NurseSophie

Let me share what the band has done for me in less than two months.... Dropped 40 pounds. Went from Size 24 to 18 Went from XXXL to XL Lost two of my three chins Will be able to fit onto any ride at six flags more energy! no foot pain no knee pain I cannot explain what it feels like every time I step on the scale...it's like a dream come true. Every single time..even when I haven't lost! I had given up hope of ever living like this again. No more "obese waddling"... I have a waist Smaller butt Cute ankles But....BUT...it is a very personal decision and you need to be mentally ane emotionally prepared. I just wish I had done it much sooner but took 3 years to decide.

I'm a Same Day Surgery/Recovery room nurse...a lot of times people start developing low grade temps and just need to walk and deep breathe and cough. Normally it has to do with respiratory issues. An infection at the surgical site would give you a much higher temp plus terrible pain. Soooo, try walking and deep breathing and coughing to get those lungs ventilating!

Way to go!!

I was banded in April and have lost a total of 39 pounds so that part has been amazing! HOWEVER, I'm hungry all the time! It drives me crazy! I feel like I'm eating way more often than I ever did before my band. Saying that, I realize it's normal until I get to my sweet spot. I do have a 1100 calorie limitation the surgeon placed on me for now and I try to stay within that. Can you guys share with me your food ideas to help me get the most for my calories? I often eat tuna, chicken, strawberries, saltines with string cheese, SF pudding, etc. I do have a sodium issue so have to be careful with the types of foods I'm eating. I also cannot have tomatoes. Cheddar cheese although yummy is full of sodium and I retain water weight. I'm not bored with my food, I'm just super hungry! LOL My food lasts me about 2 hours and then my stomach acts as if it's never seen food before! LOL Thanks ahead of time for your input!

Thank you so much for your replies. I actually get plenty of protein in....easily 80-100 g per day! I think calling for a fill sooner might be the answer.

I thought the itching would drive me crazy. On top of that, I had to wear a binder. My stomach was raw....I would scratch it in my sleep! I did lotion fresh out of the shower....and then throughout the day..avoiding my incisions of course.

I'm a surgery nurse and never ever ever put anything on a surgery wound. Neosporin is more for like skinned knees or paper cuts. Even then I don't personally use it...we tell patients just soap and water and that's it. Get better soon! :-)

I normally have 2 servings of Saltines through my day....usually with tuna and a string cheese. I do well with them for now. I also tried Wheat Thins yesterday....had to make sure I chewed well and eat slow but did ok with those too!

My work voted that I could NOT participate. :-(

I do not enjoy dining out like I used to because after just a few bites, I am FULL!! It's GREAT though because my whole life revolved around eating. If you don't mind leftovers you'll be fine :-)

I just want to give you a hug and tell you to hang in there! I'm worried you're maybe not getting enough calories? Do not become obsessed...I see how easy it is. This doesn't happen over night....I've had two weeks where my scale didn't move...up my calories and BAM! three days in a row again!

I throw it in my protein drink but haven't tried making peanut butter from it

I love cottage cheese and since I was a kid, I would mix it with applesauce. So now there are flavored applesauce so I loved the peach applesauce with my cottage cheese. I also love the packets of already made tuna salad. They're like 1.00 each and easy to take places. I'm not fond of mashed taters but they filled me up fast. I cannot imagine only a medicine cup full? I've seen calorie ranges from 800 up to 1300 on here. I do better when I go on the higher side because otherwise, your body starts to hoard the energy/calories thinking you are starving it.

Congrats!! I went from morbidly obese to obesity cat. I :-)

Oh I miss straws and only once have I almost used one accidently...in habit. Someone was trying to be nice and handed me a drink at work with a straw like before not knowing....I put it up to my mouth and then gasped! Then removed it. I was never told to sip...but my band tells me that gulping isn't going to work either. I was also never told no straws. I'm going to ask next time I'm there!

I've started a rule for myself...I used to mistaken "not being full" with being hungry. Now I want to feel the tummy grumbling before I put anything in it. It's so hard though because I'm breaking lifelong habits.

My nutritionist from my surgeon's office suggested crock pot chicken which I LOVE. I also added some chicken broth that was just sitting in frig from pre op diet. Even my husband loved it and it went down very well. Oh and I used skinless boneless thighs.... Also, I'm a huge cottage cheese fan and tuna fan...and there are tuna envelopes that are perfect to put in purse. Hope this helps! :-)

I have never burped so much in my life and it can be very random! LOL I've gotten used to the discomfort so when I notice it, just walk around and have a Praise Jesus moment when it comes out :-)

OK....educated guess here...based on my nursing experience....POSSIBLY you have extra fluid and it's constricting your lungs when trying to walk up stairs...keeping enough oxygen from going to your brain and when that happens, yes, you become agitated. It should get better with time!

If she is truly a friend...your BEST friend...this is worth trying to save. You cannot change her and her reactions...but you cannot give up your new path to good health to make her feel better either. The Bible says "a friend loveth at all times". Period. If she isn't able to do that...was she truly a friend? I'm sorry! I know it's hard....but look to people who support you. They are gems!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this post! I was banded April 28, 2010. I had yet to go back on my Nexium. I did not take my diabetes meds (was on two) and my sugars are normal or in low 120's. My BP was 118/70 the other day! I am REJOICING at the new me! I've lost 32 pounds since pre op diet. My knees and feet don't hurt and my back went from sore to slightly stiff at times. Thank you for posting this!

That was the one thing that worried the stink out of me...getting dehydrated. I am a huge water drinker and am a nurse. Your body will let you know when to stop. It sounds like you are doing great!

I'm four weeks post up and have been back to work as a surgery nurse almost two weeks. I feel GREAT! Like reverie said bending over can hurt a bit but the last five days or so I've noticed very little pain if any. I'm starting to finally truly feel like ME!!!! I have learned to carry a lunch bag around with food I can eat and usually at least 2 bottles of water. Have a GREAT time!

I'm thankful for the encouraging words but even if I never hear one....I needed this lapband for my health and had nobody else in mind when I got it...I did it for ME and MY health. Fortunately, I am surrounded by amazing loving supportive people/friends/coworkers. The Bible defines friendship as "a friend loveth at all times"...so if someone is so shallow to walk away because of my success for my health, they weren't my friend. I always tell people how much their encouraging words mean to me and I have never even worried about who wasn't saying anything. Life is too short and this journey is too hard :-)