Leepers

And oh yeah, since I smoked 19 years, I say this in the most loving way.... you stink. You stink. You stink. You stink. You don't notice, but everyone else does. I didn't really even quit for my health. I quit because it's nasty stinky habit.

Well, surgery was yesterday at 730am. I was full of nerves but everything went well, no complications. Had a great staff. The problem has been the after surgery gas. I've heard some people on the forum complain a little bit about the gas and shoulder pain. I'm starting to wonder if they sucked out any of the gas at all. I have been in a lot of pain and I consider myself to be fairly pain tolerant. I've been eating my GasEx strips as instructed. And taking the phenergan (which has made me very sleepy). They did not prescribe any pain meds, said to take my Meloxicam that I already take, and maybe a Tylenol here or there. Still hurting a lot. Also, I am on clear liquid diet till tomorrow. It's been rough. The juice and the sugar free popsicles are not doing it for me. They just leave a nasty sweet taste in my mouth. Beef broth has been OK. But I'm starving! My mom is coming over soon. Asked her to get me some WonTon Soup sans WonTons. Tomorrow is full liquids until Xmas Day. Looking forward to a Protein shake. I hate whining. But I am feeling a little down. I was so gung ho and now I am riddled with doubt. I'm sure this is a natural progression. Did anyone else feel this way? I didn't expect to have such a rough time.

Get rid of the sweets! I put them in the breakroom and let the vultures devour them. By the time I return, they're gone!

So sorry to hear that. I'm not sure how old your grandma is, she probably doesn't mean to be hurtful. It reminds me of when I was a fat little kid and my overweight dad would take me to see his mom. She would practically force feed us all kinds of bad food and then called us her "little butterballs." It was hurtful. I was just banded Wednesday. I've told my family, who are all very supportive. But I haven't told my husband's family because I don't want to hear their opinion and they all have big opinions. Just keep doing what you're doing. It's nice to have outside approval but the best approval comes from within. Knowing you're doing a good job, knowing you're doing the right thing for yourself, and feeling good about yourself.

Wow! That seems difficult. I was banded Wednesday, they did not put any protein expectations on me. Just do your best and I'm sure you will be fine.

We had some chewable exlax around the house and I used that. Prob not on the clear liquid list but they're so small and I was desperate. Good luck. Hope your recovery is speedy!

I say do it now before all of the special diets. Quitting smoking will make you want to eat and that won't help when you're on a restricted diet. I'm a former smoker and I know how hard it is. You just gotta do it.

I had never had surgery either. Everything went great.

Congrats! I love hearing positive things. It helps me stay focused while I'm going through a little time of postop regrets. Keep up the good work!

The veterans' opinions are the best thing about this forum. I love listening to ya'll. I understand though about it being overloaded with the same newbie crap day after day. Maybe Alex could create some sort of private forum for special groups.

I was banded on Wednesday. The gas pain has been so bad, I was reduced to tears the last two nights. I could barely take a breath without feeling like someone was stabbing me in my left shoulder. To top it off, my appetite has sucked. I'm on full liquids and I'm starving but nothing sounds good. I had a big boohoo with the hubby and I'm feeling better. But, I must say, I was using the gasex strips and switched to the chewables and they seem to work better for me. Also, I hadn't had a bowel movement in four days and when I finally got that going it helped. I read online that the gas is actually trapped up by your diaphragm and because of the way your nerve endings are connected around there, it presents as shoulder pain. It's good to know cause I kept wishing my shoulder could fart. Lol!

My docs also had use benefiber everyday and take two Calcium Tums twice a day. that probably helped with nausea. I'm kinda feeling the same thing right now. I'm on full liquid diet till xmas day and I'm not lovin it. Sick of it. Nothing sounds good. But I'm gonna stick with it and do what the doc says. So.. maybe try some tums everyday to calm your tummy.

Thanks everyone! I AM feeling much better today. Still a little gas pain but not as bad as yesterday. I had half of a protein shake this morning and took a shower and I'm feeling pretty good. And the big pity party cry I had last night with my hubby helped some too. We are gonna see a movie today. Get out of the house for a bit. Ya'll rock! Thanks for the support.

Good luck on your surgery! I'm going this morning at six to have mine.

I have heard of people having their esophagus dialated. Sorry you're having so much trouble. I was told that dry chicken, rice, and shrimp are all possible problem foods after the band. Maybe you should avoid certain foods fora while till your esophagus calms down.

It is something to embrace! I did not get to 295 pounds because I was a snacker. Cookies, chips, ice cream...while I did eat them, they weren't my problem. The way I became obese was calling my husband on the way home from work. What do you want for dinner tonight honey? Arby's. Mid-size BeefNCheddar Large Size combo meal with a Dr. Pepper, and Oh, yeah..throw in a 5 piece order of Jalepeno Bites. Don't forget the Broncoberry Sauce! And I would order the exact same thing for myself. Then I would come home, plant my a.$$ on the couch and eat every last bite. Then, maybe a pint of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough while laying in bed watching Dexter before I went to sleep. So, like all of the newbies and the recently approved, I was apprehensive about the LIQUID preop diet. I was very lucky to have a husband (also very overweight) say he was going to do the diet with me. His words were, "If you can do it, I can." I was relieved when I found out my preop diet did include some solids. 2 cups of raw veggies a day. 3 dairy products (1/2 cup cottage cheese, yogurt, Sugar Free pudding). 2 fruits. Over the last 7 days, though, I have found that I don't even partake of all my "allowed" solids. I have found that a couple of protein shakes, the dairies, and 1 fruit are usually enough on top of some broth every now and then. Lots of water. Only one drink of Diet Sweet Tea to get in my caffeine fix. My husband, who has miraculously made it through with me, keeps saying how great he feels. For me, it's more about how I don't feel like crap every day. I came home from a 12 hour shift yesterday, and instead of being completely depleted of all energy, I was just...tired. I had this idea that the 7 day preop diet was going to be 7 days of total starvation. Yes, for the first 3 days, I had at least one moment every day that I thought my stomach was eating itself. Did I die? No. My mental mantra to get through it was, "Hunger is just a sensation. Like when someone touches your arm, or when your feet hurt after a long day at work. It is something that you can learn to live with. And if ignored, eventually just goes away." The preop diet is a chance to prove to yourself that, YES! You can do this! This wasn't so hard. It didn't kill me. I CAN make the changes necessary to be a successful bandster! Embrace this time of pseudo-detoxification! Use this time to get yourself off the diet ASPARTAME infusions. Use it to say, I don't need a Bacon Egg and Cheese for breakfast everyday. I'm O.K. I'm going to live! This is the start of something wonderful! Surgery.....tomorrow at 0730!

Camille, sorry to hear you've had such a hard time. Life can definitely set you back. Just start with the next meal. Keep the sweets out of the house. You can do it. Why can you not eat sweets with bypass? It doesn't seem it would be any different.

Beautiful post. I too, woke up one day and realized I was one of those obese people. After a few years of self loathing and increased isolation, I will be getting my band tomorrow. I'm a nurse and I know serval other nurses that have not been successful with the band. It has made me scared but also very aware that this will be work. You have to be committed. Also, through this journey, I have confronted my own bias and discrimination toward the morbidly obese in my position as a nurse. I have found that, at times, I do treat them differently. I have vowed to stop this. I want to be successful with my band and I want to be able to pass this on to others who may need a friendly ear. Compassion. After I had started the process of getting the band,I met a patient who had had the band and was successful with it. I got the chance to speak with her and she told me it was the best decision she had ever made. I really needed that, right then. I will never forget her and her kind words and advice. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

I may try them. I've been drinking the Ensure High Protein. They have 26g of protein. I actually like them. The doc wants solids only after about a month, but I could see myself using them to get me through the day at work. I have a very physical job and can't always get a break to eat.

I may try them. I've been drinking the Ensure High Protein. They have 26g of protein. I actually like them. The doc wants solids only after about a month, but I could see myself using them to get me through the day at work. I have a very physical job and can't always get a break to eat.

Someone said they're only available online. I wish you the best with your surgery!

Powder or pre-made bottles?

Out of curiosity, Misty, what kind of protein shakes are you drinking?

I will be receiving the Lap Band brand device. The booklet from the company that was given to me says to not drink for 30 minutes before eating and an hour after eating. My surgeon pretty much goes along with this. I trust the makers of the device as the company has spent millions of dollars developing and testing the device for it to work. A good suggestion would be to google your brand of band and see what rules it's website recommends and then consult with your surgeon. Not drinking while eating does not seem to ever be a bad thing, whereas drinking during meals seems to have some possibly adverse effects that may affect keeping food down and/or weight loss.

Yes, thank you for an honest post about your struggle and the importance of continuing to go to your appointments. Congrats on your success!