EcMjawad1

Hi,

I too am two months out and really the only one I can see is the port scar..I heal pretty well from scars. I have had a pacemaker since 25 for a hereditary heart condition and each time they go in and cut me..but those fade too...

Funny story to add to yours...my 22 year old daughter had her band placed in January and went back to college...while changing a shirt off the soccer field some guy friend of hers saw the port scar and asked about it...she told told him she was stabbed at a wild party and he believed it! hahahaa....now shes known as a bad ass...

Hi all,

Angie thanks for your comments especially for those of us who are newbies. I am glad to see that some of the things I feel day to day are "normal." A recent feeling I have had is after walking or exercising a feeling of tightness with the band and some nausea..anyone have this? and if so what do you suggest.

Thanks all,

Michele

Hi all,

I have the same problem with coffee....this is the one area that I seem to have problems with too. I have tried to do without but just can't seem to. I did think about the idea of adding some kind of tasteless protein powder or liquid to it..anyone know of a good brand? Breakfast has always been a problem for me so I look forward to some ideas...

Hi,

Have you been following the eating guidelines...solid food protein first..easy on the heavy liquids? I second the "post your food here." Do you track your food? how about exercise? For sure I would talk with the OCC nutritionist ....

Hi,

I went back to swimming - lightly at 4 weeks, then got more intense as my incisions healed. No ab work for 4 months, only now have I been able to go back to the "bending" portion of my yoga without discomfort.

Hi all,

These are great! I was smiling all afternoon. Gonna keep them for "those days" as a newbie I can't think of one but I have experienced a lot of them. My personal: You know your a banster when:

you go to a party for the fun and not the food...

When somone who hasn't seen you says "damn you look good" and you can take it without flinching...or looking behind you...

Keep em coming...

Hello,

Yep both the hotels have what you need but I liked the Lucerna better. Either way you won't be that hungry and the soups were ok..

Hi,

I was 278 pounds and holding when my daughter surpassed me at age 22 for a 300 weight..she forced the issue by going first for her band after we carefully researched it. She was scared, so was I. I went with her to the OCC, watched the process every step and a month later went for it myself. I too felt guilty spending that kind of money on myself..but every time I can walk or breath easier, or my heart feels better, or I get a complement, or can eat without guilt, I thank God I did it. I was scared-- it is a scary thing to do but it is surgery for yourself and your life...life changing as many here have said. Oh, and I am 49 and did not want to hit 50 as an obese out of shape old lady....

Hi guys,

I don't have sleep apnea but I do snore sometimes at night. As I have been losing weight, the snoring seems to be getting better. I was told by my MD that once I loose all the weight I will probably not snore at all..another great side effect of weight loss.

Hello,

Yesterday was a BBQ open house in honor of my daughter's college graduation. In the past parties of any type were a reason for severe anxiety and dread for me. One of the reasons I got the band was so that I could eat and function normally and not "worry" about good/bad/diet food.

I went in yesterday with this mindset..but, I did eat a healthy meal before all the guest's arrived. I have to tell you that this was the easiest event yet. I only ate what I really wanted, did not eat to the point of illness, and I did not eat anywhere near the amounts of food I used to in the past. I am so thankful for my band and my new outlook on food. I really enjoyed myself at the event and I was not stressing over food. Maybe some form of this plan would be helpful for you. Tell yourself your going to have a good time and that food in not the main reason your going, have a plan, don't put anything off limits, and eat a healthy meal earlier in the day.

Good Luck!

Hey Karen,

Great points! I use a full length mirror too just to see how well the outfit looks on, no matter the size. Your right about the variations in size though. I just ordered some jeans in a 16 from Chadwicks...well they are smaller than the 16's I have on so...it will be a while, but I don't really care the size just the fit..thanks for your tips...

Great questions to be asking while considering a life changing move. I researched for a year on behalf of my 21 year old daughter who, without telling me, had started moving ahead on her own. $1500 later (for "pre-op" tests) I got the bill. I am a healthcare clinician and can see a scam when it hits..so I told my daughter to stop and let's look into it together. Internet search, and books later (lot's out there including Dr. Ortiz). After in depth research we booked the OCC..I was highly impressed with the whole thing, so much so that I too am now banded. I can't say enough. I NEVER thought I would be able to live a "normal" life...but now I am..don't get me wrong, it's work and a journey, but so worth it. I am now scheduling my second fill for both my daughter and myself back at the OCC. I live in NorCal too and the cost is the same and the added piece of mind under floro is well worth it to me. In fact while looking for places with the fill center, they more or less told me no one in my area is using floro yet and I would be better served having it done under floro until the port can be easily found...that was fine for me...The OCC is where I started with the mind set to continue throughout life with them. I will find a MD in NorCal for emergency purposes once one starts using floro, which was estimated about another year...

Dr. Ortiz and his staff are 110% perfessional, wonderful, caring and honest...very important to me. His facility is top rate and spotless..I know the journey your are undertaking...do your research and good luck! We are all here for you.

Hello,

I get the vitamins from CVS or Lucky's in the vitamin sections. I just went and got some more today, use it twice a day...good luck.

Hi all,

As a fairly newly banded person (March) I had to smile and say "way to go" with your war on the scale. I too was a scale addict and all it did for 15-20 years was help me to be a regular on the weight roller coaster of my life...once banded I decided cut the scale out except for once every couple of months--clothing is the best gauge...Now I have to say, I too am almost 50, work 6 days a week, and am finishing up my Master's degree...but one thing I have done is to find time to go on this site and track my food with CalKing..this is a must for keeping me honest and to gauge how much I am eating with the band, and now my first fill. I would recommend you try and find the time..I have learned a lot about my eating, I am not on any food plan which is another reason I got the band--I want to eat normal food, any kind of "diet" puts me mentally in the same place as the scale..not good. But I feel better than I have in years, I know I am loosing weight, I don't care how long it takes, and I am learning new ways to deal with emotions other than food...all very worth it. Good luck, and keep coming to this site and the support we all give each other.

Which ones are you trying? I am using Emergen-C mostly because I can use various flavors...my fav is the orange one...not sure what your targets are as far as vitamin needs..But I can tell a big difference when taking my vitamins..

Congratulations! wow...it makes those of us new to the journey feel like it is possible....you look great and I can hardly wait to be where you are. I agree with you on the binge eatting...that alone made the band worth it for me...the trouble I am having is how to deal with all the reasons/emotions that sent me into a binge to begin with...but I'll get there...Thanks again for your post.

Hi all,

How exciting...do either of these Docs have websites? and what is the cost comparisson? as mentioned by someone else??

Hi all,

Thanks for all the post's. I am so glad to be reading about the whole scale thing. It is amazing how we expect a mechanical machine to dictate our lives and happiness...I have already found that the scale may say one thing but the cloths I can put on say a completely different thing...So I'm with trying to focus on "me" and not any outside measure to tell me how I am doing. Mental that's were I need to work. To follow a new life I will need new skills and I won't be learning that from a scale, but I will from people like yourselves, exercising, and listening to my inner thoughts/feeling's and learning ways to deal with stuff without food - this hand's down will be the hardest aspect of my journey..thanks for your posts and keep 'em coming.

Michele

Hi,

I myself use Earth Shoes, not so much for the added exercise but more for the alignment they help with for my back...Either way these are wonderful shoes which I have worn for 4 years...my back feels so much better and I can feel the burn when I walk the track with them. I am a clinical manager and on my feet everday...Love 'em..you can check them out on google search. Good luck with your choice.

Regards,

Michele

Congrats!

I was where you were not so long ago...my whole purpose for the band was to be able to eat like a normal person just smaller amounts. What I have found is that due to the band I need more protein and water, also liquid vitamins. Then I started a food journal for the purpose of knowing what I can't eat due to the band and how it feels. Take your time, chew everything, feel how you respond, and I too keep journal and found counts on CalKing. I have continued to slowly loose weight but most important for myself is being able to eat "normally" and not go on any crazy diets...also there are some really good books out there like "dummies guide to living with weight loss surgery" which also gives some good pointers...it's a journey, but enjoy it...

Ditto to everything everyone is posting..the biggest thing is to remember you are an individual in this with a group of wonderful supporters..but, only you can do the work..and it is work, but worth every moment..I am down 45 pounds from a year ago with the last 25 being helped along by the band...is it hard, yes, is it worth it, yes!! This week I am in beautiful Monterey CA, where I have some many happy memories to see my daughter graduate..as I sit reflecting on them I had to smile to myself when I realized those memories had food involved I mean, I can't tell you all the wonderful food down here that exsits...granted I didn't do too well yesterday, my first born is graduating college and I took her and 7 of her friends out to celebrate, but like everything else I have been learning with my new tool..I have to learn from my mistakes...it was still better than I would have done without my band...I have not had any throwing up issues..I have paced myself, and so far I have survived. You will to and you will be soo happy. Today instead of buying food and celebrating I bought myself a new jacket in two sizes smaller and got ton's of complements...woohoo small victories adding to larger ones..that's the way to go..

I just had my first fill a little over a week and a half ago. At first I was afraid to test myself (5.5cc), since I never had a fill and wasn't' sure what to expect. I had soup the first few days and did OK, then I had some solid food in the form of protein. I have not had any bread because I believe it makes me feel worse, but I was able to have a small amount of rice. What I have slowly been doing is adding/trying out foods slowly to see what I can handle. I don't really feel "restriction" or I don't know what it feels like, but I do feel a different sense of fullness after eating which is very different from the feeling I had pre-banded. This is all so new to me I am taking the time to use my feelings and emotions, senses to get used to the new way of eating and life. I have read were this process is different for everybody and I can see how that would be true based on individual's perceptions. I would call the OCC and ask your questions. I know I wouldn't hesitate if I really became concerned about something.

Hi,

I had my first fill a week ago and it went fine..didn't feel a thing at all and got to watch the liquid flow..and then flow slower...I felt so much better after that first time..you don't even know it's being done.

Hi,

I just had my first fill a week ago and it took all of last week to catch up mentally with my physical being....I do have some restriction and I can now tell when my new pouch is full, which doesn't feel like real fullness at all..so its a whole new world..I am able to eat about 1/3 the amount which is what was suggested..I noticed that adding protein helped right away with the staying full longer..I have even added some liquid protein as needed..this also helped with my energy levels, along with a liquid vitamin supplement..the band is a tool which is forcing me to look at my life in a new way..sometimes I don't want to do that mentally...but I'm committed. I am hoping for only a couple of more fills and doing it under floro is a must....hang in there and keep on working...the investment in you is worth it in the end..

Hey Congrats to all. I was at the OCC last Friday for my first fill and like mentioned wanted to be sure all was where it should be and it was..the first fill went great and I am learning a whole new way of eatting...yes, I think the first fill at least is a must if for no other reason then to "see" how this tool really works...As usual I was treated wonderfully...Go OCC bandsters...