GracieBelle

I'm 7 yrs post op. (successful). My observation is if you are a sweets junkie & cant diet & leave them out, then the lapband wont help you cause you can still puree a mars bar/drink thick shakes etc. But if you can follow diets but weren't successful, the lapband will work cause the portion control is there for you. It's been a life saver for me. I ate regular size meals like anyone else, but was big and got bigger. I did like my carbs, but now I eat very little of them, and don't worry, you'll be so happy with the weight dropping off you, you wont miss anything! I still enjoy things I loved, but just small amounts and I savour it and that's enough for me. No more dieting! In fact, I'm having a scotch and diet coke and a couple of salt & vinegar chips atm. Your life isn't over with this surgery. It's just 10 times better, imo. All the best

I didn't know that Diana. Can't say I've had a problem with it. Perhaps I suck!! hehehe. Hey has anyone ever heard a gurgle about a second or two after they roll over in bed? It's bizarre.

LOL, I'd buy one. Except I'd have to put wine in it cause beer is to bubbly & gassy & doesn't go down. I think a lot of beer loving banders may have found it hard to drink. But it you can still have a little, then great! Cause a lot is a big contributer to the weight for sure. I still drink wine, scotch, brandy etc. with caffeine free diet coke. It's fairly flat once you open a big bottle so it's no problem for me. In your case, I think you'll find little problems with drinking at first. It's months down the road when you have the band tightened that you really notice restrictions & how much slower you need to be. Keeping Water in your vehicle & accessing it whenever you can is probably all you can do. You might find you need to pee a lot at night cause you haven't drunk enough during the day. Try drinks with electrolytes (suger free), they hydrate you faster. You'll be fine. You have time to work out what suits you and your lifestyle. All the best :biggrin:

Yeah, I've wondered why others say not to use a straw. Maybe because you can drink faster with one? Cup, straw, bottle whatever for me...as long as it's small sips. And flat softdrink is better, the bubbles make it harder for it to go down. Champagne is hard to. I can forget about eating for ages if I drink that. Your sweet spot? Do you mean as tight as is comfortable or where you're happy with your weight? My friend is happy at her size (Australian size 14 to 16, about 75kgs) and can still eat a baked potato with coleslaw, sour cream, cheese etc. She was never a skinny person, and doesn't want to be. She's very happy & can still eat relatively normal.

How would your water bottle get contaminated? I have a small 'bike riders' backpack with a bladder in it and a hose/straw that I fill with cold water and use when I bike ride or walk. Otherwise, you are going to have to just take every chance you have to drink. Start as soon as you wake up. Get as much into you before you eat something. You can live without food, but you wont last long without water. I'm sure you'll work something out. Good luck:thumbup:

Hi Teena. Sounds like you're well on the way to a new you. Well done & don't spend too much money on clothes, (you won't be wearing them for long before they're too big!) You go girl!

Day two I still had a head ache (anesthetics & me are not friends). But it turned out to be a caffeine withdrawal head ache! I only have one or two a day but I have espresso. In hospital, I didn't have the crap instant stuff, plus I didn't want to have to get up to pee too soon. But peeing is hard at first & takes time, so I recommend you drink some tea or coffee if you already do so, & it'll help you pee too. Don't take ibofuran - on an empty stomach it can make your stomach bleed. They will give you paracetamol or whatever you need. Good luck, you'll be fine.

Your water bottle needs to become your constant companion. Sip, sip, sip, all day. From the moment you wake up, until a few minutes before bed. (I can't lie down for about 2 or 3 mins after a sip of water). At work, in the car, shopping, everywhere. I used to skull 1 or 2 glasses of water at a time a few times a day. Not anymore. You must get into a habit that's right for you. If you feel 'yucky' for several minutes after about a quarter of a cup - your band is too tight. But you'd know this, because you wouldn't be able to keep any food down.

Gidday everyone. I'm new to the site but had my lapband 7 yrs ago. I wasn't really cyber savvy during those yrs of change & had a young baby and 5yr old, so was always busy. I've started a blog to talk/share/help/support others out there about my experiences with other surgeries after the weight was gone. Most of you probably don't want to cloud your head with those thoughts just yet, but some of you might. My aim is to encourage & support anyone out there with their weight struggles & just 'spread the love'. If I make 1 person smile or feel comforted, then I'll feel good about that. Everyone is beautiful & I still think I'm a big girl trapped in a thin body (ie; my feelings/attitude are the same, just the vessel has changed). Hope to chat to many of you really soon. See b4 & after pics of me on my blog: lapband-7yrslater.blogspot.com.au Peace

Wow, how you kept that from your hubby & kids for 6mths, I'll never no! Good for you though. Pressure is something that effects us negatively sometimes. I'm guessing...6kg loss in 6mths...you haven't had it tightened or not very much? Are you having trouble getting used to the eating? I have friends who haven't tightened their bands much & can eat a big baked potato wi cheese, sour cream etc. & I can just eat a bowl of soup! I make up for it with wine though! LOL! Oh, yes have private health (don't ask me what I ended up paying, it'd take me ages to figure out). And my husband is very supportive. His attitude is, "if somethings not right, fix it & if medical advancements can do it for you, then go for it." But he never told me to do anything. Always was, "do what will make you happy & I'll back you all the way." I am very lucky I've got such a great guy. I'm gonna go to my blog now & write about that & also the nosey parkers & fakes out there.

Nice to meet you meikobobo. Hope your 6 months has been a smooth ride. My 1st 12mths was incredible. Some weeks I lost 5kgs. In just over 12mths, I'd more than halved my size from 124kgs to 58kgs. I was too skinny then tho, & had to get the band let out a little. I sat at 62kgs for a long time as was very happy. In the last year it's crept up to 70 (stable for a long time). I'd like to get back to 62. Thinking lipo atm. My blog has pics and details of my other surgeries you may be interested in. How much have you lost so far?

Sorry Special K. I've a bad habbit of typing au at the end of everything. The URL is lapband-7yrslater.blogspot.com Hope you visit and we can support one another

So sorry meikobobo. I have a habbit of typing au at the end of everything! The url is lapband-7yrslater.blogspot.com Hope you visit, I have no one and I feel like I'm talking to myself! (well I am, aren't I! LOL)

Humans are very oral people. We kiss, we talk, we taste & our life depends on the food & air we intake through our mouths. Babies put everything in their mouths. So it stands to reason, if we are suddenly deprived of the wonderful sensation of taste, we feel depressed. Some replace this with smoking, drinking or even sex addiction. I find I now go for food with maximum flavour, less bulk. I don't miss pasta & potatoes if I can enjoy the sauce. I now eat chutney's, omeletes, soups & many other things especially if they are flavoursome. Feeling full quicker is a bonus so you can't overeat. But savour the flavour. Slowly enjoy each chew. Tell yourself how naughty you are! Then met a friend for a walk and a chat. Get out of the house if you can. You're a winner & you'll get all the great things in life you deserve. I mean that. Peace.