I am new to this and would like a mentor/buddy?

[wasamkins 0]

Hello my name is Michelle and I was banded on 27 December 2010. So far things are good. I started my liquid diet 10 days prior to having the lap band installed. That went good and now I am still doing the 4 week liquid diet and go in for first band adjustment on 3 Jan 2011. I am still hurting in one spot of my left side as I was cut in 5 different spots on stomach. The major one being where the band was placed. Due to it being still sore my whole left side of ribs/back/stomach are hurting so bad. I have been taking the pain medication but it only helps for a bit. How long does something like this take to get over? I almost feel like I have a broken rib as it hurts to breath in really deep.

But I don't have anyone that I know that had the lap band done. I do have a a friend on the other side of washington that had the more dangerous one done the gastric that is not adjustable. I would love to have someone to talk to about this and to share my thoughts/feelings about my lap band journey as well as talk about yours. I have my friends and some think that I did the right thing and then there are the ones that think I have lost my mind and told me that once the novelty wears off I will regret I ever did this. Mind you these are my friends that are on the larger size. But I accepted them by not how big they are but how we connected on a many number of things so why can't they accept me on wanting to change myself so I feel better about myself and get my life back. I have a feeling that some of them will start to resent our friendship because I am going to drop the weight and want to do more stuff and not just hang at home.

I have never been overweight growing up it was just in the last 10 years that I ballooned up to the current weight I am and needed to have a change in my life. I received some not so good news in which is what started this whole plan to change my life. I was diagnosed as a Pre-Diabetec and other issues were devloping.

Starting Weight as of 12/16/2010: 231 pounds

Date as of 12/30/2010: 219 pounds

Goal Weight: 145 pounds

I plan on joining the gym when I can fully walk again without any pain.

So if anyone is interested in helping me with my journey as a mentor or if you just want someone to share your story with I welcome anyone.

Thanks for reading my story.

Michelle

[riverat 1]

Hi Michelle! My name is Teresa and it looks like we have a bit in common- December 27, to be exact.! I don't have any more experience at this than you do so I can't be a mentor, but I would LOVE to have someone to walk down this path with- or at this point I should say "hobble", right?

My operation sounds similar to yours, with the five incisions. They found some surprises he had to fix while he was in there- a hiatal hernia and adhesions from an old surgery I'd had, so it was more complicated than we'd expected, but not terrible. I had a rough time of it on Day 3- developed a pretty bad case of dehydration and almost wound up back in the hospital. Thanks to a call to the surgeon (and his OK to take some old nausea med I had hanging around), I bounced back quickly. I'm sorry to hear you're still having issues with pain, I know you're itching to be up and around. It's got to be hard for you. I think the single thing that's helped me the most is walking. And walking. And walking. Slowly, maybe, but steadily. Grocery stores are great. You have a cart to lean on if you need it, and no one thinks twice when walk slowly and stop often. Plus, it kinda' distracts you from thinking about your stomach. I actually went to the gym on Day 4. Before you think I'm reckless (or Superwoman), all I did was walk REALLY slow on the treadmill. Like, I mean REALLY, REALLY slow. I had the TV to watch, my Water next to me, and just moved along like I was 100 years old. I hit the stop button and rested once or twice. When I was tired, I stopped.

I'm HATING this liquid diet!! Ugh! My doctor said no soft foods for 2 weeks. I'm jonesing for some babyfood SO bad right about now. Pitiful, huh? My post-op is Jan 7.

I'm having wierd vibes from my friends too. Everyone is "supportive" (i.e., saying the right, neutral things, like "Well, I'm glad you did something to make you happy"), but I feel that few people are actually on my side on this. Maybe I'm being paranoid. I figure: I know this is a good thing, a positive step. Eventually everyone else will fall out where they will. Time will tell without us trying to influence things, right? I hope...It's still kinda' wierd, though..

Hang in there and write back if you can.

[rtchaires 0]

Hello ladies! My name is Rachel and I am getting banded this coming Friday. I'm super excited and super nervous. I don't know anyone else who is going through this and was hoping to find someone to go through it together. I read your posts and thought I should try to reach out. Anyway, my dr only has me on the pre-op liquid diet for two days (which adds to my nervousness because most posts I have come across say 2 weeks.

Interestingly, I havent even had the surgery yet and I have split reactions from my friends and co-workers. I feel like I am being negatively judged, like people think this is an easy way out... It's quite frustrating and disheartening and makes me second guess the decision. However, I am doing this. I am tired of struggling and beating myself up for failure after failure. I am really excited about this new chapter and hope that I can find a support system that understands my situation. (my husband is very supportive, but at his worst was 10, maybe 15 lbs overweight. But he just gets on a treadmill for a couple weeks, and it falls off no problem). Ok, guess I should stop rambling and see what happens. Good luck to us all!

[wasamkins 0]

Hi wow I didn't know I had any responses to my post I left. I am so confused in this website and the mail system is even difficult can't seem to open conversations. So anyways how have you been since your operation? I have been doing great at least I think so and the doctor that did my surgery. I have lost a total of 24 pounds so far. So I have 56 more pounds to take off. WooHoo so far so good.

I had my first fill up on the 3rd of February that was weird. I didn't know what to expect. He put the needle into the port and filled it then made me drink a cup of Water and there was nothing so filled it up more and drank another cup of Water. Could feel something a bit different but water still went down so he put in more saline and then the water went no where it sat in my tube and I guess by the look on my face and some noise I made he took some of the saline out and the water went down. That was a weird feeling.

So far I have been on liquid Protein Shakes and eating stuff blended up really good. I have been on solids for about two days and well let's just say that when he says you have to chew, chew, chew he means it because I have become an excellent "lets gag that back up" person. I am only supposed to eat 3 - 1 oz meals a day and drink my Protein shakes. It depends on what it is like say: cottage cheese I seem to eat more than an ounce of that at a time. I honestly think I need filled up a bit more, so will be sure to do that at next month's fill up. I have also noticed that food I used to eat I can't stomach it now. I loved to eat chicken and for some reason chicken does not agree with me anymore.....bummer. I do however like Cod & Halibut and that being flaky I have no trouble with that at all. I wanted to try the baby food thing but just couldn't bring myself to do so.

Like you said in your message that you have people that are supporting you or saying they are glad you had this done. Well I have had a mixed support as an example: one friend I confided in I told her I was doing this and then a month later when I told her when my surgery was she was like "I was hoping you would get over this, and you will come to realize that once the hype wears off you will realize how much of a mistake this was to do it"... I was like WTF?? She really has no idea what its like as she is skinny and has always been skinny. Well I can say is we don't talk like we used to I def don't tell her about what I have been going through, all that went out the window with that comment she made. My other friends are half/half, some being overweight themselves say they are happy I did it but some of the comments they say I wonder just how glad they are that I did do this or are jealous? I don't know I don't really talk about this to anyone anymore (except my parents) and the friends I made on here. Because we all know on here where each one is coming from.

So how has it been for you since your banding? You been doing good? Qustion for you on your cut marks do you have scars from them? Mine are scar's they didn't go away. Look's like I was in a knife fight. LOL Well I look forward to having someone new to talk to about our expeirences in this journey if you would like. I will be sure to come into this site more often and hopefully figure out how this all works. Take care

Hi Michelle! My name is Teresa and it looks like we have a bit in common- December 27, to be exact.! I don't have any more experience at this than you do so I can't be a mentor, but I would LOVE to have someone to walk down this path with- or at this point I should say "hobble", right?

My operation sounds similar to yours, with the five incisions. They found some surprises he had to fix while he was in there- a hiatal hernia and adhesions from an old surgery I'd had, so it was more complicated than we'd expected, but not terrible. I had a rough time of it on Day 3- developed a pretty bad case of dehydration and almost wound up back in the hospital. Thanks to a call to the surgeon (and his OK to take some old nausea med I had hanging around), I bounced back quickly. I'm sorry to hear you're still having issues with pain, I know you're itching to be up and around. It's got to be hard for you. I think the single thing that's helped me the most is walking. And walking. And walking. Slowly, maybe, but steadily. Grocery stores are great. You have a cart to lean on if you need it, and no one thinks twice when walk slowly and stop often. Plus, it kinda' distracts you from thinking about your stomach. I actually went to the gym on Day 4. Before you think I'm reckless (or Superwoman), all I did was walk REALLY slow on the treadmill. Like, I mean REALLY, REALLY slow. I had the TV to watch, my water next to me, and just moved along like I was 100 years old. I hit the stop button and rested once or twice. When I was tired, I stopped.

I'm HATING this liquid diet!! Ugh! My doctor said no soft foods for 2 weeks. I'm jonesing for some babyfood SO bad right about now. Pitiful, huh? My post-op is Jan 7.

I'm having wierd vibes from my friends too. Everyone is "supportive" (i.e., saying the right, neutral things, like "Well, I'm glad you did something to make you happy"), but I feel that few people are actually on my side on this. Maybe I'm being paranoid. I figure: I know this is a good thing, a positive step. Eventually everyone else will fall out where they will. Time will tell without us trying to influence things, right? I hope...It's still kinda' wierd, though..

Hang in there and write back if you can.

[wasamkins 0]

Hi Rachel... Sorry for the reply being so late I just realized that there were responses to my posts. Still learning the ropes here in this website. So you should be banded now how did that go for you? You feeling better now?

It has been almost two months since I was banded and it has been an experience to say the least. Yes I know of the frustration you have with your friends and family I to have had that with my friends some saying that they think once the hype wears off on this that I will regret what I have done (this being said from a friend who doesn't have weight issues) needless to say I don't really talk to her much anymore especially not about my weight loss surgery. And then the others that have weight issues I think maybe are a little jealous but are still supportive. My parents and other family have been 100% supportive of my decision. I have only been overweight for the past 10 years other than that I never had a weight problem but I don't see this as an easy way out, its something that had to be done at least for me due to being diagnosed as Pre-Diabetic that scared me to hear that and weight is one of the hardest things to get rid of.

So write back when you can I look forward to hearing about your outcome and how you are dealing with this. Michelle :Dancing_wub:

Hello ladies! My name is Rachel and I am getting banded this coming Friday. I'm super excited and super nervous. I don't know anyone else who is going through this and was hoping to find someone to go through it together. I read your posts and thought I should try to reach out. Anyway, my dr only has me on the pre-op liquid diet for two days (which adds to my nervousness because most posts I have come across say 2 weeks.

Interestingly, I havent even had the surgery yet and I have split reactions from my friends and co-workers. I feel like I am being negatively judged, like people think this is an easy way out... It's quite frustrating and disheartening and makes me second guess the decision. However, I am doing this. I am tired of struggling and beating myself up for failure after failure. I am really excited about this new chapter and hope that I can find a support system that understands my situation. (my husband is very supportive, but at his worst was 10, maybe 15 lbs overweight. But he just gets on a treadmill for a couple weeks, and it falls off no problem). Ok, guess I should stop rambling and see what happens. Good luck to us all!