Bree99

For comfort nothing beat my heating pad. Take it to the hospital. Slip-on house shoes are good, hydogen peroxide to wash your incisions, and a body pillow for side sleeping. The food item I have used most beginning the day after surgery is Special K protein water mixes. They make it easier to meet your protein quota. Good Luck, you're going to love your band.

I can't see my port and my surgeon says that I won't even when all the weight is gone. It's over the solar plexus. I can not feel it in any position and it isn't that easy to feel when you deliberately touch it. I never even think about it being there. No biggie.

Congratulations, it is a gratifying achievement. I can't wait to join you there.

Your weight loss would naturally slow from the first weeks when you were on liquids and near liquids. It seems like you are doing very well. The most proven way of breaking a plateau is to more strictly limit carbs. I've found that my losses are continuing but in fits and starts now instead of steadily. I am about as far out as you are. Also try varying your calories day to day (a little) and see what happens.

I weigh every morning and its like a little reward for yesterday's work. Of course some days (for days at a time) it doesn't budge and I'm disappointed--no reward. But its coming I know. You are buying size 10s !!! I'll bet there was a time you had given up on that dream and now here you are! Don't stress, you are doing wonderfully!

Most people put it below their signature.

My surgeon instructs all his patients to take 2(!) adult, chewable Centrum a dayand two Viactive calcium chews (yum). Add a good vitamin and get some extra sleep and see if you feel better.

I stopped diet pop on Nov. 1, 2009 as a way of making a commitment to the surgery. I drink mainly water. My surgeon says soda is fine beyond 6 weeks post-op. I plan to stick with the water.

I've noticed that a lot of people on this site are recently banded. Several are 2-5 years out and all the advice from these folks is great but I would like to hear the experiences of those banded for a decade. What is long term maintenance like? How many have had complications? Does your attitude toward food and over-eating ever really change? Do you lose the fear of regaining the weight? Do you develop a fear of losing the band? I hope there are some long term bandsters out there to respond.

Ok, nine years out is fine! I just want to hear from people who have been living this lifestyle a long time.

I have been on synthroid for years. The thyroid hormone is only replacing what your body is not making on it's own (like the estrogen). Without it you will gain weight. When you have the right dosage of thyroid hormone, your body will function normally and it will be easier to control your weight. As for the HRT, I started using bio-identicals about 8 months ago. After the first week I felt like myself again. It was and is wonderful. You are going to feel so much better and soon.

I am newly banded: 1/13/10 and am excited to see the changes this year will bring. Name...........starting.................current..............goal...........to go Bree99.........284........................259..................155...........104

My doctor used a surgical glue and the incisions were never covered. They are healing very well. I was instructed to clean the incisions twice a day with hydrogen peroxide. It doesn't sting and cleans well.

If you buy and take your own extender with you, remember to take your receipt too so the airline doesn't question who owns the extender.

Is the icon the stomach with a band? I'd prefer something else. People pick up my phone and I want my banding to be private. I'd also like a password on the app to protect my privacy.

Thank you Carbgirl for an excellent post. This will help me and a lot of other people.

Thanks for the info and the link. Very interesting.

What is the 5 day pouch test? I've seen references to it before, but I have no clue. What is the purpose?

I'm happily married, but I have noticed (when I lost weight previously) that at 220 and under I suddenly came back on men's "radar". I am 5' 8.5'', so that would put me at about a size 16. I'm looking forward to getting down to that size again to see if my observation holds.

Thank you all. I love it and am looking forward to many of my own.

My port is in the same place, over the solar plexus. My surgeon only uses that spot. When he does revisions of ports placed by other surgeons, he uses the same spot. He said it will not be irritated by clothing, is harder to see there after significant weight loss and would not be harmed even if someone punched you in the stomach.

Elfiepoo, I've seen "NSV" on other posts. What does it mean? Rather what does it stand for. I get the meaning.

I had my first fill today- 6cc in an 11 cc band. It took less than 2 minutes, a single stick, no numbing med. and no pain. It was a wierd feeling when he pulled the needle out of the port. It "clung" for a moment; not painful, just a new sensation. I was very pleasantly surprised.

I had my first fill this morning. I was banded on Jan. 13th. The fill took about 2 minutes: one stick, no numbing medication and no pain at all. Now I am back to liquids for 2 days. I've lost 22 pounds in this first month. My surgeon said this month I should aim for 6 to 10 pounds lost. I am very pleased with my band so far. I have had very little hunger since the surgery. How common is this? Sometimes I feel a little "hollow" but not what I think of as hunger. Will that last?

In the classes required to prepare for surgery we were told that fully 50% of WLS patients have a depression after surgery. It's very common. They also told us to call them if it lasted more than two weeks. Call your doctor and feel better soon.