abckids

It is a cool little gadget... I love it already!!! The post-op bag has a registration card in it, bracelet, weight tracker card and info booklet. Ask your doctor for it next time you go there. They give it to you and it says how big your band is too.

CONGRATS ALL!!! Keep up the great work!

Who cares about healthy - I want sweet potato pie and broccoli cheese casserole... those are the only things I want. OH and deviled eggs... yummmmm.... my favorites... I hate turkey so I am good there... but the broccoli cheese casserole is all mine (they make me my own... LOL ) CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

I had that feeling last night - with a crystal light drink!!!! All I did was take a gulp and I was hangin' out at the sink waitin' for it to revisit.... It is awful!!! That was my second time having that feeling... WORSE PAIN EVER (Childbirth was less painful) ... I don't know about the rest of you - but I get an awful headache when it hurts and a pain in the left side of the roof of my mouth that is like a blunt object stabbing me in the back of the roof... ohhh it hurts just thinking about it!! Tater tots did it to me the first time... ewwwww... just the thought.. I will never have tater tots again!!!! Anyone else have that problem with a liquid??? I have had that problem even before surgery where it would be super painful to swallow a drink... Like a trapped jumbo air bubble goes down with it... Anyone else or am I just a freak?

First off let me say this: MUSCLE WEIGHS MORE THAN FAT if we are all exercising then logic says we should be gaining weight or plateauing if we are not consuming less than 800-900 calories a day... and yes - those calories add up quicker than you think... So don't sweat it if you aren't losing it. Like mbanja said - you could be losing inches and not even know it but your stupid scale won't tell you that. I have went through gaining and losing since surgery last month and even had a cry fit on here when I saw that I gained weight once... but then everyone encouraged me and I got back on track (in my thinking)... they (the docs and nurses) don't WANT you to lose weight post-op until you have a fill because then they can see that you have no restriction and are trying to heal. You are doing everything right - just chill out and hang in there... It will start to show it on the scale soon enough!!! Heck - just this past week I gained two pounds back... but I am not letting that falter my thinking... I know it will happen!!!! Keep the faith!! Amy

Mine is November 26th. Can't wait for it!!!!

Ok - through much trial and error I have found out that I can't tolerate: Bread - it gets stuck or something... But hurts like the dickens.. Tater Tots - Ok this was the closest I came to having something come back up, I ate 3 ONLY 3 tater tots and chewed chewed chewed - but it still got stuck... If it would not have hurt so bad, I would have cried. OMG.... anyone else having any of these experiences? (still hurts, like residual pain or something) Stupid scales that need to be calibrated every time they are put away and then brought back out for a weigh-in. Yeah - that means my weight loss is truly only 21lbs and not what is posted below (but I refuse to change it as I will be there soon - I just know it). Guess I am still learning how I can and can't eat. Amy

Para - I haven't tried any "real" red meat - meaning ... I haven't tried anything except super finely ground beef. I did try Pasta with spaghetti and had it pureed practically - like I would give to a one year old. But the garlic bread I really wanted and couldn't do it unless it was saturated with sauce... or it would get stuck and cause horrible pain. The tater tots - since they are just little tiny taters stuck together I thought would be ok since they would dissinigrate with my tongue... well... I must have took too big of a bite or something because that was the worst pain ever... Childbirth was easier. SO I went back to liquids for a few days to try to help. I still have residual memory pain from that night - but for the most part I am good now. I seem to only have residual pain when I haven't eaten so... go figure. Anyways - I can't tolerate rice yet - at all.. it hurts too... seems like anything that is grain based or dry is just not going to work. Except soupy oatmeal which I love... and grits... (Which I am having for lunch... yum yum.... I have been craving them... ) I even tried to make Peanut Butter chicken (WHICH IS AWESOME) and it did good because it was moist.... and had a sauce.... and was shredded. I can't wait until my first fill either though... because I think it will help - although I am already losing weight so they may not want to do it... who knows. Anyways - I was just curious what everyone else was tolerating and not tolerating... interesting to see how we are all different... OH and my CALIBRATED scale said I have now lost 23lbs. So I am happy again... LOL ... and will update my ticker now.. LOL Amy

benadryl works wonders for me when I can't sleep - also praying while laying down in the bed helps too..,. relaxes me and I always fall asleep before I am finished. You could also try yoga, walking, etc. an hour b4 bed to help get you sleepy... walking is best when done outside though because of getting the fresh air it will help. But when all else fails - 2 benadryl (or off brand) work great ... Hope that helps... Amy:tired

So glad you got some great news yesterday - And happy for your heat!!! I was worried about you when I just read that. I didn't even come to the board after I posted my poor me story - I was too depressed... but I am getting out of that funk a bit now... (sex helps... LOL) I just hope I can stay out of the funk - I dunno - being away from my family is having a toll on me too... so it is just a compilation and I do miss my friend - food. DH, bless his heart, tried to make me feel better by buying me ice cream.... felt great for about 15 minutes then I felt worse because I ate it... but oh well... too late now. anyways - I will pray for everyone on here as that is the one thing I can afford to do! God Bless everyone! Amy

I am feeling it right now myself. I think a lot of the depression is situational (meaning... stress from kids, lack of money, lack of money - did I mention the lack of money, holidays coming up... NO FREAKING SUGAR ... I miss Ice Cream..., wanting to eat a darn piece of bread without hurting myself... can't tolerate any bread at all... hubby not happy with job, trying to find a job and get off of the non-paying disability (yeah - that is going to happen... NOT) etc. etc.). My house is a mess, my family is over 900 miles away, I just need a hug, not being in school, bills, bills and more bills, etc. etc. So I feel your pain - I am right there with you. I know this too shall pass but right now it feels pretty hopeless... I hate it. Hubby is mad that I just want to sleep a bit right now and he wants the house spotless and painted... Pray for me - please. On the upside - my plateau weight started droppin again - yeah me. Down 28lbs.... Amy

That is what happened to me... I ate it but paid for it later... I did notice that about 15-20 mins later I wanted food... rumbly tummy and all. It must have been the insulin release from the pancreas caused by the sugar that did it. I still don't feel great today ... then again - I had half of a tootsie roll today... Uggggg.... Thank goodness the kids ate all the chocolate and I can't have anymore...... Probably gained a pound just for thinking it.... LOL Amy

So I took my kids out begging for candy (aka trick or treating) and they loved it and I loved seeing them so happy... but I did something I should not have done... they were given those little snack size 3 musketeers and they gave me one. I should have said no - but I didn't, I was too wrapped up in the fun and excitement.... So I have determined it is :pirate Halloween's fault and I am not at fault!!! So Halloween is evil. LOL... And yes - I ate it... and it was great!!! But boy oh boy did I feel sick later... uggggg.... first sugar I have had in .... over a month... Anyone else have a piece of EVIL :heh: Halloween candy this year?

Ok -so tonight I was planning on making mashed potatoes for my family with supper - well we ran out of milk so I had to improvise... What I found was that if I use Stove Top stuffing (Chicken Flavor) and add 1/2 cup more Water to it that I get a real mushy, non-dry stuffing... and when I add gravy to that like I would mashed potatoes - I get a FLAVORFUL yummy mushy... But the coolest thing is - is that I can only eat about 2-3 bites on a small teaspoon spoon before I am super full... and I haven't even had any fills yet.. So - just wanted to share for anyone else who might want flavor and fullness. Amy (And yes, I will put a variation of that in my recipe book)

Is she overweight at all? If she is then it is probably deep seeded jealous on a subconscious level. If not, then she has a different issue - I have seen where people will sabotage a dieter's diet so they can always look better - even if it is a mother/daughter relationship.... sad - but true. Just know that while some are super supportive - not all will be.. and it is sad too. My mom is similar in the fact that she thinks it won't work for me... another mom (my mil) said that I got big because I purposely let myself "go". Which could not be farther from the truth... plus snide remarks and more... so just ignore the naysayers... they only want to hold you back because they can see you will be the true victor and as we all know - Misery loves company... We are here for ya though... Amy

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA.... no... sorry - that is not how it works... Protein and water will keep you full for about 10 minutes while you wait to sip the next sip. When on full liquids and even mushies - it is hard to get protein in that isn't a powder mixed drink. like all mixed drinks (and drinks in general) they go through your system (meaning stomach) fast - keeping you full... not likely. All of us are going through this together - not one individual ... obviously if we are all saying that we are hungry, then maybe, just maybe, the water and protein aren't doing it. You will reach that point too. When you do - I know you will understand then and will realize that protein water just doesn't cut it. Until then don't assume that what is working for you at 3 days post op will work for all of us who are 2, 3, and more weeks post op. Frankly, at 3 days post op - I thought I would only ever need to sip water for the rest of my life and be happy because I was very full... but now at almost 3 weeks out - I am eagerly waiting my fill because I want to feel full. So I will get off my soapbox with this last little bit - Congrats on your band and I will pray for you that water and protein water work for you. Me too... I am craving a ceasar salad with lots of romaine lettuce and fresh Parmesan cheese... ummmmm......add a crouton or two and I am in heaven.... Amy

Welcome and good luck!! Keep us posted ! You will do great!

Paragirl - you know my story... I am right there with you. And Carrot - I gained a couple pounds too... I won't change my ticker because I am too disgusted with myself. But as the nurse told me - It is OK to gain a few pounds while recooperating from the surgery - it is after we get the fills that we don't want to gain. But back to the main point - yep I am starving.... I eat a TON of sugar free Jello and puddings - (no wonder I gained weight)... but I am also not... NO FLAMING PLEASE... not taking in my Protein like i should - just can't afford the huge canisters they sell it in. Plain and simple. And when I say can't afford it - I mean Can't afford it. We are in financial desperation I guess you could say right now... But that is a whole other session of therapy there.... God can get me through this and this too shall pass so moving on. But I think if you keep those pudding cups around and just have one of those or something else Thick and creamy - it will hold you until you have a meal or so the next lunch/dinner phase. Or I like to have oatmeal or grits as an inbetween meal or as the meal. They are quick filling and are yummy even plain. (at least to me they are)... OR if you like refried Beans, put some velveeta cheese and refried beans together with some salsa and sour cream. Makes for a great fake taco without the shell. LOVE IT!!! Try that and hopefully it will help. Trying canned chicken with southwestern Soup tonight for dinner - bet it will be like eating a quesadilla... MMMMmmmmmmm.... Will let ya'll know... Anyways - good luck and you have my #... call if you need to vent/shoulder who is going through the same thing... etc... Amy

Me too, Me too... (at least on the doc part and the fill date) What time is your fill - mine is 1PM. So I will be there around then - maybe we can meet up then. Amy

Can a band slip and unslip on its own if never given a fill?

Can a slipped band - unslip on it own?

Mine is the 26th too.. what time is yours? Mine is at 1pm... I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT.. I definitely need it. Another new friend who had it the same day as me is already eating mushies - they (Dr. B's office) said that is fine as long as she is not having any problems. I can't wait to bump up on that on Friday - eagerly waiting... Let me know how great your mushie bump is since you get it one day b4 me. LOL... Amy

You gals are just awesome!! I love the support on this board! It is just unsurpassed by the awesomeness ya'll have!!! Thank you all so much I am so happy I found you all!!! I definitely needed that swift kick in the behind. And on another note - I have been able to fit into a pair of pants WITHOUT laying down to try to squeeze it all in, that I haven't fit into in 2 years - so even if the scale says what it says - I know I am losing it. I can tell. I just can't wait until everyone else can tell too. LOL. Amy

Sounds great!! Is this recipe good for the mushies stage or solids stage? Or would the liquid be good for the liquids phase? (I bet it would be a great liquids phase flavor change... ) Thanks again!!! Amy

Great Idea!! I will definitely use it. I heard about the on again off again band tolerance thing - no worries, doesn't scare me... LOL I just can't wait until I get my first fill then maybe I won't be so hungry all the time and actually feel some restriction. Right now, everything goes down like normal. Hope that makes sense... LOL ... If you have any other thoughts/suggestions/etc. for the book - please do share. I will gladly give you credit. Thanks again, Amy