pearlygirl

:thumbup::thumbup:Woo-Hoo!!!!!!!!!! That's awesome! Congrats on making it so far, everything else will fly right by!

I posted a day or so ago because I thought my doc was a little to liberal. He doesn't want me to drink my protein either and after two days had me back on full liquids. Now he wants me to add "chunks with lots of liquids" whatever that means. I had some vegetable soup with REALLY, REALLY soft veggies. I put it in the processor so that it wasn't entirely smooth but still drinkable and no chewing needed. Today I had tomato basil soup with 2 saltine crackers crushed into it. It soaked for a long time and broke apart so you couldn't really tell where the pieces of cracker were but overall it was a bit thicker. I'm still afrad he's going to make my bust my stitches out but I'm sure he knows what he's doing. I'm going easier than I can under his orders...just being careful I guess.

Mine is about 2-3 inches up from my belly button and about 4-5 inches to my left. I haven't even had it a week but I do like where it is. During this delicate heling process it hasn't been in the way of clothes or bending etc.

Blund - Absolutely!! It's a very general letter. I tried to make it informative while still being friendly and also convey the message that "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". It worked wonderfully for me and I actually ended up getting really positive feedback from a couple of people who I thought would have been "on the fence". Good luck to you!

I am on liquid for about two weeks and pushing into mushies after the first 10 or so days. It seems as if others are on liquids for a lot longer. Do you think this will be too soon? Just curious how it worked out for you...

I posted this to my family and friends through email and on my myspace account. Sure it's wordy and a little on the harsh side, I was just trying to prove my point clearly, so thta they'd understand. I never had ONE negative comment after this. Okay folks, moment of truth here. I've had problems controlling my weight for...well forever. Sure I've lost, and it always comes back usually bringing friends. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome which doesn't help matters, it causes my weight to be a further struggle and adds in some insulin resistance(not diabetes). Harder to lose, harder to keep off - not that it cannot be done. I just haven't been successful long term. Right now I have 80lbs to lose(or more!). For a long time I have been researching the lapband and I got very serious about it in December 2007. I've endured psych evaluations, meeting with dieticians, physicians, bariaticians...the list goes on. I had to compile a huge list of medical records, diets, illnesses and surgical history along with the previously mentioned evaluations and send them to insurance. In March I was approved for surgery. A blessing? Absolutely. Does it come without some negatives, no. The Lapband is NOT an easy way out. It is a tool and an opportunity for me to regain my confidence, preserve my health and be proactive in my life. The band does not work on it's own. I must still follow diet and exercise plans. I will be the one at the Thanksgiving table who gets just a few bites while everyone continues to eat. I may never be able to tolerate bread, rice, Pasta or meat....MEAT, I am not a vegetarian. Many who have been banded can tolerate some of these foods but still some do not. I will get frequent fills to inflate the band causing more restriction and limiting my intake even more. This involves injecting saline through a port that will be implanted under the skin of my abdomen. Probably not pleasant. While relearning to eat, I may have episodes of food getting stuck, extreme nausea or chest pain, even vomiting. Vomiting is dangerous because it can cause the band to slip out of place requiring further surgery. I will never be able to eat and drink at the same time. No liquids for 30 minutes before or one hour after eating. I know it sounds awful, the truth is that the many benefits far outway the negative. I just wanted to be sure that you - my family and friends - understood that there is nothing easy about this. I'm not cheating, I am helping myself to be successful and like I said before, being proactive in my life and future health. I am leary to share this with everyone because I don't want to hear about somebody's neighbor's friend who had the surgery and didn't succeed. I know some people don't succeed with the band and am terrified that I could be one of them. I don't want to hear about about somebody's friend who died in surgery or was miserable and wished they didn't get the band. My decision is already made and I am scheduled for next Wednesday, the 23rd of April. The first day of the rest of my life. Weight is not lost as quickly with the band as gastric bypass...just 1-2 lbs a week. I'm okay with that. I am excited about this tool helping me to KEEP the weight off no matter how long it takes me to lose it. I am currently at the end of day 2 of a 24 day liquid diet required for surgery(10 days preop and 2 weeks postop). YUCK!! So surgery is in 9(actually almost 8)days. Please wish me well and respect my choice. If you cannot support me, please don't say anything. If any of you have questions please ask me. You can also look up the band on the web.

Hmm, thanks for the input. Mine seems to think the more solid the better...and quick. He has me moving to mushies at 10 days but starting "liquid with chunks" now. Yesterday I had vegetable soup and mushed the hell out of the soft veggies and part of the way through I started to worry so I blended the rest and drank it. I guess I'm just worried about popping the stitches out of my belly.

Today will be postop day #2 for me. I'm actually feeling really well and moving around a lot.

I made it!! I'm home and doing well other than quite a bit of pain at the port site. Thanks everyone. I'll post the official story tomorrow when I'm hopefully feeling a litle better!!

I have 4 trochars and then the incision for the port. My port is about 2 inces higher than my belly button and 4-5 inches to my left. It seems like a pretty good place. I think I did too much this afternoon because I got really sore but since taking my meds and resting awhile, I feel much better. Mamma - My suregon really prefers that you stay. I had to beg and plead a little(and use the fact that I am a nurse and my hubby is a physician. The nurses and respiratory people were all like "Really, you're going home already?!" I just figured I'd rest better in my own bed with my family around me. All I had to to do be released was drink 4oz of Water within an hour and not puke, walk 3 laps around my hospital unit, and my pain had to be under control. It worked out and I got to go home!!

Well, I'm pretty sore now. I've got some gas pain in my chest/left shoulder but it isn't terrible. My port site though is very sore. I had a hard time sleeping last night because of it. Anyway - I'm up and moving around as much as possible and it's certainly helping.

Well, how did we all do?? My day was pretty smooth sailing. My surgeon has most patients spend the night but I jumped some hoops and made it home by about 6. Still just sipping water but it's going well. My port site has quite a bit of pain but as long as I medicate on schedule, it seems to keep it under control. Can't wait to here how everyone is doing!

Me too. I was banded yesterday and am now up in the middle of the night. My port site is pretty sore but manageable. Hopefully this process will be quick for us!!

Holy cow!!! Thank you everyone for all of your support on my liquid diet thread. Guess, what.....I'm being banded tomorrow!!!! It's funny how slow and fast it goes all at the same time.

I'm leaving in about 15 minutes, still doesn't feel real. Hopefully I'll be posting soon saying it all went great! Good luck everyone.

Throw them and never look back...YOU ARE A SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone. I'll post as soon as I get home...not sure if that will be tomorrow or if I'll have to stay one night............ I'M GETTING BANDED IN 10 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!

Nesser - I think you're doing great and no, your sliver of a brownie shouldn't hurt a thing. Although, I have to say that I am very impressed that you could eat just a sliver...if I tasted them, I might just taste them all!!!!

Glad your surgery went well, I too am an RN - what a crock about the PACU nurse you had. I'd be mad too. By the way, tylenol(anything more than 4g/4000mg a day) hurts your liver, not the kidneys.

Great idea!!! I'm Jamie, live in Omaha, Nebraska. I am married 5 years and have an 18 month old daughter, Ayla. Before I became a mommy I worked as a Hospice nurse(RN) and LOVED my job. My BMI is 40 and I will be having surgery on the 23rd...just 4 days away!!! Oh, I also have 2 dogs, Boston and Gracie and a cat - Blue.

I've been concerned too. I have an 18 month old daughter(amazing little girl by the way) and absolutely have to lift and carry her. She can't go downstairs on her own, needs to be lifted into her high chair/crib etc. My hubby has to work the two days following my surgery and my mom will be here during that time, then Darren will be home the weekend. So I should have a solid four days of not lifting her. Hopefully that'll be enough!?

Four....yes F-O-U-R days until surgery!!!!!! I feel like a little kid waiting for Santa to come! It's coming up quickly now(FINALLY) and I think I am totally ready...BTW, down 9 lbs!

Oops, I was wrong. They are only 1 1/2oz, even better.

I read somewhere on here that GNC sells "protein bullets"? It's a 3 oz protein drink in fruit flavors. I guess you could throw a few of those in a ziploc bag!