beanie80

Had 2 big things happen today. First, I was able to get back to the gym for spin class for the first time since surgery and second, I saw my nutritionist. Getting back to spin class was a big deal for me. Pre-surgery I worked out 4-5 times a week. Spin class was at least twice a week, and something I really love. I have been missing it for a while. I went to class like normal, but toned it down a bit. I'm normally really pushing myself to go faster and harder each time, but today I took it kind of easy. I'm sure that doesn't sound like a big deal to most people, but it is very hard for me to 'take it easy' with anything. My port got a bit sore mid class, but it was fine. It was so good to be back in the saddle! I had an early morning appointment with my nutritionist today. She is nice, but it drives me a bit crazy that she looks like she has never weighed over 110lbs. She does know what she is doing though, and is very good at her job. As many of you know I've been posting about not losing weight recently. I've been pretty frustrated and unable to determine what I am doing wrong. Well, I was told today that I'm not getting enough carbs! That is a first. I guess getting enough protein has been drilled into my head so hard that I kind of forgot to get carbs. She also told me I should be keeping my calories between 800-1100 and not eating my exercise calories. She printed up an example menu for me and I'm going to try to follow it the next two weeks and see what happens. I have my first fill on August 1st and I feel like I already need it. I ate 1000 calories today waaayyy to easily.....

I'm just curious how long you all have heard that your lap band will last. I have heard that 15 years is max, but I haven't seen any hard evidence. What have you all been told?

Let me preface this thread by stating that this is not a place to receive or give medical advice. Please do not post here looking for nursing/medical advice. Please call your primary care provider or bariatric care provide with any medical questions that you may have. With that said, I wanted to start this thread to trade information and support other RNs (NPs, MDs, PAs, LPNs, CNAs, CMAs, Counselors, PT/OT, etc) along our Lap Band journey. As care providers we often think of everyone else before we think of ourselves. We have demanding jobs that can be physically and emotionally draining. We often forget to eat or even go to the bathroom while at work. Many of us turn to food to deal with the stress/grief or even celebrations of our jobs. Not to mention the well meaning patients and families who bring us food to show appreciation for our excellent care . I'm hoping that we can give each other support and advice on everything from how to answer nosy questions from our co-workers (you're having surgery? what are you having done? I'm working in the OR that day!, who is your surgeon?, OMG I took care of a patient once who had lap band and they had such and such complication, etc.), how soon to go back to work at the hospital/clinic/home health etc., to how in the world can I spend 30 whole minutes eating a meal at work!? Looking forward to learning from you all!

Go and see your primary care provider. I had a patient (not lap band) who was having a pain in her right middle back and it ended up being arthritis in her spine. Random referral pain. Go and get yourself checked out by your trusted medical professional.

So since I last posted on here I have lost weight! I increased my calories from 800/900 to 1200 and did varying calories each day. It was kind of difficult at first, but I lost 3 lbs! yay!

I'm almost 3 weeks out of banding and am in the pureed diet phase. I was looking over my list of things that I can eat but have a question for you all. In the pureed diet phase can I eat anything as long as it is pureed? for example, my sister made a great pasta sauce/chili full of beans, tomatoes and garlic. I took maybe 1/4 a cup of pasta (just to firm up the pureed sauce) and half a cup of the chili/sauce and put it in my magic bullet, pureed it and ate it. I was thinking about it later and I got worried that maybe I somehow cheated. My list of pureed foods says oatmeal, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, pureed soft fruit and some other soft things like that. Do you guys think that pureed diet means anything (healthy) that is pureed?

For the first month of being on a new pill you need to use back up protection such as condoms. If you start taking antibiotics while on the pill you also need to use a back up method to avoid pregnancy.

I have been able to feel mine since day 1. It has always been kind of swollen/sticking out a bit. I asked for a low profile port specifically after hearing port stories on here. I think once I lose some more weight it will go down a bit. I hope.

It's been a while since I have blogged. I've been out of town and living in a hotel for the past week trying to finish up all of my clinical hours. Staying to pureed foods has been difficult, but the hotel I stayed in had a fridge and a microwave in the room, so that made things a bit easier. First couple days of being on my feet and seeing patients all day was super tiring, and I crashed as soon as I got back to the hotel. We have also had drug reps bringing us lunch every day and that has been a huge challenge. I've stayed under 1200 calories every day, averaging around 800-900, but those drug rep lunches just about killed me. I had brought my own food and everything, but I was just so darn sick of tomato soup, yogurt and jello. One day the rep brought boston market and I ended up eating a little less than a cup of stuffing (it was really soft and mushie). Some people in the clinic have noticed how small my servings are, but they accept my excuse of having been sick and trying to not eat too much to lose weight. I am going to go to the gym for the first time since before surgery today. I'll probably just try walking on the treadmill or something else easy. I can't wait to get back to spin class and to be able to ride my bike again! Still waiting to see the scale move down after my initial 15 lb loss....trying to be patient

Thanks Missy! I actually went and bought some baby food for an easy to go meal. I was just worried since it wasn't explicitly laid out in my directions that I was doing something wrong

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You look great! Keep up the good work

I'm super accurate on counting my calories. I weigh, measure and log everything that touches my lips. The only think I can think of is that I'm not exercising like I normally do because I'm not allowed yet. I try to walk every day just to do something, but I am counting the days until I can get back into my regular routine. What do you mean cycling your calories?

I was banded June 26th and the same thing is happening to me! I lost about 15 right off the bat, but have held steady since. I eat about 800 calories a day too. I don't understand why I'm not losing. ugh. Very annoying and frustrating. My first fill isn't until August 1st, but I don't understand how that will help when I'm already eating less than 1000 calories per day.

My little dog was stuck to my side for the first 2 weeks after surgery. I'm not sure he understood what was going on, but he knew something was not right with me. He would curl up in bed next to me, as close as he could get, and just watch me as I slept. He was my little nurse. Dogs are the best of friends!

I was banded on July 26th and am self pay. I did my due diligence and got quotes for costs on everything before my banding. Well today I received a bill from American Anesthesia of NC and it was for $2800. $1000 more than what I was originally quoted. I called the billing department, spoke with a manager and they said they would charge me for the original quote of $1800. Just wanted to share that it pays to do your homework beforehand and to call and ask to pay for the original quote only. Saved me 1k!

Every surgeon is different in what he or she recommends for their patients. It is always best practice to follow what your surgeon has told you to do. I was banded on June 26th and had my first day today of mushies. I had 2 weeks of full liquid. It was rough, but I'm glad I did it. Best of luck

Take some benadryl to help with the itching. Is there a rash?

Probably back pain from the operating room table. Very common. Are you taking any pain medicine?

I am 10 days post op and I have done great with the full liquid diet. Only two of my friends know I've had lap-band. I have been avoiding all of my friends at meal times and make up excuses as to why I can't go out for dinner etc. It wasn't that bad last week with everyone being out of town or being with their families, but this weekend people have been calling and texting and asking me to go out. How do you all cope with social eating? I miss my friends and I know it will get better on mushies, but I'm not allowed them until next Thursday. There isn't anything I can eat at most restaurants that is on the full liquid diet. I don't want people to think I've developed some eating disorder because I'm not eating at all. Help!

cream of wheat! I'm 12 days post op and still doing full liquid diet. I eat soup for one meal and cream of wheat for the other. It is really good with salt and butter. yum!

I agree with you, but it is hard when you are still on full liquid diet and only 10 days post op! I have now successfully navigated 2 social situations with food! No one has said a thing to me about not eating

Thanks everyone! I ended up telling my two friends tonight that my sister was making me dinner and I would come meet them afterwards. I got there when they were done eating, I ordered a virgin, frozen, strawberry margarita and only had 1 or 2 sips. I really ordered it so they wouldn't think something was up and I told them I wasn't drinking alcohol tonight because I still wasn't feeling great (I had told people I was sick with a GI bug/flu during surgery and recovery). I hate all the lies, but I don't think it is really anyone's business either. They, of course, had chips and guac at the table and kept asking me if I wanted any. It was surprisingly easy to say no. When I got home I had some sugar free jell-o

I was scared about missing food too, but I was surprised to see that I don't miss it. I still eat, I still get the satisfaction of eating, but it is not a mindless, fill up my emotions and soul eating anymore. You will be surprised with how much you emotionally DON'T need food. I used food as a crutch for when I was lonely, bored, sad, happy etc. etc. Now I actually interact with people instead and deal with my emotions head on. Best of luck to you. Anything new and uncertain is scary, but you will never know how wonderful life can be without taking a chance

It might also be that you are drinking too fast/drinking too much at once and it is causing you to have heart burn symptoms just like when you ate too much food before. Just a thought.

I agree with Mrsinto. Fine that you shared it with your friend. Fine that he shared it with his boyfriend. Kind of out of line for the bf to be writing you about it on fb. I'm sure he meant well and wanted you to know that he supports you, but you have never talked to him about it. It is your story, you get to choose who you talk to about it and when. It should be understood that the bf would know through his partner, but he really has no place bringing it up to you. I would probably say something to my friend about how it is fine that he told his partner, but that it made you uncomfortable when his partner sent you an email about it out of nowhere. No need to be mad/angry, but it is obviously bothering you and you probably just need to mention it/clear the air and get over it. The end.