StephC

WTG Mary! I'm proud of you for quitting smoking and it will get easier. I was a smoker - TWICE! The first time I quit for 13 years! After 9-11 ordeal I started smoking again - which I had never really quit having the desire for - I smoked for about 4 years that time and its now been 1 year 5 months and 11 days since I quit. I did so you can too! Good luck! Bigbaby - I had to go through those stupid 6 month dr visits too - I felt like they were stupid and embarrassing because half of the time I gained weight! But they are required by most insurance co. so suck it up and get them over with. I tell people who are considering the band to start the visits now so they are done and out of the way and you'll get in for surgery that much faster.

Just got back from my doctors appointment - I got weighed on their scale and its 2 lbs difference from mine so I've lost 15 lbs not 17. He said I can eat anything someone without teeth can eat - lol - so for lunch I stopped at subway for dd and myself - I got the crab wrap with tomato - the wrap wasn't do-able so just ate the inside - it was so good for a change! I also went grocery shopping and got tuna, chicken that is in a bag ready to eat, its in the tuna aisle.. its only like 70 cal, 1.5 gr fat and its got 14 grams of protein! thats for a 1/4 cup. I feel like I'm going to eat something real now. I was kinda hoping for salad but he said that will come in 2 weeks when I go to all foods. I asked about the fills, first Nat said they put a little fill in with the surgery, he said yes you have some too, they fill the band after they have it in place and then let it deflate so you start with about 1 cc. (this is manufacture recommandations) - he said at 6 weeks we will do the first fill and everyone is different, some get 1cc and some get 4 cc - I said well how do you know how much to put in? He said its done with the barium (yukky swallow stuff and xray like in hospital) and they count to see how fast it goes through the band, which tells them how big the opening is. So then I asked about carrying a needle around for an unfill. He said he has heard that it used to be done but he doesn't know anyone who does that anymore. He said its a waste of needles, for one thing they may lose the sterile invironment that they are currently in, and do you carry it in your purse or the car, what if you're in a different car, what if you left it at home. He said it just isn't necessary since you can use any needle to unfill - its just that the regular needles don't just take the fill out they can take a little of the "gel" in the port out too. He said which isn't a big deal, a couple of times won't hurt anything and even if it would develope a leak it still is just a matter of replacing the port which is done in office under local anthesia. I love my doctor, he just patiently answers every question I have just like "if its important to you its important to me" type attitude. Sweethot - are you still in the Soups or the mushies now? If you are in the mushies you can start having so much more. Like refried Beans with some cheese melted on top, a dab of sour cream and salsa and you think you are having a taco. And beans are very high in Protein too. I think I mentioned that towards the end of my soups I had discovered using beans to thicken the soup, and it added protein. I felt like I was cheating by buying the tuna and chicken today! After all those Protein drinks. Which btw - doc said I shouldn't need anymore of those if I'm eating the right foods. YEA! So it was a good visit to the doc and yep I'm still crushing!

good morning bandsters! I go in to the dr today, my first "real" check up since surgery. I went in just 3 days post-op to have my scars retaped and I saw him 1 week later at the support group. I know I won't be having staples removed - ouch! Sweethot - God love ya for going through that! When I was reading it and the nurse said they don't use tape because you are human and not car, I'm thinking well she's not a cardboard box either! Be careful picking up that little one, make sure you bend at the knee so your legs do the work and not your tummy or back. I don't have any favorite Protein drinks - they all gag me at this point. But LF cottage cheese has 12 grams of protien for 1/2 cup and blended in soup its good and is a nice thickener. tannersmama - yes its normal to feel hunger. The swelling has gone down. I'm anxious to get my first fill but its not until 6 weeks post op so I have until Jan 22nd. Sounds like a long time to me. Carol - I hope all will be well in your family this year. I'll be praying for you. Kay - good job!!!! Why do we find those greasy things appealing? I hope I can change my way of thinking along the bandside. I've been struggling with dark chocolates someone brought us at christmas - they are in the trash today! The really bad thing about chocolate is that it MELTS in your mouth so its not like something you CAN'T eat. But what a waste of calories! I did buy some FF choc. frozen yogurt - along with the FF fudgecicles to get me through that chocolate drama that TOM brings. Have a good day all!

