some of the posts, I see that some people have medical alert bracelets. I wanted to get some opnions on why or why not to have one that identifies that I have a band. What is the purpose and what do you have put on it? Thanks, Jess banded 4/10/06 lost 35-----45 to go:)

I told my husband and my Mom at first. My close friends and family all know now. I did not tell several people I know early on b/c I really did not want their opinion. Generally, most people have been supportive, but I have two family members that also battle their weight-one said "oh" when I said I was having it and the other said she was jealous of me. Someone from my synogogue said that I was bold to do it. She is very thin. I am having difficulty with someone I work with-she had RNY and keeps asking me how much I've lost. WLS is a personal decision-but I am willing to share my story. Jess 4/10/06 240/207/165

Is anyone from Calvert County? It's part of Southern MD?

I am a Southern MD too-Calvert County. Dr. Brody banded me on 4/10/06. I have lost 31 lbs. since pre-op diet 3/26/06. Hope you are doing well too. Jess:)

I am six weeks post op and if I do recollect correctly I did have a point when I did not want to eat--shockingly. I know that if I drink too much water I cannot eat. As far as being grumpy the liquid diet does get onld pretty quickly. For my self I did liquids for two weeks prior to surgery, so it felt like I was drinking shakes forever. As for the swallowing, I did not have that, but I did have a severe burning sensation for quite a while. Our brains all go to the negative pretty quickly, I still obsess about how much I eat and if I'll still lose weight. As far as calling the doctor, go with what you feel is necessary. jess:)

Hi Jules- I was banded on 4/10/06 and I too had a few pounds of post op weight gain 2-3 days after surgery. I attributed it to the many bags of iv's I had during surgery and until I went home. Do not fret-I lost that weight and am continuing to lose. Just rest and heal now, Jess

I was banded on 4/10/06. I have battled my weight my whole life-all 34 years and really never thought I'd have WLS until after at age 32 I had to have a complete hysterctomy. Fortunately, I already have children. It did though put my body into a tail spin and I began to eat too much. When I tried to diet w/ WW I found I could lose so very little that it felt like a lesson in futility. My GP mentioned RNY last June and I was offended. After a few more months and pounds I made the decsion to see a surgeon at GWU in Washington D.C. He gave me all of the information about RNY and AGB. I really went in feeling I wanted the RNY, but when he told me more about the AGB-banding I knew that it was something that would be good for me. The risks and recovery were much better. I was put on a two week liquid Protein pre-op diet. Which really was not that bad. I had done medifast in highschool, so I knew what to prepare myself for. I have lost 29 lbs---depending on the scale--time of day---since March 25th 2006. I had my first fill on Tuesday 5/23. It did not hurt at all. The surgeon did not want to put in all 1cc. since I had lost 6.5 lbs in three weeks-from my three week check up to my six. I said put it in--i know I have changed my behaviors, but let the band do it's job too. He put the full amount in. I am back on liquids/mushies. I was wondering those of you who are banded-do you count calories and journal your eating. I am writing it down and eating about 1,000 calories a day. I have been walking 4x per week for 30 minutes. Thanks for listening, Jessica 29 down---------goal is 80lbs! :grouphug: