Picklebritches

Good luck Becky - but what a surprise! solid food huh?! Guess I better enjoy my soft foods while I can. I'm actually doing very well on this stage! You'll do fine, but be sure and let us know how your fill goes. :eek:

Wow. Thanks Kathy, I had no idea. :ranger:

Oh Ashley, If I could have a dream job - it would be as a party planner!!!!! Lucky you! (So that's what I want to be when I grow up! ) Enjoy!

Rumar, I found unjury.com through my surgeon's office. My original purchase was chocolate, chicken soup and unflavored. I had read about it on this forum. The only problem is the Protein count is only 20 or so per scoop BUT my doc just suggested some ways to increase to 2 scoops in one serving. For example, 8 oz skim milk + 1 scoop chocolate + 1 scoop unflavored. I tried this and it was good, but I added about 2 more oz milk. (You can do this with any Protein shake, and if your product leaves a "protein taste" in your mouth, then add 1/2 pkg dry sugar free pudding mix such as Cheesecake or Butterscotch to the chocolate or strawberry to the vanilla shake.) Did that make sense?? It really works. If you have pre-made Protein drinks, dump one into a tall glass and add 1 scoop unflavored. Doubles the protein without doubling the drinking! My favorite was chicken broth with 1 scoop unjury chicken soup. Yummy! V8 juice with 1 scoop unflavored and a dash of pepper and I have a Bloody Mary! :car: Good luck and hope this helps! Candle, it was a nightmare for me and I didn't take another one after. Just liquid tylenol. Dr said it would take time to heal and it has. I can't imagine what one of those would taste like crushed - ewwwwwwww!

Hi Jody, You have my sympathy dear. I had awful nausea and so I used an otc product called Emetrol (generic is available), with Dr T's approval of course. Just sips of it really controlled my problem. Which went away after about five days. As for food? I'm still on liquids! If you are trying to eat food, that is most likely the problem for you. If not, I suggest a higher quality, ready made shake. For some reason, I was able to use the powder Protein mix just fine pre-op, but for the first few days post-op, I could only stomache the ready-mades. I'm back on powder now that the nausea is gone. Better for the pocketbook! Try slowing down and really concentrating on those sips. Tiny, tiny sips. I even used a baby "sippee" cup at first! Part of my problem was air. Who knew that I breathe more through my mouth than my nose???!! Not any more and that really helped the gas problems! As for the spasms, I think I know what you're describing, and after 7 days, mine are finally going away...either that or I'm getting used to them! My band is very tight and if your's is too, that could explain it. That is what my surgeon said was causing mine. I called them "un-productive burps". I never burp, just gurgle and spasm. I hope some of these ideas help bring you some relief and that you find soon enough that they have passed. Whatever you do, don't panic. And of course, I am no doctor, this is based on my own experience, etc. etc. Good luck!

Traveling with ya'll from Virginia, right on the Eastern Coast of the USofA! :car:

Hey Kim, I agree with the others and can only offer this as well. My doc advised warm heat which felt soooo good against my chest. In addition to everything else. That nagging pressure scared me quite a bit, but I'm amazed at how much better I feel now...at 7 days post-op! Still no where near 100%, but feeling better every single day. Best of luck to you. Just keep doing what you're doing, what your doctor said.

Oh Becky, how wonderful for you at one week! :whoo: I am at one week today, and only put clothes on yesterday for my post-op visit. Goodness! Somehow, I don't think my results are "normal" since there is NO WAY in this lifetime that I could walk yet. There were some minor complications that left me in surgery for three hours so maybe that's why I'm still so sore, especially around the port. It feels like a girdle would make it feel better! (Does anyone even remember a girdle????) I feel some better today, so maybe by the weekend... You give me hope!!!! Thanks, Picklebritches

I was banded Aug 23 with the AP Band, and the mfg of that band includes an info brochure for life with the band and also a small business card that includes all the data of the band, size, registration number etc. My dr gave it to me to laminate and keep in my wallet. Just an idea. As for me, Dr T said I had the largest liver he had ever seen. Great. BUT it isn't diseased and he said the fat tissue will go away with weight loss. Because of the liver size, my surgery was three hours and I was pretty sore. The band is very tight. Dr told me the tightest he's ever seen on a woman. And I was "only" 252 pounds! Funny how that works. Because it's so tight, I have the "want to burp, but can't burp" feeling all the time. Even just liquids. The day after surgery, I got two vicodin pills stuck and they sizzled away and burned my little stomach pouch. Ouch! It is just getting better. ANYWAY, the good news is I have lost 15 pounds in this last week. He told me to try one more week of liquid and enjoy another 10-15 lb. loss, OR start pureed foods in three days. Hmmmmmmm????????? We shall see! I've read this thread from start to finish and now I can't remember what I wanted to tell a couple of you! Argh! Senior Moment!! :faint: On the liquids, I found that V8 juice flavored with unflavored unjury Protein was a very filling choice. Same thing with their chicken Soup flavor and chicken broth. I'll try to remember what it was I thought I could offer and come back later. Right now my tummy (port incision) is feeling like it's being pulled, so I'm off the computer for a bit. Good luck All!!!!! Picklebritches

Everybody calls me: Susie MY PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS INCLUDE: husband of 24 years and 19 y/o son, the heart of my heart and Junior in college. I'm also very close to my folks, in-laws, and my brother and his family. MY NON-HUMAN FAMILY CONSISTS OF: None since losing our sister English setters, Jenny & Spot as well as 19 y/o cat, George. I LIVE IN: The Virginia Beach, Virginia area OCCUPATION(S): retired, full-time wife, mom, daughter, sister and aunt. AVOCATION(S): Active member of church, Editor of monthly newsletter for ladies group, member & VP of Beta Sigma Phi chapter, avid reader, movie-goer; love Water aerobics, camping, traveling, evening walks with hubby. Meet once monthly with old friends for dinner and catch up (girls night). Enjoy jewelry making, geneology, gardening, and antique shopping! BTW, what is geo-caching???

Yay to all you August banders!! Congrats on getting your appointments, pre-op "stuff" and just getting on the calendar. My date is August 23, but I don't know what time yet. Dr. Teracino in Hampton, VA is my doc/location. I've heard good things from others about him. Good luck all! Picklebritches :clap2:

Picklebritches; August 23, 2007; Dr. T in Hampton, VA

please ignore - testing signature...

How can we get the Crazy Ates put on our signature? Sorry to be slow... Thanks, Picklebritches :ranger:

Will pray for you also Valzie - we can't have too many of those! Bless, Picklebritches

Long time Land's End shopper here. They will even take them back - no hassles - as long as the panty liner is still in the suit. If you really want good customer service; give them a call and they'll get someone to help you with your fitting. Ha! You would think I owned stock!! Good luck and big congrats on the new you!!! :clap2: Picklebritches

Good read - thanks! :thumb:

So far my date is the 23rd. We may have to change it because we'll be on vacation the week prior and they have me scheduled for a) 3 hour educational class and a 2-1/2 hour nutritionist class during the week of vacation. Augh! My doctor is Dr. Terracino in Hampton, VA and he is requiring a two week liquid diet prior to surgery; with 2 weeks of low fat/sugar and high Protein following and 2 weeks of blended after that. That sounds like six weeks of mush! :phanvan That's okay, I can do anything for six weeks! Someone else mentioned they would NEVER have thought they would do this...and that is me too. I actually SAID I never would! Oops! :biggrin1: Best of luck to you all... Am glad to be a part of these Crazy Eights! Picklebritches

Hi Janice, and thanks for the input. Cat from his office, should be calling me tomorrow with additional input, but Dr T has okayed me for surgery! Yippee!!!!!! xo, Susie.

Yes, he's doing mine. I see him tomorrow and I really cannot wait! It's been two months since I listened to him do a one hour presentation. Truly had made my mind up before I left, but am glad I had the time to really think it over. You were happy with him? I haven't seen any bad news about him yet... Thanks for the input! Susie

Hi all, I'm from the beaches of Virginia but left my bikini body behind some 30 years ago! My appointment with the surgeon is this Wednesday, so I guess I'll find out then if I can be banded. I sure hope so. Been fighting weight all my life; and now I have diabetes, heart disease, and a host of other lovelies. God blessed me with a loving, supportive husband of 24 years and a wonderful 19 year old son who is currently in college. Life is good and full; in more ways than one! I've been reading for several weeks; learning as much as I can from you fine folks. My surgeon is Anthony Terracino if anyone is familiar with him... Well, other than the fact that I'm retired on disability since 1995 due to complications from a craniotomy (lupus related); that's about all there is to tell about me. I enjoy gardening when I am able, our church family, and we like to travel but haven't been able to this past year because of my loss of mobility. And I have a ton of great friends! They really keep me going. Looking forward to sharing more with you soon. Hugs, Susie

Thanks for the welcome! I'm still reading... I think I figured out how to put one of those tickers on my signature. We shall see! Hugs, Susie

Hello from the Newport News area of Virginia! My appointment is this Wed with the surgeon; so I guess I'll find out then if I'll be "banded" or not! Good luck! Susie