RestlessMonkey

Just chill out and I know you'll be fine. I never heard 3 minutes; so if I were you I'd shoot for the 20-30 good chews. And of course you want small bites of things like meat, chicken etc but you will learn what you have to do to eat properly. They told us "be gentle with yourself. Think how long it took you to learn to eat when you were a child; you are re-learning everything. Give yourself time and use patience"...good advice I think!

at three weeks, when do you get "mushies" or pureed foods? I thought my doc was harsh when he made me wait to the end of week 2.... at any rate, welcome. Hunger is normal; at least for me. I woke up hungry in recovery. I'm not worried about nor trying to lose right now; it's time for healing. Once I start getting my fills (oct 9 is my 1st) I'll truly start losing.

What do you mean "help you with it"...my brain has gone apparently. You know WHY so ... you'll get used to it its really not bad. I posted a bunch to you about it on another thread I think...

Do you mean the day before surgery (surgical prep?) or the day of surgery? (before they wheel you in?) I can tell you generally what happens on either...and here's a link to bunches of bandster's own Surgery day stories... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/surgery-day-stories-64287/

Yes you are put under and will have an oxygen mask until the anesthetist intubates you. S/he will also paralyze you so that you don't twitch or move during surgery (which, when you think about it, is a good thing). They bring you out of it and remove the tube before you wake up. You will have an oxygen mask before you are tubed and will have one in recovery, so you'll be able to breathe even on your back. Sounds like you have sleep apnea....you may need a sleep study and a cpap machine. I don't sleep on my back either and had absolutely no problems breathing pre op, during, or post op. and I slept on my left side the 1st night after surgery and on my tummy the second night. Did that answer your question?

And before I do that I can tell you that 700-900 cals a day isn't enough; you're right. You are starving yourself!

If you don't mind telling me how tall you are I'll go to a website I found and calculate your BMR (basic metabolic rate) that is the number of calories you need to maintain your weight when AT REST....that'll be a good jumping off point for you!

I am not especially computer savvy but here is a link with good directions: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

Suzking...most restrictions are only initially, to allow the band time to heal. And of course you aren't going to lose weight it you drink milkshakes and eat cookies all day! (you know that of course!) Small bites and chewing will take a little getting used to but many people say they find they enjoy the food more now than they ever did when they could scarf anything down. I don't know what the "wait 3 minutes" thing is...I was told chew each small bite 20-30 times and to stop eating in 30 minutes. Not everyone vomits/slimes/PBs. And not drinking while eating is no big deal....I have no restriction yet but find that very easy (and I loved my iced tea with my supper; it's been a staple in my life for about 48 of my 53 years) WHILE I am losing I will watch my choices carefully and make sure I get enough protein (because I do NOT want my body to pull it from muscle, including my heart...which my body would do to get it if I don't eat it) and once I have adapted and lost, I'll be eating mostly like I always used to, just less. I'm sure you researched and made a good decision before you got the band, don't let negative feelings (especially ones that are not based in fact!) grind you down. Most people have little to no issues... most people don't mind chewing well and not drinking because they really enjoy their food more, most people lose well and feel great. You need to give the band (and yourself) a fair chance.

No you didn't bore me at all! That's interesting. I'm so glad they could do the band for you! You have really struggled, haven't you? Thank God your baby was ok all those years ago. I bet you were scared to death! take it easy on yourself and let yourself heal well, ok? I think you'll do marvelously with the band!

I'm sorry for you! one of mine was trying to get infected but my husband is a nurse and he's been cleaning it out and "treating" it so it's healing up now. It's not uncommon for us larger people to have problems just because of the stress on the wounds, but your infection "under the scab" is the first time I've ever heard of that. When I shower tonight I'm going to mash all mine! LOL

Ok DUH I just read you are on antibiotics until 9/25! LOL sorry I have a cold and apparently my brain is taking a little nap. :thumbup: Take all your antibiotics on time and I'll cross my fingers it clears up quickly for you! I hope MINE aren't infected underneath. That's just weird.

Wow that's scary! Did he give you an antibiotic or something? What a nightmare! Good thing he found it though!

Mrs. Bubba, you mean you were "opened up" instead of banded laparoscopically? If so, do you know why? It takes MUCH longer to heal that way! :thumbup:

Didn't you have any symptoms? that's odd.....

I have to respectfully disagree with Cori0278 about walking...you don't want to jog or powerwalk but otherwise, the more you walk, the better you clear the gas and anesthesia, and the less likely you are to develop deadly blood clots. Anytime I started feeling icky (and I didn't take pain meds except liquid tylenol the 2nd day) if I got up and walked around I felt better almost immediately. I didn't go on a cross-country trek, but as long as you use good judgment, I don't think you CAN walk too much!

ktravel...you need to realize, too, that a lot of people who don't have issues etc don't post here...they are out getting thinner! I too felt a little horror at first but my surgeon helped calm me down, plus I read a few books about the band and found info on "studies" etc There are some people who don't recover quickly, have flipped ports, can't even keep water down, get so much restriction they vomit up (or PB as it's called) almost everything, but fortunately those people are in the minority. There are also people who never or rarely PB, eat anything they want but in smaller quantities, recover quickly, have no fill or port issues, etc. They are in the majority I think. So welcome!

Kiz...that's an "incentive spirometer" and GOOD FOR YOU! It prevents atelectasis and subsequent pneumonia! Plus it helps clear the anesthesia more quickly. You did fine on your own! When I'm a nurse I hope all my patients are like you! :thumbup: Good idea about the anti-nausea patch too.

LOL at Julia. But would she really sleep? Xgrl you can't always tell if you have it. Being tired all the time is a symptom of that and about 100 other things too...if your surgeon or primary doc thinks you might be, surely one of them can refer you for a sleep study.

I'm in San Antonio TX but I noticed you haven't gotten a response yet so I googled "Fill centers in Albuquerque, NM" and there is a fillcenter USA there. You may try your phone book, or google it. I know they formed to take people who went out of the country or for whatever reason no longer can or want to use their original physician. I don't know about price etc but they are a franchise and fluoroscopy is available if you want it. You might try them!

It really is a hard choice. $1500 would buy a lot of smaller sized clothes! :thumbup:

Yes you do not want nausea after stomach surgery. If you respond well to anti nausea medication your surgeon can give you a prescription for suppositories so that you can treat it at home. You just need to plan ahead to have it! I was lucky, no nausea, nothing. Give me a headache and I'm out of commission but poke around in my innards and I'm chipper as a canary! LOL

Have you had surgery before? How did you recover? I've laughed and said I was born for it because I recover quickly. My doc keeps EVERYONE overnight and let me go home. I slept on my side w/out pain meds the first night, on my tummy the second night (and in my own bed, not a recliner etc) So for me, it was a good decision. Others take longer to feel up to par. Do you have someone at your house to help you?

Actually, hypothyroid is most common in older women (50 and older) so you're a little young, but it's not so odd that you didn't have it before. Once you get your drug dosage adjusted you'll feel better, your hair and skin will improve, your sleep and mood will improve, and your weight loss will improve.

I didn't have any restriction post op and so didn't have to sip...liquids will just run on through and won't hurt your band. The older style bands caused more restriction, I think. If you can "swallow" liquids it is safe to do so! I didn't even get protein shakes until week 2 so you are lucky you get them already! And I was hungry before we even left the hospital (and real hunger, not "head hunger") that just means you're recovering well! some get abatement of hunger just from the band alone (lucky dogs!) but not all of us! So don't chug anything or have anything your surgeon hasn't approved, but if you can drink instead of sip, it's safe to do so.