chutney

Here is a very satisfying recipe I found for (cold) Potato-Leek Soup. Granted, it's pushing the "liquid" phase to its outer limit, but I seem to be tolerating things that might be considered "mushy." You can always dilute it. 4 leeks - white part only 4 green onions - white part only 1 lb. potatos - peeled and diced 2-3 cups chicken broth 1.5 teaspoons butter or substitute Salt and pepper to taste Slice leeks and green onions. Put in big saucepan with 1.5-2 cups broth. Bring to a boil, turn down heat and cover until very soft (7-8 minutes). Add peeled, diced potatos to mixture and remaining liquid. Bring to a boil, turn down heat and cover until very soft (20-25 minutes). Uncover and remove to let cool a bit. Stir in butter or substitute. Now, transfer to blender or food processer and puree. Add salt and pepper to taste, and more liquid if desired. Let cool before refrigerating. Can eat cold or at room temp. For those who are eating with non-banded civilians, you can save the sliced greens from the scallions and leeks to make it more crunchy. Though I am not counting calories -- I'm really trying to listen to my body (and this body said, "gimme carbs and something savory"), I think this is between 250-300 calories a cup. No Protein to speak of, but I get that in other ways. This soup will FILL YOU UP if you eat too fast, so watch out. AND ENJOY!

Shauna- You just survived SURGERY! And one that you voluntarily went into -- so you will get through the job hunt, as well. Just an observation, since you were so intrumental in getting this particular forum up and running -- I wonder if, even if it's very part-time, your surgeon's office needs someone to facilitate support groups, or help in some other way? You are passionate and compassionate. We'd all write you glowing references... You don't sound so down in the dumps, but I know that losing a job can be really deflating to the ego and life view. If this is the case, you might as well use the nervous energy to focus on your health. After all, you can't control most things, but you can control your eating and exercise. Good luck and let us know how you are doing on the weight and work front. Jenny

Well put! The tickers should just be a reference point for us all, not to instill competition. Age, appetite, exercise and diet are all factors!

Interestingly, when my surgeon's office called this past Monday, I asked about hummus and pea soup (not together!). They are both more on the filling/carb side of the "liquid" continuum. I expected hummus to be a no, but was told that if it had no chunks, it was okay. We buy the little Sabra hummus single servings from BJs and they are quite satisfying. So, though the nurse, not the nutritionist, gave me the green light, I've had both and they have sat well. I agree that you should wait a few more days and don't worry about the Percocet. You'll be able to go without it soon enough. Good luck!

Hi Shauna, SInce I'm only a couple of days ahead of you, I can say it DOES get better. I also had the hernia repair and that tightness is a good description. I still feel it if I take a deep breath, but the pulling at the incisions every time I move in bed, get up from sitting, etc. is now gone. I stopped the pain meds on day two when I came home. They made me sooo sleepy, I couldn't stand it. But I can relate to the feeling that sleeping is a way to pass the time and escape a bit. Just allow yourself to sleep, or lay in bed feeling sorry for yourself a few more days if you need to. I think you'll feel much more "alert" and lively in a few more days. If you don't, we'll all help you deal with that. This whole thing definitely hit me harder than I anticipated. It is a capital B "Big Deal" to have abdominal surgery, even if it's less "invasive" than bypass. That's why reading posts from people just a week down the road is so helpful. If others made it through, so can I...and so can you!! Jenny

10 lbs is more than I lost, and I also didn't "cheat" once during the two weeks. I was able to eat one small meal a day and lost 9 lbs in the two weeks, which I was thrilled about.. I don't think there are very many of us who lost 20 lbs. on a two week pre-op diet. Some people had to lose weight prior to approval, others were on longer pre-ops. If you are doing everything right, stop weighing yourself so often! Your body will lose at its own rate. Good luck to you and let us all know how it goes!!

I was banded on 7/11/11 too, same hospital as Lisa. In fact, I may have partially contributed to her surgery delay since it turned out I had a hiatal hernia that was repaired along with placement of the lapband. Happily, I didn't get catherized, which some of you may recall was one of my anxieties as I was on my way to the hospital. I heard myself say, through light sedation (yes, it certainly does disinhibit you!), "Holy s#@t! I'm actually doing this." If asked two days ago if I thought I would feel so well already, I would not have thought so! It's amazing how quickly we all seem to "bounce back." I had a weird cardiac episode the morning after the surgery -- my heart rate, which is normally "lowish" (like I'm an athlete, strangely!) went down to 38 beats per minute. That necessitated a call into the surgeon and then a consult with a cardiologist. It turned out not to be anything that anyone seemed worried by -- probably a vagel nerve reaction to the anesthesia. Anyway, by the time the cardiologist came yesterday morning, I had stayed a second night. This was fine with me, since by the evening of the first full day (ie: 36 hours or so post rugery) I hadn't gotten rid of any of the gas and my stomach was distended and painful. For those who have had babies, it was like one prolonged Braxton-Hicks contraction. And SCARY. For me, having all those medical people around was reassuring, so the second night (besides all the interuptions to sleep for vital signs, etc.) was probably a good thing. So now I'm home, and setting up my "system" for fluids and nourishment. First, I have a notebook where I write down every ounce, and how much protein it has. I indicate when I take my vitamin, stool softener and pain killer (though only doing that at night and for naps since it makes me sooo sleepy). Second, I have my little medicine cups set up wherever I am and a small pitcher to pour whatever I'm drinking. Then I just sip, record and go about my business. This works well for me, but I am a sort of compulsive person. I brought home the pee-measurer thing (they called it a "hat" at my hospital) so that I can make sure I'm not getting dehydrated. I'll probably ease up on all the above things once I get the hang of it, but right now I find it comforting. Unlike during the pre-op phase, when I could drink as much as I needed (and eat protein bars for a lot of protein grams), now it is a challenge to get it all in. So far, this is what I've discovered has good "bang for the buck" (though some are not cheap, admittedly, but how much am I really spending compared to eating my body weight in sushi??): GNC: Pro Protein - Banana and Chocolate - 35 g protein for one 12 oz. can. Isopure - 40 g of protein for one huge 40 oz bottle I will be trying some tasteless protein powder tomorrow -- any suggestions? Sorry for the long post - hope it's useful to someone out there!

I leave for the hospital in three hours. Eegads. Can't believe I'm finally here. Besides a nervous stomach and breath, I'm doing fairly well. I just re-read the manual from the doc's office for the hundredth time and discovered that they will be catheterizing me. Seriously? Have others had this? Any alternatives?

For those of us in the Massachusetts/NH area, today's Groupon is for GNC! Read the fine print, though, because it's three specific locations: Canton, Wilmington and Milford, NH. For the $19 Groupon, you get $40 worth of merchandise. The link is http://www.groupon.com/r/uu3759504 For anyone who has gone to GNC, you know that the $$ can really add up quickly (I just spent $50+ yesterday for small quantities of things to try!)

Ok, so here is a non-lap band, non-food question: does anyone know how to bookmark forums on LBT? My unsophisticated method is that I'm bookmarking this and the July Bandsters forums on my browser, but it doesn't take me to the end of the thread (just to wherever I bookmarked). I'm sure there must be an easier way, right? We are all so prolific that I get constant emails about updates. Much as I love you all, I'd really rather log on when I can and not clutter up my email...

I kind of have the same reaction to the pre-op diet. A friend of mine abroad had lap band surgery and they don't do a pre-op there. As he said, "You take someone who is going through the DRASTIC measure of having surgery to control the amount of food they consume and then ask them to DRASTICALLY REDUCE the amount of food they consume so they can have surgery?!! How crazy is that?!!" Still, I decided to give it my best, and am doing really well. It was hell the first 3-4 days, I felt light headed and out of sorts (as I did years ago when I tried the South Beach Diet). I think it's the carb detox. However, I did take some creative license. I can't stand the vanilla "flavor" of these Protein Drinks. Throw in a few frozen strawberries and it makes it almost yummy. And since my one meal a day says "4 oz. of lean Protein," I also considered it open to interpretation and assumed that's 4 oz cooked. And, btw, light mayo once a day is on my pre-op. So, if a little BBQ sauce is keeping you sane and you are reducing your overall intake by a lot, AND if you are eating way more protein than carbs and fat, then you are surely reducing the size and fattiness of your liver. Which is, after all, the goal. The self-inflicted shot business might have been a deal-breaker for me. I hate needles...You are a trooper!

I wanted to let everyone know that thanks to this forum, I discovered someone with the same banding date and same hospital as me. We "met" by phone and are going to meet in person post-surgery in recovery. It is so great to have all the support of the forum, plus I now have a "band sister"! Having others to share with really makes this feel doable. I'm on a pre-op diet, which allows one small meal a day. I bought a very tiny, yet very expensive cut of steak at Whole Foods to eat tomorrow night, my last dinner for awhile. And tomorrow will do the round of GNC, supermarket, etc. to stock up on all my supplies. So, ready as I'll ever be! Speedy recovery to all those before me!

I concur - I had a freakout about three weeks before surgery and called to get an additional appointment. I had many more questions at that point. Dr. Jones spent close to 45 minutes (no kidding - what doc does that anymore?!!) with me and my husband answering all our questions patiently. I haven't had surgery yet, but on the basis of what I've experienced, he is terrific. Also, the rest of the staff at the clinic at BIDMC are extremely helpful and accessible.

Nechama, hope you're getting some relief! I've heard of the shoulder pain (I'm preband for another few days' my date is 7/11/11) and would love it if someone knows the explanation and -- more importantly what to do about the shoulder pain. Despite the fact that I delivered three babies before the epidural could be put in (human cannonballs, we like to say)...I am going crazy just anticipating PAIN. Nechama, or others: do you just have to wait out the shoulder pain?

Shauna - thanks for reposting! I'm on July 11, for next time the "schedule" is revised.

Add me to the list - my date is Monday, July 11. I am so glad I found this thread. It's very reassuring. I joined LBT in June and had a mini freak-out on my first night on the site about the potential complications, including wondering if the Gastric Sleeve made more sense. I called my surgeon's office and said I wanted another consult to go over my questions more thoroughly, and my husband went with me this past Wednesday. Dr. Jones (Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston, for others in Massachusetts) was really terrific and spent an UNBELIEVABLE 40 or so minutes with us. I decided against the Sleeve because there is simply not enough long term data. As my husband said, "Why would you want to be the Test Bunny?" So, I am back on board with Lap Band. I decided that I need to focus on the positive threads right now. For every complication there are also just as many successes. I asked the doc if there was a "profile" of a person who was more or less likely to have complications, and he basically said that EVEN if he does everything right medically, and EVEN if I do everything right (diet, exercise) as a patient, there is still no real predictor. You just have to take a leap of faith and know that the doubt and freakouts are part of the process. My preop diet is three high protein meals (bars or drinks) and one "real" meal per day for two weeks prior to surgery, so I just finished week 1. I have been absolutely amazed that after the first few days, I haven't been too hungry. I can have as many veggies between meals and have been making huge containers of gazpacho (fancy V-8 juice, basically, but I love it) so that makes it tolerable. I've lost about 4 pounds in the first week, which is amazing since I'm 50. I haven't lost at that rate in years... Anyway, sorry for the long post. Glad to meet you all and I'll be back. Good luck to my fellow July (and June, in Nechama's case) friends and I look forward to hearing how things are going.