gin765

I've been taking Opurity's Band Optimized Multivitamin Orange Berry Chewable since my surgery. Just went to re-order today and it seems to be discontinued. Very frustrating. They still have a band vitamin, but it's a capsule, which will never go down. And really, it's just a bypass and sleeve vitamin you take 2x per day instead of 4x. They still carry a similar one for "Bypass & Sleeve Optimized," but nearly all vitamins are doubled in value. Guess I could cut it in 1/2? Or just take it anyway and get over it? What daily mulivitamin's have folks had success with? Need a chewable that's only 1x per day. Anything gummy will not work for me. Thanks!

Hi! I've heard most bands are down as outpatient procedures. Luckily, my doctor was very conservative and had planned for me to stay overnight. I don't think I would have made it if I hadn't stayed overnight with a hydromorphone pump. Because, yes, the pain was intense. I had no shoulder pain either. The next week should be much better for you! I stayed home from work for 2 weeks and was fully recovered by then. It's been 100% worth it and I'd make the same decision again. I was at a 35 BMI on surgery day also. My weight loss slowed for awhile, because I think I waited too long between fills. Now that I think I'm in the "green," I've been losing steadily again. Be brave and best of luck to you!

I had a similar, discouraging, experience at the first seminar I was required to attend also. I came back home in tears and heartbroken. However, last October, I received the first band my surgical team had placed in over two years. All along the way, there was constant pressure to get a sleeve. I continued to state my case and convinced them the band was right for me. I have made a success of it, am 100% happy and would make the same decision again. As of last week, I am below 200 lbs for the first time in 10 years. Best of all, I finally have a chance of keeping it off. I absolutely believe that, with proper expectations, the band is an amazing tool! This is especially true for the "low-BMI" folks like me... I was a 35 BMI at time of surgery. If you strongly feel the band is right for you, do your research and seek out medical professionals who will suppport you. You have the right to make your own medical decisions. Good luck to you!

Hi! I have a 4.5 and 6-year old. I didn't tell them anything in advance, because I knew they would be upset about mommy going to the hospital. I also didn't feel like they could understand, much less need to be burdened with, such an adult issue. My husband travels on business sometimes, so we just told them I had an appointment and would be staying at a hotel overnight. After I returned from the hospital, I did have to tell them I had "owies" on my belly so they wouldn't jump on me. The incisions looked so good, they really didn't think anything of it. I wouldn't go into detail about the procedure with even a 10-year old, other than maybe saying the doctor saw something in your belly that needed to be fixed. It's just kind of an abstract concept. My friends can't even understand it! You can certainly get away with just telling your students you went on vacation or something. They'll never know the difference. Wishing you much success!

Had my first fill today... three months to the day from my October surgery. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was really easy and uneventful. Phew, what a relief! I was the first Lap Band "installation" my hospital had done in almost three years. I'm in one of the areas currently instituting a full-court press to talk folks out of banding and into other procedures. The consensus today was that I'm doing better with weight loss than most of their gastric sleeve patients. Yippee! So far, so good. Still 100% happy with my choice and so thankful the doctors agreed to trust in me that I had proper expectations and would follow the rules.

How's everyone doing?

Mine randomly started the morning of. Awesome. I was totally freaked out too! The other gals are right. Just tell the nurses in pre-op. You'll probably still get a pregnancy test though. Hahaha... I did. Apparently that was "standard procedure." They will give you some fancy hospital-issue mesh panties and GIANT pads (just like what you get in the maternity ward) to wear into surgery. It turned out to be no big deal and certainly nothing to postpone your surgery over. I even ended up with a male nurse overnight and he really didn't care either. Nurses have truly seen it all.

@sweets27... I am so sorry to hear you're feeling bad! I am thankful everyday that I seem to have been one of the lucky ones who didn't get the terrible gas pains, among other things. Do you think maybe the hospital pharmacy could fill your pain medicine order? They filled my liquid narcotics before I left the hospital so I could take it home with me. Also, in my area, CVS and Walmart both carry a store brand of liquid Tylenol. It was pretty thick and syrupy, so I actually preferred to crush regular Tylenol with a pill crusher I got at CVS. I mixed the crushed meds with Water in a shot glass and chugged. It was nasty too, so I chased it with some juice. Be strong and hopefully each day will be just a bit better than the last! I'll be thinking about you. Keep us updated on how you're doing.

I was banded Wednesday (2 days ago)... 1 year and 1 day since my first surgical appointment. Yippee! I had expected the worst from surgery, hospital experience and pain, so I am pleasantly surprised how much less terrible it is. Don't get me wrong, there is still a lot of pain at the largest of my 5 laparoscopic incisions, but nothing like what I'd built it up to be in my mind. Coming out of anesthesia, I was overjoyed to realized I was alive and had not selfishly orphaned my children. I am thankful to be experiencing no nausea or problems drinking my fluids and have successfully progressed through ice pellets, chicken broth, sugar-free Jello (if you want aspartame free, buy Better Bowls from Amazon.com - it's sweetened with Splenda), V8 fusion juice, AdvantEdge Protein shakes and Outshine sugar-free fruit popsicles. The only silly thing is I've had a few meek little hiccups throughout today. I don't see anything about this is my information binder. Are hiccups bad? Thoughts on what might be causing it? I assume sipping too fast and it's not a crisis, but was interested in the experiences of others.

I am 5-days post-op and was so excited to not have any hunger... until tonight. Good grief, I don't think I've ever been this hungry in my life. My stomach is growling, which is certainly not in my head either! Trying another protein drink to (hopefully) settle it down.

@CJ2009... I made it until today, day 5 post-op without being hungry. And then, it hit me about an hour ago. Right now, I am sooooo hungry I can barely think. Maybe it's because I felt so much better today and was more active? I've walked over 7,000 steps, which is more than double yesterday and 6x the day before. How did you get your hunger under control? More Protein? More calories from Soup, dairy, juice? Just try not to think about it?

@username2...I am so sorry to hear your surgery has been delayed! I can imagine how disappointed you must feel, as I have been in a similar situation of delay. Last December, when I was almost finished jumping through all the hoops, my husband lost his job right before Christmas. For us, no job = no health insurance = no surgery. I was so upset, but that actually helped demonstrate to myself and to him how much I really wanted to get banded. Once he got a new (even better!) job, I didn't have to start completely over, but I did have to repeat several of the test I'd already done, because they were more than a year old. If you can, try to find some good in your situation. Thing usually do happen for a reason. Chin up... I'm sure you will come out on top!

I am naming this morning's Protein shake "Almond Joy." I mixed 1 scoop Isopure Low Carb Dutch chocolate Protein powder with 6 oz Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blend. You lose some of the protein vs. mixing it with skim milk, but the flavor was quite festive! It was still 25 g protein. Almond Breeze is in the refrigerated "healthy" dairy section of the grocery store... where they sell Horizon milk, Yo Baby yogurt, tofu, etc. The Vitamin Shoppe has 1 lb bags of Isopure, so you don't have to commit to a whole 3 lb tub.

I'm 4-days post-op today and think I've turned a corner. Going for only Tylenol today, instead of narcotics. The liquid Tylenol I found is the only thing that seems to bother my cute little stomach. It's so thick and nasty syrupy. We will try crushing the actual pills today and mixing with Water. I am on a clear liquid diet for the first 2 weeks also. It does includes sugar-free Jello and popsicles, which is really nice, because you actually get to chew those. The both completely disintegrate into liquid upon chewing, so I don't know why you couldn't have them. I've rejected a lot of the Protein powders I've stocked in and have sent my dear husband out a couple times to the grocery store, GNC and The Vitamin Shoppe. Now, I think we're finally getting somewhere! I have been fortunate not to have any of the terrible shoulder pain folks are reporting. My stomach and intestines started making loud, ridiculous rumbling / gas noises last night while I was sitting on the couch. My husband was a bit shocked.... hehehe. It eventually settled down after an hour or so. Just emptied the dishwasher without incident or additional pain. So excited for that successful, "normal" activity! I had gone to the pumpkin patch with the family yesterday, which took all the strength I had. Lucked out that they had 100% apple juice boxes at the snack stand. The girl at the register thought I was a nut when I carefully read the label and asked for a cup to pour it in. She very politely explained to me, in detail, the workings of the juice box / straw combination. I thanked her kindly and said I'd still like a cup please, as I'm currently not allowed to use straws. Then, she really thought I was out of my tree! Lesson learned that I'll have to pack a little cooler of liquids when I venture out. Make it a great day everyone! So proud of all we have already and are yet to accomplish!

So, I just tried the unjury chicken Soup Flavor and it doesn't seem to have the unpleasant egg taste that was bothering me with their chocolate Splendor and Unflavored powders. I mixed 1 single-serve packet of Unjury Chicken Soup Flavor (equivalent to 1 scoop) in 8 oz Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup (strained) and am sipping it out of my travel mug. I appreciate the update on the "too much protein" scenario! That completely makes sense about over-stressing the kidneys. Thanks for the education!

@Tssiemer1... too much Protein? I haven't heard of that before. Can you tell me about it? I just ordered some Isopure Perfect Zero Mint chocolate Chip protein powder from Amazon.com. In my mind it will taste like my favorite ice cream. In reality, I'll probably be disappointed. Just couldn't help myself!

I was banded Wednesday, so I am day 4 post-op. I had heard the wonders of unjury, so I have a entire selection of their powders I've been trying. Sad to say, I just don't like them. To me, it gives everything a subtle rotten egg taste. Now that I've been looking at it this morning, it looks like they use an egg Protein, which is where that taste is probably coming from. The Unjury powders also don't seem to make a very thick Protein shake. I thought it was kinda runny. I'm totally bummed about it and am Googling my heart out this morning to find some other options. Unjury seemed to be such a high-quality product and I had liked that components weren't from China. ** sigh ** I will say, however, Unjury's Opurity Band-optimized chewable Multivitamin is very pleasant. I'm drinking an EAS AdvantEDGE chocolate Fudge shake at the moment. It's alright, but I'd wanted to locate a protein powder so I could use real milk. Anybody else have other suggestions?

Great tip on the pillow! I've also been coughing up a bunch of mucus too from sinus drainage (I know, TMI!). The pillow just made that more bearable. I think the buffet of operating room antibiotics finally cured my sinus infection too. Lap-Band bonus!

Hi all! So, I was banded this morning. I had been totally freaking out since last night. However, I am happy to report all went well... yippee! The whole experience and my pain level are so much less than what I had imagined. Staying overnight, because my doctor's cautious and we'd planned that. Have been allowed to chomp on ice pellets, which is a life-saver. Will practice clear liquids tomorrow. Bring on the cherry Jello! Be brave everyone... we can do this!

Surprisingly, I'm actually not too terribly hungry on the pre-op diet. I have, however, had an unbelievable headache for a solid week now. I'd given up my beloved Diet Coke awhile ago, so that surprised me. Spent Sunday in the emergency room getting what they called a "migraine cocktail" drip. I also have a lot more $ and free time now that I'm not spending it in drive-thru's. Wishing everyone well!

My two-week liver reduction diet starts tomorrow for surgery on Oct. 14th. I was not stressing until today. Ahhhhhh! Be brave everyone!

Scheduled for Wed, Oct 14!!!

Working on my post-surgery menu planning... does anyone know of a brand of sugar-free gelatin (Jell-o) without aspartame?