sistasassy

Hang in there. It will get better. I was banded on Nov. 10 and have not really had any major troubles but I can tell you that the gas pains are not my friend. I have been up walking but the thing that worked for me for my shoulder was a heating pad. I slept all night with that heating pad on my shoulder two different nights this week. It will get better. My prayers will be with you.

I have also been having jello, frozen fruit juice popcicles, beef broth, chicken broth, vegetable broth. I have also been having a bit of cream style soups (since there is such variety) but I water it WAY down to a broth type consistancy. Vegetable juice is good as well. You could make a Virgin Bloody Mary. You could also take pudding and add more milk and thin it down as well. You can get a variety of flavors that way as well. I am six days post-op and have been watering the heck out of everything. Today I made SF cheesecake pudding. I added extra milk and a little cherry juice to it. Was very thin but taked just like cherry cheesecake.

I didn't even have to take my shoes off. My doc just had me lift my shirt enough for him to see my tummy. He kind of pressed on it a bit and that was it. Sweet and simple.

Hang in there, Randy, pre-op jitters and doubts are normal. I had them. I think most of us did or do have them from time to time. You have very good reasons to have this surgery and I believe you will succeed. You are very close to the banding finish line now. From there you will start on the journey to the healthier you. I am six day post-op now. I am only a baby bandster myself. I can offer a few words of advice though. 1. Don't get too nervous. It is easy and you are banded before you realize it. 2. When you are banded, get up and walk walk walk, even if it is only ten minutes or so at a time as soon as you can. It takes those back and shoulder pains away. 3. Listen to YOUR doctor. He is in charge of your care and he can only give you his best treatment if you are an awesome listener. You are going to do great! Let us know when you are banded and back home!

My doc said not to open the ones in capsule form. They may be time released. I would buy a pill splitter and split the big ones. They may not go through quite as fast as smaller ones.

Every doctor is different so be sure to listen to yours. Mine never stopped my medication (even in pill form). I did switch to chewable Calcium and Vitamins but that was just my preference because the swallow kind were giving me a bit of indigestion.

I am in the final countdown. I am to be at the hospital at 6:30 and my surgery is scheduled for 7:30. I am first one up. They originally said I would automatically stay overnight but now say I will most likely come home as long as I can swallow. How nice that will be to be able to sleep in my own bed! I also did not want to leave my kids alone all night. They are all teens and my oldest is 17 and more than capable of being in charge all night but I just like to be there when they go to sleep and when they wake up. I am excited :willy_nilly:and nervous :willy_nilly:and jittery :willy_nilly:and fidgety :willy_nilly:and everything else you can think of! Pray for me!:eek:

Since you have a surgeon already, you will need to go through their process. There are very few doctors in Illinois who take Medicaid so it does take some time to get everything rolling. Talk with your surgeon. Perhaps they can fit you in before then. See if they can call you if they have a cancellation perhaps.

I am four days post op and my doc had me on clear liquids for the first 24 hours and then on liquids for the next two weeks. I have had broth, jello, thin tomato soup, grape juice, decaf tea, cherry shaved ice, and thinned chocolate pudding with a scoop of protein powder in it. I can't seem to eat much at any one time but have tried to be sure to push the fluids. Hang in there fellow bandsters from this week. We will make it! :Dancing_sorry:

Surgery date: November 11, 2008 Highest Weight: 243.5 Preop diet starting weight: 243.5 Surgery weight 233.5 Current weight: 230.5 Goal weight: 150

I have TWO Magic Bullets and LOVE them. We use them for everything. Definately worth the money you would spend on one.

Hi Denee. Where did you husband have his surgery? I had surgery on Tuesday as well. Mine was in Decatur, Il.

I will just be starting my mushie stage so I will be eating anything that can be pureed! :thumbdown:

I was banded on November 11. My pain level has been pretty tolerable. I am not taking any pain meds now at all. I am on full liquids (anything that will go through a straw - sans the straw). The first two days were very easy to drink just about anything. I have felt quite a bit of restriction today and have to burp with just about every sip of anything, no matter how small the sip. My back pain is completely gone. I had a tiny bit of shoulder pain this morning but none since. I believe this is due to the large amount of walking I did on the day of my surgery. I walked every time I had a chance for about 10 minutes. Anyway, I am on liquids for two weeks, then to mushies for the next four weeks. At that point, I get my first fill and can then begin to start on soft foods and progress to solids.

My doc says Advil and Motrin are fine. That is even what I was given in the hospital while I was there. HOWEVER, I would follow the advice you YOUR doctor. Afterall, he is the one you will have to answer to.

Hang in there Anne. I think we have entered into the "Bandster Hell" stage. It will get better over time but for now we will have to learn to control that head hunger. From what I have read, learning to overcome this stage will help to make us successful later. This is when we are learning not only to change our eating patterns but our thinking patterns. You are strong and you can do this. I know you can. My prayers will be with you. I was only banded two days ago so I am right behind you. Think of me as the one behind helping to push you up that hill. :thumbdown:

Surgery date: November 11, 2008 Highest Weight: 243.5 Preop diet starting weight: 243.5 Surgery weight 233.5 Current weight: 232.5 Goal weight: 150

Sounds a bit unreasonable to me if you have no restriction. If you were well restricted and further down the road, I would think it would be ok. BUT, everyone is going to vary in their pace of weight loss.

Definately sounds like an ad to me.

Oh my gosh! That sounds good!

Surgery date: November 11, 2008 Highest Weight: 243.5 Preop diet starting weight: 243.5 Surgery weight (Your weight the day of surgery) Current weight: 235 Goal weight: 150

Oh my gosh! I have never laughed so hard while feeling so bad for anyone in my whole life. You have a total gift for words. When you finally "got the deed done" I almost cheered! I am so glad that you made it and that you have such wonderful support. That is what will help us to succeed. Pray for me. My turn is Tuesday (Nov. 11) morning bright and early. I am hoping my nether regions stay out of the picture! Congrats on being a bandster!

My diet has been mostly liquid with a bit of yogurt, cottage cheese, and fruit. I did have a bit of Italian Beef yesterday and today with no bun though. I have lost 8.5 lbs since Tuesday (that's five days). My surgery is Tuesday morning (Nov. 11).

I heard there is a low carb recipe to mske your own crackers. I bet they would be good with cottage cheese.