mrsto

You too.... It's 8:20pm here on the west coast, and I feel like I'll be sound asleep by 9 :-)

I did get one of the laminated cards from my doctor. If yours mentioned it, ask for one. But be be totally honest, I don't think I would ever use it. I'd rather order something small, or have food to take home, rather than advertise that I'm a bariatric patient. But that's just me :-)

I'm right behind you at 22 days. I did so much research on the bypass and the band; close to a year before I actually pulled the trigger. I read many online forums; heard all the ups & downs, complications, read studies ad nauseam, etc. Though my doctor favors the bypass, I didn't want to rewire my plumbing. I knew that I had to do something, but didn't want anything so.....permanent. These online forums can be very helpful, but there is also a downside. I was forewarned to be careful what I read online. I try & take what I need & leave the rest, and know for a fact the the percentage of people without major issues, is far greater than those with the types of problems we've been reading, lately. As terrible as some of the issues are for those who are experiencing them, it doesn't mean "the sky is falling". I hope you feel better soon, too. It's a lot to take on, and we can only hope that we get to where we wanted to be when we set out on this journey.

No difference.....it's the same. It can progress to GERD. Here is a link with some info. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heartburn-gerd/AN00998

Aversion therapy......brilliant! Wish it would work that easily with Cookies, cake and candy!!!

Thank goodness for that!!!

I've had it happen from reflux. Sometimes my larynx would swell up from the acid, and I'd have to jump up to catch my breath. I've taken Prilosec on and off, and I'm now back on it. It's a total acid blocker, unlike things like Pepcid that don't totally shut down the production. Makes a HUGE difference, but I have to beef up the B complex Vitamins, because it tends to block some of the absorption.

SO true! I was told that my band, plication, gallbladder removal and hiatial hernia repair would be outpatient. Well....I stayed one night. I was also told that this would be a piece of cake compared to my total hysterectomy. WRONG! I'm a little over three weeks out, and just starting to feel back to my normal self. I still have abdominal pain where the port is, which seems to carry down to (what used to be) an ovary. I have my fingers crossed that all of this resolves in the next 3-4 weeks. Regarding the issues in your post; they concern me a great deal. I'm going to demand screenings once a year as a proactive measure. I don't want any of this silent sh-it going on, only to bite me in the ass down the road. I'm happy that I'm losing weight, and that I did the procedure. But I can't honestly say that I'm skipping through the garden without a care in the world. I have concerns (and fear) that something might backfire. I'll just take it a day at a time, but I WILL make sure that I'm screened for these things you mentioned, at LEAST every 12 months. Thanks so much for the info.

That's great! That's a lot of weight in a short time.....good for you!

I'm so with you on this! I made the same decision, and hope that if or when the time comes, I'm at goal weight. At 57 years old, I feel that this is my last chance. When I get this weight off, it will be a cold day in hell before I let it come back. Amen!

Yes, I think everyone will agree that this is the hardest part..... What helped me through the liquids... I found that after awhile I got really sick of everything "sweet"; Jello, crystal lite, Protein shakes, etc. I picked up some regular V8 juice and some unflavored Protein powder. I made a vegetable juice Protein shake, which was a great break from all the sweet stuff. Campbells has a creamy tomato soup that is wonderful. That was a nice break as well. You really have to play around with it & have a wide variety of whatever you're allowed. Plain broth (chicken & beef) gets old really quick

WOW - thanks for posting these. VERY informative!

I understand the desire to replace the hand to mouth activity. I smoked when I was very young, but thankfully, it never really agreed with me. If it did, I would be a chain smoker

WOW - I thought drinking with meals is a cardinal lap band sin I think that doctor was the exception, not the norm. I love that when I DO drink about an hour or so after eating, I'm all filled up again. I can see where that dynamic really makes the band work for us.

I don't know anything about them, other than one of my clients employees was smoking one. But I think the whole point of those is no smoke and nicotine? If that's it, I can't imagine that they would be a problem.

LOL!! I was told that a meal should take 20 minutes. I told my doctor, if I take 20 minutes to eat, whatever I'm eating will be completely sickening before I'm done. He laughed; totally got it. He reiterated to just eat small bites, chew, blah blah. I believe that they give us these timeframes as a guideline, not as a Holly Bible. I also questioned his band rule of only three meals a day. I'd rather eat 5 smaller meals, etc. He told me that it was okay, as long as I counted everything. He said "you'll figure it out". But clearly, the rules are guidelines only. However.....there are a couple that aren't negotiable... one being, never drink with meals, and small bites chewed to a pulp.

I just starting eating animal Protein, but only ground meats, chicken, white fish and thinly sliced deli meats. 2muchfun pretty much covered the eating part, but I'll share one thing that I've been eating the last few days. I'm just THRILLED to be eating ground meat!! I was starting to flip out without it I brown ground turkey & drain it. I add a can of refried Beans and a can of black beans. Cook all together for a little while longer until everything is hot. Sometimes I'll put a couple tablespoons of melted cheddar (1/2 oz) on the top. YUM! I've got my husband strung out on it, too :-) I found that this mix not only tastes really good, but it goes down really easy. I tried some grilled trout when we went out to eat, and though it didn't get stuck, I just didn't feel very good after. If ground turkey works, there are a ton of recipes you can make with it, including spaghetti sauce with turkey meatballs. Or, tacos made with turkey. I'm just trying to think of flavorful things you can improvise with. I've been pretty boring lately, but as I get used to this new eating life, I'll be like Chefboyar-mrsinto in the kitchen - LOL!

Yes, they say smoking is killer for the band and bypass. Not sure about the sleeve.

I found that if I take too many sips at one time, or big gulps, I get a tinge of pressure. I take about 4 small sips in a row, the stop & start again. I don't time it; just wait until I feel ready to kick in again. Usually about 10 seconds. With food, I don't remember hearing the "put your fork down & wait one minute between bites". They did tell us to take small bites, chew it beyond thorough, and put the fork down while you're doing that. But if I waited one full minute between bites, my one egg in the morning would be completely cold and disgusting before I get a chance to finish. The key is to go slowly, and eat mindfully. Triple underline the mindfully part! If you eat too fast, you won't give your brain a chance to figure out what's happening in your body with each and every bite. It takes a little practice, but at three weeks out, I'm getting pretty good at it. But sometimes I find myself eating without thinking, and I have to back off, slow down and slip back into "mindful mode".

I use a small amount of plain Coffeemate powder & Splenda. I know the creamer is like death powder, but I love it! I don't even like the real thing; not as good.

I'm going to ask my doctor about liquid ibuprofen. But even still, it makes its way into the stomach, and is processed there. With this plication, maybe the rule is a little different. As much as I THOUGHT I learned prior, there are still things I'm learning as I go along. And YES, all the doctors certainly have their own take on this

Hmmm.......designer ibuprofen... I'd like to know what it's cut with, that reduces the negative effects. What is it called? I may need to request some to keep in my arsenal :-)

I feel ya! But he did however say that my prescription anti-inflammatory, Mobic (meloxicam) is okay, as long as I stay on Pepcid or Prilosec. I have a herniated disc, which isn't only back pain, it's pain down my leg, etc. Mobic is the only thing that touches it, so thank God it's not on his no no list.

No, his fear isn't the calories. He was very specific about the issue being the acid, and it's potential effect on the band, and potential ulcerative issues. From all the feedback, it seems that he errs on the side of caution.....which is fine. But I guess I'll just have to pick my poison. I've given up my #1 OTC painkiller of choice - Ibuprofen. And I get the no aspirin, too. But my sacred coffee is a WHOLE other story!

LOL!!