size10again

Hi Vicky, The Dr. put in 1.5 cc. He said the band was pre-loaded with 3.0 cc. I feel a little more restriction. I am suppose to be on full liquids today but in my usual pushy fasion am back to regular diet. I did follow the liquids only for yesterday, the day of fill. My next fill is scheduled for Feb. 4th. When is your first fill scheduled? Joan

Great job on the smaller clothes! Don't you just love thrift stores?! Joan

Lindsey, Thanks for keeping us updated! I am having a good day and hope everyone is, too! I had my first fill yesterday. I don't feel anymore restricted than I did before the fill. Maybe at my Feb. appt. I will receive an additional fill. Joan

I had my first fill today and was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was! My surgeon uses an x-ray machine to accuratyely get in to the port. It was virtually painless! I wanted to share this to help those who haven't had a fill yet and might be a bit wooried! Joan

Lindsey, You rock! Thanks for doing such a great job on the spread sheet and volunteering to update it each Monday! I really appreciate it! Do you work with computers for a living? Joan

Yeah on the the smaller size! I had my first fill today, it was painless! I hope I see more weight loss now, I am down only 1# in the last 3 weeks. I guess it's better than gaining during the holidays which is what I normally do. I ordered Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies from Amazon and they had a variety of weight loss surgery books and cookbooks to pick from. I am back on a liquid diet today since I had a fill and I am a bit hungry. Joan

Yeah, thanks Lindsey! How can we view the spread sheet? I had my first fill today, 1.5cc. What a breeze! I was a bit worried and it was so painless I could hardly tell anything was being done! There was already 3cc in my band from my surgery date. I am on liquids only for today. TTYL, Joan

Hello, I hope things are going well for everyone. Does anyone know how to do a spread sheet for us? I am lacking in computer skills. Help would be greatly apprciated! The spread sheet could include our names and weekly weigh ins for each Monday in January. Maybe it could also have our goal for the month?! I have my first fill tomorrow! Wish me well!! Joan

Hello, Here is one of my favorite recipes to share: Bean Tostadas~ fat free refried Beans tostada shell grated low fat cheddar cheese taco sauce low fat sour cream lettuce tomato black olives Yum! Tostada/taco shells work very well for me as do beans. Have a great night! Joan

Name, real or screen~ Joan Age~ 49 Weight on January 3rd~ 219.8 Goal Weight for January 31st~ 213.8 (4weeks, 1.5 punds per week) Exercise Goal for January~ Gym 3 times per week, walk or exercycle 2 times per week Dietary Goal for January~ Journal! Personal Goal for January~ Get my sewing machine out and find a project to do. Date Banded~ 12/02/2010 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 4 pounds Hello, I am glad to have you all join me on this journey! Would anyone who knows how, (which I don't) be willing to make us a spreadsheet with our names, dates of weigh ins and our weights at each of the five weigh ins for this month? I think it would be helpful to view this in one place. Danielle~ I like your idea about adding short jogs to our walking. This is a great idea for those who can jog and want to kick up their walk a bit! Let's share a favorite band recipe with each other this week. What do you love that is nutritious and comfortable with your band? Joan

Hi Brenda! Please see the above note to Heather and Stef. You and I were posting at the same time. Joan

Hi Heather and Stef! I edited the template and added band date, and weight loss since banding. Glad you have joined me! Joan

When I feel a little stuck or a little pressure I chew up two TUMS and walk around. That usually helps a lot. I did vomit one time and it was a relief compared to the pain I was experiencing! I am working on the chew, chew, chew habit and am doing well in general. Bread that is crusty and hearty goes down well and is comfortable. I never eat doughy breads!

