JN816

Jen, I am still wearing my baggy clothes but I have started drying everything hoping it will shrink. I did buy some smaller summer shirts, just because the old ones kept showing my bra straps. I am seeing slow but steady progress. I have averaged about 1 pound off per week since January. I had a fill last week and am just now exeriencing the LAP-BAND® side effects. Before this last fill, I really had not problems eating anything I wanted. I would get full faster, but also got hungry before the next meal time. In enjoyed seeing everyone's progress pictures. Congratulations to everyone! I don't have any pictures to post, but do think I have lost one of my chins, two more to go!

I have not been on for a while, but think I need to get motivated so went back and read everyone's post since I was last on. I am not seeing the weight come off as fast as I expected. I had no restriction after my first two fills. After the first couple of days I could eat anything. I got full faster but seemed to also get hungry much faster. I only had one time where I had something seem to get stuck and had the slime incident several of you talk about. It only took a minute or two and I was fine. I went for my third fill on Tuesday and the nurse told me the band is about 1/2 full now. Not sure if that is more or less than normal. I had my first solid post-fill meal today noticed I still feel full and it has been about 4 hours. If this continues, I am thrilled! I hope with this fill I can get a bit more motivated on my diet. I know my surgeon is conservative and does just a bit at a time. So far I feel my weightloss has been the result of total willpower and the band is not contributing very much. I am not discouraged or unhappy about having the procedure. Just had a greater expectation than was probably realistic for me.

It has been 4 weeks since my surgery and I don't get my first fill for 2 weeks. I am on regular food now. Now that everything has healed and swelling has gone down, my appetite is back with a fury. I am trying to control on my own so I don't gain anything back, but I have to admit it can be difficult. I have noticed I get the hiccups more often now. Other than that, feel pretty normal.

Jen, I was really bloated too and it lasted about 5 days. Once the bloating went away, my appetite returned, but nothing like before the surgery. I took Metformin before my surgery to help contol blood sugar. Since the pills are so large I could not take it for a few days. My Dr. told me to monitor my blood sugar to see how I would do post surgery without it. I have been monitoring my blood sugar and since my surgery a week ago and so far my sugar levels have been normal. I am so excited, that is one RX I may be able to quit.

7 days post-op and I am feeling great today. I had a difficult time at first but that has now 'passed'. I also had to sleep in my easy chair for the first 4 days home because it was painful to sleep on my side and sleeping on by back makes an old disc injury hurt. Now that the bloated feeling is gone, I am noticing my hunger more. So far I can control it since I get full so fast. I am lucky that I can stay off work a couple of weeks to recover. I was expecting to bounce back much faster. I think my age and other health issues probably made my recovery slower, but also underlines how necessary this was for me. I am anxious for my first official post-surgical weight. I don't trust my scales here at home and have not felt good enough to drive the the YMCA just to weigh in. I think I have lost quite a bit though. I go back to my surgeon on Friday so should have the official number then!

I am 5 days post op now and have had a really hard time with other side effects. I think I must have some abdominal swelling that has kept me feeling bloated. I have been constipated for days, taking stool softeners, and Benefiber, but it has been almost a week now without a bowel movement. I think part of the problem is that I am not eating much. I keep running a low grade fever that comes and goes. My Dr. told me to call if it gets up to 101, but it never gets that high. I have not had much desire to eat anything. My stomach growls and I know I am hungry, but nothing seems to taste good and I almost have to force myself to eat something. That is so wierd! My stomach feels sore, but not very painful. I think that once I can get the constipation issue resolved, I will feel pretty good!

Tomorrow is the big day. I have to be at the hospital by 6:00 am. I made it through the preop diet fairly well. Had a few bad days but it does get easier with time. Today is clear liquids only. I am really dreading tomorrow. Not the surgery, but the fact that I have to stay overnight. Due to scheduling of the swallow test I won't be able to come home until Friday. From what I understand, no food or drink for more than 24 hrs. It is the thirst, not hunger that has me dreading it.

One week to go before my surgery. I had my pre-op work done yesterday. I have been on my pre-op diet a week now but did start partially a few days earlier. I have lost about 8 pounds since starting, so I am averaging about a pound loss per day. I am really starting to struggle to get down certain shakes It seems the more I drink the Protein shake the more nauseated I get. I almost got sick today and finally gave in and had a couple of crackers to settle my stomach. Did anyone else have this problem? Seems to happen most when I drink the pre-mix shakes. I will go back to the instant Breakfast. That seems to be the easiest for me to handle. I am also feeling really tired and brain dead by mid-afternoon. Luckily I will be off a while after surgery, so I won't have to push myself like I am now.

The logo is really cool. Thought for a while I was going to have to get help finding how to find the Jan Band Journey, but finally figured it out. I start my pre-op diet tomorrow, but decided to start working on it seriously on Monday. Have been drinking protein shake for breakfast and two low calorie meals. Will change to shakes with one meal tomorrow. I am not sure if I have lost or not because my scales here at home don't go high enough. Isn't that sad? I nomally weigh in at the YMCA, but we are having terrible weather her and I am afraid I will get stuck in the snow. I want to thank everyone that posts encouragment. I think reading the posts and keeping in touch with others is a great help. My sister had LAP-BAND®® placed in June. She still has days where she tries to eat too fast and says it really hurts and can sometimes make her throw up. She is doing really great with it now and has learned to take time when she eats. I guess unlearning a lifetime of eating quickly for work and school takes some time. So far she has lost about 50 pounds and looks great. I had to buy her regular girl clothes for Chrismas because Women's sizes are too big. That is going to be me next Christmas!

Just catching up on fellow January Bandsters. In response to question on CPAP, I have had to use one for several years now. I hated the idea at first, and even told my physician I did not want to use it. He pointed out the heart damage it can cause and convinced me to try it. After starting to use it I was shocked at how much better I slept. I remember the first night I slept so good I don't think I moved all night. Since then I can't sleep without it. I feel like I can't breathe. I have to admit, it is about the ugliest thing anyone ever created. Too bad they can't make make a CPAP mask look so silly. I am trying to find liquid diet that does not taste so bad. I have tried the Muscle Milk and it has an awful aftertaste. My surgeon requires they have at 20 grams of protein but less than 200 calories which rules out instant breakfast or SlimFast shakes. I would appreciate any recommendations anyone has.

AprilShowers2010, good luck. We have the same surgeon, but I will be having surgery 9 days after you. My sister used Dr. Malley and she has done really great 40+ pounds lost so far and no longer shops in the big girl department.

What is your current and goal weight? 306/160 2.What is your surgery date? 1/21/2010 3.What is your age? 53 4.Where do you live? KCMO area 5.Where are you having surgery? Menorah Medical Center 6.Who is your Doctor?? Stephen Malley, MD 7.Insurance or self-pay? Insurance but only 50%, I have to pay up to my catastrophic limit of $3,000 8.What was you "deciding factor" for having this surgery? I can't keep up with my 80 year old mother! I really fear that if I don't do something about my weight, I will not live to enjoy retirement with my husband! What do I want to do after I lose the weight? Do anything and not be short of breath, I long to take a walk or ride a bike and enjoy it instead of looking forward to resting.

I have my surgery date for January 21st and relieved it finally has come together. I have been working towards this goal for more than a year. I am interested in joining your group of January 2010 bandsters. I think support will help me meet my goals. About me, 53 yrs old, female, 312 highest weight and a list of co-morbidites too long to bore you with. I am a real yo-yo dieter, I lose then gain all back plus a couple extra. Well that has to stop or it is going to kill me...literally!