cckcsharp

How awesome, Cathy. I totally get what your saying about feeling a piece of normal. Every little success and achievement gives us encouragement to keep going.

Hey this is good to know that people don't always have fills done under flouro. There is a bariatric doctor here in Utah who will do fills for mexican banded patients for only $100 but does not use flouro. It gives me great comfort that he is also a surgeon who does the lapband. Anyway, if I want flouro, I have to go to a fill centers and they change way more money. You guys have both had great success with fills without having flouro and this gives me hope. Thanks a bunch

WOW girl. You lost that weight FAST. How amazing. Did you get your fills at the OCC? Just curious. You seem to have had good fills. Congrats on your success.

Okay, two questions about the port. First of all, some of you mention feeling the port after losing alot of weight. However, 9 days out from surgery and I feel something at the port incision. I am not sure if it's just a lump of scar tissue or the port. But I feel a definite lump right at the port incision. Am I right that the port incision is the big incision? If I bend over, I feel the lump too. Like I can tell something is there whenever I bend over. Is this something to be concerned about? And question 2. If you are having your first fill and not using flouro, how on earth does the Doc find your port and know he got the saline into it. How do they know that they aren't just shooting saline into your stomach vs the port. I know that with the 2nd or subsequent fill, they can withdraw the fluid to see how much was in there, but if it's your first fill, how do they know they got the saline in there? How to do they locate the port anyway?

Congrats and welcome. We are here to help with any questions or support that you need. I was just banded a week and 2 days ago. I think you will be happy with your decision, although it is scary. Just remember that we were all scared before too. And when it's over and you start to get feeling better, you will be happy you did it.

Being a VERY short person, I have always said that if I were only taller than I wouldn't have a weight issue. Too funny.

Did you have your surgery at the OCC. I was worried about getting the 10 cc band only because it can require more fills than the 4 cc. I thought for sure that I would end up with the 10 cc band because my starting weight and BMI were pretty high. But then I talked to dr. Maritnez about it before my surgery and he said that most women get the 4cc band. When I woke up in the O.R. that was the first thing he said to me was that I had gotten the band size I wanted, 4cc. But he did say that it totally depends on your stomach size. Are you tall? I think that taller people may tend to have larger anatomy on the inside. Just like taller people tend to have larger feet and hands. Just to keep the body symetric. I happen to be VERY short and thought this may have played a role in why I got the smaller band. I have small feet, small hands, etc. So I probably have smaller guts too!!! Just happens to be surrounded by lots and lots of fat at the moment. This is just my take on it. Although it could be wrong. But I do know for sure that the band size is directly related to the stomach size. I don't think that your stomach was really stretched out. If so, then all of us who are WAY more overweight than you, would have gigantic stomachs. I think it just may have been your bodies anatomy. The size you were born with, not something you did wrong.

I say highest weight or before pre-op. This is because I believe that every pound lost is a success to be celebrated and acknowledged. You deserve to count those 5 pounds. But there really is no rule.

I am so sorry that this is happening to you. I agree with Julie though. I think you have lost so much weight already that your body really is trying to fight it at this point. I think that it's basically a plateau. And it could last a while. Also, your thyroid issue may be in effect here too. Try changing it up. Things like, if you eat more of your calories in the evening, start eating more at breakfast and less at dinner. I honestly heard that this helps. Just get creative on ways to trick your body. I think we get into routines of eating and exercise and our bodies get used to it. Try re-vamping your routine or changing it altoghether. Just to throw your body off the trail. Or try what Julie said, and put that scale away for a bit. I hope you get some answers from the nutritionists and things start moving for you. Keep us posted. You look so amazing girl.

Seriously, they look awesome. You have done so well.

That rocks girl. Happy to see things going well for you.

Lookin good, cathy. How impressive you are doing. By the way, cuuuuuute outfits. Too bad that clothes don't shrink with us.

Vix, 4 Pounds!!!! I think that's terrific. Don't undersell yourself. 4 pounds is 4 pounds and it took work, pain, sacrifice and effort to get rid of it. I think to lose an additional 4 pounds in the first week of post-op is awesome. Plus, you have a much lower starting weight, so losing weight is slower than girls like myself. You should be really proud of yourself. I have not weighed myself. I weighed right when I got home and was up 3 pounds. That dampened my spirits enough to scare me away from the scale, even though it's normal to have gained a few pounds due to the surgery. Now I am afraid to look although I know I should. I am sure that I will in the next few days. Just don't want to be disappointed. But way to go girl.

Cathy, you mentioned this mix of soups a while back and I took note for when I was on the post-op. LOVE LOVE LOVE the cream of potatoe mixed with the cheddar. I didn't add the onion and garlic, so now I am going to add that and I am sure it will be even better. I little taste of heaven after 7 days on clear liquids. Thanks

Awesome, cathy. Congrats.

Yeah Heidi....glad to see you are doing alright. Those tight chest pains are killer but each day that seem to get fewer and farther between. To be honest, the gas x and the phazyme did nothing for me. I kept taking them and it just didn't seem to change anything. So I just started dealing with the gas until it started come out my rear end and I felt better. I hope you have a safe trip home and can't wait to hear how things continue to progress for you. Also, don't be alarmed if you step on the scale and see you have gone up a few pounds. I did this and it bummed me out. I almost wish I hadn't even looked. Best wishes.

Congrats. You will have more questions and concerns and we are always here to help. I just got banded a week ago and everyday there is something new going through my head. Best wishes and safe trip home.

This link for the post op diet is not the same one that we were just given last friday. It's similar but still a little different. Here is what the paper says that we just received a week ago from the OCC. I will type it directly from the paper First week (day 1-7) only clear liquids such as fruit juices, broth, tea, gatorade, protein water, coffee, popsicles. Second and third week (day 4-21) day (4-8) begin with nonfat yogurt 1/2 cup servings, liquid with no chunks of fruit day (6-10) add liquid protein to the regimen, at least 30 g of protein per day Examples of protein drinks:optifast, isopure, carb solutions, EAS, slim fast optima, ETC. Day (7-11) Add creamy soups, no chuncks. This liquid diet is for 21 days. There is NO MUSHY FOODS ALLOWED!!! fourth week Day (22-28) solid meals. Vix, did this answer your question? If you have any other questions from the paper work we got, just let me know or if I wasn't very clear.

Phoenix, No doubt this is frustrating and painful for you. I am truly sorry for the struggle you are going through and can only say that I will keep you in my prayers and be hoping the best for you. I hope you are able to find out what is causing this and get things in order. Please keep us posted.

That is funny. I think I was too high and groggy to pay attention and I didn't log out. And then Heidi was too high and groggy and didn't log into hers. SO does this mean that I am still logged in at the OCC until someone figures it out and logs me out? You guys may see some other strange posts from me I guess.

Okay, that was weird. Heidi, your post was under my name??? It was weird to see my picture and username, but you are the one who posted this??? Maybe a little technical difficulties and I am not sure how that happened but glad you are doing well.

just out of sugery. 1 day early. little sore and groggy. all is good doiniagann, heidi

Yeah, I am looking forward to the big surprise. Glad I am normal

I understand the hallucinating thing. I was watching TV and someone was talking about a corn beef sandwhich on the show. I have never eaten a corn beef sandwhich and I am not sure they are even good, but boy it sounded good to me at that moment. The post op diet says you can start liquid, drinkable yogurt on day 4. I tried this because my stomach was so acidy and I was looking for something to soothe it. It has helped.

Okay, how many of you stepped on the scale 3 or 4 days after your surgery and it was up a few pounds. I weighed 279 2 days before leaving for the OCC. When I got there Dr. Miranda's scale said 271 NOT ACCURATE, I am sure. I didn't lose 8 pounds in 2 days. But now I am home and I weighed 282 this morning. Up 3 pounds from when I left. I know I am suppose to be focusing on the healing right now, but I just wanted to know how common this was. How many of you had this happen. Just so I know if I am normal. I am certainly not eating anything, and for the first 3 days, struggle to get down liquids even, due to the burning stomach I was feeling right after surgery. Anyway, I am not freaking out or concerned as I really don't care what my weight is right now. I just want to heal and feel better. I just was wondering if anyone else experienced this so I know where I stand.