icybreeze

Thanks everyone for sharing your weight struggle stories - it's always nice to know we're not alone! I was beginning to think I was doing something really wrong! OMG...I was amazed to see the list of people lined up for this week!!! Good luck to all of you!

Question: Has anyone else noticed a stall in their weight loss when they hit the mushies stage? Is this normal, or just me? Could just be Aunt Flo rearing her ugly head too. I was making steady progress until a few days ago.....frustrating.

GeGe, I think that thinking about food a lot in the beginning is totally normal. I have a friend who was banded last year, and she told me that for at least the first couple months, your life seems to revolve around food. She swears that goes away as you adjust to band life. I hope so, 'cause I'm right there with you!!!

Chimboree, I didn't even realize you are on for tomorrow! Woohoo!!! How exciting!!! I hope you get a great night's sleep and that everything goes well tomorrow.

sorry that last one was so long! just checking in - hope you are all doing great! Just had to share that at 2 weeks post-op, I am feeling awesome!!! Barely any tenderness left in the tummy, sleeping almost fully on my stomach again, energy is nearly back to full steam ahead, and eating (mushies) without problems. If you had asked me a few days after surgery, i was questioning that it was possibly the biggest mistake of my life (i guess that's the joy of no pain meds!). Glad to say any misery appears to be short-lived! Hoping things just get better and better...for all of us! now if I can just make it to normal, non-pureed food again, people at work might stop looking at me like I've lost my mind....

Kathy, My saving drink the first few days was gatorade. I was getting very dehydrated, and it helped tremendously. I dilute 50% with water....love the lemonade flavor! Meds I got were gas-x, tylenol, and chewable vitamins (helped me with energy level). for tylenol, i got a few different flavors...even some kids chewables! i'm super picky about taste, and anything cherry makes me vomit, so couldn't do the liquid. Chimboree, I'm so sorry your friend upset you like that! She probably doesn't know what to say, which sometimes leads people to say the dumbest things instead of saying nothing. If you are confident in your decision, that's what matters. Enjoy the days before your surgery and try not to let her remark get to you. Gege, i'm so with you! i started mushies this weekend. i've found that if i don't really slow down when i'm eating, i'm still hungry and eat too much. it's hard!!! the only suggestions i can offer is what i'm trying - i put down my fork/spoon between every bite and eat a pre-measured amount of food. once it's gone, i wait at least 15 minutes before eating anything else. if i'm still hungry, i'll get a little more. usually though, i find i'm at least comfortable at that point. sometimes i'm hungry again within an hour, but i figure if i eat at that point, it's probably ok and won't stretch me out. if i'm eating alone, i bring the newspaper. reading helps me slow down my meal. hang in there! Brandy, your vibrator comment killed me!!! i had the same thought! when i went to see my doc toward the end of the liquids, i was hoping the same thing...that he'd move me to mushies. didn't happen. i told him i was going to scream if i saw another can of soup. his response? so go get a milkshake. huh??? he told me it had to be liquid, it didn't have to be boring! i love this guy! why no mashed potatoes for you? i had some tonight and they went down really well and were very filling. i'm not a yogurt gal either. fresh pureed fruit is yummy, so are taco bell pintos & cheese (not usually a fan, but they are pretty good!). right now, i'll throw anything in my food processor and give it a try. have to say though, tonight's chicken and gravy looked really revolting...but tasted yummy! Ms Yackie, mushies at 3 days post-op??? i don't know about your doc's instructions, but sounds very soon to me. i could barely eat much soup at that point. if it's making you sick, i'd consider going back to liquids. i think most of us do at least 1-2 weeks on liquid. seems to work. had you been drinking the protein shakes before, or was this your first time? i tried one a couple days after surgery and ended up in bed all day....made me feel horrible.

Lynette, thanks for the info on your diet. I know they mentioned a calorie restriction for me, but not until the band is properly adjusted. I thought mushies would make life easier, but not as much so as I thought. I did try the refried beans from Taco Bell last night...I swear it was the best thing I've tasted in awhile!!! Going to have to watch that one so I don't gain.

Lynette, do you have a calorie limit per day? I'd be curious to know what that is. My doc seems to have such a different outlook on things. He told me for the first 1-2 months he doesn't care what I eat, as long as I eat. He's more concerned about figuring out how much I can eat and how long before I'm hungry, so he can determine if I need an adjustment. I guess I should start counting to have some idea where I'm at. Chimboree, I've heard it's incredibly hard to sleep through the studies. Hopefully you'll get a good sleep tonight - you deserve it! NewCC - my port is on my left side, below the ribs. good luck to everyone being banded tomorrow! :clap2:

Lynette, I totally recommend it! Very refreshing and nice and sweet. It chews up so easily too! It might help keep me sane! Now I just need to work on the exercise part. I'm not doing so good there....

Hi everyone! Today was my company picnic...the last day of a week of catered food at work. I survived!!! :whoo: I also had my first "food" today! I had a piece of watermelon, a couple bites of beans, and a tiny bit of potato salad - all super well chewed, of course. Everything went down well, so I'm thrilled about that. I was soooo nervous to eat anything. It felt so good to finally get to put something in my mouth that wasn't soup! Yeah, it would have been nice to munch on some tri tip and garlic bread, but it wasn't the end of the world. And when I step on the scales, it is making it all worthwhile. Hope everyone else is doing great!!! :car:

That's great the leg cramps haven't come back!! 64 oz and lacking Fluid??? My goodness, do they want you to float away? That could be what's causing your back pain though. I had a bad kidney infection years ago, and it made my lower back hurt quite a bit. Cranberry juice helped a lot. It seems to be good for cleansing your system. Works great with bladder infections too. I came close to a leg cramp the other night and freaked. I realized I hadn't gotten in all my fluids that day. It's amazing how much I notice body changes now if I don't get it all in! I really feel it.

Good news! Hopefully the chiro will be able to give you some relief! How are you doing with the leg cramps?

Hey everyone! Geez, I thought I had a hard time keeping up with you guys before - now that I'm back at work it's impossible! I feel so lost!!! Lynette, I'm so sorry you aren't feeling well! Hopefully it will work it's way through soon. The person who does the training at my hospital told me about breads that it's one of those things that everyone tries. We all know we aren't supposed to, but everyone does it. Don't beat yourself up! I'm sure we'll all be in your shoes at some point saying "I should have listened to Lynette!". I have my first checkup with the doc tomorrow afternoon. Hoping he'll say I'm doing fabulously and can start my mushies...this liquid thing is killing me. We have the food week from hell at work. Catered lunches every day, and my assistant (not knowing I can't eat), ordered all my favorites. They're eating pizza right now and the smell is driving me batty. If it weren't raining I'd go for a walk. This is torture! I just have to keep telling myself...this too shall pass. Trying to look on the brightside. My starvation diet has me down 12 pounds since my surgery. Hope everyone else is doing well!

Don't know what to say about the back pain, but for leg cramps, are you getting enough fluids? I've heard dehydration can be a contributing factor. I've been super paranoid about leg cramps, so I make sure before I go to bed to do some leg stretches. Once I go to bed, any time I wake up I make circles with my feet just to keep the muscles in my calves limbered up. Can't say that's helping, but it doesn't seem to be hurting. Hope you keep doing well!

Dmtjet, I'm so glad to know I'm not alone with this whole chest pain thing. Are you having trouble catching your breath sometimes? It's getting better, but far from gone. Dieka, Where are you in Nor Cal? I'm San Jose. Nice to have another local on the board! Ash, good luck at work tomorrow! Thanks to all for the continued encouragement and support. I'm trying to keep up!!! Gotta go rest up for my first day back in the office. Hoping for a quiet day (yeah, like that'll happen!). Good luck to everyone on deck for tomorrow! :clap2:

Rainer, I was having the same problem with feeling really tired. I've started my chewable vitamins and it seems to help a bit. I also switched to a more substantial soup today (creamy tomato). I eat less of it, but it is soooo much more fullfilling! They had told me clear liquids only for the first week, but I just can't take it anymore!!!

Ribearty, My port is on my left side. I suppose if I were a ship I'd find that appropriate. Lynnette, I'm so going to have to try your shake methods. Sounds like you're loving them! Ash, hang in there! I have had so many aches and pains that I can hardly tell one from the next, but they do get better. My shoulders were killing me yesterday, but then had a mysterious burst of gas relief (sorry!) last night, and feeling a little better today. I tried the gas-x, but it didn't seem to make a diff for me. I'm still having lots discomfort in my chest tho. :cry I'm starting back to work tomorrow too, and also very nervous about this. I find myself lacking energy and needing to lie down throughout the day. Anyone gone back to work after a week and survived? Any tips?

Lynette, thanks for the suggestions! I have the Designer Protein Whey in chocolate. The aftertaste is killin me! I also followed the directions, which said to use 8-10 oz. milk. That makes for a whole lot of protein shake and I'm having a hard time choking it all down. There's a WalMart not too far from me...I'll have to see if I can pick up some vanilla.

unruhlyhd, I think the nerves are totally normal. A couple days before my surgery, I kinda freaked out a bit. Amazingly, the night before....I slept like a rock. Hang in there!

Hey all! I haven't been on since Friday....looks like I've fallen way behind! Hoping someone has some advice on protein shakes. Are there any out there that don't taste horrible? My friend gave me this chocolate stuff to try, and I can't say I'm a big fan. Are there any that truly have no taste? thanks

Good morning! How is everyone today? I'm finally at a point where my discomfort is getting tolerable - yeah! Question: is anyone else feeling a lot of pressure on the chest? I went to bed last night feeling like I had an elephant sitting on me....very uncomfortable! About me: I'm 36 and live in San Jose, CA. I've been happily divorced for 3 years (was married for 11). I have 2 wonderful kids, ages 5 and 10. Raising them alone is a challenge, but in a good way. I also work full-time in human resources. I started looking into banding many years ago, but my ex didn't approve and I didn't need yet another thing to get yelled at about. My friends have all been bugging me to start dating again, but I lack confidence at this size. I finally decided it was time to make some real changes and take back my life....so here I go! I've been overweight since my latter college years and am dreaming of the day I can shop in the regular size deparments again.

I just started getting hungry this evening. I never realized how much I eat out of boredom! Have you tried jello? I got some of the ready made jello cups and one of those will help me feel full pretty well. Hang in there!

I'm so amazed by the differences in instructions from one doc to the next! So many of you had to do pre-op diets, while mine was only 1 day. Post-op diets seem to vary quite a bit too. And you all know how I'm feeling about the lack of pain meds :cry Lynette, I was told to avoid gum entirely, as if you accidentally swallow it, it will plug the hole. I'd be careful on that one! How is the gas-x working for others? I haven't tried it yet. Also curious about those of you crushing pills - how do you take them? Don't they taste nasty crushed?? I've tried the adult chewable tylenol and even the kids chewables. ewwwww....kinda yucky. would love some advice on getting through this part!

Gladster, I don't feel it's an easy way out at all. My biggest problem on a diet is feeling hungry all the time, which ultimately leads to failure. I figure if the band will help with that part, then it's a good thing. Looking at the list of "no no" foods, I don't think this is going to be easy at all. I see all the time on magazines how people lose weight with no surgery or gimmicks. Well, good for them. I think it is those kinds of statements though that can make you feel like you are somehow cheating by getting banded. I say whatever works for you...go for it!

My doc called a little while ago to check up on me. He said Advil for these first few days isn't going to do any damage, but not a good choice long-term. Regardless, I'm going to try to stick with my tylenol only as much as possible. I took a bunch of stuff with me to the hospital, and likewise, didn't use much. I was overnight, so used my toothbrush, hairbrush, and lip moisturizer. I did read one of my magazines and was careful to not bring any that were food mags...stuck with People. I had brought a sleepshirt, but then realized I couldn't put it on with the IV. They gave me slipper socks to wear for walking the hall. I bought some gas-x strips, but haven't used them yet.