Joleen

Thanks for the reply! My doctor said Motrin was ok, why did your doctor say no on NSAID's

HI!!! I am going to be 3 wks. post op this Monday and I am starting to feel like my old self too!!! I am also on the mushie stage and that helps but I feel hungry more often also!!! I go in for my fill May 12th so I think we just have to deal with the hunger until we get enough Fluid in our bands. From what I have read on here it can take a few fills to reach that level I am not losing weight as quick as I was either. I hope when I can do more then walk for exercise the weight will come off quicker! I was losing 2-3 lbs. a week on the liquid now it's slowed to a lb. a week!!! Good Luck! Joleen

Stay focused and remember no matter how hard it gets you have a goal at the end to be HEALTHY AND THIN a whole NEW YOU!!! This is a tool!!! Choose to tell your friends and close family and lean on them for support, you will need them!!! Use this board and other weight loss boards for support also!!! Use a food tracker and monitor everything that goes in your mouth when you eat regular food!!! Hope your doctor makes you follow a liquid diet at least two weeks prior to your surgery and stick to it!!! It is soooo worth it!!!! Make sure you follow post op diet your doctor gives you, if you need help with ideas this site is a great resource! I am new at this but have used this site for lots of help all ready!!! It can be done!!

I am confused about what to eat as I progress to the soft stage AKA mushie. I have tried crab meat, and chicken cut up real small. Can you eat lettuce if it's cut up really small, at this stage? My book isn't really clear and the dietician said to "introduce soft foods cut up small (eraser size), slowly and see how I feel. I have not felt bad or nausea yet! I would not try to eat bread or hard foods like crackers, nuts, or Cookies but what are hard foods you should avoid???? Is it more important just to stick to 1/2 cup and cut up your food and chew well and eat slowly! Also make sure you experience no nausea after a meal? Should you look for anything else beside nausea, like increase pain or gas? Thanks for your help!!! Joleen

I think it depends on a few different things!!! Your age for one and what you do!!! I am a nurse and do a lot of bending and lifting (I am a home health wound care nurse). I am also 47 yrs. old. I was planning on going back to work in one week, but that wasn't a great idea. I was still having lots of pain and I was still extremely tired from not drinking a lot. I am going back to work Monday (2 wks. post op), that is more reasonable for me, and seems to be about average for most! Good luck, Joleen

I got the same run a round from Tricare!!! The reps do not know anything, you actually have to talk to the bariatric spec. that only handle WLS. I found this out by talking with my doc office. Just ask them to give you a doctor, but keep track of everything. I got a call after 5:30pm the Friday before my surgery because Tricare tried to say all the referrals weren't in, my surgery was all ready scheduled for MONDAY AM!!!! We had to fight until 6:30pm to straighten it out. The girl that handle my case in the office gave tricare her cell phone and worked on it from home!!!! Tricare requires a dietician, and a psych consult. They DO NOT require any time limit!!! That is up to your physician!!! If you have comorbidities they can ask for more ie sleep studies! I saw my doctor on November 18th and was banded March 28th. One of the reasons I had to wait is the doctors office got behind scheduling! Hope this helps!! Joleen

I had a great post op visit with my surgeon this morning. It was so nice to find out if everything I was feeling was normal! I was banded on 3/28 so this is day 10 post op! He told me the pain I have been having around my port is natural since they do sew it to the abdominal wall! They sew it to the muscle with sutures so as you heal and you are moving it takes time to heal but it does heal fine and it is sutured in tight enough not to flip or move now days! I was also worried about band slippage (the nurse practitioner also came in and answered some questions) she said that slippage usually occurs within 5 days post op and happens because the sutures the band is sewn in with become loose (usually 3 - 6 sutures) because of violent excessive vomiting or a traumatic event like a car accident. After 5 days the sutures are usually healed enough to anchor the band in place. Saying that she said it is still important to stay on full liquids for 14 days post op to ensure continued healing then slowly progress to soft diet. I can start the soft diet Monday and she told me to choose soft meats and instead of pureeing them I can cut them to the size of a pencil eraser, which I think I will try instead of pureed meat! Regarding hunger eat Protein first because that fills you up faster and try to eat/drink every two hours. I told them I was starting to get hungry! It is normal for most to get hungry after the swelling goes down. I will be getting my first fill in 4 weeks! (I think I might stick a tblsp. of Peanut Butter in my Protein shake which is ok) I can exercise, but only walk on treadmill or outside. I can resume normal activity after 6 weeks checkup, which is what all surgeons say! I feel so much better knowing that everything is ok! Hope this helps for all those waiting to see their surgeons, but this is just and FYI, letting you know what my surgeon says is not what all surgeons say!! Peace, Joleen

I was contacted by Dr. Oz producers a while back. I think they got my name from here, since I wasn't on any other WLS forums or sites. Anyway she asked me to email her my story and she would get back to me ASAP about "an upcoming episode on the lap band" I guess this was it and I missed the episode. I emailed her my story, but she never contacted me (ASAP or slow) LOL I was excited to tell my story but who knows what happened! I will watch the episode on my lap top! Thanks for posting, Joleen

Congrats on losing 20 lbs. so far!!! So in order to break your bad habits you have to first recognize them and want to change, which you have! Change is tough and it doesn't happen overnight. When you go out can you limit yourself to the lower alcoholic drinks and switch between alcohol and Water? As for fast food you just have to say NO, or have a healthy choice on the menu, but when your drinking it's harder! Are you going to a gym or working out? I think when I work out I try harder to be better!!! You live in LA so there is a lot to do. Find other interest, take a photography class, or dance lessons. Start focusing on healthy choices!!! You can do this!!! Ask yourself what you do like to do, and ask your friends to join you! There is a lot to do other then the bar scene you just have to look!!! Good luck and we are all here for you!!! Joleen

fly- so glad to hear from you I was thinking of you right before i saw your post. I know how you feel!! The gas is the worst! Keep walking! This will be my 5th day post op and it's not easy! I all ready think "boy, I hope I didn't over eat (drink)". At the most I have been able to eat at one time was about 3-4 oz of cream potato soup. I had so much gas after, I think it was too much. I am going to use my calorie counter just to keep track of my ounces. I just don't want to overeat. I still feel really full and bloated today!

Looks like we had our surgery on the same day! My post op is going OK, the gas is the worst. I walk a lot and take gas x, but it is still a problem. Everyday I wake up thinking it will get better. My doctor says Clear Liquids first 2 days then full liquids so I am on full liquids now, it is hard it's not that I'm starving, but I NEED to chew. I was on a Liquid Protein 2 weeks prior, also! I'm losing a lot of weight too, but I hope with a balanced diet and exercise I can keep it off!!! Hope you keep on the good road to recovery! PEACE, Joleen

good tip on the protein powder!!! I eat gas x like they are going out of style, but it only works so much, yes walking helps too!!

Thanks Marcy! I will try that! I know how tempting parties are! You did fine! I love Turkey burgers we make mini ones and call them sliders!!! Good choice to nix the bun!!! Peace, Joleen

Time does fly!!! April 1st all ready and we are looking back! Hope everyone is recouping ok!!! I am 5 days post op! I was banded on 3/28, the gas is still a huge problem. I am not really hungry but trying to drink! My doctor had me on Clear liquids 2 days post op, yesterday I started my full liquids! I can only eat 1/2 of a pudding at a time, maybe 3 cc's of Protein shake, 4 cc's of creamed Soup (I did make potato soup all low fat I squished the potato's to mush and did have to bite a couple), I got paranoid so I am going to strain all Soups from now on!!! I take sips of H2O in between! I did have an episode of gagging that scared me!!! I tried to open a Colace (stool softner) and put it in Jello, NEVER EVER do this. It tasted like horrible ooey, gooey motor oil. It smelt like hot tires. I gagged and it hurt my port!!! That has been my worst episode since I have been home! Gagging was rough, I couldn't figure out how to stop gagging until I kept rinsing my mouth out!!! I did call the doctor and get my 2 week follow up appointment and the nurse said, don't worry about the gagging and not going to the bathroom, it's normal!! I will stick to prune juice when the time comes!!!! For all of you who are having a rough time, I hope each day gets better! Peace, Joleen

Tina, I know it's hard to NOT weigh yourself but really try hard!!! My cousin had surgery 1 /1/2 weeks before I did and she gained 10 lbs of Fluid, air etc.! She is just now loosing that, so she is still up from her surgery weight! I love myfitnesspal.com for a program that keeps me really honest! I love these sites because we can take from them what we need and throw the rest away!!! Just be nice to yourself and remember what the other's have said it takes at least 4 wks to heal!!! Good Luck, Joleen

Hey, I love MFP!! I love the food dairy and once I can actually EAT again, I plan on using it! I got a lot of banders on their also they stood up for me when a know it all tried to be a bully to me!!! They're a great group and very protective!!! I have relied on MFP a lot through this process!! Add me at: joleens

I am just 2 days post op but I have a friend who is 2 years banded and she said about 3 weeks post op she went to a party and thought she could eat cheese off a pizza (ugh, I don't know if I will ever try to do that) , anyway she said the same thing but worse it got "stuck" then with water it finally came back up she and her band are fine!

awinner- so sorry you are having a rough time. I hope it gets better soon! Marcy- I love the idea of sharing recipes, even though I'm on a liquid diet! I saw Rocco Disperito (sp) on Rachael Ray yesterday and he has a new cookbook out that I want to get. He makes LF jalapano poppers, mac and cheese lots of goodies! I can also relate to you and your hubby with shopping. My DH loves to eat healthy but he is a snacker. He loves popcorn, and candy! I guess we have to just get used to families carrying on with junk!!! Darn it! My hubby tried to help me when we were walking out of the hospital, he got a bag of M & M's and I just looked at him, then he said should I get the plain ones they will probably fit down your whole. Gosh, he was trying to be funny!!!! LOL I guess we can still have chocolate mousse yogurt, and chocolate shakes. I don't even know why they try to pass those off as chocolate because those shakes don't taste of any chocolate I have every had!!! Take care everyone

Well tomorrow is my big day!!! I am having my surgery at 11:30 am. I am excited, nervous and ready to have the surgery! The liquid diet was tough and I will still have to be on liquids for 2 weeks post-op! Today was strictly clear liquids and it was a long day! I just want to have somewhat of a normal life again! I have lost 11 lbs. this past 2 wks! Good luck to everyone!!! I will update everyone after my surgery! Peace, Joleen

Well tomorrow is my big day!!! I am having my surgery at 11:30 am. I am excited, nervous and ready to have the surgery! The liquid diet was tough and I will still have to be on liquids for 2 weeks post-op! Today was strictly clear liquids and it was a long day! I just want to have somewhat of a normal life again! I have lost 11 lbs. this past 2 wks! Good luck to everyone!!! I will update everyone after my surgery! Peace, Joleen

Hope you got to have your surgery today and are feeling good!!! My symptoms are getting better! Cough is better and sinus problems are lessoning! I am a home health nurse and I wish I could be in a bubble right now!!! 2 more days of work then I can relax!

I have had a cold (which I thought were just allergies since Wednesday). I started taking Zicam, Ocean Nasal Spray, Zicam. Anything I can think of to kick it and can't. It was just nasal congestion and now it's turned also chest congestion, DARN IT. I have 8 days until surgery and I do not want to postpone it! I saw my surgeon on Thursday and he said "When we call Friday just let us know if you still have this and we will push it back a week". Any ideas of what I can do to quickly recover? Right now I am going to go do my Neti pot and put vicks on my chest. Thanks! Joleen

I have lost 9 lbs. in 9 days on my 14 day liquid diet! It hasn't been easy and some days when I exercise and feel really weak, because I am not drinking as many shakes as I should I do eat some cottage cheese (2% snack size), I am also allowed to have broth, SF popsicles and Jello. The first week wasn't too bad but the more shakes I drink the sicker they make me, I am just sick of the sticky sweet stuff! I also worked up to my 2 weeks! Good Luck, Joleen

Honestly as you can see here everyone has a difference of opinion!!! I also believer my taster changes. I am also on my second week of my liquid diet, I get banded this Monday (YAY!), so I am pretty much sick of all of them! I can tell you that you probably will try different ones! Try not to get discourages, this weekend I was in tears over protein and my DH was running to the store for me!!! My doctor does let you have broth, jello SF and popsicles SF, and that really does help! Just do the best you can! I like Muscle Milk, Light Cafe Latte it gives me my caffeine fix! I also like Myoplex light strawberry and chocolate fudge. I have snytha-6 protein powder vanilla that I got at GNC, I mix it with 5 oz of vanilla soy milk (my friend who had a lap band does this), I try to mix these up, but I still gag on it sometimes!!!! A friend on another WL board also gave me this idea and it helps. I use one splenda and 2 tblsp. of lemon juice with H2O and Ice, It helps!!! Good Luck, Joleen

Thanks so much for the advice!!! I will watch how much Zinc that I take! I have a follow up appt. with the pulmo. doc. tomorrow, I will talk to him! Thanks for the reassurance regarding my lungs, I will make sure they check and recheck LOL