Kinley7390

Blendtec Blender: almond milk unsweetened, 5 - 10 ice cubes, 1 scoop vanilla unjury protein powder, 1 scoop organic raw greens (powder), handful of organic baby spinach, 3 tbs. blueberries, 2 raspberries, 1 blackberry, 1/4 small banana, 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract, 1tsp. chia seeds, 1tsp. flax seeds (ground), and blend for about a minute. Might sound awful, but I am so addicted to it, and it gives me soooo much energy! It usually makes too much (I haven't mastered how to alter the ingredients to get exactly 8 oz. yet) so I save the rest in the fridge and have it later. The type of blender you have makes a big difference, and I def. recommend checking the manual to see what setting is best for ice and solids. Some good recipes posted above! I'm going to have to venture out of my comfort zone and try a few! Good luck to you!

Wow, this is so exciting! Scary for you, I understand, but exciting too! Everything will be fine. You earned this, and you've waited so long, so just have faith and take a deep breath! You will feel amazing in a few weeks after the swelling has gone down and you are feeling comfortable. People have these procedures all the time, and you will be okay. Try to focus on what life will be like when all the bandages come off and you resume your normal activities. Won't it be fun to look in the mirror and see your new shape! Good luck, and keep us posted!

http://www.mychiaseeds.com/Articles/Top10ChiaBenefits.html Great link above on chia seeds. I have tried them in smoothies, and they do work to keep me fuller longer. Very healthy. I now swear by these and Goji berries, which also have amazing health benefits. Here is a link on benefits of Goji berries if anyone is interested: http://www.bewellbuzz.com/superfoods/goji-berry-benefits/ I have a friend who is vegan, and he was the one to first recommend that these two things be added to the smoothies I was making. I have to say, I do feel more energy and plan to continue to use them!

Hello! I was just wondering if anyone else experienced a drop in B.P. or heart rate post-operatively after lap band? My B.P. normally runs around 120/70 - 120/80. The evening of surgery, it dropped to 80's/high 40's, and my pulse in between 40-50's. My doctor wasn't concerned since I was otherwise asymptomatic - no lightheadedness, no dizziness, etc. He attributed it to anesthesia, and the nurse suggested that pain meds could be a contributing factor as well. I am home now, day 1 post op, and using a home blood pressure cuff, I am still running around 89/56 with a pulse of 40-50. Has anyone experienced similar symptoms? I could use some reassurance! Thank you!!!

I've thought about trying the Unjury cheese sauce. It's really as good as they say, huh? What do you use it on? Thanks for any info!

I love egg salad too, but haven't had it since I've been banded. How do you prepare it? Is there a particular brand of low fat mayo you use? I think I've hesitated because I haven't really liked the low fat mayo's I've tried in the past, but now that I've been eating healthy, maybe I should give it a shot again!

It is important to get your Protein in first. This will help with hunger management as well as help with energy and sugar balance. Fruits and vegetables should come next and they are important for antioxidants and to boost the immune system. Whole grains and starches come last, and they are a good source of Vitamins, minerals and Fiber. Soy based products are great too. For protein, chicken, fish, lean red meat but juicy (so marinades work great, just watch the sodium and go for low sodium marinades if possible), low fat cottage cheese, eggs - preferably egg whites, but no more than 3 whole eggs per week unless you use egg beaters, low fat deli cheese, greek yogurt or lite yogurt, etc. Peanut Butter is a great choice too in moderation. My nutritionist recommmended the Teddy brand of peanut butter as it is made from only nuts and no other ingredients, so it is healthier. Almonds are a great snack too. For a whole grain snack or to go with cottage cheese, the Ak Mak crackers (whole wheat sesame crackers) are delicious and crunchy. There are five to one serving so it fills you up. Laughing cow light swiss cheese is yummy spread on the Ak Mak crackers too. WASA crackers are another healthy choice. Soy crisps (I love the sea salt) are a great snack choice too and there is 8g of protein in 21 crisps. As far as vegetables and fruits go - just take the skins off of fruits such as apples, grapes, plums, etc., as they tend to get stuck. Be careful of stringy vegetables (celery, asparagus, etc.), but most veges are great and can be chopped in stir fry (try to eat the chicken or protein first), and can be eaten raw (even better), or in salad. For starch, sweet potato is preferable over white potato. Edamame is a great source of protein and is fun to eat too, especially if you pull the pea pods out yourself. Rice is known to get stuck, but quinoa is a great alternative and there are a lot of good recipes out there that use quinoa. Oh, and there are a lot of great recipes right here on lap band talk! Check out the food and recipes forum. There are many quick crock pot or slow cooker recipes too - chicken dishes, chili recipes, etc... Good luck!

I'm not quite a seasoned lap bander, in fact, I'm still a newbie! However, my surgeon is very informative and his practice has support groups, nutrition groups, etc. The nutritionist even takes us to the grocery store to teach us how to shop healthy and out to dinner to assist us with implementing our new dietary lifestyle! Anyway, here is what I can share with you based on my personal experience: (It will vary a little from patient to patient as not all doctors advise the same exact post op instructions) The first two weeks after surgery I was on a full liquid diet. From 2-4 weeks post op, it was mushy foods only. This meant foods blended in a blender or foods that were of baby food consistency. Scrambled eggs were allowed at this point as well. From the four week point, I could begin eating soft solids and begin transitioning to regular foods. I was instructed to eat bites no larger than the size of one die, and to eat three times a day with no Snacks in between or if I really felt the need to snack, two snacks per day, one between Breakfast and lunch and one between lunch and dinner but no more than 100 calories per snack. Portion control was stressed. It was suggested to eat no more than one cup of food total per meal. This was to be broken down into Protein first, then fruits and vegetables, then a starch. Protein, such as chicken for example, should be no more than 3 oz. total. I was advised to weigh my food, and to eat small portions very slowly while chewing at least 15-20 times before swallowing. No liquids from the moment the food touches my lips until two hours after I eat. After the two hour point, I can drink as much as I want until the next bite of food touches my lips at the next meal. No carbonated beverages and limited or no caffeine. I was told to drink at least 8 8oz. glasses of Water per day. No juices or sugary drinks. Skim milk only as far as milk is concerned. I was advised to eat at least 50g of protein and to take a mulitivitamin (chewable) and viactiv with Calcium (one or two per day but not taken at the same time because your body can only absorb so much at once). I was advised to make sure my chicken or any other meat for that matter, was very moist so as to limit the risk of getting stuck. I was advised to stay away from asparagus, the stringy part of oranges (the pith as it is called), breads, unless they are very thin and toasted such as weight watchers wheat bread, and to avoid slider foods which are foods that slide down easily and are unhealthy (ice cream, full fat puddings, etc.) I was advised to make healthy, low fat choices, to stay around 1200 calories per day and to exercise at least 30 minutes every day. I hope this helps, but if you want more specifics, I would be happy to share particular foods that were recommended to me. I also have to mention the unjury Protein powder. (www.unjury.com) I have at least one shake a day, usually for breakfast when my band is tightest, to meet my daily protein goal. One scoop of vanilla Unjury with a cup of skim milk and ice. I often blend a banana in as well. It is delicious and one scoop of protein powder contains 21g of protein. Finally, I did not feel restriction two weeks out either. It usually takes a few fills to find the right restriction, but for others, fills aren't even necessary as they feel enough restriction with just the band. It is totally an individualized thing. You'll figure out what's right for you. I would suggest keeping to the portion sizes and dietary guidelines, even if you don't feel restriction. Otherwise, what's the point, right! I would also suggest finding some support groups for lap band patients if not a doctor and/or lap band nutritionist who can guide you in the right direction. Post op support is so very important as there are bound to be questions and concerns that will arise, and simply to help keep you on track. Good luck!

Wow, that was some good information! Thanks for sharing, and congrats on your success!

When someone drives you crazy - walk, dance exercise! Great advice! Love it!

Venting is good and necessary sometimes! Sometimes the closer you are to people, the easier it is for them to hurt you just because they are comfortable enough with you and trust you enough to feel that they can say anything - this includes being critical at times if the mood hits them because they know you'll love them anyway... I think it's great you had the surgery and made yourself a priority for once. Sounds like you do a lot for your Mom in the way of emotional support. It's okay to take your turn! Hope things work out.

Did you try to have a heart to heart with your mother and explain that you were only getting pineapple juice and that it is something your doctor recommended? It's hard to advise not knowing what type of relationship the two of you have, but that would probably be a good first step before the animosity and misunderstandings worsen. Good luck!

I completely agree that some bruising is normal and can't be helped, and that bruising in and of itself isn't reason to label a doctor or practicioner inexperienced. However, on a separate note, as with any medical procedure, (blood draws for example), I also think there are definitely some personnel more experienced and good at what they do than others. Example: Some phlebotomists take several tries to find a vein, and others get it on the first try. I assume the same variance is possible with fills. It is definitely a skill and not all practicioners are equally skilled. (I can attest to this after years of working in hospitals!) I think that it comes down to patient comfort. If someone isn't comfortable with the person doing the fills, they should request someone else. No need for added anxiety, right! lol

Just curiously, since you insisted on the fluoroscopy for fills, does your insurance cover that or do you have to pay out of pocket?

That's great! I found the first 2-4 days to be so difficult. I was plagued with headaches on those first few days. If you are doing well so far, it will only get easier! By the end of the two weeks, I was feeling great. Good luck to you! What an exciting time. So much to look forward to!

Yes, I did. In fact, I just posted about it a few days ago. I am not going back to the same person. I requested my surgeon for the next time because he did it the first time and it was smooth and painless. I know just how you feel. The second fill, which was not with my surgeon, was painful and there was a lot of rough poking and pushing and the needle even broke on the first attempt! I would request someone else to do the fill like I did. I don't think it should ever be that unpleasant. Good luck!

Yes, it's when you burp and vomit a little with the burp. Pleasant stuff huh? lol Fortunately, I have not experienced this!

Is the answering service aware that if you start vomiting and it doesn't stop, you risk the lap band slipping? Most people, particularly an answering service, are just uninformed about the risks/issues involved with lap band. Is there a walk in clinic near you anywhere? If you can make it through until Monday, at least get a script then so you have it for the future even if this bug passes and you stay healthy. I don't blame you for not wanting to go to the E.R.! Good luck...keep us posted!

PB stands for productive burp.

Get a prescription from your doctor for zofran or something else that will prohibit vomiting. I keep a bottle in my purse just in case. I have four kids too, and someone is always sick with vomiting at some point throughout the winter. I was told that if you do start vomiting and can't keep things down, to see your doc right away for an unfill. However, if you have an anti-vomiting med on hand, that might not be necessary. Good luck! Hope the bug passes quickly and everyone is feeling better soon!

Welcome Tessa and congratulations on your success! Sounds like you will be a welcome addition here at Lap Band Talk!

Are you doing any Protein shakes? Some say not to replace food with liquids, however, by doing a Protein shake and adding things to it, like fruits (mixed berried, banana, peaches, etc.), you can be getting lots of protein (unjury Protein powder has 21g protein per scoop) as well as some bulk and calories from the fruit. You can add yogurt too if you are having a hard time meeting the calorie requirement. When you do chicken and veges, try stir fry with a little bit of olive oil. You can get some healthy calories in that way too. As ANewDawn mentioned (above), I was also told to eat up to one cup per meal and that it was okay to have a snack in between if necessary. Sometimes diabetics can't go 5 hours without a snack, so they eat every 3 hours or so, and even non diabetics that have difficulty going such long stretches can have a snack in between but usually it is advised to keep it to 100 calories or so. I think you can get creative with your food choices to meet the caloric intake. Eating too few calories will slow down your metabolism and inhibit weight loss. Some people will post a sample of what they ate for one whole day, and ask for advice. Perhaps you want to do that? I think the Lap band community is very helpful with suggestions and ideas to tweak your daily diet. And don't worry, you'll get this right. It just takes time and sometimes bouncing things off of other people if you don't have a structured support system yet.

Interesting. Yes, the experiences definitely do differ from surgeon to surgeon and patient to patient. For example, my surgeon told me there was no stitching involved in placing the port. He described that there is a mesh like backing that once placed, encourages tissue growth in and through it so that it eventually becomes one with the tissue which is what anchors it in place. I'm with carolinagirl as far as the pulling/tearing sensations being the formation of scar tissue. After two abdominal surgeries and two c-sections, I am very familiar with that feeling!

Definitely a good idea to see the nutritionist. Most nutritionists recommend between 1000 and 1500 calories for lap band patients (depending on the patient) with most trying to stay around or just below the 1200 range. 600 calories is definitely not enough to sustain your physical health and that could contribute to your feeling of fatigue, mood swings, etc. I would aim for at least 1000 calories. You mentioned struggling to get your calories as it is (regarding the suggestion to increase your protein). Can you share more info on that? Why is it hard to get your calories in? Are you feeling too full or are you having trouble knowing what to eat? I'm sure we can all help you with that if we understand better what the specific issue is. Also, in terms of your bowels, have you tried Miralax or anything else to help? It's hard for lap band patients to get enough Fiber in their diet sometimes. There are several over the counter options to help with constipation. That's one issue you should be able to eliminate. (no pun intended!)

You gotta love getting to the bottom of it like that! Glad it was an easy fix. Headaches are right up there with backaches... awful!