jcbydesign

:nervous I need to suggestions for my first 'real foods'. Kinda scared about this and also would like some yummy suggestions. Thanks a bunch!

Welcome to wonderland. The first weeks are touch and easy...weird to say that but it's true. Just follow the rules to the letter and you'll be fine...whenever you are sick to death of soup...come here and vent! I'm looking forward to next week when I can have real food..

Oh Sweetie, We have all been there, tried every diet known to man...usually several times. Good...lose some weight and then POW! up we go and usually gain a few just to punish ourselves or something. I am only in my 5th week out and I would do this again in an instant. I haven't even had a fill yet and I can't eat as much as before, my head hunger is getting better and I've lost 12.5 inches with only a 5 pound drop. Once you make up your mind than don't second guess yourself. Only tell people who will support you...and we'll all here for you.

I need to do my final shopping before surgery. :biggrin1: What did you stock up on so you'd be prepared for when you come home? I noticed some brands of popsicles say sugar free and some say No sugar added....which ones should I buy? Did you all drink apple and grape juice? It's on my doctors list but I was surprised. Isn't there too much natural sugar in them? Any SF brands of puddings better than others? I don't like Yogurt..(yucky after taste) so any suggestions for a substitute? Now that it's almost here I am getting a little nervous about what to put in my new bander tummy during those first three weeks of fluids. :hungry:

That's the same 'talk' we've always gotten...just exercise more and stop eating. Well, if we could do that we'd be thin. I remember that I was at that weight for years...always unhappy and trying to lose that weight. If lapband had been available to me then I would have done it in a heartbeat! Why wait until you're over 200lbs? I'd do it now and get rid of the problem sooner than most of us. You don't have to tell everyone you know that you are getting the surgery.

If I am remembering correctly the first fills are done with a proctor doctor there to make sure nothing goes wrong. So, I'd check to see if he will be soloing or if he will have an experienced lapband instructor with him. If he's going to be proctored i wouldn't worry about it. JMHO...

OK, I'm on my second week of mushies (surgery May 23rd) and ever since I lost the initial weight gain after surgery (went from 207 before surgery to 215 day after) I have not lost anything. I go up and down the same two or three pounds. Anyone else had this same problem? I have one full week left on mushies and then on to real food for two weeks before I get a fill. I am discouraged even though I keep telling myself that I am only in Bandster Hell but is it normal not to lose anything when you aren't eating too many calories? Seeking reassurance. :think

Need help quick....:help: I got out my diet instruction pack and after all the lists of what to eat, etc. on the mushy stage they do not state anywhere how much to eat at a time. Nor any mention of calories (I know this is a healing stage but shouldn't we be limiting the calories, too?) I called my doctors office but something is wrong with their phone and it keeps hanging up on me! I emailed but no answer as yet. Please, any help would be fantastic. Also, do you substitute the Protein shakes for a meal or consider then a between meal snack? Thanks...:hug:

Where do you find them? I've never seen them at my supermarket. Thanks...

This is for those who have a medical alert bracelet or charm. What do you have engraved on them? Thanks

Must be normal because I've had the same thing...I am 17 days out and it's getting better but still happens if I have more than 1 cup of soup at a time. I think these are all normal for the healing stages. :straight

Just a little reminder that the reason bypass patients lose so much weight is that their body doesn't obsorb a lot of the nutrition from the foods they eat...they have had a portion of their intestine bypassed...secondly they can't eat very much at a time. I think your determination is fabulous and being newly banded I hope you and me, too can do that. But don't beat yourself up if your body can't lose that fast even if you are perfect. As long as it's coming off...you'll be a winner!

When I left the hospital I had gained 9 pounds...poof! I am 17 days post op now nd have lost that water weight and gone up and down two to three pounds since then. Can you say disappointed? I know, I know...this is the healing time but I can't help but wish I'd suddenly drop five pounds. I drink about the same things everyday...but up and down it goes! I am hoping that perhaps when I am on mushies (Monday - yea!) that this will change.

That's a great idea. Personally I hate the bracelets that are full of beads. I've love one that's classier? Simple yet beautiful? Janey

I also read that she has gained most of her weight back. Too sad that she couldn't break the food addiction...perhaps she also couldn't adjust to the new her. Sometimes that's the hardest part of this journey...learning to love and accept and feel comfortable in our new bodies. Janey

For me it's Angelina all the way...gorgeous, thin, muscular...wow! Janey

I don't think people notice things like that as much as we think they do. Most of our scars aren't very large, even if they look big to you. I say WEAR IT! Janey

I am am 15 days post op and I am 58! Since they didn't have it when I was younger I am making up for lost time. I don't want to get all sorts of age/fat related illnesses. I have this nightmare about being old, sick and so fat that I need help with daily living...shudder! I want to be a happy active thin oldster someday. There are lots of us being banded in the over 50 category. Janey

This is a great idea since we are all on basically the same level of recovery and share the same 'pains'.... My instructions for the first two weeks is anything you can drink through a straw..including cream soups if they are strained. Well, I strained some potato soup and added a little Carb Conscious fat free milk to thin it. BIG MISTAKE! Wretched feeling and a slightly painful sensation on my left upper abdomen. It also seemed to make me dehydrated...kept drinking Water but still felt 'dry' mouthed. Today it will be clear all day. Sigh....this isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Janey

This was much easier and much worse than I imagined. Gas pain is very bad...couldn't have imagined how much it would hurt. Very small neat incisions though. They had a hard time getting me breathing in recovery...I remember gasping "I can't breath" several times...and people working over me. Then the next thing I remember is walking up in my room with my daughter holding my hand. Evidently I am sensitive to the morphine and I was halucinating...for hours! I kept opening my eyes and wondering where that nice dog/cat/person went. Samantha was scared but the doc said all they could do was wait it out. So, once that stopped I was able to realize just how much pain I was in....youch! Drive home wasn't too bad. I'm off to take more pain meds and crawl back into bed. :bored Thanks for all the prayers. Janey

Anyone have the burning when they move to get up or sit down...it's slightly better today but wondering how many people experienced this burning instead of pain? Still feel very tired :tired: Bloated...shoulder pain from gas...I've been taking GasX every four hours...but doesn't help much. Walking around the house a lot...then sitting then walking and then laying down, etc. I am doing OK on the liquids...just sipping a lot but not getting in nearly as much as they recommend....did anyone the first few days? For example this morning I have half cup of water and half cup of broth for 'breakfast'....sound OK? Thanks guys...you are a BIG help in keeping me calm and focused. Janey

Thanks everyone...feeling better today except for the gas pain...wish I could belch it out or something. Still some burning but not as much. sipping my liquids and walking around the house. Still not hungry...that's good!

I had not quiet so easy a time. They had a tough time getting me breathing and then I was so sensitive to the meds that I was hallucinating...quite entertaining I guess. My incision areas and the port area burns when I move and I've got a lot of gas pain. More today than yesterday. Guess it's moving..but I also think I have some gas in my stomach from the protein. Other than that I feel pretty good. I would do it again in a second. So, none of you hesitate if you're on the edge. I am not hungry at all...weird since I haven't had an real food for since Monday and that was just liquids. I keep wondering when I'll feel hungry again....not that I miss it or anything! Janey

I'm leaving tomorrow for Burlingame. Surgery is 6:30 am on Tuesday. Whoo-hoooo. Save a seat on the loser's team 'cause I'm joining up. :bounce:

May 23rd is three days away and I am getting excited. :thumb: I'm as ready as I can be....I think. Gulp. Nervous, sort of, but mostly anxious for the big day to get here. Three cheers for us May babies...