smitten kitten

Hi everyone, I am trying to get in touch with a coordinator for Dr. Quinones. I filled out an eligibility form on his website, but never heard from anyone. I also tried messaging someone that I think works for him on a different forum, but no response. I'm so ready for this, if someone would just speak with me!! Thanks, SK

Thank you! I PMd back

it will get better!! my first two *weeks* were hell (of course everyone is different), but after that it was like i never had surgery. trying to sleepy comfy and experiencing intense nausea are what bothered me most. i think about the 3rd day i was able to prop pillows under my tummy and rest on my side - that helped a lot with the comfort level. you just got out of surgery though, so the discomfort is totally normal. if you can get friends/fam to help you out, do it, but don't lose hope because it will get easier *bol* :thumbup:

same thing happens to me when i get my period. that's when i start drinking more Protein shakes and v8 type drinks. i also spent the past week and half sick with a bronchial infection that made me so tight i could barely eat. it's getting better now, but i know in a week i'll be doing more liquids because my period is coming - blah. i think i'm going to try and stick it out though, because i hear so much about people getting unfills and then refills and not feeling the same restriction. i guess i don't want to mess with anything until i'm at goal. can you keep liquids down at least?

How many fills have you received? Just curious if you have restriction, because that can make a world of difference.

Everything varies by doctor, but you can typically start full workouts (no heavy weights or abs) a month out of surgery. I'm not familiar with the "insanity" workouts so this may not matter, but if I remember correctly, about 6mo out you can do ab and heavy weights. To get the lap band or not is a very personal decision, as already mentioned. Only you can decide, but *if* I were you I'd probably give myself two more months. That's time to see if the injury improves, perhaps start losing, and time to research more about the band and talk with a doctor. If there was no loss or just maintenance at the end of the two months, I'd know I gave it my all and get the surgery. That's just me though, maybe you know you've given it your all, maybe not. I wish you the best of luck with your decision :thumbup:

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm also thinking about getting my arms done. I'm 33 but my weight has gone up and down all my life (I've been over 270 twice and down to 150 once) and my arms are horrendous. Because of all that stretching I will definitely need a lift - lipo just isn't going to cut it. Btw, have you checked out the plastic surgery forum here? You might find some answers there *bol* :thumbup: Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery - LAP-BAND

:thumbup: WTG

I'm 5'8 and 1/2, and shooting for 150. I just changed my ticker the other day because I had it at 145, but I'm not too sure that is realistic. If I get to even 155 I'll be ecstatic.

this is a great thread! i'm thinking of getting a tattoo (lettering) in a few weeks on my chest (under my collarbone). i'm hoping that because it's a flatter area (like the back) that it will be ok. does anyone have a chest tattoo that has fared well?

I definitely miss food! I know have some issues too because I think about it all the time. But I hear that once a person reaches their sweet spot they become less focused on food and eating in general. I hope this is true.

I've been thinking about going to one myself for weight and stress. I have a friend here that swears by it, but I've love to hear from more people with experience.

I think this is so true. I live in a country where it's normal to be blunt about weight. It's nothing for a Korean person to publicly ask questions about how much you weigh, what you eat, and make comments that as a North American I find insensitive. But to them it's just how things are - most people don't mean to come off rude. The only difference here is that I live in their country, and so I have to adjust to the cultural norms; sorta the same way I would expect the woman from Jamaica too. Then again, since most Americans can be rude about it (as proven by posts here), she probably doesn't think she is saying anything wrong. If I were the OP I would tell my co-worker what she said affected me negatively. Perhaps if her behavior is called out she'll think twice about making comments in the future. By the way OP, maybe I'm mistaken, but didn't you post about your boss telling everyone that you were having the surgery? If that was you, I feel so sorry that you have to work with so many idiots!

I'm feeling pretty confused about what's going on with my band - just looking for some insight here. Thanks in advance! I had my first fill on Friday and the dr put 6cc in my band. I thought that seemed like quite a bit, but I drank a cup of Water in his office and was fine. Maybe because I thought that was a big fill (or just wishful thinking), I expected to hit my sweet spot or close to it. Apparently not (or maybe I'm wrong), because now it's been a few days and I've been eating a lot of veggie chili, about 1/2-3/4 cup at a time, but I find myself hungry within 3 hours. In fact, I feel hungrier now than I did last week - maybe head hunger(?). I want to eat more, but I'm trying not to because I'm so afraid of stretching my pouch. I'm wondering if the chili is a slider food. Also, I noticed that with some bites I can actually feel the food slowly going down in my chest - is this normal? I thought it indicated being too tight.

