I'm new..

[MisBea 0]

Hi there,

I just got banded on Tuesday May 24th, 2011. My weight is something I have struggled with since 3rd grade.. up down, up down, and up, up , up..

I was physically and mental ready for the band... I have had some soreness, but have wondered if it is even in there.. I have no problems drinking and sipping and swallowing. I have read horror stories, but feel blessed that everything is perfect so far.

Also another question - do you put your starting weight at what it was before your 2 week pre op diet or what it was the day you were banded?

Also day 3 after surgery my scars are so itchy.. is that normal?

Thanks an I look forward to a new life of health and reading and sharing stories.

[stratcat 10]

Hi. my name is Terri,

Welcome to the post band community. You sound like you are doing very well. The band is there, and if it is't acting up -- great. The bands are put on either without fill, or with just enough fill to make them snug on the stomach. The discomfort is from how much you swell. I hope you are respecting the band enough to stay on your doctor's diet ) liquids for the first 3 days or so for sure). The stomach needs to heal and the less you make it move to digest the faster you will heal..and the less you will swell. I too was lucky and had almost no bruising and surprized the PA at my 1 week check up with how healed my incisions looked.

Remember if you get antsy, that the band is going to be in place a LONG time. Basically, my medical folks did not care a wit if I lost weight the first month. Tthey kept stressing that the first month was all about healing. And in restrospect - I am glad they took the pressure off and made me understand the overall longterm picture. I am of the radical school of though that I am going to ENJOY my weight loss journey and will eat what I want. And I credit it to my PA, who when asked at the 4 week point what I should be eating now, said whatever I wanted that I could tolerate. Don't get me wrong, I drink slim fast protien shakes for Breakfast sometimes, enjoy cottage cheese, and have ordered Nutrisystems for for its convenience - I do eat low cal and diet food, But I WANT to eat them. My weight loss journey may take longer because I eat what a normal person eats, but I simply refuse to eat like a fat lady on a diet anymore. The band gave me that freedom.

About the itching........ oh yeah baby....Never knew itching could make you so crazy did you? .. I put bandaids over mine so I could rub the bandaids rather than the incisions to get some relief. It goes away.

The other thing that is normal that NO ONE told me is that post band folks either become constipated or (if you are like me) have watery BMs. I am lactose intolerant: shakes, protien drinks and the like made the old adage liquid IN liquid OUT so very very true for me. And because I am so lactose intolerant and was so unprepared, it was worse for me. About day 8 I got ahold of some Hummous and about teared up I was so grateful for something that was extremely filling and not milk-based or like mashed potatoes- had milk in it.

As far as how to diplay you weights I think most people do this: And, IMHO, i like it to read it this way too. Some people have to do a two week liquid fast before surgery and they get credit for their weight loss prior to surgery this way.

Highest/Day of Surgery/current/goal

so I would be 320/306/271/172

Good luck, and keep posting.

[SkinnyInside=) 5]

Hi there,

I just got banded on Tuesday May 24th, 2011. My weight is something I have struggled with since 3rd grade.. up down, up down, and up, up , up..

I was physically and mental ready for the band... I have had some soreness, but have wondered if it is even in there.. I have no problems drinking and sipping and swallowing. I have read horror stories, but feel blessed that everything is perfect so far.

Also another question - do you put your starting weight at what it was before your 2 week pre op diet or what it was the day you were banded?

Also day 3 after surgery my scars are so itchy.. is that normal?

Thanks an I look forward to a new life of health and reading and sharing stories.

Wow congrats!!! =)

[NJGirl32 43]

Include your preop diet-it's all a part of the banding process.

Haven't gotten to the itching stage yet-looking for some responses to that..

My surgeon also said the first 6 weeks is all about healing and if you're not losing weight not to worry about it (he actually made me repeat that phrase 3 times!).

I was banded on the 25t and I can't really eat/drink a lot at all-half a glass at a time.

Good luck on your journey!!

[readytolosemomof5 0]

All wounds itch as they heal, it's the granulation of new tissue to close the incisions. So be assured that all is normal in that aspect.