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I have heard that warm liquids help folks loosen the band in the mornings...I know that when I have a cold or my allergies are acting up I am a lot tighter....I attributed it to the mucus, etc, running down my throat. (sorry TMI) It's hard to know sometimes what is causing it....I did notice last summer on the really really hot days that I felt really tight and didn't want to eat anything as I had no appetite. It's wierd how things like stress, sickness, and atmosphere can affect our bands! Hang in there! Kim

THANK YOU to whomever invented lapband! My sex life with my partner was never dull..never same ol same ol....however now! Holy Moly! Fanfreakintastic! :wub: He likes to call it "mad passionate porn sex" haha!

I'm not sure there is one. My doctor allows both immediately following surgery--and he is super strict about things (ie, no yogurt or pudding allowed during full liquid, strict rules about drinking calories, had to strain (not just puree) soups during full liquids--etc). I would always follow what your own surgeon says, but this was my experience. Before surgery, I only drank coffee on weekends bc sometimes it would give me diarrhea (TMI?) but now I am soooo grateful for it bc it helps keep me regular.

I actually started Monday night at around 6pm and had to be at the hospital for surgery Tuesday at 7am...talk about pissed!! They made me what their undies and their pad but when i got out of surgery i had a catheter in...go figure.....but i put in my pad and panties afterwards cause...sorry if this is tmi...i couldn't get a tampon in, i guess i was swollen in that area.

OK...for everyone this is gonna be TMI...but I didnt wear panties for a week after surgery...I wore my night gown home...had a hard time getting them up and down after surgery...But all the holes are above your belly button for this surgery.

Sorry this is a gross question. Pre surgery when you vomit it is often a large amount and is not discreet to anyone nearby or in the public bathroom you could be in. After surgery you eat once a few ounces. Is it still obvious if you get sick or is it more discreet? I'm guessing its not projectile and not as obvious. I'm just wondering it seems like a lot of people vomit after surgery at some point at work, out in public etc and I am wondering how obvious it is to coworkers etc.

Maybe TMI... I used to sweat so bad sleeping that the salts would stain my pillows a gross yellowish brown... Now I rarely sweat at all even while exercising it's such a great feeling and I am not as self conscience any more I know there were times when I was the stinky guy though few people ever said anything.

Someone PLEASE tell me my private area wont stay fat after weight loss , sorry if TMI

I had my surgery on Nov. 25, 2008 and have lost 30 pounds. The weight loss has been very slow but I'm trying to stay optimistic. Thought it would be nice to have someone to chat with who actually understands all the ups and downs of living with a band. I'm a teacher and out for summer right now. I'm one of those "eat when you get bored" kind of people. I've had 8 adjustments so far. I've had an annoying pain in my right side every since the surgery. It comes and goes. My doctor says that it couldn't be related in anyway to my band. It's not "female" related because I've already had all of that checked out. TMI! (too much information) Anyway, just wondering if anyone else has had similiar aches and pains.

I had the drain in for 5 days and it did hurt. The drain was under my breast bone tmi:-). However, it did not hurt when it was removed. Good luck

I hope so because my binging is just a brief impulse and i just stuff myself until i am full. me and food have a love hate thing. this is my second time losing 100s of pounds. the first time i developed bulimia and a diet pill problem. the only good thing about it is that a lot of the healthy eating habits from my smaller days never left me. i still dont like greasy stuff or white bread and most of he time i am good at controlling myself. but not when i am too happy or too low so my weight is always up and down. one week i eat too much the next i dont eat enough. i am bipolar with ptsd so i am all over the place and my wait has a big effect on my stability. that is what worries me about the surgery i hope i dont get too bored and stress out. i will feel much better when i know for sure the insurance will cover it, right now its at 95% sure. and i do have support in some sence but not really. i dropped most of my friends "i needed to their were no good" and i dont go anywhere"i am visualy impaired from albinism so i cant drive". my mom is supportive but she has no clue she was 95ibs after 2 kids then she had me and that changed. she has never had any addiction out side of work. she is such a goody goody.i have told too many people because it is seen as the easy way out and i dont want people to monitor everything i do. and that is my other worry will i be well enough for school in september? sorry for ranting i am the queen of TMI and i love to talk its the only thing that helps. thank you allfor helping

Close to TMI, but if you want to share pictures, feel free to PM

I'm almost 3 months postop, not at restriction, 3rd fill is next week. I've been feeling fatigued and some dizziness when standing for a few weeks now. My doc ordered every blood test out there and everything came back fine. I don't think my symptoms are as severe as yours but they are telling me to drink more water too. The quote I got was, "not enough water makes you feel like a wet dishrag". Agreed. Today I peed like every other hour and it's very pale (TMI sorry) whereas before this week I peed a few times a day and it was amber. Does this sound like you? I've never had hydration issues before, it's frustrating.

Ok, maybe not a big thrill to anyone but me, but I can now look down and actually SEE my bellybutton. I'm only down 17.6 pounds but it seems to all have come off the roll of fat above the bellybutton level. TMI? I am stoked. Doesn't take much to get me going, evidently. Also off blood pressure medication (had been on since age 25). And now completely off both Lantus and Humalog insulins. Why didn't I do this years ago? As one of my hero dog people says, the past is the past. Live in the NOW.

Thanks ladies...I know this is TMI but if I could just pooh I would feel a ton better!

I will apologize to the guys for this topic up front. Now I am going to warn all of you male bloggers I am going to discuss a rather x-rated topic. My panties! lol Well yesterday I finally broke down and bought my self some new underware. I know your all asking how in the world was she still waring the same panties she wore 68 lbs ago. They were a little baggy in the seat but they were dear old friends and I just wasn't ready to go to the expense of purchasing new ones. I have had to purchase new bras, on two separate occasions but the panties worked so I left them alone. Well for two weeks I have been saying to my husband, "Honey I gotta buy new panties, one day I am going to be walking down the hall at work and they are going to fall right off." It had got to the point when I wore my tee shirt spanks that my underware gave me a wedgy. TMI right but you have to fully appreciate how much our bodies change and all of the things we go through when losing weight. Well I bought two pair of really cute hipster style panties at Target. They were so cute, "Not granny panties at all" They were a soft gray pattern with this cute little bow on the front and flat ecru colored lace on the legs. And guess what they are a size "7" and they look so cute. Ok, so they are only underware and I know I am the only one that is going to see them but they make me feel thinner. I know that may sound ridiculous but they do. I have not bought underware that was not of the granny pantie style for years, I got satin ones, lacy ones, etc. Tomorrow, Monday June 27th I start my exercise at Curves®. I have to be there at 7am, so excited. Spent the weekend working in the yard and swimming in the pool. Also bought some delicious protein bars at CVS for buy two get one free. Had a yummy pretzel peanut butter one yesterday for lunch and a chocolate Carmel crunch one today. 200 cal 15 gm protein and low carbs. I like these on the weekend for when I am busy outside and use as one meal replacement. Hope everyone is doing great this weekend. I will keep you posted this week on my exercise, oh and I guess I get to wear my new panties to work and won't get a wedgy!

I am pre-op and I have had the same kind of rash in that area. It was really red and sometimes itchy and painful. I thought it was a yeast rash and tried all the over the counter creams, but nothing helped. My doctor confirmed it was a yeast rash and the Rx cream took care of it. The Rx creams are much stronger so I would recommend that route. I also found a product online called InterDry which is a medical grade anti-microbial fabric with silver that wicks moisture away from your body. It also inhibits the yeast or any bacteria from multiplying. It was created for exactly this problem. It is a roll of fabric that you cut to size and place in the folds of skin. It works wonders!!! It isn't cheap but you don't have to buy it very often (you can use each piece for up to 5 days - depending). Making sure the area is clean and dry is the key. After I shower, I always use my hairdryer on the cool setting to dry "the area" before I get dressed. You can do this several times a day if needed. Hope this wasn't TMI, but I was miserable and these things helped me.

