GreenChrysalis

Thanks! I'm now 11 days out and still doing well.

Congrats Amieru! I'll be thinking of you Tuesday morning. I had a really good experience overall in Parker and I hope that you do, too. Woofay, I am so sorry that you're feeling ill and hope that you're better soon. There's an awful flu going around here. I think it's possible you're not getting enough vitamins/healthy food, but it could also just be bad luck. You work at a school, right? I never stayed sicker than the year I was a parapro at a primary school. Kids are germy! That's when I started carrying around hand sanitizer. Cara, I read some real horror stories before my surgery too. When I had my phone consult with Dr. K, I asked him about complications and he mentioned five. I thought that they were all port revisions, tube punctures and/or tubes leaking. I don't remember him mentioning a removal, but you should feel free to ask him during your consult. There is the possibility of something going wrong with any surgery. But by going with an experienced surgeon, doing your research and resolving to follow his instructions to the letter, you are reducing your risk. That's all you can do.

I'm going to vote for keep growing it, but get some layers and highlights around your face in a warm caramel color. Find a good stylist, though. :smile2: I wish short hair were flattering and doable for me because it can look so cute. My hair gets curlier and more unmanageable the shorter I go -- chin length is the shortest it's ever been and I hated it, because it required work to make it behave. Now it is in the middle of my back and straight, with layers in the front and highlights.

Assuming you have a surgeon already, did you ask them about financing options? Usually they have certain companies that they will work with. My surgeon used two different ones. I couldn't get a very good interest rate with either of them (my credit is so-so), so I ended up using a lower-interest credit card.

This is the best advice. I think an eight year old should be mature enough to understand privacy too. And it's certainly not the business of an ex's grandmother...

Thanks bbjerseygirl. I beat myself up over it pretty bad last night, but I have moved on. I will definitely watch the sodium more closely. I cannot imagine dealing with that again so I will be vigilant about starting new things. This was the first time I "concocted" something and obviously I didn't do a good job of it. But I will learn. It is frustrating that all of the doctors have very different timeframes for progressing -- I am going to be more conservative, I think, than he even suggests. It certainly can't hurt me any more than that episode did!

I figured that I'd write this for pre-ops and fellow newbies...when your surgeon says to take your time when trying something new, do just that. The consequences can be pretty awful. My surgeon allows you to progress in the post-op diet "as tolerated," with going from clear to full liquids around day 4-5. I have had no appetite since my surgery one week ago -- of course I have also been sure to get in about 60g of Protein a day using protein powders and shakes, so I haven't allowed myself to get hungry. Full liquids includes "pureed meat thinned with broth." I've had some thinned meat baby food a few times with no problems. Last night, I cooked up some lean beef. Then I put it in the blender with some beef broth and a little cream of onion Soup. I pureed it until it was a rather ugly-looking, thin grayish-brown liquid. But it tasted great. :thumbup: Then I put about 1/3 of a cup into a little bowl and sat down to enjoy my dinner. I really didn't pay much attention to how quickly I was eating, especially as this was the first thing I'd eaten in a week that tasted really, really good. When I finished, I realized that it only took me 20 minutes to eat and I worried that was too much, too soon. But I felt OK; not full or gross or anything. Then about an hour later, I was sitting on the sofa when I suddenly had awful pain and pressure in my abdomen and chest. It felt like the worst gas cramps I have ever had. I got up and took a few Gas X strips, then started pacing my house. It just got worse and worse. What had I done to myself? Why did I have this surgery? Should I call my surgeon? What if I'd ruined my band (and my investment)? It was misery. :smile: No position was comfortable. I was talking to my husband, who was rubbing my back, when I suddenly realized that I was going to throw up. Obviously, that's not something you ever want to do, especially one week out of surgery. So he quickly got me an anti-nausea tablet -- thank goodness for those -- and put it under my tongue. I burped/retched once before it started to work, and then it still took a good 30 mins for the pain and bloated feeling to subside. (This also included several unpleasant trips to the toilet, I'll spare you the details.) :tt2: So, lesson learned. When trying something new, take your time. I was feeling pretty smug and good about myself and I got careless. I should've only tried a tiny spoonful of my liquid meat concoction. I am now going back to mostly Clear Liquids (along with my thin protein shakes) for a day or two just to be on the safe side. I'm also watching the clock closely as I sip.

