DeLarla

A little advice regarding your pre-op diet: Every doctor gives different instructions for each patient. I had surgery with 6 other people (2 Lopez patients, 4 Ortiz patients.) Each of us had different pre-op instrucions. One girl didn't get any at all because her doctor forgot to send them, then she had issues getting her bloodwork because she ate that morning. Another girl had to stick to liquid Protein shakes for 3 weeks prior. I was told a low cal diet for a week then liquid fast the day before. Others went out for big Mexico dinner the night before. Regardless what they tell you, I suggest a liquid fast the day before for the simple reason of avoiding a big bowel moevment after surgery. I juice-fasted the day before and the day of my surgery (3pm) so I didn't have a bowel movement afterwards. The thought of one coming on horrified me because after the surgery I felt like hell. I certainly couldn't bend over. My body was pumped swollen with gas (from anesthesia) plus I was sore, swollen, grouchy, uncomfortable. Plus you'll have an IV attached to a pole that you have to drag everywhere you go. No, I did not want to attempt a BM after surgery! I don't think I could have cleaned myself either, and that's not the kinda thing I'd buzz my nurse for! Hope this wasn't too much info!

Shelly, thanks for finding that post from Coffeewench. I chatted with her once and she is amazing. If you didn't copy that for me, I'd still be a wreck. Thanks! Hey, I looked at your new pics but I've never seen a "before" one. You look great now though!

June will fly by and you'll be banded in no time. Who is that hottie with the new dew and amazing words? Far out Don! I feel really fortunate that I've already accepted that weight loss will be slow. No, it's not fair that we can gain weight faster than we can lose it, but such is life. I actually gained 2 pounds while eating a fraction of the way I did last month; I didn't want the scale to rule my emotions, so I decided to wait till my one month post-op to step on again. That damn scale calls to me daily, but he can go to hell. As long as I see one pound lower, I'll be happy. I know that my body has to let go of the weight eventually. What goes up, must come down now that I'm eating children's portions.

I wish the local guy was cheaper. I would never consider getting a fill without fluoroscopy until after my first fill. I want to make sure everything is okay with my band the first time.

I had my surgery in Mexico with Dr. Lopez. He charges $50 for a fill plus $100 for the x-ray. I can get a round-trip ticket to San Diego for under $100. Then I'd pay a taxi around $20 bucks to drop me off at the border, where Dr. Lopez's staff would pick me up then return me after the fill. Total cost under $300. OR: A local doctor charges $150 for an initial consult. Then he charges $300 for a fill, plus you have to pay the hospital's expenses for the x-ray/upper GI, which would be around $500. So $950 for a local fill vs. $300 in Mexico.

Wow, your Kansas doc is cheaper than Mexico docs!

Francesca, sorry baby! I just read about your PBs and also all the responses. There's such good info here. Yesterday I had my first really tiny PB. It was my fault because I ate lunch 2 hours late, so I was starving and probably ate too fast (even though I thought I ate super slow.) Cause 1/2 hour later I was too full. After my tiny little BP I decided not to eat dinner. So I had liquids last night (warm decaf) and felt better this morning.

I wrote down your number Teresa. I've been too busy this weekend to call anyone since my sister's in town. I'm doing better today. I even went to the gym for a good workout then grabbed my dogs and took them for a walk, then my feet fell off, but at least I earned some laying around time. I just got back from a buffet and did extremely well. I used to eat 2-3 heaping plates plus several desserts. Today I lightly loaded one plate. I ate a few bites of everthing including shrimp dipped in coctail sauce with extra horseradish, oh yum. My sister offered to share her plate of desserts so I had little bites of her stuff. I didn't allow myself to get full. I notice that no matter how slow I eat, a half-hour after I'm done eating I get even fuller. So I watched them take my leftovers away and wasn't nearly as devastated as I thought I'd be. It's interesting that my choices were all protein, so apparently that's what my body needs now. I usually pile high with carbs, veggies, etc. Today I just needed MEAT. GIVE ME MEAT. Now I'm craving a Caesar's Salad for dinner, so that's what I'll have with bits of chicken. And I'm craving tomatoes. My band was my friend today! Very nice.

I'm so worried for band babies who don' t know these boards. Once again you people leave me in tears. Shelly, it's like you crawled inside my head and stole my words; where did you find that entry? Was that Robin writing? If so, I've chatted with her before, and she's incredible. Shelly, those are the exact words I needed to hear at the exact moment. When I read your reply I felt the noose around my neck slide to the floor. Fox sounds brilliant. You also helped the other day by giving me links to a fill video but my puter wouldn't let me view it. Your info is just the stuff I need. I was devastated yesterday because I tried replying for 2 hours but something awful suddenly happened to my puter, and it said this site no longer existed. Talk about freaking out! I felt like I was stranded on an island watching the rescue plane fly by. I thought the site went away, but it's a new morning and the site is working fine so I'm breathing again. Alex, do I mind you answering? Are you nuts? You've been nothing but helpful, wonderful, wise, supportive, amazing. I feel privileged every time you respond. Please never stop. Donali, give me your hand so I may have the honor of kissing your ring. You answered my worst fear of not being able to get back on track. You're right, for some reason it's different with the band and I didn't spend the next day in a downward spiral at the nearest buffet. I can't get to the link you offered, but I always cry when you write. Don't get me wrong, I'm one of those sappy romantics that love a good cry, and these are all really good cries! C, I read every word and drank as much Water as possible yesterday. I've also taken steps to occupy my nights instead of watching TV to distract from eating. Staying occupied on my home puter instead of the TV always works, but my puter takes an hour to read a couple posts. I asked hubby to wire this room for cable, which he'll do this weekend. I'm ordering cable to eliminate the frustration and use my puter instead of food. I also picked up my guitar that I bought 20 years ago but never really learned. I found my Eagles book and can already do a really bad intro to Tequila Sunrise, which drives my husband nuts so it's dual purpose (paybacks for his blaring sports.) Theresa, thank you, thank you. I'll be calling you this weekend. I paid cash (ha ha, I mean credit) for my surgery, so what's another couple hundred in long distance bills? I call my band buddies religiously and it helps enormously. I learned long ago that "you're only as sick as your secrets" so even though it made me sick to my stomach to tell you guys how I ate, within minutes you were all there to fix me right up. I owe you all the world because yesterday I barely ate. I never got hungry but ate a small amount of tuna twice because my bod needs the Protein. My incision can't heal without it. Thank you all from the center of my heart, which is now two sizes bigger.

I feel like I'm hiding the worst secret from my band buddies and I really need help right now. I was doing great, then last night my old inner monster took over and I ate 2/3 of a huge burrito at 9pm. I ate really slow and chewed really well while knowing how wrong I was. I felt a full gassy feeling in my throat, but I was able to eat the whole thing. I went to bed feeling uncomfortable in my sternum. I'm not sure where my stomach is. I actually feel full around my port. My port still hasn't healed, so when I eat, the food presses against my port incision, and that's where I feel full. I woke up uncomfy in the middle of the night, but keep in mind I used to go to bed sick to my stomach every night. I still didn't eat as much as I'd usually eat, but I really need help so I never, ever, ever do that again. I could use phone numbers to call people during my danger-hours. My danger zone is after 8:00 p.m. (Nevada time.) I go to bed at 10:00, and you'd think 2 hours without eating is no problem, but I can eat more in those hours than most people eat in 2 days. Did you guys screw up when your band was less than a month old? And how come I didn't have a PB? Why does my body allow me to abuse it like this while others throw up? I'm so horrified about this. If I don't grab hold of reality, I'm doomed.

Fills, barium flows, x-rays... it's all too confusing. I guess I'll have to wait till I need a fill to see it all first-hand. Why would I pay extra for an x-ray if they can't see anything? Very confused here, Miss I Lost One Hundred Pounds! Geeze, I can't even imagine how you must feel. Awesome!

I found some powder that derives its protein from milk and eggs at Smith's grocery store. I use milk, a banana and a couple ice cubes and there's no grit at all.

Dr. Lopez and Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana used to be partners and are both highly experienced. They split the partnership because the practice got too busy. Dr. Lopez did mine, but I also met Dr. Ortiz. I highly recommend either one. I found a follow-up doctor in Las Vegas where I live, but I'll go back to Mexico when I'm ready for a fill to save money. Dr. Teng in Vegas charges $150 for a consult plus $300 for a fill plus the hospital's charges for doing the fill under flouroscopy. I wouldn't feel safe getting a fill unless the doc could see what he was doing. I'm a little worried about my port, which still isn't healed, so maybe I'll get a fill before I need one just so my doc can take a look at my band to make sure all's well.

Holy smoke! Two weeks is right around the corner! Tell us fast when you get the date! Rads!!!

I'm a newbie still recovering from my band surgery. But all this talk about fills will help me when I'm ready for my first. Did your doctor do the fill under flouroscopy or x-ray? Can't they see exactly how much is going in? How can a doctor be sure the saline gets in if there's no x-ray?

Kellymoos, I can't figure out how to send you a private message. I want to post my little picture. You said you'd help me shrink it. Well, I have some pics from over the weekend... what do I do? delarla@juno.com Thanks!

Speechless. Wow. Far out! Hi five! Way to go!

Hi Joyce. First rule is never, ever, ever drink with a meal. I was told not even to sip a little. I just posted issues about drinking last week, so I learned a lot. I also spoke with my doctors about sipping liquids with meals, and they said no, no, no. First, there's not enough room in the band. Second, the liquid pushes the food out faster so you're hungrier faster. Liquids are to be taken 35-45 minutes before and after meals, but never with them. As far as getting a fill so soon after surgery, I hate to say this, but you're gonna have to do more work and rely less on the band. My doc said the band is only a tool, so you have to stop the snacking and stick to three meals a day. Did they give you dietary guidelines? My instructions are to have one Protein shake and two meals every day. And inbetween meals to drink a lot of liquids. My old habits are far from gone. I was really unhappy about the way I ate yesterday. I was eating while I was preparing meals. A lick here, a couple bites there. And I wasn't hungry for dinner, but I ate anyway because of bad habits. So I got too full last night. That's why I logged on to these message boards first thing this morning. I really need you guys now. Be a strong bear! Call me at home if you have the urge to eat. Send me an e-mail to delarla@juno.com and ask for my phone number. And for anyone else willing to help, I'd love your numbers for when I need strong support.

I'm on day 2 of mushy foods. Someone said refried beans were their staple during this phase, so I just tried some. I got the side order from Taco Bell, which has a pinch of cheese, and I used 2 packs of hot sauce. I thought I ate really slow, but apparently not slow enough. I was able to finish the container with no problem (about 4-5 oz.) However, five minutes later I'm feeling too full. I don't feel sick at all, but I feel too much food in my belly. I wanted to post this because I had no idea until now what my new band would tolerate, and now I know that a kid-size portion is too much. I should have eaten 2/3 of the container.

I'm not having problems getting down any foods. I think that's a problem! I think I ate too much yesterday. This is a very confusing feeling since my fullness is very high, which is the same sensation I used to have when I had a hiatal hernia. Exactly where in the belly should we be feeling this fullness?

I had 4 chips with bean dip tonight because we have company and I wanted to feel normal. I chew-chew-chewed and had no problem. I also ate noodles today and a little tuna fish. I've lost 26 pounds but I don't think I'm eating enough. I'm afraid to eat till I'm full.

Ah, I see now. Today I had jello as part of my meal. Jello is just solidified liquid. But I'm still in mushy food week. Next week I'll get damn serious. Also next week I'm having my husband nail my scale to the ceiling because I've been getting on it every morning. Stop it!

Hey, I just noticed that I'm now a Senior Member. Is that because I made my first real poop this morning? Is that too much sharing? Dying laughing on my end. New subject: My friend, Karen, just got back from her first fill and told me all about it. Wild, simply wild. Dr. Lopez charges $50 for the fill plus $100 for the xray (plus traveling expenses.) I found a doc in Vegas. He charges $150 for the initial consult, $300 for the fill, plus separate hospital charges for the upper GI. Cha-Ching!

First: Cheetos - yum. What about Flamin' Hot Cheetos? So, if you can't eat subs, burgers, fries, etc., what do you eat? I'm lucky that chicken is my favorite food, but will I be able to eat at least a bite of my hubby's pizza or his sub? What about tortillas? Hmm, life without Italian Subs. Hmmm.

The odd thing about drinking with meals is that I never drank before my band. Hubby always thought I was weird because I never order a beverage (probably my fat mind not wanting liquid to fill up perfectly good food-room.) Naturally, the minute I was told never to drink with meals again has me wanting to drink with meals. Go figya! But what is the reason behind not sipping with a meal? Just curious.