I've been getting so many people asking me what the band is etc I figured I'd go ahead and re-explain it in here. Please realize that I'm using my own terms for things and go with what I've researched and been told by surgeon. Different doctors may do things differently. You'll have to talk to your doctors for better information on what they do when etc etc etc. What I put is just a simple guide as well as showing what I have been through.
Basically the band is kind of like a C clamp that goes around the top part of the tummy. There is a pouch type thing that lines the inside. As the band is sitting on top of stomach, a small portion of the tummy is folded over the band to hold it in place. Now the folding over part I've seen in some sites but not others. The inside of the "clamp" is lined and there is a line that runs from it to the skin. The portal as its called, sits under the skin (you can't see it but you can feel it when you tense tummy muscles). After surgery, you wait for a while and then the adjustments begin. Mine was done right in the doctors office (the adjustment). The doctor first numbed the area around where the portal is at (was a bit of a sting and then he moved it around injecting more numbing stuff. It felt a bit weird but didn't hurt too much.) After giving the numb agent a couple moments to work, he filled a larger syringe with saline. The needle for that one is about 4 inches or so and thicker. I was like OMG lol. But there was not much pain at all when he inserted it and the needle went into the portal so I only felt it at the beginning "punch" through. When he pulled the needle out, it felt like it was being pulled out of a stopper lol. If you've ever filled a syringe from a bottle, you'll know what I mean by the feel. The whole process only took maybe 10 minutes if that. After I was told to drink a couple swallows of water to see if I felt anything. I didn't.
I had my first saline injection on October 1st. Boy was that an experience. I was scared to death. Danged near had a major anxiety attack lol. After words I felt rather foolish for my over reaction but hey, we all deal with fear our own ways don't we. I've had a rough couple days trying to readjust to food amounts again but I'll get there. I'm eating less and definitely going slower with chewing etc lol.
My weight stayed the same after 1st check up until the adjustment. The doctor told me to expect that due to introducing regular food again. I hope to loose 14 pounds before I go back for the 2nd adjustment. I go October 29th. The reason I want to loose 14 pounds is because that will put me at my first 100 pounds lost total. I'd lost all but 18 pounds of that before surgery.
I've been dealing with some painful pressure when I eat at times. I've been driven to tears its been so bad. So I'm working on realizing when I feel full. More often then not I don't feel full until after I am done with the meal and thats when the pressure begins. Sometimes its felt like the band was being shoved up through to my throat lol.
I think the worst experience I had tho was the night I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing and I'd gotten a fountain drink. Now I get soda occasionally but its always diet and I flatten it so the carbonation is almost totally gone (flat soda ick lol). I only drink diet drinks now. Anywhoo, that day, I was dieing for a mountain dew. I hadn't had one in a couple to few months. I'd had a pepsi before that and did fine. However, with the fountain drink I got a straw. BIG mistake! HUGE! I was in agony. I couldn't figure it out at first. I was like I'm sipping slowly, its been over an hour since I'd eaten, the soda is flat, why am I hurting so bad! Then I saw the straw. I was omg that's why. I'd forgotten that your not to use straws. The nutrionist warned me that the first time you forget, you definitely won't forget after that. Boy was she right! Drinking from straws puts too much air in the tummy.
I knew going into this that it was going to be hard and I'd have times of suffering physically, mentally and emotionally. I have had a time of saying (only slightly serious btw) of omg surgery was a mistake lol. No matter what happens, I'd still do it again.
Some of the things I intend to start getting into is receipes for stuff I like as well as tasty low fat etc etc etc foods. Most things I will put will be quick stuff. Easy to do type things. If anyone wants to know other things, feel free to contact me. My goal here is to help people but can't help if ya'll won't let me know what you'd like to know lol.
More to be written later.
