nurse76

Hi Ashley, I think what your feeling is normal, everyone is very different as to what makes them feel full, For me the first 7 days I was satisfied with the liquids and then all of sudden on day 10 my appetite hit me, and now the only thing that actually fills me up is soft food, not even pureed food. I am 2 weeks post-op. I think it all depends on your anatomy and everyone is so very different. But once you are able to advance your diet I think you will feel more restriction. Good luck to you! Oh and one more thing, you will know if you eat something that won't go down, when I first started on soft food this weekend, I had chicken salad and I did not chew a piece up good enough and it hurt like the dickens for about 10 minutes, so trust me you will know.

congrats jessica you are doing GREAT!!!!!!!!, wow no pain killers, what a women. Good luck with you first fill and keep up the good work

Lainy hang in there, it will get better, praying for a speedy recovery for you

Auntie Phyl, WOW, there are some breathtaking photos!!!!, I would love to travel to Canada one day!!!! You are such a beautiful lady!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing your photos!

Hi Auntie Phyl I can't see your pictures either:think I wanted to tell you that on one of your post I saw where you had ordered a sample pack from bariatriceating.com, so I copied you and ordered it to, it came today, pretty cool!!!! Have you tried any of the drinks yet? I can't wait to try them, please let me know how you like them.

Hi Everyone, my mother just sent me this email and I thought I would share it with everyone here: Cancer update -- Johns Hopkins -- Cancer News from Johns Hopkins : > > 1. No plastic containers in micro. > 2. No water bottles in freezer. > 3. No plastic wrap in microwave. > > Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This > information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as > well. > > Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are > highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic > bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. > > Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle > Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked > about dioxins and how bad they are for us. > > He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using > plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. > He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases > dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. > > Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or > ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only > without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and > soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in > something else. > > Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just > safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. > > He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants > moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is > one of the reasons. > > Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as > dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the > food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt > out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. > > Cover food with a paper towel instead. > > This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your > life > > > >

We can call it the Lucky 7's cookbook

Hi Lynette!! No shoulder pain but I do get back pain from time to time, and not to sound gross but this morning I was very constipated(that is a first since surgery) so maybe it is connected to the back pain. No I only work one day per week right now since being in school, so I only work on Saturday nights. Good luck with your Doc appt. Can I ask what questions you are asking, I don't have quite that many to ask yet, but I go for my 2nd follow up next Monday. If your questions are private I would definately understand. I have come to a realization ( and really it is a no-brainer) I have been pureeing alot of my food since over the weekend I had some soft food get stuck, and I have noticed that I eat a lot more with pureed foods, so today I am sticking with just the soft foods (eggs, chicken salad, fish, etc) I just have to learn to chew better, it is all a learning experience. But I am much more satisified on soft food and I eat a lot less of it. Another good thing is I eat more protein with soft foods, because I had pureed chicken and rice and spaghetti and was able to eat just as much now as before surgery, it just passes right through the band. So today I had my protein shake (used double scoop, much more satisfying) because I like to drink it before the gym, and for lunch I will have chicken salad that I made this morning, and maybe some fish for dinner(hint to make your fish extra soft use lemon juice, another wonderful discovery) sorry for rambling I just love sharing on this site, you guys are the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and Lynette, the chicken salad is soooooooooooo delicious, thanks!!!!!! Hey heres another idea!!!!!!!, how about starting a spreadsheet or something for new recipe ideas? We can all share with each other different things we are eating, I could collect them and put them on a word document and then we could post it like the spreadsheets. What does everyone think about this? Sure would help me out since I don't normally cook, funny I cook more now than I ever did before the surgery, guess that tells how much McDonalds I used to consume....hahahaha.. Everyone let me know what you think about this idea Good luck to everyone being banded today (sorry this is late)

Dini, I don't know the whole story about your experience with the nurses but it sounds so aweful. As a nurse I can say there are a lot of women/men in my profession that hate their jobs are in it for the wrong reason. These people FURIATE me, you don't get into nursing for yourself you do it for others and you have to treat all patients as if you would your children or mothers and fathers. I hate that you had this experience and I hope that it has not given you a bad taste for nurses, there are some of us out there that love our jobs and love our patients. And to those nurses that treated you that way, well they need to quit they give the profession a bad name. Sorry you had such a bad experience

Hi Felicia, glad to hear you are doing so great, I did not have an appetite for probably the first 7-9 days, but when it came back, it came back full force, but now I am managing it and when my appetite did come back I was on creamy liquids so that helped alot. Hope this helps, don't worry, your perfectly normal:clap2:

Hi Dini, Sometimes my back hurts too when I eat, I don't quite understand that one, but I go to my doc on Monday and that is one of my questions, but I'd be interested to know what the nurse tells you, please update me. Thanks!!!

ok figured it all out, my votes are in

ok i voted for the destination, but I can't get back to the one where you say if you are bringing someone

ok lets see if I can get to the poll

Lynette, I never thought about getting a medical alert bracelet, what a good idea, I think I will order me one.....once again thanks for all the great ideas. I am getting really exited about the cruise, if we go to Mexico Hurricane season is from June to November, I have cruised in october and it was absolutely awesome.

Hi Lynette! If it is steri strips, you can just trip the edges, that is if it is lifted. I have never heard of a doctor tearing these off, and I have always instructed my patients that they will fall off on there on, but if you trim the edges it won't be tempting for him!!!

Good luck to all the 07/16 bandsters, You will do GREAT!!!!! I am two weeks out and feeling great and you will too. Heres to a speedy recovery!!!!

Hi Dieka32, Thanks for sharing, I am an LPN and will be an RN come December, I want to work in critical care sosooooo bad, I am tired of Med-Surg, I plan on going to ICU as soon as I graduate, providing they have a position available of course, which they normally do. How do you like critical care?

Hi Icy, I actually waited 2 weeks before going back, but I am a nurse and my doc told me to wait since I would be on my feet a lot. Last night was my first night back, pretty slow night so I did not get to worn out. I work nights and since the surgery I have been sleeping during the day and up at night, so I did not get too tired. Good luck on your first day back, if you get too tired you may want to do half days, if possible.

Wow your sure do miss alot when you stay away for a bit. Hi Lynette, how are you, I am having a much better day today. I tried to eat some eggs this morning, and I am having a little bit of problems eating the soft/mushy foods today so I am going back on liquids for the day. Maybe all those refried beans I have been eating were a bit much to start off with, but man they were good. I finally managed to get all 64oz of liquids in HURRAY!!!!! So I took Lynettes advice and got out of the house today and walked, what a difference, I think I have been getting cabin fever. All of my family have gone to the river the past two days, I have opted not to go since my wounds are still healing and I don't think river water would be a good idea for them, but anyways I have been home alone and sitting around thinking about food. But I went to work last night and got out of the house, and I went shopping at Wal-mart today for some protein and other stuff I can put in the blender, and I feel much better. To all of you that are being banded in the morning, GOOD LUCK, you are in my prayers and I know you will do great!!!

I just got back from wal-mart and bought the body fortress chocolate, mixed it with skim milk and I love it, had it for lunch. I would definately recommend this brand. great minds think alike Lynette!!

Hello Ribearty, My port is actually placed in my chest, on the left side, you can't see it just by looking but it is very easy to feel it, I have had no port pain whatsoever. Good luck to ya

Ok Lynette, Thanks.

Hello fellow bandsters, I am having a pretty rough couple of days, I started my soft/mushy diet yesterday, did great yesterday morning, ate just a couple of bites of some refried beans but by lunch I was starving, I just don't get the fullness or either I ignore it, I'm not sure which. Anyway I feel like I ate entirely too much yesterday and started off the day the same way again. I think I need to get out of my house, all I do is sit around and think about food, very depressing. I am allowed chicken salad as long as it is very soft, so I had some today and it got stuck, OUCH!!! It did not come back up but it hurt like the dickens, I have stuck to my diet but not to the quantity. It seems as if I am getting hungry about every 2 hours. I am going to try and go back to my protein shakes for tommorow. I am so scared of messing up my band. Please pray for me~~!!!!! Thanks for all of your support

Hi Dini, As far as your question about your bowels, My system is al messed up, I will be constipated for a couple of days and then have diarrhea for a few days, I guess it's just part of the process. But don't fret your not alone:sick