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Oh, but I guess I should add, I didn't have sex for almost a year after surgery, so lot's of healing time....and then it was my first time(Sorry TMI), so really I have nothing to compare to pre-band or post-band sex.

I hate it when.... --My husband pees on the toilet seat and then doesn't even flush the toilet. (actually it's better if he doesn't flush because the chances are better I won't sit on the seat) --You're in a meeting, you have gas, you think you can squeeze out a silent little toot, but Nooooooooo. So then you have to scoot around in your chair and try and make it make a fart sound so people will think it was just your chair. As if.... --It's cold, your bra doesn't have enough support, you're wearing a thin shirt and then everybody knows how much you need a boob lift. --You find a web site where your kid has been posting a blog and find out that they're "making out - huge" with their boyfriend. TMI. --You have more hair on your chin than your husband - and then you find one on your chest. What the heck???? Please don't let it be attached! --You take out a roll of toilet paper in the morning. You come home from work and have to run to the bathroom. You sit, you pee and you go for the toilet paper and the TP gremlins have struck again. You wait and air dry before you stand on the toilet with your pants around your feet trying to find another roll of toilet paper. --Your kids think Marilyn Manson is hot... what is this world coming to? Ughhh. --The music I listened to in high school is now being played on the oldies station. --I awake from a dreamy sleep to realize the Chris Daughtry really isn't my husband and the short furry thing in bed next to me is :-). Jeez - if I didn't have to do laundry I could go on forever!

Best advice is what ever feels ok to you is best. I can say that at about 7 mnths post-op & the activity level that my boyfriend & I have (tmi ;0) there is no amount of anything that could losen or damage or move or injure a band or port ;0) He is 249.

Since we're talking TMI.....I had a BM too and lost the reported pound I gained.....maybe I should have waited to report....nope. This does me good to be accountable. I am walking today with my perdometer. Telly ~ You inspire me! I can't believe you pedaled that far. You are AWESOME!! :rant: Tricia ~ Once again you amaze me. You are so beautiful and have pretty toes to boot!! Congratulations on ONEDERLAND, you give me hope. Also, SUPER DUPER job to the rest of you!!

NJGirl! You rock. I figured that might help. It always does help to errmm...go before a weigh in. I should probably do the same. I'm irregular since my liquid diet, nothing really comes out. (TMI, soo sorry) Maybe I need to try, tomorrow ends my 3 week liquid ordeal. Now for mushies, which I started last night actually on some Talapia fish. OMG! SOOOOOOOO DELISH...

What a difference a few hours make. I am actually down three since this morning....finally went to the bathroom (I know...TMI). So i guess I made the 2 lb. goal for the weekend!

I have found that if I eat an apple every day it seems to keep me pretty regular and it is natural. Also, try 8oz of Prune juice every morning till you have that easy bowel movement then cut back as needed. The more water you drink the easier bowel movements are as well. So try to get in your 64 oz every day. These seem to work for me. The apple really works great. Nice and soft but not diarrhea movements. I know I know TMI!! LOL!!

OK I peeped the Ruby Tuesday menu and I know what I'm getting:hungry: .....the salad bar and something to share........ oh yeah and some Water w/lemon. Maybe Kee will share her tea with me......oh yeah Kee the little store still did not have anymore berry tea but I will check today. If they have it I will get you one.:brick: My itenary for Sunday is Walk 9am Steps Across America 10:30am Support Group Meeting 12 Possibly Sudan Rally on the Mall 2pm-4pm (more walking) Eat/wash hair/veg in front of tube so that means I need to wash clothes on Saturday....TMI

Nothing today, I am not hungry and I feel if I eat, I will PB. I'm going to the kitchen right now to try and get down a shake. :speechles I think I'm not hungry b/c I have drank over a half a gallon of water today for the first time in a long time and it's only 5:06PM EST. :rolleyes TMI: The water is passing right through me. I'm in the bathroom, literally every 5 - 10 minutes. Not good right...that I can't make myself drink shakes today? (Still Post op 2 weeks). Am I doing more harm than good? I'll just pretend that today was purification and detox day if the shake starts to taste gross and I can't finish.