On the day of my surgery, January 14th, 2013, I was morbidly obese with a BMI over 50. I was suffering from horrific knee pain and was seriously looking at spending my life in a wheelchair. I couldn’t walk more than a block without having to sit and rest. I couldn’t do the simplest of things like put on socks, or pick up my legs to shave them in the shower. I knew I was probably done traveling. I had just been on a cruise where I couldn’t get off the ship because of the pain I was in. I was wearing 4X tops and 26/28 slacks. I knew I was going to have to buy clothes online soon because I was growing out of these sizes and even places like Avenue didn’t carry sizes much bigger. The larger I got, the more invisible I felt. I worried about being able to move in spaces that were no longer big enough for me. I made sure to get to the conference room at work before anyone else so I didn’t have to bring unwarranted attention to myself by forcing my colleagues to squeeze in just so I could pass them if I couldn’t get a seat near the door. I worried about restaurants with tight seating…airplanes with narrow seats and the looks from whoever was stuck sitting next to me. Oh God…just thinking about this even now makes me so very sad and hurt because the list of painful and embarrasing situations is a long one. That, however, was before my surgery. Today is my two year bandiversary and during those two years, I have lost around 150 lbs. That’s an amazing amount of excess weight to carry around on a very small frame. No wonder I was so uncomfortable. Today, I feel light as a feather. I can move normally again. As many of you know, I needed my hips replaced even before dealing with my knees. Turns out that my knees are fairly stable now as there is no excess weight to put unnecessary pressure on the joints. I can do all those things healthy people take for granted. I can walk anywhere and everywhere, I can cross my legs like a woman should be able to do, I can go up and down stairs…..hell, I can open my legs again and feel that marvelous weight of a man on top of me (sorry if that’s TMI but we're all adults here and sex is an important part of life that I thought was also in my past) Most of all…I fit in the world again and because I fit, the world has opened back up to me. After 20+ years, I'm wearing petites again. I'm in small sized tops and size 6 slacks. My legs aren't tree trunks anymore and I'm wearing dresses. And just an FYI for you ladies…If you want to attract a man, wear a dress. Works like a charm.. I love to clothes shop again. In these small sizes, the clothes are cute and pretty and I don't buy anything anymore just because it fits. I wear makeup again. My hair is styled attractively. I match the jewelry/bag/shoes to the outfits. Like I said above, I am very much aware now that people notice me. What an amazing transformation that is. To know that people see you again is such a powerful feeling….especially when you've felt invisible for so long. I’m traveling again. In fact, I’m planning a trip to China or now possibly a Nordic cruise to Finland and Norway sometime later this year. I hope to go on one big trip every year. There are so many places I didn't think I'd ever get to and now I need to make up for lost time and go wherever my heart desires. My grandson is due in April. I’ll be able to play with this one. My granddaughter missed out on a lot because I couldn’t keep up with her. She and I did a lot of arts and crafts, and reading books together or watching TV. I’m sure she didn’t feel like she missed anything but I know she did and this time around, Grandma is planning on climbing the monkey bars with this little guy when he gets old enough. One last thing I wanted to put out there. I must thank Alex for creating this site. It has been my salvation. The people here were and are, instrumental in my success. I have said things in my posts that no one outside of this place can truly understand and for that I am so very grateful. I am also blessed to call many of the folks on this site good friends of mine and I can’t wait to meet some of you face to face so I can give you a big hug. Here’s how I feel today..and most days in fact….I’m a person with two birthdays now. One in August of 1958 when I was born, and one in January of 2013 when I was re-born. For anyone reading this post, congrats if you have also found success in your weight loss journey and to those struggling, or who are pre-op and full of doubts and worries, know that a new life is possible for each and every one of you. I'm not special so if I could do this, so can you...no matter what your co-morbidities, starting BMI, or any other challenges you are facing. Here's a couple of before/after pics so you can see what 150 lbs. gone looks like. The ticker is just data but a picture is worth a thousand words as they say.

I can't eat the whole bag. I like the bbq best. I eat them if I am craving something crunchy or sometimes pills get stuck in my throat so I use them to get the pill down. I am not sure why I have that problem, but I have actually caused erosion in my esophagus from the pill disolving in my esophagus. Very painful! TMI I know, sorry. But the crunch os are a good replacement for chips as well:)

Hey everyone I was banded July 29th and (knock on wood) things are going just great! My surgery was a breeze and I have experienced very little pain. The gas has been minimal, and I am peeing all the time! My question is... when will I have a BM? My Dr did not give me a stool softener but his nurse did ask me if he had. Why on earth would I need a stool softener when all I am consuming is liquid? My DH said why would you go if you haven't eaten anything but we all know & have probably been there. You still go.... it's just liquid! (TMI right! ) So... when did you all have your first BM post op? It's not out of fear or pain that I don't go either (like after you have a baby!) It's just not there! I'm not uncomfortable, just used to being VERY regular and I haven't had a BM since before the surgery. Other than that I could not be happier. Ok, maybe a little happier if I could have something besides broth and Jello but I'll live until I get to the mushies! Thanks in advance for all your insight!