Congradulations! My niece is an invitro baby and she's now almost 18! I loved being preg. and loved having babies! Now I can't wait to be a gramma - my son got married this past July so I'm hoping to be a gramma within the next few years. Just enjoy every moment. I'm sure theres someone out here in LBT who had a baby while being banded.

smithkr1 - they aren't smilies but will bananas do? :) WTG!

ok - I changed my goal from 150 to 140 and that put me in the "normal" BMI group - I know I'm nuts. But I think 140 is very do-able.

My goal is a little higher BMI then most - I'm thinking that I might change it once I get to it. Its hard to remember being that size and what I'll look like now at my age. I think 126 seems so small to me - my 16 y/o is a size 6 at that and I'm an inch taller then her. My other daughter is closer to 150 and she is a 8 or 10 and it just seemed more realistic. Guess I'll know when I get closer to it.

hi guys - just updating my ticker and want to see if it worked.

Becky - I agree with Kat - try something a little easier to get down. Or good creamy soup, I like cream of wheat or oatmeal. Good luck Sweetie.

Hi All! It sounds like everyone is doing fine! KarenAR - I will say ok, I may have interpted your posts wrong - and drop it at that. I go in to my ddr tomorrow and will ask him about the needle thing, just to hear his opinion. B-man - we all went up about 5 lbs that first week of surgery - You'll go weigh youself one day and go OMGoodness I'm down 5 lbs. You are doing great! Kay - the soup sounded great! My fav while on the liquid was homemade potato soup and I blended it so it was thick and good. I wouldn't worry much about the calories if you added it up throughout the day I'm sure its still under 1000. I didn't think of the bean soup until a couple days before mushies and wish I had earlier. Beans are full of Protein and mushed up in soup makes it thicker, it stayed with me longer then the brothy type soups. The LF yogurt smoothies also stuck with me a little longer. The Protein shakes gagged me by then. I still have a drawer in my fridge full and I don't even want to look at it, those and sf Jello - the last couple days the only way I could eat the sf jello was with Free Cool whip - it has 15 calories per serving - so that "dessert" was only 25 calories - and do you know there is FF half & half? It makes the creamy soups good. BTW - 28 pounds - woohoo - gold star for Kay! thats wonderful! No wonder b-i-l was commenting on your good looks. Jannmack - welcome! How are you doing since the band? Feeling good? Is everyone back to work since the holidays? I wonder if Nat got sent out of town. She had said about spending Christmas with her baby boy, I don't know if she had other family coming in or if she was going somewhere. But she does travel with her job - right? NAT - shout out for NAT!!!

WTG Carol! thats a NSV if I ever heard one!! And what a sweet daughter too! I can feel my port if I press down on my stomach - I just did it and it felt a little sore - I guess I won't press down on it again.

BK - you are doing fine with what you are eating. I feel like its just a matter of healing. Sweethot - you and B-man too - the restriction is great while it lasts but now that the swelling has gone down the food is going on down too. I had a hard time with the liquids that last week, I felt like I was drinking something every hour and only felt "full" for a few minutes then it would pass on down. I've been eating almost exactly the same as all of you and I really don't think its too much. I had my doubts but then when I started comparing my plate this year to what it was like last MONTH - big difference. I'm sure we may all stall until we get our first fill but then we'll start losing again. I for one can't wait to get a fill! I liked the restriction that I had and will welcome it back - sad thing is I won't get a fill for about 3 weeks. Mypov - you go girl! I know how wonderful it feels to get a nsv! I have put on 2 shirts that had been too tight and now fit - its great! I've lost about 16 lbs and I really didn't think it would show but suprise! it does! I kept saying I'll probably have to lose 40 lbs before anyone notices but I've had several people comment that I look like I've lost. Keep up the good work and you'll be wearing an 8 before you know it!

