lovinlife4eva

I have a 3 year old son who doesnt take "no" for an answer. When he says "mommy hold me" I jump to attention. I was so worried about this. My doc said that I really shouldnt pick him up for 2 weeks. I would sit and he would sit on my lap. I showed him my booboos on my belly and explained how I went to the doctor. He was/is fascinated with the booboos. He is not scared of them at all and likes to look at them and talk about them. You really need some help for 2-4 days b/c you will be so sore. Also, my doc told me that while I may hurt my incisions or feel extra pain, I cant actually hurt my band. 7 days post op my son took one of those falls that requires an immedate pick up and I did it. I actually felt ok and just sat down with him right away. Listen to your body, you will be fine.

Cocoa, just call me lovin'! I didnt think I would ever ask anyone to call me lovin!!? I am 7 years married to my stud of a husband and we have one 3 year old son (<- see potty pic to the left). We have 2 dogs and 2 cats, all rescued, and one fish. I made the decision to have LAP-BAND® for the health of my second child,unconcieved. I hope to get preg in about a year. My goal is to lose 70-80 lbs in 1 year and run the little rock 1/2 marathon next march. I love to exercise and walk 3 miles everyday. I have done this for years. My highest weight, nonpregnancy, was around 280. I now weigh 262. I am 27 and I have had a weight problem since I was 10. Always the big boned athletic girl. My weight spiked after I got married and only got worse after my 1st pregnancy. My ultimate goal is to weigh 160-170 but for the sake of time, I will start trying to get pregnant as soon as I reach 190. I have been obese for 9 years and I cant WAIT to be fit, healthy, and happy!!! Cant wait to read all of your stories, I think I will start now....:thumbup:

What a great thread! I have been feeling down, but seeing so many successful and positive banders lifts my spirits. I have to remind myself that I have lost 18 lbs even though I have no fill yet and have been struggling with post op eating. I didnt read all 50 pages but I am still glad to have found this thread. I figure I will work my way through all the pages, reading 4 or 5 everytime I feel down or unmotivated.

Glad I could help Michelle:tongue2:. Ive been with my hubby for 10 years and his sense of humor has rubbed off on me. If you mix football references with bathroom humor, you cant go wrong!!!

WOW! Its great to hear from so many happy banders. I went to the doc 2day and was suppose to get 1st fill but couldnt b/c my port incision hasnt healed quite right:crying:. I am ready to get the weight loss train out of the station, so I am still having my doubts, but also still hopeful! Thanx again for all the input

I went the day after I got home. I know that doesnt help you feel better but my nurse did prep me for constipation. She said it is VERY normal to have hard poops after any surgery. Ive had 4 surgeries and have never had that problem. However, I was so convinced it would happen this time that I took my nurses advice and bought some milk of magnesia. It sits unused in my cabinet, wish I could give it to you:smile2:. I figure if they tell all their patients to go ahead and buy a mild laxative, then this is a common and normal issue. I think this is a side effect of the anestesia. You can do it girl, take the browns to the superbowl:lol:

I had a BAD day today and, like so many times in the past, turned to food. I know, I know, I have issues to deal with. But this is my first time really overeating. Since my surgery over 3 weeks ago I have found that I am one of the ones that can eat pretty much anything; no puking, sliming, or getting stuck. I have no restriction yet. I have lost weight and try to keep to a healthy diet and keep portions small. Today, however, I threw caution to the wind and ate my biggest meal since surgery. I was terribly full and uncomfortable for 2 hours. I still ate only 1/2 what I would have eaten pre surgery, but now I am scared. Did I do permenate damage to my pouch??? Could this make my band slip? Did I stretch it out so much that it wont work now??? So worried, HELP

Hey Honk, my doc had me progress to regular food after 7 days of liquids. I did 7 days full liquids, 3 days mushies, then everyday after that added more and more regular food. I am on a normal diet now and have been for over a week. Every doc is different, but I did follow his orders. I do also follow his diet plan but had a slip up today.

Hey! Same problem here. I just posted a question about overeating. I went for a doc appt today and they told me that there are all kinds of bodies and stomachs out there. Some people get the surgery and can never again eat bread, some need 5 fills to feel restriction. We are the "lucky" ones who healed up just great and have had no problems. Hang in there, Im with ya!!!

Nikki my fills are covered for 90 days and then $100 after that. I havent had my first fill yet but might get it today so I will keep you posted.

