Kristin1031

Well Rhonda today is the best day I have yet. I was able to be up most of all day and am not all that tired. I worked out in my kitchen today making things for my lunch this week at work. I move on to the mushies stage tomorrow and wanted to be ready. I also made a meatloaf for DH he has been so wonderful and I have not cooked a home cooked meal for him in over two and a half weeks. He was beginning to go through withdrawl I do believe. I love to cook and it did not bother me at all to cook it and not eat it. I have not felt any hunger since my surgery. WOW hope it stays that way....LOL I am anxious to get back to working out, that is my next goal. So yes it is better, but this is only the end of my first week after surgery. So I have to be very happy indeed with my progress.

Longhorn: That is exactly why I chose LBS over the Ren-Y procedure even though the latter would have given me pretty instant results in the long run I wanted the most healthy weight loss I could obtain. I did not want malabsorbtion issues for the rest of my life. I wanted to still be able to eat most anything I wanted too, just very small portions. I am extremely happy with my band choice. I know this is a tool to help me achieve my goal. I know that I must put forth much effort if it is going to work for me. I have seen folks in my local support group meeting who are two years out and only have lost minimal weight because they chose to eat around the band, by eating more than was told they should. They would say well I am eating a cup of this no matter what. Some still eat that way today. But their success has not been what they had hoped. I am confident that over time the weight will come off and I will feel more healthy than I have in a very very long time. I am anxious to heal right now if I don't lose during the healing phase so be it. As soon as I get back to my Water work outs and water aerobics classes I know I will see a dramatic change. I too hope everyone has found a program and Surgeon and team that they feel comfortable in. I am glad that I chose one that follows me the rest of my life. My fills are also included. I can't believe these Dr's who are doing this surgery and not taking care of the band for the rest of their patients lives. I find that a bit unnerving to me.

My Dr actually is the one who brought up Lap Band to me in an office visit when we were discussing my weight and how I no longer could deal with the increasing scale.There are many DR's out there that are realizing that this surgery is the answer for many people who have tried everything under the sun to lose and always ended up back in the plus category and then some on the scale. There is a whole different attitude in the medical community regarding WLS today than there was even 2 years ago. My job is billing medical insurances for a very large medical group in 2 states, and I know from this experience that more and more physicians and insurance companies are getting on board. They sometimes might require a strict bariatric program be completed at a Center for Excellence before agreeing to pay for it, but they are coming around.

I orderd the unjury four days before my surgery and received it the day before......I got the chocolate the chicken Soup and the unflavored. I have not liked the unflavored but have yet to add it to any food. I like the chocolate fine it does not have a bad after taste like some of the Protein powders do. However the chicken soup has a terrible after taste, but when you are craving taste this works just fine. I mix mine in only 8 ounces of liquid makes it easier to get down in small amounts. I am going to order some of the powdered Peanut Butter and try it.

I can't speak for others but I can speak for myself. I am 10 days post op and I have yet to feel any hunger. I am following my Bariatric Program that I went through to the letter according to my surgeon and nutritionist. I had a really hard time in the first week to get all of my liquid in, Water did not taste good to me and anything sweet was awful including crystal light. But I have not had any food issues so far. That seems to be the easy part. I have been incredibly sore near my port sight and today is truly the first time I have not been hurting while sitting. Standing and lying down was more comfortable to me. But I have made myself be active I did not want to just veg on the sofa......I wanted to move. So I would do small things like picking up the kitchen or making the bed and taking a shower getting dressed and then rest. I have found each day I have more energy than the last. So that has been my experience. There are many types of experiences here. I was scared before surgery as well, and when I would see a post here that talked about the awful times I tried not to read too many of those, instead I wanted to read the positive ones, the ones with hope...LOL I am glad I did that, because it helped me not to be horribly anxious. There are some terrific folks on this board who are willing to help in any way they can and some have super advice. Good luck on your surgery I am certain all will go well and you will be on the losing side of band life in no time.

Well I am not 50 yet but I am close....... I am still really sore at the end of the day. I make myself get up and do things all day long. I got so tired of sitting and that was making me more sore I realized. I am glad to be going back to work tomorrow. I need the activity. I get so sore at then end of the day that sitting is very painful. Lying down takes it away and when I get back up in the morning I have no pain when I intially get up in the morning. I think we all have different pain tolerances as well as healing times. You cannot compare yourself to another on those issues. Alot goes into it. I am still not getting 60 grams of Protein in yet. I hope that will change tomorrow when I can finally eat some food instead of liquids. I think that getting the protein and the Water in are the most important parts of this whole process, I have been told both by my DR and by my nurse and dietician that you have to get all of what they recommend in otherwise your body will shut down and you won't lose. I think getting back in the gym will also be wonderful it will help to burn up some fat, and that always always gave me energy before surgery. Hope that helps some, just do not be so hard on yourself, I think you are doing just fine, and by this time next month you will be a whole different person.

