EmsMommy

I am trudging along in bandster hell, waiting for my first fill. I feel the same as I did before surgery pretty much. Trying to watch my calories though, get my protein in, etc. I am frustrated but know there's a light at the end of a tunnel. I'm anxious to really start using this thing!

I think I came across that term too... in all of my pre-op reading and pouring over my laptop... Bandster Hell or Band Hell. Yeah.. that's where we all are. Pull up a chair and get comfy. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got my protein in today, and I'm proud of that. There, I said something positive! Baby steps.... :thumbup:

Okay thanks so much! I'm going to look into it!

Hi! I wanted to update that Dr. Kipnis now does surgery at Lady of Lourdes hospital and does not require the New Beginnings program for this. Best of luck to everyone!

This is SUCH a big help to me too!!! Thank you! And thanks to the original poster who asked these questions. My surgery was 10 days after you, and I feel in a very similar situation as you!!

May I join? This will be my first challenge here at LBT!! I am 3 weeks post-op and in desperate need of a fill but have to wait until August 13th. I need to go entirely on willpower and motivation, because I still feel hungry and like I did before surgery!!! UGH! I want to have a reason to check in on Mondays and watch the scale go down! :thumbup: __________________________________________ NAME........SURGERY...START....CURRENT....TO GO Blaze21..........255.........176..........176...........16 Hdsantoni.......252.........187..........185...........13 Wyomingirl......376.........283..........281...........13 Aivey.............270.........265..........262...........17 Enchanted......241.........187..........187...........17 Raelita...........331.........310..........310............15 Doramae........305.........257.5........254...........11.5 Jennybeck......252..........228..........224...........14 Bella..............242.........213..........213............14 Laurr925........285.........225..........225............15 EmsMommy....252.........242...........242............15

These are all GREAT and I agree completely with all of them! Here are a few of mine: ~NOT lift up my belly in the shower to clean it and not worry about having to put powder there before I get dressed so I don't get a rash... same goes with under the boobs, back fat and any other "roll" areas! SICK of that!!! ~NOT constantly having to adjust my bra because I have "overflow" somewhere.. either the back above or below or hanging out the front making those awful bumps, etc.... ~NOT wearing some old lady bathing suit "dress" in the pool ~NOT having my children come up to me and "jiggle" certain areas of my body and giggle. (they are little and don't realize it's not really appropriate to do) ~having my husband LOOK at me in "that way" again...

OnMyWay.... do you know of the support groups at the Virtua program are open to anyone? Or do you have to be enrolled in the New Beginnings program? thanks!

Well, add me to the list too. I'm 3 weeks post-op and experiencing this as well. I saw my surgeon last week, and he says he wants my band to stay empty right now, until it completely heals. My first fill will be on August 13th. It could have been the 6th, but we will be away that entire week!!!! Ahhhh!!!! So, I will trudge along myself and try to follow the rules as best I can. It was/is discouraging and depressing. Last night I went to my first support group though, and that helped a lot. I am going to make sure I check in here every night as well. It helps to know I'm not alone! Last night a nurse said.. you should count your calories and exercise. And I said.. well if I could do that and lose weight I wouldn't have gone through this whole thing!!!!! I was annoyed. lol... She is a toothpick too! grrrrr..... :bored::thumbup:

I also had some weird coughing after my surgery. I remember being worried because it hurt like crazy, and I was afraid I would do something to hurt it! It wasn't a real mucousy cough though... more of a dry cough/tickle in the throat. It went away after a few days. Good luck!

I agree! The fear is enough for me too! I'm glad you made it through your first fill! I'm a nervous wreck about that too but am anxious to really get started having restriction and using this band to help me learn! Good luck with your next few days. I wonder if you'll feel more restriction as you get back into your daily eating routine?

No, you are right. I shouldn't have had a "regular" dinner tonight. I am going to follow the rules the way I have been so far. I would hate to mess things up!!! Shakes and mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs and yogurts from now on!!! Thanks!

I'm so glad I decided to stop in here tonight. Reading all the posts makes me feel better. I hit my 2 week post-op yesterday, officially able to move on from liquids to mushies. Well, I feel pretty much fine and able to eat normal food. I know I shouldn't be, but I feel fine, so I figured why not? I chew really well, so I figure it's mushy/pureed. (lol...) Now tonight I tried some sushi and while I didn't eat as much as I used to, I still ate more than I should have, and I don't really feel uncomfortable. Sigh.... So this is what "bandster hell" is? I need to be really smart and sensible during this time, don't I? I know once I get a fill (or a few) things will be more like what I expected. Right? :thumbup:

I also am a patient of Dr. Kipnis' and went the Lady of Lourdes route. Everyone at the hospital was absolutely wonderful. I decided not to participate in the New Beginnings just due to timing. I still think it is an excellent program. I am two weeks post-op and feeling very well. I see Dr. Kipnis for my first followup this week.

testing out signature...

Thanks!!!! Congrats Lizandrk! Wonderful! My stomach is totally growling today... loud! I think my pouch is full and underneath (the rest of my stomach) is growling! Is that normal? lol....

My post-op rules are: First two weeks: Liquids Next two weeks: puree/mushy Week 5 and on: start soft foods I had a 7up on my tray in the hospital the night of my surgery! I heard the nurses saying something like he'll flip out if he finds that out, that shouldn't be on there! lol.... I didn't think so, but I was too out of it on the glorious dilaudid.... ha! I think after a week I will go ahead and try a yogurt or a pudding. I'm doing okay with my shakes right now. And yeah, tuna sure sounds good, or a banana! Reminds me of when I attempted the LA Weight Loss Diet and I had to eat steak and broccoli at 9am, 12noon, 3pm and 6pm. After a few days, I just wanted a yogurt and an apple!

Oh okay, that makes sense! I am drinking protein shakes, which are just like pudding that's thinner.. maybe I will try a yogurt after a week. Thanks!

So, I'm not having pudding and yogurt yet. Are those considered a liquid? I guess I could, but I'm not sure. I'm unclear about my guidelines. Liquids for 2 weeks, Puree/Mushy foods for 2 weeks. I thought yogurt and pudding was a puree/mushy? I am totally following the rules, so I don't want to do anything wrong! lol... But darn, I'd love a yogurt for dinner! :tongue2:

I have major issues with needles and pain, and I was so scared of that. But, I surprised even myself! No, it is not unbearable. I have had my appendix out, which was an open scar... THAT was horrendous pain afterwards. For this, I barely feel the 4 small scars around my belly. The one in the center is bigger, and yes that one hurts. It's an aching... I think moreso in the muscles. But it's not constant. When I get up out of bed or move the wrong way, yes it's a painful ache... but for the most part, it's tolerable! That is the worst pain for me. Yes, I've had some gas pains, more in the abdomen for me, not sure I've experienced the shoulder pain many talk about. But that's about it as far as pain goes. My body in general feels wiped out, but I think any surgery does that to you... takes a bit to get back to feeling like you. Good luck!

Hi everyone! New to the site, but trying to figure things out. Do you have room for one more? I was just banded on Monday (6/29) and doing okay so far. Some aching and pains when I move certain ways, but I think I'm starting to heal up and going easy on liquids right now. Just wanted to say hello!!

I agree! One thing my husband keeps saying is how proud he is of me and how it's the bravest thing ever. I never thought of it that way, and it's nice to hear!

Hang in there. I am only a few days post-op, but from what I've read and researched, the other posters are right, and you have to get to the spot where you are feeling restriction. I thought a few times today I had had too much liquids... so I also am going to be sure to measure my protein shakes and liquids tomorrow. I don't want to do anything to mess it up!