leatha_g

Your doctor doesn't give you that guidance?? Yikes. What have you been eating up to this point? Each doc is different but many require liquids up to about the 3rd/4th week post op, then soft foods, moving away from any liquid calories. There are lots of threads regarding food choices. Feel free to browse the whole site. There is lots of good information.

Good luck, Anne. I'm sorry you're even have to do this, but I definitely can relate. I don't think I found the second time around on liquids/soft foods as tough as the first time around. Maybe it won't be too bad for you either. Take care..

I think it's a great idea to research, for sure, but has she just begun? there is so much to learn so that you know what to expect. 1 oz of food would be about one little souffle cup. I seriously doubt that she'll be eating only 1 oz of food unless she is super restricted. In the beginning, she'll be on liquids. There is really no limit on those. The idea is to keep hydrated and sustain your strength during the healing phase. This period is not meant for weight loss so please make sure she understands her initial 6 weeks is not weight loss time it's HEALING time. IF she loses weight during this time it'll be due to lower calories, exercise and water, water, water. Some folks do not lose, they may actually gain a few lbs back. Not to be alarmed, this is very common. I just think it's good if folks are mentally prepared for that. They do not wake up skinny.. lol. I would definitely encourage her to read everything she can pertaining to this surgery. It seems real close to the time and there is lots and lots to learn and be prepared for. We wish her lots of luck!! Leatha

So glad to hear you're doing well and welcome back to the world of real food!! Congrats on the weight loss! It's only just beginning!

I'm letting my banding surgeon take the darn thing out He's in Carrollton, near Dallas. My daughter will be with me and my mom may come to help at home, which I don't feel I'll need, but we'll see. I certainly hope it's not any harder. Thanks for the well wishes you guys. I appreciate it very much!

Yep and the Dairy Queens in Texas are way different from any other I've visited in other states. They are actually much more like a full service restaurant whereas in the other states they are more like a Desserts only type place.

Good luck to you Jeff!! It's a tough road, but probably not nearly as tough as living the rest of your life obese and in bad health. You'll find lots of support here!! Leatha

I had a Flow-tron during my surgery and all other surgeries. I also wear knee hi compression socks when I travel - especially on a plane. I also have a history of prior DVT/PE so I can't take the chance. My surgeon who is quite good health and not obese told me he never even does surgery without his due to the blood pooling in your legs anything you stand one place too long, or sit or lying down. My first DVT I got from sitting at the puter too long. The socks are not pretty but they definitely make your legs feel better if you are prone to ankle/leg swelling. I buy them as gifts these days for people I love. They are well worth the money spent even if they are no fashion statement. I would not suggest ever flying without them due to 'economy class syndrome'. Many people get DVT/PE's when flying. Even people in good health. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks Ladies, I did go ahead and call to schedule my surgery today. I'll be undergoing yet another surgery next Friday, the 27th. Hopefully I can make it til then. At least I'll have it over - hopefully.

Good luck with the boob thing. I've never lost mine, ever.

Good Mornin!! I am feeling okay, I reckon. I think I overdid it last night. Traveling with my team is really a bad time for me. They eat out everynight and dessert is like a ritual. I rarely lose on the road, but it's my own fault. It's just tough with all the temptation. One of the ladies I work with is a very much in denial about her food behaviors and well, misery loves company. I haven't made any arrangements regarding surgery yet because we have a job to finish next week at home too. My boss says just do what I have to do. It just seems so complicated. My job is laying off people left and right and I've already had ONE surgery in the last 30 days. I'm so afraid I'm going to start looking like a liability to them. I hate the thought of leaving my team to finish that job alone. I hate the thought of putting it off one more week and having to use my Labor Day for healing. It just generally sucks. I guess I may ask for my teams forgiveness and try to do it the latter part of next week.

I have a thing for my collarbone too. lol. I also find myself feeling my shoulders. There are bones under there too and I can actually shave my legs or cut my toenails now without passing out cause my oxygen is cutoff. I can even look at the backs of my legs. I have scars back there I haven't seen since the 70's. lol. Amazing what can keep me entertained.

Welcome Melissa!! Great weight loss so far. Glad you could join us here!!

Welcome back Chantal!! I understand. It's funny how the world seems to take on a little color after starting an anti-depressant that actually helps. I tell people, 'and on the 5th day, there was color. " I don't know how to explain it any better except my world had taken on a really 'gray' feel. I really did feel like I was seeing color again for the first time. I really hope this is just what you needed to get you back on the right track. Until one has walked that same walk, there is no way they can truly understand. God bless. Leatha

Interesting. Body parts springing up all over the place. I was in the plane yesterday and kept looking down at my legs. They're longer!! I swear it! Of course, I'm 5ft tall, so they're still just 29 inches long, but I have longer legs!! amazing what that does for my ego..

Very awesome Penni! you go girl!!

Hijack!! Shelly, Look at your beautiful new picture!! You are so awesome! I am so proud of you! Beautiful, beautiful girl!! Congrats!

Pizza was my first 'sliming' experience. Even now, wide open, I will not take a bite of the dough. I'll eat the stuff off the top, but I never want that feeling agian. lol. Aversion therapy works really well with me.

I am PSC Leatha G on AOL, but I'll be working until evening. Stay away from the big plates, Delarla. You are forever banned from big plates and big bites!! Krispy Kremes ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND. Poor thing, I know just how you feel. My body has turned against and forever more I will have trouble with ice cream. If we can't do it ourselves, our body will definitely find a way. It's winning.

Thanks everyone for your encouragement and posting experiences. I had my sonogram this morning and it did, indeed, show gallstones. Pretty large ones, actually. It also did show that my common bile duct was dilated, but with no stones in the duct itself. From what they said, it appears that my pain this past week or so was probably a stone being passed through the duct which is why it shows to be dilated at this point. Sounds like I was lucky I didn't have more severe pain and a stone getting stuck in the duct. They tell me it's just a matter of time until the next one heads down the same path. I'm not happy about this at all. But, the doctor seems to think I need to have surgery to remove the gallbladder 'sooner rather than later'. His words. They prescribed Levaquin and Bentyl and allowed me to make my trip to LA for this next 4 days but said when I come home I must consider having surgery. I have strict instructions to find the nearest ER at the first sign of severe pain. I also have strict instructions from my coumadin clinic to have my PT/INR done here in LA on Thursday due to taking Levaquin which interacts with the coumadin. Not good. Another thing I have to be concerned with in scheduling yet another surgery. So, I've had the hysterectomy, I've tied my stomach up in knots around my band, I have a vena cava filter to prevent clots, I've had my heart ablated because of PSVT, if I let them take my gallbladder, can I ask them to take the appendix too? I want to be done with this. Then, all I'll have left is my lungs, kidneys and heart. Without the other problems maybe I can focus on keeping those awhile. lol. Keep your fingers crossed for me.. Leatha

Welcome Mary Ann! We're neighbors. Maybe you and I could start the 'We Ain't Quitters' Club? lol. I'm near alma and Legacy. I'm also single and have no life if you need some extra pep talks I'm around. :-) Don't give up! The coolest thing about this band is that it has no 'window of opportunity' or expiration date. You just keep starting over and we'll get there. G'nite. Leatha

The fact that it's still there the next day and the next week and the next month. Often, we begin a diet on monday and by tuesday we've already given in and move on in our same old habits. The band doesn't allow that. Sure, you can eat ice cream, today and tomorrow and the day after and the day after. The scale is going to show it too. But, the band will still be there. So even if I messed up all last week. I can still start over this week and pick up where I left off. I'm one of the slower losers. I can't say what I might have done if I had started vigorous exercise right out of the box or if I had cut out all sweets. I'd probably be at goal right now, that would be nice, but what's the hurry? I've been fat since the late 70's, I think if I had lost it too quickly my head would definitely have alot of catching up to do. I got this band because I don't diet well. Most of us did. Or, because we dieted too many times and each time we gained an additional 10, 20, 30 when we couldn't take it anymore. I promised myself I would not do that again. When I got this band I said I will do better. I will change ONE thing. I've been changing ONE thing since September 2002. First, I stopped smoking - cold turkey. Because in the back of my head I knew that I had a plan. I must regain my health, but the only way I knew how to do it and not go on overload mentally was to do it in baby steps. So, I started with smoking. I continued to read up on the lapband and started in earnest finding a way that I could have it done, all along trying to prepare my mind for what was to come. I gained the obligatory 30lbs from no smoking, so I made my way up to 250lbs. I'm 5ft tall, so this nearly killed me, but I have never touched another cigarette. May the following year, after moving across the states to a doctor who would do my surgery, I was banded. I've struggled with the band. I've struggled with head issues and food issues, but I am no quitter. Every pound of the 64 I've lost, I worked for and it is definitely 64 I would not have lost without the band.

edistogirl, YAY!! You'll be on the road to recovery before you know it! Please read, read, read - there is lots of info about people's experiences, what to expect, etc online. Many messageboards with lots of experience. Just remember, there are far more people who are NOT posting that are out there living their daily lives with no problems. The boards are great for support, but often the people posting are brand new bandsters or those with some minor glitches. It's good to know all that can come at you, but even better to know those who have no issues are out living their new thinner lives! Keep us posted!

I love that 'Just For Today' . I kept the bookmark with me for years. I'm a grateful Al-Anon - 12 yrs. Tried OA awhile too.

Candy, Please don't give up. I know it's a tough transition, but believe me a year from now you will feel so much better. You WILL get it mastered. It's good that you have your sister, but would it help if you talked with a counselor about the 'head' hunger and old habits? We all have days like yours. We all have days when we wonder how crazy we were to put this thing in our bodies. I've done it twice!! How nuts is that? lol. Short of dissecting our insides, what hope do we have? Maybe backing your fill off for a week or two and coming back at it a little slower would help? Some people swear by 'sneaking' up on the perfect fill. I hope it gets better for you and your sister. Leatha