Jpet

I've realized that my port is directly underneath the incision, which is the longer, raised incision compared to the others. Like many of you, this incision site is the most tender and I'm getting nervous about my first fill, which I admit is still a couple of weeks away. As I review more and more pictures and videos, it seems that usually the port is located at least some distance away from the incision. Does anyone else have their port located directly underneath their incision, and if so, was it particularly painful/difficult to palpate the port and have the first fill? I don't believe that my doctor uses fluoro for his fills and I don't know whether he uses any type of numbing agent when doing the fills. Thanks for your advice/experiences!

Are you on clear liquids only or full liquids? If you're just on clear liquids, I would suggest drinking stock rather than broth. There's a huge difference in tast as stock has more depth and flavor than just a broth. Here in the U.S., they sell stock in cartons along side the broth in the grocery stores. If you're on full liquids, then you have soooo many more options. For me, I ate/drank every single type of cream-style soup I could find (lowfat of course and made with skim milk). I would also suggest taking a look at the "food" section of this forum, which will have lots of ideas for you. Good luck! You can do it!

I also think that your weakness might be partly because of the effects of surgery. I couldn't have gone back to work so soon, since I was still needing a daily nap by day four or five. So, hopefully you can really, really rest during this three day weekend (that I hope you have off). Also, it makes sense that you're going to feel weak when you cut your typical caloric intake by half AND you're recovering from surgery. Try to take in a little more calories because it's so important for you to heal correctly. Think about how tough it is for your body to heal properly if it thinks it's in starvation mode. That being said, I know it's difficult to get in a lot of food early on, especially if you're on mostly liquids. Therefore, I would suggest taking in more Protein and making sure that you're well hydrated and that you are replenishing electrolytes. Gatorade isn't hugely popular it seems, but it really helped me with staying hydrated. I never felt dizzy or "out of it," which are common symptoms of dehydration. Take care of yourself! The last thing you need are complications!

I have to admit, there was one night where I was thinking, "what have I done to myself?" That was the night of the surgery when I could not, for the life of me, get comfortable. Then, the next day when I felt soooo much better, I thought, "I'm glad I did do this." I wouldn't call it regret, but maybe a moment's pause in reflection. And I think it was completely normal. I certainly wish I could have lost the weight without surgery because why have any surgery if you don't have to? So I guess it was more about having surgery than having the lap band. But so far, so good. I feel wonderful, I've lost a little weight, and I haven't had any complications.

I have to be honest -- Protein shakes are very helpful in the beginning because they go down very easily and provide protein, nutrients and carbs. I can't imagine what I would have eaten in the very beginning of post-op if I hadn't had my shakes. That being said, I didn't opt for the completely carb-less shakes. I used a soy protein blend and mine had carbs and averaged about 300 calories each (mainly because I made them with milk). The important thing is that I felt fine and I was eating what I felt was less "fake." Now, I'm onto the mushy phase and haven't had a protein shake yet in this phase. I typically eat egg salad, hummus, chicken salad, tuna salad, mashed potatoes, refried Beans, fresh fish (sole and tilapia) and yogurt. I could probably stand to eat more vegetables, but I feel that right now I'm making good food decisions and am able to eat real food that isn't overly processed. I, too, take a multivitamin (Viactiv chewables).

Before the surgery, I lost 12 pounds on the pre-op diet, which I swear was more calories than what I'm consuming now. After the surgery, I lost 9 pounds, so obviously, my loss has slowed. I'm now in the mushy stage and am finding that every day it's getting harder and harder to not eat too much. I suppose that means that I'm healing nicely, though, so I won't complain. But I don't have any restriction and it's too easy to eat a whole container of hummus. So, I'm going to have to white-knuckle it until I get my first fill, which is in 12 days. I'm hoping to at least not gain in the meantime. If I lose a couple more pounds, well then that would be fantastic. But I will say, it's very hard to get used to seeing the scale go down during pre-op and right after surgery, and then to see it practically stall. It's especially hard when I realize that I am eating at least 1000 calories less per day than what I ate pre-surgery, so it's difficult to accept that the scale isn't showing any more significant losses. Of course there are a number of reasons why -- retaining Water, slower metabolism, etc. etc.

I love, love, love Chinese Hot Pot. For those of you who have never had it, it's a pot of boiling broth set into the table and you cook thinly shaved meats, vegetables and noodles in it. It's kind of like shabu shabu or fondue, except the cooking liquid is this wonderful broth and you end up eating/drinking a lot of the broth along with the veggies and meats. My question is, do I have to give this up? It's universally accepted that you shouldn't drink while eating, but what do you do in the case of Soups with substantial amounts of veggies and meats in it? Should I try to eat less of the broth, or will it be okay? What have your experiences been? Thanks for your advice!

