porclndoll

Okay...I feel like a boob.....I now think that the pain was from just gas! I took the fiber this morning. This afternoon I took the Milk of Magnesia...(that honestly they couldn't make taste any worse!!) And well there was a little motion in the ocean...however...nothing like you would expect....Sorry if I am being too graphic.....Afterwards, the pain remained.....and now I am pretty sure its just gas. I hear so much of this consitpation, that I got a little :eek paranoid. Welp at least I have the MOM incase...for next time....Thanks for those suggestions!! TALK TO YOU LATER

Barb, Like Cathy said, insurance companies are changing. How did you find out that they wouldn't cover the surgery?? Did you just call and speak to a representative? No offense to the insurance reps out there.....I did it with Empire BCBS for six years....maybe the rep gave you the wrong information. You would be better off having the doctor that you choose submit a letter of predetermination with copies of your records.....Then that way, you would have more accurate information and with a paper denial you could perhaps appeal their decision. ' Good luck with everything. This is an awesome group! You will find so much helpful info here!! Talk to you soon!

Margo!! I can hear your excitement! I was the same way, and now I sit here, banded and on stage two of the liquid phase that my doctor requires post op.......You are going to do great! Best of luck with everything and please let us know how you are....wahooo!!!

I have been batteling a pain in my left side...thinking its gas...sooo I take care of that, and then again this morning, again with the pain. Sooo I am pretty sure the works are gummed up. So what I did, since it was 5am and there isn't a doctor around in their office, and not a drug store open...I took a fibercon pill and crushed the life out of it. I mixed it in some apple sauce and let it sit.....I just finished it. And I am drinking some water. I know they say not to drink when you eat...but I want to make sure that the fiber doesnt expand in that band and kill me So, I have desided to drink water all morning and then see what happens. I more than likely wont see any results from this until this afternoon, which is good cause when the works get moving, I sorta don't want to be at work! This is more than likely the result of not drinking enough...duh me.......Live and learn I guess..... I will let ya know how my little apple sauce cocktail worked HAVE A GREAT DAY

I work at a high school too! And yesterday a woman that subs for us came running out of the classroom to catch me in the hall....she said that the difference was amazing...ALL READY!! God bless her. She is one of the very few that I have told at work. Everyone else thinks I had gall bladder surgery.....Thanks Pat for that one!!! Saves a ton of questions.....phew!

Kristen, I am terriable with assosicating names to faces...sooo I dont remember who you were from the meeting....but I was there....I just got banded on 5/5/05....the one with the bad reaction to the anestesia....sitting in the corner..(short spikey brown hair, nose ring)...IF I am remembering correctly, you were sitting on the floor next to your sister weren't cha??? Sorry, memory isn't too good....never was, not related to the surgery at all! It was great seeing everyone there.....I have to admit, I never in a million years saw myself a part of a support group of any kind....God knows I should have been in a few over my life.....but this is really starting to feel like an extended family and I am sooo very glad I got past my own issues and continued with the group! Talk to you all soon!

Kristen Not such a bad idea...I will be getting there early too! Just to make sure....see you tonight..

Thanks Kristen....I will keep these names handy!!! Does anyone know where tonights support group meeting is? Probably the Orange Inn right??? See yas there!

nygrl!! hey there. im a big time stomach sleeper and i actually slept on my belly the day my staples came out. i had no pain port side...(sounds like were talking about a boat)...i was very uncomfortable doing anything physical while those staples were still in. take your time and do what ever feels best for you. i also had one of them pillows..they help you sit up...and they have a high back, with arms like to the sides. i used that for a while to help support me while i was healing and sleeping on the couch or my bed. you will return to the belly! TTYL

Hey guys! Today is a new day and I am feeling much better. Thank you all for the support. I really love having a place to vent and get such great feed back! I have changed my mind set....I know that this is 98% mental at this point...for me at least. I am working TO REACH a goal, not AT A GOAL. Seems when ya work at a goal thats when you get to the point I was yesterday. I realized I am being to hard on myself...trying to get this down and that down, and I realized too, that this is a "can do" situation, do what ever I can do. (Lemme tell ya....my Dad has been an amazing support system too! He has over come some diversity and he really knows what he is talking about) I have desided to add in some fat free/sugar free fudge pops. Just so I feel like I am getting to have a little treat. And I am also having Slim Fast Cappachino Optima shakes at night for dinner. That gives me a break from the Carb Control ones and it gives me a taste of what I have been missing for a while....COFFEE.....I haven't had a cup of regular coffee in a week or so now! I admit I have been hard on myself, and probably took the harder route....but I can say that I have lost a total of 30 pounds now since I started this all with Dr Kwon in February...soo its all not for nothing I guess. The majority of that weight has been lost since surgery. NYGRL~Thanks for the list of what was liquids for you. That creamy tomatoe soup sounds GREAT right now. But I think I will save it for another day when I am at the edge like I was yesterday. IM BACK NOW~~~Thanks to the support of many great friends!Thank you all STILL KICKIN ASS AND TAKIN NAMES!