Hey guys, thanx for the answers, keep them coming!!! I am going today for a check up and I hope I will feel better then. I am scared b/c I have not lost any weight since I went to solids. Now all the old feelings of failure and guilt are coming back. It is scary when you self pay. My hubby is a SAINT and totally supports me, but I cant help but fear what he will think if we spent all this money and it dosnt work for me! I am optimistic to a fault but this has got me a bit freaked. I was completely unprepared for bandster hell!!! Nikki6055: Hey fellow TN gal :tt2:! I am not sure how I feel about the surgery. The actual procedure was easy for me(youngish and healthy), so that was no problem. However, no weight loss yet, which was the point, and so I am having my doubts. I do feel that this will work, but some results would increase my confidence a good bit!!! So the jury is still out on me. I have a wonderful doc at the Baptist Metabolic Surgery Center, Dr. Spaw. He was totally great with the operation, and his office is nice b/c if you are a new patient you can just go in for a free eval anytime! No appt needed. Good Luck!!

I know there is a ton of support for bandster hell and tons a reassurance about how it will be over soon but I dont know what to do.... 1) I am having trouble eating slow. I sit down with a 300 calorie meal with the intention of taking 30-40 min to eat it and despite chewing and putting my fork down between bites, it is still gone in 15 min. 2) I ate 1/4 cup portein Cereal and 1 egg for bfast at 8 am. Hungry by 10 am, ate string cheese. Noon was 300 lean cusine, still so hungry, so I ate a Protein bar. Now 2:00 hunger is back again so I had 1/2 Peanut Butter sandwich. I should also mention that I work out. So now I have the rest of my day remaining and I have already eaten 1050 calories.....grrrrr 3)My doc suggests just eating 3 small meals and 1 snack daily but I am finding this impossible!!!! I understand the makings of bandster hell and I understand this is normal, but I am desperate to make it to my first fill without gaining my pre op weight loss back. It would be nice to even lose a few lbs!!! So how do I deal with these problems? Do I eat more b/c My body is telling me I need it? Or do I just starve for 2 weeks til I get a fill? I am eating tons of protein, and I try not to eat anything that dosnt have a good amount of protein. I walk 3 miles everyday and lift weights and I have a 3 yr old so I am busy busy. How did you guys do it? I have 2 weeks and need all the tips I can get!!?!?! Thanks soooo much:wub:

As I said in a previous post, I overate alot b4 surgery. Can this stretch the the small stomach pouch? Just curious?!?

I had the same pain! I posted about it a few weeks ago. It is a funny pain b/c it is not where the surgery was. I called my doc and they said all sorts of abdominal pain is normal. I said "even in the lower abdomen?!?" They said yes! Every one heals different and you can feel pain from the sugery all over. Mine went away about 5 days after I first really noticed it. I too was very sore. I felt like I had pulled a muscle down there! I hope you feel better

Well maybe this is silly but I had an expectation of NO HUNGER after surgery. I also thought that if I did get hungry, 1/2 a lean cusine would fill me up! I was expecting to feel stuffed all the time and be down 50 lbs in 3 months. I am 2 1/2 weeks out now and not due for a fill for 2 more weeks!! I did the pre op with great success b/c I was so focused on the SURGERY. Then, for 4 days no matter what I ate; Jello, Protein shake, yogurt; I was full and bloated! I was soooo happy. Then little by little my old frenemy hunger came back. To my horror I discovered that anything I ate went down fine. I do have to eat slower, and I am eating a little less than b4. But I can eat whatever I want!!! I was NOT prepared for this. The past 3 days have been about me coming to terms with my expectations. Honestly, I got a little depressed and went through a few days of eating crap, not good! I know now that until I get my fill I will just be dieting and that my willpower will play a roll. I had shown my willpower to the door b/c I thought I wouldnt need it anymore!!! I wish someone had told me that it can be a big blow to your emotions when you find out this isnt going to solve every food problem you have. My doc did say it would be hard work but I was so europhic over the idea of being skinny that I think I just smiled and nodded. Still I am glad I had it and I am confident of the future. Even with everything I have lost 3 lbs since surgery. This isnt like a diet that you can go off of. You had surgery to implant a device in your body, which you will be working with for the rest of your life. So if you do cheat you cant think "oh ive blown my diet" b/c you cant blow having surgery. No matter what, you took a major step to get healthy and slipping up or cheating cant take that step away from you! good luck!!

I wrote that post kindof quick, let me elaborate..... I am newly banded and I dont have fill. I have noticed I am hungrier and hungrier and can eat larger quanties of food. My doc and I talked about no carbonation and the possibility of throwing up if I ate too much but I havent thrown up. Is it ok if eat 2 cups of food? I know I am suppose to only eat 1 cup at a time. Will I do long term damage? Will I stretch my new stomach? Or if I ate too much wouldnt I just PB? I dont know if this is something that is just common sense. Did my doc just forget to tell me this or is it understood?

My son is 3 also. There is no stress like baby stress!!! hope he did better today! All I can say to you is keep your head up, you are on an incredible journey. Think long term. Where will you be in 5 years? Healthier, happier and running in the park with your best friend; your son!!! Lots of love!

