Lisa G.

Hi Yall! Sugarbear, I got my first fill at 6 weeks. And you are in what some people call Banster Hell. No restriction. Ask Susan, I fussed about being hungry All the time. Hang in there, it gets better when you get some stuff in your band. I have practically lived on refried beans since surgery. I have eaten other things, of course, but I keep going back to the beans. They seem to fill me up and stay with me better than anything else. vylynn, I cheated this week. We had two birthdays in our family this week and of course I had to have birthday cake. I thought I was goin to heaven. So, birthday cake is off my list. Even just a bite felt like someone had hit me with a ball bat or something. Hurt like the dickens. Hang in there. Don't get discouraged. I was stuck for a while and I'm not loosing as quickly as I want too, but maybe I won't have a lot of saggy skin. Have you measured? While I thought I was stuck, I had lost FIVE inches from my waist. So maybe you are just re-arranging? Yall have a good rest of the day! lisa

Yall remember Hee-Haw? Hey hopefulchurch.... How are you feeling?? Remember what we said... walk as much as you are able. I promise it helps.

I'm from just north of Mt. Pleasant. Meadows Curve. Population 10 Sa-lute! lol lisa

red. (I'm such wimp, it's probably the weakest!) lol

Hey Susan! I think I just might have some restriction today! Believe it or not..... I haven't been hungry all day. That is sooo cool. Went to Wally World this morning and got one of those bands everyone was talking bout. I think I got one for the Incredible Hulk, cause it's hard to pull. By next month, I will look like muscle woman! lol later, lisa

Good morning hopefulchurch. Welcome aboard. Yes, the liquid diet is hard to follow, but it can be done. Everyone here that has had the surgery did it and you can too. You just have to set your mind to it. Stay busy and when you think you are hungry, drink some water or something.(you will have to start that anyway) Since your surgery is friday, think about how exciting it is to be able to start a new kind of life. I promise you, that's what it is. Yes, food is an addiction and you can't quit it like alcohol or drugs, but you can set your mind to eat the right kinds of foods in the right amounts. That has to happen when you get the band with proper restriction. You have to be determined to do this in order for it to work. I'm sorry, I can't help with the mood thing. I was so excited to finally be approved and my surgery was scheduled so quickly after approval that I didn't get moody. I was on cloud nine , or was it ten? Anyway, just think about the outcome of this whole pre-op thing... you will have a band when it's over!!! When you start loosing, I feel like your moods will change. Don't think about how little you can have..think about how much you will be changing. Check the noscales.com web site and look for support group meetings. I think the next one is in Idabel. If you can attend those, they help with support that family can't give, cause they (family) don't always know what it's all about. Bansters do and they will help you in any way they can as far as support. And that's my sermon for the day. Have a good one! lisa

Your welcome, Sugarbear. Second fill and I guess I can feel some restriction. When you get a fill, you have to do a day of liquid, a day of mushies and then start on regular food again. Yesterday was liquid. I will know more today. I do feel different this morning. Had my coffee to warm up the esophagus and now I'm just not hungry. How bout that? lol Yes, I went by the day of my surgery as far as the week (2) went. My surgery was on a friday, so I went from friday to friday as my week. I go to the Mt. Pleasant meetings. We had a good group last nite. Good discussion. I really enjoyed it. I'm still kinda new at this also and I like to hear from people that have had the band longer. they are a lot of help. You can get lots of ideas from them. Anyway, better git. Time to get the little boy up for school Have a good day! lisa

Well...... I'm back from Texarkana. I almost didn't get my second fill until I told Dr. K. I stayed hungry. Whewwwww! I sure was glad she gave me one. I sure hope this one helps. Sugarbear, when I do my ticker, I do this: I open 2 windows in one window go to the ticker website and make your ticker. in the other window come to this site and go to your "User CP". (above the posts and to the left in the small blue bar) when you get there, on the left side of the page, click on Edit signature. When you get this done, go to the other window and RIGHT Click on the PICTURE of your ticker and "copy" back to the "signature window" and in the box that says "edit signature". (It will be under the Preview box.) and right click again in that box and Paste the ticker in that window. And that should do it. :clap2: That sounds like it's clear as mud. but that's the way I do it. Good luck. lisa

I get mine TODAY! (2nd fill) Yea Me. I have started loosing again, but I think it's because I have been on spring break also. Six year old little boys are hard on old mommas. lol And I think I have felt a little restriction the last few days. (Maybe in my head) I also find that if I add something to the water, it's lots easier to drink. I use the lemonade, wild strawberry and the great value cranberry apple. I did try the Vitasplash, but wasn't thrilled with the bland taste of the vitamin stuff. Yall have a good day! I'm off to the races today. Gonna be busier! lisa

Sugarbear, you have to remember that there is nothing in your band yet. This is the time for healing. I didn't feel any restriction until after my first fill and it's not much. The last few days, I have been feeling some restriction, but I have been hungry also. I also thought I was overdoing the liquids, and tried not to do too much at a time. Remember, you can eat every 3 hours on the liquid diet, then mushies I think is every 4 hours. I remember Mrs. Betty saying one time. Don't test the band. Try to see how little you can eat and be satisfied. I don't think that necessarily applies to you right now, but you might try it. Are you adding protein to the stuff you are drinking? It looks like you need some more. Amy wants us to try to get our protein in solid form. I know you aren't able to do that right now. And I know you aren't too fond of the slim fast, but they will help also. (I know, yuck!) (And help with the hunger) As for the weight loss.... I was stuck for a long time. I was just loosing a little at a time, now I am starting to loose again. Believe me, I know it's frustrating, but just stick with it. You are just in the beginning stages and your body is trying to get used to the idea that it has a foreign object in there. Bottom line....it doesn't look like you are doing too much if you are taking your time about getting it down, to me. sorry for all the rambling. lisa

Congratulations Blondy!!! I know how you feel. I was 6 days shy of my 40th birthday when our little boy was born. I was told at the age of 21 that I would never have children. (not a weight issue) But low and behold, God blessed us and we were in total shock! But we really feel that he is a gift from God. Keep us posted on your progress, don't forget about us. I get my second fill Monday. I will be so glad. I really need it. I stay hungry alot. But I am loosing again. (haven't changed my ticker either lol) Sugarbear, hang in there. You are doing great. Just don't forget next week. lol vlynn, stay away from the refrigerator! It's bad for you! Yall have a good day! lisa

Why would that be depressing??? If I kept one, I would be depressed about how much I could eat. And wouldn't be a small quantity. I just measure out what I eat and when it's gone, that's it until the next meal. But, I am caving in. I know most of it is head hunger and thats a big problem. I can't seem to conquer that one! But, one of these days! And then there are those days where I want a hershey bar, but I won't get into that. grrrrr lisa

Yep, meeting next monday. I think I may be in trouble. Did Ms. Betty tell us to keep a journal? Or did I dream that? If I didn't dream it, I know I'm in trouble cause I don't have my homework. The dog ate it. lol Have a good day! lisa

Hey Donna.. Maybe it is just nerves. lol Hope everything goes smoothly thursday! lisa

I can.... Compared to a section.... lap band is a breeze. With a section, you have a fairly good size incision. With lap band, it's only 5 little ones. My longest is over the port area and it's about 1 3/4" long. I had some soreness for a few days. Port site was sore for a couple of weeks. Other than that, it was nothing. I went to Sam's after being dismissed from the hospital. Shopped for a long time. I really don't think you would be able to do that with a C-section. lol Oh, the trach tube is standard procedure. It's part of the anesthesia. But, DO NOT worry about that, you don't even remember it. It is removed before you are aware of it being there. It made the back of my throat a little scratchy for a day or two, but it wasn't bad. Honestly, I have had several surgeries also, and this surgery, by far, had to be the easiest. My advice is to try not to dwell on the surgery itself. I know it's the most important part and it's best to be well informed about it, but on a scale of 1 to 10, I would say it's a 3 or 4. Not bad at all. I think surgery for carpal tunnel is MUCH worse than lapband. Sugarbear, glad to hear you are doing better. Keep up the good work. Vlynnfogg, thank you for the incouragement. I am getting very discouraged and the little bright spot you mentioned about the second fill being better, makes me feel a little better. I get my second fill, Monday (19th) and I hope mine will help alot. I have been very hungry for the last 3 weeks. And I haven't lost like I feel like I should have. Eight pounds since Feb 5th when I got the first fill. My goal was to loose 50 total before Easter, but I guess I fizzled out on that one. I guess I'm thru on the soapbox...... next? lisa

Still here.... still hungry. Next Monday can NOT get here soon enough. Haven't posted cause Tanner is out of school this week. He keeps me pretty busy. How are you? Is the foot better? Still have restriction? Have you heard from Jana lately? Have a good day! lisa

Hey vlynnfogg. I am getting a fill the 19th. Looks like you are doing great. Keep it up! Me on the other hand, seem to be stuck. I have tried everything. Since, I got my meds right, I feel lots better and am now able to walk my mile or so everyday. That should help. But I am looking forward to a fill. Sugarbear, stay positive, it will just get better and better as each day goes by. Melanie, the doctors also have another web site that you can get information from. noscales.com You also have the ablility to ask them and the staff questions. Maybe that will help with the info. Donna, You go girl. You can do it too. We are here to support you all the way! Yall have a good day! lisa

yep, March 19th. It ain't soon enough for me. lisa

Hi Susan, I hate to hear about the foot. Have you seen a doc? Don't wait if it's really bruised. I'm glad to hear that you are not hungry. I wish I wasn't. lol Girl.... you sound like you are as graceful as me. lol If you need anything...... lisa

Hi yall! hope everyone is doing ok today. lo2us, make SURE you have all the criteria the insurance needs before you appeal the decision. Did you keep a copy of everything? (All reports and letters) Do you have something from the insurance company that states what they want? Go back thru everything and see if you missed jumping thru one hoop. Call the insurance company and ask them why they denied it. My surgery was denied at first because all the paperwork wasn't turned in together. (faxed at different times) I saw the seminar that Dr. H and Dr. K had in Mt. Pleasant and decided to change drs and procedures. All my stuff was sent all together and there was no problems. Approved within 5 days! If you have been denied, don't give up but be very careful about appeals. You only have few. Depends on the ins. co. Sugarbear, how do you feel today? Be sure to move. It will help! Drink your water. lisa

I see you Sugarbear...... How do you feel? lisa

I was once told, the only dumb question is the one that is not asked. So...you are not asking dumb questions...lol RNY is a type of gastric bypass. There is still a small "pouch" and the larger part of the stomach is cut away from it. The lower part of the small intestine is then attached to the pouch and wha-lah... gastric bypass. I didn't want all my "stuff" moved around and reconnected somewhere else. I guess that would be another reason the band COULD be considered reversable. Nothing is reconnected somewhere other than where it's supposed to be. lisa

It should be considered permanent. But there are things that would cause the band to have to be removed. Erosion is one of them. In that case, it would be a good thing to be able to remove it. To be honest, I don't know why some people would consider it to be a temporary thing. It takes a lot of work just to get approved for one. I have read on other boards where people had their band removed and went for RNY. But, I have also read that there are people that had RNY and then got banded. Blondylocks, stay with it, girl you can do it! I know it's hard at first, but you can do this. Just think about the end results....... lisa

Hello lo2us! Welcome to the board. I researched my band for almost a year before gettin it. If you are considering WLS...my advice is to do exactly what you are doing now. Ask questions, read the boards, go to other web sites. Anything and everything you can learn about each procedure before you decide. The ultimate decision will be yours. You will have to live with whatever you do the rest of your life. Some people look at the band as a reversible procedure, but I don't. I wanted my band to help me the rest of my life and now that I have it, there ain't nobody gonna take it away from me.lol If you have questions, please, ask. Someone will answer. Good luck with your decision. lisa

I'M HUNGRY..... didn't you hear my stomach growl? lol I am sooooo ready to get another fill. How are you doing now that you are all "fixed"? lol lisa