lucky2bLAURA

I haven't been drinking while I eat but I definitely drink up until then. Then immediately after I finish eating I take a really small sip just to get the taste and leftover food particles out of my mouth... I can't stand for there to still be bits of food in my mouth. I've been that way my whole life tho....

I agree with Daddyof4... the Body Fortress powder that you get at Walmart for about $15 is great. I bought one of those Magic Bullet things at Bed Bath and Beyond and I mix them up ahead of time with a teaspoon of sugar-free instant pudding and some ice and keep them in the refrigerator and by the time I'm ready to drink them they are all thick and creamy like a milkshake and they taste wonderful. I haven't tried the strawberry flavor yet but next time I go to buy some I'll get it, I've heard good things about it and look forward to trying it.

I had to cough like crazy the first couple of days post. And my voice was totally gone. They told me they put an intubation tube in to help me breathe during surgery, and my throat and bronchial tubes ached for about 5 days after surgery. But like the others said I used that thing they gave me in the hospital and I think it really helped to get it out of my system. That and I made myself keep taking deep breaths to get rid of the pain.

Extreme north central Texas here! Lake Texoma area.... that's about an hour north of Dallas on the OK state line.

My surgeon is Dr Kureshi at TMC! Awesome doctor!!

June 5th here too.... They said I rolled over on my side (the port side) in the recovery room. I've been doing it ever since too.... I just can't sleep on my back. It hurts but I have a really high pain tolerence. I quit taking the liquid loritab the 2nd day I was home because I didn't need it and I hate to take those kind of meds. I've been on Tylenol since and am having no problems.

I've only lost 3.5 lbs since the surgery, but I had lost 27.5 before the pre-op diet. So I'm down 31 punds total.... I think when I can start eating actual food again I'll lose more. My surgeon told me to do 3 days liquids, 3 days mushy, and 3 days soft and move on to solids when I felt comfortable. So far the most I can eat is 3.75 cups of food before I start to feel like I'm going to vomit. I'm positive I'm not getting enough nutrition, but I don't know what I can do about it at this point.

I've been picking at the tape. and the dried blood that's under the glue on the port incision.... I can't seem to stop! But I've always been a scab picker... that's why I'm so scarred up I guess....

I got to come home on Wed. afternoon. My belly is a mass of bruises.... I think that hurts more than anything else. I did manage to eat about 2 ounces of yogurt today and I'm working on finishing off my 2nd Protein Shake. I just made 2 big shakes and split them into small amounts and I've been working on those all day. I'm getting there tho.... It's weird but I thought it was going to be a lot harder than this... well not that I think it's easy I just thought I would be in a lot more pain and discomfort.

I had surgery Tuesday. I'm not really having any trouble with gas pains or anything. My chest feels a little tight when I take deep breaths but my doc said that was from the anesthesia and would work it's self out in a couple of days.

My doctor told me to only do 3 days of full liquids, 3 days of creamy liquids then soft foods until I felt like I could tolerate more solid food. But I'm not hungry at all, and I don't feel hungry at all.

When does you appetite come back? Not that I miss it or anything, I'm just curious....

Thanks,

Laura

I take the little Calcium 'candies'. Theyre delish and what doc told me to take. Feels like I'm having 2 candies a day.

Are those the little choclate-y ones I've seen advertised? Vitaactive or something like that.... It sounds like that might be worth it... :-)

Can I just use Tums or Rolaids for my Calcium supplement or should I buy like Caltrate or the equivalent? I'm not knowledgable on the subject and neither is anyone I know....

Awesome idea... will be trying these recipes and will keep coming back for more!!

I went to see the surgeon today for my pre-op visit. He was really proud of me, and was glad to hear that my attitude about the surgery and the new lifestyle was good. I told him I was doing so well with the planning and preparations because of all the great advice and encouragement I read about here on the LBT forums. I think everyone considering lap-band should start here at these forums. It's really helped me a lot in recent months.

It's made out of horses hooves. Who came up with the idea to eat that? *shudder*

oh my bad.... it's not horses hooves. it's pig skin.... that doesn't make it sound any better. :-)

oh i hear you on the jello... I start my pre-op tomorrow and I *really* hate Jello. But I figure it will be something that I'll just have to deal with. I'm so not looking forward to it. Jello is unnatural. It's made out of horses hooves. Who came up with the idea to eat that? *shudder*

I know a gal at my job who had the bypass about 5 years ago and now she's WAY underweight and can't gain any back. She's a sweetheart but she looks like a skeleton with skin stretched over it. And she said she lost all her excess weight in 6 months.... that scares me because I don't want the excess skin hanging everywhere (I don't think she has that trouble, but who knows? I certainly didn't ask her....)

me! But I always work the weekend of Memorial Day or Labor Day or any other holiday that is on Monday. So it will just be a regular day for me....

Let's keep in touch, you're a few weeks ahead of me, please keep me posted so i will know what to expect when my turn comes. Where R U located I'm in Houston, but having my surgery 45 min away in Conroe TX. I started with true results but they are out of network so they referred me to this Doc. Hope all goes well with the per op diet what does it consist of. Don't be scared be thankful you will do well I' will B praying for U.

Drpepper... I'm having my surgery here in my hometown. I'm in north Texas a town called Denison. It's about an hour north of Dallas. I'll be sure and keep you updated with anything I learn. :-) My pre op diet is just like a slim fast type thing. 2 Protein shakes and a healthy meal. I'm trying not to be scared, I think it's just the "unknown" that I'm scared of. Take care and keep in touch!

Yes I was finally approved May 14th. I start the pre-op diet 5/27 and see the surgeon for the pre-op visit on 5/30 and then surgery on June 5! So ready to get it all over with, and so scared of surgery.... I've never had major surgery before....

I'm going to have surgery on June 5th.... omg it's real now! WOW.... I feel really weird to be excited about having major surgery.

The pre-op diet is only for 5 days instead of the 10 I've been dreading. And it's not full liquids it's 2 Protein Shakes and a reg. meal. I got lucky on that one!

got a letter in the mail today that said I was approved..... will call the doctor's office tomorrow and find out what's next!!! SO HAPPY the waiting and worrying are over!!!

My doctor's office sent all my paperwork to the insurance company on April 25 and said it shoud take about 10 dyas to hear anything... So I *patiently* waited the 10 days, then called BCBS to find out what the status was on the authorization. The lady I talked to said that they hadn't received it until May 8th!! And it would be 7 to 10 days before I heard anything. So I'm a little bit frustrated.... But at least I know they are looking at it now.

there is a thread about chia seeds at http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/132041-chia-seeds/

Hope it helps... I want to try these someday!!

I'm waiting too!! Good luck, I hope you get approved! I'm worried I won't.... but that's just the way I am. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst and all that.... :-)

I have hypothyroidism and it is well under control now, so my endocronologist(sp?) said there would not be a problem with having a lap-band. He said that since my thyroid levels are normal now, I'm no different than a person without a thyroid problem in terms of weight loss. I'm waiting right now for the insurance to approve the surgery, so I've been trying to eat better and get ready for the way I'll need to eat after the surgery... I've actually lost almost 10 lbs, and losing that weight was much easier than it was when my thyroid levels were high. But your doctor should definitely get you on some thyroid meds (you'll be amazed how much better you'll feel), and then talk to your doctor about surgery again and see what he has to say when your levels are good.

I went to the doctor with irritability, fatigue, short-term memory loss, and slight confusion that had been going on for months. Plus major joint pain, but I have psoriatic arthritis so that's not unusual. My endocrinologist(sp?) tested my Vitamin D and it was really low, and had been for quite some time. He put me on 50,000 IU once a week and it didn't improve so he upped it to 3X a week and I'm much better now. I'm back to my usual self and have more energy and the joint pain has lessened to the normal arthritis pain. I couldn't believe how much the vitamin D affected. I'm a totally changed person since my levels are back to normal. In fact I credit the increase with my decision to finally do something about this extra weight and get healthy again. Everything that's wrong with me is because of the extra weight I carry. Well except for the arthritis, but it's definitely not helped by it....