KarenAR - excuse me but you are really getting on my nerves - your bragging of how wonderful your diet is, how easy its been for you, and how stupid our doctors in the states are, is really irritating. Before I left hospital I was given an implant registration document...an implant card to carry around in case anything happens to me to inform doctors what I have had..what I can eat etc...and I was given a needle to carry around in case I need an emergency unfill. Did you all get that? No, I didn't get all that but I trust my doctor to not over fill me too! I have no intentions of carrying a needle around in case I need an unfill - good griet that sounds absurb to me! The banded card is good and many doctors do give those out but I would think that any ER could do an emergency unfill and I wouldn't have to carry my own needle with me. My point is with the "did you get all that?" was like a child saying my doctors better then your doctor! Do you honestly expect the newly banded members to stop listening to their doctors and start following your advice. Come on - please don't post like that, its very condenscending in tone. We've been on here trying to encourage each other and every time I read your posts it makes me want to shut my computer off. I for one will continue to follow my doctors orders and diet and I will encourage everyone else to do so also. I'm sorry if I came off as rude but I'm just telling it like it is. To everyone else I apologize for my bluntness and I may be the only one here who was offended so I don't presume to speak for anyone else.

Good morning my lovely bandsters!! Nat - where are you???? Get back here we miss you! Everyone sounds like they did well. I ate everything I wanted to in very small portions - when I was fixing my plate I was imagining it was for a tiny tot - a tablespoon of this a tablespoon of that and then I had my ham and I cheated I didn't puree it but rather I cut it up in to 1/4 inch pieces, just like for a little one. But the piece of ham was about 1/8th of the size I would have ate last year. I make ham gravy - I don't know too many people who do but its my girls favorite! I use the ham juice which is sweet because I do my ham with pineapple and cherries and brown sugar. And then I add a little ham base (boullion) to it and then thicken it with milk and flour. I don't know why they love it so much but they talk about it all year that its their favorite part of the meal. Anyway I used the ham gravy to thin everything. I know it was fattening but it was christmas and I didn't eat more then 1/2 cup of everything. For those of you with little ones when you do begin to eat try fixing a plate of what you would put on theirs. And the other thing is ya know how kids are picky eaters, they only put on their plates just what they want, if you say here try the green Beans and try to put a little on the plate they say no no no, I don't like them! When you know they ate them last week? Well I thought wow this is a concept we should listen too. Just pick the very best and then just little amounts. I remember a book I read - the Weigh Down Diet - in it she said thin people do this too. And she said when she goes to a restaurant she gets what she wants and then she eats her favorite part first and takes the rest home. I've always agreed with that book and never had the will power to make it work but I am going to use it with my band. She said God did not invent lasagna and chocolate just to torment us, we should be able to eat it but we should only eat when we feel true hunger and stop when we are satisfied, not full. I'm rambling. I'll stop now. I'm going into work today for a bit. Talk to you all later!

wow - Heart... I saw Heart at the tangerine bowl in Orlando in 1981-82 - somewhere in there - I was 110 lbs back then, thats about half my weight now. Seeing those pics in this thread just brought back alot of memories. I think there are alot more famous people who have it done that we don't know about - like Star Jones - she insisted she didn't have bypass but never fessed up to the band.

Kay you have a beautiful family! Good luck today and Merry Christmas!

Sweethot - I emailed you my food lists.

