jhawkchick75

LOL!!!! Thanks I figure tthat it was then, but I wasn't sure. And by no shakes I mean the shakes people get in their hands when they haven't had a drink in a while!!! The lush shakes!!!

That is hilarious! I agree I have a german shepard mix and that dog lets out farts that will clear a room! But his are always the silent ones. Then when it finally hits us and we yell he looks at us like "what!?" like he did nothing wrong. It is a riot!

Is there a date when you can start having wine and what not? Someone tried to tell me 6 months and that just doesn't seem right. Is it when you can have solids? I'm not getting the shakes or anything, just curious!

Agreed! Definitely change the number on your paperwork and let them know. I didn't and just told them when I arrived and Dr. Miranda said she had to go off the weight on the stuff. I went on a "last supper" run of all my favorite places before pre-op and gained 5 lbs! I still lost a good amount, but to be safe let them know. And I know everyone says this, but I am the biggest baby and have the worst willpower in America and I did fine on the 2 shakes and a lean cuisine/ww meal for dinner. Like everyone said, it really isn't that bad and you lose about 1 lb a day. Good luck!

OK that is freakin hilarious pole dancing! Too funny! I ended up having to tell a couple of people today, but I just said I had surgery on my stomach and they didn't prod which was good. I had to b/c it took them 3 times to get my IV in and now both my hands have huge bruises on the top so I didn't need them thinking I got in a fight or something! I'll tell them all once the weight stats coming off - hard to judge when you see the results! I'm sure I saw you. Once they decided I was getting banded everyone else was already back in their rooms getting prepped. Most of the folks in the lobby with me were getting fills. But I'm sure I saw you when we were all up walking and what not the next morning. Were you in the back or did you have your own room? When you first walked in from the lobby, I was in that room right in front of you. It stunk b/c since I was brought in at the last minute, I don't feel like I really got to connect with any of my "bandmates" but we all have each other in here so that is great!!!!

Doing great thanks! I had tomato soup for lunch and I had to heat it up twice b/c it took me so long to eat. I think it was gas, but I kept feeling a tightness in my chest and I couldn't eat very much so I like that! I had to work a really long day yesterday though and I think I pushed myself way too far. So I am taking it easy tonight and lounging on the couch. Thanks so much for the ice cream idea! I have some weight watchers ice cream bars in the fridge and I might have to try one. I thought about going and getting a cup of vanilla ice cream but i'm waiting on that until i'm really going nuts and need it. I'm staying pretty motivated b/c the scale is going down really fast, but I know once I go on solids that will change so i'm not banking on that happening all the time. But i'm sure loving it right now!!!

That is absolutely fantastic...congrats on all your success!

I am so very sorry to hear that and know you are in my thoughts!!!

OK that is just hilarious! I have become the master of hiding them at work. But I was in a 5 hour meeting last night and a couple times I just had to let it go and hope nobody heard! My dad when I was a kid would toot and blame it on people on TV. He would fart and be like "hey, did you hear that Ronald Regan just farted"!!! He would blame it on the dog too poor dog! Great story thanks for sharing!!!!

That is so great you will be able to find it a home. I'm allergic to cats but I am a HUGE dog lover and I would have done the same if it was a dog. I'd love to have a ton, but I just work too much and i'd sit at work sick to my stomach thinking about them at home by themselves. And I totally understand the crying. Not sure what it is, but as I get older I cry more and more. My brother made fun of me so bad the other day b/c I was crying watching the Celtics championship ring ceremony! Paul Pierce was crying and I just started sobbing! How sad am I!!

Wow...that is absolutely fantastic! You should be very proud! I am cracking up they didn't recognize you that is awesome!!

Thanks so much Jude! Yea on solids I'm so jealous! But i'm hoping my time on phase 2 will go by fast. Now that i'm back at work the days go by much faster so i'm sure it will. I really appreciate the feedback on my list. I worry about making sure I mix it up b/c by yesterday I couldn't even smell broth or i'd start to gag, so I just had to suffer on drinkable yogurt and jello. Let's just say it feels like my stomach is eating itself right now! I've already been thinking about my first meal. I know I shouldn't it just makes me more hungry but I can't help it. Eat slow and enjoy every bite! Funny, most of the stuff i've been thinking about though isn't really junk food. It's been more healthy foods. I keep thinking about fat free refried beans and chicken with taco seasoning on it. Wierd, but true! Have a great night!

I bet we probably did! On Friday when I left there were several folks in the lobby, but I think I was still doped up b/c that is all a blur to me. I started back to work today too. I tried to go in late so not to overdo it, but I was at work until 11:30 tonight so so much for that. I"m really sore by my port too but every day it's getting better. I"m just always so freaked out every time I sneeze or cough that i've messed something up. I'm sure it will be fine but it freaks me out. Most of my staff and students don't know I had the surgery, so when I would cough or sneeze I always grabbed my incision and I got a couple of funny looks. But they know i'm wierd so they probably didn't think much of it!

Looks like you should be off clear liquids by now, so I hope you survived! Question for you all - today is my last day of clear liquids. To make it through the next two weeks alive, I really need to mix up my food as much as possible. Here is what I bought - please tell me if I can't do any of these and if you have suggestions for anything else (can we have applesauce, mashed taters, jello pudding, etc...?) PLEASE let me know so I don't lose my mind! My food list: Creamy soups - cheddar, cream of whatever I could find, tomato, etc... Drinkable yougurt Protein shakes All the stuff I could have on liquids - kellogs k20 water, jello, etc... On the creamy soups, i've noticed some of them such as cream of broccoli have teeny tiny little chunks in them - is that OK? Seems like a lot of the creamy soups do and i'm paranoid. Every time I cough or sneeze i'm afraid i've broken something so i'm really on edge! Thanks!!

Hi there! I was supposed to be banded the same day as you, but they snuck me in a day early. I did OK with the hotel soup, but now if I even smell broth it makes me gag - thank god this is my last day on clear liquids!!! Woo Hooo!!! Never thought i'd be so excited to have tomato soup! Not sure about the burping...mine has all been coming out the other end! But my gassy feeling has gotten better every day. And for the weight, i've been told not to trust the scale for a while. I know when I first got home it said I had gained, now it is saying i've lost like 10lbs! So I wouldn't even stress about that for a week or two. Being on liquids you are putting your body into shock kinda so im sure your weight will be all over the charts. Good luck!!

Definitely try your insurance. Mine would cover me, but the only criteria I didn't fall under was I hadn't worked here for 3 years. Stupidest guildeline i've ever heard, but whatever! It's worth talking to them, but know that they do everything in thier power not to pay for it unfortunately. Be careful with the financing folks too. I applied but my interest rate was off the charts! I ended up taking out a small loan through my bank for a lot less. Good luck!!

What a fantastic feeling! Congrats!

That is so fantastic! They gave me a 10cc band and that has been my fear that it will take me forever to get restriction. Can't wait to hear about your increased success!! Yea!!

Ditto to what everyone said - thank you so much for posting this! It really helps to see the long term success of those banded. Like many, I am just beginning this journey and am motivated now, but know I will need things like this to keep me going down the road. Congratulations on your success and your support networks. Not sure what I would do without everyone on here! My friends will be supportive, but can't understand what I am going through so this site is invaluable!

From what I understand, the realize band is basically just a lapband, but it comes with some additional online and phone support as you are losing. I could be wrong, but I think that is the only difference. So I think either way you go you will be fine.

This is great and sooo true! I am such an emotional eater and so when life gets stressful the first thing I turn to is food. I need to use exercise as an alternative. Great post! With this new change in my life, i'm also trying to find ways to de-stress my life as much as I can. For those things I cannot change, I just need to come to grips with that and find ways to deal. Thanks for this post!

I'm in the same boat as well - a bit of a baby and pain meds have no effect on me - haven't for years! I don't have the nausea problem though thank goodness. I just had surgery on Th and the meds they gave me at OCC had no effect on me from what I could tell. I was really sore, but it was completely tolerable. I got me a heating pad and that has helped a lot. Just like everyone says, the more you walk the better you will feel and it is totally true! I've been on the couch too much today and I can tell a difference, but don't overdo it! Since I don't go back to work until Wed i've been wanting to do things around the house really bad but I can't let myself. Sorry, now i'm rambling! In a nutshell as someone who can understand your pain (no pun intended!) there will be some discomfort and pain, but completely tolerable. Good luck!!!

WOW...what a fantastic accomplishment! You should be very proud!!! If you don't mind, for us newbies would you give us your top 3 keys to success or tips on how you have been so successful? It would help a lot as I start this process!!! Great job!!!

Hey there...been wondering where you were! I know it stinks, but at least this will finally get your knee where it needs to be which i'm sure will also help with weight loss and exercise. Keep poking your head in - everyone here can help and if anything provide some comic relief! Take care!!

Congrats on your decision! Like everyone said, it is the best decision you will make! I am sitting in the SD airport now waiting for my flight to go home. Sore, but very happy to start this new journey in my life. As the others said we will be rooting for you and if you have any questions just ask. I'm a newbie, but I feel like a pro thanks to all the other ladies and gents in here! Congrats!!!