dhales

Oh my - you must be careful at this early stage. I just went to a nutrition class last week and I was told to be ultra careful until my first fill. They explained that my baby pouch can hold 4oz. at a time...but until I am healed they only recommend 2oz (1/4 cup) at a time. The biggest concern is the the flap of your tummy that is folded over the band and stitched. If you overeat and fill the pouch then you put stress on those sutures...which could result in pulling on the sutures and causing a tear in your stomach. Please be ultra careful and follow the rules...they scared the crap out of me. I only have 1/4 cup at a time. My doc is pretty aggressive and I am off liquids...but still limited on the typed of solids that I can have. After my first fill then I will be on the "regular" lap band diet....but until then I am limited.

Okay...so today I am 9 days post-op. I was on liquids 48 hours before my surgery and I am still on liquids. I am not really getting in a whole lot in terms of calories...but I feel like I am sipping all day. I have been taking my vitamins....now comes the gross part. I have noticed two issues and wondered if anyone else has this as well. I have noticed a rash under my chest and tummy. I have been taking anti-fungal for this assuming its a yeast rash since I had antibiotics during surgery and I am sure with low calories my immune system may be suppressed....but it seems to go away in one spot and reappear. Anyone else with this issue? Also - probably the grossest TMI - remember I warned you...so you can stop reading at anytime. Well - since you are still reading I guess you will be okay with it. I just realized this AM that I haven't had a #2 since before my surgery...when I started the liquids. I took MOM this morning with nothing. Funny thing is I don't feel bad or bloated or constipated. I just don't feel anything...is this normal since I have been on liquids.... Geez that is like 11 days....that has to be strange.

I was told that our pouch is only 4oz (1/2 cup) big and that I can have 3 meals a day that equals that. No snacks....etc. Im not restricted right now...but I feel restricted. I read the Lap Band book from Allergen that they gave me and it also said the same.

B52 - do you only have 1/2 cup of your smoothie in the AM? and 1/2 cup of chili? I am just curious to your portion sizes. Thanks!

Good job!!!! You are such an inspiration....

So I just realized today that I am drinking Water much better...but now I am worried to over do it. Did your surgeons suggest how much to sip and a period of time? Does it go right through the band or do we have to worry about stretching it? I am only 10 days out. Thanks!

Whew - I was afraid I was messing up. Is that 30-45 minutes before and after?

Woohoo!!!! Can't wait til I can say that.

Makes me feel much better...I would assume since what is going in is reduced that it would make total sense that what is coming out is reduced to...lol I am not on pain meds...found out I was allergic to the pain meds after surgery and just didn't go back to get more. I really didn't need it after the second day anyway. I will give MOM more time (I assumed it would be pretty quick)...I took the lowest recommended dose of 2 tbsp. If nothing by tonight I will take 2 more...

True Results in Houston was $9000 with a year of follow care and fills. My insurance also had an exclusion...however True Results was able to go in and find a loop hole that allowed me to have a hernia repair (which insurance covered part of) and the lap band at the same time. It ended up being only $5500 out of pocket.

In Houston there was a news lady - can't remember her name - she donned a "fat suit" and went in public. She would walk into a store and receive great service as her skinny self and then when she put on the fat suit and make up to look different and walked into the same store with the same people she had a totally different experience. She said they were not as customer service oriented. It was interesting to know that during the experiment she also held a diet coke while in the fat suit and got a little better service....as if people were a little more okay with someone being overweight if they were doing something about it. It was very interesting.

Geez....I would think that would either be negligence of the surgeon or a defect in the band. I don't think "we" should have to pay for those errors.

No - but they will most likely give you those lovely paper panties with a mega size pad to put on...since they make you take everything off under your gown.

rlane - I am not very far into this journey. But one thing I noticed about myself that may be helpful for you is that when I was home with nothing to do - I obsessed more about food. When I went back to work I obviously had other things on my mind. I also know from my past habits that I am a boredom/stress eater. You didn't mention if you worked/went to school or had a hobby...but if not I would strongly recommend one or all of those if possible. The more you do outside the home the better you will feel. chocolate is my downfall...so is cheese. Heck if you provide me with a chocolate cheesecake I thought I was in heaven. I just haven't allowed it in the house. My family has been supportive. I told them its kind of like an alcoholic just getting out of rehab...be sensitive to me regarding my triggers. You wouldn't put beer in the fridge or a keg stand in the kitchen for an alcoholic...so please have the same courtesy for me.

I agree with Cazzy...the heating pad worked wonders for me.

Prayers going your way....you will do great. Let us know how you are doing when you are on the other side

I slept with the heating pad. It seemed to be the only thing that relieved that pain. Walking helped and as strange as it seemed...if I straightened my arm above my head it seemed to stretch it out and provide some relief. It turned out I was allergic to my pain medicine and couldn't take it the second day. Take your pain meds if you can. Rest for the next few days. Walk around the house when you can and use your heating pad. Eventually you will wake up one morning with no or very little pain. For me my surgery was on Tuesday. Thursday was my worst day (don't really know why) and I woke up Friday feeling better, Saturday even more better and Sunday a new woman. I still occasionally have some phantom shoulder pain daily for about 10 minutes. I am now 9 days post-op.....but it is nothing major and goes away quickly. You will get over this...I promise that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

That's just the way most of us ladies were brought up. How does that saying go...lady in the streets and...well you know the rest.

Is that the Active.com app from iTunes? Does it use your own music to shuffle then tells when to walk/jog...etc? I think it is 1.99....just want to make sure I get the right thing.

Do you think the Couch to 5K is doable for someone who has probably never done any real exercise long term? I can't afford the gym but would like to try that out with my teenage girls. It would be good for all of us.

Not sure - but salmon patties are kind of mushy. someone put the recipe up on here the other day and I copied it down. I can't wait to be off liquids...it will be my first meal. 1 pouch chicken of the Sea salmon 1 beaten egg 1/4 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese 2 Tbsp bread crumbs 2 Tbsp finely chopped onion Make into 2-3 patties.

Scorpiolady...I weighed the day after surgery and had gained 2 pounds...so weird. But I think it is all those fluids. I have not been getting in as much water as I should. I struggle with it. So some of my loss is water weight for sure. I am sure once I get on solids that my weight may spike a little...but hopefully not. I am determined to follow this to a "T". I don't want to fail yet again

My height wasn't measured....just weight the morning of. You need to shed some water weight in the next week. I would stay with the protein shakes and cut all sodium if you can. Drink plenty of water. Maybe someone else has some ideas.

Good Luck...you won't be hungry afterwards Let us know how it goes when you feel up to it.

I am 8 days post op...I have lost 16 pounds so far (5.5 pre-op). I haven't been hungry and have been satisfied on the liquids so far. I go for my post-op tomorrow and may be put on solids since I haven't had any issues or nausea. My doc is kind of aggressive. I will get a fill in 3 weeks after surgery. I am not going to sugar coat...the first few days was kind of miserable. But honestly every day I woke up I felt better....and when I woke up on Sunday morning I felt almost completely normal....well except for not wanting to eat and the occasional shoulder pain. My incisions are slightly itchy...guess that means they are healing. All in all....not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. And any uncomfortable issues I had are way overshadowed by the benefit. I would do it again in a heart beat.