amartyn1

HI - can someone tell me if this is considered normal - or is this what they call bandster hell ..... i was banded on November 17th , 09 lost 24 lbs pre and directly post op ... I had my first fill 2.5cc on December 28th , 09 .... and i am going back today , this afternoon for another fill. But i have not lost a pound this month - and maybe even gained a pound :eek: i eat my protein like i am supposed to, work out 3 times a week .... and when i checked the scale this am -- i was a little shocked when i got on the scale this morning -- I am trying not to feel like a failure and i realize that i am only 2 months out.... but so many others have lost SO much weight .... please advise ......:wink:

i was a tad bit more then a social smoker, and i quit the day before my surgery adn i have not smoked since... and it has not bothered me . I had my last cocktail a wonderful lemondrop martini 3 weeks before surgery and again have not touched anything. My surgery was November 17th and i feel great -- lol seriouly i do feel really good . i will allow myself a glass of wine on my birthday or at my 1/2 way point which ever comes first..... everyone has there "thing" that they either can or cant stop.. for those of you that dont smoke - please dont preach about how bad smoking is... we all know that .. so is being over weight .... and obviously we are here to do something about that ..so when you are ready to quit smoking , hopefully you will have a great support team to help you ... it is alot to give up --- no alcohol ( too many calories) , no smoking and then no food -(lol) not much more in life to enjoy as a "bad" vice ....

i was banded on 11/17/09 and thought i was dong pretty good - although avoiding all of the heavy carb stuff -- i have been able to eat SMALL amounts of filet , chicken, and prime rib -- but on xmas eve i picked up the honey baked ham and when i brought it home i tried a mall piece and low and behold --yea the band does not like ham ---- it didnt matter how small i cut it up or how much i chewed it -- the band won that fight and i havent even had a fill yet - that is coming Monday ... so i agree with everyone - your band will tell you what it will allow you to eat and what it wont

Kristen thank you for the info. it makes complete sense :willy_nilly: Yesterday am i had a fit point evaluation at the health club i joined and had to do a stretch test for flex-ability - come to think about it started hurting after that . the sad thing is i don't pay attention to my port or incisions because it has been a great recovery until yesterday . so i will ibuprofen it up and take it easy for a couple days !

ok for the past two days i have been having a stabbing pain by my port incision it is progressively getting worse - not to the point of calling the surgeon - because there is nothing they can do now - i will call tomorrow - but it feels like a sharp shooting pain every time i bend or twist or sit ---- i was wondering if this happens to any one else ? it feel like i have a hernia -- if i hold the area it feels better -- any suggestions ? i am 4 weeks post op

HI - actually it is good to see this post because i am having kind of the same issues.. i was banded on November 17th - pretty uneventful - and in all honesty i probably have been doing more then i should - but i have no choice unfortunately - but today my port ha been pinching - especially if i bend forward , or sit forward to much - i just feels like a deep internal pinching -- again not earth shattering and i can wait to call my sx on Monday and talk to the staff. Not sure if this is a factor - but i am due for my wonderful monthly friend - but i do not see how this would affect anything.

wow - this soooo sounds like me and i am only 2 1/2 weeks out . i was banded on November 17th and have been following the diet i was given to a "T". i lost 18lbs and then gained 2 when i went on to pureed - mushy food. Now in all honesty i cannot eat what i used to - i do get full but i have to say i am almost afraid to go to normal food - especially if i have already gained 2 lbs on mushy foods ..... so i think i am beginning to understand bandster hell and i am just a newbie in this cycle :wink2:

I am so excited - i got my call and i have my date !!! Tuesday November 17, 2009. :cursing: Wow - this is what i have been working and waiting for !!!! I start my protein shakes in the am ---super stoked -- i wish i could jump up and down but since my staff does not know what i am doing i cant --- but once i get in the car -- oh ya aaaaaaaaa :redface:

HI -try a heating pad ove your upper abdomen and upper back area it helps with the gas -- along with the walking yaaa to us :thumbup:

ok i am going to try this again -- my computer is goofy - i think it i taking my pain meds - lol Sooooo.. Hi -- i was banded on Tuesday the 17th - i stayed overnight and came home on Wednesday -- i have to say my worst day was on Wednesday - i felt like i was run over by a mac truck -- my stomach was swollen from here to the next continent .lol even thought the nurses said my bowel sounds sounded great there was no action going on til Wednesday night and then --aaaggghhh - sad that it only takes the little things in life to make you happy. Yesterday was much better - shower and put-sing around the house ... i am able to eat full liquids but the funny thing is you get so full so fast that it almost isn't worth it === remember i said almost -lol the v8 is phenomenal . Today being 3 days out - i am a bit surprised at how swollen my surgical sites still are - i have showered everyday and managed to do laundry and some cleaning around the house so i don't feel like i am babying myself. hhuuummmmm As for the scale --- hahaha i am on it everyday -- i know i have to stop it - it is not a good thing - I guess we all just want to see progress - lol As for the next phase -- i see my surgeon on Tuesday and then as long as nothing is wrong - i get to move on to mushies -- yaayayayayayaaa

i was banded on tuesday the 17th , not as bad as i thought - although yesterday by the time i got home the incision sites are extremely sore . i am walking and using the gas x strips- but still port sore and still filled with gas - but it will be worth it in the long run :confused:

hello fellow November 17th bandsters :biggrin: How is everyone doing the day before or new "rebirth" ? i have actually taken the day off because of so much accrued vacation time ,plus the wonderful bowel prep my surgeon requires -- but i am keeping myself busy with projects around the house ! i have finished all of my shopping for the new journey post op and just need to pack an over night bag. I wish all of the best to all of you !!! You have all come this far and will do wonderful :tt2: Remember it is all a state of mind .. we can conquer food and not vise versa ...........

hi - i have been reading all of the posts on the "post- bandster" site and have really gotten alot of great tips on life after banding ..but i have a question that doesn't seem to come up ... Do you ever get past the "i want to eat because i am bored " stage -- or am i just feeling this way because i am only on protien shakes right now ? Being around food does not bother me - actually i have done alot of cooking the last several days , as it keeps me busy -- i have no desire to have anything i have cooked because it wouldn't be worth it . I have also given myself alot of projects to do and have gone through at least 50% of them .. but i am chilling right now and am thinking ..well i could have some chicken broth ... and i am not even hungry .. help please :wink2:

so here i sit on my laptop - enjoying my evening sleepytime tea minus sweetener , and sugar free jello - thinking wow it really is so close . Tuesday morning - i have to be at St. Alexuis Medical Center at 7:AM and surgery right now is scheduled at 9:25 am -- i am extremely excited, a bit nervous but in a good way and just plain ol' ready to have this part done. i have not cheated once on my diet and have to say i am proud of myself BUT i have only lot 6 lbs....:tongue2: Good luck to everyone having surgery on the 17th - we have all come a long way !! :wink2: I will be staying overnight at the hospital - bariatric programs protocol - so i will not be able to check in with anyone until Wednesday evening !!!

I am on day 9 of the liquid diet .. 3-4 protien shakes a day and the option of 1 glass of coffee/tea, 1 cup broth, or sugar free jello -- i have done really good on this until today and thankfully i didn't cheat - i actually have been doing alot of cooking and was surprised how it didn't appeal to me to have a bite -- today came close but only out of boredom -- that down time for chilling -- tomorrow is clear liquids and a bowel prep ---- yaaa :wink2: but it will be worth it ! My attitude is .. if you cheat - get back on the band wagon and start being strict again --- you don't need others yelling at you because hopefully you will have enough guilt on your own --- this is your like, your challenge , your body .... You Can Do It :tongue2:

yes i am - bariatric advantage protien skakes - 4 a day plus i am allowed to have broth , sugar free jello and 1 cup of coffee or tea a day plus 64 ounces of water a day -- how about you ?

OK November bandsters - i just have to have to make it through Sunday and Monday and then i will be banded :cool2: Tuesday the 17th at 9:25 am==== cant wait - its been a long haul but definitely worth it - I cant wait to be on your side of things ..soon -- patience is a virtue .... My Rebirthday : Tuesday November 17th :thumbup:

ok so here i sit , drinking my supper, a strawberry protien shake and watching the news.... while i am not hungry at all - the urge to want to "chew" something is amassing and i will ignore it .. but can i tell you how many commercials about food are on TV ????? One more day of protien shakes and one day of clear liquids and wonderful bowel prep and i will be on the other side .... i think i just need to stop watching TV -lol this is going to be the longest weekend .... even with all of the projects i have lined up .....:thumbup:

just wondering if anyone has dealt with the kane Center or Alexian Brothers Hospital in Elk grove Village IL ? there is not to much on line and and i have not seen any input from patients .. just wondering

Hi - i am excited to be joining your side next week :thumbup: i get banded next tuesday the 17th and cant wait to start my new life. I do realize that there will alot of peaks and valleys to over come and hurdles to jump everyday -- but no one ever said life was easy --- and i have 40 years of habits that i need to change !!!! But i am excited to join all of you :drool: Annette

Thank you and i will do the measurements this weekend and i have a bunch of pictures -- (unfortunlty) :thumbup:

Sandy HI -:drool: how are you doing ? How is everything running for you so far ? Please let me know if you every need encouragement because i will be there for you !!!! i have Had so many wonderful people encourage me when i have been frustrated and just down - Now is my time to repay that :thumbup: I think about how you are doing !!!! Annette

Jada Hi and welcome to this great website - trust me it has been a roller coaster ride to get to this point. But it is definitely worth it :thumbup: Actually surgery is Tuesday the 17th and i am excited ! a bit nervous buti guess that is to be expected -- this really is a life change. Honestly - for me the hardest part of the whole process was the waiting the last 6 weeks ---- everything else was easy -- probably because all i have ever done the past 20 years is diet --lol -- when you get to the end process and , oh say it is your last month before sx -- and you are frustrated definitely look me up and i will be there for you !!! alot of people were there for me with really nice and encouraging words and really helped. Also when you get to the protein shakes --- stock up on fruit and you just have to be a personal cheerleader for yourself. Other then maybe a handful of people - no one else nows that i am doing this so sometimes it makes it hard - like now - i work in a medium sized medical office and everyone wants to know everyone Else's business --lol so why is Annette only drinking " smoothies " because it is a new fad diet i am trying --lol :drool: but seriously i wish you the best - soon you will be at this point and like i said earlier - i am there for you !!! If you have any questions please feel free to email Annette

HI everyone !! ok here is an update ... well 5 more days til the big banding day the Protein shakes are not bad they do fill you up -and honestly you are not hungry at all . i had my pre op visit at SAMC , signed my conent already, and all of my pre op testing is done (YAAAAA) plus i ordered my Lovenox and and chewable multi Vitamins from the e store on the Suburaban Surgical site. I also ordered optisource protien drink because it contains 12 grams of protien per 8 oz serving . After banding you are required to haev betweeen 60-80 grams of protien a day -- and since the first 2 weeks are liquids to pureed food it is very hard to get the protien in daily. i am looking forward to next week at this time - I will be on the other side :biggrin: Annette

ok - yesterday i had my pre op upper GI and could not eat ( well drink) anything until after 3pm :smile: because you have to be empty for the barium for the UGI ... between last night and today i have the worst abdominal gas and bloating and it feels like it is stuck in there ..... Not sure if this is because i still got in 3 protein shakes by 10pm or if this is a side effect of the protein shakes..... help please :tongue_smilie: