YUMMYTUMMY

I live in Nashville too and went to Dr Morton! He was great, I love the staff there!!! (same price of course)

One more - I'm a frequent flyer, so I'm sure my fellow passengers are THANKFUL my fat butt isn't spilling over into their seat anymore!!! lol

I just had to share b/c I got caught off gaurd, and maybe ya'll can relate. Went in yesterday for my 4th fill (banded Aug 16). I'm down 51 lbs since starting weight about Aug 2nd. So, I really wasn't sure if i was going to need one, feels like i'm pretty close to green. So, everytime I've went in, every 4 weeks I've lost about 12 lbs. Well, I knew it wasn't as good this time (Halloween candy from the office, menu testing for my restaurant, etc...I had a few hurdles this month). So, she told me I was down 9 lbs over the past 4 weeks. After talking to the Doc a little, i told her I would feel guilty if I got a fill, b/c i just wasn't really sure if i needed it or if i was just being selfish for not losing as much as i had b4. She starts telling me i am doing great, and not to be so hard on myself, I will always have hurdles...blah, blah...I do realize this, I do. But then I started talking about me being scared that once i eat say a piece of candy, i'm the type of person that just wants to keep eating it, and just how scared i am about going back to the way I was...I don't want to be FAT anymore!!! I started crying!!! What the hell??? I was shocked!! I didn't know i was really having any of those feelings. Lol, of course I started laughing and apologizing! The doc said I had no idea how many people are always crying in her office!!! I'm just not normally that type of person. Anyway, we settled on a .2 cc fill, she felt good about doing that (half of what i got last time) after talking a little bit. I don't go back until 8 weeks now...I'll cross my fingers!! She gave me a big hug when I left and called me a "crybaby". We laughed b/c she knows i am as sarcastic as her, and i know she cares about me. So, I guess all in all, it was a good day.

Thanks ladies! I know only you all on this site can relate to those feelings...even though i try and not show them in public! lol And yes, I should have clarified...it wasn't actually my doc (even though i really like him too) it was the nurse practitioner that sees me for my fills. She is banded too, so she totally relates...luv her!!!

I am thankful for my new found love for soy milk. I never would have tried it if it weren't for new life as a bandster. Light soy nog protein shakes during the holidays - all the pleasure with none of the guilt! Thank You!!!! :blushing:

Has anybody tried the Sprayology Mulivitamins yet? I think they just came out this summer, they actually have a lot of different things (stress relief, B-12, PMS, sleep) and are natural. You just spray some under your tounge twice a day. IDK, it looked pretty cool (saw in a magizine) and i'm not good at taking Vitamins b/c i think they all taste BLEK!!! Just curious

You will love it on this site, I promise! So many supporters on here. No "band haters"! I love coming on here...It's my secret when I first get to work in the morning for about 30min. My guilty pleasure! It helps me start off my day on the right foot. WELCOME!:thumbup:

I understand what you are saying. I got banded Aug 16th and did not tell a single soul and STILL haven't. I just didn't want to tell anybody, simple as that. I guess I'm a little stubborn and independant that way, I always have been. I come from a large family - 5 brothers - no sisters, and we are all pretty close. I live in a different city than my family so it was a little easier to hide, lol. I took a cab to the hospital, and took a cab home 6 hours later. Stocked up on everything i needed ahead of time, and never looked back since and have been 100% fine. I really wanted to tell my best friend, but I kinda like the fact that i have my little secret that belongs to ME...it's MY body after all. I am proud of myself...the first time in a while. Everybody is different, and so is their journey. But I just wanted to give you an example of somebody who did this all on their own and is absolutely fine. I am down 45lbs so far and couldn't be happier. When I have a problem, a question, or need to vent...I come here! There are so many wonderful ppl on here that have "been there, done that" and aren't afraid to answer embarrising questions, or can give you some awesome words of encouragement. Thank you to everyone that has helped me so far!!! :thumbup: Good Luck on whatever you decide to do, and I look forward to seeing you on here!

I'm a light smoker also (about 1 pack a week). My doc never said anything about smoking. I know it slows the healing process, but 2 yrs ago when I broke my arm they told me the same thing...it will slow the bone healing, and I should quit. Well, I got my cast off 2 weeks early b/c I was healing so fast...go figure! Anyway, I'm not condoning smoking after ANY surgery, (I know it is not good for me) but sitting around the house for a couple days after surgery, I was definately smoking. I can only work on one vice at a time, and this surgery was my first step in living a healthier lifestyle. Soooo...about 6 weeks later, everything is fine with me and I've been smoking since. But like I said, I'm not a heavy smoker! Just being honest!

So I was reading alot about everybody's fills b4 I got my first one the other day. Little nervous about how some ppl are miserible, too tight, not enough, etc... Well, I think my doc does something that is pretty cool (don't know if its the norm), so I thought I'd share... I leaned back on the bed, he gave me the numb shot. Then he stuck the needle in (my port is right in the middle under my sternum) and then told me to sit up with the needle still sticking in. I thought this was really wierd, and I felt kinda dumb...but I did it anyway. He put some Fluid in and then gave me a cup and told me to take two good drinks of Water. He then asked if i could feel it going through, or if it was just sitting there. He said "if you have to burp that's ok, just let it rip...that's ok". I said i could feel it was going through. Then he put a little more in and told me to take another drink and to tell him again. I was having some discomfort and pain, and it wouldn't go down...it hurt!! He said, "ok, I'm going to slowly let some out...let me know when you loose the discomfort and it goes through". He immediately let some out and as soon as it eased up...I told him and he stopped! He took the needle out and told the nurse how much he put in! DONE. Only 1.2cc. I thought that was a little low, but hey, it was obviously all I can handle for now so I'm fine with it! I would rather have that and have him test it, than to get home, be over filled and find out the hard way. Anyway, I thought it was kinda cool. Reminded me of Pulp Fiction in that scene where Uma Therman pops up after they give her that shot of Adrenilin and she has that big needle sticking out of her chest when she sits up! lol, AKWARD!

So, before my surgery I bought the "target brand" gummy muti vitamins and thought it would be fine. But after i got home I remembered the nutritionist told us "no gummy candy". (I remember this because she had a slide on the overhead with a gummy bear on it with a red X going through him...made me sad...lol) Anyway, I took them back and got chewable hard Flinstones. Well, I see alot of ppl on here saying they take the gummies. So are they really hard-chewy (like gummy bears) or do they kinda dissolve in your mouth after you chew them for a bit? I don't wanna break the law or anything, but I would much rather have those if I can than yucky Flinstones, or the Bariatric ones...blah!

Thanks everybody! I think I will suffer through and Flinstones for now (don't want to waste $$) but then I will more than likely switch to Gummies. Sounds like nobody has had a problem...just me being paranoid. Grasis!!

Anybody still having left shoulder pain? I am 1 week and 2 days banded and my shoulder still hurts off/on. Sometimes it REALLY hurts BAD!! I looked at alot of the threads about shoulder pain on here and now I'm a little scared. What a PIA if this keeps up!!!

My hugs and prayers are with you. My daddy just had open heart surgery last Thursday. He did not have a valve replacement but he has an artery that looks like a curly fry (i know...lol) and it had blockage in 3 places. Everything went well and he is on the long slow road to recovery...he is 67. Good luck to you!! Let us know how everything goes!!!

Jen, don't beat yourself up. I think you will be fine. If I had to stay on a liquid diet as long as alot of you i would probably be beating my head against a wall! Not that I would ever advise anything over the specific plan your surgeon has given you but come on...you had some BROTH and SALAD!! Remember when we used to beat ourselves up over devouring a whole pint of Ben & Jerry's??? I had my surgery on Monday and today I am on normal food already...just still going with the soft stuff to be on the safe side. Talk to your surgeon and I'm sure he will give you some alternatives. Hang in there girl!!!

I'm so excited I got banded today but I feel a little guilty b/c nobody knows! I am single and living in a new city and had decided I definatly needed a new start. I told a little fib at work and told them i was having a different procedure to explain the time off. I just don't feel like telling anybody and not sure if i will want too. I have alot of friends but they are spread out living in different cities. My mom and dad are having their own struggles (dad just had major surgery thursday) and I didn't want to worry them. I took a cab to and from the hospital today (I only live a mile away) so I didn't think it was a big deal. I did really well! The surgery was at 7:30am and I was home by 11am. The nurse told me i was a strong little fireball! I am out walking circles in my courtyard every 3 hours (2 laps, 3 laps, then 4) and I am done for the day...don't want to OVER do it. I am just really proud of myself for doing this all on my own and am just wondering if I should be feeling guilty or if it was wrong not to ask for any help from family, friends, or co-workers. What do ya'll think? Anyone else taking this on by themselves??? Am I crazy to do this??

Sorry about your pain meds, hopefully you got it all worked out by now! Good luck! I just wish I had pain meds for my gas...ugh!

@bobthedog - You can defintelly do it! I am getting some much needed alone time anyway while i am recovering instead of ppl around, its actually kinda nice. My job is really stressful and I travel alot so this has been a change. Just get everything ready b4 surgery! I cleaned my entire apt, did ALL laundry (a feat for me), rented some movies, got 2 books, stocked up on my Water, SF Jello, protien shakes, broth, Gas-X, chewy Vitamins...you know the "start up kit" for us bandsters! I'm not gonna lie, i was scared and it was a little lonely lieing in the hospital bed all by myself waiting for surgery. But all the nurses were super cool and hung out with me a little extra i think. Especially in recovery...God bless em! Anyway, day 2 is over... gas still isn't, gross. (never in my wildest dreams would i have thought about it so much). I do love my liquid hydrocodone though! Is that wrong? lol, it makes me sleep and when I sleep...no gas pain! @losethemess - I guess we're both a couple of liars!!! Oh well. My coworkers are wonderful and i really do love them. I just didn't want all the "expections" and looks, whispers, blah blah blah.... I just wanted this to be for ME, and nobody else ya know? I can't imagine doing this with a little one crawling/walking around...you're the brave one!!! Good luck to you!

Thank you so much everyone for all the positive feedback! I do think this msg board will give me alot of support. In fact it already has! Now if i got just get rid of these gas pains...ugh! My shoulder and the stich in my side are killing me!!

Hello Hello everyone! Banded yesterday and doing great! I have been reading this board for awhile but now finally feel like "one of the group". I did look at my incisions a few times in the mirror yesterday and ask myself, "what have i done?" but I know it will be worth it, eventually...fingers crossed. My doc rocks compared to some of you other ladies! I am only on clear liquids for 2 days, mushies 2 days, soft foods 2 days, and then normal eating. I saw that most of you are still on liquids for 2 weeks...YIKES! I'm so sorry!!! Rest assured he has been doing the band for a long time and even sits on a nationwide board of docs that are implimental in making changes to make the lap bands better and research,,,blah blah blah. Anyway, mucho gas pains...but other than that I love my painkillers, lol! Good luck my new August buddies!!!!

thank you Mimi!!!!!

i got banded today and have the same thing! My nurse told me Gas X doesn't work (it's not made to work that way for us banders) and it's in ppl's heads. But i say "Hey if it works for ya, take it! I forgot to get any though, so I'll just suffer through...lol. Good Luck!!