mom24teens

This morning, getting ready for work, I put on a pair of pants I haven't been able to wear for 6 months and THEY FIT! Woo-hoo! This should open up the work wardrobe choices a bit

It's so cool that we're all in similar places on our journey! I added all to my friends so I can keep up with you

Today while I was getting ready for work, I put on a pair of pants I haven't been able to wear for 6 months! I was very surprised & happy when I buttoned & zipped them up without any problem. Yay! Also - started the Lifestyle Challenge at work today and at the weigh-in it showed I have lost 5 lbs in the last week. That makes 9 since surgery and 28 since starting the pre-op diet. I also stepped up the diet today to include a little more quantity. Still eating pureed foods, but more at one meal. To be honest, I feel really full after eating 2 meals today that were bigger than what I've been used to. Oh well...guess I'll be a good kid & follow the directions

I'm a V8 fan too! I've been drinking it since the pre-op diet with the exception of day of surgery & a couple days following. Good stuff!

I'm on the "My doc says no" band wagon - or rather - my dietician says no. For all the reasons everyone has already mentioned. Not worth the risk, had to fight to get approved for surgery and not gonna do anything to risk it. By all means, I like to bend the rules as much as the next person, but if/when I do, it will be for something more worthwhile...

Wow-that was really insensitive & out of line! You'd think that a bariatric surgery center would have employees who are sensitive & supportive of their patients!

AMEN!! LET 'ER RIP!!!!

I was not officially weighed, I saw a scale by a counter on my way back from a trip to the restroon and weighed myself. My preop nurse saw me do it, but she didn't even ask what it was.

I was banded on 12/28 and went back to work today - 9 days later. I probably would have been ok going back at 7 days but much sooner than that I wouldn't have been able to do it. Not only to you have to think about the physical adjustment, but there are the changes in eating & drinking habits too that need to be incorporated into daily work life. Everyone is different...I think my time off was just about right.

Is it the HTML code? I think I've tried that but haven't been able to get it to work....this is driving me nuts!!

I think it varies from place to place. I have a more restrictive diet too, but I think that is to our benefit. I am 8 days post-op & can have mashed potatoes & pureed stuff, but nothing more and only 1/4 cup at a meal. Tonight for supper I think I got more than 1/4 cup, and I am feeling uncomfortable because of it...I think slower progression is definitely better in the long run. Hang in there - you'll get to where you can have that chicken

Glad to hear everyone's doing so well! I had my post-op follow up appointment today. The doc said everything looks wonderful & was glad to hear I'm not having any problems at all. I learned that I have an Allergan 14cc band...I never asked what he was putting in prior to the procedure. Guess I was too focused on just getting it done. What capacity do the rest of you have? Just curious. I also saw the pics from both procedures, gall bladder & lap band. After seeing the gall bladder & huge stones...no WONDER I was feeling so crappy! Feeling lots better now & back to work tomorrow.

Yes! Small sips are important. And soreness when you breathe, I have that too, but it's important to breathe as deep as we can and move as much as we can to reduce the risk of developing pneumonia. I don't know if you had to consult with a nutritionist before your surgery, I did. Mine gave me a very detailed breakdown of each post-op time frame and how to eat for those days. I even have sheets broken down by the hour so I can record what I ate in order to keep track. Honestly, I have been finding that an hour goes really fast.

I'm 3 days post-op and the gas is constantly rumbling! At first I could only burp it out but after getting moving a little more I was able to pass it both ways. I think this is probably pretty common and nothing really to get alarmed about. Fortunately I haven't had any of the trapped gas pains in the back/shoulders like I heard so much about. When is your post-op follow up with your surgeon? You could just keep some notes and address all your concerns at that appointment.

I am 2 days post-op. I had my gall bladder removed as well - in fact it was the consult for the gb surgery that led me to pursue the lap banding. I spent the night in the hospital and came home yesterday afternoon. As far as incision pain goes, it's not too terribly bad. The hardest is laying flat in bed and then trying to reposition myself or get up. I've been having gasbut have been able to get rid of it for themost part. I read someone's post that says Gas-X strips help, I might have to try some of those. I was supposed to advance my diet from clear liquid to full liquid today. I tried some yogurt with Protein powder mixed in and 2 oz took me 30 minutes to eat. Then it didn't settle too well at that. so I've just been drinking liquids since then. I did make some sf Jello and it should be ready pretty soon so I will try that to see if it goes better than the yogurt. I'm happy to be "on the other side" too!

Pretty much describes my state of mind right now... I check in at the hospital at 7:30 in the morning. A mere 8 hours and 15 minutes from now... So much has been running through my head the last week. The closer surgery gets, the faster everything runs around in my head. I have lost sleep, I have snapped at my husband, yelled at my kids and mentally beat myself up for all of it because of being nervous. I am waaaaaay more nervous than I've let myself admit. I think it was a good thing I had Christmas as a diversion to give me something else to think about. I hope the surgery goes well... I hope there are no complications... I hope the post-op pain isn't too bad... I hope I can handle all the eating changes... I hope I am successful... Ihope, I hope, I hope!!! That's it...gonna head to bed.

Hope everything went well for you today & good luck tomorrow! I get mine tomorrow & am the nerves are ramping up! Ugghhh....at this point I just want to be done and on the other side of it.

Hi Everybody! Thank you Teri for starting this group - it will be so nice to have a group of "friends" who are at the same stage I am. I am being banded on the 28th along with having my gall bladder removed. Like most of you, I am excited, nervous, & worried all at the same time. Excited to finally be set for surgery. Nervous about all the changes post op and worried that I won't be able to make the eating plan fit into my work life...I hope I am worrying for nothing. I started the preop diet on the 14th. It is a 1000 calorie/day diet. I use the whey Protein supp from Walmart 3 times a day. I mix Crystal Light (WM version) in and it really helps the taste. I am also looking forward to a new me in 2011. I would like to lose 100-125 lbs and can't wait to start shopping for new clothes I also look forward to this summer on the lake - we go camping boating & jet skiing.I can be a more active participant in these activities. The main reason I'm doing this though, is my health - I have a strong family history of stroke, heart disease, diabetes etc. I already take meds for high bp and don't want to go down the road that most of my relatives have. It's time to get control & make a change for the better! One last thing: will somebody PLEASE tell me how to get the ticker at the bottom of my posts?!?! I have tried & can't seem to figure it out. THANKS!

Hi Chris - I am on day 10 of my preop diet. I started on Tues 12/14 on Tues 12/21 I weighed myself & had lost 11 pounds. I drink a lot of Water & chew a lot of gum too...but the water intake will have to go away once we are banded. My work has lots of goodies sitting all over the place & I just walk by - act like I don't see it. I do ok if I eat something about every 4 hours starting with Breakfast at 6:30 a.m.; lunch at 11 a.m. and then some sort of "snack" around 3pm and then supper around 6 p.m. I will be banded (along with having my gall bladder removed) on Tues 12/28 and am excited and nervous at the same time. Stacey

Hi everybody ~ I'm so glad I found this group! Here's my story... After jumping through all sorts of hoops to gain approval, including an appeal to the insurance co, I have finally been approved!! I have been through the psych consult and the nutrition consult, now am just waiting to get a surgery date but it's looking like it will be 12/28/10. After the nutrition consult, I have to admit, I was a little shell-shocked! I knew a little about what it would be like after surgery but had NO IDEA of exactly how radical the changes would be. Wow! I'm glad I have a little time to wrap my head around all of this - that way I will be able to handle the changes better I think. I'm interested in how others reacted to the dietary changes and how you put them into practice.

I'd like to know the same thing! I went and created one, just can't figure out how to get it on my posts.

Odd - Carnation Instant Breakfast is on my list of DO NOT USE things...I think because the protein is too low & carbs are too high.