Robin, re: reflux I -also- suffer with nighttime reflux every now and then. Ive tried everything. Meds, pillows, drinking a gallon of Water to flush out the pouch, not eating late.... but the one thing that has helped me lately is when I go to bed and get that heaviness feeling (start of reflux), I get up and pb - to completely empty my pouch. When my pouch is completely empty - I dont have any problems with reflux. Even though I *thought* my pouch was empty when I went to bed, Im shocked to see the things that come up with that pb. TMI???

Thank you lord! I was at a dormant weight of 219 for the past 4 - 5 days and I was getting really upset about it. I just joined this club and I'll be damned if I don't progress some kind of way. Ok, this morning I weighed 219lbs and I got so furious, I put on my sauna jacket, jumped on my treadmill and did a 2 mile run at a varying pace of 3.2 - 4.5 (5.0 for about 1 minute, almost died) and then my kids were making a whole heck of alot of noise, couldn't hear my ipod, and my DH wasn't helping so I got even more upset and jumped on my bike and took it for a 2.5 mile mini bike ride (with the jacket on). I came back, took off my jacket and water just poured out like I just got out of the pool. **NOTE*** when you wear the sauna jacket, drink lots of water before and after your workout so you don't dehydrate. TMI here so: Every single clothing item off, completely dried off for about 5 minutes, then hopped on the scale.... I'm now 217.5lbs but I don't do the halves so I rounded it off to the nearest. Here are my stats... C 218 (-22 pounds total, -1lb this week) P.S., still drinking water..

I'm so glad for you about the liquid diet thing. :clap2: But, from the symptoms that you described I'd be worried about your bowels. I know, TMI. But, hear me out. If you're feeling like you need to go but can't then you have episodes of diarrhea that could be something else. I know you were on a liquid diet (for the most part) and liquids in=liquids out, but I can't quite shake the feeling that something else may be going on. If you feel the urge, but can't go maybe you have a bit of a blockage or at the very least constipation. I know what you're thinking, "how could I be constipated when I'm having diarrhea"? When you're really constipated, sometimes BM gets hung up in there but still lets liquid stool around the blockage. This is a very common symptom with fecal impaction. That combined with the fact that you said your tummy just doesn't feel right, even possibly painful. I'd get this checked out BEFORE surgery. Because anesthetics slow the bowels and could cause even more problems. Talk to your PCP. I wouldn't resort to laxatives, enemas or suppositories but make sure your doctor hears about your symptoms.........ALL OF THEM, including what you were eating. Because there wasn't much bulk to it. I don't know what you were eating before, but you never know. I wish you all the luck in the world and hope that these symptoms are nothing but a passing phase.

Good Morning Heather (actually, I doubt it is morning in Portugal now, oh well), Saw your IM yesterday, but it went to my phone, I was still sound asleep:notagree. Sorry you are having such problems. I wish I could offer some advice, but like you, I am starting to have problems too. The past three mornings, (also probably TMI) I have woke up and dry-heaved. There is nothing to actually come up. But, I feel pretty weak too. Aren't you glad we only have to do this for a short time? I have an aunt who weighed 400 pounds and decided she did not want to "turn 40 and be fat". So, she was working for a physician's office and they had brought in some new liquid diet program. They told her if she agreed to allow them to use her as a success story, they would let her do the diet for free. She did it religiously for 18 months and lost 220 pounds during that time (no, I am not kidding!). I don't know how anyone could do that for that long. I am barely surviving my pre-op. Oh, and by the way, on Thanksgiving, my aunt decided she was going to eat real food. She literally went crazy and ate everything on the table and had seconds of everthing. She ate one of every kind of dessert. From there on out, she completely went off the diet and gained all of her weight back in about a year and a half. I felt so bad for her. Hang in there, remember, only 3 days till banding. A couple of weeks of liquid dieting afterwards and this will all be past. You can do this. I truly hope you get to feeling better.

