luv10nis

Prior to surgery my family and I would eat out about 10 times a week. I know this is AWFUL!!! At any rate, my life evolved around fast food, resturants, etc. I am amazed that since this surgery I have not once wanted food from a take out, fast food type of place. I really thought this would be something I would have to contend with. Has anyone else experienced this?

I had my surgery on a Friday returned to work the following Monday. I was only able to work a 1/2 day. Then Tuesday came back and have worked ever since. About 1 week post op a friend came over to pick up some stuff. I picked it up and helped her carry it out. Later that night I hurt but it was because it was way to heavy. Over the 20 lb. limit by doctor had set. Since i was feeling so good on the "outside" I forgot and just did it. :-( I paid for it all day long the next day, right where my port is. I am thinking you will be fine with a second shooter and your dh as support. :crying:

I also heard this. I am going to check with my doc at my post-op on Thursday. Like you, I don't drink often but ocassionally I like to have a Pina Colada. :-)

I have been coughing so much, I almost can't take it anymore. At least now I am "hacking" it up. Is it okay to take a cough elixir do you think?

I am trying to find the pictures you are looking at. Can you point me in the direction?

I am really trying to figure out this whole liquid diet thing. On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week I really felt like my old self. As a result, I am ready to eat solid food. I know, I can't. However, with each doctor perscribing different things, what is the right thing? I was just on the recipe site as this is the first year I am not hosting Easter for my family due to this surgery. (I didn't want to have to cook the "big meal") I offered to bring a soup. LOL! At any rate, I see lots of soup dating way back and I am wondering what happened to those bandsters who made up soup recipes that pureed veggies, etc. in the "liquid stage". I am fearful if I start blending things to liquid, which you can do with about anything, I might have trouble now or even later on with slippage or other things. What are your feelings and have you felt like this, been through this, etc.? I need to just stick with what my doctor has perscribed. I am just so sick of soup and protein shakes. URGH!!!! Look forward to all comments. :embaressed_smile:

Thanks Jack! :-)

Thank both of you. I needed to hear that. I am trying to be compliant but wanting to break all the rules. Thank you. :-)

I am on New Direction and Unjury. They both are really good. I also have been adding sugar free syrups in mine and for the life of me right now I can't think of the brand of those. I can look them up if anyone wants me to.

MAN - I have had the foulest breath in the last 3 days. I was banded on the 14th. I did Clear liquids for 2 days. Liquids since. Well, tonight I ate some mushies. All a head game, I didn't even need them. I just wanted them. This breath of mine though has been awful. Any ideas on why and any suggestion? The only thing I could think of was ketosis. My doc said no gum chewing so I am not sure of the options for fresh breath.

Thank you for the advice. I teach and I know the kids are getting "knocked out" by the bad breath. LOL!!! I appreciate the help.

Sf breath mints are a great idea. I am heading to Wal-Mart shortly and will check on that. Thank you.

I was banded on March 14th. I was so thirsty after surgery I was begging for something to drink. They only let me swab my mouth at first. Then about 1/2 hour out of recovery I was able to drink 1 oz. every 15 minutes. Friday I had no pain due to hospital drugs and drugs sent home. Saturday and Sunday I took pain prevention around the clock. Monday I returned to work. I am a teacher. My lunch time I had to go home. I looked like crap and felt worse. Keep in mind though I had no pain medicine that day. Came home slept for 3 hours and felt much better. Tuesday I woke up and felt like a new woman. I worked all day on Tuesday and still no pain medicine. Tuesday night though I started feeling sad, depressed, and angry I couldn't eat what my family was eating. I even questioned had I done the right thing. Wednesday, woke up feeling even better and today woke up feeling just as great. I have not been hungry at all. However, being full has a whole new meaning for me. I can feel when I am full. I am on full liquid for 2 weeks and then mushies. Last night I did blend some chicken with mayo and mashed potatoes. Of course, it went down fine and no complications. I kept feeling really guilty and jumped on here. After reading some posts I decided I am going to wait and not do that again. I guess even though it goes down I am still healing, hense needing only liquids. So, today I am sticking to liquids only. The hardest thing for me has been from the time I come home from work around 3:15 until bedtime. When my family is coming home and snacking and eating. This is also what I have done for 5 years. It has become a habit and a mindset or way of thinking that I must break. It is going to take time. I have made a list of things to do when I am having tough times. This has helped me. The other night when my husband was cooking I went outside and walked around untIil he was done. This helped me tremendously!!!! I have had lots of burping. Each day I have been weighing myself. I know at some point I have to stop this. When I startd my liquids 2 weeks post op I weighed 277. Day of surgery I was 264. Today I am 257. So I am exactly 20 lbs down from 2 weeks post op. I am excited about the 7 lbs just since surgery. Just think in one year what we are going to be reporting and then in two years. :-) :-) :-) :-)

Thank you. I didn't think about the Listerine strips. I will try those. Thanks for the help.

I also was banded on the 14th. Excited to find someone else on here who was as well. I worked a 1/2 day Monday and felt like crap. However, each day I have felt better and better. Today, I feel like my old self except for the itching on my stomach. I can even lay on my stomach again. WOOHOO!

I am five days post op today and am itching like crazy. I did take off my bandages on day 2 per the hospitals order. However, the steri-strips are what are itching. Mine are even looking as if they are coming off. I go back to the doc a week from tomorrow so hopefully all will go well. I think it is part of the healing process.

I think I might work a 1/2 day. I am waiting for my principal to cal me now. I don't wear underwire but I am still having problems. I can't just go out and buy any old bra. I am a 44J and have to have them special made. If I could handle it for 1/2 day I think I will be okay. Good luck to all tomorrow.

When are you planning on returning to work? I am a teacher and am planning on going back tomorrow. However, as I sit here I wonder if I should type up sub plans? I have had a rough day. A short trip to Wal-Mart wore me out. Also, when wearing my bra it hurts going around and that is on the largest setting. Anyone else experiencing this?

You are welcome. You are going to do fine. The one thing you have to remember is not to beat yourself up if you do slip and cheat. Just get back on it. We have beat ourselves up our entire lives. If not, we wouldn't be where we are today. The one thing I kept thinking about is am I going to be able to do this once I get the band on since I had a harder time staying on the liquids. Since being banded I am telling you, there is no choice. You aren't going to be able to cheat. My family had pizza last night and boy it smelled and looked awesome. I knew I couldn't have any. As I continued to do report cards, I am a teacher, I kept thinking of how bad I wanted some. Well, all night I started feeling better. I was able to move in my bed better and do things the first night home from surgery I couldn't do. All night long the pizza tore my husband up. He had acid reflux, heartburn, you name it. I told him, I won't be missing that at all. :wink::tt1::lol: YOU CAN DO THIS! It won't be a easy thing but you can do it.

Here are some things that I did that made it easier for me. Keep in mind I only had to do this for 2 weeks. 1. Drink plenty of water. I always had water with me. I am an avid diet pepsi drinker. I quit pop all together during this stage. 2. I made a list of things I could do in place of eating. For example, just step outside and walk for 5 minutes to get my mind off of it. I even had a friend I would call to have a meeting we dubbed, "talk me out of it". 3. I purchased cottage cheese, Budding lunch meat, and tuna. When I was feeling really hungry this is what I snacked on due to the low calories, low carbs, and somewhat higher protein. I hope this helps. You will get through this. :-)

I also "cheated" several times on my liquid diet stage. I was allowed a 300 calorie meal at night, like a Lean Cuisine. Well, I would only have one shake during the day of 200 calories that would allow me the extra 700 calories for a real meal at night. I cheated a few times and was surprised when I went into surgery on the 14th to discover I had lost 13 lbs during that time still. Keep your head up.

I was just banded yesterday, March 14th. I was fine yesterday but in severe pain with my breathing right now. My friend who had the surgery 5 weeks ago said that is the gas under my diaphram. (sp?) I am trying to sit up and walk around as much as I can. I don't get a fill for six weeks. I am not hungry at all. Burp even when drinking Water. Or should I say sipping water. However, I am constantly thinking of food and each time I fall asleep I am even dreaming about food. GO FIGURE!!! I need counseling.

My doc does require it. Today is day 2 of it for me. I am having the hardest time. I have 2 protein shakes a day and then a 300 calorie meal like a Lean Cuisine. They did tell me to avoid the pasta kind. But, tonight my husband fixed chili and instead of a Lean Cuisine I ate a small bowl minus the cheese and crackers. I am having a tough time with this. My good friend Michelle had her band put on 3 weeks ago and she is doing wonderful. She did wonderful with this part also. I am just constantly thinking of food. I am going to bed soon just to forget about it. The girl scout cookies in my garage are calling my name. :thumbup: Night all - Julie

:smile2::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:I finally have gotten approved through my primary insurance. I say finally but it was a piece of cake. It only took about 3 weeks to get it all approved. I am still waiting on my secondary as they said they have to wait until after the surgery. I am going on March 14th. I start my pre-op diet on the 22nd. I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited. :thumbup::wink::thumbup::thumbup: