Kittycat

Yes, this is totally normal...I gained 7 lbs from surgery too....by day 4 it was gone and then some. I have lost 25 lbs since my surgery 7 weeks ago. Don't worry, be happy!! You are on your way to a lifestyle change and this is only the beginning!!!

Another Cathy! Welcome! Have you been banded? When? And how are you doing?

Glad to hear you had a good fill...too bad about the water scare, but it was a good thing you were still with the doctor!!

Glad you are feeling better...I get stitches (trapped gas) under my ribs and in my back all the time, it's sharp, stop you in your tracks kind of pain. But thank goodness it passes after awhile.

I love my Braun handblender..it's easy to use and I just rinse it off and put it away after use. I did have a blender at one time, too much work to clean.

Congrats and Welcome to Bandland!! Be careful with exercising in the first 6 weeks, then you can exercise everything but abs. No abs for 3 months. Have fun!

Does it hurt to breathe? Could it be your lungs? Or a stitch (sharp pain under diaphram when you breathe) which is trapped gas? Feel better!

OMG!! You look awesome!!! And you are brave too!!! I am too old for a bikini...that is until I get my tummy tuck!! Then we'll see! LOL!!! Good for you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! HAVE YOURSELF AN AMAZING DAY!!!

That's fantastic!!!! Good for you!!! You are on your way..keep up the great work!

So Tadpole, where in Ontario are you from? I am in Kitchener.

I am sorry to hear that you have to deal with such heartache. If you Mom requires such care, would she be willing to go into an adult care facility. The monthly payment she receives should be more than enough to pay for it and her medication too. I can't even imagine your poor Mom living in a trailer on someone else's property without water or sewer. I think when you return from the OCC, you may want to have a family meeting to discuss new accomodations for your Mom. I wish you luck, it's a very difficult situation.

Mona-Camille...I know you are just a teddybear in disguise...but I won't tell! Oooops I think I just did!LOL!!

Yes unforunately, they were!! And unforunately they didn't keep me full for long...I need solids!!!AHHHH!!!

Best of Luck, Safe Trip and See you on the other side!! You will do fine...you'll be surprised how easy it is.

Great info...I copied and pasted into a word doc and will put on the fridge for good measure!!! Thanks MamaMichelle!!!

Congrat!!!! Welcome to Bandland!!!!! Rest and relax, take in lots and lots of liquids, don't count calories or eat at certain times, take in as much as you can, you are in the healing stage and need to keep up your strength and hydration. Glad to hear all went well...don't worry the roadmap on your tummy will fade in time!

There may be other shakes that taste much better than Optifast...I would do a forum poll. I hated them. The first day I gagged on it. My patient coordinator told me to add some unsweetened cocoa and put in the freezer to thicken it and I was able to get it down. I had to do 4 shakes a day, OMG! that was the longest two weeks of my life!!

Hi Jessica, The cost here in Canada is 15K. I am happy with my decision to have it here. Although the cost is more than OCC, I am only a 1 hr drive from the clinic, my surgeon is the person I see for follow up and fills. I have a nutritionist at my beck and call (via email) and all my follow up visits and fills for the next five years are included. My husband would never agree to my having surgery out of province, so the OCC was not an option. We compromised and I had it here. For U.S. residents, I think the OCC is your best choice. I have heard wonderful things about it, everyone here banded by them just raves about the care. We even have several Canadian gals who have gone down to the OCC too. You will be pleasantly surprised!!

Glad you had a good fill...I had my first fill today too..I agree with your pain scale it was about a 2 out of 10. My port site is really tender right now though. I am on mushies for 2-3 days too...I felt restriction at dinner, but is went fast....I guess when I am back on solids, we'll see if it worked.

Lesson learned!! We just care about you and don't want anything to jeopardize you, your band or your goal! You will be on solid food before you know it and dropping the lbs. Canadian hottie here you come!!! Take care!

Hey there, I didn't look at the needle, I turned away. I felt it though and it was in for awhile. My surgeon extracts the existing fill (3cc place during surgery) to check it and to make sure the needle is in the port, and then puts the fill back in with an additional 1cc today. I have 4cc in a 9cc band. I feel restriction again after eating very little...I am a happy girl!!

Thanks Paula, I had dinner, a small peice of lasagna and some green beans, ate about 5-6 bites of lasagna and 2 bites of green beans and I am full!! Yeh! Restriction is back!!!!!!

Hi there, I was banded on June 10th, and yes gas is an issue, but it's not a big deal. I have never had a problem at work. I find after I eat I am more gassy than usual and just go to the bathroom to explode!!LOL!! PBing occurs if you eat too fast, too much or do not chew really really well. It can also happen if your fill is too tight. It can happen, so far I haven't. Some people haven't, some have. Everyone is different. Good Luck with your surgery, it's a lifestyle change you'll be happy you made!

Good Luck Vix, I hope everything goes well for you!!