TabithaH

Hi Jill! Welcome! I'm glad you found us.:whoo:

Paula - the information I saw said the meeting was from 5:3-7:00. I'm planning to go, but not sure that I will stay until 7pm. Tabitha

That's exactly my situation - my appt is 13 days post-op. Last night I decided to try refried Beans. I added a lot of Water to make them as liquidy as I could and added a bit of mild sauce to flavor them up a bit and it was really good! That will be dinner again tonight. With that I think I'll be okay until Tuesday. I need the variety and I'm really tired of the sweet protien shakes, and soup is getting a bit old. Is anyone going to the support group meeting on Monday? I'm considering it, but don't really want to go by myself.

Thanks Paula! I really haven't had any pain at all other than the uncomfortableness of the gas. I do have a bit of soreness at the port muscle, but it was only bad (meaning more than now) for a day or two after surgery. Now it just feels like a muscle that has been working out. And, I notice it when I sneeze or cough. I got on my scales tonight and I don't really think I've lost any since surgery either. I have a doc appt. tomorrow (not Edwards) so I'll know then. I have to admit that I will be a bit upset if I have not lost anything. With only liquids there should be some reward. :phanvan Congrats on the fill. Let me know how it goes. I won't get mine until around 10/10...at least that is what I counted as 6 weeks. I'm ready to get started. At this point, I'm just ready for something other than liquids!:hungry:

Hi Kim! My band was stitched to my stomach and I don't get a fill until 6 weeks post-op. The reasoning for my situation is because they wait for the stomach to heal and the swelling to go down before the fill. Everyone does it different. I'm sorry about your embarrassing moment! Just hang in there, it will end soon.

Hi jad! On Tuesday and Wednesday both, around 3pm, I started having really bad pain from the gas. I just feel like I have a hugh bubble in my stomach and then in my left shoulder. I would just get up and wonder around for a bit until it felt a little better. By the time I get home after work it is awful and I'm on the bed stretched out. I'm still having pain, but only from the gas. I never had any other kind of pain. Although, my port muscle is a bit tender, but not bad. For me, the difference in gas and port pain - port pain is a sore muscle and gas is a big air bubble and pain in the left shoulder. Today is the first day I have really felt any relief from the gas pain...it is still there, but seems to be going away. I guess we'll see what 3pm brings.:rolleyes I started sleeping on my sides and stomach on Friday (surgery was Wed.) If I needed to roll over, I just did it very slowly! Tabitha

Congrats Liz and Danielle! I had surgery on 8/29 and have had about the same experiences as both of you. I was sick until Friday because of the anesthesia, but have felt much better since. I haven't had to take any pain meds, which is surprising. The gas pains were a bit uncomfortable, but not as horrible as the nausea from the anesthesia. I'm also having a bit of trouble with the Water. I know I'm getting some down, but probably not close to what I need. Hopefully over time that will work itself out. Good luck to both of you!! Tabitha

Hi Mazie! The surgery went very well and I'm feeling pretty good at this point. The only real trouble I had was some nausea from the anesthesia for a couple of days. Other than that, this has been much easier than I expected. I've really had no pain, other than a bit of soreness at the port muscle (I expected that). I haven't even had to take the pain medication. As far as restriction and irritation - I don't know?!? I'm pretty sure there is no irritation, but I'm not sure about the restriction. Sometimes I feel like there is nothing there (except that I have pics to prove there is). I do feel a little full after drinking a bit of Water or soup, so maybe that is it. I just thought maybe it was still pressure from the gas they pump in. I think my stomach started growling on Friday (surgery was Wednesday), so you are right...the hunger comes back pretty quick! Anyway, all went well and all is well. Thanks for checking in! Tabitha PS - Mazie: did you get my email?

I have always like the fruit baby food. I have a couple of jars of that for later. I bought protein powder at walmart and it is really good. I prefer the vanilla over the chocolate though. I have been using that with different flavored extracts and fruit and made some really good shakes. My favorite is banana chunks, pineapple chunks, and coconut extract with a bit of skim milk and ice. I also recently bought SF caramel and hot fudge to add. There is a lot of variety, but sometimes the "sweet" gets to be too much. Just play with it and see what you can do.

Bergdorfblonde: I tried the baby food thing too and you're right, it was bad! As bad as the meat was (I tried chicken with gravy) the vegetables were worse! I even tried adding a bit of salt to try to give them flavor and it did not help at all. The idea was good, but not tolerable.:omg:

Hi all! I have a treadmill that has been taking up space in my house for a couple of years - and no, I have never used it. It is FREE to anyone who wants it and can come pick it up. I have a local charity scheduled for a pick up on Saturday, 9/1/07, so it will be here until then. I'm going to let them take it if no one wants it.

Hi all! I'm glad to have found this group. I will have surgery on 8/29 and can't wait!! :whoo: Good luck to everyone!

I am using Atkins and I bought vanilla and chocolate Protein powder to make my own. I just bought the kind they have a wal-mart. It has 46g/23g for 2 scoops/1 scoop. I add different flavored extracts and fruit. They are really good!! I have to say though, I prefer the vanilla Protein Powder over the chocolate. I've also started blending different kinds of Soup to drink at night. I just bought a Magic Bullet - MUCH easier to clean up after than the blender - and it is wonderful! It will turn chunky soup into pure liquid in no time.

Well, my surgery date has been moved up to the 29th!! The ins. co. didn't want to pay for it to be done at the Surgery Center so I have to have it at the hospital. I'm not really complaining about that as long as they are paying, but I had to start my 'week before surgery liquids' two days early! The first week wasn't so bad since I could have a small meal...I'm not really enjoying this week tho. I'm almost tired of protein shakes and jello!

Hi all! I am scheduled to be banded on August 31st and began my two week pre-op liquid phase last Friday. My doc requires one week two liquid meals and one small, normal meal, and then the second week is all liquids. My question is - what is a "small, normal" meal? Everytime I put something in my mouth that isn't liquid I feel like I am doing something wrong. I'm eating regular foods, but I'm eating much less than I normally would. I still feel like I'm cheating. I'm concerned that things won't be as doc wants/needs them when I go in for surgery. Any insight would be appreciated.:help:

Yes, things are moving rather slowly! And, patience is not one of my virtues. So, Nana, I noticed in another post of yours that you are from Texas and lived in Midland. I lived in Midland for about 1 year and I grew up in Odessa (was there about 25 years.) I'm in MO now, but TX is really home for me.

Nana - thanks for the response, although it no longer matters. I just got a call from the doc office and they moved my date up to the 29th. This means that I get to start full liquids tomorrow. From what you said I really didn't do as bad as I thought. In an odd sort of way I'm glad I don't have to worry about what a "small, normal" meal is (although the "small" part was easy, it was the "normal" that confused me).:mad:

August 31st!!!! Whoo hoo!! I can't believe I finally have a date!

2bthinagn - thanks for the questions. Between the all-day class we had to do and the hours of reading on this site and others, most of my other questions were answered. I did have the one about meds on my list. I will just see what comes to mind as we talk tomorrow. Thanks for the input!

I know this is going to sound bad, but I have my pre-op appt tomorrow and I really have no questions to ask doc. I feel like I should be asking something, but I have done so much research that all of my questions have been answered. So, I was wondering if you all might be willing to share the questions you had - maybe there is something I'm not thinking of. Thanks!

Welcome back Mazie! I was wondering what happened to you. :confused: I'm glad to hear that a drink here and there is not out of the question down the road. I don't drink that much or that often, but we do go to happy hour on the nights we have dance class. I'm willing to change to something other than beer - I hear the bubbles can be painful. So, I will answer my own question about the baby food...YUCK! I tried a couple of different vegetable ones and they are not good at all. Not even with a bit of salt added. Oddly enough, the chicken with chicken gravy and the chicken noodle were the better of the ones I tried. They also needed a bit of salt added. The book I mentioned before has some decent receipes in it for Protein shakes and soft foods. I think I will stick with that. Night night all.:notagree The sooner I go to bed, the sooner Thursday gets here.:whoo:

Hi all! Someone suggested that baby food might be a good idea after surgery when you begin soft foods again - anyone have any thoughts on this? Did anyone give this a try? If so, which ones are good? I bought a couple of really small jars today to see if it is doable. Also, I bought a book titled "Before and After" by Susan Leach. Has anyone read this? Susan, the nutritionist, showed this to me (and probably to all of you as well) so I thought I would read it. Looks like it has some good receipe ideas And finally, for those of you who have been through the before surgery liquid phase - any suggestions for keeping the energy level up? Any particular liquids that helped you get through the day? Thanks in advance for all of the ideas.

<p>Barb - You are welcome to join us for happy hour next week! Just me and some people I work with. If you want more info let me know.</p> <p> </p> <p>I was going to see if I could get in on Tuesday if there was a cancellation, but he has to do a surgery that day so there is no chance. <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Frown" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg" /> Being patient is not easy for me.</p> <p> </p> <p>I can't wait to hear your date...hey, when you schedule tell them to save a place for me on the same day. <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/biggrin1.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Biggrin1" smilieid="199" class="inlineimg" /></p>

When I met with Dr. Edwards the first time he told me that when I make my final appt with him to go ahead and start the liquid phase. Yesterday when I made my appt I asked them if I should still do that and they said not to and to wait and talk to doc first. So, I'm not really sure what to do. Actually, I have planned a "last drink" happy hour:beer: right after that appointment, so I think I might wait. I will put some more thought into it. UN5 - definately let me know when your date it and I will keep you posted on mine.

I talked to Mary a few minutes ago and have my final appt. with Dr. Edwards next Thursday (8/16) and then will get date. UN5 - we could be going in for surgery about the same time. Good luck with everything. And to answer your question, I saw Amy. I had been meeting with Amy prior to that for the New Images program so I set it up with her. You know, it really hasn't hit me yet that this is really going to happen. This time next week may be a different story though. I figure once I get the date and pay the 20% the ins. doesn't pay, and start liquids then it will hit. Here we go...