September Bandsters

[twiceblessed 0]

my name is Heidi I'm from Arkansas. I was banded along with my sister on sept 13th.. Tomorrow we are supposed to be able to start mushie foods. I've lost 22lbs!! started at 262 lbs. anyway I was wandering, last weekend I started getting hungry so I did, (I admit it) sneak some food. I ate some sausage and part of a cinamon roll, I was starving and liquids just wasn't doing. I had no problem eating the little bit that I tried so it was down hill from there. All day Saturday I "cheated" Now I'm back on the straight and narrow. I just wander why it's so important for us to eat liquids for so long. they told us to drink 4 to 6 oz every 6 hours and lots of Water in between. sorry, that just don't do it for me and at that rate it's no wander everybody complains of hairloss. even if all 24oz was slimfast that's not even half of the Protein you need in a day. I can comforably sit down and eat a whole can of Soup. I'm not trying to be noncompliant I just don't want to feel hungry all the time. I hope this gets better. I really want to be a good patient and be successfull with this. For those of you talking about the emotions, I'm right there with ya.

[want2lose 1]

Heidi,

Welcome to LBT. How great to be going through this with your sister. I was banded the day before you. My surgeon only requires 1 week of liquids, then 3 weeks of mushies. Every surgeon seems to have a different program so I can't answer your "why" question. I will tell you when I was on liquids I was averaging 300 - 400 calories/day and about 60 grams of Protein. I found using fitday to keep track of everything is very helpful. How much protein are you getting in / day now?

Your weight loss is great, but if you need to cheat, try something a bit easier on your tummy like applesauce or thick Soup. I would be way to scared to try sausage at this point.

Hang in there...you are doing great.

[lifelongband 0]

Well, I had my surgery on 9-20-06. I was feeling wonderful. I went back to work yesterday and then again today. I was left by myself for over two hours by 2 very inconsiderate employees and had to bend down and grab charts and things. I was told not to carry more than a gallon of milk. I called the doc's office and they said I either pulled a stitch or ripped a stitch on my port. I am so frustrated. I don't cry over pain. In the time after surgery I only took my Lortab once. I am having to take it today. I cried in front of a waiting room full of patients. I don't recommend overdoing to anybody. I think I am taking the rest of the week off work. I am going to enjoy my recovery time.

Take care all.

[spike6 0]

yea, i have to admit i am a little freaked out that maybe i messed up my band cuz i have been eating regular food since friday (1 wk post op). it started with a little piece of somethin and then out to eat with my ex and his family (who don't know). i was very careful to eat slowly, very small portions, and chew well but... i have absolutely no adverse reactions or feelings, no restriction, gas, or anything. i've been back to the gym, 45 min on the elliptical and 15 on the treadmill the last 2 days and i feel fine. but of course after reading everybody's posts i feel like maybe i screwed up and what if my band slips or erodes? they don't really give you symptoms or anything.

[twiceblessed 0]

i'm not real sure how much Protein now. I know that I found a drink called bolthouse vanilla chai tea at wal mart that I like that has 19grams in it that I like to have for Breakfast then I usually end up having a light and fit yogurt smoothie mid morning and Soup of some sort for lunch and dinner. I hate Water so that has been hard for me. I rarely get in enough. my weight loss was great, but has now stalled. I hope that don't last. I guess it's really my fault. sausage and Peanut Butter. hum. I just really don't want to lose my hair ya know. and I can't stand my stomach growling all the time. I'm really not that bad. I only ate one little bite of the sausage I was scared of it. and it did hurt. I've just been wandering like a lot of other people if I really did the right thing because I have been sooooo hungry this week. I've had ice cream too. I'm so ashamed.

[mom of many 0]

Thanks for your feedback! Just exactly how many children do you have?

I knew someone would ask sooner or later, Here goes, I have 3 grown sons by birth, , one stepson that will graduate from TCU this dec, and 4 adopted sons over the years, One step daughter, that has given us 2 beautiful grandsons, that are all grown now and none in Jail at the time! Thank God!! Oh and 2 male dogs. So now as you can see I am a mom of many and will forever be.

[twiceblessed 0]

mom of many, I can identify. I have a baby girl in Heavan (Emily would be 10 the 3rd of october) and twin boys thus the name twiceblessed. they will be 2 the 14th of october, if I count my foster kids I have a total of 35 plus kids out there.

[lifelongband 0]

The reason that you have to eat liquids is so that your stomach doesn't move around too much and pop your stitches holding the band in place. My doctor says that this is a critical healing time and the less your stomach moves, the better. I hope you reconsider. I have been on a liquid diet since about 3-4 weeks before surgery. For the first 2 I got 1 meal and for the next I didn't get anything but my Medifast drinks. I have to admit that it is hard, but in the long run teaches you some self control. :speechles

[chattanoogabrat 0]

Hello All, Just wanted to wish those that have surgery Wednesday and Thursday my prayers and thoughts are with you. Also to Lapoli7

,ratgirl

and sweetsue My thoughts and prayers are with you since we are all having surgery the same day.

These two weeks have been a little bit long and tonight was driving me crazy. It was tempting to want something I should not as I went on errand with my roommates and they stopped at sonic I got a sugar free drink but seeing the other food makes me want it, not that I am hungary its a mental thing. I am keeping the overall picture in mind and came home and heated up chicken noodle Soup and I strained out the noodles and threw them away and had the broth and that was tastsy much better than buying straight broth as no taste. I wish I would have thought about that sooner.

I also weighed my self tonight and it showed I was down to 330 lbs and that made me happy and got me remotivated that I can and will do this and have been exercising on my lunch every day for at least 30 minutes.

Now what I was told by my surgeon to do any normal exercise that I do not will be at least a month but I can walk and know it will help me. How soon after surgery were you walking 30 mins to 60 mins per day?

Well have a great night almost my bed time.

[want2lose 1]

Well, I had my surgery on 9-20-06. I was feeling wonderful. I went back to work yesterday and then again today. I was left by myself for over two hours by 2 very inconsiderate employees and had to bend down and grab charts and things. I was told not to carry more than a gallon of milk. I called the doc's office and they said I either pulled a stitch or ripped a stitch on my port. I am so frustrated. I don't cry over pain. In the time after surgery I only took my Lortab once. I am having to take it today. I cried in front of a waiting room full of patients. I don't recommend overdoing to anybody. I think I am taking the rest of the week off work. I am going to enjoy my recovery time.

Take care all.

I'm sorry you are in so much pain. What did your surgeon's office say to do about a ripped stitch? I'm afraid I did a similar thing last weekend, but the pain didn't last more then a few minutes (but it was REALLY bad for those minutes). I'm assuming there is nothing they can do about it, but just curious.

[lifelongband 0]

They said to take my Lortab elixir and come in for my post-op tomorrow. There isn't anything they can do except make sure that I am not doing anything strenuous. I just took some Lortab and I am starting to feel the pain melt away. I am happy for that.

[want2lose 1]

. How soon after surgery were you walking 30 mins to 60 mins per day?

It was 2 or 3 days after surgery that I was outside walking for 30min, but it was a very slow pace. The first 2 days I was walking in the house every hour or so for about 10 minutes.

[lifelongband 0]

I did my first good walk on Saturday. We took off and when I went back and clocked it, we walked 1.3 miles. I couldn't believe I had made it that far. I figured 2, MAYBE 3 blocks and I would turn around. We weren't even ready to come back, we just made a big circle. My girls are really excited to go out and walk with me too. I am having fun with it.

[want2lose 1]

Good luck tomorrow to Bettina, tommygirl, and GettinThinMan. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Before you know it it will all be over and the fun begins! Try to sleep tonight.:notagree

[mom of many 0]

Wow, you guys are talking about the hunger and wanting to satisfy, I can understand, I would like to make a point though. As many have stated, each surgeon has their own way of doing things. I suppose I am a stickler when it come to the rules regarding what I need to do to be healthy with the band. I'm on the 2 week liquids and 2 weeks mushie plan and it's not easy, however not following the rules in the past regarding my body is what got me here to begin with. I do believe is very important that I do what I'm told to be successful! It's time I break all the old habits that caused the weight and follow through for once in my life. I am determined to stick to it and do what I've been needing to do for a very long time, and thats be healthy and live to see my kiddos have families of their own.

With that said, I know your pain with the hunger, I sip alittle extra Soup or sip on my protien shake, or a small glass of skim milk, or even go for a walk to make it through, be careful out there with bending the rules, I sure don't claim to know enough about the band to advise anyone and our doctors are still learning. For me, I see the light at the end of the Tunnel, Be strong, I believe in all of you.