Merry Christmas all! Theres so many newbies on that I can't remember all your names so I'll just say one big group WELCOME! Yesterday went well. All the family and friends were over and we had a ton of food and I ate in moderation. A couple of times I found myself eating something that I couldn't have and I would spit it out. Like someone brought chocolates - so I opened them to put them out for everyone else and I popped on in my mouth - it was a choc covered peanut! I was like oh no!!! Spit spit!! But for the most part I did well - along with the food police. Hubby and youngest daughter are very watchful of what I eat. :girl_hug: My neice brought a vegie tray and Olivia says MOM you can't eat celery! I said I didn't, its not celery (what I had in my mouth) and from the other room hubby yells out did you eat celery? I said NO ITS NOT CELERY!!! My neice says what? you can't eat celery? (I'm giggling at this point) and dd continues to explain how it doesn't digest well and the fibers will bunch up into a ball and could block me. She's 16 going on 30. My neice says poor Steph everyone watching everything you eat - at that point hubby is now in the room and says did you get sick? You better not get sick... I'm like good grief I'm NOT SICK - I didn't eat anything I shouldn't have! So then neice is all wide-eyed - can you get sick if you over eat? It turned into this big discussion and I NEVER ATE THE CELERY! Anyhoo - it was funny. You have to understand hubby and dd were the ones with me at the hospital and heard the whole lowdown from doc and they are just concerned. Sweethot - I miss having the little ones on Christmas morning! Last night hubby said well no more late nights putting toys together. My oldest daughter was at my neices helping put stuff together. It makes you feel kinda lonesome for christmas past. But while I was reading your post it made me think of a tradition we did here from the time the oldest could read. I did a Christmas mystery - I would hide clues - kinda like a treasure hunt and they would have to find the next clue until finally they found the present. Which was always a family gift. They LOVED it and my youngest (16) still wants to do it - even if no one else does. So this year I got us all movie passes. I have to go hide my clues yet. the hardest part is making up the clues. BTW - you sound better - glad you got a look at the incisions - I'll see about emailing you my lists - I have a scanner just never have used it! Karen from UK - our doctors here put us on liquids for 2 weeks post surgery to allow the band to heal - we have it done the same way with the stomach flopped over and stitched but just as the outside incisions need time to heal so does the inside. That ring he showed you... did he also explain in the middle of that ring is your stomach lining? so add that to it and the swelling from the surgery trama and the hole isn't all that big. If you over eat it can pull those stitches and thus cause the slippage. I personally felt that 2 weeks liquids was almost too long and by the 2nd week it wasn't staying with me, because I had healed enough on the inside so that it was going right through the band. But I did it and while at the time felt like torture I got over it. I am much more satisfied eating mushies - although yesterday was my first 'real' day - up til then I had begun making my Soups thicker, but I have no intention of disobeying doctors orders and want to make this work the best that I possibly can. I supose all of us heal at different paces just like the pain - some have more some have less - so maybe I didn't need the 2 weeks of liquids but someone else does so from the dr's point of view its better to be on the safe side and tell everyone to be on liquids for 2 weeks. Well I'm off to do the Christmas mystery, stuff the stockings, and get the ham in the oven. Merry Christmas all my beloved bandees!

Merry Christmas Eve to all! Ddee - did you go to Mx for your second band? Same doc? Did insurance cover it the 2nd time or did you have to self pay twice? I find it sooooooooooo encouraging to hear that you would go through it twice! I knew it before but it never really sank in until just now. For all those pre-bandees who are having second thoughts it would be good to know that even when something goes wrong you still would rather be banded. Kay - hon I know about the food addiction feelings - but then when I button an shirt that had been tight before and it fits good its like ... oh yeah its worth it. I may be having the wrong idea here but after my fill I plan on eating hot wings and stuff like that, food I love but I'm thinking instead of eating a doz wings I'll eat 2 or 3 - ya know? Maybe its wishfull thinking but thats what I'm hoping. :clap2: <--- thats for hubby! 6 years of no drinking = yeehaw B-man - I know where is everyone? Nat?.. Nat?...Nat where are you? Nat we miss you...Nat? Come back! Sweethot - I've been worried about you. You'll feel so much better after a shower! Something about it just perks you right up! Have a good day all - I am having about 20 people over this afternoon for a ton a food - I have my mushies planned. My favorite day of the year - family, fun , games, football....

Great question - I feel the loss and I haven't had my first fill yet! I love all kinds of foods but I think that I may still love them just in MUCH smaller portions.

sweethot - are your incisions ok? Red, swollen, hot? any of those could mean infection which would cause extra pain. If so get to the closest hospital asap! I'm thinking you shouldn't be having this much pain - how many days out? 4? By day 4 I was feeling 75% normal, pain from 1-10 was about 2-3 not enough to bother with tylenol. But you had the staples and that could be causing you more pain. I think Ddee had open surgery - she would be a better gauge then us who have tape. Carol - maybe you are drinking your Water too fast, gulping instead of sips which can cause the gas. But for the first week I was burping all the time. Now I'm just farting. But thats normal. LOL Kay let us know how the sore throat is going ya goof ball! But I understand and would probably play it too if I was around my "members" from work. Some people just don't need to know. Where's Nat? She must be doing some last minute shopping. Bk - cute pic - how's hubby feel about the band? Think he'll be jealous when you get skinny? I know mine will - he's always been jealous - and its so funny too. Like at one point a kid at work who is like 20 years younger then me and who also called me mom. He was jealous of him. I'm like heelllllllloooooooo - I'm 100 lbs overweight wth do you think a 22 yr old kid would be looking at me for? too funny! Let me clarify - he's not jealous in a controling way - just a silly way.

