adorable

Househuntress, Are you able to eat the fibrous veggies in the hot and sour soup??? I LOVE that stuff and I'm so afraid I won't be able to eat it anymore after I start on regular food. My doc said to be careful of fibrous foods such as bamboo shoots, celery, asparagus, pineapple...Anyone else able to eat these things without a problem?

Been there, done that! I worried that I had a blockage, but we have to remember we're still eating mostly fluids, soft foods and things almost baby food consistency....How could we wish for normal poo? :rolleyes Just make sure that you're getting plenty of water so that you don't become dehydrated! And if it gets worse or you go more than 4 times a day, then I'd call your doctor.

Tracy - How are you feeling?? Advancing your food choices a bit yet? I'm still afraid to! LOL I tried your mock danish tonight - was very yummy, but I was only able to eat a few bites when I started feeling like it was stuck in my throat...like it was sitting there and I had to keep swallowing to feel like it was staying down...not that it actually tried to come back up, it just felt as if I had to swallow and swallow for it not to feel like it was sitting in the back of my throat...I chewed really well, but I don't think it agreed with me! No pain though....it's just a weird feeling. Or maybe I need to get used to that feeling when I have restriction and am eating normal food? So many things to learn, so many questions! Oh love your new signature by the way!!!! Not sure if I'm brave enough to do that...maybe one day. :fish: Christy - The belly thing worked...or I think it did. If anything, the rocking motion, or jiggling put me to sleep and I woke up pain free! LOL Thanks for the tip! Kity - Congrats on your new job! I'm so envious - I'd love to go back to school and upgrade my degree...perhaps one day. To everyone else - I hope that everyone had a wonderful day, and for tomorrow, TGIF to all the Shrinkin Violets!!!!!! I love my Fridays!!! :cool:

OMG I am SUCH a Lost fanatic!!! I have watched that show since day 1 and have never missed an episode. I hate that they've broken the season up into 2 segments, however I don't think that any of the episodes have sucked. It's had me hook, line and sinker since day 1 of season 1!!! My hubby and I both count the days to each Wednesday! :clap2:

I'll try that!!! Thank you sooooooooo much for the tip!!! I'll let you know if it worked for me! :clap2:

Thank you so much for the reassurance. Here I am an RN and if it were anyone else I'd tell them the same thing, however with myself I am SUCH a worry wart! I've been searching the forums for the past 30 minutes about this nagging pain under my left rib cage every time I take a deep breath. I know that it could be a blood clot, however more than likely it's just trapped gas so I'm going to wait it out LOL...God I feel pathetic sometimes! :help:

Ok gals, I tried the scrambled egg last night with just a little bit of cheese to make it more wet. Tasted great, went down great...was up at 4am with diarrhea. Then was nauseated most of the morning until I had some runny cream of wheat. After that I was perfectly fine (with the exception of this pain right under my left ribcage...feels like someone has their fist up there turning it when I try to take a deep breath - I think it's gas pains! LOL) Today after lunch (I had 1/2 can of cream of chicken soup, strained), I started belching and hiccuping. I'm really wondering if I'm eating too much...at the same time I want to make sure that I'm getting enough calories and nutrition. I never actually FEEL hungry, so I just eat what I think is appropriate. When I mentioned before that I at 1/2 cup of split pea soup, that was AFTER adding the water it came to 1/2 cup. So to be honest, it was probably only 1/4th of the can.... Anyway, just wanted to let you know MY experience with the eggs last night! Wasn't pretty! :sick

That's the problem, I'm not hungry! I just eat to make sure that I'm getting some calories, protein and other nutrients....Well I feel good so far so I must be doing something right. Thanks for your response Christy

Hmmm comes to about 475 calories...wowthat just doesn't seem enough....I'm trying to eat foods that have quite a bit of protein in them, but the calories don't seem to be enough compared to what I used to eat! LOL

Ok does anyone think that I'm eating too much?? ?? I'm on mushies (6 days out) and here is what I had today: * Breakfast: 1 - 6 oz Lite Yoplait Smoothie drink (4g protein) * Lunch: 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese & 1/2 cup split pea soup (12g protein) * Dinner: 1 scrambled egg with sprinkle of cheese to make moist, 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese (19g protein) * 48 oz fluid (5g protein) Total protein: 40g (I know, I need more protein! I just can't handle the way those drinks taste and I've tried several so far...) :help:

Ok everyone - I wanted to get up close and personal with my new band too! See the link for the picture! WARNING: If you have a weak stomach or cannot handle viewing the inside of the human body, do NOT click the following link! http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/281/deniselapband42607akg3.jpg By the way, I went to the doctor today for my first visit (5 days post op) and I've lost 5.4 lbs since the surgery! I'm not going to list it on here because my scale and his scale weigh so different. My numbers are based on my scale and are the same weight loss!

Wow, I had it easy - 1 day of clear liquids pre-op, then 3 days liquids (clear or full) post-op, then on day 4 I could start with yogurt, cottage cheese, soft boiled eggs, runny cream of wheat, jars of baby food, creamy soups, etc.

If it makes you feel any better, I've done well on mushies. I haven't hardly been hungry at all, so I've attempted a about 1/4 cup of milky cream of wheat and splenda...it was warm and sweet...after all those liquids, it tasted like heaven lol! I've also pureed split pea soup from a can, which had a lot of protein. Low fat cottage cheese has went down well and it has a ton of protein too. Baby food bananas was a great treat. I also bought some sugar free syrups and made shaved ice cones...omg they were yummy! no nutrients though they were good for my fluid intake. :clap2: Trust me when I say, I am the BIGGEST chicken ever, and I've done good with mushies so far. Everything tastes DIVINE! LOL The last thing that I want to do is PB!!! I hate vomitting and I do NOT want to get anything stuck. If I can do it, YOU can do it!

Jennifur, I just sent a request on your myspace to add as a friend.... Thought I should let you know so you don't think I'm just some loony bin adding people.

Tracy, The page is "view only"...that's why it can't be edited....

nbjen, I had a hiatal hernia, so my doctor repaired that....I wonder if that will delay my recovery time at all? So far I feel great. I've been a little sore internally, but only enough for the liquid Tylenol...no Vicodin! I hate the way those pain meds make me feel! So far I haven't had any incision pain, it's been mainly muscle soreness and gas LOL! I've been sleeping on the couch recliner as well...I'm hoping to be sleeping in my bed by tonight or tomorrow! I miss it sooooo much! Wow 4 weeks of clear liquids...I'd go nuts! I started mushies today...I wonder why the surgeons are so different in their post-op diet orders??? That just is bizarre! Good luck on your recovery and congrats on your banding!!! :clap2:

Tracy, Not only am I scared to eat too much too, so that I'm only taking in 300-500 calories per day, and not enough protein I'm sure, but I weighed in on the day of my surgery at 253.8! Just a bit more than you did. :biggrin1: I can't wait to see how much I've lost when I go for my appt on Tuesday. I doubt I've lost near what many lose at first seeing that my doctor only put me on clear liquids for a day before surgery and 3 days after surgery. I'm on mushies/purees now....I had a 1/4 cup of low fat cottage cheese. OMG it was SO yummy and 14 grams of protein!!!!

My DH wasn't at all supportive pre-op, however since my surgery, he has been nothing BUT supportive. When I need something, he's there. When I want to take a walk, he's there. When I am hungry, he's there. He's been fabulous! I have a question - I just started my mushies/purees today. I had a little bit of cream of wheat for breakfast (a few tablespoons), and for lunch I had a scrambled egg (probably 1/2 of a large egg), with some milk and a tad bit of cheese mixed in. Not much because I'm afraid that I'll eat too much. I don't feel all that hungry, but I don't feel much restriction either....I guess what I'm asking, is how much has everyone been able to eat post-op?? I don't want to malnourish myself, but I don't want to get anything stuck or PB either!

I am SO jealous! Not only did I not ask my doctor for those, I don't even know what band size I have! LOL I'm going to ask him at my post-op appt on Tuesday. Cool tummy Tracy!!!

My incisions are still covered by steri-strips, but here they are!

I just took off my bandages and took a hot shower...OMG it felt SO good...although my tummy is still bright yellow from the Betadine! LOL

Ok this may sound gross - but has anyone else had any problems with diarrhea while on the liquid phase of your diet??

Well today I'm a little more sore than I was yesterday - which I was expecting. Took some liquid Tylenol, so we'll see what that does for me. I don't feel hungry - just some head hunger when I see food on T.V. I'm trying my best to get my liquids in....Taking Gax-X and been playing the tuba from both ends! LOL Funny - since my surgery, my hubby seems more supportive than he did before the surgery. Weird, but very welcoming and comforting to me. Didn't sleep great last night - ended up in the recliner in the living room because I can't sleep flat on my back, on my tummy, or on either side just yet. I woke up several times though the night, but I feel pretty refreshed so far this morning. I'm sure I'll be taking a nap (or a few of them) throughout the day! It's good to be on the losing side finally! :clap2:

It's weird how doctors are so different in their approach with the lapband. My surgeon only had me on clear liquids for 1 day before the surgery, and 2 days after the surgery. Then I get to start on mushies for 2 weeks, advancing to regular food slowly thereafter....So far I've felt no restriction with the liquids. Although I don't guzzle, it feels like I could and I'd be ok....I hope I really DO have restriction! However I don't feel all that hungry either.... So far I haven't had to take any pain meds besides the children's tylenol....I may take some Lortab before I go to bed to ensure a full night sleep though! Good luck to those of you who are to be banded tomorrow!!!

Wow this was quick and easy (so far!). I was banded this morning at 8am and it's 1:45pm and I'm home. Not much pain - except for some gassy pains under my ribs I think. No nausea..I'm drinking fluids fine so far. I can't believe it's over!!!!