Hey guys, I'm on Day 5 of my pre-op and I feel like shit. I'm not really hungry, but my stomach hurts soooo much. Last night it felt so bad I couldn't even sleep. I'm not sure if my tummy hurts because I'm hungry or because it's feeling sick from the stuff I'm eating. It's weird because I don't feel like eating, but my tummy seems like its telling me to eat something, but a yogurt or soup doesn't cut it. Last night I could have eaten almost any thing, but I got a yogurt instead and just sipped on it until it was all gone. If I'm having these problems now, what's going to happen after I'm banded? TMI----I seem to be having a lot more gas then usual, and some acid reflux when I lay down at night. In addition, I either can't have a bm when I feel I need to, or I'm having diarrhea...how the hell does that happen? After I drink a protein shake it's straight into the bathroom, but when I wake up in the morning I feel like I need to have a bm but nothing happens. This liquid stuff is screwing my whole system up, and to boot I don't think I have lost any thing. Maybe only 1 kilo or something. What I'm eating: Protein shake for breakfast (slim fast type of thing) yogurt for snack (low fat no sugar) vegetable soup for lunch yogurt for snack (low fat no sugar) chicken soup for dinner (no chicken just broth and noodles) sf pudding or another yogurt for desert -+1.5l water -+1l crystal light or tea Help guys-.......:help:

Welcome to bandland! I wasn't hungry for more than a week following surgery so I can't help you there except to recommend Isopure which is a great source of Protein - 40 grams per 20 oz bottle - and it's clear so it won't interfere with your Clear liquids program. I recommend the blue Isopure as the one that tastes the best. Well, tastes the least like a Protein Drink anyway! I understand that the protein will help you feel fuller or at least less hungry for a longer period of time than broth and other clear liquids alone. I will also recommend Benefiber mixed into broth or Isopure. Most people go through a period of the runs - not to put it too delicately! - followed by a period of constipation. In my experience, Fiber helps with both phases. The pain in the left side of your neck is probably from gas. Either that or referred pain from your esophogus (sp?). I got the best gas pain relief by standing next to my bed, bending forward from the waist and putting my forearms on the bed with my forehead resting between. You can bend your knees to make it a little more comfortable. It looks a little crazy but it really helped with gas pains for me - they went away after only a couple of days, for which I was very grateful. I think the fiber, passing gas, and moving the bowels did a lot to help with recovery from the gas pain. I know, TMI! But if it will help even one person . . . Good luck to you and please stay in touch with us at LBT.

I am wearing stretched out cotton crotch pink Lycra panties that I have to keep pulling down over my right butt cheeck, because it rides up in my crack. The elastic comes up so high on my stomach that it almost coves up my port scar. My Bra makes up for my undies. I have a Strapless Beige Lane Bryant Bra only one month old. It is formed so it can stand up in the corner by itself, which I like because the only bra I have that my nippies don't show through. It has so much underwire it pulls the girls up off my panties and midway my upper arm just like Oprah's $72 bra. Mine was on sale for $19. Besides that I have a Cozumel Mexico Yellow Sundress on and I am barefoot. TMI?

J 185 / G 150/ C 182.2 (-65.8 lbs total) -2.2 for the week. No biggie. Just had a couple of good bm's, thats all. (tmi, sorry) Im actually scared to post it... we'll see what its gonna be in a month.

Hi everyone I wanted to introduce myself..and say hello to all of you, I have been lurking on this website for a few days now and I'm ready to jump in and meet new people.. I just got my band on april 3rd. I had my surgery in T.J with Dr. Verboonen..(I know the name sounds scary) but he ended up being a really good Dr. I have lost 17 lbs so far and I am so excited, I can't wait to hit my 1st mini goal... this is to lose 30 lbs by June hopefully I can do it. I have 3 children my daughter will be 11 in August and my son turns 10 next month, they are only 9 month's apart and the same age for 3 month's out of the year :eek: lol YES it is possible. I had a baby in June of 2004 and that's when the weight came on. I gained 70 lbs since then and I need to lose them ASAP so I self payed and got my band :clap2: well my husband payed I luv him so much! I have been Married for 12 years.. I was emancipated at age 15 and got married when I was 16. TMI? well I just wanted to say Hi to everyone on this site, you all seem so sweet and full of info that is helpful so you'll be seing more of me.. Wendy

thanks guys - I am thinking about going to a dietition/nutritionist about all this - it's starting to affect my day to day life - what with the flatulence and running to the loo (More TMI for you The Best Me!) - it does seem that the band messes a little with the digestive system. I have been almost stationary :embarassed: for the last six/seven months Vera, so p'raps I need to haul my ass away from the TV Thanks for missing me by the way - I forget how warm and friendly this place is! I still have my college place to do psychology and will start in september (yikes) I feel much less depressed and anxious, and even held a family party at the weekend - I hadn't seen my sisters in SEVEN :omg: months, and it all went ok - I didn't freak out and hide in the wardrobe or anything! Now weigh 242 which is a lot more than my sig below indicates, but that was a low moment anyway! My lower stomach is KILLING me today, really burning and painful - am going to stay away from dairy and fats for a few days (read this on the internet) - maybe I have a bout of gastritis? But ultimately my digestive system is a lot more sensitive that pre-banding - am begining to think that the Big Mac sauce and 7 cans of diet coke a day was doing me some good back then!!! :rolleyes

Wow! Bright! It's so good to see you!! :wave: This is odd, because I had a tummy ache today, and of course the paranoia of an eroded band starts to brew...but it felt like my bowels were just upset and I just needed to empty them! Well, over the course of the evening, that has happened. I'm very gassy, and have had 4? bowel movements in the last 8 hours (I know...TMI) but I'm feeling better! I never had bowel probs pre-band, but now they seem to hit on occasion. I drank some Aloe Vera juice and chewed a Tums, ate very little dinner and I seem to be on the mend...well, the tummy ache is gone. I'm thinking I just have lots of acid and need to start back on Prilosec for a few days. I haven't been able to relate it to any particular food group, like dairy. I also notice it feels like my lower stomach just needs some food in it? My stomach growls like mad. I dunno, but your post sounds similar and just wanted to say...yes...I think our stomachs may produce more gas/acid at times and that causes some bowel "issues". I wouldn't worry about getting a small fill, though. How's the family and school? I'd love to hear an update with all the scoop. LBT is so busy! But I miss you being here! ((hugs))

There is a LOT of information here and I'm sure I'll miss a few things I wanted to address, but: •"Failing" at the band--The definitions of success varies widely. Some studies are saying that the band delivers about a 51% ewl, some say 62%. (And, btw, the DS is closer to 75%.) We each have to decide what WE consider success. I don't have to get down to 128 pounds to be happy--which is good because I haven't weighed that since 1959--but maybe someone else does. If losing 50-62% of excess weight isn't going to feel like success to YOU, then chances are pretty good that YOU might consider the band a failure. •"Mixed Meetings"--I think that there ought to be a social time--to support and learn--and then each group ought to go off on its own. The leaders should be supportive of all the procedures. •"Carbon Filters"--Because of all the scare stories, I bought some. (My husband probably thought I needed them YEARS ago.) I haven't used them yet and no one has suggested that I do. I had no idea this applied to RnY people; I thought it was just a DS thing. •"The band is safer"--Well, yes and no. There are several takes on this. The band surgery is safer to be sure. But morbid obesity is not safe and if the band does not take someone out of morbid obesity, then the banded patient is not going to have a lower mortality rate than any other MO person. •"Nice, slow weight loss"--My orthopedic surgeon is pleased as punch, because the rapid weight loss has rapidly reduced my chances of having knee surgery fron the damage the excess weight has done. I'm STILL supposed to avoid stairs...but 25 pounds from now, I can climb those puppies again. •"My Aunt Jane's Uncle's neighbor's horse"--There are hundreds of thousands of RnY patients who are doing fine. We shouldn't have to dwell on those who are not doing fine to justify our choice. If the overwhelming majority of RnY patients were NOT doing fine, no insurance would pay for the surgery. (I still don't WANT the RnY...but I can find reasons why the DS is better for me and I don't have to mention anything I consider negative about the bypass.) •"Who-Has-What-Problem"-Last year, several dozen of us--band, RnY and DS--got together for a few days in Chicago. Since then, some of us have gathered in local groups and on a Las Vegas thing. Here's what I have observed: Nobody shat upon herself or others. Nobody had room-clearing farts. Most people who drank seemed to get drunk pretty fast. RnY people (in general) tasted stuff to see if it was too sweet, but ate most stuff. Bandsters (in general) had to avoid pastas and bread-y stuff. The restrooms were NOT full of barfing/dumping people. The DS'ers were the thinnest and ate everything, the RnY people were the next thinnest group and the bandsters--many of whom had lost a lot of weight as individuals--were (in general) NOT the thinnest group of people there. •"Disgusting bodily functions"--While banded, I produced the biggest, gloppiest, most viscous balls of goobered-up-slime...beyond what anyone could imagine. I'd make it out to the parking lot and have to spit that crap up. My husband had to pull the car over near bushes so I could barf it up without doing it in the middle of the street. And, I know I'm old and this is TMI for some, but my port was at the sternum and was in the way for some of my bedroom antics. And my reflux/bile/garbage in the throat thing was also a huge turn off for me as far as adult activities. I'm just saying, things are easier since my DS. •"Older bypass surgeries"--Those long-ago surgeries may have been a totally different surgery than they are doing today. The band may just be the very best thing that has ever happened to you. It may not. It is probably wisest to NOT put-down those who have chosen another path without REALLY researching that option...you never know when your own journey may just need an alternate route. I know there are those who say they would NEVER go with anything but the band. Their choice. MY choice is to NEVER be MO again...whatever road I must travel to get there.

I had my PS 3 weeks ago. I had my period 2 weeks before it. My periods have always been like clockwork. Well the day after surgery they arrived and I have had them ever since. I stopped for a day a few days ago but the next day they were back. My Dr said it is the body's way of dealing with the trauma of surgery. You will get back on routine once the bleeding stops. If it doesnt stop or gets really heavy and clotty (TMI)...call your Dr because there is some tablets they can give you to stop thebleeding. Just make sure you keep an eye on your iron levels while you are bleeding so much.

I am almost 9 months out from my band surgery, and this remains an issue for me too. I had almost given up from hearing anyone else discuss it, cause it seems like I am the only one still suffering, long after surgery. My doctor isn't sure what causes it either.......... Here is what I have learned about why it happens to me: I never have it early in the morning, when I first get up....it happens, usually, mid morning, right before lunch when I am hungry. Also, hits me late afternoon when I -you guessed it- am hungry again...or just need more Water. My husband noticed that one day I was especially complaining about it, that when I bent over to pick something up off the floor I let out a heck of a belch-----------and felt immediate relief. Can't explain it, but seems to work. Meaning, if I can get rid of some of the air, I feel better, tho not forever. (It doesn't go away completely at this point, but is definitely relieved for the moment.) I don't use straws, so can't imagine how this keeps occurring.....I am a teacher, and talk a lot - maybe I really am full of hot air? HAha. Another way I get some relief is to lie down on the left side..........I usually feel air moving around, and sorry for tmi, but it heads out one way or the other, and I feel better. I never experienced this preop....don't have a gallbladder anymore so it's not that...and I know that it comes and goes depending on the fills. Can't explain it to save my life, but I have really tried to figure out why I'm suffering! (I am no where near full restriction yet, so can't be that.......Still working on getting to sweet spot) Good luck.......and know you aren't alone!

Hey Kim - My big ole' belly is keeping me from new clothes. I want new jeans. I cannot fit in them without muffin top because i'm so darn swollen. I hate to wear anything tight at all. That's why my plus clothes are already too big for me. I have a few 20's that i could give you, some kahki's, and I have bunch of Pj pants I love but are too big now. Let me know, I know others are uncomfortable getting stuff given to them. I don't have any suits or anything though. I proudly own three pairs of xl sleep pants and a new purse. I tried on so many things at kohls yesterday, I was in the misses department and took well advantage. WHy is the plus area two tight rows and the misses is about 1/4 of the women's department. GO Figure... I'm enjoying this but chunkie belly is keeping me from jeans. I have two incisions on the belly button area so I cannot comfortably stamp the jeans in the belly area. I know TMI. I'm doing well. I will be one month post op wednesday. I'm struggling to figure out the gym thingie. I gotta try hard or else i'm gonna be so giggly. Plus I love King of Queens, but the Gym has tv's and headset plug in's so I have no excuse for waiting to watch that instead of going to the gym. One more thing, I am starting to hate food. Looking at it, thinking how delicious it is and how I cannot ever eat it again. Once April 7th comes I"ll be on a more vast diet so these feelings should wane some what. Being on soft foods right now is tiring me out.

Hi Machelle I was wondering did you go to school at College Hill and graduate from AHS around 1980? Trying not to put TMI in this post. I think I may know you if you did and you are the Machelle that I remember. I graduated AHS in 1979. M:confused: