LSF

Oh, I thought of you this morning Gentlywind when you had mentioned in an other post about the diarrea (sp?) - I'm on day 8 since surgery and this morning - BAM! I'm wondering if it's because I started mushies. I was afraid to eat anything while I was at work. When I'm home, I will try to lie down with the shoulder pain but when at work.........

At work today everyone could tell I was in pain - the funny thing was my stomach was fine!! It was that damn neck pain. I don't know if I can survive it for 6 weeks like HeatherO did and Heather, I follow your advice religiously throughout the posts since I saw how successful you have been.

I will definitely take your advice - I don't have a husband to massage my neck & shoulder so I guess my own hands will have to do for now.

I totally get what you are saying - full at the top - hungry at the bottom. And - I also get the gas pains after I eat (drink really). I made mashed potatoes tonight in anticipation of me moving onto to mushies tomorrow and could not resist a couple of bites - boy was that delicious!! After a week of Protein drinks & jello!

Now that we have been talikg about it - my shoulder pain has been getitng worse after I eat (protein shakes & jello of course). I have been using the heating pad and walking. The pain is so immense while walking that I can only walk for 5-8 minutes. Then it seems to get better but how am I going to deal with it at work? I go back tomorrow! I'm going to try the Icy Hot patch next.

I'm planning on being careful with the sauces - that's why I thought the homemade chicken soup would be a good start. (no noodles yet). While I've been home recovering this past week - I keep seeing a commercial about a chef cooking chicken & veggies in chicken broth. I might try that as well. I love meat and will need to find creative ways of cooking it so that it will work with the band.

I just started using a heating pad yesterday - it does seem to help. that's too bad about your friends - I started thinking about all of mine and realized that they are all skinny and pretty and have been very supportive of me. Even the few that need to lose some weight only need to lose maybe 20 - 30 pounds.

Heathero - based on your ticker - you have been very successful. congratulations! Is it true that if you put sauce on the meats - like chicken - that it will go down easier. My mother was going to make me some of her homemade chicken Soup when I move to solids. I thought that eating boiled chicken in broth with the cooked veggeis would go down. What do you think? p.s. - I'm not a fish eater

Now - if I could just stop the horrible shoulder gas pains after I eat - then everything would be fine. I need to return to work tomorrow so this is making me nervous.

It's weird because alot of people have a problem going after the surgery. I cheated and took an Exedrin 4 days post-op just to get my system back in gear and it worked.

I'm surprised your first fill is not until January - most people have a fill by 6 weeks after surgery.

Gentlywind - re: your problem - maybe you started eating the creamed soup too early? I was banded on the 19th and am still in the "full" liquid phase. Where I am, they consider the creamed soups the "mushy" phase. Maybe, all the milk products are causing the problem because it's too early? Even pudding is considered the mushy phase but I still made some and have 2 spoonfuls a day because I was so hungry.

Will it help to look at what you cannot finish and say to yourself "I'll have the rest later"? I'm not eating foods yet and am worried that I will feel the same way.

Laurigee - what you are saying makes alot of sense. It also sounds like even if you are trying to eat 3 small meals a day and you cannot finish one of the small meals, then you should make time to get it in - even if that makes it 4 small meals - it's the same amount of food - just stretching out the time it's eaten.

Andrea - did you see a specialist to see if maybe you had a hiatial hernia or something that was causing the reflux?

Amy - your body was used to mostly fluids and some soft mushy foods. The more foods you add to your diet especially after mostly fluids, you will usually gain some weight back. Once your body starts the normal routine of eating regulat food - the weight loss will begin. I'm still on the full liquid phase and expect to lose slower once I start the mushy phase. I was told that I might not start the actual weight loss journey until sometime between my 3rd - 5th fill.

For the first time, I was woken up at 3:30 in the morning with bad gas pain- in my shoulder and back. I took a Gas x and then eventually fell back to sleep. I'm going to try the heating pad idea next.

What state are you from? It seems like each state is different. I had 1 day of clear liquids, then 7 days of full liquids, then 7 days of mushies. I'm still in the "full liquid" phase and am dying for some food.

Candicane - I keep a pillow ready for when I cough. It's just as painful to blow my nose and I'm afraid to sneeze.

Did they check to nake sure her band did not slip or her port didn't flip?

Just to be on the safe side - I would make sure you are getting 3 protein drinks a day in.

It sounds like you skipped the mushy phase, just get back on track. You don't want to mess up the band this early in the game.

Allie - you won't have to totally give up carbs - you will just not be eating as much as you were. Try to have an occasional WW meal or a Lean Cuisine that has some protein, veggie and pasta all in one. It's portion controlled. You also might find that some carbs won't sit well with you and others will. Keep lookiing at it as just cutting back on amount- not cutting it out. Of course, I am not even on mushies yet but this has been the way I look at it .

For now - the tomato soupm seems to be hitting the spot. I woke up in the middle of the night with bad gas. it's pouring outside today so I'm going to try to walk arounf the house as much as possible.

Elaine - to get that last 5 pounds off quickly, eat Protein only for 2 days, then on day 3, add vegetables and fruits.