piercedqt78

I was also told no straws. A good way to make sure you are drinking slowly is to use a medicine cup. I was told a medicine cup every 10 -15 mins was a good way to pace myself the first day or so, but I was able to take regular drinks by the end of the 2nd day. I had a complication and had to spend the night at the hospital, so I was on an IV for the fisrt 30 hours after surgery. I was also not allowed anything by mouth for 12 hours because I was not able to have the Barium swallow right away. As soon as I was able to have liquids I had about 10 oz of chicken broth and it didn;t hurt at all. ~Mandy

I am told that the average weight loss is 2 pounds per week. I have lost as much as 5 pounds and I have stayed the exact same for 2 weeks straight. It is an average of 2 per week, not 2 each and every week. ~Mandy

I did loads of broth and I didn't worry about calories at all, I was told it was a time for healing not weightloss. I was on liquids a short time and then moved to "whole liquids" aka cream Soups and then on to blended foods ( I pureed wendy's chili and ate several meals out of one small chili), then mushies (I did mashed veggies, guac, refried Beans with some whole beans in there and soft cheeses I included finely groud beef and turkey in this phase) You should get a list of the diet that the doctor wants you to follow. I would call and see if they can e-mail it to you so you can shop before surgery. I have a list of pre-op shopping items: lab-band shopping list heating pad flexible ice pack liquid tylenol (they make adult strength) chewable or liquid gas-x a few books or movies comfy clothes (loose waisted shorts or jumpers) squishy pillow for car ride (guard against seatbelt) a sports bra (doc said no underwire for a few days) protien shakes flavored Water make sure you have a good blender I bought a drink mixer for the protien mix (cost $10 at walmart) broth or stuff to make broth sugarfree popsicles and Jello sugar free gum (ask your doctor) sugar free breathmints (ask your doctor) *Ask at your pre-op for the pain med prescription so you can have it all ready to go when you get home, our walgreens has to order liquid pain meds and it takes 3 days to get them.

I hope you have a fast and easy recover from surgery. I also wish you the best with your future hubby~Mandy

I had a horrible PB on really moist turkey breast. I am normally fine with poultry but not yesterday. I had a really stressful Christmas so I am going to blame to PB on that. I am on mushies today with no problem at all. I think it was the stress not the food. I will relax, I will relax, I will relax...~Mandy

I sipped during the healing phase, but I have downed a full 16 oz bottle of water in one drink recently. As long as it is not too cold I can drink just about as fast as I want without too many problems, I can also out burp your average beer guzzling man. ~Mandy

My doctor says that the hair loss starts between 3 and 6 months after surgery and it is almost always a very short term thing. I am not going to stress about it, I am sure it will grow back on it;s own in a month or so. ~Mandy

I don't attend a formal support group, but I have had lunch with a few bandsters. I also keep in contact with several people that are banded via email. I am too far away fromt he meeting and the meetings are split with gastric bypass people so it is mostly their food issues and not so much band help. Hey, after banding pizza is not as important, :eek: Like I said if you are ever home and want to meet some great bandsters let me know. ~Mandy

It won't prevent hairloss, it only encourages hair growth. ~Mandy

Here was my shopping list: lab-band shopping list heating pad flexible ice pack liquid tylenol (they make adult strength) chewable or liquid gas-x a few books or movies comfy clothes (loose waisted shorts or jumpers) squishy pillow for car ride (guard against seatbelt) a sports bra (doc said no underwire for a few days) protien shakes flavored Water make sure you have a good blender I bought a drink mixer for the protien mix (cost $10 at walmart) broth or stuff to make broth sugarfree popsicles and Jello sugar free gum (ask your doctor) sugar free breathmints (ask your doctor) *Ask at your pre-op for the pain med prescription so you can have it all ready to go when you get home, our walgreens has to order liquid pain meds and it takes 3 days to get them.

If you have a Sally's Beauty supply near you they have a generic that is much cheaper and works about the same. There is a serum that you have to apply to the scalp, make sure that you don't get it on your face, it causes the blood to flow easier at the surface of the skin and it will make red spots on your face for about 3 hours. It works to improve circulation in the scalp and in some people that will cause hair to grrow faster/regrow. ~Mandy

elarla makes my side hurt sometimes from the laughter. My family thinks I am nuts for laughing at the computer screen. I think she brings a breath of fresh air to the forum~Mandy

1. How difficult did you find the pre-op diet? * I did liquids for 10 days and after about day 3 it was easy. My family lived on frozen meals and take out for that time, my hubby didn't want me to have to cook and then not eat. 2. I have had 3 cesareans and my gallbladder laproscopically removed. Does anyone know how the pain and/or recovery is in comparison? * I had natural child birth so I can't help there, and i still have my gallbladder for now. 3. How soon can one umm hmmm be intimate and are you limited in well you know <WHISPERS>positions? I waited almost 2 weeks, I was gluded not stitched and I was worried about the glue popping open so I was a bit over protective. 4. After going on solids, is there a weight gain? I didn't gain when I went to solids, but I made that transition pretty fast, I was on soft solids in less than 2 weeks. 5. What is the longest a person went without any fills (after surgury) and STILL lost weight? * I think Dylansmom is the longest and best losing that I know of, she still has no fill and is losing fine, not to mention she is looking just fab! 6. Do people stall on this and if they do and it has nothing to do with the restriction, how can you tweak your program to break the stall? * Like Alex said it is a plateau and yes you will hit one at some point, everyone does. I do a day of liquids and then a day of mushies and then a day of soft foods and that seems to jump start my weight loss again. I have lost 51 pounds in less than 5 months, and that is my method for breaking a plateau. I hope you are finding the answers that you are seeking here. Never be affraid to ask questions, that is what we experienced bandsters are here for. The only stupid question is the one that you never ask. I am in Chicago so if you ever make a visit home, let us know maybe we can plan a lunch while you are here, there are loads fo chicagoans here. Keep us updated on your progress. ~Mandy

"diet" low fat, low sugar foods? I just found a low sugar honey substitute and a low sugar apple butter, yum. ~Mandy

I go to Dr. Brian Lahmann in Joliet, I love everyone at that practice. I called in today sick and thinking that I was overfilled, (I had a fill on friday) and he talked to me and said it sounded like it was my flu not my band, but if I was still not able to eat normally on friday he would get me in for an unfill. He is really funny and nice, several of us here use him. Here is the information 815-723-8571 they are at Silver Cross Hospital. ~Mandy

I just spoke to my dentist and he says my teeth are in great shape. I also asked my surgeon about this and he said that PB'ing should not contain any stomach acid, so no worries there. As for the reflux, that needs to be treated, regardless of dental health, for the haelth of the esophagus (sp?). Hope this helps~Mandy

I want to be a better parent, wife and bandster. I need to drink more water and less tea. And last but not least I will never abuse my body with food again. ~Mandy

I also talked to Barix Clinics before deciding on a surgeon. I told them up front that I have intolrences to sugar substitutes and that I was not at all interested in GBP. They called and verified my insurance and then called me back and said that my only option was the GBY and then proceeded to try to HARD sell me on that proceedure. I again explained that I have a hard time with sugar subsitiutes and she said she was going to pass me to a nurse that would explain it to me in more detail. ( my best friend is 4 years out from GBP at Barix) The nurse tried to tell me that people "Rarely" have problems with sugar after surgery and that I would be fine. I protested and explained that I have totally researched both surgeries. She placed me on hold and then another woman got on the phone and introduced herself and ask what my questions were, I explained the insurance situation and that I wasn't interested in GBP due to the dumping syndrome and other possible complications. Well, she was a GBP patient and she got really huffy and demanded that I give an example of what I was worried about. I simply told her that I have a very small child and didn't want to miss out on birthday cake and one day a wedding cake with her. She had the nerve to tell me that I would fail if I didn't have the self control to avoid cake for the rest of my life. And then told me that 90% of banded people have serious complications and end up converting to the GBP. I told her she was full of crap and she hung up on me. I couldn't believe that that actually have a patient on hand all day everyday to sell the proceedure. I went on to find a surgeon that was willing to fight my insurace company and it was covered 100%. I am down 51 pounds in 5 months, I love my band. Barix Clinics suck~Mandy

The white coating on the tongue is from not eating solids. I am a body piercer by trade and the same thing happens after getting your tongue pierced. Solid food scrapes the top layer of the tongue while you are chewing/eating. Liquids don't do that, also solid foods help to break down tarter on the teeth, liquids have no effect. That is where the bad breath is comming from. The metalic taste is from the anestesia (sp?) This too shall pass~Mandy

I was banded in July 05 and I qualified, so that is not the problem. ~Mandy

It was closed yesterday, but I tried again today and I got to do the survey. I was almost all the way to the end and I hit the back button and it booted me so I had to start all over again. But hey, it was worth $50. WooHoo, I have a birthday in the beginning of Feb, that money with allow my band to buy me something nice!! ~Mandy

What ever you get paid, you deserve double. I am all for teachers making millions, as I don't have the kind of personality that is required to care for multiple children. I have one and there are days that I swear I need a raise and I am her mother. I firmly believe that my daughter's preschool teacher is a saint as there are 21 in the room and most of the time it is just her. Yikes! Congrats on the raise and I agree you need to update the avatar, you are lookin great!! ( is that a new hairstyle/cut? it looks great) ~Mandy

If you like powerade option then you should also try Propel, it is actually made by the gatorade company and is really good. Try the peach and the melon, they are the best. ~Mandy

I eat all the califlower I want (at least until I am full) with no problems. I was told to avoid asparagus pieces, I make asparagus dip, instead of spinich dip and it is just as good. My other biggie is fried potatos, hash, browns and fries. I am fine with baked and mashed taters but fry them or make a hash brown casserole and I am down for the count. I had a really bad PB on McD's hash browns and Cracker Barrel's hash brown casserole, both were pre-op faves. I can't eat anything from McD's anymore, nothing seems to work from there at all for me. I also don't do Burger King but I can have the Chicaen fries from there, but I try to avoid fried foods all together. There is a post around here somewhere about foods that people struggle with. I will see if I can find it and add a link to this post later today. ~Mandy

I too have mega problems with broccoli but I love the stuff, so my head and band often have battles. I make it at home and over steam it, it is doable but in really small amounts (think 2 or 3 teaspoons) My worst PB to date was at bennigans on broccoli, let's just say it came out of my nose, and I was still haveing pain 5 hours later. I had a fill yesterday so I will start the learning process all over again. I am on mushies tomorrow and then soft food monday, normal food tuesday. I think that there should be a chart of foods that are a bad idea with the band, and broccoli should be at the top of the list in bold. ~Mandy