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Hi! Hang in there! I feel like a kindred spirit to you, and it helps to hear what you're going through. I'm getting ready to start pre-op diet Wednesday. I'm starting it a week early because I have a "fatty liver" and am very worried it might interfere with my surgery. Spent 1/2 hour in Costco yesterday staring at all the vitamins, looking for ones that meet the requirements. The ONLY thing that was right was the B-12. None of the chewable calcium seemed to be the right formula, and I couldn't find any chewable multivitamins except gummies. They told us in the pre-op class not to buy gummies. Today I'm headed to Wal-Mart for meal replacement shakes, more vitamin shopping, and other odds and ends. It does feel weird to be buying all this "stuff" -- a lot of it pretty unappealing -- that one never imagined needing. But like you, I want to be prepared. I don't want to come home from the hospital and be thrashing around trying to get something and not know where to get it. I'll look forward to hearing how it goes for you! Like you, I believe it's going to get lots better. A summer of good change is ahead for both of us.

Girl, when them pounds start coming off and you start to feel sooo much better physically and mentally, it will have all been worth it. being nervous is perfectly normal. I said a prayer before they did the surgery and woke up dedicated to a new me.

Congratulations on getting the band! my left shoulder hurt for about a week, I did wind mills with my arms a couple times a day for 30 seconds or so and it didn't help right away but I would notice on days I did it the next day wasn't as bad. it's something to try it won't hurt you even if it doesn't work. as far as the tube my lips were never numb but I did cough a little and throat bothered me for about 2 days. the first 3 days are the hardest and the 4th and 5th day is only a little better then you will really start to feel a little better every day. sorry everything comes in little steps right now. You'll do great Good Luck!

Hi I was Banded in July and it feels like many years ago. Do you still have pain meds to try to help? Maybe move your arm, like exercise it a little and maybe the gas will move. ​As for foods. I lived on SF Popsicles. I like Edy's the best. People drink broth and I think apple sauce was on the list. What did your dietitian tell you? I was given a huge book and it included every step of the diet. Good luck. Hopefully soon you'll be like me and forget the pains.

My surgeon makes sure all patients receive an abdominal binder while in the hospital (and then you take it home with you). It helped me the most of everything as far as minimizing pain when making positional changes or when coughing, laughing, sneezing, etc. My first one was bloody from the discharge from the drain so the nurse gave me a new one before I was released. She offered to let me keep the old one and wash it, but I felt a little queasy at the time seeing the drainage and declined. Wish I would have kept it bc it would have been nice to have a back-up while I washed the other one. I also wore it under my clothes when I went out for the first few weeks bc it made me feel like my incisions were sort of protected if someone bumped into me, etc. The binder also supported my back when my abdominal muscles felt weak right after surgery. As you can tell, I really enjoyed my abdominal binder (I feel a little like I am writing out an infomercial pitch)--and would highly recommend using one!

I completely understand! I, too am 4 weeks post surgery. I made it to the soft food stage but had to go back to liquids for a while. I am having esophageal spasms which cause excrutiating chest pain. I'm just waiting for the solution to the spasms then will go back to soft foods. I'm anxious to try soft foods again. My Dr.'s diet protocol allows only soft cheeses (melt in your mouth soft), cottage cheese, scrambled egg, or flaky fish (boiled, broiled, poached), and mushy non-starchy veggies for 3 weeks, then adding chicken and pork the following 3 weeks, then finally, if tolerated adding beef. I hope that's helpful info for you. Good luck!

YES and day 2 and day 3 and....... until you can eat what seems like real food it is very hard (for me at least) then it is about getting out of your head.

​Wonderful and good luck. Just remember to take pictures and measurements. I didn't until a few months after the band and yes, I am sorry.

You are so young and so smart to have this done at your age. I am 66 and 4months out. I have lost 63 lbs that will never come back. I will be at goal when I loose the last 45 lbs coming soon. I have not been this low for 43 yrs. all the things I have missed in my life for all those years you will have it all. It will be rough for a few weeks but time flies and before you know it you look in the mirror and see a thinner you. And if you have any medical issues they will improve also. Best of luck to you and enjoy every moment of the journey.

I'm sorry:( The pre op is the worst part, after that just think of the good things to come:)