thanks for the tips everyone. what really sucks is that i'm living in a foreign country where finding real cheese is next to impossible. i'm also a vegetarian so i don't eat meat, eggs, pork, fish or poultry. veggie chili is something i love and i figured i'd get the Protein from the Beans, but i'm going to have to really limit my intake since it's probably a slider for me. i think i'll try it with less sauce and more veggies. i'm also going to start searching for other sources that are available to me - maybe soy meats or something. i'm really hoping that with the right food and maybe another fill i reach the sweet spot *fingers crossed*

I'm a vegetarian so beans are a staple in my diet. I can eat pinto, baked, kidney, red bean, etc. I try to get in some form of beans every day, simply because they are a good source of protein and fiber for me. I haven't had any problems so far and I had some veggie chili last night - a day after my first fill. I think I will try out salad this week, but I've heard some people refer to it as a slider food, so I'm not sure.

I felt the same way just out and by the second week I was burping 'full' burps. I'm not sure but that stuck burp feeling might also have something to do with tummy swelling from the surgery. Regardless, it is really annoying, I know. I went for my first fill Friday and now I have the opposite problem and I'm burping like crazy. I'm hoping this is not permanent.

I gave mine up post-op. The first week you will be on pain killers and probably won't get a headache, at least I didn't and I had a big diet coke/coke zero habit. BOL

I think this has been posted before, but I couldn't seem to dig up the thread. I'm about 3 1/2 weeks post-op and my doctor says I can exercise, but I'm nervous. I had the last of my stitches removed 4 days ago and he put a staple in my belly button which he plans on removing next Friday. I just fear that by using some of my workout vids (Biggest Loser, Jillian, ect) that I'll bust/tear something. I think about the stitches/staples and the port on my muscle and everything in between going wrong. I know I should stay away from heavy weight lifting (not a prob since the heaviest weights I have are about 6 pounds) and ab exercises, but what about these vids. Is anyone else out there almost 4 weeks post-op (or has been) and working up a sweat. I guess I need a little reassurance that it's okay to get my butt moving. Btw, my Biggest Loser vids go on and on about how "We're working the core", but isn't that my abdominal muscles too (where the port is)?

would you both mind providing links? i can't seem to locate either member on yt. thanks in advance

my surgery will be at the end of the month and i'm nervous about the fills. my biggest fear is that it will take many (discouraging) months before i feel any restriction. i know everyone is different, but i'm wondering how long it took some of you to find your "sweet spot"? does band size matter? pre-surgery bmi/weight make a difference? are there any tips to help get in that green zone easier/quicker?

I'm not proud to admit it, but I smoked a cig about 4 hours before surgery. I felt like crap after surgery, but 5 days post-op I started smoking again. Right now I have it in me to focus on my weight and being caffeine free. Once I reach restriction I intend on starting chantix, but one thing at a time. I would try to take it easy on the smokes, because it will interfere with healing, but can relate if you've already had one by the time you read this. Just remember to do your breathing exercises. My doctor sent me home with this plastic thing-a-majig and I made sure to use it every few hours - it's supposed to prevent pneumonia and probs with your lungs.

My doctor gave me the "okay" to continue drinking caffeine, but I was drinking insane amounts before surgery. And no matter how hard I try to justify it, drinking mass amounts of caffeine is not healthy and could impede my weight loss. Now if you're one of those people that can drink it in moderation then more power to you - I'm not one of them. It's usually all or nothing with me. I went cold turkey after surgery and was so focused on the healing/gas/nausea/etc. that I didn't even think about drinking it. The pain killers must have helped, because I never got a headache. That being said, I think what you're doing with the weening is a much better way to go about it, because I was a pretty bitchy my first week w/o the diet coke and coffee. Perhaps, if you slowly continue to ween you can avoid the headache altogether.

I had no clue - thanks for the link! :mad:

I still haven't figured that one yet, so hopefully someone else has more input. When I moved here I actually thought it might stand for Korean Calorie, which had me even more perplexed Can you read Korean food labels? I can't, so I use this page Website - Korean food nutritional information I always try to remember that "fat" (지방 ) is the hangul that looks like it starts with an upside down Y - lol Personally, I think Korean processed food (snacks) are loaded with fat - much more than back home, but that's because there isn't that large of an obese population here. In the states there is diet food and low cal this or low fat that everywhere! Korean people seem to eat the Snacks in moderation, so they can afford to have a fattening treat every now and then. More power to 'em, but I miss the variety from back home. In fact, I think I'd kill for a Lean Cuisine pizza right now :thumbup: