bosteph

:sick :sick :sick Why do we need sinuses? I am sure that there is a good reason but right now I can't see one. I am home sick (yesterday too). I hate to miss work unplanned. DH is having lapband next Thursday. I am so excited for him. He has already lost 16 pounds on the liquid diet. 2007 is our year. Our son is worried that we will stop buying food for our house or that I will make him eat the same "weird" stuff that I eat. BFF ChaCha is doing great. Her butt is shrinking. Is it weird for me to talk about my friend's butt in my journal? :scared: I don't care - I am so happy for her. Liquids after a fill aren't as hard as they were before the band. The only problem that I am having is finding sinus medicine that is small enough and still works. We are all going on a cruise on May 6th. I know that we will be smaller, sexier and more energetic. We are on our way to the lives that we deserve. I am counting my blessings today for they are many.

I haven't journaled for the longest time... Today I got my first fill (3cc's) and it wasn't bad at all. Just a little pressure - ha, ha, ha. The weight loss has been amazing. I know that the day is coming when it will slow down - I just hope it's not too soon.

I haven't journaled for the longest time... Today I got my first fill (3cc's) and it wasn't bad at all. Just a little pressure - ha, ha, ha. The weight loss has been amazing. I know that the day is coming when it will slow down - I just hope it's not too soon.

I also love the beer commerical with the rubber floor. When the cute little Jack Russell terrier goes bouncing out the front door, I nearly pee my pants. :omg: What about commericals that you hate? I cannot stand: Head On headache medicine commercials The car ad where the car falls all the way through the center of the earth and ends up in China.

My biggest mistake in the last 5 weeks is... TWO small bites of a Cracker Barrell biscuit. It was like having a giant dough ball stuck in my chest for a couple of hours. my new mantra - repeat after me.... I WILL NOT EAT BISCUITS. I WILL NOT EAT BISCUITS. Even though they are tasty and so delicious they are evil. :evil:

I had the same thoughts but I am so glad that I went through with the surgery. I was banded by Dr. Jayaseelan on 12/20/06 and I have lost 30 pounds. I was a size 20 and now fit loosely into my size 16 pants. It's your decision but I found that my "change of heart" near the surgery date was more about my fear. I was a little nervous about the actual procedure but I was more afraid of failing to lose the weight - again... I am more confident now. I know that I can do this. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I also have BCBS of MN and was just banded last month. The one year weight loss program is documented in multiple ways: Your personal letter to BCBS-MN stating your weight loss attempts, failures and why this procedure will really help you. Your physicians referral letter (either from your PCP or the lap band doc) In the paperwork that you fill out to be considered for the surgery. The one year doesn't have to be last year. The point is that you have tried to lose weight and programs like Weight Watchers count as "supervised".

Hooray we are now banded together....we just need to get Bobby into our little group and then we will be complete.

Never fear - the burps will subside after the gas has all dissipated.

Daniel Craig (the "new" James Bond) Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy on Grey's Anatomy) Kate Beckingsale (those Underworld suits just get to me :welldone: )

Hang in there my Cha Cha! This time next week you won't give a lick about the food - I promise.

I started the mushies tonight with a baked sweet potato and garlic mashed potatoes. I needed some variety. Overall, I probably got down 1/2 cup of food. It was wonderful!!!!! The food sure tastes good after three weeks of liquids (over the holidays to boot). I am looking forward to regular foods because I want crisp vegatables really bad. I am craving them. It will happen soon enough and I will be okay until then.

I started the mushies tonight with a baked sweet potato and garlic mashed potatoes. I needed some variety. Overall, I probably got down 1/2 cup of food. It was wonderful!!!!! The food sure tastes good after three weeks of liquids (over the holidays to boot). I am looking forward to regular foods because I want crisp vegatables really bad. I am craving them. It will happen soon enough and I will be okay until then.

I understand the addicition to carbs and sugar. The best way that I can explain it is "instant gratification". When you feel tired consuming carbs/sugar gives you a relatively instant rush or boost. Unfortunately, it doesn't last long and just leaves you needing/wanting more to keep the energy level up. Protein intake is less instant but far more energy is produced over a long period. Once you up your protein intake the craving for carbs/sugar will decrease. These cravings are not all psychological - some are really physical. I had the surgery on 12/20 and one of my greatest fears was being hungry. I'm not - well, at least not as much as I thought. I have lost 23 pounds since 12/13 (pre-op diet start). This is hard but more manageable than I imagined. Only you can make the best decision for you. Good luck.

Every BCBS is different. As I posted earlier, mine covered it without needing any medically supervised weight loss programs.

