Bea1128

Congrats on all the NSVs!! I'm one week post-op today and yesterday I wore a pair of pants I couldn't get on the weekend before surgery! I see my doc today and am anxious to see what I've lost! I don't really care that much because my clothes are fitting again. What a relief!!!

Good luck everyone!

I've been using my body pillow to sort of prop me up while recovering. It makes me feel like I'm on my belly, but it doesn't put so much pressure on my port. I can sleep very well on my other side with no pain at all, but when I lay on the port side, I can feel the port pushing against my ribs. Doesn't really hurt, just puts pressure and feels weird. I hope that goes away because that's my favorite side to sleep on. I can't sleep on my back at all, so the pillow is great. I've slept well since my first night post-op.

Hey Luluc! Your husband doesn't have any probs getting the bread part down? That's encouraging. Thanks for the recommendation.

I'm sorry Rain! I know that's disappointing. But WOW! What a difference between your pictures. You look gorgeous! And 40 inches off your body. That's a major accomplishment. It gives those of us who are just starting hope. You may not know it, but you are an inspiration to the rest of us! Keep up the good work! You'll get there.

Hey Jamie. I don't know how much help I can be, but I can tell you that my experience has been similar. I've had gas so bad that I can hardly move on some days. It causes pain when I burp (which is often) and when I "eat". Mine is slowly getting better. I dry heaved several times on the day I had my surgery. That was horrible. The nurses said it was from the gas pushing against my stomach and band. I even went back to Clear liquids after trying full liquids. It just hurt too bad. I've had almost constant pain in my chest and left shoulder. It makes it difficult to do anything and it's very frustrating. So, if nothing else I know how you feel. I just want to get on with life and eat something. I'm hungry too, but mostly I just WANT something. I know what you mean about the commercials. I can hardly watch T.V. The only thing that has helped is walking (actually riding in the car is the best) and using my heating pad. Also don't be afraid to take your pain meds if you need to. I've found that Motrin helps me almost as much, so that's what I've been doing. It at least takes the edge off without knocking me out. Hang in there. I know this will get better and we'll be so glad that we did this when the weight starts coming off. Good luck. I hope you feel better soon.

I found that not cheating got easier with time on my pre-op diet. I did 3 weeks. The middle week for me was the hardest. I wanted everything. One night while my family was watching a movie, I snuck into the pantry and closed the door. I felt I had to have something or I was going to go crazy. I stood in the pantry and ate a finger of peanut butter, a plain piece of bread, and two handful of Doritos. I was ashamed that I had done it, but I got right back on track and didn't cheat again. It was just a moment of "have to" that I couldn't control. Now that I think back, I'm wondering why I didn't just put the PB on the bread! I was just blindly grabbing stuff and eating it. It doesn't mean you're a failure, it means you are human and liquid diets suck! I was banded four days ago and I am very ready to follow my diet as my surgeon recommends because this has been too hard just to mess it up. Will I also feel that way? Probably not, but all I can do is take it one day at a time. Good luck and don't beat yourself up about the fritos.

I hate the "easy way out" comment as well. It's ridiculous. If this is easy I'd hate to see hard. One of my very best friends is a man who has a beautiful daughter who is a little pudgy, but she's only 5. Anyway, he says to me one day, not long ago, that he's afraid she'll have a weight problem but that's okay because she's going to be one those "beautiful, fat girls who everyone loves". He then goes on to tell me that he adores those types of girls who have been some of his best friends. He didn't mean it in a bad way, but it felt like he ripped my heart out. I never realized that's what he thought of me...the fat girl everyone loves. Well I decided I wasn't going to be that girl anymore. I want to be the "healthy, fun, outgoing girl" I know I can be. Some people do not realize how their comments can affect others. And some of those friends can never understand until they've walked a mile in our shoes.

I have horrible gas too. It comes and it goes. The 2nd day post-op I thought I was dying from the gas pain. Then it got better and then today it's in my shoulder and chest. It's killing me. If it wasn't for that my pain would be minimal. Motrin helps with the pain in my shoulder and makes it tolerable. I thought that it would all be gone by now, but not so. Walking is the only thing that helps me feel better. Also riding in the car bounced some to the surface so to speak! :thumbup: My lower abdomen is also sore from pulling myself into a sitting position from bed, etc. My surgical site is a lot less sore today except for my port site which is still quite tender. Good luck to you and hang in there. It has to get better soon!

Hey 80's! I agree with all that people have said especially the part about breaking it up. My strategy is not to look at the pounds coming off, but what size I can get into. I have two closets full of clothes in about 10 different sizes (I'm kind of a pack rat and refuse to get rid of clothes!). Before surgery I went into my closet and arranged things by size. When my current clothes are too big, out they go, and then I'll move on to the next section. When I feel like "shopping" I'll go in there and try stuff on. If I'm getting into smaller sizes then the pounds must be coming off. Of course, I'll be weighing myself from time to time as well, but no more than once a week. That's just not that important to me. I have tons of sexy sandals that I can't wait to put on. I used to be really into clothes and I can't wait to be again. Also, I love to play sports. I've already signed up for our church's summer adult softball team. Being able to run farther and faster will also be a measure of how well I'm doing. So, instead of looking at 116 pounds, is there something you want to do or accomplish that will gage your success? I think it takes the pressure off a little. You can absolutely do this! Good luck!!

From what I read it's normal to go through a period of regret and mourning. Of course you are in a different situation with the death of a loved one, etc. I can tell you that it finally hit me yesterday what it means to be banded. We took my girls to get ice cream for dessert and they also have hamburgers, fries, etc. I had a couple of tastes of ice cream and it didn't taste good at all. It was so sweet. However, I found myself staring at the family sitting across from us. They had giant hamburgers and fries. It smelled so good and it finally hit me that I might never be able to eat a burger again. I realized that going to our favorite steak place would be a waste of money because it's a buffet type thing and you can't bring home a doggy bag. It made me sad. Logically I know that this is best for me because I can't control what I eat which is why I'm in this position in the first place, but I feel so deprived right now. I'm really not hungry, I just "want" something. I want to chew. I know that in a month I'll be glad. I know I'm on my way to being healthy and looking great. It's just a hard time right now. So, my point is that you are not alone and I think what you are feeling is totally normal. I hope you find peace soon. Good luck!

Hello all! It's nice to meet you all. I was banded this past Wednesday. I'm feeling pretty good, soreness is better. The thing that is bothering me is the gas. It comes and goes. It gets better during the day because I'm up walking around and then at night settles again in my shoulders and chest. I really thought it would be gone by now. I haven't had any pain meds since Thursday or Friday. Motrin has been handling any pain I have. If I could just get rid of this gas, I'd feel great! Good luck to you guys coming up this week. Hey 80's - We're neighbors! I'm in Fort Worth. Take care all and keep in touch!

I'm sorry, I know it isn't funny, but I just had to laugh. First, people think we are lazy and that we eat too much. And now that you are doing something good for yourself and eating less, they think you have an eating disorder. Unbelievable!! I hope you find a happy medium; something you can tell them without making yourself feel weird. I know it's hard. I've told a few close friends at church and then Wednesday when those few were discussing how I was feeling, others overheard and were startled that I'd have surgery and not let everyone know. Not because they are nosy, just because they are caring and wanted to at least be praying for me. Now that it's over. I really don't care who knows. I've made my decision and I think it's the right one. It was definitely not the easy way out, and I better not ever hear anyone saying it is. Good luck.

Hey guys! Hope you don't mind me posting on this thread. I was banded on the 16th and am feeling a lot better today. The surgical pain was not bad for me, it was the gas pain. I finally started absorbing most of it about 48 hours after surgery. I have some gas today, but not bad. I took a few doses of my pain meds when I was having gas pains so bad, but Ibuprofen has taken care of my surgical pain. I too am so swollen. I almost had a heart attack when I saw myself in the mirror. I looked 9 months pregnant!! That's a lot better today. Still some swelling, but not that bad. I had a shower yesterday and that felt great. Took off all the bandaids. I've actually been sleeping pretty well. I felt really energized yesterday and cleaned the kitchen, then was wiped out for the rest of the afternoon. My energy comes and goes. I have to feel up to driving on Monday. My husband won't be able to help me next week. I'll just have to suck it up and do what I have to do! Good luck all! I hope you all feel much better today!

Hey all! I was banded early Wednesday morning. I feel a lot better today. Got rid of most of the gas. That was the worst part. My incisions only hurt minimally, but the gas made me think I was actually dying. I got to the surgical center at 6 a.m. Was prepped and wheeled into surgery by 7:30. My surgeon came out to talk to my husband at 8:05. I was up walking by 9 a.m. Had fluoro, drank some Water, dry heaved, and was being pushed out the door into our vehicle by 9:30 a.m. It was really weird. I had gas and bloating so bad that it would make me sick to my stomach and make me dry heave. I finally started absorbing most of it by last night. Slept really good and felt so much better this morning. I get to take a shower today and I know that will make me feel more human. I've also had some thinned Soup which tasted so good. Still feel like I could burp really good, but not causing any pain. I can get up now without it pulling too much on my port site. That's the sorest spot. Still really tired and napped today. I feel better so I get up and then my energy is zapped. I'm glad to hear everyone else is doing well. I'll post more later.

