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Finally, i got on the scale this morning and they moved. down 1.5 lbs. I was so happy to see a new number. Then I went to work. Why do some people just have to burst your bubble. I was talking to a nurse and we were talking about losing weight and I said, I had been stuck at the same weight fo a while and was frustrated. She said,"You look amazing" I said, thank you. Then I was telling her about hurting my knee exercising and how worried I had been about not losing and afraid of gaining, so when the scales moved this morning and I was down 1.5 I was elated. She says well you know why don't you, you stopped exercising so you are losing muscle. Just what the blankty blank I need to hear. I know she is probably right but it sure did deflate my mood. Sighhhhh! The day ended well, I went to PT and was able to do the eliptical bike, 599 steps in 10 minutes. My balance sucks, the therapist told me I could use my WII Fit and do the balancing exercises and step exercises. Really low impact compared to what I was doing but I was excited. I decided I would stay positive and not let negative comments distroy my mood. "It is what it is" and right now it is slow going, but it is going. Another thing, not sure what is up with my stomach. I keep getting so bloated and so much gas, I know TMI but seriously, why all the gas. I had a few slices of granny smith apple yesterday and I though I was going to die. Seriously I was doubled over with pain and then later it feels like someone is ripping me open. thank you all for your support, I really appreciate all my lap band friends and all the info we share. I learn so much from reading others blogs. Have a great rest of the week bandsters.

Secret eater checking in Trying to get my stuffing face non-stop under control. TMI ALERT- getting ready to start my monthly friend, so its always a struggle around this time. I seem to do fine until my babies are in bed and I'm able to relax. Last night was day 3 of eating...and eating...and eating until I was so uncomfortably full. UGH! WHY DO I DO THIS! I know there is no one to blame but myself and I know there is someone thinking "Stop complaining about it and just stop girl!" So much easier said than done. But I will try again today to do better, thats all I can do, right? Have you tried adding a little milk to the scrambled eggs before you cook them? It makes them much more soft. I havent had problems eating certain foods, and have felt the lumo in my chest feeling maybe twice, but goes away fairly quickly. Is that the 'stuck' feeling?

This is a pic of my lap on the airplane last week. No more extentions for me. This is a pic of me in my "new" jeans (bought 6 months ago and never really thought I would be in them. I have NEVER had a "gap" before and about cried when I could see daylight. May be TMI, but had to share w/ people that can appreciate this type of NSV.

I had no pain-no cath--but I had a drain I woke up from surgery and threw up blood--then about an hour later I had the dry heaves for a few minutes--that was it--I haven't taken any of the pain meds I was given--I don't even think they were putting them in my iv bag (since I never asked for any) I got up about every 4 hours and peed and walked a little-- The nurse came in and asked me to get on my side while I was dry heaving--then she proceeded to hit me on the back--all over--like she was burping me--it felt soooooo good, I am still having hubby do it--although I really haven't even had any gas pains (it just feels good--lol) I barely got finished taking a deep breath when the drain was out--didn't really feel anything All I really felt was like I had done some sit ups--that was it--my belly is yellow and purple bruises but they don't hurt either!! I slept almost all of the next day--then felt fine--we actually rented a car and drove from Tijuna to Vegas and spent the day gambling--then drove to Texas(I even drove some)--all while I was supposed to be in the hotel--I just couldn't lay there anymore--I felt fine, and was bored senseless. The only problem I have had is that the Dr told me to drink some gatorade every day while on liquids--and once I do, I almost have to be in the bathroom-- (TMI) All that potting made my butt a little sore, so I got some of those moist wipes and diaper rash meds and it is a lot better Dr Kelly gave me a note for two weeks off work, but I could have went back on Monday after having the surgery on Wed. As you can see, everyone is really different

Being an inch from the steering wheel and barely able to reach the pedals. Not even bothering to go to amusement parks anymore because it's so embarrassing to be sent off a ride for not fitting properly. Being afraid to go out for dinner and being put in a booth that will not accommodate me. Getting in and out of said booths. Being asked to be an extra in a film, but do NOT want to have your fat self in a movie forever. Also, being afraid there will be no costume that fits you. Not wanting people to take pictures of you and having your family pissed at you when you delete/destroy really bad photos of yourself. Not going swimming because any thought of getting into a bathing suit terrifies you (and you don't even have one that fits anymore). Wearing the same 3 pairs of pants because you simply cannot motivate yourself to buy the next largest size. Not being able to put on sandals because reaching around fully to the left side of your foot is now a memory. Not looking good in ANYTHING. Skin problems that I am fairly sure that are related to obesity. Being too tired to do ANYTHING after a full day of work that you used to love like taking care of the house, the garden ... Being too uncomfortable and self conscious for sex (sorry if TMI). Feeling guilty for over-eating. Not being able to horseback ride because your neighbor needs you to be under 200 pounds for the horse's sake. Be terrified of connecting with old friends because they will see you like ... this. It really goes on and on ...

BaileyRose - Wow!! How scary was that!? I am glad that your surgeon got there right away and was able to put the tubing back and sew you back up. That is such a relief! I thought you'd have had to have another surgery - thank goodness we were both wrong! Thanks for asking about my infection. I took the last of my antibiotics yesterday morning and so far it looks good. The skin still has a couple of pink spots but they seem to be diminishing (more like scarring or bruising) and there is just a tiny bit of pink around the incision - doesn't look like infection though. The part of the incision that opened a little bit (not fully, just on the surface) has continued to drain but that seems to be slowing down a lot and it looks like it is closing up. I will keep an eye on it for the next couple of days then I will be going back to the surgeon to see if he is happy with it so far. I am hoping that I don't have to take any more antibiotics because they have given me a wicked yeast infection. Sorry, TMI.

Well here is a post from Aug 11, 2011 # 3 in a row. Cara....I also get a fill on the 16th....I am excited and scared. I have had no problem eating anything but a bagel thin very toasted....doesn't work for me...will not try it again....I don't even want to look at on. I was a sweet iced tea oholic....God took this taste from me. I sipped it for three days after surgery...I came home from church the Sunday after surgery and yuck it tasted awful. I haven't drank out of a glass since that day. I have my water and I am sticking to it. I had a slight PROBLEM yesterday. I usually eat oatmeal on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sundays. I have more time on these days. The other days I make a protein shake and drink in the run...I usually drop my daughter off and then off to the walking trail. I have never had any problems with the shake. Well yesterday was a busy day.... mixed a shake and out the door I went. I sipped thru Sunday School and when church started....my lower tummy started to expand and I started having craps. I excused myself...I went to the potty and nothing (sorry for the TMI) and then I walked around in the connected nursery....thought the pain was gone. Back into church. I sat down and in just a few minutes...the pain came back,,,,,BAD. I got woozy and thought I was about to pass out. I willed myself thru in and back up I went. I had decided I wasn't coming out til the pain was gone. I walked around and around in the nursery and it finally eased. Now after the story...has anyone else had a problem with protein shakes doing anything like this. I have never had a real problem with milk. Someone told me the whey powder bulks up..... With all this said my first month has been great. i start water aerobics today and I am going to up my walk to more than a mile...I will post tonight or in the morning how things went. I am so excited about my life change. God is Good...ALL THE TIME!

Absolutely brilliant!!! Nobody, NOBODY wants TMI - this is a great answer!!!

I am almost 4 weeks out. I think you are going to be just fine. I hurt mine really back about 2.5/ with crazy sex (sorry about TMI). I called the nurse the next day, becasue I was so sore and in pain. She said not to worry, that port is sewn in so well with mesh it wont flip and you didnt do anything. Thank GOd i was really worried. So i told hubby no more until 3 weeks, dr. said 2 weeks. Anyway.. dont worry, i was so sure I did something terrible to it.. relax and heal! sure enough by the next 2 days it was no pain and back healing right..

I'm 11 weeks out and if I don't use something like MOM or mirilax, I don't go for days....TMI...but true. :-)

I guess this is my first real interaction with the medical community not having a good grasp on how our sleeves work. The doc I saw this morning said it would be fine and didn't even offer me a liquid. It's weird because one of the nurses in his office had WLS in April. I got an email back from Dr. Aceves saying that I definitely needed to have something in my stomach when I take the medicine. The applesauce should be used as a way to get the medicine down but not enough to coat my sleeve. I called the pharmacist and she confirmed that I could crush it because it wasn't a time release or some other big words she used that I can't even attempt to spell. The pain passed after about 45 minutes and now I am having diarrhea (sorry TMI). I hope this bronchitis gets better for all this drama! Thanks for all the guidance folks. I am going to bed as early as I can tonight.

How long did you wait after surgery until you had sex? My husband is getting antsy lol.....

I just wanted to post, how happy I am to have movement. LOL I can only attribute it to the Miralax.

So, do any of you find that you have lots of gas since being sleeved. I am not talking about burping...LOL. Man, I constantly have gas and it is gross. I seriously pass gass, I know, probably 45 times a day. It is annoying! Is it because our bellys are so small or what? Kelly

Ok so I know its a little TMI but I haven't gone "#2" for 10 days now. I read on the previous forums that this may be pretty common but i just wanna make sure that everything is still ok. Also, since I haven't "#2'd" I have gained a total of 4 lbs. What am I doing wrong? I am now currently on my 2nd stage diet and eating soft foods. Any advise will be greatly appreciated. Thanx in advance...

So today I am 5 weeks out. I have lost 42 lbs. Had a week stall when TOM came to visit but all is well now. Some of the NSV's I have encountered: Going from a size 18 to a size 12 pants and XXL shirts to L. All of my clothes are way too big now except for the ones I held on to and thank goodness I did. Not getting out of breath to do anything.... and I do mean anything. My boyfriend putting his arms around my waist and being able to grab his elbows with his hands...and commenting on it. Ex-boyfriends seeing me and telling me how great I look. I have a ton but I have saved the best for last........ And sex is so worth it now!!!! Ok, ok. I know TMI .... but it is so true.lol I hope everyone else is doing great as well!

I know this may be TMI...but i need to hear from some ladies out there please! So i started off a 44H and 3 weeks post op im a 40H! Please o please dont let them go all away!!!! My trainer says i will be fine and in the dd's or ddd's. Anyone have experince with this??? Please give a girl some hope...lol

Today is my 6 month surgiversary. I have been wanting this day to come for so long!!! I remember how miserable I was the first 8 weeks after surgery. Sometimes the only thing that would get me through it was knowing that I would someday be right here - near my goal, eating more normal food, and living a good life. I was not sure what to expect from this journey - and it continues to surprise me. In some ways I am more limited than I thought I would be. However, I am also a lot more successful than I thought I would be. As of today, I have lost 52 pounds, gone from a BMI of 31 to a BMI of 23, gone from a size 18/20 jeans to a snug size 10, gone from a 40DD bra to a 34DD bra (which is still hard to find). This surgery was everything the lap band promised to be, but wasn't. It has forced me to change my life. These changes are not always easy to make, but you really have no choice. I still struggle with the emotional side of eating certain things. I am still restricted to just over a 1/4 cup of food, but I find that I am able to eat again within an hour - this is where I have to try and be disciplined. It's always easier when I am busy :-) I find that I have no physical sensation of hunger, but I do have powerful cravings - something I still have to work on. I can't drink alcohol because of a burning sensation I get when I drink it. I could probably triple up on acid reducers to fix that, but I figure I'm not missing out on much by not drinking. I also stopped eating bread because of reflux issues. I find I can skip my acid reducer altogether if I eat clean and I eat small portions - it's worth it to me to try and eat the right way and skip the meds. I've been off the acid reducers for about 3 weeks. My weight loss has slowed down a little. I think I am eating between 1000 and 1200 cals a day - more on the weekends because I have more idle time and I will snack a little. My report says I have lost 5.5 pounds in the last 30 days. It seems to come off in small bursts now - no weight loss for 2 weeks and then 2 pounds in a few days. That cycle is fine with me :-) I would be happy at this weight forever, but I am curious to see where my body wants to settle. On a personal note, I got engaged last month. I went wedding dress shopping and my biggest fear is that the dress will be too big for them to alter when it gets here. Crazy. It's 2 months till the wedding and I am hoping that I don't lose too much. Oh well, we'll deal with that when it happens... Finally, I'll talk about health. I don't exercise - I know, I know, it's terrible. I just haven't been able to force myself into regular exercise. I do walk A LOT more than I used to - to the store, around the block, by the beach, etc. I don't take the Vitamins anymore and my 6 month bloodwork was perfect. I stopped taking the acid reducer last month and I noticed the weird taste in my mouth went away and I have more frequent BM's (sorry if too TMI), I get about 60 grams of Protein a day - all from meat / yogurt / cheese, I eat about 50 grams of carbs - mostly from granola or oatmeal. I still eat 5 to 6 times a day. I have 8 pounds until I reach my "made up" goal. I know in my 20's I was very healthy at 120 pounds which would be another 20 or so to lose. I don't know if I want to go there - at this point I feel like I am along for the ride. If I lose 10 more, great! If I lose 20 more, great! If I stay where I am, great!! Bottom line: right now, I am really happy. Good luck to all----

