momof4

Soonergirl, you are sooo funny!! I am 3 1/2 weeks post-op now (on pureed), but when I was on the Clear liquids and then the full liquids, I remember thinking, "Just give me something to chew on, I promise I'll split it out!!! LOL :laugh It is very hard, but I went through a lot of sugar free popsicles and during the full liquids stage, I made my own smoothies and put my Protein powder in them. YUMMY!! Homemade smoothies have more calories than the Protein drinks so you have to be careful as to how much you drink, but they were great! Tricia H

Donali, I think my doc is just so sure that it couldn't possibly be that I busted a stitch because he thinks that he was extra careful by stitching my port in four places, but I am 3 1/3 weeks post-op and since last Saturday, I am still in pain. It's different than the burning. It's certain ways you twist, reach, sit, stand up, lift up my left leg (lol) to get in my car, etc. I'll just continue to try and take it easy, but at this point, I'm frustrated because I just want to LIVE!!!! I can't believe that you lost your band. I feel for you--I can't imagine the anguish you feel, but you can continue because of the things you learned while you had the band. Go back to the basics--don't deny yourself anything, but keep it in moderation and remember portion control. You've been through so much already.:cry I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!! Tricia H

Donali, thanks so much for responding. It makes me feel a lot better because I do still have pain. Believe me, I know what pain you're talking about when trying to turn over in bed or even get up. I have to sleep on top of my comforter, sheets, etc. for that extra padding or else it still hurts. Like I said, I had nights where I cried the entire night wondering whether my weight loss would be worth it. I feel pain on the side where my port is and on up into my ribs--sometimes it's worse than others, but it is getting better. You have made me feel so much better, thank you. I got the feeling that my doc wasn't listening to what I did because he was insistent that he didn't think it was the port. I can't actually see the port sticking out, but I'm pretty sure I can feel it moving around, especially when lying down or trying to get up from a sitting position. You have helped me so much!! I'm so sorry to see that you had to have your port removed. I wish you luck on your continuing journey!!! Tricia H

I have the same pain. Sometimes it's a burning the only lasts a little while, but other times it's a pain that doesn't go away for hours. I twisted and reached when vacuuming last Saturday (6-25-05) and felt an ache in there. As the days went by it progressed and finally on Tuesday night I was in tears and not even the hydrocodone that I was sent home from the hospital with would ease the pain. I went to the doctor the next day and he said it was probably just a pulled stomach muscle since he stitched my port down in four different places. But he had me hold my breath and tighten my stomach and that didn't hurt. When you tighten you stomach you're using muscles so that still would have hurt. I know I did something internally, but I haven't bent over, picked anything up or done anything to irritate it and the pain is going away. I still feel it a little bit when turning over in bed. I think whatever damage I did inside is healing, but I'm still concerned that I broke the stitches (or at least one of them loose). Donali, what did it feel like when you broke your port loose? Maybe we can talk so I know whether or not to go back to the doc and demand a CT scan or something

Congratulations to both of you! You have begun the journey downward and hopefully the weight we all lose is gone forever!! The first week after surgery I had graduation, father's day and baby gifts to buy. I was at the mall almost every day that week. I slept for hours when I got home and then all night. I guess surgery is just really draining on the body and so it's important to rest all you can. Be sure to take the time you need to heal so you don't hurt yourself trying to do too much too soon! Good luck to you both!! Tricia H

Thanks vinesqueen and jqpublic for responding. I am not losing as fast as most of you did in the beginning, but it's still coming off. I'm down 13 lbs. in 3 weeks. I reinjured myself when I bent over and stretched at the same time to pick up a toy off the floor. My doc said it's probably a pulled muscle, but something tells me it's not. It's been 6 days and I still hurt with certain movements. I'll have to put off walking until my pain is gone! Thanks again for your responses and good luck to both of you!!! jqpublic, good luck on your surgery. Keep up the good work!!! You've had such an amazing weight loss. Good for you and congratulations!

I had surgery on June 9 and am 3 weeks post-op. I remember the third day after being the worst, but it took a little over a week for all the gas and swelling to go down. Once that went away, I felt great and have felt pretty normal since. My scars are still tender, especially the one where the port is, but that's normal after being cut. It gets so much better after the first couple of weeks. Hang in there!!!!

I am three weeks post-op and I have been journaling what I eat (mostly to get in the habit of accountability). I talked to my doctor yesterday and he told me that I should be eating around 1200-1400 calories per day. I told him that I was eating 740. 880, and 900's range. He told me that was fine. I'm kind of concerned that I'm not going to lose and my body will go into starvation mode if I don't increase to at least 1200 calories, but at the same time I'm afraid to increase for fear of not losing weight either. Anyone have any ideas on this? I have lost 13 lbs. in three weeks.

I was banded on June 9. I really didn't have a good nutritionist to guide me through the timelines. He kind of just said advance to full liquids, pureed and soft foods as tolerated. I now know that this isn't the case. I did stick to Clear Liquids for the first week, but after about 4 days on full liquids I started with soft foods. I didn't have any problems, but realized through a fellow bandster that I was still in the healing phase and needed to revert back and finish out on pureed, soft, and then solids. I have lost 11 lbs. so far, but do get very hungry at times. I try to stay ahead of the hungry phase by eating before I'm starving and that seems to be working better. I was vacuuming the other day and bent down to pick up a toy in the way and felt pain over my port site. It's diminished with each passing day so I don't think I did any damage internally or to the port, but I do think I pulled or stretched the muscle right around that area. Other than that, doing fine and trying my best to stay focused. Boy is it hard!!!!!!!!

I hope it's not too late.... I want to join too. I weighed 192 this morning and want to lose 15 lbs. in 10 weeks! I need this to help me get through the slumps. Thank you Jonathon!!!