Kristen802

Seriously...you look like you lost 70 lbs...and grew five inches taller. Keep up the good work!!

I felt the same exact way after surgery...I thought the port pain would never go away. I think it took a good couple of weeks, but then one day it just wasn't there anymore. Hang in there...it'll get better.

I get it from Target or Wal-Mart. Check coupons.com for a coupon, too.

I drink Eas Myoplex. It has 42 grams of protein per bottle. I only drink a 1/2 cup at a time, though.

My fills are usually around lunch time and I'm not supposed to eat or drink after midnight the night before.

Wow! That's pretty awesome! Keep up the good work...you look great!

My doctor didn't require a pre-op diet either. He told me that he likes to see patients lose some weight before surgery, though. I think it's more important that you get used to the lifestyle changes...no soda, chewing slowly, exercise, etc.

Great! Let me know which days are good for you both. Any day besides Thursday is fine for me.

If you feel like any pain or sensations aren't normal or make you nervous, call your surgeon. He can tell you whether what you're experiencing is normal or if you should come into the office so he/she can take a look. It will get better...hang in there.

That's exactly what my port site felt like a couple of days after surgery...especially trying to get out of bed in the morning. It'll get better. I used to try to kind of hold it in if I had to bend over or anything.

Thanks for the info. I called the other day and spoke with the nutritionist about it. She said it is mainly Dr. Rivera's pre-op patients, but she said she hates to turn people away. Which was very nice, but I would just feel like I was imposing. And she brought up a good point, Dr. Rivera's nutritional requirements are different than my doctor's. So I guess my best bet would be to go to the support group my doctor runs at Chilton. Unfortunately, the February one was last Thursday and the March one is the same night as a work function. My timing is impeccable. If anyone ever wants to get together for coffee (or Protein shakes ), let me know.

My doctor's support group is at Chilton Memorial in NJ which is pretty far for me. Do people who had surgery with other doctors go to your support group? I'm not sure how this works.

Hey there. How is everyone doing? Has anyone been to the bariatric support group at Good Sam? I was thinking about going, but wanted to know if anyone's been there and got anything out of it. Also, does anyone know of a therapist in the area that kind of specializes in WLS surgery patients?

Welcome to your new life.

First things first...32 lbs in 9 weeks? That's incredible! Second, you're not failing. It's probably just time for a band adjustment.

Good luck tomorrow!!

I was nervous, too. Just remember that the hospital staff is there for you...to answer any questions, to make sure you're comfortable and to make sure you're not in any pain. Even though Valley Hospital in Ridgewood (where I had my surgery) is a fantastic hospital, I couldn't wait to get home. I remember asking my nurse, "OK, what do I have to do to get out of here as quickly as possible?" lol As for the days after surgery, just relax and heal. LBT is a great resource if you have any questions or concerns, too. Good luck to you both! Can't wait to see your before and after pics.

I've always been a big WW supporter, but I'm not sure I would get anything from the meetings anymore since their members face a different set of challenges than we do. I wish they would start a meeting for weight loss surgery patients. I know it's against their motto, but I think it would do really well.

Amazing! And you look frickin' 20 years younger!

I really wish my doctor had stressed how important it is to have support from other people going through the same thing. My nutritionist does a support group, but it's once a month and all the way at Chilton Memorial Hospital in NJ. I miss the whole Weight Watchers weekly meeting...not only the weekly weigh-ins, but the interaction with other members and exchange of tips and recipes. But I don't think I would get anything from the meetings anymore. Their members have a different set of challenges than we do. Up until a week or so ago when I started checking in on LBT more frequently, I kind of felt lost and alone. Did anyone else feel this way after surgery?

I always remember to take small bites about three bites into my meal and by then it's too late. lol Every day is a learning experience.

You were stuck for 5 1/2 hours??? You must've been in agony! Thanks for the tip. My goal is to avoid getting anything stuck, but it's always good to have a backup plan. Dumb question...what is PB'ing? Peanut Buttering? lol

Oddly enough, banana bread did it for me, too. I just had a fill last Thursday, stayed on liquids for a day and then for some reason decided to try a piece of banana bread. Bad, bad decision. I had problems with food getting stuck all weekend so I put myself back on liquids for a couple of days to settle things down. I feel much better today. Does anyone have any tips for getting food "unstuck?"

Hey there. I live in Orange and work in Bergen. I was banded by Dr. Gritsus in August and would love to connect or start a support group or something. Let me know if you're interested.

Hey there. I live in Orange County (originally from Rockland) and work in Woodcliff Lake NJ. I'm so glad to see there are other people in the area looking to connect. I had my surgery back in August with Dr. Gritsus at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. Let me know if you guys plan on getting a little support group or something together.