clayverde

Well, I am 8 days post op and I am a bundle of mixed feelings. I am still somewhat sore, but not bad. Getting up and down are the worst part. Or yawning and sneezing. But sometimes I have been having a terrible sharp pain, like a stitch, in my side and my shoulder. It hurts so bad. Then I have to use the Vicodin. But it is happening less and less, which is really good. I am having a very hard time telling what the heck is going on in my stomach. Is it gas? Am I hungry? Am I full? What the hell? Right now, I can drink fluids pretty much as much as I want and not feel full. It seems like it is just sliding right through. Which is all right - I'm not really hungry. I eat more on a schedule because I know it is time to eat more or have more fluids or whatever. But when I DO eat or drink, I have no idea what full is yet. Which worries me a little. I have moved on to full liquids which is wonderful. I am so happy. I love Cream of Mushroom soup anyway, so this is really good. I was going to scream if I had to eat one more bowl of broth. But I have realized that soup, even the thicker cream of mushroom soup, is really just another liquid, which means I can eat the entire can of soup in one sitting and not feel full or anything. I don't know.... I am hoping that as I eat more solid things, and as I heal more, it will all become obvious. TMI for many people - but something that might be important for many .... I think I am getting a yeast infection. It is the beginning stages and it may resolve itself which is what I am hoping for. I think it is a result of the antibiotics that I got in the hospital. Just one more bag of fun to add to the bag. I am having issues of being tired but not really, but wanting to nap but not really. I am really tired right now. It seems to come and go in waves. And sometimes by the time I am able to finish up what I am doing and actually take one, I am not tired anymore. Then later I have a wave of tired again and I wish I had taken a nap earlier! But I am also restless, so even when I am tired and want to take a nap, I often can't quite settle enough to really sleep and all. I don't know what my problem is! I'm sure it is a matter of calories (eating so little means little calories means less energy) and just recovering from the surgery. I am feeling pretty good and I think I am often suffering from completely unrealistic expectations of how I should be feeling and what I should be able to do by now. I can't wait until I am further out and eating more normally, feeling more normally and able to do the things that I normally do. I especially hate the lack of cuddle time! I cuddle with my two kids and husband all the time. Hugs, snuggles, couch cuddle time, everything - I am one who lets the kids climb all over me and love every minute of it. So this is hard right now and I feel a little isolated at times. I let Molly lie on top of my side against the couch, so she wasn't on the incisions or anything and she almost fell asleep there and it was nirvana. :frown: SIGH.....

Wow - every time I begin to whine about my life and how hard it is, I read about someone who is going through REAL difficulties and realize that I have nothing to whine about - so instead of whining, I'll be sending you good thoughts. I am so sorry that you are going through such a difficult time right now. When you are feeling weak, please know that there are tons of us on this board wishing you good thoughts and strength and love.

Hi - I was just banded on Monday the 21st as well! Congratulations!! As to your post, I am so with you!! I weighed myself yesterday and I was so upset - I had gained 10lbs!! How is that even possible??? I weighed myself the night before surgery and had lost a total of 18lbs on the pre-op diet. Then yesterday I'm 10 lbs heavier!! Not only that, I am not on shakes or anything. I am on strictly clear liquids. So I really can't see how it is possible for me to have gained weight. My husband told me that it is very possible with swelling and all that is what the difference is and that right now I shouldn't worry about weight loss anyway. Which IS what the nurses and doctors told me. They have stated over and over that the first six weeks are all about healing and adjusting to the band. That is why, on my diet at least, the first six weeks are a gradual diet transition. From clear liquids, to full liquids, pureed, mashed, soft and then normal diet. So I wouldn't really worry about the weight issue yet. And as for the gas pains, I recently started a whole new thread called painful gas because the gas pains and bloating are so bad and I was concerned that it wasn't normal AND I wanted to know if I could do something to get rid of it. Which, by the way, nothing has. I have walked, Gas X, different positions to move it around and as of yet, nothing has been completely successful - although some have given me a little relief. Good luck with everything!!! :biggrin:

Hey - thanks for all the info. But I can't tell you what a relief it was so see other new banders having the same problems. You can't help but worry a little that maybe something is wrong, or maybe it's not working or whatever!! I'm a worrier. And I was so glad to hear that other people are having the whole "hungry" "full" "pain" issue too. I am just not hungry. I don't feel full, like when you eat enough, but I also am not hungry either. So I don't know how much I should be eating or not! And with the gas pain, it makes the whole thing even more confusing. I honestly feel like there is just lots of stuff going on in the belly area. Trying to sort out what is surgery pain, what is wound pain, what is gas pain, what is tight and distended, what is hungry and what is full - that is just beyond me right now. If anyone can help out with that, I'd appreciate it! Anyway, THANK YOU!!! :biggrin2:

Thanks for the tips, guys! Areellady, I wasn't able to get in that position - it put a lot of pressure on my wound sites and hurt! So my husband suggested I try the reverse of it. So I got on my back and pushed my hips up. Then I would bring one knee into my tummy at a time. While it did help move it around and "break it up", I still couldn't get rid of it. I then went on a walk around the block and while I was up and walking it felt fine - much better actually. But the minute I came in and sat down, I felt the gas pressure again. I also tried Gas X, but as Lanakila said, it hasn't really helped. I'm sure that it will go away eventually, but this is so frustrating!!! Thank you guys for the hints - they did help a lot, even if they didn't completely solve the issue.!!!

Well, it has been awhile since I have posted anything, so let me sum up... The last few days of the liquid diet were hell. It was so hard. I wanted to cheat so bad. I finally had decided that I was going to cheat and eat a big lunch at McDonalds on Saturday. Then I'd have the rest of Sat to digest and Sunday was all clear liquids and Monday am was the surgery. Well I told my mom, who then told my dad, who then called me and raised hell. He used to be an EMT and all and proceeded to tell me all the dirty details of why it was important there was NO food in my stomach or intestines and what could happen and blah blah and made me promise him not to cheat. So I did promise and I did not cheat - but man, it was hard!!! So I muddled through and then it seemed like time sped up because next thing I knew it was Sunday night and my surgery was the next morning. I spent Sunday gardening and all, because I knew I wouldn't be able to do it for awhile after the surgery and wanted as done as possible. When I weighed myself that night, I had lost a total of 18 lbs!!! I barely slept at all Sunday night and eventually Monday morning 5:30am came around. I took a shower, got dressed in comfie clothes and we left for the hospital. Patrick and the kids dropped me off and I checked in. So I did the paperwork, got my bracelet and was directed to the surgical ward. There I got some blood drawn and then went to a little curtained area and stripped down. I put on the little hospital sockies with grips on the bottoms, a johnny with opening in the back, a "robe" opening in the front, and a blue hair net thing. Then I laid down on the gurney and waited. I talked to nurse after nurse after doctor as they asked questions (allergies? meds? family history? etc.) introduced themselves, explained what was going on, etc. I had someone come in and prick my finger for blood sugar, which was normal. Then the lady came in and put in the IV, which I was pretty stressed about. One nurse had come by earlier and wrapped my left hand (non-dominant hand) in a warm blanket and left it there for awhile, which was apparently to help with the IV. Then the IV tech came by and unwrapped the hand, then gave me a local shot of lidocaine, to help the IV placement hurt less. The lidocaine burned, BUT it was over pretty quickly and then the IV didn't hurt much at all, which made the whole experience MUCH better than normal - I HATE getting IVs done. Then I had to wait some more and I nodded off (did I already mention I hadn't slept at all the night before??) and then I got woken up to meet the anesthesiologist. The two guys who were doing that job looked like my younger brother!! And I am only 31, so that was weird - they were so young!! Anyway, they were very nice and described what would happen, etc. Next thing I know, it is time to go to surgery. The Hardy boys wheel me down to the OR room and I am definitely starting to feel panicked. The nurse in the OR introduces herself and she is named Molly, which is my daughter's name. They put the gurney right next to the surgery gurney and have me scootch over. The surgery gurney feels way to small and narrow. Then they unfold these arm tray things for my arms to rest on, so it now looks like I am doing the M part of YMCA, but lying down. Then they strap down my legs with a velcro strap and the same with my arms. While it didn't hurt at all and the straps were pretty loose, that is about when I began to panic more and I could tell my eyes were rolling around in my head like a terrified horse!! They had given me some anti-anxiety meds in the IV right after I got to the OR but I wasn't feeling them yet and beginning to worry that they wouldn't work on me or something. The first Hardy boy had explained that the meds would not only relieve the anxiety, they make you forget what is happening, so later you have no memory of this. I had a oxygen thing on my face and he was telling me to take deep breaths and I was getting more and more nervous. He asked me if I was all right and I felt tears building up in my eyes and then suddenly, like a light switch, I relaxed. And then thirty seconds later, I was out. I woke up in the recovery area where the nurse kept telling me to wake up. I woke up pretty quickly and the nurse was great. She told me that she was so excited for me - that this surgery has great results, that recovery was normally pretty quick and I was so young that I had a lot of time to enjoy the results. Then I was moved to my room. I was lucky enough to have a private room, which was great. I started out with ice chips, which were great, but didn't ease the terrible dry mouth and sore throat I had. (I didn't remember the tube being taken out, so that is good.) Pretty quickly I was able to move to water, which was better. I was sore, but the pain meds worked wonders. Eventually that day I was switched to oral, liquid pain meds. They had me on Percocet first, but I really didn't like that at all. It made me feel drugged but didn't help the pain at all. Then they switched me to vicodin, which worked much better. After awhile they wanted me to sit in the chair, and helped me out of bed. That hurt, but I felt all right when I stood up, and then I almost passed out. I sat down and relaxed and felt better pretty quickly. They wanted me to get up and walk eventually, so after a little bit of relaxing and phone calls to family, I called the nurse to tell her I was ready to walk. We walked down the hall and she asked what I wanted to do then, and I wanted to walk some more. With the pain of the surgery controlled, the walking actually helped relieve some of the tightness I felt in the belly, which is the air they pump into your stomach for the surgery. I ended up walking all around the floor and through the children's ward and back to my room. The nurse was very happy and said that many people they have to beg just to get them to walk three rooms down and if they get to the end of the hall, it is great. So they were very happy with my stroll and so was I. I made it back to the room and sat down in the chair. I was allowed to have apple juice and it was heaven. I just sipped it until it was gone. Then I chewed the ice and then I asked for more. As long as I wasn't guzzling it, they were fine with it and kept giving it to me. Eventually I was pretty tired and sore and went to bed. They woke me up every fifteen minutes it seemed like!! I was so tired and I felt like they were always waking me up. Plus the night nurse was a talker, so she kept trying to chat with me! Eventually it was early morning and they took me to xray. I had to stand on this thing that looked like a dolly (like to help pick up boxes) and then it leans back and puts you in the lying down position. They took some pictures, etc. Then they leaned me up back to standing. I had to take a few sips of this clear and horrible tasting stuff while they took pictures. Then I had to take a few sips of this thick, white, yogurt like stuff that faintly tasted like strawberry - I didn't like it but it wasn't as bad as the first stuff. They took more pictures. Then I had to stand there and wait for ten minutes and then they took a few more pictures and I was done - everything looked great. Back in my room I relaxed a little and then they began the process of checking me out. They took the IV out, took the dressings on the wounds off, and brought me the paperwork to sign, etc. I got changed back into the clothes I wore to the hospital and next thing you know, my husband and kids were there to pick me up. I left the hospital at about 11am on Tuesday. So that was the entire surgery. It really wasn't bad at all. Since then I have been pretty sore, but the worst is the gas. I have really bad gas that I just can't get out! Which is gross in itself, but the pain is much worse! The actual pain and soreness of the surgery isn't bad and is managed well with the vicodin they sent home, but the gas pain is the thing I am struggling with right now. I have no problems with the clear liquids. While there are a few times that food sounds good or smells good, the idea of actually eating does NOT seem enticing. So sticking to the diet right now is really easy. If I can just get rid of this gas, I'll feel so much better. I have taken a walk yesterday, which took a lot out of me but was good for me and not as bad as I thought it might be. Getting up and down on the the couch is difficult, but I have a really strong husband to help with that. I took a shower today which was fine and felt very good. I am sleeping a lot more than usual, which is to be expected after surgery. So, everyday I feel a little better and have had no major problems. The only real problem is the gas pains. So if I can get through that - I'll be fine!! As more happens, I'll write more. But for now, I am going to hide out in the bathroom and try to get rid of the gas!

Well, it has been awhile since I have posted anything, so let me sum up... The last few days of the liquid diet were hell. It was so hard. I wanted to cheat so bad. I finally had decided that I was going to cheat and eat a big lunch at McDonalds on Saturday. Then I'd have the rest of Sat to digest and Sunday was all clear liquids and Monday am was the surgery. Well I told my mom, who then told my dad, who then called me and raised hell. He used to be an EMT and all and proceeded to tell me all the dirty details of why it was important there was NO food in my stomach or intestines and what could happen and blah blah and made me promise him not to cheat. So I did promise and I did not cheat - but man, it was hard!!! So I muddled through and then it seemed like time sped up because next thing I knew it was Sunday night and my surgery was the next morning. I spent Sunday gardening and all, because I knew I wouldn't be able to do it for awhile after the surgery and wanted as done as possible. When I weighed myself that night, I had lost a total of 18 lbs!!! I barely slept at all Sunday night and eventually Monday morning 5:30am came around. I took a shower, got dressed in comfie clothes and we left for the hospital. Patrick and the kids dropped me off and I checked in. So I did the paperwork, got my bracelet and was directed to the surgical ward. There I got some blood drawn and then went to a little curtained area and stripped down. I put on the little hospital sockies with grips on the bottoms, a johnny with opening in the back, a "robe" opening in the front, and a blue hair net thing. Then I laid down on the gurney and waited. I talked to nurse after nurse after doctor as they asked questions (allergies? meds? family history? etc.) introduced themselves, explained what was going on, etc. I had someone come in and prick my finger for blood sugar, which was normal. Then the lady came in and put in the IV, which I was pretty stressed about. One nurse had come by earlier and wrapped my left hand (non-dominant hand) in a warm blanket and left it there for awhile, which was apparently to help with the IV. Then the IV tech came by and unwrapped the hand, then gave me a local shot of lidocaine, to help the IV placement hurt less. The lidocaine burned, BUT it was over pretty quickly and then the IV didn't hurt much at all, which made the whole experience MUCH better than normal - I HATE getting IVs done. Then I had to wait some more and I nodded off (did I already mention I hadn't slept at all the night before??) and then I got woken up to meet the anesthesiologist. The two guys who were doing that job looked like my younger brother!! And I am only 31, so that was weird - they were so young!! Anyway, they were very nice and described what would happen, etc. Next thing I know, it is time to go to surgery. The Hardy boys wheel me down to the OR room and I am definitely starting to feel panicked. The nurse in the OR introduces herself and she is named Molly, which is my daughter's name. They put the gurney right next to the surgery gurney and have me scootch over. The surgery gurney feels way to small and narrow. Then they unfold these arm tray things for my arms to rest on, so it now looks like I am doing the M part of YMCA, but lying down. Then they strap down my legs with a velcro strap and the same with my arms. While it didn't hurt at all and the straps were pretty loose, that is about when I began to panic more and I could tell my eyes were rolling around in my head like a terrified horse!! They had given me some anti-anxiety meds in the IV right after I got to the OR but I wasn't feeling them yet and beginning to worry that they wouldn't work on me or something. The first Hardy boy had explained that the meds would not only relieve the anxiety, they make you forget what is happening, so later you have no memory of this. I had a oxygen thing on my face and he was telling me to take deep breaths and I was getting more and more nervous. He asked me if I was all right and I felt tears building up in my eyes and then suddenly, like a light switch, I relaxed. And then thirty seconds later, I was out. I woke up in the recovery area where the nurse kept telling me to wake up. I woke up pretty quickly and the nurse was great. She told me that she was so excited for me - that this surgery has great results, that recovery was normally pretty quick and I was so young that I had a lot of time to enjoy the results. Then I was moved to my room. I was lucky enough to have a private room, which was great. I started out with ice chips, which were great, but didn't ease the terrible dry mouth and sore throat I had. (I didn't remember the tube being taken out, so that is good.) Pretty quickly I was able to move to water, which was better. I was sore, but the pain meds worked wonders. Eventually that day I was switched to oral, liquid pain meds. They had me on Percocet first, but I really didn't like that at all. It made me feel drugged but didn't help the pain at all. Then they switched me to vicodin, which worked much better. After awhile they wanted me to sit in the chair, and helped me out of bed. That hurt, but I felt all right when I stood up, and then I almost passed out. I sat down and relaxed and felt better pretty quickly. They wanted me to get up and walk eventually, so after a little bit of relaxing and phone calls to family, I called the nurse to tell her I was ready to walk. We walked down the hall and she asked what I wanted to do then, and I wanted to walk some more. With the pain of the surgery controlled, the walking actually helped relieve some of the tightness I felt in the belly, which is the air they pump into your stomach for the surgery. I ended up walking all around the floor and through the children's ward and back to my room. The nurse was very happy and said that many people they have to beg just to get them to walk three rooms down and if they get to the end of the hall, it is great. So they were very happy with my stroll and so was I. I made it back to the room and sat down in the chair. I was allowed to have apple juice and it was heaven. I just sipped it until it was gone. Then I chewed the ice and then I asked for more. As long as I wasn't guzzling it, they were fine with it and kept giving it to me. Eventually I was pretty tired and sore and went to bed. They woke me up every fifteen minutes it seemed like!! I was so tired and I felt like they were always waking me up. Plus the night nurse was a talker, so she kept trying to chat with me! Eventually it was early morning and they took me to xray. I had to stand on this thing that looked like a dolly (like to help pick up boxes) and then it leans back and puts you in the lying down position. They took some pictures, etc. Then they leaned me up back to standing. I had to take a few sips of this clear and horrible tasting stuff while they took pictures. Then I had to take a few sips of this thick, white, yogurt like stuff that faintly tasted like strawberry - I didn't like it but it wasn't as bad as the first stuff. They took more pictures. Then I had to stand there and wait for ten minutes and then they took a few more pictures and I was done - everything looked great. Back in my room I relaxed a little and then they began the process of checking me out. They took the IV out, took the dressings on the wounds off, and brought me the paperwork to sign, etc. I got changed back into the clothes I wore to the hospital and next thing you know, my husband and kids were there to pick me up. I left the hospital at about 11am on Tuesday. So that was the entire surgery. It really wasn't bad at all. Since then I have been pretty sore, but the worst is the gas. I have really bad gas that I just can't get out! Which is gross in itself, but the pain is much worse! The actual pain and soreness of the surgery isn't bad and is managed well with the vicodin they sent home, but the gas pain is the thing I am struggling with right now. I have no problems with the clear liquids. While there are a few times that food sounds good or smells good, the idea of actually eating does NOT seem enticing. So sticking to the diet right now is really easy. If I can just get rid of this gas, I'll feel so much better. I have taken a walk yesterday, which took a lot out of me but was good for me and not as bad as I thought it might be. Getting up and down on the the couch is difficult, but I have a really strong husband to help with that. I took a shower today which was fine and felt very good. I am sleeping a lot more than usual, which is to be expected after surgery. So, everyday I feel a little better and have had no major problems. The only real problem is the gas pains. So if I can get through that - I'll be fine!!:smile: As more happens, I'll write more. But for now, I am going to hide out in the bathroom and try to get rid of the gas!:sad:

Hey Nelady, I haven't been banded yet (only 3 days and a wake up!!) but I will have to day that when I first started this process, I was worried about the "things I'll never eat again" or "only 1/4 cup per meal? Total? Forever??", but I have to say that as I got further along, I realized that I didn't care about that anymore - I am just so sick of feeling this way and living like this with my weight, that even if it means giving it up, I'd rather do that than continue like this. So I think as you pursue this, you may find yourself feeling the same way. I used to smoke and I quit so many times before I was finally able to make it stick. And at first it was because I knew I should, and then it was because I wanted to but I still really enjoyed smoking and then there just came a point that I was sick of it. I hated everything about smoking and was only still smoking because of addiction. And that is when I was finally successful. Now, I did that cold turkey and was able to stick with it. But with our weight, I realized that I was finally ready to really do this and I already knew I couldn't do it on my own. I needed a tool. And here I am - I think that when you feel that way, all the other things become manageable. Those worries don't go away, but they aren't so terrifying anymore. That is just my two cents! Where are you in New London and what subs was your husband on? I am a military brat that went to the ID office to hand over my family dependent ID to get issued my spouse ID! I lived in Norwich my whole life until marriage and went to NFA. And my dad was on subs until he retired, which was about 1992 I want to guess. He was on the Will Rogers and then the George Marshall. Good to hear from someone from my "home"!! Good Luck with everything!!

Hi JWRN - I have only heard of one person with Tricare being denied and I think that you posted there (I can't remember) but here is the link for that thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/pre-operation-lap-band-surgery-questions-answers/68766-tricare-prime-has-denied-me.html But other than that I have only heard good things about Tricare. I know that for myself, the package was submitted on Wednesday, I saw the approval on the website on Thursday and got a call from someone at Tricare on Friday!! The woman who called was even great - she said that she wanted to let me know I was approved, asked if I had any other questions relating to my benefits and the surgery and wished me luck!!:tt1: Given what you said, I don't think you should have a problem with approval - GOOD LUCK!! :tongue_smilie:

I know I already posted a HUGE message but I just can't shut up - a terrible fault I know! But I have to say again, GET A NEW DOCTOR It may not be easy, it may be a difficult route, it will definitely not be fun. BUT any doctor that tells you he doesn't care if you eat 1500 calories all at once only once a day, you will still lose weight is an ASS. There is a big difference between giving a patient calorie restrictions that are reasonable and then listening to the patient whine and having a doctor muffle directions because his head is so far up his butt!! You are diabetic. Right there, you CAN NOT eat once a day and be healthy. You just can't (as you already stated that you know this and are working toward fixing it). Maybe I can even understand if the doctor had useful instructions for you and was frustrated that you are only implementing them one at a time because it is too slow. But he has no clue! And having a clue is kind of important in a doctor!! Keep the dietician. Ask her for a recommendation for a good doctor. Tell her what the doctor has been telling you (ie about only eating 1500 calories and you'll lose and that you can take it all at once and still lose weight). If she accepts your insurance she probably works with other people from other doctors with your insurance too. Ask her for a recommendation of a decent doctor. Seriously, a doctor that would even in jest (but he wasn't kidding!) tell to a diabetic person that eating only one meal a day of 1500 calories would still lose weight is a dangerous person. If he was kidding and wants to be a stand up comedian find a new job. If he was serious, then he is dangerously ignorant. My father is non-compliant diabetic and even he doesn't do that!! Even he knows that you have to keep your blood sugar even and if you screw your sugar that badly you can end up in a coma - which maybe then you would lose weight but I don't think that is the goal to shoot for. Finally, if you aren't careful, you can convince your body it is starving and then in goes into starvation mode. Which means that your body clings to every calorie and bit of fat it can to try and survive until the next meal. Which is why nutritionists talk about minimum calories and all. If it didn't matter, than why not cut it to 800? Or less? Because everyone is different, because your weight now, your height, your goal weight, your nutritional needs, etc all come into play. If you were ignoring your nutritionist's advice, I'd be less supportive -but this doctor is an ass. I am so mad for you!! Man, I want to go and kick that doctor's butt!! This is so NOT how this journey should be for you!!! :tongue_smilie:

Hey - I don't know if you have to take the protein shakes before or after the surgery, but if it is BEFORE, then I found drinking the shakes with a straw really helped. I hate the smell too - I also hate the flavor, but still... The straw was enough to get my nose more away from the liquid and only taste it. Also, I know I mentioned this earlier in response to your original request, but I really have to recommend again the Nectar, especially if you don't like milk because they are all able to be mixed with water and taste good. Check out those threads because I give more info about it (I don't want to just keep posting the same thing over and over)! Good luck!

Hey all - I am getting banded in a week (yikes!) and in wandering around on the board, I have noticed the HUGE differences in the target amount of protein. So I was hoping to see what the deal is, is it weight or what? The nutritionist did a formula thing to figure out the number, but she didn't tell me what the formula was or anything. SO... I am 328, BMI 52.9 and my protein target is 47 grams - which seems really low compared to many of you. Can that be right?? :confused_smile:

Hey PennyLane and others gagging on the protein shakes, I FEEL your pain!! I have quite a few suggestions for you, but I have actually posted them four times now in different threads - I'm worried the moderators will think I am a spambot!! :smile2: Anyway, here are the links to two of the threads that address the exact topic that you guys were looking for help with. There are a lot of great ideas on all types of shakes and all, PLUS you'll see both of my tips as well! Good Luck!! :confused_smile: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/general-lap-band-surgery-discussion/66045-protein-shakes.html http://www.lapbandtalk.com/pre-operation-lap-band-surgery-questions-answers/69486-shakes-protein-questions.html

Hi - the nectar comes in a small ziploc baggie that is already one scoop. On the front is the sticker that says to mix it with 5 oz Water. What I am doing is pouring the powder into the blender. Then I pour in one of the single servings of Crystal Light (actually I also used the Target brand of the same thing and it was just as good but cheaper). Then I used 2 cups of water. I figured that is a little more than 5 oz for the Nectar and then some water for the Crystal Light. Then I'd put some ice in it - not that much. If you use to much ice, it locks up. Like bricks up and just doesn't blend well - I don't know if it is the Protein or what. But if you use just enough ice to float in the water but not fill it, then blend, it made the mix just a little slushy but still liquid and well blended. That seemed to work for me. That might be a little strong for you, the Crystal Light alone normally calls for much more water than that, but I like the strong flavor and it is especially helpful to cover up the protein taste. And given the range of Nectar flavors, it is easy to get Crystal Light flavors that will match. As for the vanilla, I like that and decided to mix it with milk instead of water (it knocked out two requirements for the day in one shake) and some ice and it was pretty good. I tried the Cappuccino and didn't like it at all. But that is probably because I can't follow directions. It came with a little recipe to make fake Starbucks with that, chocolate Protein Powder and some hot water, etc. Well it clearly said hot tap water but I hate our tap water and I like my tea, coffee, etc to be HOT. So I boiled some water and continued with the directions. Well, skimming the directions. And when I sat down and took a sip, I gagged and immediately pushed it away. It was gritty and weird - like yucky chocolate sandy water. So I start complaining to my husband, what the heck - that tasted like crap - someone needs to visit starbucks again if they think that was even close, blah blah. And Patrick looks at the directions and says, did you read these at all??? I said, well yeah. He laughs and reads the first line that says hot tap water and then reads the very last line on the bottom that says, make sure to only use hot tap water!! So, if you can manage to follow the leader better than I can, you may actually enjoy the cappuccino. I did like the fuzzy navel, the lemonade, and fruit punch. The iced tea and caribbean cooler were all right - not bad but I didn't like them as much as the others. Although the iced tea one I used real iced tea instead of water (not even Crystal Light) and I think it was just too much or something. Not bad but not as good as the others. And I am just not wild about fake coconut. But if you like that flavor, then the caribbean cooler is really good and you'll like it. That one (Caribbean Cooler) was also the only one that I simply mixed with water and drank. No ice or anything and it was actually good. Not chunky or grainy or anything like that. It was sort of like kool aid with a hint of that whey protein flavor. I just am not wild about coconut. Anyway, hope that info helps!!

Hey - since I saw that no once else mentioned it, I thought I'd post that nectar is another good one to try. I hate Protein shakes, etc and was really concerned about my pre-op diet. Someone else on these boards told me about Nectar and I ordered a sampler pack online at Vitalady.com for $20 and shipping was $10. So it wasn't cheap or anything BUT you did get a one serving sample of every flavor. And you mix them into Water and if you mix well enough to dissolve the powder, they don't taste bad. They also have really different flavors like lemonade, iced tea, fruit punch, caribbean punch (like coconut), fuzzy navel, peach, orange, green apple, and others. So it is a really nice break from the usual choc, strawberry and vanilla. Plus I really hate the taste of whey protein so I also started putting the Nectar in the blender with ice, water and a single serving of Crystal Light in a compatible flavor (like lemonade CL with lemonade Nectar) and it is actually pretty good then. I mean, not great but so much better than the rest. Even if you just get the sampler pack, it may be enough to give a break here and there with the other stuff. Oh and I forgot the best part - one scoop (which obviously you could use two if you wanted) has 23 g of protein, 90 calories, and but 0 fat and 0 carbs. :crying: I would imagine as you continue on your diet journey with more wiggle room, you could do things like add fruit to it which would not only improve the taste even more, but get in some other nutrients, etc. But even if you never do that, the Nectar and water are really not bad. PS - I have found about five different threads so far that all deal with the taste of protein shakes and trying to find something that tastes decent and every time I don't see Nectar on there, so I decide to post about it. But it is getting to the point where I swear someone is going to think I work for either vitalady.com or Nectar. I SWEAR I don't!!! :confused_smile: I just feel the same way about the taste of the other stuff and had the most success with Nectar, so I feel like I really have to pass the word along. Hope that helps!! :smile2:

Hey - I am on the pre-op liquid diet and have to have the stupid Protein shakes. But I don't have to drink them after the surgery - isn't that weird? Anyway, I am very picky about the flavors - my tolerance of this stuff is very low. So while I have had some success with Carnation Instant Breakfast and Slimfast (right now I blend it with ice to help it taste better and bulk it up) but I have also tried and really like this stuff called nectar. I got a sample package from Vitalady.com which has a one serving sample of every flavor in little ziploc bags. They have a real variety and you mix them with Water. As long as you mix really well to make sure it dissolves, then the flavor is pretty good. And I like that it isn't the same old choc, vanilla and strawberry. They have flavors like peach, orange, fruit punch, caribbean cooler (coconut type punch), iced tea, lemonade, fuzzy navel, etc. I have liked them - well, as much as I have liked any of them. I really hate the tasted of whey protein, so I have started mixing them in the blender with ice and a single serving of Crystal Light that is compatible (like I used lemonade CL and mixed it with Nectar lemonade) and it made it a lot better. The Nectar isn't super cheap (I paid 20 for the sampler pack and then 10 bucks for shipping!! and the big jugs are pricey too) BUT if you are really having a hard time with the other stuff, even just the sampler pack might be enough to really give you enough of a break to make it through. Hope that helps!! :cursing:

Hey *Love*, that is SWEET - what a great idea! I would have never thought of that!! So simple but very effective. Thanks for the tip! Now I just have to figure out what meals to make and then freeze...:cursing:

