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About this blog

My journey to a healthier, happier me :-)

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1 Week Out

Hello all, Its officially been 1 week today since my surgery...and I went back to work today. I am a Kindergarten teacher, so I'm definitely taking it easy but these are the fun days before break when you do holdiay activities! Couldn't miss that. Though I'm glad to see my students, I am extremely exhausted. I'm finding that just raising my voice is wearing me out. The port site pain has defintiely subsided and my incisions aren't even bothering me. The only thing I still feel is a tighness at the top of my stomach, I guess where the band is. I haven't felt this before. I thought I just might be bloated but that usually passes within an hour or two. I haven't had any pain around where I would suspect the actual band is, but its actually a little sore to touch today. Not sure what this is about. Any insights? I go back for my post-op appointment in 2 days so hopefully by then it won't be an issue any more.   After surgery I had the surgical strips covering the actual incisions and then basically big band-aids covering the strips. I took the band-aids off after 48 hours but the strips are still on. They are starting to peel a little bit and I'm wondering when I can take them off? As I'm getting lazier in the shower and just wanting to get in and out as opposed to "bird bathing" they are getting more wet.   P.S. After I was out all last week, first thing this morning one of my co-workers commented saying it looked like I had lost weight. What a good feeling to already know its working and my decision was worth it Hope others are seeing results already too!
journeytohealth

journeytohealth

2
 

Sugar Free Forever? "taste-good" Sugar Free Choices, Prices And Reviews

I know pre-op the sugar free popsicles, puddings, liquids are to help shrink the liver in preparation for surgery. However, I was reading another post on here and someone was talking about sugar free yogurt. Yogurt is a post-op food, so that made me wonder, am I supposed to do sugar free foods forever? Obviously sugar is not great for a weight loss journey, and the sugar free foods I have had haven't tasted that bad, but I never really considered making my diet sugar free forever. Is this what I should be aiming for?   I am not one to ever forgo taste for health (maybe why I'm in my current situation :/ lol). I refuse to eat nasty sugar free foods solely because they are good for you. In the end it is a waste of money because I won't eat them. So in my 2 week pre-op quest not to starve, I found a few good staple products that I will continue to incorporate in my new banded lifestyle:   ...sugar free, chocolate CARNATION INSTANT BREAKFAST (in the blue box) is SO good. Mixed with 1 cup of fat free milk, pop in the microwave takes just like hot chocolate. This has become a staple in pre and post op diet and I will continue to purchase this product. Its a little pricey (about $5.00/box of 8 where I live) but satistifes me until lunch.   ...Atkins diet Creamy Milk Chocolate Day Break shake. Be sure to serve chilled. Tastes just like chocolate milk plus 10g protein, 0g sugar and only 160 calories. Usually runs about $6.50 for 4 in my area.   ...Crystal light FIBER Mango Peach tea powder packets. Just add to a regular bottle of water, shake and its like instant Kool-Aid. Very cheap and easy way to spruce up water.   ...Sugar free Fudgesicles. So delicious, you won't even know they're sugar free.   ...Sugar free chocolate pudding. Again, you won't even know it's sugar free.   As I try more products I will definitely update. Please feel free to add to the list. REMEMBER THOUGH...these are foods/drinks that actually taste GOOD and are good choices.
journeytohealth

journeytohealth

0
 

Almost A Week Already???

I can't believe its been almost a week (5 days) since the procedure! The first few days were a little rough with pain but for the most part I'm doing great. The only true complaint I have at this point is still the pain in the shoulder. Apparently its because of the gas but I'm sick of it! Its so annoying and nothing seems to alleviate the pain. I've tried warm compresses (which works until the towel cools off) and my pain meds (which put me to sleep for exactly 1 hour and 40 min each time) and even Gas-X...nothing seems to make it go away...without putting me to sleep.   Anyways...as an avid belly sleeper...I am proud to report that I was finally able to sleep on my stomach last nite! I had been sleeping on my back, basically at an incline, getting lower each nite. Sleep was ok but making that ab contraction to get up was a painful experience first thing in the morning. So, I put a pillow under my stomach and I was out like a light! It was WONDERFUL!   And finally, I'm supposed to be on a liquid diet, past the clear phase but liquid not the less. Thank goodness I haven't had any issues with pills going down or stuff coming up, or nausea for that matter. Besides the fact that I'm just taking in less I can't really even tell that there's something "foreign" in my body. At a birthday gathering last night the juice wasn't cutting it. Probably wasn't the best choice to go there without having a protein shake or something prior but you do what you can. It was a fish fry, so I figured because fish is pretty soft, if I chewed well I wouldn't have any issues...and I was RIGHT! Now I'm not advocating that you go and disregard your doctors orders but I am happy that food isn't going to be a hard thing to transition back to for me. Other than last night, I've been doing yogurt, apple sauce, homemade vegetable soup (cooked overnight for extra soft vegetables, avoided meat, though very tender), water and tea.
journeytohealth

journeytohealth

2
 

Hard To "go"...anyone?

I was banded 2 days ago and since this I haven't had a BM. I feel very bloated like my tummy is all puffed up and I think it's contributing to my discomfort in my post op healing. I got a little worried when I searched for "constipation" and read some horror stories about some people still having these issues years down the road. I DESPERATELY hope this is just a phase as I'm transitioning back to real food. I've never had any issues and I've always been regular before this. I just don't like this feeling...any advice?? Is it too early to try Milk of Magnesia???
journeytohealth

journeytohealth

6
 

Where To Begin....3 Days Post Op I Guess

So I've been on the site again and again reading about other peoples journeys so I decided to create my own blog. I figure I'm going through it too so I might as well share my experience. I was banded on dec 13 at 730 and was in the car by 1010. It was so quick I couldn't believe it. The first day was probably the easiest for me so far. I actually was out for a few hours after surgery gettin my prescription and stocking up on liquids. I'm not sure if I felt great because of the walking around (slowly) or the anesthesia hadnt worn off. I've been on a clear liquid diet (water, hot tea, apple juice, chicken soup without the noodles, Popsicles). Thankfully this time on the liquid diet is MUCH easier than the pre-op diet. I've lost 3 pounds in 3 days btw!   The only complaints I have so far are SORENESS and GAS. I've never had any kind of surgery or outpatient procedure (besides wisdom teeth) so maybe I'm just a baby when it comes to pain. Whatever the case....I'm feeling it!! My pain meds are my best friend at the moment :-). I can definitely feel it of I wait too long between dosages. Ironically the soreness isn't around the incision sites but where the port actually is under my skin near my belly button. It's a little distended and that's the only part that is tender to touch or when I'm moving around.   After reading on here I've also learned a little more about gas from the CO2 inserted during the procedure. It's bothering me most in my left collarbone/shoulder area. Apparently it has something to do with the phrenic neve,but there are plenty of posts about that.   I'm going to try to write more, shorter entries but for the first I had to play catch up. Keep reading :-)
journeytohealth

journeytohealth

8
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