mdicurn

Well, I guess it is time to get a list going! Please post your online name and your surgery date here so we can find Banding Buddies! You know, someone to commiserate with during days of Bandster Hell, and someone to share Non Scale Victories (NSV) with - like tying your shoes without having the laces crooked. Maybe one day, we can even have a mass "granny pantie" burning! September 2007 Bandsters MDICURN (Jeni) - 9/?/07 Rwel4 - 9/4/07 Guinessgirl77 - 9/4/07 PCracker - 9/4/07 Stacy73 - 9/5/07 Littleroo1 - 9/5/07 Surfbored - 9/5/07 Toots - 9/5/97 Missy - 9/6/07 Ghostbuster - 9/7/07 Butterfly17 - 9/7/07 Natie716 - 9/7/07 Allisarin- 9/7/07 Sharon2u - 9/10/07 Skodes - 9/10/07 Phillyms - 9/10/07 Eli - 9/10/07 Andrea71 - 9/11/07 Want3bemeagain - 9/11/07 Nanann - 9/11/07 NcNyrk - 9/12/07 Lap-bandit - 9/14/07 Suemtt- 9/14/07 Kelly5Bellies - 9/15/07 Lmjlmj - 9/17/07 Arley - 9/17/07 Philly08 - 9/17/08 Gurlygirl - 9/18/07 Darragha - 9/19/07 Zgril - 9/20/07 ScareDcat - 9/20/07 Bubblebelly - 9/20/07 Globetrotter - 9/24/07 Juliacleone - 9/28/07 Chubbyone - 9/28/07

Stacy 73… 46 TulipStar…32 Mdicurn…32 time4me…27.8 Magooz07…11 Caresarn…16 Klpdbl…50 Lapband4me...32 Sirusman…56 Allisarin…23 Tishamarie…49 EL1…23 Juliacleone…24 Kimmie…45 dsmit13…23 ScareDcat…35 Lapitup…22.5 mandi78…23 andrea71…28 Thinmom…23 Kellymovingon...35 flipper64...30 kagoscuba...37 Lucylu...15 Gurlygirl....23 Amber...39 suzygayle....31 Linda E......24.5 lbs Texrose 575 .....24.0 lbs Jennie1976...18 lbs itstime....23 lbs eastxnurse....30 lbs wannabthin...26 lbs sades.....23 lbs

I haven't had a fill yet. I am still loosing 1-2 pounds a week which is fine with me! We are going to re-evaluate 12/28 and see if I need a fill then. I can eat whatever I want, but stick to the bandster rules and fill up on protein first- very little carbs. I have only had 2 episodes were I ate a little too much and had some chest discomfort (should have stopped with half that stuffed bell pepper!) Unfortunately, my eyes still think that my stomach can hold more that it does.

30 pounds today! 7.5 more to the 1/2 way point! Stacy 73… 40 TulipStar…22 Mdicurn…30 time4me…27.8 Magooz07…11 Caresarn…16 Klpdbl…47 Lapband4me...32 Sirusman…45 Allisarin…23 Tishamarie…49 EL1…23 Juliacleone…14 Kimmie…45 dsmit13…23 ScareDcat…32 Lapitup…22.5 mandi78…23 andrea71…28 Thinmom…23 Kellymovingon...35 flipper64...30 kagoscuba...37 Lucylu...15 Gurlygirl....23 Amber...39 suzygayle....31 Linda E......24.5 lbs Texrose 575 .....24.0 lbs

I think that is as good a theory as any! When I went to see my surgeon Friday, I was sitting in the office literally wrapped in my jacket and he told me that I would be colder from a decrease in my "insulation." All I know is that I am down 26 pounds and walking around my house in sweats while my 7 months pregnant daughter is up 24 pounds and wearing shorts!

Thanks Stacy! Stacy 73… 40 TulipStar…27 Mdicurn…25 time4me…27.8 Magooz07…11 Caresarn…16 Klpdbl…31 Lapband4me...32 Sirusman…23 Allisarin…23 Tishamarie…49 EL1…23 Juliacleone…16 Kimmie…43 dsmit13…23 ScareDcat…22 Lapitup…22.5 mandi78…23 andrea71…28 Thinmom…23 Kellymovingon...35 flipper64...30 kagoscuba...37 Lucylu...15 Gurlygirl....23 Amber...39 Texrose575.....19.5 bbgray....42

I am a little over a month post op and I have not had a fill. However, I swear that if I go to long without eating I can feel something. It is like a sticking sensation in the back of my throat and some chest discomfort. I have seen this sensation mentioned in relation to overeating, eating too fast, PB'ng or pre-pb'ing. But I have never see in mentioned when there is nothing in your stomach. Sometimes burping helps relieve it, but it seems to come back afterwards. I do have a history of reflux and I am taking Prevacid, but this does not feel like reflux. I was just wondering if anyone else had this experience before I call my surgeon. Thanks!