Don't beat yourself up this is hard. Also this kind of diet messes with your head. You have no sugar in your brain. Believe me I know because I've been the weepiest, craziest mess for the past two weeks. And I didn't have to do the liquid diet, I was on low-carb. I thought I would loose my mind. So give yourself a break. You are not eating anything, that messes with your normal body processes. You're not eating any Fiber so naturally all the extra Fluid has to go somewhere. I had diarrhea as well. It was so bad for the first few days that I also had rectal bleeding and pain (sorry, TMI, I know). So you had a salad and piece of chicken. That's not cheating, that's normal. Cheating is when you go to every drive-thru in town and order one of everything. Just think you only have 4 more days. Take it one day a time, one meal at a time. You're almost there! Hang in there. It will all be worth it!!! Good luck!

Hey Nurse! Same to ya sister! Good luck! See ya in Bandster Land!! :thumbup: I have to be at the hospital at 6 a.m. in the morning. I can't believe it's finally here!!! I'll check in again as soon as I can.

Hey Kaytie! I'm an old married woman with a couple of kids, but I like to have a cocktail from time to time myself. We get together with a group of friends about once a month or once every other month and we all like to have a few drinks. I've been pondering this very question for a year. I don't drink a lot anymore, but I didn't want to be banned for life. I'm a vodka drinker anyway and my favorite thing is to mix it with fizzy, flavored Water. I can't do that anymore so I've decided I could live with mixing it with diet juice. Ocean Spray has several diet juices that are made with Splenda. There are also several blends that are "light" which means no added sugar from what I can tell. The light has more carbs and calories than the diet, but I can't remember the numbers right now. The diet juice has 5 calories and 2 g carb per 8 oz serving. I would be willing to have those from time to time and it probably won't do too much damage to my weight loss. Anyway, I hope this helps. Good luck!

Hey all you guys who are being banded this week. Good Luck!!! I go on Wednesday. I can't believe it is already here. I'm so ready to get it over with and start my new life! Make sure to check in and I'll do the same. See you in Bandster Land!

Congrats! I know that must be exciting. I'm on Wednesday and now that it's here I feel hurried because I keep thinking of things I need to get done before I have surgery so I don't worry about it after. That's okay because it will keep me busy for the next couple of days! Good luck Thursday! I'll look forward to hearing about your experience.

I'm so glad you are all doing so well and recovering nicely. Thanks for posting, it puts those of us behind you at ease. A week from now it will be over for me and I'll be on my way to recovery. Keep the info coming.

24 days?!? Gracious! You are my hero! I'm thinking about doing my last week on the liquid diet as it's actually a diet more suited to me, I think. I can have any kind of Soup, low sugar/fat free yogurt, Protein shakes, s/f f/f pudding, low fat cottage cheese, broth, sugar free popsicles, etc. The yogurt and pudding are what sound good right now. I told my DH this and he said "well, then you'll start to crave meat"! Probably true. I'm just worried about my fat intake. It's very hard to eat low carb and really low fat as well. I'm just so paranoid that my liver won't be the right size or something. Also, I'm not really loosing any weight. A lot of people loose a few pounds during this time. Of course, I'm not gaining either, but....I'm freakin out!

Oh No! How horrible. I'm so sorry that happened to you. I had a small scare regarding the hospital yesterday and thought I would actually have a stroke. The pre-op diet is messing with my mind too. It was just a misunderstanding and it was all worked out, no problem. Hopefully that will happen for you too! Good luck!

Nurse7263-I'm in Fort Worth. Dr. Adam Smith. I couldn't find the Tyson Buffalo Wings, but I did find some Tequila Lime that aren't cooked yet. Thought I'd throw those on the grill and try them. They're not breaded, just marinated. I'll let you know how they are. Had all my bloodwork today (12 viles!). I can't believe it's in a week! I've been waiting and waiting and now that it's here, I realize how much stuff I need to get done before the big day! Also in case yall like Crystal Light, I just tried the Cherry Pomegranate. It's delicious! I also like the Blueberry White Tea. It sounds weird, but it's good and something different. I also found a Soup by Progresso, chicken Enchilada that is carb conscious. I haven't tried it yet, but one serving only has 8 carbs. I'm just looking for some different options to get me through this last week. Kinda loosing my mind!! Have a great day!

I started journaling on the suggestion of my mother-in-law. She thought I might enjoy being able to look back and see how far I've come. So far I've enjoyed it. I think a year from now I'll appreciate it more. I think I'll be able to see that the frustration I feel now was all worth it.