lindata

<p>I was banded Nov 2. I got hungry probably 5-6 days post-op. I get lightheaded at times and it's really hard to follow the diet as prescribed. I've heard some people don't even need to get fills, but I definitely will!</p> Honeyb - yes, I get weak too at times. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when my parents leave in a few days. They've been playing with my son a lot, so I can rest pretty much when I need to.

Well, I'm starving! Linda

I guess why I thought I could have so much was I was allowed 4 ounces of liquid on the liquid phase, and I thought it just went right into the mushy phase as well. I thought I'd be getting that 'full' feeling, which I never did, so I thought it was okay to have like 1/2 cup of mushy stuff. My s-i-l who also had surgery was allowed 3/4 cup/meal, some people here say 1/2. I know every doc is different, but this seems quite bizarre to eat this little. One of my meals is ONE cracker with cheese! I'm trying to get the nutritionist to phone me back. It all made sense pre-op! In one month I can have 2-3 tablespoons, then in another few weeks I can have 3-4 tablespoons, graduating to 1/2 cup max/meal. I'm just curious what everyone else's diet is like.

I like November Nymphs. Good one! Linda

Sorry, I meant 1-2 TABLESPOONS - but STILL!!! Linda

Wear pants with an elastic band or low-rise pants, and a bra without underwire. If I sit up straight, it's fine, but if I crouch in my seat with the wrong clothes, it kind of cuts into the incision areas. Linda

i'monmyway - definitely yes to the no. 2. Believe me, there's stuff in there - I learned the hard way, took a pill which gave me such severe gas that I thought I was going to throw up. I'm going to try prune juice! I also got very bad gas pain - pretty much whatever I did - drinking, walking, driving. I think it just has to work its way out with time.

Good luck, Andie! Soon I'll be hearing stories of your stinky, yellow, surgical tape! BWAHHAHAHAHA!!! Linda

Solaa, I hear you about the gas pain. I thought today wasn't going to be too bad. Then I went shopping and on the way home I almost passed out. It was even worse than the first day out of surgery. I'm not sure if it's the walking that caused it or drinking water. It seems everytime I take a sip of something I get this pain. It's absolutely awful.

Lindsey Ann - I know, it gives you a boost, doesn't it, like this time, wow, I can really lose the weight - finally! That's how I feel. It's very motivational, whereas being on a diet was just depressing.

I can't wait to have canned fruit and cottage cheese! pureed chicken salad on crackers!! yogurt! cheese! Who knew I'd be over the moon about these things? haha My one incision area is falling off somewhat. My doc said I could take them off after 1 week. I'm quite nervous to do that!! I don't want to look! ewww, gross! I just hope to God my port area is not infected. So when you're all eating your Breakfast tomorrow, think of me, slowly peeling back stinky, yellow surgical tape, sticking to my fish-white belly, catching on the skin! hahaha, so gross! Linda

Andie - I'm not sure what it's caused from. I just know it's gas. Whether it's from anaesthesia, the gas they use blowing up your stomach for surgery, I'm not sure. But it's a pain in the neck - literally!

Thanks for the tip, Steph!

Smiletracy, that sounds exactly like what I went through, and I'm sure everyone else here! I got so addicted to this site.

Laura, I heard you can take suppositories. Someone on another thread told me this and she didn't have any problems. I think it may have been the particular brand of pill I took. I'm not really sure. You'll feel a LOT better though once you've "gone";)

My surgery was Nov 2 and the stomach pain is practically gone but my shoulder pain is still so intense! It's really getting aggravating already.

So, I was told after surgery if I hadn't had a "number 2" I should take a laxative in a few days so I don't strain. 4 days after surgery I crushed a laxative pill and took it. BIG HUGE mistake. I'm not sure exactly what was going on in my guts, but it felt like everything expanded and pressed on my stomach so that I felt like puking. I had to keep spitting into a cup so I didn't puke. I had to keep pacing to get the gas out. It was a two-hour process and was not worth the pain. It felt like how people describe when they've eaten too much and they need to puke it up to feel better. It took all my willpower not to puke. Has this happened to anyone else? Linda

Lizzie, my sister-in-law got it done last summer and she looks like a friggin movie star now, I kid you not. She's doing awesome. She has lost waaaay more than the 50 percent you're supposed to. I think she's almost at a 'normal' weight range (if there really is such a thing as normal weight ranges - those graphs really make me angry). And, yes, if I didn't see how well she did I never would have gotten it done. Also, I had no idea you could even do this surgery until she did it. So she's definitely my inspiration. As for the states, my husband got a job here. I said I'd go anywhere as long as he could find a job that would bring him home every night. I'm quite happy where we are here. I know many think Arkansas is not their first destination of choice, but it's really, really beautiful here and the people are very nice, and we're close to Little Rock so we have all the amenities of the big city. I think it's America's best kept secret actually. Linda

Andie, are you not allowed to have coffee?

I know, it sounds exactly like I was stuck! But I'm sure that's not it because my husband crushed them up with a hammer and it was very powdery. What kind did you have or do you remember?

Thanks everyone! I've been doing better every day, getting used to things. I'm not sure how to get enough Water in in a day though. Bandster, maybe you're craving hard candy because you know that's the only thing your tummy can tolerate right now, know what I mean? Like, you can't have chips or fast food. Just throwing thoughts out there. Linda

Bwahahahaha, Stephanie, you're hilarious!

<p>Bandedforlife - I'm sorry if it sounded like I was getting mad at you! I just really feel for you because I know what it's like to want the last meal. Every diet I've ever been on, that's what I've done, so I understand the need for it. I totally pigged out before my pre-op diet. Some people thought that was stupid, that I should be trying to diet, but that was just what I had to do to say goodbye to the food and to the quantity of food I was used to eating. I'm not sure if a last meal will really enlarge your liver or not. My concern would be having a full stomach and being sick during or after surgery. I just wouldn't want anyone to go through that. </p> <p>You know what you could do is pack some powdered Protein shake, dole them out into the right portions or take a scooper with you, and then buy milk on the way, shake it up and drink it. </p> <p>Good luck with your sugery!</p> Omlagirl, maybe it's a low-carb thing. I know people who do Atkins get headaches at first. So if you're used to a lot of carbs, and now aren't getting many (if you're just having protein shakes), that could be the cause. Or maybe you're not getting enough Water too. That happens to me - I get a headache if I don't drink enough. Linda

Lizzie, it's nice to see a Canadian here. I'm from Canada and just moved to the states in March. I was from Sk. My sister-in-law, who is also from Sk, had her surgery done in Toronto as well. Linda

Lizzie, I had/have the same thing. I think everything is getting better though - the shoulder pain included. Try using a few more pillow than you usually do at night and see if that helps. I had posted this in another area and thought I'd share it here as well: So, I was told after surgery if I hadn't had a "number 2" I should take a laxative in a few days so I don't strain. 4 days after surgery I crushed a laxative pill and took it. BIG HUGE mistake. I'm not sure exactly what was going on in my guts, but it felt like everything expanded and pressed on my stomach so that I felt like puking. I had to keep spitting into a cup so I didn't puke. I had to keep pacing to get the gas out. It was a two-hour process and was not worth the pain. It felt like how people describe when they've eaten too much and they need to puke it up to feel better. It took all my willpower not to puke. Linda