I've known for a while that I have a binge eating disorder. I didnt get to 270 lbs by not eating. I am active but struggle with the desire to free myself by eating TONS of food. It feels like a type of release to give myself permission to go nuts eating whatever I want. I know that many people gain weight b/c of a lack of motivation or education, but that was not me. I always knew what I should and shouldnt eat. I always knew the calories and if I was being "bad" or "good". I have always exercised. Does anyone else have this? In my pre-op psych eval they down played binge eating as an eating disorder. When I spoke to the nutritionist, it was all about food and food education. I felt prepared for the surgery, but now I am having those old binging feelings again. I know I cant binge or Ill puke, but I have even had dreams about binging. I am 2 weeks post op and the initial honeymoon phase is ending and my hunger is returning. I know the hunger will be better after a fill, but what do I do with all these feelings?

Not trying to go against your doc, and you should do whatever he says, but my doc is laid back about the whole post op food thing. I was at normal foods by 2 weeks. He said as long as I chew VERY well and eat slow I cant hurt the band. Im not saying that is what you should do and if you are having pain then follow his orders. I just thought youd like to know that your eating egg drop soup may not have hurt the band, you just may be healing a little slower. Reguardless, it will get better soon! GL

Wow, thank you guys so much for all the help and info. I didnt know OA was free!?! That is great news. I have always felt that my problem was only moderate. Maybe 1 or 2 episodes a month, if even that. But when I do go on a bender I definatly feel like I am no longer in control. It is scary how much I really didnt want pizza and then I ate it anyway, followed by icecream and chocolate. I think the fear of triggering the binge cycle and losing control is why I should seek some support. I honestly did hope that all these old toxic feelings would die after surgery. No more hunger= no more binging. I am begining to realize it is probably going to be a little more work than that *darn* Again, Thanx guys!!!!! :eek:

Dont sweat it. I was way more disiplined in my pre op diet and then right after surgery, like 4 days after, my hunger came back and, to my horror, I found I could eat most foods. My doc was laid back about food and wanted me to progress to normal food within 2 weeks. I think b4 surgery you are so focused on the surgery and you think that all your food cravings and hunger will be gone. When they arent it is a little jolting. I am doing much better now in week 3 and if all you ate is a cookie then you are fine! good luck

Thanx for all the support. I know therapy would be good but I have never really talked to anyone about this. Plus there is the added expense, which after 12000 self pay on surgery, I have trouble justifying or fitting into our budget. I just feel like there is a hunger that is not satisfied, even when I feel full. I wonder if anyone has delt with this and found it got better after restriction? I should also make clear that I have not thrown up yet, nor do I want to. I have not binged. I just have some feelings that I am trying to resolve.

Ok so does anyone eat Cereal? I know we are all on low carb high Protein diets but I hate starting my day out with a big eggs and bacon type bfast and I also cant stomach a shake 1st thing in the morning. I love to eat bfast, but have always been more of a cereal type gal. What is the rule if you eat it with just a very small amount of milk? I just bought a box (for munching) and here are the stats. Kashi GOLEAN 3/4 cup 190 cals 4g fat 35 carbs 8g Fiber 9g protein I am trying to end my addiction to carbs but I get up at 6:30am and walk 3 miles @ 7am every day. I need to have a little something on my stomach b4 I leave the house and also dont have time for cooking. Plus I go b4 my hubby and son wake up so I need a silent meal. Any thoughts or other Bfast ideas?? Thanx

I am recently banded so I cant personally help with the long term. However, a friend of mine had the band and hated it for like 6 months. She didnt lose alot of weight and felt like she had totally wasted her time and money. Then around her 7th month she went to her doc and had a frank conversation about her weight loss. He upped her cc's for her fill (sorry I dont know the #'s). He was reluctant to do so b/c he is a conservative doc. She has gone from 300lb pre op, then down 27lb in 1st 6 months, to now 215lb 1 year post op. She says she was just one of those people who could handle more fill. Could that be you also? I dont know. Also, you have lost 37lbs! If you are anything like me I could lose weight but then I always gain back. It dosent sound like you are gaining. The biggest change I want to make is not record-setting weight loss, but weight loss that stays LOST! Before the band were you ever able to lose nearly 40 lbs and stay on track for 9 months? I know I was always trying to lose 30 lbs FAST and then 2 months later I was back to gaining. There was never a permanent weight loss. I was either on a strict diet or I was gaining. I think you are the turtle in the world of weight loss and you should wear your shell proudly. Remember, he wins the race! Good Luck!

I think the biggest difference in taste comes from pre packaged vs powder forms. I personally dont care for the pre packaged. With the powder forms you put in a little more control over what goes into it and the flavor. You can add a little greek yogurt or peanut butter or 2 or 2 frozen strawberries. I love to add low carb frozen fruit to mine. it gives it a frozen frothy cosistancy. You gotta find what works for you and everyone is different!