I completely understand what you're going through. During that time before banded when I was on liquids/protein shakes, I thought so much about food. It seemed like everything on t.v. had a food angle, and I started craving stuff that I had never really liked, e.g. egg salad. Even more weird were my dreams when I dreamt about eating certain foods and then woke up with a start thinking, "did I just eat that and screw up my diet?" You're going to hear this a lot, but this phase in your life will pass and it's so much easier after being banded. I'm on to the mushy phase and it's gotten a lot easier. Scrambled eggs and tuna salad never tasted so good! Our mantra around here is that, "you can do anything for __ (number) of days." What helps us to get through this time before being banded (and to get through bandster hell in general) is that it is temporary. Think about what it would be like if this was your actual diet for the next six months or so, i.e. how some people lose weight. Good luck. You're doing great. It's temporary!

Here's my hummus recipe (that I'm remembering off the top of my head). Hummus is essentially pureed chickpeas and it provides great Protein, Fiber and "good" fats. I usually eat it by itself, but you can use it as a dip or topping for crackers/chips. Also, you can add additional ingredients like roasted red peppers to make variations of hummus. But here's the "plain" recipe: 2 cans (15 oz?) of chickpeas, drained but reserving 1/4 to 1/2 can of packing liquid (how much you use will depend on how thick you want it to be) 2 cloves of garlic (or depending on your taste), chopped up fine or pressed 1/4 tsp. of salt 2 tablespoons of tahini (sesame paste you can find in middle-eastern stores or leave it out and use more olive oil) 2 tablespoons of olive oil pinch of black pepper pinch of cumin (optional) Puree all ingredients together. I use a stick blender, but you could use a regular blender or food processor. The end result should be a slightly thick, creamy consistency. If it's too thick, add more chickpea packing liquid or olive oil. Enjoy!

I'm in the pureed/soft foods stage right now, and will be until the 26th. The following is what I typically eat (not in one day mind you): Homemade hummus (try to make your own -- it is so easy and cheaper than store bought) Canned white chicken breast with lowfat mayo (this has been wonderful for lunches and dinners -- goes down very easy) Tuna with mayo (but studies show don't eat more than one can a week because of mercury) Cottage cheese Refried Beans with melted cheese mixed in Guacamole (I know it's high in fat, but it's a good fat and you don't need to eat a lot) Instant mashed potatoes Instant sweet mashed potatoes Fish (I usually eat Petrale Sole, which ends up being very soft and mushy) Yogurt Applesauce pudding That's about it. If you'd like a recipe for the hummus, let me know. It really is super easy and tastes much better. You can also control the fat content a lot better because sometimes the store-bought brands are loaded with too much fat. Have fun!

Hello! I was banded on 1/28 and am now eating mushies. I was hoping to get from everyone their favorite mushies that they ate for Protein. Did anyone blend up chicken, and if so, would you mind sharing how you cooked and what spices you used to make it palatable? Have a wonderful day!

I had the same problem. I was banded on 1/28 and am just now being able to start sleeping on my side, even though it isn't entirely comfortable yet. For the first few days after the surgery, I slept on the couch, which I found was the best option because I could kind of wedge myself between the back of the couch and the seat of the couch (hope that makes sense). This gave me the support I needed and allowed me to be somewhat on my side without having to be all or nothing on my side. But I have to be honest -- I didn't get a really good solid night's sleep until almost five days after the surgery. I think it's something that you'll just have to get through for the time being, knowing that you'll eventually get to the point where you can sleep comfortably. Try to go to bed early and schedule naps if possible to allow yourself to make up for the loss of sleep at night. Take care!

I was a bit of a chicken to take my first shower and I waited to take a full shower until three days after the surgery. Before that, I gave myself quick sponge baths. I guess I was worried about irritating the incisions and possibly causing an infection. My doctor told me I could take a shower as early as the day after surgery, but to face away from the Water stream so that the water wouldn't beat down on the incisions.

I think this is normal. I was banded on 1/28 and a couple days later, my belly started sounding like the L.A. Harbor. I figured it was my insides waking up. It wasn't painful, but just uncomfortable. I also think that your stomach is probably now noticing that it doesn't have much in it, and is letting you know accordingly. I know you've probably heard this a ton of times, but walking around helped. I found that after walking for about ten minutes, things seemed to calm down. I am a true believer in the power of a ten minute walk -- it has helped me enormously. Take care!

I was banded on 1/28, a Monday. I'm an attorney and I thought I might be able to go back to work by that Friday, but I was still pretty tired and felt that it might be pushing it. So I went back the following Monday, thereby taking a full week off. Listen to your body. I found that even though I probably physically could go back to work, mentally I was really tired. Give yourself the gift of taking enough time off so that you know that you've done what you need to do to ensure proper recovery. Your body will appreciate it. I now feel great and am proceeding nicely. Best wishes!