2bfreeagain

It's 23 days since surgery, and I'm so happy with my band. :dance: I have only had a couple of times where I have felt as if the food was going to come back up. I just stopped everything and let it settle down, and I was okay. I am trying very hard to stay on track as far as diet goes. I am still on mushy foods, but I have begun to add in some solids. I am amazed at just how little it takes to feel full. It is wonderful. I go back for my first post-op and fill on Oct 4. I am looking forward to it. I am also very impressed with my doctor, Dr. Frank Felts in Dallas. He has called me twice here at home to be sure that I am doing okay. It is good to have that security and I am looking forward to seeing him. I am still a bit apprehensive about the fill but I know all will go well. :bored Getting sleepy, so I'm off to bed. Karen :hippie:

Hello, I am marking off the days on my calendar. It still seems unreal to me that I will be breaking free of this burden soon. I can't imagine how I will feel. I carry around 2 of me and I am VERY tired of having this extra 'person' on my back.:tired I am enjoying reading all of your experiences. You are going to be a big help, I can see. I will be reading a lot over the next few days and hope to be posting more soon. Have a great week!! :wave:

Yeah!!! Back in the pool today and I'm lovin' it!!!! I did my 30 minutes of water aerobics and about 25 minutes of lap swimming. I had to take it slow on the swimming. I could feel it in my stomach muscles, and I didn't want to get into trouble. It felt soooo good to be moving around. I have severe degenerative arthritis, and the pool is the only way to go for me. I can tell that all my muscles are tight and that really adds to the joint pain. I am starting slow with 3 days a week and then I will move up. Since I get in about an hour, I figure that I am really doing 6 days of 30 minutes. Sounds good anyway. :thumb: Everybody keep up the good work. Bye for now. Karen :hippie:

I just looked up the "Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery" by Patt Lavine on my local library web site. IT is there and I am going to go check it out tomorrow. I always check out the library before I buy. I can look through this one and copy the recipes that I want and not have a book gathering dust on my shelf. Anyway, I wanted to say what great recipes ya'll are giving out. Thanks for the inspiration. :whoo:Yeah for MUSHIES!! Keep up the good work ya'll. Karen :hippie:

I haven't been keeping up with this like I should. I did post on the August bandsters forum though. I just wanted to touch base with ya'll just in case you didn't read it. I am doing very well. I have been eating mushies since Sunday night and I am liking it :clap2: I was getting a little under-the-weather with the liquids. I went to a pot luck dinner at church Sunday and was very surprised with myself. I was really not hungry but I wanted to look 'normal'...whatever that is...and found some chili Beans that had a thin broth, so I skimmed off the broth and it was really good. I also ate a little spagetti...which I mashed up very well...and about 3 bites of watermelon. I have not had any trouble with my band. I have noticed that I can 'feel' it more now. Must be getting the feeling back in my stomach which is a good sign of healing. I am going back to swimming tomorrow. I tried to go Mon but the thunderstorms ran us out of the pool. My DH has been sick and our car was out of commission but :confused: we got it back tonight and I got him home from the hospital tonight also. He is going to be having some tests next week. I have to keep putting all these stressors in God's hands cause I sure don't want to do anything stupid. :notagree Well, I'm off to bed. Ya'll keep up the good work. Karen :hippie:

It's been a very interesting 2 weeks. I started on mushies on Sunday (2 days early) mainly because I just could not take the liquids anymore. It was getting hard for me to get them down. Even though I did start early, I really didn't overdo it. I have had mostly soups and some protein shakes. We had a pot luck at church Sunday night and I was so happy with myself. There was, of course, not much to choose from so I found a pot of chili beans with a thin broth. I skimmed off the juice which was very good. The main course of this pot luck was spagetti. I took a very small spoonful and mashed it up thoroughly before eating it. I was surprised by how little I ate and how much I left behind. I was not hungry but just mainly wanted to look 'normal' in the crowd. I did eat about 3 bites of watermelon...yum. My usual thing is to eat a heaping plateful and then go back for seconds. I actually ate less than my daughter-in-law who is a size 7-8 and might weigh 110 dripping wet. She made the comment that this was the first time she actually ate more than me...yeah!!! :bounce:I am looking forward to more mushy foods like oatmeal and more soft cooked or pureed vegetables. I am going back to my swimming tomorrow. I went on Monday but the thunderstorms ran us out of the pool. I will be getting my first fill on 10/4 and I am wondering about that. Oh well, that is a long way off from now...gotta' stay in today. Keep hanging guys!! :confused:

:clap2: Surgery was on 8/28, and I am feeling better and better. I am still having a little referred pain in the shoulder...really hate that , but it is getting better. All the pain medicine does is make me sleepy, but the lady from the surgery center said that is what it is supposed to do...help you sleep it off. I have not had that much trouble with eating except for my pet peeve...too much sweet stuff. Everything that is on the list is sweet...protein shakes, jello, baby food fruit, pudding, popcycles, apple juice, yogurt, etc. I have found that I can put a spoon of potato flakes in my beef or chicken broth which makes it a little less dull. I am really having a lot of trouble with the protein shakes...YUK :help:All suggestions are welcome. I know I have to drink them for the protein, but man are they bad. I did really great with the pre-op (see below), but I was already tired of the sweet so it is hard. I asked if I could have V-8, but they said it might be too much acid right now. I can't wait till the 3rd-4th week to get some soft foods in. That is when I can get away from so much sweet stuff. I always knew that I was not a sweet tooth, but it has really come out more now that I have been on this diet. I'm getting tired so I will sign off and get some sleep. I still can't believe that I have finally done this. I have wanted it for so long. I am so happy!:eek:

I too was banded in Richardson, TX by Dr. Felts on 8/28. I am very impressed by the staff both at the surgery center and at the doc's office. They are so helpful. Anyway, I am coming along slowly but surely. I too have the burping...sometimes like a little bomb going off:phanvan. I have to try the Gas-X. Hoping that the 'referred' pain in my shoulder goes away soon. It is really a bummer. :cry I am especially happy to hear all the great 'receipes' that everyone has for the 'mushy stage' of this journey. Never thought I would be looking so forward to mashed or pureed anything but I am. I just want something that isn't sweet. I did well on the pre-op and I'm looking forward to going in for my post-op visit in a month.

:clap2: Surgery was on 8/28, and I am feeling better and better. I am still having a little referred pain in the shoulder...really hate that :car:, but it is getting better. All the pain medicine does is make me sleepy, but the lady from the surgery center said that is what it is supposed to do...help you sleep it off. I have not had that much trouble with eating except for my pet peeve...too much sweet stuff. Everything that is on the list is sweet...protein shakes, jello, baby food fruit, pudding, popcycles, apple juice, yogurt, etc. I have found that I can put a spoon of potato flakes in my beef or chicken broth which makes it a little less dull. I am really having a lot of trouble with the protein shakes...YUK :help:All suggestions are welcome. I know I have to drink them for the protein, but man are they bad. I did really great with the pre-op (see below), but I was already tired of the sweet so it is hard. I asked if I could have V-8, but they said it might be too much acid right now. I can't wait till the 3rd-4th week to get some soft foods in. That is when I can get away from so much sweet stuff. I always knew that I was not a sweet tooth, but it has really come out more now that I have been on this diet. I'm getting tired so I will sign off and get some sleep. I still can't believe that I have finally done this. I have wanted it for so long. I am so happy!

:whoo:I've almost made it through the first week of preop diet. It didn't start to get tough until yesterday. I especially feel a little more tired that usual. I think it is the change in diet, and the shakes are getting a little boring already. I hope to get another flavor so I can mix things up a bit. I am trying right now to keep focused in the moment. If I allow myself to drift into the future, especially all the way to surgery day, then I seem to get anxious. It seems so far away, and I wish it was sooner. I have a very busy schedule all next week, thank goodness, and maybe that will keep me occupied, and my mind will be busy. I have been sleeping more due to the fact that I go to bed earlier to keep from wanting to get my usual middle-of-the-night snack. Only thing is that I wake up earlier and then I want a big breakfast like I used to do. It seems to be just a habit and not so much that I am all that hungry. Eating is such a 'friend' that it is hard to let go of that ritual. I find myself thinking that I will never enjoy a meal again, that I will lose that social time that is spent with family and friends, and that I will not be able to think of food as a 'friend' again; but I know in my mind that I will enjoy food, just in a better, safer way. It is kind of like letting go of a close friend that has died. It is amazing that I could place so much importance on a thing. After all, food is really just fuel. If we all looked at it this way, maybe we wouldn't have been so enclosed by this thought that I have to have a 3-course feast to be happy. My body can survive very nicely on much less, and I can enjoy or should I say savor the flavors without gorging out. I am curious how others have managed holidays and family gatherings. Hopefully, someone will drop a few lines on the subject. :eek:

:whoo:I've almost made it through the first week of preop diet. It didn't start to get tough until yesterday. I especially feel a little more tired that usual. I think it is the change in diet, and the shakes are getting a little boring already. I hope to get another flavor so I can mix things up a bit. I am trying right now to keep focused in the moment. If I allow myself to drift into the future, especially all the way to surgery day, then I seem to get anxious. It seems so far away, and I wish it was sooner. I have a very busy schedule all next week, thank goodness, and maybe that will keep me occupied, and my mind will be busy. I have been sleeping more due to the fact that I go to bed earlier to keep from wanting to get my usual middle-of-the-night snack. Only thing is that I wake up earlier and then I want a big breakfast like I used to do. It seems to be just a habit and not so much that I am all that hungry. Eating is such a 'friend' that it is hard to let go of that ritual. I find myself thinking that I will never enjoy a meal again, that I will lose that social time that is spent with family and friends, and that I will not be able to think of food as a 'friend' again; but I know in my mind that I will enjoy food, just in a better, safer way. It is kind of like letting go of a close friend that has died. It is amazing that I could place so much importance on a thing. After all, food is really just fuel. If we all looked at it this way, maybe we wouldn't have been so enclosed by this thought that I have to have a 3-course feast to be happy. My body can survive very nicely on much less, and I can enjoy or should I say savor the flavors without gorging out. I am curious how others have managed holidays and family gatherings. Hopefully, someone will drop a few lines on the subject. :car:

:bored It is a bit unnerving to be waiting for the big day. I realize that some folks are waiting for a really long time to get to the big day, but I have wanted this for so long. The right time just happened to come along...finally. Anyway, I have 16 more days to go. Monday I start my preop diet. My birthday is in 6 days, so my family wants to take me out to eat before I start on the diet. They thought I might want a last meal or something...can't seem to get it across that I am definitely NOT 'Dead girl walking' here. I know that it will be a big change but one that I am ready for. So, Murphy's Law struck yesterday. My DH is in the hospital. :cry He had another bleed in his stomach and had to have MORE blood infused. He will be fine and I hope they have finally found the problem. He has had 16 units since April. Very, very frustrating, but thank goodness for Medicare cause we could NEVER afford the blood otherwise. :ohwell: So, I'm home alone again tonight. Hope there is something good on the tube. :wave:

:bored It is a bit unnerving to be waiting for the big day. I realize that some folks are waiting for a really long time to get to the big day, but I have wanted this for so long. The right time just happened to come along...finally. Anyway, I have 16 more days to go. Monday I start my preop diet. My birthday is in 6 days, so my family wants to take me out to eat before I start on the diet. They thought I might want a last meal or something...can't seem to get it across that I am definitely NOT 'Dead girl walking' here. I know that it will be a big change but one that I am ready for. So, Murphy's Law struck yesterday. My DH is in the hospital. :cry He had another bleed in his stomach and had to have MORE blood infused. He will be fine and I hope they have finally found the problem. He has had 16 units since April. Very, very frustrating, but thank goodness for Medicare cause we could NEVER afford the blood otherwise. :ohwell: So, I'm home alone again tonight. Hope there is something good on the tube. :wave:

:clap2: How many times have I said the tired old "Today is the first day, etc., etc." and then it turned out to be just another day in the life of this tired body. I am so confident that on August 28th it will truly be the first day of the rest of my life. I have dreamed, prayed, hoped, wished, and begged that I would be able to someday have this surgery. It has been elusive up until 2 weeks ago. I know there is nothing lucky about this. I have been blessed, and I am so greatful. I love the thought of finally actually losing weight while eating less. It has been a lifelong battle for me. I weighed only 5 pounds when I was born and then it was a constant growth from that day on. I cannot remember any time...take that back...I can remember losing down enough to be selected for drill team. I worked very hard and then my parents got divorced and we moved...never did get to perform. :cry Anyway, I know that this is going to be the change of my life and I am looking forward to it so much. I am truly inspired by all of you guys. :love:

:clap2: How many times have I said the tired old "Today is the first day, etc., etc." and then it turned out to be just another day in the life of this tired body. I am so confident that on August 28th it will truly be the first day of the rest of my life. I have dreamed, prayed, hoped, wished, and begged that I would be able to someday have this surgery. It has been elusive up until 2 weeks ago. I know there is nothing lucky about this. I have been blessed, and I am so greatful. I love the thought of finally actually losing weight while eating less. It has been a lifelong battle for me. I weighed only 5 pounds when I was born and then it was a constant growth from that day on. I cannot remember any time...take that back...I can remember losing down enough to be selected for drill team. I worked very hard and then my parents got divorced and we moved...never did get to perform. :cry Anyway, I know that this is going to be the change of my life and I am looking forward to it so much. I am truly inspired by all of you guys. :love:

HI! I too am a swimmer...have been for a long time...and I compare it to walking on the moon. I can move so good in the water, but when I come out, yikes is it hard to walk up those steps. I have to keep my walker close by or I would definitely go down. Swimming is the only way that I can get exercise due to the arthritis. I love the water. I go to an aerobics class called 'WetWorks' and work out for about 30 minutes and then I go out to the deep end and finish out the hour with laps. My arms get really tired also, but I have found that I can keep my heart rate up by 'jogging' in the water. I take a stance just like I was jogging on land and go a couple of laps and then go back to crawl or backstroke. I cannot wait to see what results I will get with it once I am banded. My instructor is really excited for me. She has insisted that I work really hard up until surgery cause she knows that I would have a break afterwards til the doc says I can come back. Can't wait!!!