lmnlineman

Well, the first week sucked, but I'm pretty much back to normal now. The only issue I am still having is some soreness at the port site, but nothing major. I'm still healing. I am enjoying the perks of being banded. Clothes that were too tight weeks ago, now fit and after 2 years of having fingers that were too fat to wear it, my engagement and wedding ring fit this morning!!!!!!! I may need a little lotion to get it off , but it feels so good to wear it. I just joined the forum today, but I've been looking around here for a couple of days and think this forum is great and informative. Best of luck to you all! -lmnlineman

I saw my surgeon last week and he said all is well and to begin eating normally over the weekend. I thought that was sounding good until I began eating again. I had lost weight pretty consistently in the beginning then gained and lost the same pound or two for a week. Today I weighed in and gained 3 pounds! I haven't had a fill and feel little to no restriction and understand that when you go from liquids only to mushies, to real food the odds are that your body will try to hang on to it and weight gain is likely. Maybe I was in denial about it all, but gosh, those 3 pounds are gnawing at me like crazy! I am not eating a lot and exercising, so I hoped I wouldn't gain but I did. I am looking forward to my first fill (which will be later than usual since doc will be on vacation. :thumbup:) Oh well, I just had to vent. It's just a frustrating day.

I have been on liquids since May 14 (including pre-op) and have handled the lack of food really well. Most days, I didn't even think about it. Today is a whole other story. I am crazy hungry for some sort of real food . It feels like I haven't had a meal in forever...kinda like I'm on "Survivor" or something. I am just really frustrated and needed to rant. I sure I'm not alone on this one.

I have Tricare as well and I was approved for being 100 lbs overweight and having a BMI over 40. Having comorbidities gives you a much better chance of getting approved. Are you going through a Military Treatment Facility? I had mine at NMC Portsmouth, VA 2 weeks ago. There was a woman that went in for bypass before I was banded, was no where near 100 lbs overweight or near a BMI of 40. I was shocked when she told me that was what she was there for since she didn't look like she weighed too much more than my goal weight. If she was approved, I am betting you have a pretty good chance at it. I just thought I'd share that with you. Plus, at the hospital I was banded at just started giving you the choice of Lap Band or Realize Band. I got the Realize. So far, so good. I wish you the best of luck!

There are so many pills and supplements that I have to take daily and the doc. said that they have to be crushed. Every morning I gag them down, but it is MISERABLE! Have any of you found a creative way to take your meds? Choking down gobs of nasty tasting, chalky stuff in the morning is not cool!

I was banded May 19 at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. I am finally getting back to my old self (minus a few pounds :party:) but am so sleepy all of the time. I'm guessing that this comes with the territory, but thought I'd check and see if any of you were feeling the same way. I just found this forum and love it! The information and support that is offered here is just great. Anyone else banded on the 19th? Nice to "meet" you all!

Oh, I feel your anxiety. My husband is military and found out days before my surgery that he was going to be out of town on surgery day and the 2 days after. I have 3 kids (age 10,8 & 6) and no family in town. I FREAKED! I had already put the surgery off once before and was determined not to have to do it again, so with some help of a couple of friends, I had surgery and everything was fine. Even with ideal situations, being nervous about surgery is perfectly normal. Try to focus on all of the positive life changes you are about to experience rather than the surgical fear. That really helped me. Best of luck to you!

It's funny that I clicked on this thread since I just came back from running to the bathroom. I was curious about the whole BM issue as well. Since starting liquids, I have had diarrhea, one day last week I had normal BMs and now it is diarrhea again:blink:. I am just going with the flow (sorry, bad pun) and waiting it all out. Whenever I leave the house, I have to map put all of the places I could stop to potty if the need arose before I reached my destination. Hopefully things will get more regular for us all soon.

Hi, Everyone! I have been looking around this forum for a few days and have been very encouraged and gotten a lot of information from the posts. So...I thought I'd join. I got the Realize Band on May 19, 2009 and am getting back to my usual self (minus a few pounds .) The first week was NO FUN! I am doing much better now and the only incision that bothers me is the one over the port. Just a little sore when I over do it, but nothing concerning. I am enjoying getting dressed and realizing my clothes are feeling big and ones that haven't fit comfortably in a long time now look great. I look forward to see where this journey leads me. Nice to "meet" you all! lmnlineman

My husband suggested putting the crushed pills into my protein drink in the blender. Oh, was I ever hesitant...just sounded nasty, but I tried it and it wasn't bad at all. I think I'll continue to do this until I can get the pills in chewable form (the ones that come in chewable form, anyway.) So, that's one problem solved. Now if I can just get rid of the exhaustion. Everything in time, I guess. I'm taking my 10 year old daughter to a concert this Friday, so I better get it together soon.:party: