jono201

Yes-left shoulder pain-the pain some surgeons forget to tell you about. I am 5 days post op and the shoulder pain was the last to go-my incisions were nothing compared to the neck and shoulder. It will go away-though it seems how long varies from person to person. I felt better once I stopped taking the heavy meds and switched to liquid tylenol. Walking as much as possible helps too.

That really is sad. I live in a rural part of Washington where meth has become a scourge to young people and old as well. It saddens me to think even more young kids might be tempted. Everyday we read in the local paper about arrests, imprisionment and neglected children-all due to meth.

You know-something just occured to me-is some one playing an April Fools joke on us?? Cherry meth?? think about it.

The upper portion of the post mentions both tobacco and alcohol industries as well as test markets-that is where I got it from. Sorry if I misunderstood your original post.

You were banded before me, but in my newbie opinion you are not geting enough protein. I drink a powder that I think is yummy and has 26 grams of protein and mix it soy milk which has 11 grams. I also have been drinking split pea soup, which after being thinned with soy milk has about 19 grams of protein. Do you have a magic bullit? Cream soups are very filling once after you spin them around a few times with milk to make them liquified. Applesauce and popsicles just are not filling enough. That is my 2 cents-good luck, I sure others have ideas too.

I too did a lot of research and was also well informed by by surgeon. I also bought, laid out and made convenient any thing I might need post surgery, especially a wide variety of liquid diet items such as creamy Soups, Protein shake powder (chocholate for me), and yogurt drinks. I also made sure I had my magic bullit and plenty of low fat soy milk to thin my liquid meals. The one thing I wish I had been more informed about was the pain in my neck and shoulders from the anethesia. It was not until I woke up that I was informed that the pain would not go away for days. Also, the whole gas issue I was uninformed about, so I had not pre-bought anything to ease it. Other than that-like the other posters write-read read read and read some more.

You are right-making meth is not anything like a legitimate biz. I think the point is that the meth makers are making cherry flavored meth to appeal to young kids in the same way tobacco companies have marketed chocolate and key lime lie flavored cigs. Although they deny it, very few adults would be tempted to try such flavored cigs but a child would find it very appealing. Offering Cherry flavored meth could also be very appealing to youngsters. Both just want to create younger and younger addicts in order to make more money as the older addicts die off. Both are sick.

You know-after I read your post the third time I get it!!!! You are equating flavored cigs to flavored meth aimed at kids. I get It. Sorry you are absoluty correct. I still do not like Savage though. Again sorry

Um-I just read that article and nowhere in the USA today article did they mention the tobacco and alcohol industry marketing such a thing. In fact I read your post and the article twice. As much as I despise those two industries, it is the illegal drug makers that are selling the stuff-not "test marketers". I am also confused as to how you blame the tobacco and alcohol industry for "bringing us the meth problem?" Did you read the original article or just Savage's interpretation? To each his/her own, but for the record Savage is full of *()*)(*^^%46, which is why he was fired from his radio show. Just my opinion.

I got EAS powder in malt and chocolate chocolate flavor. I bought it a COSTCO here in Washington state. It has low sugar and 26 grams of protein. Some people drink slimfast or ensure, but do not find them very filling. Other people like other types of shakes.

A magic bullit is a tiny blender that blends directly into the glass you will drink from. They are more low maintenance than a regular blender and very conveinant. Google it to get more info-you can but them at lots of places. I think they range from 35-75$-but worth the money.

great new thread. I was banded 3/27 and am pretty much pain free now. However I need to get up and moving more because classes start tuesday and I need to be able to walk across campus. I walked to the grocery store this morning and broke out in a cold sweat. I think it is just from not moving around as much as should. That is probably the same reason I still have aweful gas. Does anyone have suggestions to get rid of it? I have been taking Gas-X chewables but it has not had much effect. Good luck to us all!!!!!

I was just banded and have a BMI of 35. Although I did not have high blood pressure etc..every person in my family is 100+overweight and have all the weight related diseases. My dr said I was a canidate. Also before I went I had done some research in medical journals and lapbanding as low as 32 BMI has been very succseful and is done in many countires. You should have no problem if your dr has kept up on current studies.

I do not know what your dr has told you to eat, but the reason you are hungry is you have not had any protein-I imagine you are starving. I drank my first protein drink the evening of my banding, however I drank it very slowly. I think slimfast in a pinch is ok, but not too filling. I like EAS protein powder which has little sugar and 27 grams of protein, but there are many other drinks out there that banders love. Drinking the shakes have kept me full and losing weight. If you have not already, get a magic bullit-it will be your best friend for the next six weeks or so. Also, I mix my stuff, including creamy soup, with soy milk-more protein than cow milk. Don't forget WATER_WATER_WATER

win what exactly-hey i heard it was "mission accomplised" years ago. Now what are we going to win again? A win over terrorists that were never in Iraq pre-Amercian invasion? Just remind me or let me know when we have won.

the shoulder and neck pain was/is way worse than any pain around my tummy. I was not warned either, but at four days pre-op it has subsided quite a bit. When I woke up they asked me how my stomach pain was and I told them all the pain was in my upper body. The nurses told me it was the anesthesia and gas and that it would be a few days before it went away. Hang in there!!!

I too felt guilty about spending that much money on myself. I paid half in cash from a small inheritence and half I borrowed. It took me awhile to decide, but I finally came to the decision that I am worth it. People buy houses and cars for themselves all the time, why not this? With the other part of my inheritence, I went back to grad school, also instead of a car or house-in fact I moved back in with my mother to lessen my expenses. I also thought about all the money I had spent trying to lose weight and all the money I have spent eating too much crap. I also decided I would have to give up a few things and just tighten my belt-but what ever I had to do, I finally convinced myself I was worth it. Now in all honesty I am a single woman without kids, so I know priorities can be different when you are raising a family. As far as Mexico-4 people my mother works with went to mexico and only one person has had the band work as it should. Two got infections and one just never followed up on fills or aftercare. The dr I went to charged 17000 for everything and anything that might go wrong. If you pay 8500 in Mexico you will still have to find a dr here and pay for every checkup and procedure that may arise, so I think that Mexico is not always the bargin it is cracked up to be. Anyway, make sure you do a lot of research and monitor this board often before you make a decision-I trolled this board for months before I actually made my decision. Good Luck

I was banded 3/27 and I have to admit my pain so far was minimal. The worst was the muscle aches in my shoulders and neck from the anethesia. Once that left my body I felt better. I kept the bending to a minimum, but i do have to admit it is only today that I can sit down and get up with hardly any pain. I actually felt better after the prescribed meds left my body-just tylenol now. I hope you feel better soon Cascadian-at least you are doing better than the guy on the other thread who chewed unchewable prenatal vitamins.

I also was banded wed. I have not had to many hunger pains, but I am always drinking water. I am not sure what plan your doctor has you on, but I was able to drink protiein shakes the next day. I do not think the pre mixed ones (slimfast) are not very filling. If they were perhaps we would not have needed to be banded. Anyway, I am drinking EAS powder and mix it with soy milk for a whopping 37 grams of protiein per serving. I also drink drink creamy soup-split pea is high in protiein, again thinned with soy milk. Drink them all slowly. Although they are allowed, I am staying away from drinkable yougurt cuz I can not find one that is low in sugar, nor high enough in protein. Good luck. And make sure those cravings are not just in your head!!!

I too got the no asprin lecture + it was written on my meds bottle. I only took the prescribed meds for 1 day and feel much better with just the tylenol.

Catie It seems we had our banding the same day. I too felt bloated and I did take a while to get things "moving", but I feel fine today. My dr says the bloat feeling will go away and to go for a walk, even if it is just around the house to help it go away. Good luck to us.

3 days post-op EAS chocolate Protein powder with 1 cup soy milk=36 grams of protein at 280 cals. Very filling and takes me a long time to sip down. lunch and dinner will be some sort of cream Soup (Split pea has lots of protein) thinned with more soy milk. Water water water so far minimum pain-I acually felt better after all the meds left my body-only tylenol now. no cravings yet and I feel quite full. http://www.tickerfactory.com/weight-loss/wbTGJe4/

yep-I was pretty bloated after and peed every hour. Other than that I feel great. I even had extra surgery because the the Dr found I had a pretty major hernia once he opened me up. I also found I actually felt better the less pain medicine I took. Once the major meds got out of my system and anesthesia left my system I felt a lot better and it has only been three days. Now I only take liquid tylenol.

please do not be discouraged!!! When was the last time you lost 21 lbs in two months, if you are anything like me not often. This is a life long change. I too am self pay and I think it is one of the best decisions I have made (besides returning to grad school). I only got banded 3/27/07 but seem to be doing fine so far. I have been monitering this site for months and have read many different stories. Most of the experts agree that everyone loses at a different rate and GOOD protien is the key to feeling satisfied. good luck

I weigh 202-205(BMI 35) and am self pay. I have been to two seminars, but my first actual appointment with the doctor is 3/22. I hope to be banded the next day or the following monday. I too am very commiteed and have done much research. The one thing they did not cover in the seminar is that unti your first fill (which from this board I gather does not happen from one to two months) you are on your own and can get very hungry. Good luck.