Oh yes, I love my heating pad. I think it just relaxes your muscles. I got an extra-large one a few years ago and it is the best. The problem now is keeping my cats from jumping onto my stomach to sleep on it. :smile2:

It doesn't piss me off as a taxpayer since it's in Argentina. I'm not familiar with Argentinian culture so I don't feel like I can really pass judgment. But at the same time, I can't imagine a 17-year-old in any culture being equipped to deal with that many children. If the government there is aiding her and her family, that support should also include sex education and birth control. Because maybe she doesn't quite know how that happens. :smile2:

Oh, that sucks. I did not tell my family either and have no intentions of doing so. I would just say that it was personal and you'd rather not go into detail, but you are feeling good and thanks for the concern. People tend to think that it's "female related" then, I've noticed. At work I did not tell anybody but when one nosy person did ask, I said it was very personal. She just nodded and left me alone. :tt2:

Becca..................................March 6th EnchantedRuby......................March 7th JaxBandster..........................March 11th CynthiaMcc ..........................March 12th Sadie ..................................March 13th Marathinner...........................March 13th Viridescence..........................March 18th

I am one week out also and just over a bout of major gas pain due to eating too much too fast. Are you sticking to your post-op diet? Eating small amounts slowly? Sipping your liquids slowly? Walking and taking Gas X strips to combat the gas? If the pain is truly that bad then you may need to call your surgeon.

I definitely experienced more pain than I thought I would the first day. By the second day I felt a lot better. On the fourth day I was again regretting it, as I was flying home and I got nauseous on the plane. Then yesterday afternoon I had a painful incident in which I ate too fast and again wondered why on earth I had gotten this surgery. This morning I felt good again, but now I'm feeling gross. Realized that I started my period. Oh, the ups and downs!

My favorite so far is EAS Advant Edge Low Carb. It is 17g of protein at 110 calories and 3 net carbs. It also comes in several flavors: chocolate, dark chocolate, vanilla, cafe caramel and strawberry. I have found it in several grocery stores. SlimFast Low Carb are OK too, 20g of protein, 190 calories and 2 net carbs. But they are a little higher in calories than my nutritionist recommends.

Hi Longhorn ~ so sorry to hear you're dealing with this issue! My mother has been perimenopausal for the past few years and dealing with marathon, heavy periods. It was debilitating, she had to wear both a tampon and a pad and change them out just about once an hour. She didn't have a growth, but she was recently diagnosed with endometriosis. A few weeks ago, her doctor performed an edometrial ablation. It's being touted as an alternative to a hysterectomy, and basically, all of your uterine lining is removed. For most women this either stops their periods completely or significantly reduces them. I was wondering if your doctor mentioned this as a possibility, or if the growth/mass would rule it out completely? I know my mother wanted to avoid a complete hysterectomy if possible due to the whole hormone issue. Best of luck and keep us updated!

I am on full liquids and also supposed to drink a Protein shake (15-20g of protein, no more than 170 cal) between each meal. My favorite Protein Shake so far is EAS AdvantEdge Carb Control (17g of protein, 110 cal for 11 oz.) I got a big sampler pack of protein mixes from Vitalady, but I haven't enjoyed most of them. The Syntrax nectar and Nectar Naturals have been the most tolerable. I think I will just stay with the EAS or get some unflavored powder to mix into my regular drinks. For Breakfast I have been having Healthy Dairy yogurt smoothies. I am terrible about getting up early enough to actually make breakfast, so I need something fairly quick. lunch and dinner so far are usually a strained cream Soup (cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, etc) or watery oatmeal (Weight Control). I have tried meat baby food thinned with broth a few times, but the texture is just gross. Last night I made a concoction of pureed lean beef with beef broth and a little cream of onion soup, with tasty results. Unfortunately I think I ate it too fast and it was, well, miserable. I am back to watching the clock with my sips/spoonfuls. I'm pretty sick of my cream Soups so I'm glad to see some more full liquid ideas here for when I go grocery shopping tomorrow. :tt2:

Thanks! I was so angry at myself, because I thought that I wouldn't go through this for some reason. I've researched this for 2.5 years, I've read this forum daily, etc, etc. I've read posts by people who were eating fast food two days after surgery and scoffed at them. I know better! Right?! Well, I got knocked off my high horse! I hope that future "lessons learned" moments don't involve me praying to various deities that I will do anything to make the pain stop. :tt2: Oh good. That's mostly why I wrote it, instead of keeping my shame to myself. :smile: Yep, I felt just fine by the time I went to bed last night and I feel good today too.

Congratulations, Cara.

Dynamo, it seems like there are plenty of new things to learn with the band -- like shorter cooking times! I never make a mess in the microwave, so I was trying to quickly clean it up before anybody walked into the break room. I hear you on the taxes issue. I used TurboTax too but I haven't finished it up because we owe. I am pissed off about it, so I am avoiding it right now. I had our return reviewed and they essentially said we owed because I worked multiple jobs in 2007 (three to be exact, plus freelance income -- it was a crazy year). So we need to adjust our withholdings for next year. Great, that doesn't help me now. Dammit. Because we can totally spare the cash right now. Not.

Tied and Mal, I am so sorry for the loss that you have experienced recently. I wish both of you and your families peace and healing. On to more frivolous matters, comparatively...meaning me. I am crabby today because I brought a little bit of thin oatmeal for lunch and put it in the microwave for far too long. You guessed it, exploded oatmeal and skim milk. I guess you don't need to microwave such a small amount for as long as you'd need to microwave a full bowl, huh? So I'm drinking a protein shake instead. I still don't have an appetite at all, but I was looking forward to that oatmeal anyway. My newest development is a bit of gas pain in my chest. I am not happy with this at all since in general my pain has gotten so much better. It isn't awful, it doesn't hurt when I breathe or anything like that. But it is annoying. Otherwise, I feel more "normal" today than I have since the surgery. Tomorrow it'll be a whole week ago.

Hi Tiny. There's plenty of feedback on Dr. K in this thread and a lot of friendly, supportive people. I was banded just last week and I had a great experience with him and his staff. Welcome and best of luck!

LilMissBandAid, I hear you about the restroom trips. This morning I had an "attack" just as I was getting into my office and I feared that I wasn't going to make it in time. And this was not long before I had to sit with a committee to interview a job candidate. Not pleasant. And there are plenty of trips for #1 too, although at least it's not as painful as it was the first few days after surgery and it doesn't require assistance anymore. My husband and I had this exchange several times in the middle of the night: "Honey, wake up." "Wha? Whasswrong?" "I'm sorry, but I have to pee." "Arghfgfgh. Again?" "Yep. I know. I'm sorry." "Argh." Saturday night I had really unpleasant gas pains. I did laps around my kitchen and living room rubbing my belly. And I popped Gas X strips. Eventually I found relief. :thumbup:

I would love to meet all of you and will definitely let you know when it gets closer to my fill date. Today is my first day back at work. I feel a little "off" -- kind of spacey if that makes any sense. I'm not on the Lortab anymore so it's not that, I'm probably just tired. But again my job is at a desk with plenty of opportunities to get up and walk. I think I'm doing well. One of my co-workers who didn't know that I had surgery asked if I hurt my leg or foot. For some reason my right leg is stiff today so I'm gimpy. I think I slept on it wrong or something, actually. I thought I was going to have an accident this morning & not make it to the bathroom in time. Right as I got into work, too, and just a few minutes before I had to interview as part of a committee. Ugh. Not fun. But I survived. Tied, I'm sleeping pretty well, although sipping water or Crystal Light all of the time means having to get up in the night to pee.

Woofay, bahotmomma is correct -- I didn't meet Dr. K's assistant, just his student, which is Doug. :laugh: Linzchavez, if it's Doug you're dreaming about, I'm pretty sure he mentioned his wife when he talked about moving from GA to CO. Sorry! Not that you can't still dream... I do plan to come out for at least my first few fills, we'll see. I would love to meet up at RR if possible. My first fill is scheduled for March 18. Thanks to everyone for your well-wishes and I hope all are doing well.

Yep, I am back in Georgia. The flight was fine in and of itself but I got a little nauseous; luckily I had the anti-nausea tablets that dissolved under my tongue, so I was fine.