b-man you are amazing!

wow B-man - you are something else! I couldn't even open my eyelids that soon after surgery. I had it done around 2:30 and at 8:00 I told my DH to go home since all I was doing was sleeping. Of course it was on and off sleep that night but no way could I have posted. I'm proud of you - and now that I think of it I'm thinking maybe its because you are 20 years younger then me! I just looked at your scar pics - good job! Itchy, Itchy, Itchy been there babes - cortizone cream and V-E work very well. I called the doc on that one. I am dry anyway and live for hot oily baths during the winter so it was just about killing me not to have a good soak. I'm healed enough now that I can take a bath. I went to the church Christmas party last night - its a family thing - every year. food food food - they all know now that I had the band so everyone was cool. I took my Soup, and then I ate some mushy potatoes and some pudding stuff. My only concern was the one pudding had crushed pineapple in it - I only ate about a Tbls or 2 and it didn't seem to hurt. Like all the liquids it went right through. I know I'm less then 2 weeks out but I can't wait to get a fill! Tomorrow I will be on full mushy phase so I'm hoping that the food will stay with me longer then. I worry that I'm taking in too many calories with the liquids. If you start adding up all the creamy Soups and oatmeal... I don't know maybe not. So while at the party - there were some women who had gastric bypass there, and their brother is wanting to get banded. He was at the support group last week, just waiting for insurance to come through. They gave me some advice about puree-ing stuff. They said keep some of the broth or gravey to add to the meat since its dry and doesn't go down easy. Then I had 2 others who were pumping me for info. One has actually gone to the seminar. So I was flashing my scars last night. siyah - whens your surgery. Its perfectly normal to be scared. We're here for you. Karen - my port is on my right side and about 6 inches about my belly button. I suppose its due to our body shapes - since I am an apple I guess my belly button is lower then most. I have to really press in to feel it now. I just know where its at because of the larger scar. Eric - I'm sure you're wife will be happy to have the old Eric back. I know my hubby is very supportive in my weight loss. He'll feel like he got the girl he married back. Annie - good to hear you're back to belly sleeping. Feels good hu? Don't worry Kay - you'll soon be there too. To all of you - every day gets better. I can't believe how great I feel. Back to normal. That was what the one lady at church who has gone to the seminar but scared, she said she just couldn't get over how quick I healed. I told her I won't lie Gloria, the first day I felt horrible, the 2nd day was bad, 3 was better, 4 I was out shopping. Every day just keeps gettting better. Even the hope of eating food again gets better... now theres the hope of a fill... Talk to ya later - gonna try to clean house and start cooking for the crowd thats coming tomorrow.

Hi Emily - welcome to the Dec bandsters - glad to have you with us. I'm glad you are doing this for you but sorry to hear of your seperation. Thats hard, but we have some great people on this forum and we're here for ya!

I was just banded on 12/11 and almost done with my liquid phase. I'm finding myself SO hungry and ready to eat everything. I figure I must be healed on the inside and swelling is down so all my liquids are going right through and not helping at all. Yesterday I tried the not drinking half hour before and hour after and then I made my oatmeal a little thicker (still strawable) and I had bean soup which was thicker also. It seemed to help. So I'm wondering about the next stage, mushies, I'm assuming I should not drink before or after so it stays in there alittle longer also? Everyone says oh this is just the healing don't worry about weight loss but I am worried about weight loss I did not get the band to just eat whatever I want, I want it to work for me. Did any of you feel you could eat everything before your first fill? I thought the band would help me out a little more here and I'm hoping I'm jumping the gun and if I don't drink before and after during mushies I'll stay full longer.