June 2007 Bandsters

[Annie 0]

Hello Everyone. It's official, I was banded on Monday the 18th, and I feel great! I think today is the first day that my tummy area has actually felt normal though. Not alot of pain any longer, and I can tell I am getting a full feeling when I eat....no longer just a big stuck bubble feeling in the middle! I was initially worried about that, but now I think it's all starting to heal, and I'm starting to learn a little about what I'm feeling and when/why I feel it.

Strange. But I am definately liking keeping the eating under control. I still want to eat alot, as it tastes so good, but I stop! I've actually had to catch myself, when I've had to order out or in preparing something for myself, not to over do it, and to think small!

So far so good!

Best wishes to everyone here! We'll keep learning together!

Oh, how do I get one of those ticker things??

Anne

[Carlahopeful 0]

I was banded June 18 2007 in Mexico. Doing great but I have a question for all you bandsters out there...How long does the bloating last??:help:

[bcrazy7 0]

Hello Everyone. It's official, I was banded on Monday the 18th, and I feel great! I think today is the first day that my tummy area has actually felt normal though. Not alot of pain any longer, and I can tell I am getting a full feeling when I eat....no longer just a big stuck bubble feeling in the middle! I was initially worried about that, but now I think it's all starting to heal, and I'm starting to learn a little about what I'm feeling and when/why I feel it.

Strange. But I am definately liking keeping the eating under control. I still want to eat alot, as it tastes so good, but I stop! I've actually had to catch myself, when I've had to order out or in preparing something for myself, not to over do it, and to think small!

So far so good!

Best wishes to everyone here! We'll keep learning together!

Oh, how do I get one of those ticker things??

Anne

Are you eating regular food? I was banded on the 18th also and am on liquids for 2 weeks and then mushies for 2 weeks.

[CJQuilter 0]

I was banded on 6/18 and my bloating went away pretty much yesterday. My doc has a similiar prescribed diet as Annes. clear liquid first day = then total liquid rest of the week - then mushies starting 6/25. I call it my "food govenor". I can only eat about 2 tbs of food a meal time and I'm full. I'm not gonna stretch that baby out. 2 tbs is it! I've lost 10 pds since Monday. 17 on my preop low carb - hi Protein diet before that. So I'm down 27 pds since 5/7/07 yippee! Its funny - even though I'm eating small amounts I AM NOT HUNGRY! I do not want to do anything to make the band slip while it is healing. So I am following his diet to the letter.

Carlotta

[Serena 0]

Faithmd,

Does having the AP band mean that you will have your fills by remote control? If so, what an awesome invention!

I had posted over a week ago, asking if anyone else had huge eggplant-colored bruises all over their abdomen (about 40% covered). I had looked at all the pictures that people posted of their incisions and noticed that no one else was discolored as I am.

Yesterday (18 days after banding) I had my follow-up. When the surgeon looked at my incisions he blurted out "Whoa! I've never seen bruising like this!" but then assured me that it was no problem.

I am positive that I was banded by a resident and I was never told that this was on option. I understand about residents because my office was located in the College of Medicine for 9 years. I also realize that lapband surgery is fairly simple surgery, but I feel betrayed nonetheless (I never saw the program surgeon that day).

My question: would all the bruising be the result of less experience, less "finesse" with the laproscopic tools? The bruising was not painful so I assume that no harm was done. I'm just curious.....

Thanks in advance for your expertise. I hope that you are more comfortable today.

[mjsafari 0]

Hi All! :-) Glad to see everyone up and moving!

I had my post-op yesterday. I am down 19lbs from the start of my pre-op diet. My surgeon was pleased with that. I told him I needed a fill ASAP - I have been hungry since my first day home! He just laughed and said I would have to wait! But my hunger is definitely better now that I can have more real food.< /p>

I am to be on soft foods - fish, potatoes, steamed veggies (yuck!), eggs, etc for a week and then move on to regular food. I am trying to keep my portions small, but I over did the potato tonight - bad idea to eat the entire inside of a small baked potato! Man am I full. I smashed up some steamed cauliflower in it, so I could get some veggie in and mixed it with fat free sour cream - it tasted really good, but it will be important for me to only put on my plate what I should eat, because I still don't stop until my plate is empty. That is going to be a hard habit to break. I am scheduled for my first fill on July 16th.

Hotti/Heather is who made the calendar for us - I think one of her posts said she was out until Sunday. Maybe she can make us a new one for first fills?

I have been sleeping in bed since my first night home. I slept in my DD's bed the first night, so I could just roll out and stand-up, but after that I slept in our waterbed. I was sore going up and over the railing, but I slept more comfortably. 9 days out though and no pain at all. I could go back to work - but I still have another 3 weeks scheduled off, so I am taking it!

[faithmd 14]

Faithmd,

Does having the AP band mean that you will have your fills by remote control? If so, what an awesome invention!

No, the new AP band is just the newest version of the Allergan band, here's a link to Dr. Curry's post about it on his forum:

Trace W. Curry, M.D. :: View topic - New AP band

And here's a link to the forum with a pic of it:

Trace W. Curry, M.D. :: View topic - pic of new AP band

My question: would all the bruising be the result of less experience, less "finesse" with the laproscopic tools? The bruising was not painful so I assume that no harm was done. I'm just curious.....

Thanks in advance for your expertise. I hope that you are more comfortable today.

I am feeling a bit better, taking my Lortab elixir and my Reglan faithfully.

Some folks just bruise dramatically, everyone is different. Did you receive and shots for bloodthinning pre-op? That may have had something to do with it. I also had to use an icepack on my abdomen for 24hrs post-op. I haven't taken my bandages off yet so I'm not sure how bruised I am, but we'll see in the morning. I'll take pics and post them in the scar stages thread.

[o2bthin 0]

I'm not very bloated, a little swollen around the largest incision, but I think it's because I take a small dose of HCTZ as a diuretic for blood pressure. That usually keeps Water off me. I did drop 5 pounds overnight, for a total of 10 since surgery, so I'm thinking that was the bloating I had from the antibiotics I was on prior to surgery (bronchitis/sinus infection) and all the junk they give you for surgery. Keep the faith though....Carla Drink lots and lots and walk walk walk.

I am having 1 cup amounts of Soup and liquids at one sitting. Does anyone think that's too much? Gosh! I feel no restriction at all....or so I thought, but 1 cup seems to be all it takes to feel full. I'm starting to get more of a sense of what my body is telling me when it's full. It's good not to have so many hunger pangs....they seem to be lessening, but I'm remembering to get some sort of soup or Protein Drink in every couple of hours. Still dropping the weight, so it's all good.

I do have a funny though...I told my friend I wanted to chew something so bad it was driving me crazy. So she suggested a dog chew toy! She was serious....she said a doctor had given her a rubber mouth piece for stress before surgery. LMAO! So I make sure to say "I want to CHEW and SWALLOW" now!

[TexasFire 84]

Oh, how do I get one of those ticker things??

Anne

Hello ANNIE...you can get a ticker from many places, but the two most common are Graphical Tickers for your Signature, Message Boards, Blogs and Web Page and Ticker Central - The ULTIMATE resource for pregnancy, birthday, TTC, wedding, anniversary, christmas and more tickers to start. There are many options in putting your ticker together, so GO WILD, GIRLFRIEND! LOL :clap2:

Stef

[o2bthin 0]

Annie, the ticker thing is at TickerFactory.com. It has instructions how to do it. You'll have to paste the code in your siggie when you're done.

[TexasFire 84]

Wow! I actually typed the web address to those two sites and what you see below is how is came out! Anyhow, they are TickerFactory.com and TickerCentral.com

[o2bthin 0]

I forgot to post...I have the AP band also. What do you mean by "remote control" Serena?

My diet is 1-7 days of clear liquid, add 1/2 c yogurt on day 4, Tomato Soup on day 6, Protein Drinks on day 10. Begin food on week 4, which is July 9 for me. Joy!

[thinsoon 0]

Hi there everyone - I was banded on June 6th. I have lost 20 pounds so far. I guess we are all going through the same things right now. I should be having my first fill in 2 weeks. I hope it helps because I feel hungry. Anyone feeling hungry - 3 weeks post op??

[faithmd 14]

I forgot to post...I have the AP band also. What do you mean by "remote control" Serena?

Here's a link from Dr. Curry's board about it, it is a remote control fill band, they're not in the US yet, and don't expect to be for a while (couple years).

Trace W. Curry, M.D. :: View topic - NEW TELEMETRICALLY ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BAND-study

[cbm818 0]

i haven't dropped any weight since the surgery...i know i probably shouldn't be weighing myself, but i can't help it!

still gassy....am looking forward to getting past it.