I was told before my clear liquid diet that liquid in liquid out.....LOL I know it is true because right after surgery it was pure water that was coming out. It has changed a bit, now and then but most of the time it is very loose and easily passed at least for me. I have not started taking my fiber yet, will do that this week when I begin mushies. But that is very important from what I understand. I have had no real problems with it, not painful, cramps, or sudden let go so to speak.....thank the Lord. I am returning to work tomorrow and that would not be fun at all.

Congratulations Rhonda!! Welcome to the club.......now the real fun begins. Great to hear that you are doing well. Keep us informed on your progress.

Oops I almost forgot, The protien shakes should be taken out of the equasion after three months and only had once or twice a week. Again, as I have stated in prior postings we should always follow our DR's programs. They have their own reasons for doing what they do.

My Dr and the Bariatric Program here at OSF St Francis Medical Center is very clear on amounts after LBS. It states 2 or 3 ounces per meal with a 8 ounce Protein shake between breakfast and lunch and one between lunch and dinner and Water or zero calorie liquid. It also makes us measure everything and weigh everything. This is for the entire diet all the phases. Our dietician stated in class that we should never eat more than 4 ounce meals even after achieving our goal weight. When people start eating more is when the weight will begin to creep back up. I have been eating strictly in this manner since my surgery and I have had NO hunger. I have head hunger at times when I thought oh that sounds so good. But no physical hunger at all. I love my band. I plan on sticking to exactly what the program requires. My mentor who has 18 months post surgery went from a size 26 and she is now a size 8 and she followed the portions to the letter. My surgical group has done 3,000 LBS surgeries and more Ren-Y surgeries than that and they follow their patients for the rest of their lives, I trust what they know and have learned and observed from their patients over the years. I know every program has different crieria for their patients but I also have ready alot on the band and how it works and it is designed to keep our portions very small and that is forever.

Hi Steph: What you describe is nearly exactly how I felt after my surgery. I felt like I had this thing in the middle of my boobs and when I would drink it took forever for it to get through. I was told this was the swelling caused by the band of the new pouch. It got better each day. But I was still having trouble getting in all of my liquid, but you just have to keep pushing yourself. You can count all liquid that you take in not just Water or shakes for example if you are eating broth or popsicles or Jello you can count those ounces as well. It will get easier I promise I am 8 days out today and I feel like a whole new person today than I have all week. I actually think I will be able to manage at work next week. I am using the unjury to get all my Protein in, this was so hard the first few days after surgery and I wasn't getting all of my protein either. I just kept making myself. When I went to full liquids the 4th day after surgery that helped me alot, because I could add milk to the mix. Hang in there girlfriend you will feel like a new woman in a couple more days I am sure. My port site is what gave me fits and when I woke up this morning it is so so so much better:clap2:. I made myself get up and walk and walk and walk some more. You really have to do that to get the muscles working and not tightening up on you.

Welcome WorthTheWeight!! You will find lots of support and information here as Longhorn has said. I think she said it best when how she described the message boards. Be careful about what you read and always remember to follow your gut. No advice on this board should ever supercede your own DR. These people are not medical Dr's let alone surgeons....LOL But you can learn alot about what to expect and what to do to overcome some obsticles that you may encounter. I read the board alot the prior 2 months before surgery. I wanted to hear how people were reacting to the adjustment after their bands were placed. I wanted to see what people were eating and the different meal or recipe options that I could gather here. I love hearing the testimonials of those who have lost most to nearly all of their weight and how they feel now about their decision. I know it is easy to second guess right now, when we are so early out in this very long journey. I just keep telling myself to give it a year and then reevalutate the same decision..... Good Luck on your surgery and Welcome to the November 07 group.

Vanessa I can't wait to get back to working out. I am just walking now and I want back in the Water so bad I can taste it. I just don't feel like I am doing enough I guess. I have always been my wors critic...LOL I am thrilled for you that you are able to work out on your lunch though. That would be really nice. I usually go right after work. Good luck and let me know how the workouts feel on your port site..:cool:

Hey Lady!! Glad you are doing so well yourself!! I am proud of all of us here that took the step to do this surgery. It is not an easy decision. There was a moment afterwards when I thought what the hell did I DO to myself. LOL Only lasted a moment though. I said stop it you have to get through this and you will. I am so motivated to make this band work and not fail. I want to look at food differently and not look to it for comfort anymore. I think we all will have to face this eventually. I know I have had some moments of head hunger. But physically I have not yet felt really and truly hungry. I know that I am blessed by this. I still hurt when I cough, or have to laugh really hard. I cannot do a belly laugh yet. I have trouble beinding way over but am making myself do it anyway. I saw the DR yesterday and he released me to go back to work and he will see my in 4 weeks. I am going back to work on Monday. I am looking forward to getting back in the swing of things at work. I am definately tired of sitting at home. I am having trouble getting in all of my liquid. But the naseous feeling I have while drinking Water is starting to pass. Thank GOD I love water....:cool: I have not tried going back to my crystal light though, it was just way way to sweet and was making me sick. The nurse told me yesterday that is because they cleansed our bodies of all the toxins and sugars with the 8 days of Clear liquids. She said that would get better over time. Keep in touch Andie!! HUGZ right back at Ya!!:whoo:

Tracy: Glad everything went well for you, just keep us updated on your progress. It is so nice to hear everyones stories about how things are going. I read them alot the last two months before my surgery. It helped me get my head in the game.

Great 2 hear miztrniceguy!! I saw my DR yesterday and he said I am doing super. He released me to go back to work and with no restrictions....I was so happy that he thinks I am doing so great. I have no hunger and I am so happy about that!! I have alot of pain at my port site but I am making myself get up and move through it. Last night was hard I was really hurting alot, but I stopped taking my pain meds yesterday, I don't like how my stomach feels after taking the liquid tylenol but I broke down and took some before bed. I am going to take some again this morning. I better take it for awhile longer I think. I gained 5 pounds back after surgery. I believe it was all Fluid and swelling. I have since lost it again.

I still am having trouble with taste, Water makes me fell sick, and anything sweet like crystal lite that I was living on before surgery is too sweet I can't stand it, so I am going to have to really really dilute it. I have no craving for anything sweet.....YIPPEE!!!! that makes me so happy, I know the sugar is bad..bad...bad...and if it is impossible to eat that will be so much easier to just say NO!!

Welcome Craig! You will find we are a terrific group of bandsters! Good luck to you in your journey to a new and healthier YOU!!

Hi Cindy: I believe that I understand your frustration just as everyone else here does to one degree or another. But as Longhorn and stated every DR is a bit different in their approach to WLS. I believe it has alot to do with their success stories as well as their failures. They are trying to give your new stomach time to heal completely before allowing it the extremely difficult task of digestion. Some foods are very hard to digest, some easier. Milk although liquid can be hard on digestive systems in certain people and so on. So his approach is caution I believe. My Dr. required me to be on clear liquids for 5 days before surgery and 3 days after surgery. I lost 10 pounds before my surgery and I will find out this morning if I have lost anymore. I started on full liquids on Monday and I have one week of them and then I start the pureed stage for two weeks and then on to a regular diet. I agree with everyone here that it is better to suffer through the post op phase a little hungry than to ruin everything you have gone through to only have your band not heal properly to cause you severe problems down the road. My DR. was very intense in my preop visit that I understand that if I was looking for rapid weight loss then the REN-Y would be the way to go, because banding is a much slower process. But that is why I chose it, I wanted the process to be slower because I feel my body will adjust better and the weight will stay off. Hope this helps some, I am on my 6th day out and I have yet to be hungry at all. I am having trouble getting all of my Fluid in each day. Good Luck:clap2:

Ihad to do the upper GI before surgery and did not have to after surgery. I have GERD and my surgeon said that the band would help this problem I have had no problems swallowing since my surgery, and so far am able to eat just fine.

I began an excersize regime before long before my surgery. In fact I joined a gym two days after my consult visit. I figured that what I would be saving on food I could afford to join a gym. I began walking in the lazy river that they have there. I walked half hour the first time and increased from there til I was walking for one hour 5 times a week. I hated that I would have to give that up after surgery, and I can tell you that I am very anxious to get back into the Water. I know that the walking and water aerobics classes( I was doing twice a week) were making me feel wonderful. I miss it and want to get back to it ASAP. So start moving, that would be my suggestion to all prebandsters.....even if it is getting up off the couch and walking outside in front of your house for 5 minutes, try to do this each and every day and maybe increase it to twice daily then three times daily. Then before you know it you will be walking for 15 minutes a day and you can go from there.:clap2: There is something to be said about excersize and that it makes us feel great and want to keep going. Congrats on your date; remember the next few months are the beginning of a new way of life for you.

What an inspiration to us all, a whole family doing it together. That will make the whole process easier I imagaine. Keep us posted on your recover and how you all three do.

I had my surgery on Nov 9th and yes I had a catheter that was inserted while I was asleep. And those of you out there like myself who have personal piercings....they removed mine.. I told them about it in preop prep area and they said it should not be a problem but they did remove it after I was asleep. My catheter was not fun I hate them, can't walk with one in very well at all. So was happy when it was removed the morning after my surgery.

Good Luck Stephanie!! I am sure everything will be fine and I know the nreves I remember them well. It is not bad at all, even having your spleen nicked I was only kept overnight and have been out of the house twice since surgery and feel I am doing well. I did notice today that unless my Water is ice cold it makes me nauseas which sucks big time......I did have some V-8 and that was soooooo good. You will be sore and you will be thirsty those will be your biggest obsticles most likely post op. Hurry back and tell us all how you did......:whoo:

Vanessa thanks for the recipe I will surely try it. I am so tired today, I have slept alot that past couple of days. I have to shake this feeling since I want to return to work. I see the Dr on Thursday and will find out if he is going to let me go back to work on Monday or not. I like the idea of having our own recipe corner here. I will have to get out some of the recipes I have gotten at the support group they have some awesome ideas. I can't wait to have refried Beans and some low fat cheese....yummy.