mommymya

Hi there! Sounds to me like you are right on track!:biggrin: My friend and I were banded on December 3rd. We met another lady banded on that day while we were there. They have both lost 25 lbs. I have lost 60. I have NO idea why, lol! I do make uber conscious food choices and do exercise. This band is really working! And to think....I was worried it wouldn't work for me. As an aside....I cannot figure out how to easily change my ticker. Anyone know?? I keep creating new ones, lol!:thumbup:

I really like the "Premier Protein" brand that costco carries. It is pre-made, has awesome protein and low carbs/fat. Now that I have had my first fill, I use Bariatric Advantage in both the cho and vanilla. They are super thick so they keep my full for a loooong time. Hope this helps!

If I am having a regular otc type protein drink (think thinner consistency) then I usually don't wait. But if I am having one of the thicker ones, like Bariatric Advantage, then I wait because they tend to stay in the upper pouch and keep me full longer. I don't want to "wash" the sensation away. But then I only sip so I dont overfill the pouch.

Hi there! I was banded on 12-3-09 with a 5cc band. It was a tight fit right from the start. I have had some restriction since then. I just had my first fill (1.4cc) and I feel quite tight. I really don't do fantastically until the evening. I was able to have like a teeny tiny piece of fish (prob the equivalent of a big bite) for lunch today and had about 1/4 c food for dinner. I told my surgeon this and he said this is excellent restriction. He said the tightness will eventually go away and then I will just feel full instead of highly uncomfortable.(he is also banded) It doesn't hurt, but it is very unpleasant. I get that yucky slobbery thing, but do not get sick. Is this about the norm??

lol, I obviously would take a "broken" band over dying....but it was my understanding that making sure to have identification about being banded was important so that when needed emergency medical care the medical professionaly would know what they were dealing with. (the example given to me by the nurse was that if needing to be intubated (sp?), the tube would seem to be going in shallow since we have the band.)

I was told by the nurse who runs my support group that we should absolutely have a mediacl alert bracelet/necklace, etc. She was saying that if we were to need a secured airway, the band could get gurt from the tube going in. I don't know about chest compressions, but for the reason she gave, I bought myself an alert charm to put on whatever bracelet I may be wearing at the time. Hope this helps!

After much deliberating, I finally got the courage to have my husband take a picture today. I was motivated by another poster who posted a face picture. I wanted to see if I could see a difference in my body....I think I can! I am on day 39 after surgery. src="http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac179/mommymya_2010/BeforeandAfter39Days.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Oh my goodness! I feel this way now, wothout a fill. I have my fill scheduled (and plane tickets bought) for next Thursday. Do you think I have made a mistake? I keep thinking that maybe the band, alone, is tight enough for right now or something. I guess I thought that maybe with the fill, things would stop trying to squeeze past the band and that stuck feeling would subside???

Thank you so much everyone. I love having a place to come and share! It helps keep me motivated. This journey is getting really fun at this point. :thumbup:

Thanks! I was scared to compare pictures because I feel great and didn't want to be looking too soon. I think I look less "bloated", lol.

I have had pretty good restriction sonce surgery. I had no fill added at the time of the surgery. I usually eat from 1/2 c to 1 cup at a time and stay nicely full for anywhere from 2-5 hours. I am scheduled for a fill next week. I'm nervous though because I have maintained nice loss and am at 40 lbs lost today since surgery on the third of december. I hope that once I get there they don't send me home, lol. ~Mya

ohhh! Good point! I am almost always on the lower side with my iron. I didn't think about it until now. Do you take a chewable? Do you mind sharing what kind? The only liquid I know of is floridix....and it is nasty! I will pretty much try anything to get rid of this tired feeling. Interestingly, my Husband keep commenting on how pale I appear. I think you may be on to something!:thumbup:

Hi there! I was banded December 3rd, and have been feeling GREAT! However, the last week, I have been so darn tired all of the sudden. I make sure and get plenty of Protein and excercise. I take mutivitamins and sublingual b Vitamins every day. I cannot figure it out. I wondered if maybe it's just my body adapting to the weight loss or something. I have lost 40 lbs so far, with half of that happening right in the beginning. I lose 3lbs a week like clockwork now. I keep track of my calories and nutrition....I usually hit about 1000ish every day. So is this just part of the changes, or is there something I can be doing to maintain a better energy level? I have 5 littel kiddos, so this is really really hard! Thanks! ~Mya

Thanks! I actually LOVE water. I should have mentioned my water intake. I get just under 1 gallon a day. While this is wonderful, bathroom trips take up A LOT of my day!

@JoJo...thank you so much for replying. I dont' think I had any blood sugar issues before. I know that I am very carb sensitive though. I have always been. I try and keep my carbs to a minimum. But you are right, this feels exactly how I would feel if I was having too many simple carbs. I had my surgery out of the country, so my follow up care has not been ideal. I do go back next week for my first fill, so I will be sure to ask when I am there. I also made an appt with a dietician for next week, so I can check there as well. Thanks for the kudos about the loss. I am very excited! I still have about 80 lbs left to go....seems like so far away.:thumbup:

Your post made me LOL! I have lost approx 40 lbs since my surgery on December 3rd. I feel really good and have gone from a 24 to a 14/16 top and an 18/20 bottom. But all anyone says is "wow, your face looks so much thinner!". it infuriates me sometimes (inside) that down 40 lbs, all anyone notices is my face, heh. So when I saw your post, I thought "another woman who lost 40 lbs off her face!". Good work!!!! I figure in another 20 lbs or so I might start getting compliments on my figure too. Lets hope so! I think I will have my husband take a picture for me today so that I can see what others are seeing. ~Mya

Hi there! I have a question about getting that stuck feeling and I LOVED this answer, so I was hoping maybe you can help me out with this. I don't have a fill yet, as I was banded on December 3rd. But there are times when the food gets "stuck" and I HATE that. But is this a different kind of "stuck" than will happen after my fill? Like, is the food just getting hung up somehow? Because I understand the getting stuck thing for after a fill....but it seems like it must be different than the stuck that is happening now. Also, does all this "stuck" during trying to eat subside once the band is tighter? (ftr, I am taking small bites and chewing. I just think I have trouble because my band was pretty tight when it was placed) Thank you so much!! ~Mya

I use the online tools at www.lapband.com. It's really awesome and I track my activity too. I like that it keeps track of nutritional info in each food so you can see where you are lagging. I love it! ~Mya Banded 12/3/09 Starting/Surgery day Weight-298 Current weight 265

My very favorite is the Premier brand that is at costco. It is a ready to drink and the flat has 10 for about 20bucks. 1 carb and 30g protein. Pretty awesome! I hope your surgery went well!

Hi everyone! I was banded on December 3rd and I did a pre op diet for two weeks as well as a three day liquid pre op right before surgery. My doc didn't require the two week, but from what I read it seemed it would make it easier on my body. I lost about 10 lbs doing that and then I have lost another 15 since the day before I was banded. I am pretty stoked. However, I have read A LOT on here about how you shouldn't focus on weight loss in the beginning. I know that now is a time for healing. I have been taking it easy and following the diet regimen I was given. But I guess I am nervous. I have read that I should anticipate a gain when I am given the okay for more solid food. So can you guys give me an idea how much I may gain back? Is it a definite that you gain back some? Because I plan to eat the same type things I have been, just not blended. Anyhow, please share your storeis! Thanks! ~Mya

Funny you should post this today. I went to my pcp for a check up since surgery (banded the 3rd) and she prescribed me some vicodin for some pain I am having. I asked that she give me the liquid form and she said there wasn't such a thing. I knew there was. So I asked if she was sure. She said she was. I finally asked her if she would note on the RX that I wanted liquid if it was available. She did....and I got my liquid medication!! Sorry that some docs are know it alls. maybe my appraoch might work for others?? Take care of yourself!! Feel better soon. ~Mya

Hi there. I was banded on the 3rd and have experienced something that sounds similar. Have you tried having more when the pain comes on? If you are "eating" at 6:30, then you are more than likely "hungry" again by noon. I have found that that is the case for me and my band. I talked with the doc today and he said that at this point, we should be having a little something every 4-5 hours. Let me know how it goes!!

Hello everyone! I was banded on the 3rd here in Monterrey Mexico. It has been a mostly pleasant experience. the surgery went well. I had a tough time coming out of anasthesia...but I usually do. Out of the three of us here, I ended up with a tight band. I guess my stomach was bigger at the band site or something. Apparently I won't need an actual fill for 10-12 weeks. I have had a lot of referred pain, and it usually is triggered by having something. I have had to be extrememly careful with how much I consume. I get full really quickly...which I think is strange because I am only having thin fluids. Everyone else id doing fine with fluids though. haha. I go home today, so I'll check back in in a week or so. Happy banding to all of you!! ~Mya

:scared2:Hi everyone! I haven't posted much, but I read often. I am waiting at the airport to leave for Mexico....Surgery day is Thursday! I am really excited and nervous at the same time. I already messed up my pre op diet and I thought I was doing so well, lol! I didnt' realize it was Clear liquids only and had some Soup that wasn't clear...twice. I hope I can just drink lots and lots of clear Water in the next two days to make up for the slip up. I got the courage yesterday to strip down and have my sis take before pictures for me. I am really embarrased, but know that nexrt year I will be happy to have them. Anyhow, when I get back I will make sure and post all the nitty gritty. Good luck to everyone else gettign banded this month!! ~Mya:scared2:

So far these are the ONLY Protein drinks I can stand, lol! After day 2 I did notice I smelled like old Vitamins though, lol!