agw504

A good shake to try is the Nutrilite Protein Shake. They come in chocolate Fudge, Vanilla or strawberry. You can research and order them through the following website: www.zoneinonu.com They are 175 calories, 25 grams of protein, no sugar, and 6 grams of carbs.

I am with you! I was banded 8/14/08 and have lost 55 pounds and have been stuck there for 2 months now because of poor eating habits that I have picked back up! Seeing the doc again next week to talk about getting another fill and get back on track!! I am on board with y'all.

I had my surgery on 8/14/08 and have drank coffee ever since with splenda and skim milk. Since I could not drink Coke anymore, there is no way I could survive without my coffee to keep the caffeine headaches under control!!

I have bought some kidney beans and some other types because they have alot of protein. Does anyone have any good recipes for them to make them tasty and not blah! :smile:

I think if you had one glass of wine it shouldn't hurt. I wouldn't go out and get stupid drunk! We have friends over alot and sit out on the deck and have a cocktail or two. It is enjoyable. I was banded on 8/14/08 and haven't had any alcohol since, but I have an appt with my surgeon this week and am going to ask him if I can have a glass of wine once a week or so.

I drink the Alpine Punch, and Grape Isopure. I like both of those flavors. I drink them cold with ice and like them. As long as they are cold, they are good. The Alpine Punch tastes like kool-aid to me. Different things work for different people. They have helped me get all of my protein in since it seems like since I have been banded the most calories I take in a day are 500.

:confused2:Today was my first day of mushy foods and things have not gone well. I get this feeling about 2 1/2 hours after I eat that something is stuckk or I get real clammy and then have diarrhea, sorry:( Has anyone felt like this? Then when I get the feeling something is stuck, I start coughing and feel like I am going to vomit and my food is stuck in the middle of my throat. Please HELP! Anyone else feel this way? I was banded last thursday, 8/14/08. The acid that comes up when I am coughing burns my throat!!!!

:confused2:I am one week post op and today started to feel a pinching sensation in the middle of my belly. Not sure if that is the dissolvable stitches healing or dissolving or what it could be. Anyone feel this before being post-op? I get nervous each time I feel this, hopefully nothing is wrong. Also, I get nervous each time I cough, I am scared that when I cough or sneeze it might bust one of the stitches inside. Any advise or is this normal?

The best thing that worked for me was to walk. Anytime I had shoulder/neck pain, I would take a short walk and it would help tremendously. I had surgery one week ago today and the gas pain is gone now. :cursing:

All I can say is Walk, Walk, Walk. That helped me the most. I did not take Gas-X, anytime the shoulder pain comes on I go for a walk and it helps tremendously. I was banded on 8/14/08. I also have had no stomach pain, just soreness but the shoulder pain has been the worst and walking seems to take care of it.

My surgery was this past thursday, 8/14/08, and my doctor uses a pain ball with his patients. It literally is a ball full of numbing medication that sits in a fanny pack that is strapped around your waist. The pain ball has a small tubing that comes out of it and goes into one of your port incisions and delivers the meds to keep your pain under control. It has been wonderful and I have only taken percocet at night to knock me out to sleep! :mad2:

I was banded two days ago in Richmond at St Marys Hospital. I am feeling great. It has been much easier than I thought. I have been walking at least 3 times a day for about 10 minutes or so each time and that has helped alot with gas. I have only taken my pain meds to sleep, not necessarily for pain. When will your surgery be in greensboro? Why are you choosing to go out of state??

Congratulations!!!!!! I live in Louisa County and will be banded this Thursday in Richmond at St. Marys Hospital. The pre-op diet is not horrible, you just have to stay strong and you will get through it, it is just a pre-cursor to your new lifestyle. Congratulations again!!!

Hey Nancy & Shirley...... It is great to see posts from two people in my area and go to the same physicians office!!!!! I will be banded this thursday by Dr. Schroeder at St. Marys. I saw Erin pre-operatively and she is great! Nancy....I work on the St Marys Campus in the west building...what a small world! Where do you work in the hospital?

Dacoz21...The night before surgery I am unable to have anything to eat or drink. They will tell you that when you go to pre-op testing. I had my pre-op testing this past Monday. I am sure you have the same rules as I do since our docs are in the same office. I am currentlt having a shake for breakfast, a shake and apple for lunch, a yogurt for snack, 40z of lean protein for dinner and baby carrots as a snack at nite. I am not hungry but just want everything I can't have right now. I only have 4 more days of this until surgery. One thing that has helped me is sugar free grape kool-aid. It has helped with my sweet cravings.

Hello, a fellow Richmonder here!! I am on my pre-op diet also, being banded on 8/14 by Dr. Schroeder at St. Marys. I just want nachos!! This is not as easy as I thought!! I have the chills and am extremely grumpy. I have drank so much water that I feel like I am going to float away! I apologize, I am venting and want a snack! I understand completely how you feel. We have to try to be strong and get through this without going to Five Guys or getting nachos!!!:thumbup:

I too have Cigna HMO. I went to my doctor for 6 months and weighed in with him. I didn't lose anything, actually gained 5 pounds. I was approved by Cigna and am being banded next week. The 6 months goes by very quick. I can't believe my band will be done next week. My doc thinks the insurance company does this just to see if you are committed to this or not!

My doc leaves the choice of which band to use up to his patients. So I have to choose between the "Lapband" and the "REALIZE" band. What are your thoughts on this and do you have to choose also??:teeth_smile:

Hi, My name is Angela. I am happily married to my husband of 14 years and we have one daughter who is 4. We adopted her from China when she was 9 months old and she is the love of our life!! We live in Mineral, VA which is 30 miles west of Richmond, VA. Basically, we live between Charlottesville and Richmond!! I am very fortunate and have a husband who supports me 100%, he is the best! My surgery is scheduled for August 14th at St. Marys Hospital in Richmond, VA. One of the main reasons I am having this surgery is to lose weight and get healthy so I can be around for her as she grows! I am 38 years old and work for an orthopedic surgeon. I am at my heaviest weight now, I have always been heavy since I was a little girl. i grew up in an Italian family where all we do is cook and eat!! I am nervous and excited at the same time. I am looking forward to losing weight and being physically fit!:teeth_smile:

I will be banded on August 14th!!! I can't wait but am nervous also!!!Anyone else being banded that lives in VA?:wink2:

Congrats!!! I have Cigna HMO also but fortunately did not have to go through that!!! Where in VA are you? Who is your surgeon? I am in Richmond and having surgery by Dr Schroder at St. Marys Hospital. Would love to chat with you more. Congrats again!:wink2:

Cigna approved my surgery and I am scheduled for August 14th!!!! I am soo excited and nervous at the same time!! Now I have to decide which band I want. Anyone prefer one over the other and why???? :biggrin:

I only had to wait 5 days for the approval!! Thank you for the kind words of encouragement!!!:biggrin:

Ciconetti: I did not know they do the surgery at HDH Parham Campus. I will have it done at St. Marys since I work on that campus in a physician's office and the doc I work for know Dr. Schroder very well, I feel more comfortable being there. My BMI is 55.2 and I have Cigna HMO, which I hear can be hard to get approved also! We just have to hope for the best. I am ver nervous and excited to have the surgery done. I want to feel better and be healthier also! I seem to get tired just walking around the grocery store and my back hurts too! I am hoping that with the weight off, my back pain will go away and I will be able to do more. If you want, you can e-mail me at racinfans@earthlink.net and we can keep in touch on our progress!!! Angela

Has anyone tried the protein shakes that Quixtar/Amway sells? What do you think of them?