crabcake

the heating pad really helped me w/ that. have you tried it?

mine said 64 oz. per day. none 30 mins before eating and none 1-2 hours after. i can do an hour, but 2? that wouldn't leave enough hours in the day to drink what i'm supposed to!!! someone else on here mentioned the 30-20-30 rule. nothing 30 mins before, take 20 mins to eat, and nothing until 30 mins after. that seems reasonable. again though w/ the every doc does it differently! i think some of this has got to be adjusted for each individual and how their band works. i have my first post surgery appt today and finally get my stitches out! whoo hoo! other than the gas taking longer to subside than i anticipated, the only other thing that's really bothering me is the pain in my side. it sort of feels like someone's inside poking me w/ a stick! i guess that's my port, because the largest of my incisions is on that side as well. i'll ask today. i'll also try to remember to ask about the meds and why we can't swallow them whole. i think it's just so they don't get stuck, but who knows. hope all of this week's banders are feeling well. it gets easier every day.

I'd suggest more than one type of Gas-X type product, like Mylanta or Gas-X pills and strips. I've found that some of them or more helpful than others. Good luck on your journey and drop in here often. We're all about support! :clap2:

I'm sorry, I don't remember the details. I just remember it was going to require me to wait possibly 6 months more and I didn't want to do that.

Cindy, it's definitely possible to have a caffeine (or lack thereof!) headache. I weened myself off caffeine and didn't have a problem, but my sister went cold turkey and said for the first few days she'd get horrible headaches!

you didn't say where on your head you're hurting (forehead, face, crown), but you s/b able to put a heating pad (not too hot) on wherever it hurts and get a little relief. i use heat lots when i have sinus headaches, but it'll work on a regular headache too. feel better!

Kacee, they told us not to drive for a week. I drove Monday (surgery the Tuesday before) and it was a little tough. The day after my surgery, I felt great. But that 3rd day was horrible! So if you're going to do it, I'd certainly say the day after. I hear you though about your mom. Be careful!

Amen to that! I was banded May 8th and am still swollen, mainly w/ air I think, but partly fluids (my IV was saline I think and this *definitely* causes fluid retention). Do yourselves a favor and get off those scales girls!

that was wenjea, (poor baby!)

hmmm...sounds like a feast to me!

I'm just getting a login page on Google.

Congratulations!!! :clap2:

thank you! my mouth is watering!!!

Honestly, I don't know what kind of band I have or what size. I go to have my stitches taken out this Wednesday and hopefully, I'll remember to ask then. You're right, I've heard of some people actually getting over filled. Like you said, you need to get to know your band and how best to work with it. But don't get discouraged either (you'll probably be telling me this soon!) if you don't see a speedy weight loss.

they do, but they don't get all of it.

I see you have a fill coming up soon. Do you feel restricted at all now? If it's any consolation, my doc told me that once you hit your 'sweet spot' - which could take 3-4 adjustments - is when you really lose the weight. I mean that as encouragement, hope it doesn't make you feel discouraged!

I've had the gas problems too. Last night (4 days after the surgery) I started getting nauseous! I'll have to try the Maalox, cause like you, the Gas-X just isn't cutting it. I bet crab would be ok. The recipe sounds great, mind sharing it?

Problems w/ anesthesia can happen w/ any operation, so you should just put that out of your mind. I bet the odds of you having a stroke or heart attack due to being overweight are greater than the odds of anything happening to you under anesthesia. My doctor told me this was the easiest surgery you could have! And just think how proud your girls will be of you!!!

Pun intended I take it?

Well, we've done it now, and short of having it undone, which for myself isn't an option, there's not much we can do about it. My suggestion - to both you and myself - is just decide to live w/ it for a month (or 2, or 4 or whatever) and see how you feel then. If you're still having concerns, you can always change your mind at that point. That way, you get the monkey off your back at least temporarily. That's what I did when I was trying to decide whether to get the band or not. I told myself to just go through the motions and when it came time for the surgery if I wanted to back out, then I could. Hope that helps. p.s., stress won't help your healing (nag, nag...):biggrin1:

Have you talked to your doctor about this? I'd say if you've had to diet the better part of your life that the lap band is certainly something to consider. Why should you have to continue to struggle? I'm not saying that the lap band makes dieting easy. You still have to do the work. You still have to diet and exercise. But the lap band gives you the hope that you'll be able to succeed. If you want to do this just because you think it's the easier way, I'd have to say don't do it. It is after all surgery and w/out the work, there's no guarantee you'll lose the weight.

Well, I haven't had to go back to work yet, so I've just been wearing overalls and anything loose that won't rub against my stitches. I have another week off, so hopefully I'll feel like wearing my old clothes once I do go back to work. The swelling's not terribly bad. No, I can't say it looks like I've gained weight, but then I haven't really been looking. However, I've felt really, really bloated, both from gas and from fluids. I'd have been (even more) miserable if I couldn't have worn something loose.

Fantastic! Congratulations!!! You're smart to start your diet ahead of time. That's 11 pounds less you'll have to lose later on. Keep us posted.

thanks karey! i'm about ready for this week to be over with. i know i'll feel better next week and will be glad i did this, but right now, not so much!

We were told to concentrate on healing the first few weeks, not on weight loss. If you think about it that makes a lot of sense. You're body's in shock from the surgery and needs more than what sugar free foods offer. As for full liquids, I thought Protein Drinks were considered full liquids. That's what my book says anywho. It's funny how everyone tells you something different isn't it?