I did not have to do the six month diet before the surgery, so I can't give any advice for that or changing doctors midstream. But here is what I can advise you: CHANGE DOCTORS!! 1. Any doctor who "can't be bothered to read the reports from other specialists" is NOT someone that is focusing on your health and your best interests!!! A doctor should not only try to gather as much information about you and your health, but definitely should READ the information he does get! 2. He is your doctor - which means that the specialists are giving their reports to him with the idea that there is one person who is reviewing the info and able to create a complete picture of your health. There are many diseases, disorders, syndromes, etc that can cause weight gain. That can prevent weight loss. That can cause other irregularities in various way. So one specialist might only have 2 pieces of a ten piece puzzle. They will never know if there is a piece missing. Only the main doctor having all the pieces will know right away that there are only 9 pieces or there are 11! That is his job!! 3. Weight loss is a very complicated science and they are discovering more and more that there is so much more to weight gain/loss than simply calories in vs. calories burned. The idea that if you "simply eat only 1500 calories" it is guaranteed that you will lose weight is NOT true. And a good doctor should be working with you on that. Helping you, not berating you! The fact that you are seeing a nutritionist - someone whose only job is diet and nutrition - and the doctor is contradicting their advice should be a huge warning light in your head! 4. If the s**t hits the fan, you are going to have to rely on this man to help you and your family through an incredibly difficult time. Is this the man that you really want to hold your hand through the rough stuff? You don't have to be best friends or anything, but you sure as heck better feel that your health and welfare are of the upmost importance to him. He has already shown that isn't true with him by not reading those reports. 5. You and your doctor are supposed to be a team! He has extra knowledge and you are paying him for that expertise. He works for YOU!! Together, he and you are supposed to be trying to get you in the best health possible. He is no different than any other service industry employee. Would you buy a burger at BK and allow the guy behind the counter to belittle you? And when the order came over and it was wrong, would you just take it if he said, well I just couldn't be bothered to actually listen to your order! That would never fly! And you have to try and think that way. You have a right to be treated well. I'm not sure what the deal is with switching doctors now, and I do realize that the last thing you want to do is start from square one again, but I really have to say that you need to switch doctors. I just can't get over that he didn't read those reports. Keep looking until you find a doctor you are comfortable with. There are tons of doctors out there and at least a few must be covered by your insurance, right? Find a GOOD one!! :cursing:

Thanks so much for the advice and support. It is funny because you are so right. I have two kids that I carried to term and one I had with no drugs even! Plus I have been through Army boot camp, so I KNOW that I can get through this, but I am going to whine a lot! It is funny how when I was first pregnant I would hate when people would laugh and say, New mom? But then after I had one and then another, you do laugh or roll your eyes at some of that stuff! And I'm sure this is the same thing! Good luck on your journey as well!!

Well, it is day 4. I am still hungry, miserable, and have a growing hatred for Slimfast. I look forward to bed time each night because it means that I have made it through another day!!! I find myself going over the list of approved liquids again and again, like this time maybe I'll find something on there I missed before. You know, like a steak. Or whatever. But no, the list remains the same and is only filled with crappy stuff. Yesterday was really rough for me. I was all right in the am. I talked to my mom and was okay. But in the pm I just kept getting worse and worse. More hungry, more depressed, more upset until I started crying. Patrick tried to cheer me up, but as he doesn't have a liquid, no fat, no calorie, no carb cupcake, there wasn't much he could do besides hug me. Which is great. But not cheesecake. So I calmed down. And then I got myself some chicken broth to heat up for dinner. I had gotten some garlic chicken broth thinking a little garlic flavor might shake things up a bit and normally I love garlic. So I open the can and I immediately gag a little at the strong smell of garlic. Hmm.. I strain out the chunks of actual garlic and heat up the broth. Still not smelling good. I sit and take a sip and I really gag. I put the spoon down and burst into tears. "I don't even like my BROTH!!" Patrick suggested a hot shower so I went into the shower and cried in there. But after a little bit, the warm water helped calm me down and then I cleaned up. When I got out I felt a little better. A little more in control. But I was still starving, so I asked Pat to make me a shake of Slimfast and some ice for "dinner" because if I went into the kitchen, I knew that it would be all over. Patrick would find me a half an hour later sitting on the floor with pieces of food strewn all around me and my face covered with a look of absolute contentment. So, while that was tempting, I knew I had to be strong and asked Pat to make the shake. Which he did. And I drank it. And it still sucked. When I went to bed, Patrick saw me smiling and asked why I was happy and I told him "because another day of this hell is over!" And here I am again. Doing the same thing. Today is a bit better, but man this sucks. I find myself obsessively reading and posting on the boards here. I write the longest posts ever. But being on here and involved in the posts help me focus on other people's problems and distract me from my issues. Plus it helps me focus on why I am going through this. Speaking of staying on track and keeping focus, the nurse from the hospital called today, Dave. I saw that it was the hospital and I have been reading so much about surgeries being canceled and all, that I got nervous. So I answered and he asked how I was and I said fine. The he said, "How are you REALLY? With the diet and all?" I laughed and told him that I was following the diet exactly and hadn't cheated or anything, but not to ask me if I was happy. He said that patients even a year later say that this pre-op diet was the hardest part of the entire experience. Then Dave asked if I had any other questions. Luckily, since we were on the phone I had the guts to ask the question (which I never would have if I was in the office) "What are the rules for after the surgery for .... sexual relations?" I could tell that he wanted to laugh but wouldn't because he didn't want to make me even more uncomfortable, but said that it was "as tolerated." He said that too early and too much friction could cause the little wounds to open up again, but other than that, it was fine. Although, I have to say for right now, regardless of how hot Pat is (and he is!), unless he is covered in chocolate and/or whipped cream, I'm just not interested. :thumbup: Well, I am going to make my kids some lunch and try not to lick the deli ham juice off my fingers..... Would that count as a liquid?

