kristenmh

i disagree with all of the above -- you are healing. this is not the time to try to lose weight, but to make sure you're getting all the nutrition you need to heal properly. you have all the time in the world to lose weight -- an extra glass a milk a day while recovering is not going to make a major impact.

here are my actual expenses (in NYC): psych consult: $275 nutritionist consult: $325 hospital co-pay: $250 PCP co-pay: $80 (spread across two visits) i didn't have any co-pays or OOP for my esophagrams, surgical consults, pre-op testing (ekg, bloodwork, chest xray).

hey everyone, today (day 2) was a lil rough -- i slept ALOT and walked alot and finally started feeling human again a few hours ago. i think the feeling better has everything to do with being able to use the bathroom again. interestingly, my appetite seems to have come back. i'm about to drink my second Protein shake of the day -- thats just huge. (yesterday i could barely get anything down at all.) i keep thinking the more protein I can keep down, the better i'll feel.

is there anything you all can suggest to help reduce the bloating? my stomach is sticking out like i'm pregnant -- it's super uncomfy, even after all the vicodin. (i'm not in any pain just...swollen. it's impossible to get any deeng amount of liquids down without making myself feel even more uncomfy. i've been walking and taking gasx as well. still: bloated. ack)

hello from the 13th floor of the NYU Medical Center. Free Wifi rocks. got banded this moring by dr. kurian. couldn't have gone smoother -- i was in @ 6:30 am, in surgery by 8:30 and awake in recovery by 10:30. only hiccup was the discovery that i had a hiatal hernia -- now fixed. the staff here has been just incredible. everyone is so sweet and attentive and smart. im really greatful for hte overnight stay -- the pain is not too bad, but its nice to be cared for my pros. anyway: i'll post more tomorrow!

is anyone else finding themselves sleepy all the time while on the pre-op diet? i'm eating about 800 calories a day (minimum of 60 grams of protein). super low fat (like less than 10 grams a day). i find myself pretty high-energy during the day but i've been coming home from work and falling asleep as soon as I walk in the door. (granted, my average day at the office goes from 8am to 7pm). all i want to do is sleep. and then sleep some more.

almost as soon as i had my surgery date, i started referring to my band-to be as edgar. no idea why (other than, like lanakila, i name everything)

try not to be so upset with yourself. slips will happen and we will make poor choices from time to time. tomorrow is a new day and overeating/making the occasional poor choice isn't the end of the world. everyone (even skinny folks) do it from time to time. i think the most important thing is how you respond to the slip up -- remember to treat yourself with love and compassion and then working to understand what triggered the slip. if you can identify the trigger (boredom, trying to numb yourself to negative emotions, feeling deprived, resentful, fearful, etc) it maybe easier to avoid in the future.

zillyanne: you could be posting for me -- i've repeated that perfection cycle multiple times in my life. my advice is simple -- find a therapist who works with folks with disordered relationships to food. my amazing therapist has been an incredible help in this area -- helping to talk me through my fears, learning to trust myself (and my body) and helping me break the cycle of deprivation.

i have so many questions for those folks who have been though this. what'sthe PACU like? Are you laying down or siting up in there? Can i have my regular clothes in there? what did it feel like as you werecoming out of anasthesia? when do you get the heparim shot and IV? Is it before you go into the OR? how long before you get a room? how long till you can start sipping liquids?

see, now i want all of the odd roomie story!! part of me is tempted to request a private room. they said its $350/night. hmm.

dr. kurian is my surgeon -- i'll be banded by her on august 14th. i can't say enough about how great she is -- totally down to earth, patient, sweet...not to mention a fantastic surgeon. i went to the seminar on june 12th -- the entire process has taken two months. the nice thing about dr. kurian -- she insists on doing your physical herself -- so you'll meet with her and the NP and the surgical coordinator all on the same day. ren & fielding split those appointments into two.

i've really been digging the vanilla unjury. made this shake last night and it was awesome. brownie Protein Shake 1 scoop vanilla unjury 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (giarardelli) 1 c. skim milk 4 ice cubes

My husband (who is a total beanpole) has been doing the all liquid diet with me in solidarity. He just made the most delicious shake for me --it tastes like brownies and was crazy simple. Ghiardelli Brownie Shake 1 c. Skim Milk 1 scoop unjury vanilla Protein powder 1 tbsp Ghiarardelli Unsweetened Cocoa 4 ice cube Total Calories: 205 Fat: 2 grams Carbs: 20 grams Protein: 29 grams

lots of love your way. you'll do great!!

Yay for all us August 14th people. I just got approval from my insurance this afternoon -- holy cow, this thing is really going to happen!

Thank you so much for posting that -- I've been so curious about the day-off routine. Would you mind answering a few questions for me? - Was your family able to stay with you until you were brought into the OR? - How long was it between the time you arrived before you were in the OR? - Were you able to wear underwear into surgery? - Did you share a room? - Did they offer you anything to help you sleep? (i.e. Ambien, etc) - What time were you discharged on Tuesday?

Nilsa is the surgical coordinator -- she and Asia(?) are the folks responsible for scheduling hte surgery. Did they give you the whole packet of pre-admission info (where to go, etc) when you were there? If not, you can find a copy of it here: http://pfrc.med.nyu.edu/handouts/pdf/all/pfrc05-000030.pdf you're supposed to call the hospital after 6pm the night before your surgery to find out when you need to arrive. you report to the same day admitting area one your surgery day -- they'll take it all from there. so far, so good on the liquid diet. i'm a few days in (i started early) and it's been ok. not fabulous, but i'm trying to make it through one day at a time.

hi everyone, i'm kristen. i'm 34 and live in new york city. i'm an interactive producer -- basically, i oversee the creation of web sites. that said, i wanna be a photographer when i grow up -- i'm in the process of trying to switch careers. i'm married to a musician -- we've been together for 13 years, married for close to seven. we have a houseful of critters -- two dogs (boston terriers) and two kitties. i'm also an auntie to the worlds cutest baby, olivia. she turns one next month. i love animals, traveling, movies, books and art. also, an am unrepentant tv freak.

i've taken a first class trip to crazyland. spent the last day obsessively reading "failure" posts -- folks posting about how they've not lost weight, no matter what they do. i'm still planning on going through with the surgery but, jeez, could i make myself even nutier with the self doubt and second guessing?

Hope: You're getting banded two days after me by Dr. Kurian. I am with you 100% on the nutritionist -- she seemed annoyed to see me at all. I've been trying to get in touch with Nilsa for 3+ days now -- she's not returning my calls or emails. So frustrating.

because i am nuts, i started my 2 week pre-op diet today. (3 days early). two more hours until bed and i'll have successfully made it through day one. woo! 16 more days, two weddings and one birthday party to go. in case anyone's interested i had the following today: breakfast chocolate banana shake (skim milk, banana, mocha powder, vanilla unjury) 2 grape flintstones vitamins (dino shaped!) lunch starbuck mango orange banana vivanno with matcha green tea powder snack 1 glass skim milk, about 2oz of the naked brain protein drink (totally gross/chalky) 1 glass Emergen C pink lemonade (25 calories, sugar free, provides 1000mg of vitamin C) dinner 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1.5 cups broccoli, sauteed with .5 tsp olive oil, garlic, crushed red pepper (i also added in 1/4 cup of chicken broth to give it a lil bit of a buttery flavor) 1 glass Emergen C pink lemonade (25 calories, sugar free, provides 1000mg of vitamin C) totals for the day... calories: 971 carbs: 164 fat: 6 grams protein: 75 grams

i don't think your information is exactly correct, but yes, there is a restriction on what we can eat when banded. here's the info my nutritionist gave me: i am on a pure liquid diet for 2 weeks before and after my surgery. weeks 2-4 post-op consist of a "mushy" diet -- soft foods like refried Beans, egg salad, flakey fish, etc. the pre-op diet is designed to srhink the size of your liver (which needs to b e lifted to place te band.) the liquid diet ensures a safer surgery pre-op and helps with healing post-op. caffeine dehydrates you -- that's why the docs suggest we refrain. after that i am on to regular foods. it has been strongly suggested that i refrain from eating the following: -- carbonated beverages (they can stretch the pouch) -- alcohol (empty calories) -- empty carbs (i.e. doughy breads, cakes, Cookies, etc) -- fruit juices (again, v. calorie dense and non-filling) -- ice cream, chocolate & milkshakes (calorie dense and non-filling) it's also been suggested that i may have difficulty eating the following: - red meat - dry white meat (i.e. chicken breast, pork) - fibrous veggies (asparagus stalks, corn) also, for 2 days after a fill, my surgeon's office recommends a liquid diet followed by a day of mushies in order to let our stomachs heal from the tightening. you can eat almost anything after surgery -- however, many of those are poor choices that will affect your ability to lose weight. in order to be successful, you have to be willing to sacrifice some of the foods you once loved. the band just makes it easier to eat less of good, nutritious food. consuming calorie dense food will just make it harder to lose weight.

adding ice and drinking the shake super cold helps. s does drinking through a straw. (for some reason, the smell of the Protein drink get to me more than the taste.) i'm liking the plain unjury powder -- no taste at all.

congrats! we're band twins -- my surgery is on the 14th as well. i'll be thinking of you and sending good thoughts your way from NYC.