Happy New Year! Aren't we the lucky ones this new year, we can actually reach our weight loss resolutions AND maintain them! I used liquid adult tylenol the day of and after surgery and thereafter my surgeon said it was OK to take ibuprofen ccctablets which I can handle just fine. I think your pain is mostly due to the dry heaves. That has got to hurt and really make the traumatized abdomen extra sore. Try to drink/sip all day long. When you go to the bathroom, drink a small cup of water. I am one month post op today and am still a little bit swollen, I think. I get that stuck feeling when I eat sometimes, usually if I eat too fast. I am back to work tomorrow after a 2 week Winter Break. My first fill is Wednesday; I hope (plan) to see more weight loss after that..... Joan

Hello, I tjhink you should talk to your doctor about your concerns. If he chooses not to fill then that is for the best right now. It seems like your appetite and eating are under control due to both the band and wellbutrin. Possibly in another month or more you and your doctor will decide on a fill. Don't worry, you can always have your band filled more in the future! Joan

Hello, Yeah Vicky!! I am so happy you reached your year end goal! Do you all take vitamins? And if so, chewable? Where do you buy yours? I am taking Centrum Silver chewables and Caltrate soft chews for calcium. Joan

I was given a month of surgery estimate when I started the 6 months pre op requirement, assuming I would have lost the required 20 pounds and been approved by my insurance company. What actually happened was that my doctor's office submitted my papers for approval, even though I didn't lose the 20 pounds, I was approved and then received a surgical date. Good luck! Joan

Hello, I am 3 plus weeks post op and doing well. I haven't lost any additional weight in the last week and a half, cookies and fudge go down easily! LOL My post op instructions said to take pepto bismol as needed for diarrhea. My post op appointment (one week) said no gym until one month post op. I have gone a few times but am not doing abdominal work. I went to Fudruckers for lunch today and ate chicken strips and fries. I felt fine and it was lovely to eat only 2/3 of a kids meal and feel satisfied! My growing 12 year old son was more than happy to finish my leftovers! My first fill is scheduled for January 5th. Joan

Hello, My dietician said that the carbonation can expand the stomach pouch thus making the band ineffective. I was a diet cola addict and completely gave it up post op. I am not going to risk having my pouch stretched out and defeating the whole reason I chose to be banded and all my efforts for carbonation! Joan

Do you have an anti -nausea skin patch on? If so, that will cause blurry vision. Good luck! Joan

My post op instructions ENCOURAGE drinking from a straw to help with slow sipping rather than drinking too fast. Joan

Hello, I would love to join the New Year's Challenge! I followed your link but it went to a spreadsheet for the current challenge. How do I sign up for the new challenge? Thanks, Joan

Hello, Congratulations to all the new bandsters! What brand of calcium chews are you using? I drink milk and eat cottage cheese daily but I need to supplement to reach the 1200-1500 mg of calcium recommendation. Have a great day, Joan

Hello, Well, I ate the wrong food today and vomited! I am almost 3 weeks out from surgery and THOUGHT I could eat a little deli turkey and roast beef with a bite of bread, WRONG! I have officially retreated back to a soft diet! I was feeling "normal" and thought I'd eat a little bit of a sandwich. I hadn't vomited since 1988! I have started working out at a gym and feel great. I am doing the elliptical and weight machines minus the abdominal machines. Your hospital should have written post op instructions for you regarding when you can shower among other things. My directions said I could shower at 48 hours, and to not scrub at my abdomen with a wash cloth. My incisions were covered only with dermabond. It seems lots of us are enjoying our beans and bean soups/chile. Wendy's chili is yummy and went down with out and problem at all. I had fat free refried beans tonight with red chile and cheese on a broken up tostada shell, this also went (and stayed!) down easily. I buy small viatmins (adult) for my son that I think would be OK to take, One A Day Esentials, I buy the store brand equivalent. Right now I am chewing a daily chewable vitamin. Is anyone taking extra calcium and if so are you using a chewable? I am determined to try and eat as well rounded of a diet as possible including a small amount of grain products each day as my diet progresses. I know and am glad I won't eat nearly the amount of carbs that I used to eat but feel a small amount of grains are important for vitamin requirements and overall health and wellbeing. I feel ill if I eat only protein, veggies and fruit. Joan

Hi, Hope you've been able to pee, but if not, here are a few old labor and delivery nursing tricks. 1) run the Water while you're trying 2)blow bubbles in a cup of water with a straw while trying to relax on toilet 3)pour/spray water on your urethra area (pee hole) while trying to relax Good Luck! I had to really concentrate to pee for about 5-7 days after surgery! Joan