Hi - actually I do know what you are talking about. I am only on day 4 on my 10 day liquid pre-op diet and I have started feeling that very way lately. Its not like I'm not hungry exactly, it's just the idea of what I can have being so unappetizing that I just don't want to bother. And I am more tired than usual. A little listless. So you are NOT alone!! I have found that one big relief was sugar free Jello. I'm not even wild about the taste or anything, but it really helps with the actual EATING craving. Like the actual using teeth and swallowing. Plus I have bulked the Protein Shakes up by blending it with ice, which also helps some. AND I use a straw which also helps me (although I am weird anyway :cursing:) But the main thing is that you are SO CLOSE!! Man, you are so close you can taste it! Heck, you are so close I can taste it!! I know hang in there seems trite and unhelpful, but........ hang in there! I have also found that spending all my time on this site and ignoring my children helps. Well, I try not to ignore them REALLY, but seriously I spend a lot of time on this site right now and that has helped me maintain focus on what I am doing and why. Otherwise, I would try distraction. Have your shake while watching a specific TV show, or reading a good book, or whatever so that you aren't focusing on the actual drink. I know that is the opposite of what you are supposed to do after the band, but just for now to get through the liquid pre-op part, it might help. Finally, take a nice hot shower. That worked wonders for me yesterday afternoon. I was crying and just couldn't seem to get beyond it. And I went in the shower and cried harder. And then after a little while the warm Water just helped calm and relax me and I got clean and felt better - more in control. Then go to a website that is really funny - whatever makes you laugh, (this one is pretty popular LOLCATS.COM - Funny Lolcat Pictures) or a really funny TV show or whatever and try to get lost in something funny. Then I went to bed and let me tell you - I feel so much better today. I mean, this still sucks big time, but I am not feeling so lost and overwhelmed like I was yesterday. I hope this helps!! Good Luck and you are going to be GREAT! :eek:

Man, my heart is breaking for you right now!! I actually started to tear up when I read your post!! I am SO sorry that things are difficult for you right now. Definitely don't give up and YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE!! I can't stress that enough. And unless you have a specific goal, you can't fail! Which means you can't be a failure!! And the surgeon did not give you any specific goal - like, oh by the way, make sure not to gain even one pound or we'll cancel your surgery!! Even then, I would not label you a failure, but rather that you made a mistake and have to just try again. BUT that isn't what happened!! They didn't give you any directions so not following the directions in their heads doesn't make you a failure - it makes you not psychic!! As to how to best get through this... I would write a letter to the doctor and say something along the lines of "when I got ready for the initial surgery I followed all directions from both the insurance and the doctor. However, when I got to the hospital on the day of the surgery, I was told that I had gained 8 lbs and the surgery was canceled. Given that this was a rule never told to me and the enormous waste of my time, not to mention the heartache and disappointment, I would like to make sure that does not happen again. I am asking that the hospital send me a letter with a list of EVERY rule that I have to follow in order to undergo the surgery. Please star all rules that are important enough that breaking them at all will result in the cancellation of my surgery again. I also would like an explanation, again in writing in the same letter as above, the medical reasons as well as the hospital policy or insurance requirement that changes the necessary weight loss prior to surgery from ? lbs to 30 lbs. Given this extreme change which was only relayed to me on the day of (cancelled) surgery, I want to ensure that I am truly ready for my next surgery. I also would like, in writing, the assurance that if there is another change of doctor policy requiring a different weight loss amount prior to surgery, I will receive another letter clearing stating all new rules and reasons for the change. Finally, I would like the hospital policy and medical reason, simply stated, that explains why I have to follow the diet for four weeks and then check in to "see how I'm doing" before I can schedule the surgery. This guarantees I will be on the diet for well over four weeks. Given that I had a prior weight loss requirement of ?lbs lost by ? date, which I successfully completed and no further requirements concerning my weight prior to surgery, I have given the hospital to reason to doubt my ability to lose the weight necessary in a given deadline. Therefore I am confused about your reluctance to allow me to even reschedule the surgery to immediately follow my four week liquid diet. Given the upsetting outcome of the last scheduled surgery, I feel that communication from my doctor is not clear enough and as a result would like all of the above in writing and signed by the surgeon. Thank you." I know that is a lot and all but here is the thing - DOCTORS WORK FOR YOU!! They charge you a fee to then perform a service. If you hired a wedding planner who didn't show up the day of the wedding and when you called her she said that the reason she didn't was your failure to pay an additional "appearance fee" that was never mentioned and not in the contract, you'd read her the riot act. You would go off and never tolerate that. But because we want this so bad and a surgeon seems so powerful, they get away with this crap. Well you have rights and you don't deserve to be treated that way. Take control of this and remind them that you are paying them for a service! And while you do have to follow their rules, they have to tell you the rules and not play games. So, basically, have a good crying jag. Get it all out of your system. And then get REALLY MAD! And start cracking that whip! Make them realize that you are going to demand proper treatment. That you are paying them and you want everything you are paying for - which means excellent patient care. Which that day was clearly NOT. Good luck, I hope any of this helps and give yourself a big squeeze. Which is not weird at all coming from a perfect stranger! :cursing: Please keep us up informed!

Sweet! I will definitely be at the bandster support group, so maybe I'll see you there sometime!!

Hey - Lisa (and anyone else that this applies to!) I grew up a Navy brat too! My father was in subs and stationed in Groton CT for most of his career. Anyone else originally from that area or pass through there? Just curious - it has been awhile since I've gone "home"!