NurseLaureli

Hi everyone...just wanted to stop by and post a quick update. I got to start mushies today. I had a scrambled egg (about 5 bites) for breakfast this morning and 1/3 cup of tuna fish for lunch today. Let me tell you, that was the best scrambled egg and the best tuna I think I have ever had. I have a whole new appreciation for food. Sitting and chewing each bite 30 times really made me realize how I didn't really take the time to "taste" and enjoy my food before. I will be on mushies for the next four weeks, then I can move on to solid foods. So...to those on liquids, there is light at the end of the tunnel. If I can make it, you can too!

Mal, I am SO sorry to hear that. You'll be in my prayers!

I like the orange and grape flavors. The fruit punch one to me was WAY to sweet, but I'm not a big fruit punch person myself. I got a grape one in the hospital after I was banded and I liked it. So, I went to Vitamin Shoppe to get some and they only had the orange. Turns out, I like them better than the grape so it worked out for me. They are VERY tart and sweet though. Kinda shocking when you first take a drink, but they aren't bad. I MUCH prefer them to any Protein shake that I have tried. Also, when I was first banded, I couldn't get down a whole protein shake during the day and I was coming nowhere close to meeting my protein requirement. Since these are only 3oz, it is much easier for me to meet my protein requirement since they have 42grams of protein each. Good luck to you on your surgery!! :clap2:

Hi Joanne... I was banded the same day as you and I am HUNGRY too! I am so sick of Soup and broth right now that if I never see it again, I swear it will be too soon. I can't go on mushies until Monday so I am feeling your pain. Just trying to count down the days and promising myself I will not cheat and eat mushies too soon. I have found that the New whey Protein bullets are helpful with hunger. I drink one in the morning and have had to add another in the afternoon. Seems to help.

A friend of mine who had GBP had this happen to her. She went from 257 to 145 and was denied access to a club b/c the bouncer said it wasn't her ID. She said she asked him if he really thought that she would use a "fat girl's" ID to try and get in if it really wasn't her. She said he told her congratualtions on the weight loss and that she looked really hot, but that she still couldn't get in. She wasn't happy! She really does look like two totally different people when you compare her old DL to her new one...I hope I have the same success!!

Thanks readytolose!!! I also wanted to ask a question...have any of you gotten the hiccups? I don't get like a whole bunch at once or anything, just one every now and again...let me tell you....hiccups are evil! Ouch!!

Hi everyone. Sorry to hear that some of you have had some pain issues. I really hope you feel better soon!! It gets better, just keep hangin' on!! As for me...I had my one week post op appt today. My doctor said everything looked great, my incisions are healing nicely, and he wasn't concerned about my car wreck on Saturday (I posted a thread about it on Saturday...I wrecked my truck...not real happy about that!) Anyways, I am down 15 pounds since surgery. My doctor was impressed. I know the weight loss will slow down and I might even gain a little when I add solids back in but I'll take the 15 pounds lost! I thought I wouldn't lose as much as everyone else b/c he didn't require a pre-op diet....weird!

I am so glad to hear someone else say this...I thought I was getting hungry too soon after surgery. I was banded the same day as you and I'll tell you, today has been rough as I have been hungry all day. My husband made pizza for himself and my daughter for dinner and I almost cried! I had to go upstairs as I couldn't stand to be around them watching them eat it. How silly is that? I'm so tired of liquids and I have a whole week more of it. I can't start mushies until 5/28 (can't wait!!):hungry:

Okay...so my surgeon said I could drive 5-7 days after my surgery. I was banded on 5/14 and today being day 5, I decided that I was ready to go out. Besides, I needed to go to the Vitamin Shoppe and get those New whey Protein bullets as I have been having a hard time getting all of my protein in and the one they gave me in the hospital was pretty good. Well...long story short, I was attempting to change lanes and looked behind me to "safely" change lanes, when I looked up again, the car in front of me had stopped and though I tried to swerve and miss him, I ended up hitting the back left hand side of his car with the right hand side of my truck. Noone was hurt, and my truck is still drivable (though there is probably a good $3k worth of damage) but I am worried that I may have done something to my band seeing as I am only 5 days post-op. I don't hurt or anything, and I can still drink my liquids and protein bullets so I think I am okay. What do you all think....should I be worried??? (PS...I was NOT on pain meds...haven't used those since the day after my surgery) I've never had a car accident...I'm so mad at myself!!

weightingtolose -- You are right...baby powder worked for me. I use it in the summer time, and I have to make sure that my shorts or pants don't bunch up on me or I end up with a welt. readtolose-- Congrats on getting banded...glad to hear you didn't cancel. Speedy recovery to you!

Hi Wenjea, The gas does get better. Yesterday was my 4th day post op and the first day that I didn't feel like a golf ball had permanently lodged itself in my throat...though it comes back from time to time. I found that besides the Gas X strips, walking was the best thing ever. I had my surgery on Monday and walked my daughter to school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday so I am sure that is what helped me. Good luck and best wishes on your recovery!

Here is a pic of the damage to my truck...

Hey Raysbabe....sorry to hear about the bills. Hopefully, it is a mistake...I hope you get everything worked out. Good luck with everything! :0)

Thanks everyone for your replies...I think I'll try to get ahold of someone at my Dr's office tomorrow. I have my one week post op appt on Monday so I guess if I can't get someone tomorrow, I'll be okay until Monday. I don't have any bruises or anything...I'm not even sore. I don't think I hit the car that hard, but my husband said it was a pretty good whack. I'm such a goober. Thanks everyone for listening and caring...I really appreciate it!

Hi mannamay, I have a horrible bruise in and around the incision in my belly button. The others are lightly bruised, and the one where my port is has no bruise at all, but wowsers, my belly button looks like I have been beaten up or something. I also have a huge bruise on my forearm from my IV site. The stuck me three times to get it and the one stick that was actually good is almost as bruised as my belly button! PS...my incisions are getting itchy too...at least we know we are healing!!

I totally agree with the above. I told everyone I knew b/c I knew that I wouldn't be able to cheat and get away with not losing. To me, it is an incentive to keep losing, and it keeps me honest. I guess I am just that kinda person though, I need the encouragement and I need to hear how well I am doing to keep it up.

I have 5. Haven't really had a good look at them b/c I still have my steri-strips on them, but I have 4 small ones (one of those is hidden in my belly button), and one longer one that is for my port. Not sure how long it is yet...can't wait for these steri-strips to come off!!!

Hi all...I hope everyone is doing well. I thought I would post an update. This a.m. I walked my daughter to school...20 minutes there, hung out for 2 hours watching her 2nd grade field day, then 20 minutes back home. I was so tired when I got home, but surprisingly, not hurting. I layed down and took a nap and felt pretty good afterward. The pain has been very minimal. My only real complaint is this feeling of a golf ball in my throat. I can't seem to get rid of it. It is so irritating...I don't know what to do. I have had about half a protein shake all day today, and I managed to get down 1/3 cup of creamed soup throughout the day and maybe half a bottle of water. I am sure it is just gas but I am so paranoid that I have done something wrong like moved the wrong way or sipped to much at once and damaged my band/pouch. I'm sure it isn't that easy. Just venting here...thanks for listening. I already feel better.

Hi Robert...I was banded on 5/14 and I have that same lump in the throat/chest that you seem to be feeling. There is no way that I am getting enough water or protein down at this point. I have been walking and walking and that seems to help, also the Gas-X dissolvable strips seem to work for a bit, until I try to "eat" something. I usually get 2-3 sips of a protein shake down or some water before I feel it again. I am working on making sure that I am not gulping when I drink....this definitely is a whole new experience!

eljmom, I know how you feel...I did the same thing the night before my surgery. I was laying in bed thinking about my surgery the next day and had a breakdown. I couldn't stop crying. My poor husband didn't know what to say. It's normal. The day of the surgery, I was okay. I was a little weepy leaving the house to go the hospital, but I was fine when I got there. You'll do great! Jessica, I have five incisions. The lowest one is in my belly button. I am able to wear a bra but my incisions are not near my bra line...the are a little lower. I wore a pair of thin, loose workout pants and a T-shirt. I took a jacket with me to cover up in case I couldn't wear my bra. I have spent the day today in scrub pants b/c they are drawstring...I'm still swollen from the air the pumped in me.

<p>Well..day after surgery and I actually feel okay. I am still having a problem getting all of my liquids down. However, I burped today and not to be gross or anything but it felt really good. I still feel like I did a whole bunch of sit-ups and I found that my shoulders and neck hurt today, like I slept wrong or something. I also went shopping today and I think I walked around a bit too much. I was wiped out and hurting a little when I got home so I took some liquid pain meds and took a nap. </p> <p> </p> <p>Cindy, I have no doubt that being on liquids so long doesn't help in the fatigue department. How much protein are you getting in each day? I am supposed to get in 50 grams, but I haven't gotten in that much yet. It'll get better (or so I have read on the boards). Keep looking up!</p>

<p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Glad to hear your day went well. I can relate on feeling like you have done a gazillion sit-ups or that you hae been hit by a truck. <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/car.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Car" smilieid="141" class="inlineimg" /> Not really hurting, but sore like I worked out too hard. I'm guessing it is normal.</p> <p> </p> <p>Take care...and speedy recovery to all.</p>

Thanks everyone for the responses...I'm glad that I am not the only one who has experienced this. I love this board...

Hello to all my fellow a-MAY-zing bandsters! I hope all of you are doing well after your sugeries! To all those waiting still, I can't wait to hear your stories as well. Well...I was banded Mon 5/14. I got to the hospital and check-in around 7:30, got my IV (was stuck 3 times to get it as I am a hard stick), pre-surgery meds, and was taken to the OR around 10:30. I was in recovery and then back to my room at 12:30 or so (I can't remember exact times). My pain is bearable...they gave me Morphine in recovery and apparently it makes me funny b/c everyone was laughing at me. My husband said I giggled a lot when I first got to my room. They gave me Propel water and New Whey protein (grape flavored) to drink in recovery. I couldn't leave until I pee'd so we were there a little longer than I expected b/c I couldn't go the first time the nurse got me up. Since being home, I have only taken pain meds once. The doctor prescribed some liquid Lortab (which tastes extremely yucky). I took it at arould 7:00 pm yester day and wen't off to bed...now I can't sleep. Question for those who have been banded, when I drink water or the protein drinks, I feel like I have a ball in my throat. Not painful, but like I need to burp. Is this gas? I have been trying not to swallow air when I drink, but it still happens. I definetly didn't get in my req amt of water/protein when I got home yesterday b/c I am so freaked out about damaging my band. Any of you experience this?

I am not banded yet but a couple of years ago I lost 60lbs on Weight Watchers and my feet got smaller. I used to tell my husband that I was going to end up looking like Patrick Star from SpongeBob with those tiny little peg feet and big belly. Not sure why my feet got smaller, but they did. Would have really rather had that weight come from by belly...or my butt for that matter!