NurseSophie

I work in Surgery and definitely think this may be your gallbladder...go see doc asap.

Yes, actually, stress can cause you to retain belly fat. Stress causes the release of cortisol that does that to us. Take walks! Release endorphins!

Way to go on your way to SKINNY!! And HEALTHY!

I wasn't told no gum but the first time I chewed it, I was miserable! I do "ok" now but am only 3 weeks post op. I LOVE straws but will ask him tomorrow at my post op appointment what he thinks about straws. Glad you are feeling better!

My surgeon told me that was actually normal....that he sees it often. Fortunately, mine was already out :-)

Yes...thought I would lose my mind with the itching. As a nurse I knew what it was and it was a GOOD thing...but man! :-)

Jack..what happened to you was because of your medical history. It is surgery for sure but this does not happen to just anyone. I am an RN that works in surgery. I think though, once you get past this hump..you will be so glad you did it! My experience and the experience of so many others is nothing like this. Hope you are up and around soon!

I had it too really badly a couple of days ago and then it stopped. Right now, my only spot is a slightly sore port area. I am feeling close to myself! :-) (I used a heating pad just for comfort)

Way to go! I was able to click on the photo to enlarge it! You look great!

I have yet to read about anyone else having to wear a binder around your waist post op but my skin was itching so badly last night, it woke me up. I really like the support the binder gives me but I felt like I was going insane with the itchiness! I even took a Benadryl which helped me sleep, not so much for itchiness. Just wondering if anyone else had this problem. Nurse Sophie, banded April 28, 2010 Highest 309 SW 286 WDOS 272 Today 263.4 Goal wt: to take it one day at a time and do what I'm told and see where it takes me!

Leave'em on! I'm a new bandster AND Same Day Surgery/Recovery room nurse. You CAN trim the ends as they pull away but that's all!

Congrats! What a great accomplishment! :-)

During one of the seasons, I took the time to read the players' blogs..NO THANK YOU. Their life is not realistic, like so many other weight loss efforts and unless you continue the regimen, you will gain back the wt. That is reason 2004 why I love the idea of being banded. It is a tool to help keep that from happening if I let it!

Don't forget about ebay! It's a GREAT way to make money that will help you buy your new clothes. I'm big into donating also but I think this huge overhaul could get expensive! (banded April 28, 10) If you type in "Size 22 Jean lot" you can often find a group of jeans, not just one pair...for the same price as a new pair. Just a thought...

I so get what you are saying...I started a new blog..."thereisfoodeverywhere.blogspot.com"...I couldn't get over it. Now that I'm on day five post op...I notice the food and today I have an appetite but I'm ok. Really ok. You will be too!

I was also banded on April 28th and for me, every day I've gone down as far as the bloating. Yesterday I looked pregnant and looked horrible but just made a joke about me and the baby going to Walmart. Today it was down significally. :-) Hang in there and give it all time. It's normal.

Your post made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes because today is the day I'm realizing it doesn't matter how much I want something, HA HA in your face, it won't go down! I just got banded on April 28 and don't really have much of an appetite yet but my head is messing with me. And I laughed because I can finish NOTHING. :-) Wish it would go on forever but it will return with restriction :-)

I never thought it would happen to me...I have such a phobia to feeling hungry but I never was completely satisfied on my pre op 10 day diet. I did drink a lot more. That did help. I honestly believe the SF popsicle helped a lot as well. And I lived! I took it one day at a time and looked back at what I had accomplished. YOU CAN DO THIS! By the way, I was allowed two Protein drinks per day....one protein snack and three SF jellos and/or Sf popsicles and all the Crystal light and Water I wanted. I LOVE crushed ice and used that as well as my favorite Starbucks cup to carry around with me.

The first two days of my 10 day preop diet I thought I was going to DIE! food is my life and now I was so limited. I had a specific craving every single day but I never cheated. I figured that if I couldn't do this 10 day diet I had no business getting the band. Now I'll admit..I'm an all or nothing girl....but I took that 10 days and watched what I needed to change to succeed. I'm two days post banding and I am SO THANkFUL for that pre op diet. First of all, I lost 14 pounds on it. Nice jumpstart. Second, I learned that I would survive. I am at peace knowing that although not easy, I can do this! That pre op diet gave me the encouragement I needed. YOU CAN DO IT!!! I believe in you! It's just food. Eat to live..not live to eat. That was never the purpose of food. Jump back on the wagon!

I was also banded on the 28th. I kept thinking "this is it?". Then I rode home an hour and a half and was quickly humbled. I was in gas pain hell for about 6 hours. I had looked on here at all the gas relief and did it ALL! Something worked because I slept in my recliner waking up only twice for meds and a sip of Water. This morning at 0620 I felt SO MUCH BETTER. Much more like myself. I am wearing a binder so hubby has to help me put that on. I got a shower and washed my hair. GLORY! I've been sipping water all day and even got a Protein shake in after about an hour. It does get better!! I am proof! Hang in there!

This is my first post ever in the 6 months I've been on lapband talk. My banding was done on April 28, two days ago and I couldn't wait to get on here and tell ya'all about it! I still cannot believe it's actually done...that *I* actually did it. First of all, I did it with much prayer. Nothing in my life this big will be done in haste and this is one of the biggest things in my lifetime. Second, I had the total support of my spouse or I wouldn't have been able to do it. Wednesday morning, we were to arrive at 0530 at United Regional Hospital in WF, TX. Fortunately, we were staying in a hospitality house a few hundred feet away. Once I arrived, we waited for about 5 minutes for my name to be called. I had already started tearing up and didn't understand why. I am also a Same Day Surgery nurse and a Recovery room nurse. Once I was oriented to my room, I started bawling. I knew it was nerves and that if I let the tears out I would feel better so I did. My nurse who got me ready was amazing. Then anesthesia came in as well as the chaplain and another M.D. came in. I was used to all the activity due to my own job. Oh and my surgeon came in for a second. Due to a staff meeting, my surgery was delayed by an hour. I was finally wheeled back at around 0720. I had been given an Ativan around 0600 so much of the rest is a fog. LOL I think I was wheeled directly into the O.R. and I recall sliding onto the table. Once again, all of this was surreal because it's what I normally do, but not as a patient! :-) Next thing I know, I'm in recovery and I'm very very hazy and drowsy. But I remember a feeling of elation....of thinking of the band as mine. I also had a hiatal hernia repair I was told. I was wheeled to my own private room on the bariatric floor around 10am. I remember being TICKED because I realized I had a binder on and as a nurse, I think they are so cruel. The nurses loosened it but transferring to my new room/bed is all very foggy as well. By 2pm, I was texting and watching television. I wasn't allowed anything until 4pm and was dying for SOMETHING to wet my mouth. I had never known such thirst. My sweet nurse brought me spongy things to wet my mouth. At 0400, I had the BEST tasting ice Water in the world AND was also given a cup of apple juice halfed with water and lots of ice. I sipped it very slowly and got full very quickly. My greatest fear through all of this process is being dehydrated. I kept sipping and sipping and probably became obsessed about it until the next day when my urine was a sufficient color. LOL (ever the nurse) Around 12 I asked for a pain shot. Around 5, I asked if I could have p.o. meds and no more IV morphine. I was then given Lortab 7.5mg every 6 hours. I slept on and off through the night but I can tell you I kept thinking, "this is it? this is really it?". I woke up at 3am and walked the halls some more. (oh, hubby had walked with me a few times that first evening) My best friend had stopped by and even said, "you don't even look like you had surgery". AWESOME! At 3am, after walking, I drank some more water and juice. The floor rules are to shower daily at 0530 with hibiclens. Since I was up, I didn't mind. I kept dozing until the doc came in around 0750. I was ordered to have some Lasix due to some swelling. I also managed to get down around four 12 oz cups of liquid. I was finally discharged to home, which is an hour and a half away around noon. They walked me to my car outside and I did fine until the ride home. That made me very sore and I was taking my pain meds early. By 9pm, though I was asleep in recliner after fighting tons of gas pain and soreness. I woke up this a.m. around 0620 for good and feel tons better. I still have NO APPETITE and have to force anything down. That cracks me up. I am walking often and sipping tons of water. I took an hour to get a Protein Shake down but got it down! I really hope this helps others because so many others on here have helped me! Nurse Sophie Highest wt 309 Wt at dr consult 288 Wt surgery date 272 Current Wt 271