I gained a couple of pounds back. Since I'm not eating much I can only imagine that I am retaining water. I am finally able to get my fulll water intake down, so maybe that will help. My body is continuing to get smaller even though the scale says differently. I will be glad to get off of the soup because it has so much sodium and that is contributing to the water weight. I got a great haircut today and went to the Vitamin Shoppe with ChaCha. She goes on clear liquids Wednesday so she is preparing. I got a few protein supplements to last me through my final liquid days. The mushies are coming, the mushies are coming! :biggrin1:

I gained a couple of pounds back. Since I'm not eating much I can only imagine that I am retaining water. I am finally able to get my fulll water intake down, so maybe that will help. My body is continuing to get smaller even though the scale says differently. I will be glad to get off of the soup because it has so much sodium and that is contributing to the water weight. I got a great haircut today and went to the Vitamin Shoppe with ChaCha. She goes on clear liquids Wednesday so she is preparing. I got a few protein supplements to last me through my final liquid days. The mushies are coming, the mushies are coming! :biggrin1:

I am 10 days post op and feel great. I occasionally get some gas pressure in my belly but as others have said walking and stretching really does help. I haven't taken the pain meds since day 3 because they made me sick. I just gutted it out so that I wouldn't throw up. Also, Rolaids Heartburn plus Gas Relief helped me. My hunger returned on Christmas day but it can be satisfied with the liquid diet. I get to move to mushies on Wednesday. I am really excited for new foods. I can't wait to eat something that I can chew. :hungry: I am having trouble with knowing what the feelings in my stomach are though. I feel uncomfortable but I don't know if it's hunger or something else. For those struggling on their liquid post-op diet... Don't be afraid to ask a restaurant to strain an order of Soup for you. There are only so many varieties of Campbell's that taste good. I have had great success with restaurants in my area doing this for me. Chili's chicken Enchilada soup is the BEST!

I survived! :clap2: I have to say that by far the worst day of recovery was day two. Even though I have read this site for months now, I was surprised by this. Day three was tolerable and since then has been absolutely fine. I have not needed pain meds since Friday morning. My apetite did not come back on Friday as Dr. Jay predicted. It finally returned (a little) today. I have been forcing down small amounts of soup and milk but this afternoon I had a tiny amount of mashed potatoes and LOTS of gravy - like potato gravy soup. It was awesome. Of course I could only eat about 3 or 4 "normal" bites, but it was sweet. The good news is that I have lost 22 pounds in 12 days. I tried on some smaller shirts that I have not been able to wear for the past 18 months. THEY FIT!!!! I cried. For the first time in 15 years I feel that I can be successful on this journey. I am in control. I am in charge of my destiny.

Another 12/20 bandster here... I found that Rolaids Heartburn Plus Gas Relief helped me far more than the Gas-X. Also, laying on my port side with one leg over a pillow seemed to work pretty good for comfort. My back would start to hurt laying flat too much. Occasionally, I got this horrible pressure in my chest. I just took some really slow, deep breaths and then it would move or come out. I am going back to work tomorrow and I feel great. 22 pounds gone since 12/13. I know this will slow down but I am enjoying the scale victory for now.

I survived! :clap2: I have to say that by far the worst day of recovery was day two. Even though I have read this site for months now, I was surprised by this. Day three was tolerable and since then has been absolutely fine. I have not needed pain meds since Friday morning. My apetite did not come back on Friday as Dr. Jay predicted. It finally returned (a little) today. I have been forcing down small amounts of soup and milk but this afternoon I had a tiny amount of mashed potatoes and LOTS of gravy - like potato gravy soup. It was awesome. Of course I could only eat about 3 or 4 "normal" bites, but it was sweet. The good news is that I have lost 22 pounds in 12 days. I tried on some smaller shirts that I have not been able to wear for the past 18 months. THEY FIT!!!! I cried. For the first time in 15 years I feel that I can be successful on this journey. I am in control. I am in charge of my destiny.

My surgery started earlier that 8:15 a.m. because someone else cancelled. I was on my way home by 10:00 a.m. I am experiencing a lot of discomfort. My pain is in my belly not my shouders or back. I hope it is better in the morning. Thanks for all of the well wishes.

My surgery started earlier that 8:15 a.m. because someone else cancelled. I was on my way home by 10:00 a.m. I am experiencing a lot of discomfort. My pain is in my belly not my shouders or back. I hope it is better in the morning. Thanks for all of the well wishes.

I can honestly say that today was the easiest day of my pre-op diet. I felt great and didn't think about food at all. I will journal my thoughts about the surgery as soon as possible after my procedure. It is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. tomorrow.

I am on my 7-day, pre-op, clear llquid diet (currently on day 2). Is it cheating if I suck on a chicken nugget and then spit it out? :hungry: