SElaine

LilMonkey.... Sorry to hear about your hubby. I'm thinking of you both. Please keep us posted on how he's doing. I've done much better with my diet today. For Breakfast I had oatmeal, lunch I had tuna, a SF pudding for an afternoon snack, and for dinner refried Beans w/ sour cream and cheese. So, maybe not as much Protein as I should probably be getting but NO COOKIES! I was walking through the hallway today when my two-year old ran into the door and slammed it right into me. The doorknob slammed right into my port area. OMG. It hurt so bad I cried. I have not cried since the surgery.

laura, Congrats and welcome! You are one a-MAY-zing bandster. Be sure to check in with the other May bandsters on the May 2007 banders thread. Glad you joined us!

A robe (So you can walk around in your hospital gown without your bum hanging out!) Slip on shoes (The socks wouldn't have worked as well at my hospital. When I was bed they had my feet connected to these things were supposed to prevent blood clots. I had to put on shoes and/or socks each time I got up.) A pillow or two. (It's nice to have your own in the hospital bed with you. But, more importantly, you will need them for the drive home to hold against your tummy. It helps with the bouncing.) ASK YOUR DOCTOR FIRST because they may already be giving you some type of medication-- but my doctor gave me a prescription for a patch to put behind my ear for naseau that I put on a few hours before surgery and left on for a few days. I did not wake up naseous and have not experienced any naseau since surgery. A lower dose version is also available over-the-counter. Good luck to you!

Virginia! There you are! I was wondering what happened to you. My bud was gone for the last 24 hours. Eeeeek! So, you will be without laptop, but will you be without computer? I hope you are still able to check in with us. As for the Cookies.... too late. I gave in and ate one. I guess the upside to that is that I ate one cookie and not one bag of cookies. I'm still way down on the calorie count for the day. But, oh, did I do something bad! I ate one bite of my son's macaroni and cheese. One little tiny piece of macaroni. OMG! It got stuck! It hurt so bad for about an hour. I drank and drank Water and walked and I think it's finally gone down. I think I just need to stay away from the Pasta. It didn't feel right when I tried the tuna stuff the other day and the mac and cheese tonight was awful! (Seriously.... one tiny macaroni. And I chewed it!) I haven't had a problem with anything else. I even had ham for lunch today and that went down fine. I had a piece of salmon last night... that was fine, too. I'm just gonna stay away from the pasta for a while. It still hurts to sleep. I can't roll over. Anyone else? Or am I the only person still having that issue? Another issue.... if I may be so blunt..... Were you all told 8 weeks before intimate relations? Six more weeks sounds like an eternity.

Me, too. Although most of the day I feel OK, bedtime is a nightmare! It hurts like he11 to turn over in the night! Even when I'm laying completely still it feels like it is pulling/tugging/ripping. There have only been a handful of nights I have made it a complete night in the bed. After an hour or two, I usually end up back in the recliner for the remainder of the night. It's getting frustrating. I want to be able to sleep in my bed, with my husband. I agree. It's getting old.

Wow, three weeks, huh? I still think it's interesting how surgeons are all so different. I guess there is no "standard practice". I was banded on 5-21 (just like you)! The first week was liquids, second week pureed/mushies, this week "soft" foods (oatmeal, egg salad, tuna, etc.), and week four is regular diet. I was on a 2 week liquid pre-op diet. You? Three weeks of liquids was tough. I can't imagine any longer than that. I admire you. When do you go in for your first fill? Mine is scheduled for June 28, although doctor has told me if I continue to lose weight he will not fill me. I guess if it's not needed, it's not needed. I lost 15 pounds pre-op and another 10 since surgery for a total of 25. (Although I came home from the hospital weighing 10 pounds more than when I went in! So, actually 20 since surgery but 10 of it was just swelling and IV fluids, so I'm not counting that.) But, like others have said, I'm sure I'll plateau soon and the scale will stop.

Janine, You are going to do great! Be sure to check in with us and let us know how it went. Good luck! I'm excited for you!

WOW! Congrats!

METALBAND, Are you still on liquids? You poor thing! How long does your doc have you on liquids?

I have also heard good things about Scottsdale Bariatric. I'm sure you are in good hands. I look forward to meeting you on Saturday, Karen. On a completely different note: I am so hungry today! 1/2 a cup of mush is NOT cutting it. There is a bag of chocolate chip Cookies in the cabinet calling my name. HELP! I think I'm going to try to put the kids down for a nap and join them. If I'm sleeping, I can't eat.

All I know is it has been two weeks and I sincerely doubt I will make it to eight. Here are my post-op instructions word-for-word (caps included): "SEXUAL ACTIVITY may be resume 8 WEEKS AFTER a lab-band. Non stressful positions should be utilized. If you are female and can conceive you need to use birth control. Please address any other concerns to our office."

Well, ya'll have certainly been given better advice than I have. My doctor says eight weeks. Seriously.

Newlife, Yeah! So glad to have you here! The support is great! As to how to find us..... hmmmmmm! That is a good question! Virginia? Anyway, where do you live and what doctor are you going through? Welcome aboard! Shauna

You talked to Mike at your post-op? Hmmmm....... must be a conspiracy against me. Mike didn't come talk to me at my post op.

Oh, forgot to mention..... All of my paperwork says to not eat over 1/2 cup EVER. There have been so many times I could have eaten more. How do you know how much to eat? I have literally been measuring 1/2 cup for each meal and only eating that amount.

LilMonkey, Sounds like you are doing good. Until today, I have been eating 5-6 times a day. I couldn't handle it today with more solid food, though. The egg did me in. I have since had a SF pudding, too. Didn't fill me up at all. I think the pureed stuff just slips right through. Anyway, I wonder if I'm eating enough. Sometimes (like when I stand up or get out of bed) I feel a little bit lightheaded. Anyone else? I'm wondering if it's because I'm not eating enough? I've hardly had any Protein today. I think I'll go make a shake. Glad you are back and doing well.

I hope you sleep better tonight, too, and I can't wait to see you on Saturday!

I had oatmeal for breakfast-- went down fine. For lunch I had boiled egg w/ Mayo. This is the first time I have attempted this. It went down OK, although there is no way I could eat 1/2 cup. I was pretty full until dinner. Didn't have an afternoon snack. Dinner I attempted 1/4 c. pureed peaches (w/ a scoop of unflavored unjury) and 1/4 c. tuna helper. The peaches went down fine, but I could only get down a couple of bites of the tuna stuff. Maybe I'm not ready for Pasta yet. I feel very... tight?... (not sure that's the right word)... but not painful. Just like I can tell it's not going down so smoothly. Don't want to push it.

Awesome, Virginia! How'd you hear about the bandster luncheon? I plan on being there. (I guess I'll have to do without my Chili's regular: Margarita's and fajitas.:welldoneclap:)

Janine, Nice of you to stop by! Congratulations and good luck! The time will go by quickly. As for your questions: The gax-x strips dissolve on your tongue. Just pop 'em in your mouth. They don't taste bad-- kind of like a breath strip. As for the heating pad, just put it wherever you are having pain. If you are having gas pain in your back and shoulders, just put the pad there. For me, I was lucky enough to only experience gas pain in my abdomen. So, for me, sitting in the recliner with it on my belly helped. See you on the banded side!

LilMonkey: You are back! You have to give us an update as to how you and hubby are doing! ShirleyBee: Hey, another zonie! Yeah! It's good to know there is someone close by who has been in our shoes to offer support/advice. Who did your first fill? I have also been happy with WLIAZ. They are not the cheapest around, but I do believe you get what you pay for. Virginia: Hey girlfriend. I hope you are having a good day at work. How's the port today? Everybody: I had an AWFUL time sleeping last night! I was in so much pain! It's not necessarily my port site-- it's just all over abdominal pain when I lay on my side-- like it's pulling, or stretching, or getting squished or something. It literally takes my breath away. It's hard to describe. Anyone know what I'm talking about? How long until this goes away? I'm tired of sleeping in the recliner.

Hey Virginia, How's your port area doing this morning? Did you take the bandages off last night like you were planning? I hope all is well. I'm thinking good thoughts for you. Shauna

Congratulations, you have completed the all-important first step! I hope all goes well with your PCP. Keep in touch and let us know how it goes.

Congratulations and good luck! See you on the bandster side!

OMG! Seriously? What doc did you speak to? You know the mistake I made with my steri-strips and I haven't seen a drop of blood. I would be concerned, too. I have heard some people on this board say that taking the heparin will do that because you will bleed soooo easily. Hopefully, now that you've stopped the shots it will help. Does it look infected at all? (Are you at work?)