Thanks Jachut! I think these are my first experiences with real hunger (going past just simple "I think I am hungry" to "I am starving!") since I was banded. I bought some Protein bars to keep in my scrubs for times when a sit down meal is not going to be a possibility. We shall see if that helps.

Mdicurn .....20lbs This is a great idea!

Thanks for commiserating! I honestly think that it is related to gas pressure under the band, pushing up on it. I don't feel it after I eat, only when it has been too long between meals - which happens frequently when I am at work. I guess I am going to have to invest in some protein bars to carry in my pocket.

Your heart rate and blood pressure might be more related to dehydration that to your medication - with the medication that you are taking making the issue worse. For example, if you have a water hose with that is only half full, then you stretch the diameter of the water hose, it is going to be even less full that it was before. Even if you think you are getting in enough fluids, it might not be depending on the definition of "several". Other than calling your doctor, you could try increasing your fluid intake to fill up those hoses.

I was banded on 9/11 and as of yesterday, I have lost 20 pounds - all post-op. :whoo:

I am a generous 5 ft 1/4 inch and at 200 pounds was wearing size 20/22 Jeans and 2X tops. Now at 180, I am comfortably in 18s and heading toward 16s in the jeans. I still wear the 2X tops - I like looser tops. Anyway, the good thing is that thanks to all those visits to weight watchers , I have jeans that will take me all the way back down to 14 before I have to spend any money on clothes.

I was banded on 9/11 and won't be getting my first fill until November 2. So far I am doing very well. I will be one month post-op tomorrow and have lost 19 pounds. I am hopeful that I will continue losing even though I am not filled.

I am an ICU RN, and if I was stranded on a desert island and couldn't get a hold of my surgeon by smoke signals, I would consider unfilling my band in that emergency situation. However, barring that remote possibility, I would not. The risk of infection is too high, and I am sure that I could talk an ER doc or IV Therapy or Chemo Nurse through finding and accessing my port for an emergency unfill.

Hello! If you are not able to keep down water and are only able to get one glass in a day you are most likely already dehydrated - which will make it even harder for you to keep things down. You need to call your surgeon or go to the ER right away and let them know what is going on. Gas pain is one thing, but being unable to swallow is something different altogether. Also, see if they will give you liquid or chewable medications as opposed to the pills. From what I have experienced and read, what is happening to you is not uncommon, but it is not the way things are supposed to be either. Good Luck!

I was banded on 9/11 and as of this morning I have lost 13.6 pounds. As with anything else, everyone's weight loss goes at it's own rate. For me, every day that I get on the scale and it number does not go UP it is a good day!

This is an interesting topic - I was banded on 9/11 and I have been having gas pains ever since, especially at night. They wake me up from a sound sleep. It is not reflux. It is gas. I know because it is relieved by getting up and walking around and either burping or passing gas. Then I can go back to sleep. The problem is that I am waking up every 3-4 hours with these pains. I have tried to eat closer to the time I am going to bed to have something in my stomach besides air. I take gas ex before bedtime. I switched from Whey protein to Soy protein in case the lactose was the issue. So far nothing has worked.

I am on soft foods now.. and I have to say that yesterday I had the best d*mn mashed potatoes on the whole planet!! :clap2: Of course, they were just ordinary mashed potatoes - but even after my idiot husband decided to call for PIZZA :faint:they tasted FANTASTIC!

Hello All! I was banded on 9/11 and today is my 8th day post op and I feel WONDERFUL! At first I did have some issues though. I do have a history of reflux and they put me on prilosec over the counter pills one a day when I was discharged. Between those and the Vicodin that they gave me for pain I think I was causing myself problems. It hurt to swallow them and I would have chest pain for hours afterwards. It seemed like I could feel my band in my chest.. if that makes any sense. SO, I called the Dr. and got switched to Prevacid Solutabs instead and if I needed a vicodin, I crushed it up and put it in SF pudding. That made all the difference in the world! Now, I think I am well on the way to a nicely healing band.

Good Luck Chili!

Sorry to see you go.. but on the bright side, YOU HAVE YOUR DATE!! WOO HOO!!

I don't know about the Protein issue.. but I actually dreamed about pizza last night! Go figure! :hungry:

I was more than a little surprised when my surgeon gave me a prescription for Vicodin pills to take for pain when I got home. I was expecting a liquid pain medication. The first day, I crushed them up and mixed them with cranapple juice (YUCK!) which almost made me throw up. The rest of the time, I have been breaking them in half and taking each half with a 30 minute time interval in between. He also has be taking an over the counter Prilosec pill, which is small and less difficult. Has anyone else been given pills for pain medicine, or is it just me?

My suggestions are these - think of your shakes as meals and drink lots of Fluid in between them. Try not to put yourself into situations where you are going to be tempted. And for me.. I made my husband cook for himself. You can honestly do this. Look around this site and you will find a tremendous number of highly intelligent men and women who all felt the same way at one point or another. You are not alone - we have all been there. Just take a deep breath, forgive yourself for a misstep and redouble your efforts. You can and will succeed. If I can do it anyone can!