girlinnyc

Be sure to take your painkiller! better living thru medicine! besides--that's what it's for--to keep you comfortable. you shouldn't be in a lot of pain. call your dr.--and take the medicine--even if you're dopey from it. you just had surgery--it hurts--and the medicine helps. that was my experience. they told me at the hospital--"it's easier to stay ahead of the pain, than to try to catch up to get rid of pain." so don't let the pain continue--take that pill! watch tv--take a nap! sweet dreams! regards, girlin nyc

hi, i went to nyu--and the psychologist is a very reasonable guy. don't worry about it at all. he is looking for anything that would peg you as "unreasonable" or "can't follow directions" or "might sue the dr."---if you're not in those categories--you'll do fine. let him lead the conversation--just smile and answer the questions! nyu has a fabulous program! good luck, girlin nyc

i have been remiss in writing--oh well. i'm here to say that time fixes EVERYTHING--i feel like i NEVER HAD SURGERY AT ALL. unbelievable. no pains anywhere, scars disappearing, and appetite---well...ravenous. first fill--manana. just got back from a week in mexico. could have stayed forever. so nice, warm, relaxing...ahhhh. not to mention--all the good food and drink. NOT good for my lapband, i'm sure--but didn't overeat that much--just didn't undereat either. my scale says 3-4 lbs +, but i'm sure that's temporary--as i'm no longer lounging around on the beach, eating tortillas and drinking cerveza.:cry cold, miserable, horrible weather in nyc---do NOT feel like moving out of warm bed today--but must--as i stayed in yesterday and barely moved. NOT GOOD. looking forward, very much,to first fill. NEED and WANT that restriction to happen! well, i'll see what that's like TOMORROW.:confused: am a little apprehensive about what it will feel like--but as long as it makes the restriction come back--that'll be great. i'm willing to go for refills for as long as it takes. wish i could say i'm willing to go to gym and work out--but i can't say it. it would be a LIE.

only 2 mos after surgery--i feel COMPLETELY NORMAL--like i never even HAD surgery--getting my first fill today! and no, can't feel my port--will see if the dr. can feel it! i got a "low-profile" port--so i'm sure that is why i can't feel it. anyway, very pleased that i feel so normal--but wanting to feel restriction again, as i was happily NOT HUNGRY, but filled up on very little. that is what i'm hoping for with fills! so far, so good--like my band.

i hear you! me too! first i had decided on gastric bypass--so i went thru ALL those hoops--including disgusting colonoscopy and endoscopy (nightmare, both of them)--and then i decided i couldn't do that surgery. so--had to start all over again for lap band! but it gets done! really! it'll be here before you know it!!

yeah--i agree with the dr's--wait till after vacation. in fact, i have my first fill tomorrow--can't wait to see what it's like. i postponed until after MY vacation--last week in mexico (ahhh, wish i could have stayed forever). vacation was easy tho--no restriction at all (bad), except for ONE, very slight, momentary "oops, it's stuck" feeling--took too big a bite of something. hope the restriction comes on after this fill and my weight loss continues. i'm kind of stuck at 20 lbs down--and that's it. on the good side--i feel totally healed--so i'm really ready for the fill!

congrats on your band!! take it REALLY easy this week--and TAKE THOSE PAINKILLERS--stay comfortable! better living thru medicine! :mad: you will be AMAZED at how quickly and easily (relatively speaking) you heal. of course, you might have a little pinch here and there--but before you know it--you'll feel absolutely fine--and your band will be reminding you what to eat--and what not to eat! my first fill is tomorrow--i can't believe time has flown by so quickly!

you know--we all fall down--you just have to pick yourself back up and try to go for the "good things"--some Protein shakes--and creamy Soups and whatever else you're supposed to be on right now. you need to let the band heal really well. i know what you're going thru--went thru it myself--very recently--but just try to keep to the program--it will be worth it! do you have any sugar free chocolate pops? those are very satisfying when you feel like something "tasty" or "bad"--go ahead=-have 2 of them! good luck! don't keep kicking yourself--be nice to yourself--you just had surgery!! and you don't want to get into a situation where you PB or feel stuck--it's VERY unpleasant! girlin nyc

easy, easy! they do feel your urgency--but they do also make you take all the steps. they don't want anyone coming back and saying "i never knew THIS or THAT" afterwards. i can relate to your frustration--i started my initial seminars in july 06--or tried to--business travel kept getting in the way...but by the time i got thru all the appt's (in dec), things really moved fast. you'll see--time is going to go by more quickly than you think! good luck! girlin

