the best me

Oh Glo, I'm so sorry. Please slow down, will you? Sunsett is right about only drinking the smallest amounts. The gurgle going down is weird and odd but Celebrate it, that's good news!! Your stoma is open, the liquids are passing, you are recovering! However, if the gurgle really gets to you, start by taking smaller, less frequent sips. sleeping in the recliner is par for the course, we all do it. Being sore and tired from lack of calories is normal. I know you are surprised by your recovery so far, but really, I promise, it gets better. Perspective is everything, but for now, I know you can handle this and get through beautifully. Spend the time you need ehre on LBT and post all of your questions and concerns and vent all you want to. You will get great advice from really nice people who care!

You should lay down after what's in your upper pouch gurgles on down past the band. It depends on how tight you are, but it should only take a few minutes, really, especailly if your are sipping. Take a sip, let it gurgle through, take another sip, etc. The laying down and feeling sick to your stomach is the part that makes me worry a little. Sitting up is good, so maybe you just drank that 2 Tbs. of Protien shake too fast. Listen to your body. Go slow. You don't have to wait to go to bed as long as you feel like your pouch is empty, especailly if it makes you feel funny. Really, I think you just might have sipped to much too fast? Your port is always going to hurt this soon after surgery. It slowly gets better each day, so don't worry about your port (take pain meds if needed for that). What you need is hydration and as much nutrition as you can manage as you heal. Remember, right now you are learning how your band makes you feel, but this is not banded life. This is recovery. What you have to do today to get by will change. Next week you will have new and different issues. You will be concerned with your full liquids menu, you will be looking for more variety, you will be wanting to increase your protien so you feel better, etc etc. Hydration and nutrition. Slow and easy. Please post when you hear from Starr. I'll be praying!!!!

Dianne, pay close attention to how your tummy feels each time you put something in it. The "gonna get sick" feeling means what you drank is having a hard time going down. Try not to drink something and then lay down right away. Let it gurgle through. Do you hear it gurgle? Get into the habit now (Oh, okay, next week) of washing your pouch out at bedtime with 6-8 ounces of clear Water. Yes, it's a new kind of full. Hunger is the same ole hunger, I guess. So much of THAT has to do with headwork. But full is a whole new feeling. Pay attention to the sensations. You will need these cues later, even as they change. Okay, when would be a good time to take your gel capsule? Anytime you are standing at the sink. HA! Really, anytime on an empty stomach so it washes on down to the lower stomach. I promise, you will know if it gets stuck. Also, maybe take it with milk (can you do milk?) or gatorade. I found those to be more "slippery" than plain water. It will help the gel capsule to go on down. Don't let meds of any kind rest on your band. Bad Bad Bad. Get the meds washed past your band at all costs. Yay! You are doing this!! Thinking of you Starr!!!!!!!!!!

Heh. Thtat made me laugh and I'm still grinning. hehe... hehehe...I'm not laughing AT you I'm laughing WITH you...hehehe hehehe...

Don't give up hope. Lots of squishy hugs here for you. I just love this post of yours. I cried, too!!!!

Excellent, I agree!!! And everything that Megan said, too. (ducking to avoid the shoe being thrown at me...)

and excellent advice. (((((((HUGS))))))) Crystal

I found Gatorade a bit easier to go down than plain water. So if I was good and thirsty, I'd sip the Orange Gatorade. It tastes better chilled but post-op, warm is better so I just drank it at room temp, for the most part. Yummy. Orange Gatorade! The other flavors sounded too strong tasting, and I don't like anything red so there I was. I'd imagine the original yellow/green Gatorade is good, too.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=10158

VERY good thought. Girl, you are so good! It's kind of what I was trying to point out but didn't. You have nothing to lose by telling her, why not take the opportunity to do it right, UNlike her? I know that secrets are hard for me, and they end up finding out these things anyway as kids go back and forth. I don't think I'd make a big deal about it by making a special phone call or meeting for lunch but if it came up, I'd spill the Beans. On the other hand, it is your own business. So what if she knows or doesn't? Why should it matter? Apparently, she DOES matter to you. What are you thinking about all of these things we are posting?

I can't remember what was hurting that made me do it, but I took some liquid tylenol w/ codiene one night. This was a few weeks before my first fill, so the end of June this year? Anyhow, things didn't go well. I felt it coming, I ran for the kitchen sink and up it came. It was very much like what Porclndoll described. It all happened very much against my will but I relaxed and didnt' fight it. Then I felt so much better. So, you CAN vomit with a band. And it's not the same thing as a PB either. A PB is in another category altogether, really. Vomiting with the band is very similar to vomiting without. I'll never take liquid tylenol w/ codiene again, though.

Well I can't post on just one thread! Happy Birthday! You get a banana over here, too. :banana

Happy Birthday!!!! I hope your day is the best!!! Yippeeee! :banana

Learning how to sip post-op and post-fill has been the most difficult part for me. But, no, it isn't forever. Unless I have a swollen stoma (such as post-op and post-fill) I can guzzle just fine. It would drive me nuts if I had to sip like that forever. It's only for a while, and it gets better and easier with time.

