LindaV

Katieo - Look around all you like. This site is a great place to gather information and make new friends. Welcome to LBT!!

Welcome to LBT. I am a fellow May bandster. I was banded on May 1st. There are a lot of us this month. Make sure you post an intro on the May 2006 Band Crew thread. Again, welcome and good luck!!!!!!

Hey Marcy, Make sure we have your name and date on the "May 2006 Band Crew" thread. That's been a great place to compare notes, make new friends and share others experiences. This is a great site to learn a little more about what to expect after surgery. I was prepared for any of several outcomes. Welcome to LBT!!!!!!!

Keep posting VAMarsh - We'll support you!!!!!!! (((Big Hugs)))

Hi Sue, Yep, I'll be there. Along with my Centrum liquid vitamines to give to Wendy - I came as close to throwing up as I have in a year after trying to take those today. NAAAAAAAAAAAASTYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See you tomorrow night! I hope Hippo's Hope and Dasharoo can make it. It would be really great to meet them.

Hello Everyone, I was wondering if some of you could give me some advice. I really want to do this right! After I have a Protein Shake or yogurt smoothie or sometimes even Water, I feel full for quite a while. It is the same feeling of full, sometimes even on the verge of stuffed that I felt pre-banded. I usually don't feel like eating again for a few hours. I am still trying to figure out my bodies new signals for hunger. I am concerned that I am taking in too much at once. I can down an 8 oz Protein shake or a 10 oz yogurt smoothie in about 5 minutes. That's when I feel pretty stuffed - but I havn't experienced the pain that many of you describe when you over eat. I really want to try to get a handle on these new "signals" before moving to mushies. Any help/suggestions would be appreciated!!!:help::help::help: Thanks!!

Well, I just finished a yogurt smoothie but...DAMN I WANT A PORK CHOP!!! I'm salivating to prove it. Not that I'm hungry though, my new band does take care of that -- but not the head hunger! Oh well! My scale will love me in the morning.:ermm

Hi NikkiBlack, I was banded in Idaho on May 1st. You seem to be doing about the same as me. Today, one week out, was my best yet. Did you dream about cottage cheese and ricotta before being banded? I definately did NOT, but they are sounding pretty good to me too. Check out the "May 2006 Band Crew" thread. There are quite a few of us who were banded on the 1st. We do a lot of comparing notes. Welcome to BANDLAND!

Hi, My doc didn't really care how I lost weight, just that I did. So, I opted for Weight Watchers Points. I lost about 17 pounds in about 5 weeks and I didn't feel like I was starving or depriving myself. Hope this helps! Good luck--you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Trip..., I have made creamy potato cheese Soup with extra milk added and pureed to the consistency of cream soup. I also added some cooked meatloaf to it and blended it smooth. That way I didn't feel so left out when my family ate meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Yogurt and yogurt smoothies have been pretty filling as well. There are lots of different flavors so they don't get too boring. My protien shake is chocolate mixed with milk. Tonight for dinner I might try one with a little extra cocolate and some ice to make a smoothie. Since bananas blend so well, I might add a little extra milk and try blending in a little banana or Peanut Butter...the list is endless. My doc says if it can fit through a straw and is doesn't have chunks, I can have it. Someone else suggested pureeing veggie soups. Most of the condenced soups can be pureed pretty smooth. I've ben told bean with bacon is really good. Hope this helps. Check out the "May 2006 Band Crew" thread. I think there might be other suggestions there since none of us who have been banded this month have reached the mushie stage yet.

Hi Tidge, I replied on your other thread before I saw this one to mine. I have had the same problem. You can read the rest there.

Hi Tidge, I have had the same problem. I was banded a week ago today and I think it was day 5 before I finally felt like a few liquids were staying in me. I still havn't had anything close to a normal bm, but, the diarrhea is down to 1-2x a day. I asked the question too because, like you, I had heard of the constipation part, but not the other. How are you feeling otherwise? I feel pretty good today. I have energy! WOOHOO! I am going to take the dogs for a walk and then go get my hair cut. I might even make it to the grocery store today!

Thanks Elisabethsew - I hope they don't flow too quickly through until I can make it to mushies. I never have done well with HUNGER!

Again, thanks! sallyjo - good to hear someone else can relate! legallyKristen - yesterday I started to suspect that I might be drinking too quickly. Eating too quickly preband was always a problem with me. I am getting enough Protein. My doc never had me on clear liquids so I have been able to have Protein Shakes from the time I came home. I don't believe I got specific instrustions (that I remember) about how slow/fast to drink when I am on liquids. I just needed some guidelines - so again, thanks!

Thanks waterlily and Alexandra!

Hey Susan, I figure you'll see this. What is an avatar and and NSV?

When I was researching Band doctors, I just did a google search and called several docs in my area that are not surgeons but do fills. There is probably a need out there for this because so many people have to travel to get their bands.

