CherieRyde

I feel like too many people expect WLS to be the silver bullet for their overweight werewolf. I agree with what the others have said. Sure, I'm only about 4 months out, BUT .. I started making lifestyle changes in January so that I'd be ready for my surgery. Even then, I'm absolutely still learning what I can and can't handle. I've had 4 fills, am at 3.5 ccs, and have found my green zone. Yes, I've plateaued ... but that's to be expected. Especially since I caught myself slipping to old habits with the Halloween candy being in the house, and now the snow outside. I don't like the cold ... and now I'm more sensitive to it. BUT ... I need to do this. You can too.

Holy COW I'm hungry. Also, the shakes they have me on for Breakfast and lunch are AWFUL! I need some tips for getting through this pre-op diet. I don't want to cheat. I just want to get through this without wanting to strangle my son for talking, or my husband for asking me to make dinner. LOL!

Yeah ... get used to it. Also, be prepared to pass a lot of gas. Oh .. and the burping. be prepared for that as well. This is ... interesting to say the least.

I was wondering how we know when we hit the green zone as well.

Halloween and all the sugar that came with it has been VERY bad for my diet. chocolate is my weakness. I crave it like nothing else. I've tried taming that craving with chocolate Protein shakes and chocolate Protein Bars, but it's a slippery slope. I'm glad that I'm not alone in this. Also ... I think that I need to just ... toss the candy in the garbage. It's not like my son really needs the candy either.

I had that feeling after having gallbladder surgery, but I don't think it was related to my lap band surgery. It'a hard to tell because I was just over 2 months out from lap band when I had my gall bladder removed.

Ummm .... yeeeeaaaahhh. Gas-X is my best friend anymore. Also ... your tummy will start making growling sounds even when you aren't hungry. Be prepared for that. I didn't believe that it would happen, but it has and does.

You are only 3 days out. Give yourself a break. You'll get there.

Stop expecting so much in the very beginning. Everything you are feeling is normal, and you are perfectly fine. I've had 2 fills now, and let me tell you ... it's VERY different. I feel restriction now. I may not stay full the entire time, but MAN do I feel restriction. I've learned that in the mornings, all I can tolerate is a Protein shake and maybe half a cup of coffee. At lunch time, I can handle something with a little more substance, but not much. At dinner time, I can handle solids, but I have to be careful about which ones they are. This is different for everyone, but everyone gets to that point eventually. So .. chill. Enjoy the ride. It's ALL worth it. ^.^

I was told not to use gummy vitamins because they could get stuck in my stoma. I'd RATHER have my gummies than the Flintstones chewables I've been taking.

I preferred room temp stuff, to be honest. I still do. If I needed anything for swelling, then I sucked on a Pedialyte Pop or an icy-pop.

I have NO idea of name brands. My hubby is the same way, so I totally get it. Just tell him "Honey, I trust you. Just pick one that says Miso Soup, and we'll give it a try. Ok?"

Yes. Also, I bruise my port site every time I bump into something and hit that area. Also ... be careful not to pop the sutures holding your port to your muscles. I did that with a SNEEZE earlier this week. It feels like popping / ripping your insides open. Not fun.

Do any of you eat pizza or hot dogs now that you are back on a regular diet? If not, then how do you satisfy that craving without messing up your band?

From my experience? Yes. this is normal. The amount you are able to eat will vary depending on what it is, but yeah ... this is pretty normal. I now have 3ccs in my band, and I'm fluctuating between mushies and chopped foods again. This is my second fill, and it's the same as the first.

I can actually answer this because my husband and I have been tracking it. Pre-op we'd spend close to $300/week at the grocery store for a family of 3. Then we'd spend close to $100/week eating out. Post op, I'm spending closer to $150 - $200 on groceries, my son and husband are eating more leftovers, and *if* we go out to eat, we are spending closer to $50. So yes. The savings is significant. However. I'm spending that savings on undergarments, sweaters, and tights. I'm avoiding purchasing pants at the moment because my size is changing often enough that I'm sticking to winterizing my dresses. Dresses are easier to alter than pants are. Does this help?

My surgeon *and* Nutritionist said to wait 30 to 60 minutes after I eat. That way, the food has time to work it's way through the band on it's own and I benefit from feeling full for a longer period of time.

Ask your Nutritionist to be sure. You'd be surprised what you *can* have if you ask them. But yeah ... increasing Water intake helps too. Good luck!

Pay more attention to the non-scale victories than what the scale says. How are things fitting? How do you FEEL? Are you able to do something that you weren't able to do before? The scale will eventually reflect what you are seeing and feeling. Don't stress over that. Keep up the good work!

Honestly, most of us had a cheat day around day 5 or 6 from what I've seen so far. My pre-op diet happened to fall around the same time as my son's birthday, and I did have some things that were not on my diet. HOWEVER. I started fresh the next morning, stuck to my diet for the remainder of the time, and everything was fine. My doc didn't even ask about it, and my NUT told me that it happens and not to stress as long as it was only once.

Pureed prunes, prune juice, or raisins ALWAYS work for me.

I can only help with giving the info for my Doc in Illinois. Sorry.

I had a couple that poked out. However, as a medical professional, I know that the skin has mostly healed 2 weeks post op. So, I gently tugged on the sutures that were poking out and they came away easily. It looks gross, but you don't really feel anything. If you gently tug and they do NOT come away easily, then cover them with a band-aid until you see your doc again and let him take care of them. The only thing covering them with band-aids does is keep them from catching on things and driving you nuts. Also ... change the band-aids daily so that you don't create an issue for yourself with yucky band-aids.

This is not unusual.

EXACTLY what TMF and @@lisacaron said. Listen to the two of them. They have a lot of good advice and have been at this for a while.