missthaaaang

I'm not really sure if this is a complication, or not, but I definitely feel like it's not normal. I got my band in Sept 2010. I have lost a total of 85 lbs and now weigh 135 lbs. I got a fill in May 2011. Then, in December 2011, I started getting alot of heartburn, I couldn't keep liquids down and night coughing so they took out 0.8 cc. I was too hungry & gaining weight back so they put back in 0.3 cc. After about a month, I couldn't take the heartburn, couldn't keep down liquids and night-coughs, so they took out a little more. At that point, I started taking Prilosec every day and still am. In April 2012, I was again having trouble keeping liquids down, heartburn, night-coughs, so they took out a little more. Now, it's August 2012.... I'm still taking Prilosec every day and I have modified my diet to avoid alot of the foods I know cause heartburn for me.... but I'm still having bad heartburn, still having night coughs and throw up alot of my fluids. Has any body else had this happen? All this time, I've kept on losing weight. I do feel like I consider the heartburn somewhat manageable so maybe I've been ignoring it or just treating it and living with it for too long. Any thoughts, suggestions & insight are appreciated!

What I'm trying to say is that although the heartburn is constant the night-coughs and not keeping fluids down definitely is NOT. Why is that that all of a sudden, out of no where I am too tight?

I agree with Missy Bear's advice/opinion on wedges. I still wear wedges every day. They force you to stand up straight and walk tall. They give you confidence AND make you look thinner but are much more comfortable than regular heels/stilettos. Don't forget to post a new photo from the wedding!

I agree with the other poster. Make the most of this time (lose as much as you can now!) and just eat what your body is telling you that you should. Also, make sure you stay hydrated that is a must. We got fat by not listening to our bodies. Drink your water constantly (a sip, a sip, another sip) and eat when you feel hungry and you'll do great.

I think the dress is too tight. The shiny fabric is going to reflect the light & make you look heavier in photos, too. I'd look for something in one size up. Lace, chiffon, crepe fabrics will flow over your curves. Also, with your complexion I'd go with a color (hot pink and turquoise would make you look absolutely radiant) rather than silver/grey or black. I don't know where you live but have you ever looked at Goodwill? I live in the suburbs of Miami and our Goodwills around here have incredible stuff. I got my band 2 years ago and have gone from a size 20 to a size 6 and Goodwill has been my savior because I could find nice clothing (banana Republic, Ann Taylor, etc) in very good condition (sometimes still has the tags on it) for $5 or less a piece. Who wants to spend a bunch of money when you're only going to wear the item for a couple months, right? They usually have a great selection of formal and semi-formal gowns and dresses as most people ony wear these items once or twice.

The purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver not to lose weight (a smaller liver makes it easier for the doctor to install the lap-band during the surgery). Based on the diet you described, you are already having carbs, anyhow (grits, frozen yogurt, etc) so I wouldn't lose any sleep over this.

Can you hire a nanny or mother's helper to help you for a few days after the surgery? Or get a family member to move in? Or husband take a few days off from work. That's what I did (hired a live-in nanny for 10 days) and it was such a relief. It's not just holding them, but being down to pick up toys, etc. Bending over to bathe them. Putting them in their cribs. Getting a band is a surgery and as such you should treat your body delicately and give yourself a break and time to recover and heal. Depends on how little your kids are. Mine were 1 & 3 at the time of my surgery. I showed them the bandages and said "mama has a bad boo-boo so we have to be very careful not to bump it." And they were very careful. IMO, it's not that different from protecting a pregnant belly from a rambunctious toddler. Having said all this, it depends on you, but I had no trouble holding/hugging my kids just a few days after surgery.... but I was also very tired and sore and it was nice to not have to worry about anything..... I could just go into my bed and rest or watch Oprah and I knew everything we being done without me.

I think you will be surprised at what & how much you are capable of doing after your surgery. I certainly was. I would say drive it just to be safe & certain for the first week or so. I hired a nanny to help me for a week after I got my band (my boys were 1 & 3 at the time). Made a huge difference as I was able to relax & chill & focus on myself for a few days. Now it's almost 2 years later and I weigh 137 lbs! Good luck to you!!!!

I was banded by Dr. Cohen in October 2010 and I agree with everything the other member said. He is so nice and accessible and his office is very big on support and educating the patient.

I got my band about a month ago and I get my first fill tomorrow. I feel like I've gotten completely off track. My eating habits are still atrocious. I've lost 17 lbs total since I started the pre-op all liquids diet. But I'm eating nothing but crap! Carbs carbs carbs. Tonight I ate a slice of pizza for dinner. Last night I had Cheetos (yes, for dinner). :blushing: I've been skipping meals and what I do eat is is empty, refined carbs. I have no restriction. I could really use a pep talk and some advice on getting back on track.

At my banders support group there is a point we're always driving home to each other: "no one cares about you, no one is paying any attention to you..." In other words, you might THINK they're thinking stuff about you, but most people are so wrapped up in their own heads, lives, troubles, drama they really don't think about others nearly as much as we think they do. And what are you talking about --- 11 lbs is awesome!? I am also in Bandster Hell (get my first fill tomorrow, thank goodness).... you are doing fine! Chin up girl!

I'm looking for some insight and maybe someone to help me understand why I'm feeling what I'm feeling. I had Lap-band®®®® done 2 weeks ago. I feel 100% normal again and have lost 16 lbs. The other night we had a swap party at my house (this is where friends of all sizes bring their closet discards and we all shop from each others stuff). We put the XS & Smalls in the living room, the Mediums & Larges in the dining room and the XL's and Plus sizes in the family room. I've always stuck to the family room and the accessories because those were the areas I could fit into. Well, this time I spent my time in the dining room and hesitated to take anything from there. :tt1: I'm a size 18-20 right now and I was taking size 14 & 12..... so a way's in the future but it's not like I was taking a size 0 and saying "oh I'm going to wear this" (which would be pretty unrealistic as I've never been that small, not even as a skinny teen). The emotions I felt as I was looking through that clothing: I was TERRIFIED. It was like I was scared to touch it. A Large? OMG, eeek! I cannot explain it and I wish I know how to put it into words but it was so scary to take that clothing for myself. So even though I feel great and have lost 16 lbs there is a big part of me that's also doubting that I'll ever be successful, convinced it's not really going to happen, part of me might even be SCARED for me to lose that much weight.... and I don't understand why???

I am pre-op for Lap Band and need some advice about preparing for post op. I am a stay-at-home-mom with 2 young children: ages 1 & 3. The 3-year-old is at school from 7 AM - 3 PM during the week. My husband isn't going to be able to help me with the kids much after my op. We're hiring someone to help me from 3-7 every day the first week. She'll just make dinner, pick up the house a little, bathe my kids, etc. My kids know this woman well and adore her. I wanted to get someone all day but my husband says I won't need it. He's saying Lap-Band surgery isn't as bad as a c-section. I've had 2 c-sections and was shopping, driving and at the park pushing my (then) 2-year old on the swings less than a week after the c-section. I keep reading about Lap-Band and wonder what it will be like. Most of the people on here seem to be people who have older children or teens and who work outside the home.

I was able to "re-negotiate" my post-op help with my husband thanks to all your input. I showed my husband all your responses and was able to convince him I need more help. I now have someone staying in our house 24/7 the first three days post-op and then just coming from 3-7 the week after that. I'm getting banded this Friday - 9/24/2010!!! Yay! Thanks you guys! [

Thanks for the all the details & info you guys!!! I plan to spend the weekend lying in bed and taking walks. :smile: I should be fine. Being banded a week from tomorrow! :thumbup:

Dark Angel: What did you do, what did you eat? Why do you think you were able to lose so much, so quickly? Looking at your photo, you look pretty young -- do you think that's part of it? Very interested in your thoughts....

I completely know how you feel! One of my closest friends is a personal trainer / nutritionist / exercise physiologist and I haven't told her I'm getting Lap-Band done yet. I dieted with her as my coach about a year ago (she was working me out 4x/week and coached me on food) and had some mild success (15 lbs lost) which I've since gained back plus another 20 lbs. I feel like I'm at my wits end and LB is my last resort.... but I can't tell her I'm doing this because she's going to lecture me on it. Sigh!