LollyMoe

You may think this is a silly thing to do but the reality orientation classes use to teach that you stand in front of a mirror twice a day and say ONLY good things about yourself. Also, wear a rubber band around your wrist and each time you have a negative thought about yourself, give that band a pop. Soon you teach the brain to accept only positive thoughts about yourself. The third thing is to write in a journal as much as you can. YOU deserve to love yourself!

I am one of the lucky ones. I didn't need pain meds at all after leaving the hospital. My meds are still unopened in my medicine cabinet. It does get better everyday and soon your pain will be a faint memory. Congrats on being banded. Hang in there and enjoy your journey into a new you land.

I only hope that I do as well as you are doing. 1-2 pounds a week is what my doctor wants me to do. He says that it's healthier and my skin won't be as loose. I'm not an expert, but it doesn't seem to me that your are eating enough protein and that's what will help you the most. So buck up and be proud of your weight loss. Don't give up!

The reason you are required to be on special diets is so all the healing can take place according to my doctor. You now have a foreign object inside of you and your body has to get use to it. Also, my doctor placed a couple of stitches inside to hold the band in place. They don't want your stomach to work too much to digest harder foods like chicken, hamburger, salads. I suggest you tell your doctor so he will be alerted if you have done any damage to your band. BTW, you probably won't have a lot of trouble with passing foods until you start to get your fills. In fact, it's this time that it is mostly up to you to refrain from overeating. Until you get enough fills and get to your sweet spot, it is going to take a lot of hard work. Now forgive yourself for not following your doctor's instructions and go forward. You paid too much for all of this to play around with it. You want to lose the weight and it's going to take a long hard road to get there. Good luck.

I am not diabetic but when I go to group, there are quite a few banders there that report no meds anymore and some even say no c-pap machine. I think that's great. I hope that if you're diabetic you too will be able to say that someday.

Can't help with your question but wanted to say "Don't give up". Get another opinion if your doctor can't solve the problem but don't give up on yourself.

Cruzlady: A PB is a productive burp. Karkies: You probably have gas and you may have swallow too fast. Walking is the way to get rid of the gas plus some Gas-X strips. It will go away soon.

I didn't see this post prior to the soup night. How did it turn out?

Hey Bonnie_Lass: My doctor says I can have hot chocolate. Swiss Miss Lite. Maybe you could try it.

As a retired nurse, I would advise you to call your doctor. You may have too much fluid in it at this time. At any rate this is not normal and it needs to be checked.

Congrats on being banded. Now your journey really begins. Don't worry so much about HOW much you lose right now, everyone is different and you seem to be right on track.

Sorry, I don't know what a Alba drink is???

If you really like the Hormel foods from Walmart, call the 1-800-Walmart number and let them know to keep stocking it. They are bad about carrying things for awhile and then not carrying them.

You are too funny! Thanks for the laugh. You may have something here however. I have been thinking of it as a "silent tool" but maybe I'll name it now that you have opened the subject.

Hang in there. It will get better. I can't eat cheese & pork for some reason. Maybe someday but not right now.

Go to the HOME page. There is a list there. You can drink water, just don't gulp or use a straw. No drinking 30 min before or after food. You can do it. Good luck.

You stick to your guidelines for yourself and don't let someone else bring you down. Everyone is different. Wait to see what 4-5 years bring for both of you." Keep on trucking" as my son used to say.

I was allowed thin runny grits or thin cream of wheat. Also, cottage cheese.

I would think that your swelling has gone down and you probably don't have anything in your band right now. That being said, you can eat more than usual but not as much as you did in the past. As you get fills, this will change more & more. This time period is a matter of being really strict with yourself. So forgive yourself and don't do it again. Limit your foods to what they are supposed to be and go forward. Good luck.

cheese is my problem and apparently pork is too. I had a painful episode over pork last week and again tonight. I was told to peel all fruit especially apples. Try again later. It might change. Good luck. Oh, I forgot, I've read several posts where people said that they developed a lactose problem after surgery...maybe that's it.

No pain, no stabbing, just eases the needle in. No numbness either.

My doctor uses a small ultra-sound machine to find the port. She marks it with a washable marker and then the nurse praciticer (sp) comes in to do the fill. She never misses. No problems, no bruising.

Banded Aug 11th and doing great. Had one stuck episode over a small piece of dry grilled pork chop.PAIN! However, it has made me be more careful about dry meat. I do not like that feeling at all and what it takes to get over it. Oh well, onward to better to health & weight loss. Good luck everyone.

Take your measurements and before pictures. Start now on learning to take small bites and chew, chew. Have some Gas-X strips on hand for post-op. Be prepared to walk after the surgery. It helps with the gas. You can do it and good luck on your surgery. Let us know when it's over.

Banded Aug 11th and doing great so far. I'm so happy that I did it. Good luck to all.