Various health and comfort issues just came crashing around me last summer / fall. I had to do SOMETHING and I have NEVER been able to stick to a diet, I was always miserable and hungry. I too was ashamed at the way I looked and could not participate in much of anything with anybody. I researched various WLS and was determined to NOT get a bypass or have a plastic gizmo (band) floating around in my gut. When I discovered the VSG I was ecstatic! So simple and virtually NONE of the "side effects" of a bypass or limitations and dangers of a band. I investigated my insurance options and did not want to wait and play the "games" they played so I ponied up the money and did self pay. A few emails, a few phone calls and a month later I was sleeved and on my way to a healthier me. Sorry for the TMI, this is just one of the BEST things I have EVER done for myself and I am so proud to have done it.

I'm almost 3 months post-op and feel a HUGE difference! Updates: -My weight loss actually EXCEEDS my non-PCOS sleeve friends. I really attribute this to all the Protein I've been having. I've been very strict about only having Proteins, with certain fruits/veggies and maybe whole grains as a treat. I've also been swimming 4 times a week and boxing once a week. -I don't have those crazy mood swings I had pre-op. -My period seems more normal. it's not always on schedule, but I'm no longer "spotting" in between (TMI I know ) -I don't have any pain in my ovaries. -hair loss: Last year, I had huge bouts of massive hair loss. Nothing helped except reducing stress and taking a bunch of Vitamins. Right now, I feel a few more strands falling out, but nothing extreme. My hair looks very shiny and healthy, better than it did before surgery. -The most important thing : THE EXCESSIVE HAIR has almost been resolved!!! This doesn't have to do with the surgery, but with the Dermatologist I went to. I went to American Laser Centers for a YEAR and didn't see any results, honestly I think they're a scam! I went to this particular dermatologist just ONCE and 2-3 weeks later I no longer have to shave everyday. The stubbly dots are mostly gone. Let me tell you, my excess hair was EXTREME. She said my results were the best possible due to my pale skin and dark hair. So if you tried laser without success, go to an actual dermatologist to try a different type of laser. At my next laser appointment, I will ask her what type she used so you can try it out to see if it works for you. I am so extremely pleased and grateful for these results. I can actually go swimming without makeup! I would have never gone out without make up/shaving everyday before laser treatment. The procedure itself actually hurt A LOT and it took my face 5-10 days to heal. I only started seeing results 2 weeks after, but they were unbelievably worth it. As someone with severe PCOS (which meds like Spiro and Byetta coudln't help), I can honestly say there is great hope for a cure!!! That's it for now. I hope this is helping anyone interested in doing the surgery. It was the best decision of my life, just make sure you do the best you can! Please message me if you have any questions.

I'm 4 days post op and have experienced the same rumbling in my belly. I have been suffering from terrible gas. I keep hoping that the rumbling is NOT hunger! The gas is starting to work it's way out, but now I have the runs. You know what that means.....grrrrr! (I know - TMI) Should we be feeling any hunger with the band?

I went from not having a period for 15 months pre-surgery to having three in six weeks immediately post-surgery. Now almost five months post, I am back on monthly schedule but, oh boy, is this one a doozy! At the risk of TMI, I got out of bed this morning to go for a walk but needed a shower and to change my bed instead!

Good Morning everyone. LOL... it's actually noon. Um I have been sleeping a lot, which has helped with my recovery I think. Feeling much better this morning and am moving around a lot easier. Still full of gas. Haven't had a BM yet, so it's off to the store to get a laxative . (tmi-i know) Did a lot of walking yesterday. Anxious to start eating the mushies Thursday. Sooooo wanted to eat a bowl of cereal this morning. Getting by on popcicles and soup. Try the cream of chicken and mushroom soup. It's really thick and fills me up. AND it's yummy too! Back to work tomorrow. It's going to be a change there. For the most part, people know that I have been banded so I think they will be more sensative to not offering me food that I don't want or need. Husband has been super supportive and I am glad I have him to lean on. Looking forward to the positive changes coming in our lives! Hope everyone is doing well and feeling well. ~Shannon

Welcome everyone..post op day 4 and im feeling great....all the pain had subsided. I finally went to the bathroom.. ..sorry Tmi.......feeling great though.....post op diet is ok..although I was staring down my sons hot dog yesterday.....