Cindy2013

Leslie, I don't know if you were asking me or mseven, but I'm supposed to stay on full liquids until next Monday, at which point I can move to blended foods, and then mushy a week later. This full liquids is difficult for me, but other than the small bites of bagel, I'm doing okay with it. It just takes a lot of motivation and I'm hungry and not feeling satisfied. Just a few more days though. Would you mind sending me the list for some extra ideas. I'd love that. Thanks. reachcindy@plmw.com Fellow bandsters, we can do this! mseven, just remember how bad you wanted this.

I too was banded on the 18th and I so very badly want to chew something. I actually took a couple of tiny pieces of a bagel and chewed it for a long time before swallowing. With each meal I prepare for my family, I'm struggling to avoid the food and just drink my shake or have a yogurt. Tonight I did taste the sauce from the Pasta dish. I'm on the full liquid phase right now, but that is just not satisfying. What did your doctor say about eating foods? I don't really understand WHY we are supposed to move so slowly to each phase. I have no fill at all, and other than a little burping, I haven't even really felt like I have a band. Have you tried different kinds of shakes? I don't have any real advice because I'm having to work really hard to resist the temptation to eat. But we can do this. Message me too if you want to talk. I'm just 3 days behind you. Full liquid tomorrow--Protein shake at Breakfast, unjury chicken Soup for lunch, a yogurt for a snack, and then I'm really not sure what I want to do for supper yet. That's the meal I struggle with.

I like the Premier Protein ones from Costco or Sam's Club. I also ordered the sample pack from Unjury. The Chocolate Splendor is wonderful and so I ordered a container of that. I plan to pick up some of the WalMart stuff tomorrow so that I can have a variety. I really really like the Premier Protein--160 calories, 30 grams protein, and the carbs are only 2 (I think). My dietician told me that you need to make sure that the ratio of carbs to protein is less than 1:2, and the lower the carbs the better.

So exciting for you to have a new-ish wardrobe! I need to head down to my basement and search through some things, but I think they will be so outdated that I should have given them away way back when I stopped wearing them. I too had an exciting thing on Sunday. I wore a skirt that I hadn't been able to wear for a while. This beautiful black skirt is very slimming anyway, and when I put it on, I had a couple of extra inches in the waistband. Previously I could barely fasten it. It felt really good to sit through church knowing that I am losing. No one really said anything to me, but that day will come soon. My pants are getting very baggy and I'm about to discard a couple of the pair. Now that feels really really good.

I'm so very excited to move from Clear Liquids to full liquids. It isn't officially supposed to happen until tomorrow, but after reading other post op diets, I decided one day early wouldn't hurt me. I enjoyed a yogurt today, some milk, and I had a couple of Protein Shakes. I feel satisfied! But I have a question. All along when I drink something, I feel the need to burp afterwards. Even if it is only a couple of sips of Water. This is not new to today's diet changes, but has been going on the whole time. I have no fill in my band at this time, so really there isn't much restriction other than some possible swelling. So my question, the burping--is it gas from the surgery, or is it my band talking to me? What are the rest of you feeling?

Me too! Today is day 8, and I really want something to chew. I actually did cheat a bit this morning and tried a little bit of a bagel, tiny pieces, with cream cheese on it. Didn't have any problem at all, which is bad because now I want to cheat again. But I'm trying to be strong. Full liquid phase from now through Sunday, and then I can have blended food. Tonight's dinner is an unjury chicken Soup flavor Protein Shake. Yum--not. I am keeping an image in my head of when I was thin. I'm also trying to remember what it felt like to be comfortable sitting on my husband's lap, or to have him pick me up, or to have his arms around me without me feeling embarrassed because of the flab. Now that is motivation enough to go drink that chicken soup shake.

We're "judged" by others about our weight, financial status, family status, if our clothes match, if our hair is perfect, what car we drive, what our education is, etc. For every decision we make, someone has an opinion. But that is just it--an opinion. What it all comes down to is are you worth it? Do you love yourself enough to ignore what other people say and do this based on your own opinion? Living the lapband lifestyle is not easy. After surgery you will have to make decisions every day regarding what you will put in your mouth. You will have to make decisions regarding exercise. When everyone around you is having a pizza or hot fudge sundae, you will have to make a decision of whether YOU will join in with them. When the family wants fried chicken, you will have to make a decision to eat something healthier. You will have to stand up for yourself every single day. If the people around you are so controlling, then perhaps you first need to learn how to be confident enough with yourself that their opinions don't crush you. In my opinion, until you can love yourself enough that it doesn't matter what people say, you aren't ready for the lapband. Only you know what is right for you. You KNOW that your current health status is not good. Figure out what YOU need to do about it and then make it happen, regardless of what others think or say. That's just my 2 cents worth. I know the decision is hard, but love that kid (that you are holding in your picture) enough to make something positive happen. Good luck.

You go girl!

Congrats! From here on out it will get easier. The first 2-3 days were the worst for me. Of course, I'm only a few days ahead of you so I don't know what happens next, but I am just about to switch from clear liquids to full liquids. Can't wait! I have some egg custard calling my name, along with a glass of milk. Anyway, I agree with Bubie1916, walk walk walk. And make sure you get lots of fluids. Good luck.

Hello! When the doctor does the surgery, he has to pump your abdomen full of gas. This gets trapped in different areas and seems to accumulate in our shoulders at times. Walking is the best way to get rid of it. It can last for even a couple of weeks, but mine seems to be on the minimal side at this point. The more you belch, the better because that gets it out. This pain is very uncomfortable for some of us, not so much for others.

I've been taking my pills since 2 days post op. A couple of them are quite large. My doc said it would not be a problem if I took it slow, one at a time, and waited a few seconds in between. I don't have any fill at this time though, but even then, he said I won't have a problem. I used to throw the handful in my mouth at one time and swallow them all. It is hard to get used to taking them one at a time, but honestly, I haven't felt any problem yet at all. Today is day 6, and I take them 3 times a day. I'd say try one whole and see what happens. If you have to drink a lot of water to get it go to down, you'll know that wasn't a good idea.

I'm on day 6 of the clear liquids and am so ready to move forward to full liquids. I have to cook for my family and it is difficult. Interestingly enough, upon discharge from the hospital the nurses gave me post op diet instructions that were outlined for the next 45 days. It says clear liquids days 1-3, full liquids days 4-15, nad then more to it after that. These instructions are totally different than what my doctor's dietician gave me, so I called her to see if things had changed. She told me to follow the original instructions and that she didn't know why the hospital has been giving these out but she was going to put a stop to it! Anyway, it has been very difficult to not move forward onto the full liquid phase, because I know it is legal with some doctors. I so want a cup of warm vanilla pudding, or a milk product. But I will be good. Just one more full day of jello, broth, teas, and crystal light, and then I'll enjoy the next phase. Discipline--I've never been good at that. But I'm learning.

Sweetpea, Alita, and Manda, you've made me feel normal again. I just couldn't understand why I was hurting when it sounded like others were not really having a hard time at all. It is good to read that this is all normal and we all have pain. I'm not a baby, not normally a whiner. I just had read on here so many people who sailed through the recovery, and I anticipated doing the same thing. I have had 15 or 16 surgeries through the years and have always been able to deal with the pain well. I expected this one to be a walk in the park. It isn't. But I am doing much better. I almost went to a funeral today of a dear sweet lady who passed in our community. I sent my husband and daughter without me because I knew it would be a 2 hour funeral. It ended up being 2.5 hours that they had to sit through, so I'm glad I didn't go. Just not quite ready for that yet. I will try church tomorrow and see how that goes. Every day is getting easier. I am not taking the pain meds for this surgery anymore. Just my regulars now. I am surprised with the discomfort in my stomach area every time I drink something. It causes me to burp a lot. I'm being careful to drink slowly and only about 1/2 cup at a time, but it still creates a strange feeling and causes lots of burping. Is everyone else doing that???????/

Okay fellow bandsters, I have a question. Most of you have posted that you didn't have much pain post op and that it was not really a big deal. Are you just portraying the tough side of yourself, or was it really that easy. Because for me, it is not easy. I have 6 incisions in my belly and a couple of them hurt when I walk, sit, laugh, jiggle in any way. And the shoulder pain is a bit more than just uncomfortable. Of course I'm adding this pain to my already chronic pain stuff and my neck pain is not under control, but I'm having a harder time than I thought from reading on these boards. And I'm normally a really tough one. I had a full open me up hysterectomy with over 6 hours of surgery from scar tissue. Doc said I'd be in hospital for 4-5 days. I went home in 2.5 days. Went back to work in one week rather than the 6 recommended. This shows that I'm tough. But not so this time. Is it because I had a bleeder that they had to clamp during the surgery? Or because of my post op experience in the hospital? I had my treadmill and I'm walking for 5-10 minutes every hour during the day and I'll get up a couple of times during the night and walk too. So I'm doing that I need to do to help with the abdominal gas. I'm just surprised at how uncomfortable the lapband recovery is. I have definitely had much worse, but this isn't easy either. Someone else please let me know that you had pain and had to take your lortab elixir.

Hey, I'd love to join in too. I was banded on 2-18. Have lots of support at home from my husband and daughter, and when the older children come home they are great too. But none of them have a clue about lapbanding, and so it is nice to discuss the things that come up with those of you who do. I have one more day of the clear liquid diet before my doctor allows full liquids. I am so anxious to have a bit of yogurt or pudding along with milk products. One more day! Hey, since we are all new. What does your belly look like? I have 6 little incisions. 2 of them are about 2" 3 are just like one cm, and the last one is about an inch. Then I am so totally bruised all around the larger 2 incisions. I'd love to hear about everyone else's artwork on their tummies.

My full liquid period consists of the following: 3 Protein drinks and 2 Snacks. Snack choices (only ones allowed) are skim or 1% milk, light yogurt with no fruit chunks, all Clear Liquids allowed previously in first week post op, Protein Drink, strained or pureed soup, vegetable juice, V-8 and V-8 Splash. SNACKS ARE LIMITED TO 8 OUNCE SERVING SIZE. In addition to those items, we are supposed to drink 120 ounces of non-calorie liquid. If we have something with calories, it has to be less than 15 cal per serving. Such as crystal light, etc.

My doctor insists that we shrink our liver. He explained to me that he has to move the liver out of the way and that it is very delicate and can rip easily. I actually had to do 3 weeks of the pre-op because my surgery date was postponed for a week. That was hard and I must admit that between the 2nd and 3rd weeks I cheated over that weekend. There was a guy waiting for surgery in the stall next to me. The doctor came in and discussed that he only lost 7 pounds and there was a possibility he wouldn't be able to do the surgery if the liver was still too large. Scary! I'm glad I had lost 15 pounds. Doctor took the guy back and I didn't hear what happened in the end. I sure hope he went through with placing the band for that patient. It would suck to get in to surgery and be closed up and told to go diet some more. Strange how some docs are strict about this and others are not.

Good luck KVR1977. I hope all is going well and that you are comfortable.

Today has been a bit better. I think the problem was when they reversed all pain meds and I got behind the 8 ball and just couldn't get caught up with good pain relief. I don't know, but this has not been easy. But like I said, today has been better. I only took the Lortab Elixir once during the day, and I just took it as I am about to try to get some sleep. Maybe I just feel the increase in pain because I feel so crappy everywhere else and it is all compounded. My goal with having the LB surgery is to feel good again. This initial post op stuff will be over soon and I will be on to losing the excess weight so that my body doesn't hurt so much. Sorry for the complaining. I just needed to vent, and honestly I wanted to hear that others have had a difficult time as well. Chksweetpea and Alita, thanks for responding. I have a dear friend who brought me some things today. 3 bottles of propel flavored water, some artificial sweetener stuff to go in my teas (I'm not enjoying the different flavors of tea), some fun colored socks to make me feel pretty, and than a nice meal for the family so that I don't have to cook. Tristan (the friend) stayed and visited for about an hour and it was nice to just have some girl time. I love my friends. I've got this--I can do it!

Alita, you posted that you had to go back to work on the 18th. How did that go? I hope you are able to get enough rest to heal up and that you are doing okay. Can't imagine going back to work that soon. You are a trooper.

Thanks Manda. How did LadyPrice do? I haven't seen anything from her.

Thanks Manda. It was very scary. I'm just not meant to have surgery because I've had problems before. But it is great to be started now on this journey and I am enjoying sugar free jello and chicken broth.

I'm finally home. I got home last Tuesday night. Surgery went well, but in the recovery room they couldn't get my post op pain under control, because i have built up a tolerance to pain medications. I guess the combo of tramadol, skelaxin, and neurontin hasn't been good for me. I've been taking this for about 6 years now. kklThey used a lot more anesthesia than normal. Post op it was very difficult to get me comfortable and they finally took me to my room. They ended up giving me a double dose of phenergan along with demerol, and I stopped breathing. They had to bring the crash cart in and the anesthesia got me breathing again. This just goes to show that every surgery has its risks. They gave me something that reverses all of the meds in your system while I was not breathing. It must have been 3-4 minutes. My husband was there and he said it all happened so fast, but was still like it was in slow motion. It freaked him out, as it should. I spend a very uncomfortable 24 hours after that. They wouldn't give me anything (not even my regular pain medications). I've had several surgeries through the years and I've never had a problem with controlling the pain, but this was bad for me. I don't think. Finally about 4 in the morning they gave me lortab elixir, and I was able to calm down and it took the edge off. Then Tuesday morning they gave me back my regular meds and I was able to get on top of my other pain. But then the doctor insisted that I stay through teh day so that he could monitor my reaction to my normal medications along with the lortab elixir. Good news though is that I have my new band, and that I'm happy to be alive. Clear liquids for me for the next few days, and then on to full liquids beginning day 8. So super excited to get on with losing weight. I'm the same weight as I was day of surgery, which means that I did not fill up fluids. Yay, I'm going to lose 100 pounds! I can do it!!!!!

Well, I'm waiting and waiting and waiting. My surgeon had a couple of big cases this morning that took longer than expected, so my surgery keeps getting bumped back to a later time. Hopefully I go in about 20 minutes. Sure hope I've made the right decision because there is no turning back now! I'm not really nervous, feel calm about the surgery itself. Just a little apprehensive of adding the post op pain to my normal pain. I'll report in tomorrow. Using my husband's laptop right now and he will be taking it with him when he leaves the hospital in a few hours. Anyway, I hope all of you are doing well. Ladydreadhead, I think your day is tomorrow. Good luck. I don't have time to check for any others, but I do wish all of you good health and low pain. And lots of weight loss!