I guess I should say that I was banded on Monday, May 1st and have been able to drink like that since I have been home. Today I managed to get in just under 1000 calories with a pretty good mix of protein/carbs/fats. I am getting in about 40 - 50 oz of Water a day too. I am trying to up my calorie intake to over a thousand because I have been really lacking energy the last couple of days. Maybe the lack of calories at the beginning of the week is finally catching up to me.

Hi All, 3Loves - Thanks so much for the list - it's much easier to keep it straight now! Good luck all of you who are getting banded this week. I will be one week post-op tomorrow and I really feel pretty good. I actually got in almost 100 calories today and all my protein-WOOHOO. I did Weight Watchers for my pre-diet and I think I am going to try to continue to take in the minimum number of points allowed in that program. That is about 1400 calories a day for me. I need some kind of guide line to follow for a while that will help me with food perameters.

Hi All, Well, I'm checking in. I am still feeling fairly good. My energy level has definately gone down the last couple of days. I still havn't gotten over 1000 calories in a day yet. Maybe that's why. I am making sure I get plenty of protein though. I really like FitDay.com. It is keeping me accountable to myself! I'm still battling a bit of head hunger. It's probably a good thing though, otherwise I might get even less calories in. Yesterday the leftover pizza in my fridge finally got to me. I was heating up the last two slices for my son (to get rid of the temptation once and for all) when, temptation overcame me and I attempted a "chew and spit." Just to get a little taste.:rolleyes Anyway, I ended up with a crumb in my throat which started me coughing and swearing and crying! To say the least, I LEARNED MY LESSON!! Last night my family had meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner - another one of my favorites. Today, those leftovers were also beconing. So, I heated up the potatoes, shoved them in the blender with some milk, put in a hunk of meatloaf and blended the whole thing up nice and smooth. I then put it in a sauce pan, melted some velveeta in it and I have a new taste sensation --CHEESY POTATO MEATLOAF SOUP. Do you think Campbells might be interested? Angie71 - Welcome to bandland! MarianneTN - Good luck to you on Tuesday! Good luck to all the others who will be banded this week as well! Hippo's Hope - are you out there? How are you feeling/doing?

Hi Dody, Macy and Tidge, Welcome to my thread. I am sure glad I put "Idaho" in the title. Dody - sorry to hear about your pneumonia. I've had it and I know it can really wear you down. Keep us posted on your progress with that and your surgery. Tidge - Sorry to hear you are so sore. Now that my incision soreness is pretty much gone, I can definately feel the stuff on the inside now. My port area is definately tender. I felt pretty good for the first few days after surgery, now I am definately battling with lack of energy getting my drinks down (food and Water both). Macy and Tidge - you guys should post an introduction on the "May 2006 Band Crew" thread if you havn't already. We do a lot of comparing notes there. Dasharoo - How are you feeling today? Better I hope. I'm home for the rest of the day if you want to call.

Hi Mychevygirl, My doctor and nutritionist told me to start taking them as soon as I got home fromthe hospital. They had me on a full liquid diet and said if it could fit through a straw (smooth with no chunks) I could have it.

Hmmmm! Definately a question worth pondering. I have a different theory on legs sunburning. I don't really have problem with my arms, which get plenty of sun. But, my legs are another story. I'm a 5 minute burner too. Only, however if my legs are directly exposed to the sun. My theory is that fat people's legs are generally in the shade because our more rotund bodies act like umbrellas. Therefore, when they are exposed to direct sunlight, even for short periods of time, they burn easily. I can't wait till I get skinny to test my theory for myself!

Dashroo, Sorry to hear you're still in so much pain. If you are worried about one of your incisions, I would talk to your primary care. In the worse case, you can go to a local ER. They have to treat you. Unfortunately, I have heard that if your insurance does not cover the procedure, they won't cover any complications. It's too bad so many of us are forced to go out of the country for this kind of help. It's a real Catch 22. I didn't really have to stay on a clear liquid diet. My Dr. told me I could have Protein shakes and anything else that I can fit through a straw as soon as I got home. So, for me, yogurt smoothies and cream Soups have been on the menu from the beginning. My husband took Susan's advice and pureed up some bean with bacon soup for me tonight, but, unfortunately, it stayed on the stove too long while his meatloaf finished cooking and burned--maybe tomorrow. The soup night is usually at a local restaurant. I don't think a location has been decided on yet. We'll let you know. I really do hope you feel better. I'll PM you with my phone number if you want to talk.

Hi All, Vitamines are the worst for me. I tried the chewables; before surgery thank goodness because they made me vomit. They are too big to chew well and get down quickly. Liquid Vitamins aren't much better but, if I chase it with some Water and a piece of gum, I do ok. I take it over the sink because if I tast it at all, I gag so bad it might not stay down.