It occasionally works out when it's a scheduled chat. Here is why I don't prefer the chat room. 1) I can't type without typos worth diddly squat so jumping into a conversation is hectic, requires lots of concentration, and I can barely keep up. 2) I have young children and 'puter time is frequently interrupted (me: "what am I, your mother? Can't you see I'm chatting?!!!!!" you get the picture) 3) I can walk away from a post or thread at any given time and come back at lesiure...just can't happen in a chat room. Anyhow, that's why I'm never there. But the times I have chatted at night after everyone is in bed, it's been fun! OH! reason #4) typing late at night after everyone is in bed is actually pretty loud. The office is on the bedroom hall and right next to the Master where hubby gets aggravated at the click click click of the typing when he's trying to sleep. sigh. That's why for me, anyway. Ya'll pic a time and I'll jump in if I can!!!

I had read enough to make me nervous, too. I made all the plans for what happens if I don't come home...showed hubby where the will is filed, gave someone on LBT my phone number so if I didn't post, she could call hubby. He has no clue how to do the message board. etc. etc. Fact is, even if the funeral post is a fake (why would someone do that?!) it COULD happen. I took solace in the fact that my MX doc was very experienced. Person after person went and came back just fine. Yes, some folks have problems but nothing I knew I couldn't deal with if needed...at some point, I just had peace and went forward. I did a little "OMGosh, what the HELL am I doing?!!!!" but, like Jack, look at me now. I haven't been below 200 since before my first child was born. 180's, here I come and it only gets better from here. It's normal to freak out. I want to say "Don't worry, it will be fine" but I can't promise that. However, most likely it will be just fine! ((((hugs))))

...whipped out her Rabbit Pearl and shreiked "But this is soooooo much better!!! Do you realize I have burned 18,200 calories in 3 days with this thing? THINK ABOUT IT!!!" So he said...

Cool. My mom went to the Chiropractor. After inserting arch supports for her shoes, a few adjustments, and a few visits to the Physical Therapy dept, her back pain is much better! Funny thing is, the PTs taught her these exercises to do to strengthen her back and it's showing in her tummy!!! I was shocked to see her after about a month. Her lower belly was so much flatter and her pants weren't stretched across her crotch. Wow! Glad your back is improving. It makes perfect sense, but whooda thunk it?

OMGosh Starr!!! It's almost time for you, now!! So glad to see you posting, Dianne. Rest, walk and sip. Yay!!!!!!!!!!

Well, my gut reaction when I first read the title to your thread was "Hell no" but, after reading I think I have changed my mind. You have nothing to hide, no reason to NOT tell the truth, unless your hubby feels strongly about leaving her out of it. I understand about him not wanting her to be judgemental. Just know the loss is slow and be prepared to NOT CARE what she or anyone else thinks. An aside...many people at my church know I was banded. Few know I went to MX for it, but many know about my WLS. Some have asked questions and been curious, but I just know folks are quietly watching. And wondering. Will she shrink? When will she get thinner? Their skeptical thoughts are mixed with hope that I can conquer this weight problem. Post-surgery, I lost 15 pounds pretty quick. It showed, mostly in my face, and kind people commented, but I did go for several months before dropping a fraction of a pound. I just knew there were people watching and wondering if this extreme measure was going to pan out for me. But I was confident. I didn't like being stuck at 208, down from 223, for months after this surgery. But I knew it would work and held my head high. No naysayers came out of the darkness to wonder aloud. Everyone has been very nice and complimentary and supportive. But there was a time when I knew it was up to me to keep up the hope. Even for everyone else. You know? So, do it right, right in front of her. Don't play games, don't hide, don't manipulate. Take care of you and your family and keep on living with dignity and discuss what needs to be discussed. It's your life. Do your thing. She only matters where your hubby's kids are concerned. Don't give her ammunition to manipulate. All that to say...yep, spill the Beans. Carrying around secrets is hard. No need to lie unless it's a secret to EVERYONE. IMHO.

Yippeeee!!! That is wonderful news! Great happiness to you both! Have you set a date yet?

This is the answer I copied and pasted above...from your hair loss thread, Christine. I thought it was a very helpful explanation, as well. Glad to hear it's getting better.

Good point. Well said and well taken. Compassion is always a good thing.

Nope, you are not the only one. There are at least 2 of us! Probably more. But if it's true, it really is sad, and it CAN happen, and she didn't bash a doc...I know, I know, but what else do you say but I'm sorry? I would love to know more, that's for sure.

Yes, yes, and one more yes. It is an ordinary lifestyle. There are key "banding issue" differences, but it really is just me, eating less, feeling full quicker, working the band, getting the most from my fill, and sometimes doing none of that and eating some potato chips. It's just me!!! I'm normal!!! Once you getit all under your belt, life goes on. Only, it's manageable.