Done

Thank you, Indigogirl, your post really hit home for me.

Can somebody please kick my ass? And I would like to get off of my mighty high horse, too. I had a spoonful of Nutella on a few separate occasions....not sure if you all know what it is, but it is a sandwich spread, chocolate and hazelnuts (nothing crunchy) - but a good 100+ calories per tbsp. It is aaawesome. I stopped yesterday, realized what I was doing. At the time I was thinking, GOD I NEED THIS! I CAN HAVE broth THE REST OF THE DAY IF I CAN JUST HAVE THIS! (and it worked). Then I realized after I was craving it more and more, hey, I'm cheating my band here! Ugh...... It's been a week since my surgery. This is harder than I thought it would be. It was easy the first bit as I had a lot of restriction..but now it's just killing me.

I found the full episode: http://vid.adbrite.com/video/abplayer.swf?&vid=1566276&og=1

Hi Nan, good to hear from you! I'm glad that you are starting to feel back in the swing of things. How have you done on your weight loss so far? I know the first month isn't about losing weight, it's about healing..but it's still fun to find out how we have all done! (how can we NOT lose weight on clear fluids! blech!! )

Thanks everybody for replying. Sheila I agree with you, that makes sense. Even my own surgeon and the hospital nutritionist have completely different recommendations. It's frustrating. Sixth day on fluids and I am soooooooo wishing I could eat real food. If I followed my nutritionist's advice, tomorrow I could start to have creamed Soups, Protein shakes, milk, yogurt, and pudding. I just don't know what to do.

Yeah, I know, another picture of me. BUT THIS IS JUST SOOOO COOL!!!! I can't believe how my face is just shrinking away! Awesome! Day five (I think? or sixth?) - anyways, managed to get out for a small walk today, hugged my weiner dog pillow (I call it that... ha ha, it's one of those fancy tube pillows that come with bed sets), walked like Tim Conway, it took me 10 minute to walk where it would normally take two. Actually went out SHOPPING. I bought some: Floradix liquid Iron supplement Protein powder multi-Vitamin (powder again) Omega 3-6-9 plus DHA/blablabla oil MORE BROTH! ha ha, this time I bought some organic broth made by some fancy chef. Found out it STILL TASTES LIKE BROTH!! Dammit! Paid an extra 2.00 for it.

Wow Suzanne, Friday??? You'll have to let us know! Can you post something under your name in this section so we can keep in touch? I'd love to hear how your experience is coming along. If you are scared of the surgery, just think of it as a GOOD surgery, a good thing, if that helps at all ... I was afraid a bit when going in, but then I made myself excited thinking of all of the great things that are going to happen to me post-surgery.

Steph, I noticed that, too! People just seem to INHALE food don't they? And I used to be JUST LIKE THEM. I never even paid attention to the food I ate before. Now, I am savoring every single *sip* (yup, still on clear fluids). Earlier today my husband was frying HAMBURGERS (oh god...), the smell was overwhelming. Normally I absolutely detested the smell when he fried burgers and I would tell him to turn the fan on, open the door, etc. etc. (sensitive nose), but tonight I was right in front of the stove, watching it sizzle!

Oh Sheila, I hear ya! My husband can pretty much eat whatever he wants, too. He lost 15 lbs just by switching to Coke Zero! No additional exercise or anything. So he's at his "goal" weight and there I am eating broth. "jack sprat could eat no fat......":)

((((hugs))) I totally know how you feel. I have gone through the exact same feelings. I wish I could eat like everybody else. I wish I could have cream of mushroom Soup chicken and noodles for dinner like my kids had last night. There are so many things that I wish I could have again. BUT....then I think of the consequences of all of my previous actions: 1. my knees crack going up/down the stairs, crack when I sit down, it's an awful feeling (and I am only 33) 2. the intense swelling and pressure in my lower legs/calves 3. the high blood pressure I now have 4. the high cholesterol I now have 5. the lack of sex / intimacy with dh 6. getting out of breath easily 7. kidney problems 8. everything hurts 9. GERD 10. aggravating pre-existing depression There are so many other things that are wrong with me right now ... this is what I get for eating like a horse. I don't want to have these problems anymore. I hope this helps somewhat....

WOW!!! Your face is shrinking! You look GORGEOUS. Congrats!:clap2:

I LOVE MY BAND!!!! I can see my chin again and it's only been five days. This band keeps me from bingeing like I used to. IT IS A LIFE-SAVER!

This was a good thread until the teacher went and threw a wrench into things. I empathize with what everybody is writing in this thread - the feelings of hunger, deprivation, etc. It is horrible to go through. If I didn't have this band in me I would have gone back to eating like a horse after the first few days on a diet. That's why I got this band, so I would have that physical barrier to prevent me from binge eating again. However I disagree with people who think it is acceptable to recommend to another person to eat the next stage of food...or to eat food that is not recommended whatsoever for the initial post-op period. They feel guilty so rather than making things right, they try to gang up with other people and label themselves, i.e. the "cheaters". -OR-, maybe they don't feel guilty! That's fine! You don't feel guilty? I have a question for you ----- are you self pay?? I am. I have invested a great deal of money into this procedure. Maybe I appreciate this surgery more than others? To brush everything off like no big deal when others question why they are doing what they are doing is shocking. Almost like putting your fingers in your ears and yelling "LA LA LA LA LAA I'M NOT LISTENING!" when what you might hear would be helpful and, quite possibly, make you understand WHY what you are doing is detrimental to your band & stomach. I value everybody's opinion on this board, good or bad. I enjoyed participating in this discussion and I hope we can all continue to be supportive of each other, and kick each other's a**es if we mess up again.

Feeling good today other than the shoulder/chest gas pains. I can't take deep breaths as it really hurts. I did some housework today and took a big nap. That heating pad is my best friend! Down 13 now.

I am five days post-op now and the shoulder (gas) pains are still with me. I was able to take off my bandages last night, other than the port cut all of the incisions look good. This shoulder pain is something else....it hurts when I breathe a bit bigger than a normal breath...my chest cavity hurts... whenever I have my liquids I immediately feel pressure and I can't drink much more. No wonder I am losing weight like crazy....

Dr. Kaza, you have such beautiful eyes!

Do you have a specific URL I could look at? I don't know what site you are referring to. I found a plethora of sites with that keyword. Thanks!

Mrs. Krzyz, WOW. I can't believe you wrote that! I had to go read some of your old posts.... In one post you recommended that a patient move to the mushie stage (against their doctor's advice). In another post you admitted to eating Wendy's chili six days post-op. How can what WE post be considered detrimental to others, when what YOU are doing goes against the rules specified by our surgeons? I don't get it. The most shocking part, I find, is that you are a teacher. You definitely do not follow the books. We all got fat for eating too much. Now we have a tool inside of us that we must obey (for lack of a better word) ... this is the reason people get banded, so that they HAVE to eat a certain way otherwise there will be consequences to their actions. In my case I ate like a horse, ate too much, then at times barely ate any food at all. Now I am four days post-op and I AM STARVING at times! However I am deathly afraid of messing something up inside of me .. I have two small children, this procedure was self-pay .. I can't mess this one up. I have GOT to stay in control. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, I will be able to eat more foods soon. Sure I have lost 13 pounds, which is great, but that isn't what this initial post-op period is all about. Would you suggest that gastric bypass patients have sugar, even it's just a little bit once in a while? Have some chili, it went down well (never mind it stretches their pouch)?

I'm down 11 pounds now. Today my husband had to work so I was stuck with the girls. I didn't get to lay down at all. I'm really sore and my gas pain is killing me again. I don't mean to be a whiner but my god, when will it end? I am going to take some ex-lax to see if that helps (read it sometimes helps, sometimes the bowels are pushing on a nerve or something...).

I say "screw them all"! Forget being involved with your family. It doesn't sound like they are very supportive, or they even want to be involved in your life. You will figure this out. You have to be your own advocate here. Save up money and hire a sitter. You can do it!! You can get this surgery if you set your mind to it and not let ANYTHING get in your way. Good luck and please let me know how you are doing! :scared:

HOLY CRAP!!!:scared::faint: Unbelievable weight loss!!! Congratulations! I wonder how much I will lose, considering I am down 12 lbs in almost four days now...

Just a few weeks back somebody (I think on the bcbandits yahoogroup) contacted Inamed Health asking about what other surgeons will be doing the procedure in BC. They stated that the False Creek Surgical Center will soon offer the lap-band. I'm not sure if that is the physician that Dr. L is training.

Anybody heard from him? He last posted on Dec 17th complaining of shoulder pain. I hope he is OK?? :confused:I just PM'd him.

Oh my god, that guy is such an as*hole!!!! I feel so bad for you. Keep on the fight! Your daughter is very luck to have you as her mommy

Hi all, I am one day post-op..... I thought my port would be lower / on the side. It appears to be below my cleavage, kind of on top of my sternum (where there isn't much fat!).... is this normal? It hurts like a s.o.b...... it's bulging but that must be the swelling, right?