Bree99

I'll be going for my first fill tomorrow, one day short of a month post-op. I have lost 22 pounds since surgery. I was not required to follow a pre-op diet. I am very pleased. My surgeon's office said most patients lose a pound a day the first month. I haven't done that well, but I am happy with my loss.

Botox is useful for lines made by repeated muscle movements. You should look at a filler, which plumps up areas that need it. You get immediate results that last 6 to 9 months. I prefer restylane, but there are several. They look completely natural.

Hi, My surgeon said not to use a straw for 6 months, because of the air you swallow with each drink. He also prescribes all patients pepcid for the first month post surgery. I used the pepcid for two weeks only. I am not prone to reflux. Perhaps a prescription would help you.

Hi, I am 20 days post surgery and also feel great. I have not had any real hunger so far. I am down 20.5 pounds since 1/13 and my first fill will be 2/9. I think I will be getting 5 cc in an 11 cc band. I can't wait.

Hi, I had thyroid cancer and my thyroid gland was removed. As long as you are taking an appropriate amount of synthroid your weight loss will be normal or very close.

Yes, I've noticed that my sense of smell seems more acute since being banded.

I lost 2 pounds this week.

Ask your doctor for another anti-nausea medication. One will work. Once that happens you'll be able to drink more and feel much better. I felt like you for a few days and then it was much better.

Hi All, I started to get fat in my mid twenties after years of being an athlete. When I see pictures of myself at my present weight I am appalled. I still identify as a normal weight person, though I haven't been in 2 decades. As I lose weight my body will come into line with my mental image of myself. If you are someone who still feels fat after losing weight, keep trying to get an objective view of yourself, it will come. I think my retention of a normal weight image of myself was a defense against all the cruel remarks and reactions I got as a fat person.

I was nauseous early on. Called the doc and he called in an anti-nausea med for me. I only had to take it 3 days and I was fine. Call now!

I am 12 days post-op and have never been hungry since the operation. I have very little 'head hunger' even. The bloated feeling went away as the swelling went down, but no hunger has emerged. I'm not complaining. Without the swelling its easy to get my daily requirements in. I'm down 16 pounds too.

Hi everyone, If you haven't seen the magazine "Clean Eating", you should check it out. It is aimed at people interested in fitness and its recipes fit very well with our guidelines. There are lots of recipes in every issue. They focus on whole foods that are low fat and low sugar. They also understand the importance of Protein. Here is my favorite chicken salad recipe: 2 or 3 large cans of shredded white meat chicken, drained 2 small bunches of green onions, chopped 1 bunch of white, seedless grapes, halved 1 cup pecan halves, chopped 3 stalks of celery, chopped Mix well Dress with the following: 1/2 cup of light mayo 1/4 cup skim milk 1/4 cup of lemon juice (Mix this well and pour over the chicken salad) My entire family likes this. It's great.

I have a desk job and I went back on the sixth day after my surgery. It was a rough day and I got tired easily. My bra hurt. It would have been better if I had waited a full week.

I've had a lot of time to think about why I'm fat. I was a normal weight for the first two and one half decades of my life and fat (increasingly) for the last two. I always had a high level of anxiety and in college discovered that eating medicated it. It made me miserable in other ways, but it became a pattern. With increasing age, responsibility and decreasing activity levels, my weight went up. I overate initially to deal with stress and disappointment, in time I ate out of boredom. As I have gotten older I have learned some other ways to deal with stress and my anxiety level has leveled off, but the old habits are hard to kill (or replace). I do believe it can be done. Truthfully, nothing has ever provided comfort and anxiety relief as effectively and reliably as food. I'll just have to accept that my second-best methods are good enough.

Hi Everyone, I'd like to take part in the Easter challenge. I have only been banded since 1/13, but I enjoy challenges. I have no idea how much weight I might lose by Easter. I'll aim for twenty pounds and would be very excited by that.

I will soon transition to a stage 1 mushie diet which is supposed to be the consistency of baby food. I see recommendations to put fish and meat in the blender with light mayo, etc... Honestly, I can't imagine what this is supposed to look like? I also wonder how is it going to taste? Will it be liquified or merely processed into very small pieces? I'd like to hear from some of you have passed through this stage. I don't know what I'm going to eat!

Hi, I was banded on the 13th and have had everything you describe, I have experienced, except the retching. My nausea was so severe I called the surgeon's office and he called me in an anti-nausea medicine which took it away. It is still hard to drink all the fluid and protein each day, a couple of days I miss the mark by a little. The discomfort you feel in your chest when you breath is due to the surgery itself, not the band. It's painful, but deep breathing helps. Hopefully it will be easier for us to drink soon.

Hi, I love to ride too. I was banded on the 13th, as of today, although I have not been on pain meds since the 15th, I would not be anywhere near ready for a long ride. I think you should cancel your plans. Although my pain level is just soreness my strength is not what I expected. I was winded during my shower this morning. You can't afford a mistake on a bike.

I was banded on the 13th and did fine in the hospital. On coming home and trying a protein shake I became very nauseated and it has not stopped. I have very little problem with water but anything else causes gagging, no vomiting but misery. I've called the doctor for an anti-nausea medication. Is there anything else I can do? Does this happen to many people?

I, too, was banded on the 13th and upon coming home and trying a protein shake for the first time, became horribly nauseous. Bending over and other movements set it off. I took phenergan and was able to proceed with the protein. I still need the phenergan and wonder when I won't. I think we must try and be patient as we heal. I believe it will be worth it in the end.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all the advice. I called my surgeon and he gave me some anti-nausea medication which has changed everything. This is my fourth day post surgery and will be the first day that I'll get all my protein in. I think the nausea would still be there without the med. I know I don't want to feel that bad again! I still have no appetite since the surgery. I won't complain about that. I am down 12 pounds since surgery. That seems like a lot to me. I expect I have some dehydration. Thanks again.

I was banded yesterday at Georgetown Community Hospital in Georgetown, Ky. I had to be at the hospital by 7:30 a.m. I was pre-registered so I picked up a few papers at the main registration desk and took them to Surgery and then sat in a waiting room until I was called back to the prep area of the surgical suites. I gave another history to the nurse, and IV was started and I was given an injection of heparin. I was given a gown of very thick, sturdy paper with openings to facilitate the surgery. The anesthesiologist visited and the surgeon stopped by briefly then I was taken the the surgery suite. One second later I opened my eyes and the operation was over. (The surgery took about 40 minutes.) I woke up clear headed and stayed in the PACU for half an hour or so. I was given ice chips, which were wonderful. I was taken to a private room and given dilaudid for pain. The incisions have not hurt at all. A special pump/catheter was attached to the port incision in the surgurey. It's called an On-Q device. It delivers a non- narcotic pain medication directly to the site. It works great. All the medicine will be delivered in 3 to 5 days. I was uncomfortable from the gas used, achy pain in my midback, but it was helped by walking and I was walking quickly. I stayed overnight and was given 4 more heparin shots, three torodol injections and percocet for pain. I didn't need much. By 6 am this morning I felt really good. I am at home now and my stomach is sore but it's not bad. I am sipping liquids constantly and find if I go too fast I feel nausea. I am so glad to have the operation completed and to go on to my new life.

The big day is almost here! I am to be at the hospital by 7:30 tomorrow morning. I had to stop by today for some final blood work. I was even given my wrist band to wear tomorrow. I am a little nervous and just want to get on with it! I won't be able to post again until Thursday, but I will add to the surgery stories then. Good luck to everyone tomorrow. We will be bandsters when we meet again.:thumbup:

My surgeon requires all his patients to stay for a 23 hour admit. I have already met 3 other people who are having surgery the same day, so we will be walking the halls together and will be able to compare our experiences. It's reassuring for me.

I'm set for the 13th as well. I'll be the second surgery that morning! I am excited and lucky as my surgeon does not require any pre-op diet except for a clear liquid diet the day before the surgery. For those of you who fear the surgery; some fear is natural and to be expected. I have had one laproscopic surgery before and I was thrilled to find out it didn't hurt very much at all. I was home walking around my hilly yard in less than 24 hours. There was some soreness on standing after sitting a while and on getting up in the morning, but nothing major. You can do it! We can do it together.