I think in the beginning there wasn't a whole lot to really "go" as it was all liquids that I was taking in. There was nothing "solid" really coming out (sorry if that's tmi). But as the months have progressed (I'm 21 months post op now), sticking to the diet has proven challenging to get enough Fiber in. I either have to take a fiber supplement or take miralax or MOM a couple of times a week to keep things regular. Otherwise, it would be a problem.

Hello everyone! Well...I'm officially banded. I had my surgery at 9 Friday morning and stayed in the hospital one night. I was not too excited about that, but now I'm really glad that I did. You know...you read everyone's stories and experiences and you feel somewhat prepared, but it's a whole different thing when it is happening to you. The worst part of everything has been the nausea. Saturday after I got home I felt pretty damn good. Even walked around the block in my neighborhood to help dissipate the CO2, etc. Yesterday (Sunday) was much, much rougher. First of all, I was glued to the toilet all day. People talk about constipation, but I had the complete opposite problem. It would not stop. Sorry for the TMI. As the day progressed, I kept feeling more and more nauseous. Around 8 last night I took another slow walk around the block. It didn't help. Around 9:15, I laid down in bed and immediately began feeling like I was about to throw up which terrified me. My husband helped me sit up very quickly, but by then it was too late. He handed me a cup and I began throwing up foamy Water. Less than a 1/3 of a cup total. Of course as soon as I could I contacted my doctor and my doctor's nurse. Both assured me that my band was still secure. That it is repetitive vomiting over time that is the enemy. I felt somewhat reassured, but still cannot shake the feeling that I've messed something up. What is strange though, is that after I vomited, I immediately felt better and haven't had any major nausea since. I was able to sleep through the night with no problems. I can even sleep on my side comfortably which I didn't expect to do this soon. While my doctor was talking to me, he asked me if I had been forcing fluids. He said to not be too worried if you cannot get in the 48 - 60 ounces that the literature recommends. I wish someone had told me this sooner. Yesterday I had 8 ounces of chicken broth, 8 ounces of diet cranberry juice, and probably 12 ounces of water. And getting all that in was a struggle. I didn't want any of it. He also told me not to be too concerned with dehydration because for every pound of fat the body breaks down, it produces a quart of water. Right now I'm using my urine color as a guide. It is still very, very light yellow although I am not going very often. I have to say...last night during all of this, I was experiencing a big "what the hell have I done to myself" moment. Is this normal? Did any of you feel this way at any point? Did any of you experience the nausea and retching that soon after surgery? Any advice is welcome. Thanks.

Mirilax is great but you shouldn't take it daily-per my doctor.. I have taken it to get the relief to soften but ...(TMI) if it has been awhile you are going to be hard until that is passed then it will get it sofer.. Afterward I take 1 tablespoon of benefiber twice a day. I mix it with my protein shake or with water or anything.

You're definitely too tight. For the past two fills, I've received 2 cc of Fluid, but with my last fill I couldn't stop burping when I drank a Jamba juice and some of the drink would come back up with the burp. (Nice....TMI...) Then I would hiccup. I went right back to the doctor that afternoon and explained what was happening. The nurse said all of those were bad signs. I'm learning how much is too much of a fill, but today I'm wondering if she took too much out when I went back. What everyone has already said is correct: 2 cc is a big fill and even 1 cc can make a huge difference. Heck, even 1/2 cc can make a difference. I'm learning the perfect fill is a lot like a butterfly I can't quite reach on my tippy-toes. Good luck. We'll get there.

Thyank yo for all the up days there is not TMI if you know what I mean. I am going to be sleeved soon and I need to know what it is store with all the Ins and Outs!