EquusEMS

Before my first fill, and even now, I track my food on Livestrong.com's The Daily Plate function. I set a calorie goal to lose 2lbs a week, and I try hard to stick to it. I eat when I feel hungry, and stop when I'm full....definitely making smarter choices than pre-surgery. No soda, no fried foods, no alcohol...and try to walk as exercise every day. Just take care of yourself, listen to your body, and try to eat balanced, with all your Protein, sneak some veggies in, try to avoid the bad carbs, and all your Fluid.

My band was tight today for some reason, I swear it's so odd that 3 days ago I could tolerate chicken fingers, and today, they are stuck. Banded Dec 6, 2010, first fill was Jan 6th. Today, 1/2 c of Egg Beaters mushed w one piece of Scrapple - breakfast lunch: 2 McDonalds Chicken Selects (awful stuck). I also dont think I chewed carefully enough, because I was driving and not paying attention. dinner: 1 cup of green beans, with a few tablespoons of hummus.

I have a question. Do any of you know why I am HUNGRY?? (lol)

I was able to get approved for the Realize band, and my insurance(Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware PPO) paid everything, without me needing "six months of nutritionist counseling". Because I used TheDailyPlate.com faithfully for over 6 months, (Actually over 2 years) They approved me, and waived the need for additional wait time / 6 months of counseling. You just have to fax your surgeon's office the FAQ on thedailyplate.com informational page. This is important because I saved a TON of money & time, by not needing to pay for a nutritionist, nor Weight Watchers Online. This program is very similar to Weight Watchers Online, but it's free! Love it, use it after surgery now, to track my calories, glasses of water, and protein. It's great, can't say enough good about it But insurance initially denied coverage, because they didn't know enough about it! Because of my case, now they are educated about the Daily Plate. So Start to finish process, with all the clearances I had to attend: pulmonologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist etc, it only took me ONE MONTH from beginning of this journey, to surgery date on Dec 6th. Just an FYI of Hope! B

The liquid calcium is Wellessee Brand, I found it at Target. http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/183-9146914-3506240?asin=B00188ASO6&AFID=Google_PLA_df&LNM=|B00188ASO6&CPNG=health%20beauty&ci_gpa=pla&ci_sku=B00188ASO6&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001 I drink Nature's Source Multivitamin, even on an empty stomach it doesnt upset my stomach. http://www.evergreen.ie/natures-plus-source-of-life-liquid-multivitamin/p-306059pd.aspx

I warned the docs and anesthesiologist that I was sensitive to anesthesia, I had a scopalamine patch, preloaded Zofran, and dexamethasone, I STILL was sick for a whole day retching.

G3 - I too get awful nausea with anesthesia. I was retching, vomiting, and peed myself in the hospital bed, while crying to the nurse, that 'I made a mistake, I made a mistake'... and I was terrified that the retching would make my band slip. She calmed me down, and assured me it would get better. I have had off a MONTH almost, I'm so bored! My daily routine, I get up in the morning, have my liquid Calcium 500mg. I drink tea about an hour later, I have some scrambled eggs. In your case, soon after surgery, have a small Protein shake. Around lunch time, take your liquid Multivitamin. Then around 'dinner time' take your 2nd dose of 500 mg of calcium. Sip fluids continuously, even when you dont feel like it. Youll get through this rough period, and get stronger. You did NOT make a mistake! Itll be worth it. Hugs and Strength! B

GBTB - I'm in DE too, Felton area. Small world!

It's amazing how much food we DONT need, but now appreciate the tastes and texture! I have scrambled eggs with refried beans mashed up, with hot sauce, it's pretty good!

I have noticed my sense of smell is much sharper, especially for food smells! I feel like a blood hound, haha. I can smell peppermint ice cream from a room away, and smell chocolate chips in my kitchen. Also cigarette smoke, and the smell of fatty fried foods make me nauseated.

Had a nice NSV this morning, went horseback riding in the snowstorm, I'm almost 3 weeks postop, and I have 5 horses. So getting more fit as a rider, was a huge push for me to get the LAP Band. Had a nice half hour ride out in the snow, walk and trot, on my little elderly Arabian mare. She is small, pony sized, and I sometimes felt self conscious riding her, as I felt that I was "out of proportion" to ride such a petite horse. I'm down about 17 lbs, eating normal soft foods, no vomiting or real complications now. So YAY for horseback riding in the snow! I had no discomfort mounting, dismounting, tacking up, walking and trotting. I'm back to being me

I am on 3 weeks off work, then a month of light duty, I don't go back to my full job (heavy lifting, pushing, climbing stairs, active vigorous stuff) for almost 6 weeks postop YAY for down time. PS - Alien Bandit, I horseback rode 2 weeks postop, walk was okay, but ouch a trot beat me up!

I had my first 'stuck' episode last night, really scared me. Most foods have been going down great, with no problem. So I tried half a piece of potato bread, with some hummus spread on top. It got stuck, I was panicked, walking tried drinking to get it down, it was 10 minutes of pain, and panic. I think I had a few PBs and overly full feeling, but no nausea or vomiting. I will NOT be trying bread again. Banded Dec 6.

I thought the same thing, that crunchy foods would not be good, I pictured them getting stuck, so I haven't tried. HOWEVER. My boyfriend is Mexican, and his mother sent homemade tamales, and flour tortillas from California today. OH. MY. GOD. Amazing. I agree, Mexican food is neccesary for life! The flour tortilla got a little 'uncomfortable', I realized it and stopped eating it immediately.

I use Livestrong.com's the daily plate function to count calories, it's great. I'm 15 days post op, and Im 16 lbs down, I'm trying to watch what I eat, and staying under 1200 calories. Yes, the band does give you more willpower, that's for sure!