Jodi_620

My guess is that it is a combination of the southern summer heat and the bandages. When did your doc say it is OK for you to remove the bandages? Not sure if you were stitched or glued but I was glued and was told to remove my bandages within a week and just leave the steri-strips in place until they fall off.

Hang in there Stephanie, you are so close now--JUST TWO DAYS!!!. I remember too well how difficult the pre-op diet was and I truly sympathize with you (((HUGS))). Sugar Free popsicles were a lifesaver for me, it was the closest I could get to actually chewing something without cheating. What are you eating (drinking)? What kind of diet are you on (low carb, low cal etc.) Maybe we can recommend something new that you will be able to tolerate. I promise it will get easier and in the end you will be so proud of yourself... it will all have been worth it in the end. Just be sure to take your vitamins and take it easy for these last two days.

I had the lightheadedness too and like chaneljack5, I was dehydrated. For the first three weeks or so, it was hard for me to drink the required amount of water but when I was finally able to get it down the problem went away.

Since carbs are the enemy for me, fat free stuff is a poor choice. They tend to replace the lost flavor in these fat free products with corn syrup or sugar. I do buy some lowfat items due to the fact that my husband, although thin, has high cholesterol. It can be pricey to try to accomodate both diet types, but in general I don't obsess over fat grams in my diet. But dieting is not one size fits all, you need to look at your eating behavior and any health issues that you might have and figure out what is best for you. (cholesterol/heart problems watch fat, diabetes blood sugar problems watch carbs, all of the above find a healthy balance...)

Just wanted to add that although you will still be able to tolerate spicy foods, if your doctors rules are the same as mine you aren't supposed to drink during meals and will have to wait 30-60 minutes to have a drink...I didn't think that through when I had some spicy Kung Pao chicken. :cursing:

I am sorry you took my post so badly. My statement "I think most doctors tell you to quit smoking" was in response to her question "Does the surgeon recommend you quit smoking?" I didn't say nor did I mean to say "All doctors tell you to quit, but you shouldn't listen. " I know smoking is bad for you, surgery or not and I am sure that as a smoker, dolly_lala understands this too. I was not trying to downplay the affects of smoking, only telling my story. I KNOW that some surgeons will not do surgery if you don't quit and I said so in my post. I don't know about bleeding to death due to smoking, I was not told about this but with the anesthesia it can cause decreased carbon dioxide and breathing problems during surgery as well as increased infections and pulmonary complications after.

My surgeon tells me not to eat until I am full but rather until I am satisfied. As soon as I am satisfied I should stop eating and wait until I feel hungry again to eat. I have had a few occasions where I had that bloated, too full feeling but for the most part, I try to eat just enough where I am no longer hungry yet stay satiated for at least three or four hours. I measure my food so that I know what that amount is. On soft foods, I was eating 1/2 cup at a time when I went from soft foods to solids I started at 1/2 cup and slowly moved up and am currently at about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of food. I will have my first fill on Thursday which will hopfully help me reduce that a bit. I try to eat the Protein first, then then the veggies followed by the carbs if needed. I try to eat more dense foods that fill me up and keep me full longer--fibrous meats and veggies satisfy me more as opposed to soft easy to swallow foods that pass through my pouch quickly and leave me hungry much sooner. I only get stuck from eating wrong or eating the wrong things, not from eating too much.

I think most doctors tell you to quit smoking, as a former smoker I don't recall ever seeing a doctor that didn't tell me that I needed to quit. My surgeon did not threaten to withhold surgery until I quit but I have read here that some surgeons do. I smoked right up until the night before surgery. I didn't have any complications with anesthesia. I also had hiatal hernia repair and due to the side affects of that, I was unable to smoke for three or four days after surgery, with the side affects of hernia surgery and the vicodin, I didn't even want a cigarette and didn't even realize until day three that I hadn't had one cigarette. I realized that I was lucky enough to make it through the chemical addiction without even suffering nicotene withdrawal and told myself that I would be a fool to go back, It has been 45 days and I am almost to the point where I don't even give cigarettes a thought.

I take a multi and calcium with vitamin D (Caltrate plus D). I am to have 60-70G of protein a day eating three meals with protein, then supplementing protein in between meals (protein supplements like shakes and bullets are not to be used to replace a meal.)

My doctor recommended a childs sippy cup...I didn't need it so I am not sure how well it works.

lunch is hard for me now too because I don't eat bread and bread is just so darn convenient...I am trying to stay very low carb so I haven't even tried to see if I can tolerate it yet. My favorite lunch is salad with meat and a little cheese or boiled egg. Salads are healthy, filling and versatile...you can switch up with different meats, veggies and dressings so you won't get bored. I also like those Starkist Tuna Creations, I keep them at my desk for a convenient Protein meal.

GDC DID mention health issues, she said she has PCOS and would like to get it under control. That is a real health problem and it is not just related to infertility. And I think that most of us would be lying if we said that the decision to get the lap band had nothing to do with looks. And many of us with PCOS get a double whammy when it comes to appearance. Not only do we get the fat but most get the excess hair (body, facial) and/or acne and/or thinning hair and/or skin tags...losing weight can help in those areas too.

You have absolutely no reason to be embarassed. My surgeon told me that I probably would gain back a few pounds between the liquid post-op stage and my first few fills, he said most of his patients do. I had some restriction for a couple weeks after the diet but I have lost that restriction a few days ago and with two weeks to go before my first fill, I will probably gain back a few pounds myself. You ARE NOT a failure you have done fantastic so far and the only way you will succeed is to go in and get your fill.

Wow, that's great Julie! I had my surgery 32 days ago. I lost 13 pounds pre-op, 9 pounds post-op and the scale has not moved since I went on solids (I am happy just to not gain in this stage!). I get my first fill on July 17th...

Julie, I truly do wish you luck, I know how hard it is. I still can't believe that I have made it this far...I've never made it past 1 or 2 days prior to this. My trigger points were after meals and in the evening when all of my work was done. It got easier every day and I rarely even give it a thought now...except when something really stressful happens or when I see/smell it but even that is getting so much easier. I am so very proud of myself and that keeps me going...you will be too. I've slowly noticed the benefits of quitting--my lungs are already amazingly clearer which makes the air seem so much more refreshing, I got rid of the phlegmy feeling in my throat, my hair smells better, I sleep better, I don't have to plan everything around getting cigarettes and smoking them and I am saving money. Good Luck...and if you need support, I'm here for you, just PM me.

Yes, like every other doctor a smoker sees, my surgeon told me that I need to quit but he never threatened to withhold the surgery. I smoked right up until 9:00 PM the night before surgery, the rules are no eating drinking or smoking after midnight and I adhered to them. I had no anethesia problems. I also had hernia repair which caused extra pain and breathing issues...And no, the breathing problems I am talking about were not from smoking--my lungs felt fine but I just didn't have the strength in my diaphragm to pull in very much air it was confirmed that this was due to the hiatal hernia repair. This problem lasted about four days and honestly I didn't even think about a cigarette for the first three days post-op(which is was truly amazing for me), between recovering from lap band surgery and handling the hiatal hernia repair issues...I just suddenly realized on day 3 that I hadn't had a cigarette since before surgery. On day 5 I could have physically smoked and certainly considered it but I realized that if you can quit for 3 days (something I have NEVER been able to do before) then you have kicked the chemical addiction and just have the habit part to kick. I decided that I had never made it this far and I would be a fool to back step at that point. I am happy to say that after 20 years of smoking between 1/2 to 1 pack a day, I have been nicotene free for one month and three Days!

For four weeks post-op (during liquids and mushies stages), my doctor's rule was the same as Wishin4's-10/60. Now that I am on solids it is 10 before and 30 after.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :thumbup: AND CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Sorry but no, you are not understanding what I am saying. I am not talking about intestinal gas, I am talking about actual air that was pumped into your abdominal cavity during surgery. This air is not in your organs (stomach, intestines) it is in your abdominal cavity. After surgery the air migrates up to your left shoulder and causes shoulder pain. Yes, we do get intestinal gas after surgery but we also get shoulder pain from the air that was pumped in to our abdominal cavity, two different types of gas.

I went to the seminar first then went to my consult which was $370 out of pocket. I didn't even discuss surgery with my PCP prior to going forward (although I did mention it to my Endocrinologist who was all for it). While I was in consult with the surgeon the coordinator was calling the insurance company and getting specifics on coverage, she handled the whole approval process. The only involvement my PCP had was doing bloodwork, EKG and submitting a Surgical Release Letter to the surgeon all of this was done after I had already been approved through insurance. If I remember correctly the $370 consult fee covered the insurance approval process among other things.

I am surprised that everyone is not told about this by their surgeon, you are the second person to bring it up today. I know I was warned repeatedly prior to surgery. When you get laproscopic surgery, they fill your abdominal cavity with gas/air, this opens up the cavity and separates the organs to make surgery possible. Often some of that air is left behind and for some reason always settles as pain in the left shoulder. Eventually your body will absorb the excess air and the pain will go away.

Leslie, Here is another cute one, thought you might enjoy it :thumbup::

That is true aivey. My sister has PCOS too and she is not overweight. Weight is not a cause, it is a symptom of which not everyone has.

You have shoulder pain after surgery because the surgeon fills your abdominal cavity with air to make surgery easier, it opens your abdominal area and makes makes room to access your organs. Often some of that air stays in after the surgery. The result is pain in your left shoulder. Eventually your body should absorb all of this air but the timing is different for everyone.

WooHoo!:smile2: