nfl1

My nutritionist doesn't really distinguish between the water and liquids overall...as long as I get enough liquid (decaff.) then I'm ok.

I had pain right there too, I was banded on 1/20, and the heating pad on my back with an ice bag on the site of the pain helped me. I found I was swallowing air with my sips, esp. if I didn't use a spoon (ie for soup), so have tried hard now to be smaller and smaller. I walked a lot to get rid of gas, and felt like a gorilla pounding my chest a lot to try to dislodge the gas, it worked most of the time and I've been able to burp a lot now. The time the pain was worst was when I'd had too much to drink at once (they said 2T gradually working to 3/4 c per hour over the first few days) so maybe you're having too much and do have more swelling than others? I've slept with the heating pad behind me, and stayed in the recliner until last night, when I was finally able to try to lay on my side bumpered with pillows. Not sure if you are changing positions? Good luck!

Having my LAP back! So, when children come around I can hold them comfortably, and might be able to put my laptop on my LAP, fitting into a standard seat (I work at a university and many meetings are in classrooms) and being able to use the desktop attached to my seat not the one next to me. Also, seeing my feet as well as being able to rub them myself.

I'm so happy but wary to hear this, as I've been burping so much and so loudly (never did before) and am wondering how I'll handle this when I go back to work on Tuesday! I'll have to keep my door closed all day, but it mostly comes when I'm walking around!

I was banded on 1/20 and it took me 3 days to have even a slight bm, lucky it was very soft as my muscles were sore and I wouldn't be able to push (reason I think I also burped rather than farted for the whole week). I also had very loud gurgling and rumbling for the first 3-4 days, though I also had some pain and had to decide whether it was just pain or severe hunger? Once I could do regular liquids not just clear liquids, after a day the pain went away, so I think it was hunger. Now I'm not really hungry anymore, but after 2 days of very little liquid I suppose it made sense.

I will be trying a few different chewables, I tried the Centrum chewable and it didn't taste like chalk, the orange flavor was ok, but the texture wasn't smooth it seemed more "sandy" whereas I like the Gas X cherry chewable's smooth texture and hope to find a vitamin like it.

If you want to feel that you are eating more "normal" food, then try strained creamed soups. These are liquids, but I had creamed tomato Soup yesterday and it tasted really good. I had a little too much this noon and I felt really full for hours. I also have broth from a regular venison stew, which tastes more rich than juice or milk, but is still liquid (strained so the garlic, carrots and other solids are saved to be pureed for the next step). Maybe this will help?

NVR2late, I commend you from walking at WalMart, I can't imagine walking outside the hospital and home because I have made the loudest burps I would think the whole store would wonder where my manners were The heating pad behind my shoulder blades at night has helped me sleep, and feels good in the cold north!

I too am a Jan 20th bander, and started the around the ICU walks that night - it really helped though I thought I'd wake up all the other patients with my burps. Last night I finally was able to pass a fart too - it was fabulous (I feel like an old lady). I wake up every 2 hours, and walk around the hall and kitchen at home, and have been taking the chewable Gas-X pills (the flavors of the strips I didn't like), and I stopped with the pain med, and started liquid Tylenol, which seems to help more than the pain med. Good luck!

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in December as part of my pre-op testing...surgery was 1/20 (Tues). I had to bring the cpap with me, and stay in the ICU because it was the only place they have monitored beds. I took the CPAP off about 4 am because the gas was really bad, and the CPAP seemed to just push it down and keep it in - I was not able to burp, and once I took it off, and walked around the ICU I started to burp again and felt much better. So, I slept propped up in the chair the rest of the night.

I agree with all on the list - the lip balm was a MUST in the hospital overnight. I did put ice on my sutures and heating pad on my back/shoulders, it really felt good. The heat also helped me to sleep.

Hi Andylou, I decided to tell folks at work and my family, and some of the friends that I see more regularly. The work folks have all been very supportive. Most of my family, except one sister who wanted to know why I couldn't just "do it naturally." Most who I've told have thought it was wonderful, I'm at BMI 52 or so, and it's no secret I needed to do something, I think they were glad that I'd made such a big decision.

I had the surgery on Tuesday 1/20, and yesterday my stomach was growling so loud...and hurt, but I couldn't tell if it was just the gas or hunger. Last night I think it was hunger, and I could only have sips of liquids. Today I can finally have a protein drink which feels more filling, but I'm still growling and it's not just the gas. I thought I wouldn't be hungry for at least a week, but I already feel it - and I wasn't at all hungry on the 2 week pre-op diet (I had a lot of stew broth, along with the V8 and protein drinks and jello. They told me I can't have jello now though - won't it get stuck?

I had the same issue at first with Slimfast, but found that if I diluted it with a 1/4 c skim milk, and added a T or 2 of non-fat skim milk powder it was thinner and creamier. I drank mostly chocolate, but at first I didn't think I would make it. I also did a combo of Atkins dark chocolate and strawberry with the Slim Fast low carb chocolate. I had surgery yesterday and just got home. I am very noisy burping, and very sore, mostly I think from the gas and hunger - stomach is rumbling eventhough I am doing as much sipping of Clear Liquids that I can. It's still hard to take a deep breath though too.

Yes, Jimmielou, I was mostly drinking Slim Fast low carb, diluted by 1/4 c skim milk (I didn't like it so thick). I also had soup/stew (without the meat and potatos, I could have the non-starchy veggies like carrots and onions). I also drank a can of V8 each day to fill me up as a snack. I lost 18 pounds on 2 weeks pre-op (had surgery yesterday and just got home). Doing well, but sore and trying to burp away all the gas.

I didn't mind the Atkins Advantage strawberry. I didn't like the shakes before I added 1/4 cup skim milk to dilute it and add the non-fat skim milk powder too, now I can tolerate them.

I'm glad you posted this, I have been very irregular for years, maybe getting it 1-2 times a year...and wondering how the WLS will affect this - is there a certain weight or BMI that I might start getting it again? (It's been kind of nice not to) Anyone else out there in this situation? I'm being banded on 1/20/09, and last period was 11/08, I hope it won't start till I'm all healed.

I'm on day 11 of 14 and lost at least 15 (that was on Tuesday, I haven't weighed myself since, I don't own a scale). I'm guessing it'll be about 20 by Tuesday's surgery.

Good luck tomorrow everyone! My date is next Tuesday, so I'm hoping that you might share (tips from hind-sight) what you brought to the hospital that you weren't told in advance that you'd need - or what you wish you'd brought that would have made it better? Thanks - I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

Congratulations Tweety, how exciting for you both to share this part of your lives. My partner could benefit, but won't think about it, and at the same time is afraid of being "left behind" as I get healthy. I can only worry about my own health right now, but keep encouraging. She's been very helpful though as I've been on the first week of the liquid diet...

My pre-op allows for non-starchy veggies, so I've been living on soups made with onion, celery, carrot and peppers, with a variety of spices. They also told me that later when I need to be all liquid, I could make the soups with the veggies as long as after I blended them I strained the broth (the broth then got more nutrients from the veggies) so I didn't get any solids.

I agree the first 3 days were the worst, I wanted bread and peanut butter in the worst way. My partner has been great to fix any food that will make smells when I'm at work. I was able to make some of my own broth too, and can do some with curry like flavors and another with more lime, garlic tomato flavors. It's helped to have variety so while I'm getting the shakes down now, I can try different flavors throughout the day. I've frozen some of each broth for post-surgery.

Thanks Adamsmom, yes, I didn't find the liquid Claritin at WalMart or the super grocery stores with pharmacies, I'll try the drug store tomorrow. I have a CPap (so don't want to get congested), and allergies, so need to do this as well as the liq tylenol, etc. Thanks for the info re-Gas X, I'll look for the strips too.

It's not specified an amount in my pre-op diet, but that makes sense, I'll try to increase. Does that include the shakes, or only the non-shake liquid?

My doc only has nothing the day of surgery, and the same pre-op diet the day before, but my nutritionist suggested stopping solids a day or 2 before, though not stop the protein shakes, just the veggies.