Happy Band-day To Me!!!

[SkinnyMiniMe 63]

So I have been around here for a couple of months and it's finally my turn to pay it forward to all the newbies just now starting. Of course I am still a cub lol but I have been so blessed to share this journey with my husband who also was banded on 12/5 and have the support of so many "inspirational friends" (you guys)!!! Without the support I would have never made it to the OR table. In fact, I am beginning to think that so far (up until now) in my journey that was the hardest part.

I am 5 days post opt and already driving and I survived NYC potholes lol. I am also back to work. Still a little sore like I did 1 million crunches. The first 2 nights were the roughest. I have been officially weigh in by my doctor so I will update my ticker after Wednesday but just so you know I have lost weight!!! YEAH ME! So since the surgery I have not been hungry but I get these strong cravings. Almost like when I was pregnant. Like right now I am craving ham, go figure lol. I cook with joy for my children and with sense of empowerment over food. Benefiber has help tremendously (gas relief) and poops are not the same. Internal hiccups happen a lot especially when I get up but they don't hurt and it's usually just one hiccup. I take break eating my broth somewhere around 6 oz. I really try to listen to the band since I don't want to throw up. I have 5 small incisions that I call "Hopey Will's" (my band's name) birth marks. I got my fitbit to keep me on track so I make sure to walk and my Thermos Intak cup so I make sure I drink my Water with Mio. If this is my "so-called" honeymoon with the band, well then I am running with it and enjoying every moment. I knew that once I was banded I would hit the ground running. Many times I doubted myself and my husband reminded me everyday up until the my surgery day that I would succeed. At time he had more faith in me than I did in myself. Well not any longer.

I am so thrilled that I am on the other side. Before being banded, I feared failure of the unknown. Now that I see how it works, I have so much faith now that we can all do this!!!. I know that everyone heals differently. We will all get there on our own time. I am so excited for my future and all of our futures!!! Today driving to work, I had a smile from ear to ear and shed a couple of tears of joy. So far not 1 regret. Only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I am so proud of myself and all of us for making this life changing decision.

Good Luck to all the upcoming bandsters and stay positive because if we believe we will achieve.

[jenlyn122 9]

Thank you for your wonderful post. I am 8 days post op and I felt I could have written it. I did not feel any hunger until yesterday and then after I ate a few bites I was full. Please keep posting!

[LB4Me 35]

I am so glad that you are now on the other side and with very little side effects. I really believe for some of us, the anticipation of the surgery is much worse than the surgery itself. Take your time healing and then the real fun begins! With your optimistic outlook, the future should hold nothing but successes.

[SkinnyMiniMe 63]

Thank you for your wonderful post. I am 8 days post op and I felt I could have written it. I did not feel any hunger until yesterday and then after I ate a few bites I was full. Please keep posting!

So far no hunger maybe it's mental or I am still swollen, whatever it is I am taking it and running with it. I really wish all lapbanders the same

[horsegirl315 114]

Fantastic! I soooooo have the same fear of the unknown!!! Appt with surgeon on Tuesday to discuss...SURGERY DATE! SO excited I almost can't breathe!

[SkinnyMiniMe 63]

I was the exact same way. For me it became very stressful (all the appts) at times and emotional. Now on the other side its still emotional but all the right emotions. Good Luck!!! Don't forget to come here for answers and support.

Fantastic! I soooooo have the same fear of the unknown!!! Appt with surgeon on Tuesday to discuss...SURGERY DATE! SO excited I almost can't breathe!

[B-52 7,113]

Fantastic! I soooooo have the same fear of the unknown!!! Appt with surgeon on Tuesday to discuss...SURGERY DATE! SO excited I almost can't breathe!

It's like getting married. A big unknown. Am I doing the right thing? All the planning, engagement, nerviousness, anticipation untill finally the day. ( not to mention the $$$$)

After that it's a relief to have it all completed, only to start a new life with new rules......for better and for worse.

Although we have been married over 35 years, we are going through it again with our Daughter getting married next fall.

[Blasian band-it 1]

Hello everyone! I am so glad for this forum. I am writing from my hospital bed. I was banded TODAY! I am glad to see so many of you are willing to share your experiences with others like me!

I feel a little odd because I have virtually no pain. Only a little discomfort when i grt out of bed. But thats minimal.I have been sipping Water for the past few hours and don't feel anything. I do feel gas bubbling around in my tummy but it's not painful. I don't know if it's these pain meds or what. Maybe the anticipation was worse than I expected. I guess we will see when I go home. I have been talking little walks up and down the hall. But I don't want to overdo it in case it is the meds! Lol!

The nurse said my records show it was filled with 5-CCs when my doctor put it in. I'm reading horror stories with 2ccs a month out. An I some kind of freak? Lol! Anybody have the same experience? Thanks!

[SkinnyMiniMe 63]

Well I am almost 6 weeks post opt and figured I would update. I can now finally say that I did not have any gas or shoulder pains what so ever from the surgery. In fact the only pain meds I took was tynenol with codine for the first 4 days. I was back to work (desk job) 5 days post opt. My scars are still a little dark, but pure Vitamin E and Mederma have helped. I constantly applying to the scars. I finally got my first fill yesterday. I have 3cc in my 10cc band and he added 1 cc so I have a total of 4cc in there now. I did feel the needle prick but nothing unbearable. My weight loss was slow after my surgery. I am in a mental and was in a physical “bandster hell”. I really was not feeling any restriction what so ever. Emotionally it is a roller coaster that I would like to call a mind f*ck! I actually gained one pound last week and shed quite a few tears. Well I am still on liquids 2 days after my fill. So far since my fill I have lost that gained pound and 2 more pounds. So I am now officially under 100lbs to get to my goal. I am now in a 2x and not a 3x and so long to my 20 size pants, I pulled out my 18’s and I am wearing them comfortably. YEAH ME! I have got stuck and threw up 3x since being banded which I am pretty sure it’s because I didn’t chew well. I am crossing my fingers that this fill will help but I will be back in 4 weeks for more fill if needed. So far I can get Soups and Water down no problem. The only thing I will say is that I was very upset with myself about the weight loss after surgery but after speaking with my doctor, he informed me that the first 6 weeks is not for weight loss but for healing. He is happy if I lose 1 pound a week, which as be put it in 1 1/2year-2years a person needing to lose 100lbs will get to their goal. I did tell him that for a fat person 52lbs a year is not cutting it lol. So I have to start to do my part and hit the gym or just move more and hopefully I will get into a weight loss grove again. This time I plan to keep it off.