Hey guys...oh my gosh, I am having a bad day!!!! I wanna eat and eat and eat. I actually would be happy with just some cottage cheese. Something different than liquids. The shakes are starting to piss me off....The Isopro was good for about thirty seconds. The Carb Solutions are pissin me off and I feel like I have a constant lump in my throat. I dont know if thats from all the concentrated protein or if I am actually full...I have no pain, no hiccups....The consistancy of these shakes remind me of Pepto Bismal.....I am tempted to throw some coffee in a vanilla shake and blend it up with some ice....I dunno I guess Im just fustrated.....I wanna move on......I know "Be gental with yourself".....thats the only reason I haven't fallen off the wagon yet. Theres all kinds of stuff in that fridge that I could easily swallow..... puddings and stuff. But I wont. My son eats them .. they are all his. Plus I don't wanna cheat. I am doing sooo good with the weight loss. Maybe I should go try on clothes or something...take my mind off food..I thought I just did that...I went out for a ride and cleaned my car. Okay....I am a babblin fool now.........But I thank you for listening. Take it easy! TTYL

NO WAY SUGAR FREE/FAT FREE pudding IS OKAY??? GETOUTTA HERE! No one told me that. Barbara said only shakes for now...and Water. At least thats what I interpreted her to have said. I am having a hard time finishing a shake. I am very fustrated cause I know Im not getting my 300 cal a day....and Im not getting anywhere near 60grams of Protein. Im not even getting the full 45 grams that are in the Carb Control shakes. So, I am very fustrated. I know they said NO SLIM FAST. But cha know what. I have been on slim fast before, and I like the taste of the cappichino shakes. So I am having one of them for dinner. In all honesty...I am not gonna finish it.....sooo I wont be getting what ever they consider to be "bad" or "wrong" with them.......So in my mind it will even out today. If I am gonna have something for dinner tonight, it might as well be something I will half way enjoy. I don't go on mushies for another two weeks. And I think I am still very swollen inside... So I don't wanna go close to the tuna or other soft foods just quite yet. Gotta figure out this band first. I know when I hiccup thats an indicator of something....too full, too much, what ever. I just don't want to throw anything up yet. Today was just the first break down really since the surgery. I think seeing my husband eatting meatballs is what really broke it....my own fustration started it though. I gotta not get that fustrated. I want this to work so bad, so I am trying to do everything to the "t".. Gotta learn to cut myself some slack. By the way...After I posted my orgnl message, I went in my room and took a nap. I strongly think that I am just really tired still, and I got my period too on top of all this....sooo I think a nap was the right choice. Thank you for the support...It is so awesome to be able to reach out and touch people who understand and have been right where I am today.....Thank you TTYL

Hey guys, Looking for some information. I seemed to have mislaid all my info from Dr Kwons office. Well, not all of it...but what I am looking for is the list of approved protein shakes. Does anyone know what they are? Please lemme know....My body was very angry at me last night for drinking the whole 20 ounce Isopro. I did it over time, however, it was a lot! I felt like I was drinking that thing ALL night! Crazy stuff going on here and my body didn't like it!!!! All righty, thanks for any help ya can give TTYL

Eil...I dont have much experience, and this is my first week post op.....but I do have a suggestion....Hows about a piece of sharp cheddar cheese....maybe a couple squares of cheese?? I dunno...Maybe it will give the same flavor....and its a protein....so it will keep you longer than a cracker... I hope this is helpful

How I am sooo glad I did a search on this topic! I get ONE hiccup while Im drinking, (Im one week post op) And I usually stop drinking and then Im fine. I give everything a moments rest and then I go back to sipping. hiccups sound like the magical signal! This is so cool! Cool in the sence that a lot of us seem to have this affect. Much better than some of the other signals I have heard about to tell you youve over filled the pouch....YIKES....

Hi All......... I went to GNC today and got Isopro protein drinks...no carbs...and the Raspberry is very good! With a little crushed ice in it, it tates like a Raspberry Slush Puppy....It is going down much easier than the shakes. The Isopro is a little higher in calories, but also higher in protein...Two would be more than enough during the day....If the shake was 15g and the Isopro is 40, thats pretty close to the 60 recommended grams a day! And its easier for me to get em all in....EHA I think I found something that works!!! By Jobe I can do this.....I can do this!! Okay....gonna go....taking a loooonnngg hoooot shower! CYA

Yeap, I went back to work today and I really over did it! I called my boss a little while ago and said I am very sorry, but I think this is a little too soon for me, I am going to need Thursday and Friday off. Then on the weekend I am not moving outta bed..... I just feel plain old wiped out! I am on shakes now, but am having a hard time getting it all down. I am going on an hour right now for my dinner shake. I dressed it up a little bit but putting it in my magic bullet and adding some banana extract to it....Its a vanilla flavored shake. Tastes really good, but I just can't drink the whole thing... As I am approaching two hours, its just time to get rid of it. Am I not doing something right? Theres only 100 calories in each of these shakes and if I am only taking in 1/2 a shake per meal, then I am getting 150 calories....NO WONDER I FEEL WHIPED OUT. I haven't eatten in oh....a week!! Holy crap, didn't think of it like that. I can't keep this shake cold enough either....Does anyone have any suggestions on that???? I think maybe if I am feeling up to it, I will go to GNC and get the Isopro drinks...see how they are. I started taking the vitamins too, perhaps in a few days after some rest, they will help with the effects of not having 4000 calories in my body per day.....of course that is an exaggeration, I don't know how much I use to eat, but I know it was a lot more than 150~~~ No wonder a walk to the potty makes me feel like I just ran a marathon. Any suggestions on how to help fatigue too? I know this is the hard part....I have two weeks to get use to this stage, the protein shakes. I will doctor them up any way I know how...I also bought Apple Pie Spice. I am gonna throw that in a vanilla shake and shake it up in the magic bullet, and see if I don't get something that tastes like pie alamo...I will certainly let cha know how that one works. And~~ I am sorry I am soooo talkative right now, but I feel alone in this today ~~ are we supose to be drinking water still? Is that why I am not able to finish this shake?? All righty, thanks for listening, I will take all the advise I can get right now.

Kathy Thanks for the support! I actually got so wigged out over this, I called my doctors office and asked them whats going on...am I doing this right, why is it takin so long ....and she said that it sounds about right, and hour is great and if it takes two hours, so what. She asked if I was in any pain when I drink a shake in an hour, I said no, so I guess thats gonna be the tell all....IF you have pain your not doing something right. I just dont want to screw this up...Enough diets and exercise plans have failed. And I dont wanna hurt myself internally either. I guess I will be walking around with a pillow under my ass for a while ya know??? I will talk to you soon! I can all ready see a difference in how I am approaching my dinner shake....I think this whole baby is mine A whole 100 calories and 15 grams of protein.ehehehehehe It is sooo amazing to think how I was eatting just a month ago!!! YIKES LATER!!!!

Debbydo...Im not bashing the cheese cake...and I certainly am not trying to say your cheating...oh good lord, not my intentions at all...Im just jealous!!!! I wish I could have a stupid yogurt..... I too am a rebel in my own way, but I am sooo scared right now to "screw" (not what I wanted to say) this up!!! I just called my doctors office and they are gonna get back to me. I wanna know what I am doing wrong with these shakes and stuff. I got some really good advise and feedback, but still today, nothin doing. Still taking me over an hour to drink one shake. I am now not sure if I should be drinking the whole shake....ugh, just paranoid I guess. Don't wanna bust the band or anything. Okaydokay...gonna run. Talk to you soon! Enjoy what you can within your limits....and Im sorry if ya thought I was down talking what your doing...If it works for you then go for it! TTYL

Hey there Kathy and Debby Thanks for the input/encouragment/advise....Its all really appreciated. My DAD actually MADE me call out of work...How funny is that? He is all the way down in Florida and MADE me call out of work. He is from New Jersey, Paterson to be exact....back in the day when it wasn't like it is now, but still a rough place to be.. He was gonna call my work if I didn't!!!!!! He has been a MAJOR support system!! I don't know if I would have even done the surgery if it wasn't for his encouragment. I have always had a tendency to start things and never finish them. This is however the one thing that I carried thru with and I wouldn't have done it any differently. This is just a rough patch in the road...Im sure it will get better. Kathy, I am sure that my doctor said do not add anything to the shakes like bananas and stuff like that. Just stick with the additives, extracts and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg...they more or less change the taste, but not caloric/carbohydrate content. Your right that the Magic Bullet does wonders on the content of the shake...does Froth it up a bit. I pretend Im drinking a fancy drink from StarBucks. Debby, CHEESECAKE, BANANAS, YOGURT...oh my gosh, my doctor would take my band out if he saw me eatting that, Im sure of it!!! I know they are mushies...but I don't go on them for another ohhhhh two weeks.. Over these next few days I am really gonna tract what I am taking in and if I see its not enough, I will talk to the dietician in my doctors office. I feel better now after having some Protein and Water and stuff....AND REST...holy crap...all I have done is laid on the couch...Makes a HUGE difference. As far as weight loss...OH MY GOD...its been amazing to me! I dont have the exact weigh in from when I went to my doctor but its approximately 15 pounds, give or take...actually I would say give...I think its a bit higher.Plus the weight I lost prior to surgery which was 10 pounds...soooo all in all 25 pounds...GOSH NO WONDER IM LIGHT HEADED...eheheheheheh All righty girls....I am gonna go watch Law and Order: SVU....I looovvve Chris Maloni WAAAHOOO GOOD NIGHT!!!

Christine Thank you for your responce. I will try your plan of 2 ounces every hour! That sounded like something I was going to try tomorrow. I was instructed to take in three shakes per day. I can't do the whole shake for ANYTHING. I could have been drinking too much water before the meal time, like you said. I believe I was filled a little during my surgery. I read my surcial report when I was sitting in the hall at the hospital, and it said something about a fill. I was going to ask when I went to the doctors office Tuesday but I forgot....I walked out of the house without my questions list. I could always call the office and find out. Better off to call than to wonder. I dont feel physical pain...more mental....cloudy,fatigue,cognation isn't really what it is. I didn't sleep very well last night, so that too could be a part of it. I am going to take off the next couple of days and really find something that works to get me thru these next two weeks on these shakes. I will do it......At least I am getting a good amount of water in. I wont dehydrate, and this is gonna sound gross, but I was told to watch it...the color of my urine isn't too concentrated, so alls good in that department. Thank you sooo much for responding. I think I need to take these next few days just to rest my mind/body....thankfully I haven't needed my pain meds. I didn't take any since I came home. I had a bad reaction to the anestesia when I was in the hospital perhaps this mental fog has something to do with that? I dunno, just a guess...I don't know how long you "suffer" the effects of anestesia..... ALL RIGHTY...TALK TO YOU SOON!

I like slasher/gore....horror films. I haven't seen Amityville Horror yet...I will though....In my opinion Saw was pretty twisted! I liked that one. Was a bit drawn out though.

Thank you Jorjet! I am sorry your feeling discouraged...but a loss is a loss!! I don't know if theres anything I can say to make ya feel better....but you just took a huge step to make yourself healthier...and as Mauir says... "We are more sensative than the average person...be gental with yourself....be kind to yourself..." Those words have played over and over in my head!!! I will see you at the support group meeting.....Feel better, your still loosing! CYA

College Joe....Ya know what...this is going to sound HORRIABLE!!! But cha know what...I like to see the YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER shows...ehehehe. It is sooo HORRIABLE and if I am guilty of being mean, then let it be over this...but those women that go there three, four, five plus times with different men to hear YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER....makes me laugh really really really hard....(to the point of snorting sometimes). They get up there and are sooooooo angry and sooooo sure and they bash the hell outta these guys. When Mauri says YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER...ugh....I wanna pat those men on the back!!! I know there are situations out there where sometimes it is really hard to know...and there are circumstances...but 12 times...common. I cant feel bad for those women.

I haven't experienced that stuck feeling...well maybe I have. I dunno, it felt like a kid was sitting on my chest...I called Dr Kwon and he said I was drinking too much and I was streaching out my pouch. Its been better. If "stuck" feels worse than that, oh you poor woman! I am doing really well aside from that. I went to the office today and got weighed in. I am down 15 pounds from 5/3/05...thats when I did all my presurg stuff. Its amazing! I know it will slow down, but I am really surprized it worked this well, and I am very proud. I was put back on protein shakes today. I just did my first one for dinner and well, it took me two and a half hours and Im not finished...still have about 8 ounces. I am not gonna push it cause I feel full. I will do water for the rest of the night. I keep hearing people saying they eat jello....sugar free jello....Are we allowed to have that? I know every doctor is different. I was going to ask today, but I forgot. I was too stoked over the weight loss to remember anything else! If you know, please lemme know. I LOVE SUGAR FREE JELLO!!!! And if I can have some now, I would love it...if not I will wait. I did have peppermint flavored hot tea last night and that felt sooo good going down! Definately recommend it to anyone! Okay Jasper...I hope your feeling better about everything and I will see you Monday, if I don't talk to you before then!! LATER!!