andrea, you do sound like you could use a fill--and a list of high Protein food choices on your fridge--and maybe a new item of clothing one size down that you want to get into... i only got banded last month--and i also see that it's not going to be MAGIC ===but i accept that there is no magic (also, i'm about your age)..and i just want a TOOL to work with. i can tell that when i have restriction--i definitely feel full faster--and therefore eat less--even if it's "bad" food. i find "fancy" Soups to be very filling and not so fattening---have you tried those? my gf had the severe DS gastric bypass surgery - in 1999--and tho she lost a ton of weight at first--she did gain back some (not all) of her weight--and she has nutritional deficiency issues--because the whole "must take supplements" regimen is not to her liking (!!)==at least with the band--you don't have that!! you can get a lot of support on these boards--i think you're doing ok--you have the band--you're not in pain or suffering--get it a little tighter and try to eat the protein first--you may not have room for crackers and chips! best wishes, girlinnyc

who is your surgeon? are you happy with your choice? does he/she have TONS of experience? where do you live?? yes--keep working towards the goal--i started in july 06--and had many delays due to business travel--couldn't even get to the initial SEMINAR that is required attendance before any of the appt's==FINALLY got banded on jan 8--tomorrow is my first fill--it can be done! just keep moving forward!!

wow, go ahead, post those pictures--you deserve to boast!! keep up the good work. you're amazing!

i have been remiss in writing--oh well. i'm here to say that time fixes EVERYTHING--i feel like i NEVER HAD SURGERY AT ALL. unbelievable. no pains anywhere, scars disappearing, and appetite---well...ravenous. first fill--manana. just got back from a week in mexico. could have stayed forever. so nice, warm, relaxing...ahhhh. not to mention--all the good food and drink. NOT good for my lapband, i'm sure--but didn't overeat that much--just didn't undereat either. my scale says 3-4 lbs +, but i'm sure that's temporary--as i'm no longer lounging around on the beach, eating tortillas and drinking cerveza.:cry cold, miserable, horrible weather in nyc---do NOT feel like moving out of warm bed today--but must--as i stayed in yesterday and barely moved. NOT GOOD. looking forward, very much,to first fill. NEED and WANT that restriction to happen! well, i'll see what that's like TOMORROW. am a little apprehensive about what it will feel like--but as long as it makes the restriction come back--that'll be great. i'm willing to go for refills for as long as it takes. wish i could say i'm willing to go to gym and work out--but i can't say it. it would be a LIE. :der:

i had surgery 1 month ago. i feel good now--but for the first 3 wks--i didn't feel so great. i took painkiller for every little twinge (good stuff!) and i just babied myself as much as possible (including crawling into bed every night right after work, which i went back to after 1 wk, kicking and screaming). i would say it's only the past 7 days that i've felt "normal" again--and i sure thought i was never going to feel this way again after the surgery! but i do feel good now--and i'm back to the gym--(just yesterday) and i can eat very comfortably. for a long time--i only felt good LYING DOWN--it even hurt to sit up at work--so you can just imagine how NOT happy i was to be back at work. eventually--even that has gone away. now i'm waiting for that fill. want my restriction to start!! so my advice to the newer-banded people is--TAKE THAT PAINKILLER! relax and sleep! if you have any questions--call the dr! (i did have something that felt like an infection under the large incision==went back to the dr.--and got antibiotics for that, then it went away). but give it a little more time--9 days is still VERY NEW. and--congrats to you all!

my dr. also repairs hiatal hernias while he's doing the lap band. if your dr. doesn't do this--find another surgeon. where are you located? maybe there are people on here who can direct you locally to a good, experienced lap band surgeon, who knows what to do with a hiatal hernia AND a lap band. don't be pushed into any surgery you don't want. regards, girlin nyc

take your painkiller! if you don't have any--call the surgeon--they can prescribe some. you shouldn't be in INTENSE PAIN! that's what painkiller is for. discomfort--yes--terrible pain--no. they can even prescribe it in liquid form--works great! feel better soon! (and stay on liquids--get some Optifast or slim fast or something like that).

ask the dr. if you can have Optifast. i had it during my 2 wks post-op liquid diet--and it was fine. a good source of Protein. you will feel much better. also, you're still recovering from surgery--you are going to feel kind of like sitting (or lying) down---can anyone help you with the kids?? you're going to feel better soon! don't worry! best of luck during your recovery, girlin nyc

that sounds wrong. call the dr. and ask again. maybe for the first day--but i think you'll be dehydrated quickly if you stay on that schedule.

also--why is this "faith" thing even brought up on this board? this is a board related to laparoscopic band surgery---perhaps ron, you should go elsewhere to have these discussions.

mary, you are in the right place--look around this site--you will find lots of information and very helpful people to help you with anything you ask. i just got my lapband jan 8th and so far, so good. it was much easier than i thought it would be to go through--and i'm glad i did it. i get my first fill on feb 21, and i expect (or hope) to have even more restriction than i have now. this is, i think, a lifesaver for me. it's going to help me KNOW right away, when i've HAD ENOUGH TO EAT. make sure you get a really experienced surgeon. if you have to travel a little to go to a better surgeon--do that. it's worth it. you don't want to be someone the dr is "practicing on." you want someone who really knows how to do this. good luck, girlin nyc

BOY you were so good on pre-op diet! my only downfall was new year's eve--that was a BIG downfall (because i too, had to host the party, grrrr)--but the rest of the time, i really stuck to it. the vegetables were helpful--weren't they? i can't tell if i'm losing weight. i guess i am--my clothes are looser (they were getting tight). and you sound like you're doing fine now--you're going to wake up one day--and several lbs will be gone!

i am only a "new bandster"--but i can already see that it FORCES me to eat less than i previously could. i LIKE that. THAT is what i couldn't do on my own before. i look forward to getting my first band fill--because i NEED more restriction. right now--i can still eat just about anything--i am not having any kinds of problems--no gas, no PB's, no slime, no nothing. then again, i am not FORCING the issue by eating things that are said to cause problems. so i am doing my "bit" to help my band help me. as for the pre-op diet--this is to shrink your liver, which must be lifted during the surgery--the fats in the liver enlarge it. some surgeons require it (mine did)--and it's doable. is it pleasant? of course not. but if you're making the life changes required by this surgery--then you can manage a 2 wk pre=op diet--and post-op diet instructions, as required by the surgeon. you will get a lot of information in the seminar--good luck on your decision-making process!

i find i still have some pain in my middle---especially when i get up from sitting down too long....and then at night--when i lay down--it's VERY sore. i have taken 1/2 a painkiller--and it soothes me enough to sleep. i'm not THAT conscious of anything when i'm sitting and working--but if i've been sitting there a LONG time--then it's very sore when i stand up. wondering if that's ok. there's definitely NO restriction in me--or very little. i cannot eat AS MUCH as i used to *(good)*--but i can eat just about anything. if i take TOO BIG A BITE (and you'd be surprised at how easy and unconsciously you do that) then it could feel momentarily stuck--i.e. in a car--i wanted a BANANA--i started to GOBBLE that thing down and oops--it felt a little stuck. only ate 1/2 of it---and decided--ok--that's ENOUGH. in the past, could easily have finished it and wanted more. this time, decided on my own=--better not continue. ESPECIALLY while i'm driving in a city i don't even know. ugh. too stressful! my first fill will be 2/21. looking forward to it. i have a trip to mexico (planned over a year ago) in 1.5 wks...oh gawd--need some BATHING SUITS. aacckkk :scared: . not happy about THAT. even bought my suntan lotion--FROM CANADA (they have better lotion than here, with ingredients the FDA hasn't approved yet for U.S.--but used in canada and europe)...so....it's a BIG DEAL TRIP. (all this--to lie in the sun and do nothing??) worried about what i can eat there. guess i'll be trying more fish--as that's supposed to be GOOD FOR ME. not a big fish eater--but..i'm damn well going to try--as i just went thru this whole PROCEDURE to HELP MYSELF LOSE WEIGHT--must keep GOALS in mind! any tips for mexico, anyone??

i find i still have some pain in my middle---especially when i get up from sitting down too long....and then at night--when i lay down--it's VERY sore. i have taken 1/2 a painkiller--and it soothes me enough to sleep. i'm not THAT conscious of anything when i'm sitting and working--but if i've been sitting there a LONG time--then it's very sore when i stand up. wondering if that's ok. there's definitely NO restriction in me--or very little. i cannot eat AS MUCH as i used to *(good)*--but i can eat just about anything. if i take TOO BIG A BITE (and you'd be surprised at how easy and unconsciously you do that) then it could feel momentarily stuck--i.e. in a car--i wanted a BANANA--i started to GOBBLE that thing down and oops--it felt a little stuck. only ate 1/2 of it---and decided--ok--that's ENOUGH. in the past, could easily have finished it and wanted more. this time, decided on my own=--better not continue. ESPECIALLY while i'm driving in a city i don't even know. ugh. too stressful! my first fill will be 2/21. looking forward to it. i have a trip to mexico (planned over a year ago) in 1.5 wks...oh gawd--need some BATHING SUITS. aacckkk :eek: . not happy about THAT. even bought my suntan lotion--FROM CANADA (they have better lotion than here, with ingredients the FDA hasn't approved yet for U.S.--but used in canada and europe)...so....it's a BIG DEAL TRIP. (all this--to lie in the sun and do nothing??) worried about what i can eat there. guess i'll be trying more fish--as that's supposed to be GOOD FOR ME. not a big fish eater--but..i'm damn well going to try--as i just went thru this whole PROCEDURE to HELP MYSELF LOSE WEIGHT--must keep GOALS in mind! any tips for mexico, anyone??

last week (end of last week)--pretty much a disaster. ate too much, ate too fast---no pb's--but a lot of discomfort--and not feeling good at all. ugh. was on a business trip--and it was VERY stressful. also, i think, some of the dreaded GAS PAIN. either that--or heart attack symptoms. either way--very uncomfortable, very unhappy. probably had to do with erratic diet and not being AT ALL in control of what I had to eat--or when i got to eat it. it is MOST DIFFICULT being in situations like that. as of today--back on track. i hope. so far, so good.