Crishell

I was banded on 1/19 and am now on a "regular" diet. I can tolerate toast, crackers, pie crust and even store bought birthday cake. No rolls, regular white/wheat bread, stuffing or homemade cakes. That's an immedidate PB for me. Of course have to be careful with how much of what I can tolerate I actually eat as is high in carbs and is not recommended for weight loss purposes. But a little here and there.

This may sound silly or crazy to some but I am very excited yet very scared about losing weight. I was banded on 1/19/07. I have lost about 28 pounds thus far. I have already experienced alot of firsts such as finally being under 300 pounds (after at least 20 years) and fitting into a size 22 pants after wearing 26/28 and a few 30's for years. One of my ultimate dreams was to get into a pair of Levi's. I did get in a size 24 (the biggest they sell in women's dept.) and they are now baggy. Alot of family, friends and co-workers know I had lap band surgery and have been supportive (although there have been a few negative people). They tell me I am "melting away". I have joined Curves and I think I have lost more in inches than the pounds show. Everyone acts and says it's such a "drastic" change. I don't see "drastic" yet but I appreciate the compliments and feel they are sincere. Do any of you who have already been banded have problems with not seeing all of your weight loss? I have been overweight for so long that it's scary to think about weighing 200 or even a size 20 or 18 but I am beginning to think that is possible. I am scared too because all I have known is 26/28+ for sooo long. I'm already excited when I go in the stores and have more options; especially size options, but yet I feel nervous and alot of pressure from fear of failure. I have not had a fill yet and it's becoming a struggle to lose a pound. I am thinking that it is time for a fill because I am terrified of gaining. But as long as I am losing a pound a week, the doc doesn't want to give a fill. I feel I need a jumpstart. Hope this doesn't sound too crazy and believe it or not, I work in mental health. Just wanted to vent and know if anyone else out there feels the same-excited yet afraid?

Well welcome. I am sure that you will continue to find this site very helpful. It has been for me.

I now weigh once a week. Right after I got my band January 2007, I was weighing daily; sometimes two or three times a day or everytime I got the urge. I realized that I was becoming obsessed with it. Led to me being constantly discouraged and stressed out due to weight fluctuations throughout the day and from day to day. It's been hard but I make myself stick to my once weekly rule. I would recommend no more than twice per week. I personally am happier with weighing once per week (Friday morning).

Congratulations & welcome to Bandland

Welcome. I luv this site and it has helped me alot.

Yes, I notice that I gain about two-three pounds when my monthly visitor is here. Started during my pre-op diet and both months since my surgery. I get so frustrated but I try to remember that it is due to fluid retention. I try not to even weigh during that time. I end up losing it but it just does something to me to see the increase on the scale and I know I have not ate anything fattening. I think I am more worried that it won't go away afterwards.

I am currently experiencing the same thing. Very discouraging but I try not to dwell on it to keep from getting further frustrated. I have increased my protein and water. I joined Curves last week also. Hopefully things will turn around. Got banded 1/19/07. Have not had a fill yet.Wondering if it is time. I will see what the rest of this month brings.

I was banded on 1/19/07 after thinking about weight loss surgery for quite some time. So far I have lost almost 25 pounds and have not had a fill yet. I went yesterday for my yearly ob/gyn appt. I have always dreaded these appointments. At last year's appointment, the nurse had my weight at 311. I had mentioned to my doc then that I was definitely considering getting the lap band within the year. She had also been encouraging me for several years to consider weight loss surgery. At any rate to make a long story short, I have been 300 plus pounds for like 20 years. Ten of which she has been my ob/gyn. I am 38 years old now. The biggest I have ever been is 368 but lost some weight over the past five years which I never regained. On surgery day, I was 300.5. My ob/gyn's office uses the traditional scale where you slide the blocks. My lap band surgeon's office uses digital and I have a digital scale at home. This appointment yesterday was my first weighing experience with the non digital scale. You do not know how good it felt to not have to see that nurse slide that thing down to 300 and then move the block over to get the rest of my weight. I almost cried although I had already seen the 300's disappear on my digital scale. Just not having that block have to go down to 300 made my year. I have to toot my own horn. I am so glad I got the lap band. I have no regrets thus far. I am looking forward to under 250 pounds. Please pray for me and I will pray for you.

Good Luck. You will be ok.

My surgery itself went smooth. No catheter. Just had an IV with morphine pump if needed for pain. My insurance required an overnight stay for observation. There were some problems that were out of my control. First, my surgery was delayed because of a problem with my doctor's case ahead of me. The actual surgery itself was only like an hour. Then I had to wait for an available bed so I was in recovery for three and half hours waiting for a bed. The next morning I had my testing to make sure swallowing and eveything was ok. The doctor came in around 9:30 and said that I could go. But she accidently forgot to sign some of my paperwork and the hospital would not relase me until they could get that straight. I had an adventure to say the least. Moral of the story is to just be mindful that things out of your control can happen. Still have no regrets.

Depends on your insurance company requirements. Not everyone has to with these conditions.

She is very pleased and glad that I finally made the decision to have the surgery. She has been very encouraging throughout the years. I have always been fearful of doctors visits because of my weight ("morbid obesity"), feeling hopeless about the situation and having to endure her "talks" about my needing to lose weight. Although I know she was telling me for my own good. Ultimately it was my decision to make that step into bandland. I just wish I had done it sooner. But it is better late than never. I am finally in tooterville after 20 long years.

You are in my prayers as well. You will be fine. 2007 is the year for great things.

Good luck. You will do fine. Unless something is terribly wrong with you physically, the surgery will not be cancelled. I was nervous too because it was my first experience with anethesia and overnight hospital stay. I was more anxious than anything and kept thinking about months down the road. Just keep your eyes on the prize-a new you.

Depends on scheduling availabilty for the surgery as well as your insurance and surgeon requirements. I went to initial information session on 8/11/06, first consult with surgeon 9/11 and was approved my insurance company on 9/20. I could probably have had surgery by early November after psy eval and nutrition and behavior mod class (also depends on what surgery dates they have open) but because of my work, I did not have until mid January. Was easier for me to be away from work during that time.

The Slim Fast high protein bar is good. It has 15 g of protein per bar. I like the chocolate chip granola.

I had my surgery 1/19/07 and I was out of work for four weeks. I could have probably returned in three. I work in a psychiatric hospital with some very unpredictable clients behavior wise. Plus, I needed a break fromm some of the staff.

What kind of trouble are you having? Immediately after I switched from liquids to soft/mushy I started experiencing stomach pains around port, gall bladder etc. It was gas. I never knew gas could hurt so bad. Very painful and uncomfortable. Many sleepless nights and questioned why on earth did I decide to do this. I could not sit, stand or anything and lasted for several hours after I ate. Seems I got it no matter what I ate. I tried many things such as Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, Pepto. I finally tried Beano (found on aisle with the previous mentioned items). You chew/swallow 2-3 before taking first bite of food. I take with all meals except breakfast since I continued with the Carnation Instant breakfast as my first meal of the day. Beano changed my life. No more gas pain since. If you don't get any relief, you may want to call your doctor.

I am kinda experiencing the same thing right now. I lost 17 pounds between the last week of the pre-op diet and my first week after the band. Then another five pounds during week two and three. I have not done as well weeks three and four. I have been playing around with the same three pounds and not really losing anything that I consider significant.I think I need a fill. I have my next follow-up appt. (5 week) tomorrow. I am definitely asking for a fill to keep from gaining.

I had surgery 1/19. I had overnight hospital stay with a morphine pump available if needed for pain. I did not use it that much. I sporadically used pain pills for about two days afterwards. I had problems sleeping comfortably the first almost two weeks because I could not sleep on my stomach or side due to the incisions and just feeling uncomfortable. It was my first surgery/anethesia experience but I had no complications. I had alot of gas pains once I was switched from liquid to soft/mushy food. Beano worked miracles for that.

Hello everyone. Just wanted to give you my update. I have not posted since my surgery because my computer at home is incredibly slow with dial up. I had lap band surgery on Jan.19 @ St. Mary's in Richmond, Va. So I just celebrated my one month anniversary. First ever overnight hospital stay wasn't too bad. Pain not as bad as I expected. I had dermabond instead of stitches. Incisions were mostly healed in one week. Had problems initially with sleeping due to comfort and pain ( I prefer sleeeping on my stomach and side and I couldn't do it for about two weeks). Was started on soft/mushy foods after one week. My biggest problem, once on soft foods, was the gas. I had no idea gas could hurt so bad. I had many sleepless nights and grumpy days. I had tried many things (gas-x, maalox, etc) but nothing worked. I was to the point where I was scared to eat at all because the pain was that bad. :sick I finally decided to try Beano and it has worked wonders. No more gas pains at all for the past two weeks and I have tried a variety of foods. It's like a whole different world. I had lost 5 pounds with the pre-op diet and so far another 17 since the surgery. So that's 22 pounds since around 1/8. I was out of work for four weeks because of where I work and my duties.Today is my first day back. I think I am on my way. I have recieved alot of postiive comments from family and co-workers. My weight on surgery day was 300.5 and today I am 283. My heighest weight ever was 368 but I had lost 60 pounds prior to deciding on the surgery. I can't remember weighing less than 300. Today I even have on a size 22 pants. I have not worn a size 22 since I was 17 years old in high school and I am 38 now. I have to toot my own horn. :clap2: I heard about PB and I have even experienced that a couple of times already. I have no regrets other than I wish I had done it sooner. least. I do have a question for the people who have already been banded. How often do you weigh yourself?

Finally after eight months of planning. I get banded tomorrow (Friday 1/19) @ 7:30 a.m. I am rather nervous. I have lost about 8 pounds on the pre-op liver shrinking diet.Just a bit of info that I did not consider in my journey. I made the mistake of binging as my date got closer (last suppers, so to speak). Eating a bunch of stuff that I should not have been because I was anticipating the procedure and I wanted to enjoy my favorite foods prior to. As a result, my blood sugar shot up and three weeks ago, I found myself having to have more doctor's appointments and put on medication to lower it for surgery due to diagnosis of new onset diabetes. The doctors anticipate that I will only need meds for month or two after I get my band. I may have had diabetes all along (or been borderline) but did not know. It definitely got worse. I ended up in ER 12/29 (day after my preo-op work) dehydrated and with rapid heart rate due to elevated blood sugar. Luckily, my surgery did not have to be rescheduled. So if you have surgery coming up, don't do like I did and go overboard. See you all on the other side of the lapband journey.

January 15, 2007 is the big day. Everything finally seems to be coming together. I have my psy eval on Monday 10/23 and have dates for my nutritional and behavior modification class, to meet with my doc and to complete pre-labwork and physical. Now I am just waiting for get these things done. I have had insurance approval since 9/20 and I probably could have scheduled my surgery sooner but mid January is the best time for me to be away from work. I am happy,anxious and nervous. I have never been in the hospital for an overnight stay or been under anethesia. So I am very nervous about that. Any words of wisdom from anyone who has had the same experience with your lap band surgery being the first time that you were under anethesia or just being in the hospital?

Hey everybody After a month of waiting since going to the information session, I had my first appointment yesterday at the doctor's office. I am now awaiting my insurance approval before moving on to next step of meeting with nutritionist and psy evaluation. I am not a breakfast person and the nurse practitioner said that I need to start, which I have always known. I just prefer to get extra sleep over eating breakfast. She suggested SlimFast shakes with protein. I tried the chocolate this morning and they were nasty. I can still taste it. Any suggestions of better tasting shakes for breakfast? :faint: