cat whisperer

I hope everything went ok today!! let us know how you are when you can!

Take it very, very slowly to start. I had lost weight a few years back, and worked up to a 5K. I signed up for it, so it gave me a huge motivation to keep going, but I allowed plenty of time - several months (about 6, if I remember correctly.) This was starting from scratch. I followed a couch to 5K program (there are many available if you google it) and I did have an experienced runner as a mentor. I still wasn't able to "run" the whole 5K - I had to stop and walk a couple of times, but many people do. Not comparing yourself to anyone else is also very important as everyone's pace is different and how quickly they improve. I highly recommend reading a book or two by John Bingham - "No Need for Speed" is a great one!! he started off obese and now runs marathons... very slowly I will give you the link to his website - well worth a look for any beginning runner!! http://www.johnbingham.com/index.php I'm going to start back myself in a couple of weeks when I heal from my surgery. Good luck!!

Definitely recipes - I second Leanne on that. I also second Kris150 on including psychological issues that arise. This has been a big part of the journey for me, and I wasn't necessarily that prepared for some of the strange and powerful emotions that came up. A journal section might be a good idea as well - possibly with motivational sayings or ideas to focus one's writing.

I may be getting a bit of a fill at my two week appointment because I had all the fluid taken out for my "emergency" - he said we will see how I'm doing.

Hi - I had assumed it was empty as well - so I didn't quite get it when they were talking about removing fluid. I asked him about it, and he said they usually "prime" it a bit... he did take out 4cc of fluid leaving my band empty for now. So yeah, it was a surprise to me as well - I thought he had said no fluid as well, Leanne!! So you must have some as well, which may explain your very full feeling!

I gained a couple of pounds after surgery too... I think it is the IV fluids and your body holding more fluids to try to heal you. Good luck with everything!! I was just banded May 14. Had some complications but getting better now.

Awww, no, I'm sure you weren't being a baby!! Pain is very personal and real to you no matter what Here's to all of us healing and feeling better soon!

thank you everyone... I'm glad you think it was ok to post this. I didn't want to be negative but at the same time, that is what happened and yes I hope it can help someone else!! Leanne... that sounds pretty awful, what you are going through... I'm sorry to hear that. I hope that things improve... did you call the office? It might be worth checking into if you don't feel better soon. I've heard that at "that time of the month" things are tight and can cause problems... hopefully that's all it is.

that's awesome... definitely a huge difference!!! Good for you

I haven't caught up on all the posts yet.. I hope that my fellow surgery buddies are doing well. Thanks for the well wishes, and I look forward to moving along and continuing on a great journey with all of you.

Hello everyone - I feel like it has been ages since I was here. Today is the first day I have been well enough to be at the computer. Finally I am posting my update. I had my surgery on Tuesday. Unfortunately I am one of the few people that had complications. It was funny, I could tell my recovery was not going as smoothly as it should by about the second day, just from remembering having read stories on here. I wasn't sure whether to post my story or not as I don't want to scare anyone... but then I thought... maybe this could HELP someone if they experience this. By Thursday afternoon I was pretty sure something was wrong. I was unable to swallow ANYTHING without extreme pain, including my own saliva. This got worse and worse, and soon I was vomiting foamy white stuff. To cut a long story short, I live 2 hours away from where I got the surgery but we did an emergency run to the hospital in the middle of the night, me vomiting the whole way. I had excruciating pain... and I have had two kids as well as one other major surgery to compare it to. My surgeon wasn't coming in until the morning, and they didn't really know what to do with me through the night. Xrays, blood tests, and then one doctor tried to remove fluid from my very swollen port and couldn't. (OUCH). So they doped me up on morphine and anti-nauseates until my doctor showed up. He solved the problem in 5 minutes... managed to get only 4cc's of fluid out and I recovered pretty fast after that. NOW I finally feel how I expected to feel after surgery... not great, but that "normal" feeling of healing. I guess I got set back in my healing (and sleep) for a few days, but I am back on the road to recovery now. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else, but if you start to feel pain that seems beyond, and have any indication of foamy "vomit" don't hesitate to call your doctor immediately. I wish I had acted a bit sooner before things got as extreme as they did... I didn't want to be a "pain" or a "complainer", which now I realize was a mistake on my part!!

I'm also in the waiting room now too... same place as Leanne! I imagine she is nearly done!!! i am super nervous but looking forward to getting through this

drehn, I'm not sure if they will be giving me a scrip for that or not - but I will ask for it, now, I think!! thanks for the good wishes

Yes, you can - I just bought some today that is flavorless, no added sweeteners etc. and you can just add it to whatever liquid you are consuming. I'm looking forward to having some with soup in the next couple of weeks instead of the yucky protein shakes from the surgeon's.... I will not miss them!!

Good luck!!! Tomorrow is my day as well, plus another friend on here, Leanne!! We are on our way - all the very best to my fellow lap band buddies.

I am glad you posted this as I have been having the same thoughts. I don't drink heavily but up until recently I certainly enjoyed my glass of wine a day (well, ok, maybe two or three on the weekend). I am sure it has contributed to my weight problem as well. Oddly enough I don't miss it at all during this pre-op diet, but I anticipate wanting to have a glass in a few weeks. I will probably try not to have it daily anymore, but I will definitely include it in my calorie counts - I'd probably prefer a glass of wine to a dessert or something on occasion. I'm thinking maybe even diluting it as a wine "spritzer" with some flat tonic Water or something? We'll see how it goes. Good luck - we can do this Let us know how you do !

There is a person on here whose blog I have always enjoyed reading - I see she posts a lot, and I always appreciate what she has to say. Now apparently I have been blocked by her. It's just a shame as I enjoyed hearing from someone who has so much more wisdom and experience in this area than me. I like learning from those who have gone before and I have to admit to being pretty hurt that someone would block me for no reason, especially when I found what they had to say quite inspirational and helpful. I thought the blogs were there for everyone to read, but maybe I was wrong - I thought they were there as helpful inspiration and they seemed to be open to anyone - but maybe I am wrong? Sorry if I read anyone's blog posts that were supposed to be private - I didn't know as the links come up on the main page. Did I commit a faux pas by reading the blog posts? Is there some unspoken rule about this? I guess I won't read them in the future!

thank you Creekwood It is invaluable to have the suggestions and feedback of someone who has just been through this. I hope that you are continuing to do well and are feeling good.

thanks very much - that makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't give someone a bad comment or rating but of course if they don't know me, they don't know that!! That's too bad that someone would do that in the first place.

thanks for your reply I'm sure you are right. I really did wonder if maybe the blogs were supposed to be private - I like reading them but always felt a bit like I was intruding reading someone's thoughts - however they are linked on the main page. I do think I let things worry me too much - and I know I am not myself lately as I am not sleeping well and have only had liquids for 14 days (never thought I could do it, haha).

thanks... I know I shouldn't let minor stuff like that get to me - I think I am hypersensitive due to this pre-op diet or something!! I always have needed a thicker skin!!

Thanks, Leanne! I know, it is finally here!! my stomach is in knots, yikes!! Haha I realized how appropriate it is to say that... !!

thanks for the replies to my question!! It's good to hear that this hasn't been a problem for you guys. I can't believe tomorrow is the big day... Getting nervous but also ready to do this. As I have to stay in a hotel for the night, is there anything anyone can think of that I should bring from home that I wouldn't find in a hotel? Aside from the usual stuff one travels with, I plan on bringing my blender for ice chips, a couple of extra pillows... I will just be allowed clear fluids, so will have that covered... I hope I'm not missing anything important!

Hi there - my surgery is tomorrow, and I do have some of the same worries as you. I plan on asking lots of questions and luckily I have a pretty clear diet plan to follow for afterwards from my surgeon. As Creekwood says, we can do this - in the long run our pain and discomfort will be worth it (at least that is what I keep telling myself ) Good luck!

I couldn't even bend my knees it was so bad - very, very painful - and you had to drink lots to get rid of it - flushing it out, I suppose - and I know we can't drink lots after surgery so it is worrying me. But good to hear that isn't the case for you - hopefully it won't happen to me either