JenFenRen

Most of the shakes are too sweet for me as well. I cannot stomach any of the vanilla or chocolate or strawberry shakes. I can handle the Atkins Dark Chocolate Royale (not as sweet) and the Mocha Latte. They have 15 g Protein, and 2 g sugar. They are not the highest Protein drinks out there, but definitely tolerable. Also, I will take the dark chocolate royale, put it in the blender with a half a banana, and some milk, and ice cubes and add in unflavored protein. The unflavored does not bother me at all. I got the GNC brand unflavored. And, I try to put it in everything.

I am only 10 days post op.. and am already seeing the benefits! I have lost - dry mouth from diabetes. I have lost - frequent thirst from diabetes. I have lost - frequent urination from diabetes. This was my entire reason for having surgery, getting healthy, and even if I never get to my goal weight, losing these side effects make it all worth it!

I am 10 days post op and am starving all the time. I feel my tummy rumbling and usually am hungry soon after I eat. You are lucky your Dr advanced you, mine denied me. 3 more days on liquids... ;(

I too, was coughing, and my surgeon's nurse told me that they sew the stomach around the band, so there is very little chance of slippage. Additionally if you have pain meds with hydrocodone in them (like Vicodin, Lortab, etc), it also acts as a cough supressant in addition to a pain reliever.

Yogurt is on my list, as a liquid. As is sugar free pudding. And when I was in the hospital, he mistakenly told the nurse I was a bypass patient (which I am not) and ate both yogurt and cottage cheese in the hospital. My port bothers me (I was banded 9/21), not pain, mostly uncomfortable. Tomorrow I am going to wear a long line bra (or something that is tight around the tummy area) to help with that. Reclining does help. It DOES get better. I thought I had been hit by a major case of the flu the day after I was released when it turns out it was just the anesthesia. Walk as much as you can, it helps. And make sure to get the liquids in as much as you can, dehydration is BAD. I am so EXCITED to be on this journey! You will be too, IT DOES GET BETTER.

My Dr prescribed liquid Lortab (same as Vicodin), though I only used it the day I got home.

Excellent point Kiz! I live by myself so had I left the first night, I would have had to stay with a family member which would have meant NOT sleeping in my bed! As it was, I spent the second day walking the halls at the hospital. My Dr doesnt do rounds until 3pm, so I wasnt discharged until after that...

I didnt have a choice either, had to stay overnight. And, I would do it again. It was easier on my family, having the peace of mind knowing that I was in good hands.

I got banded 9/21 and felt crappy the first couple days (effects from anesthesia and the like) and now, I feel fine. I would listen about not lifting anything (like the bins that shipments come in (I worked as a tech for a long time)) but other than that you should be ok. Just make sure to stay extra hydrated!

I have 6, one was for a benign tumor to be removed so I am a little unsure what the extra one is for!

Thank god! I cannot take anymore sweet stuff and I am STARVING, FAMISHED! I think if I could just add cottage cheese and eggs, I would be ok.... And I have lost a pound a day since surgery, I need more nutrition!

I cheated twice pre-op, once for pizza and once for a cheeseburger.... and boy oh boy did I get a lecture post surgery. Apparently my liver was fatty, really fatty.. so much so that the nurses were trying to convince the surgeon to cancel surgery. He didn't and I am grateful! Stick to it, your surgeon may not be so forgiving!

Hello all I was banded yesterday and feel like I have been hit by a mack truck! Or that I have the flu, which I am sure is not the case. It is just that every muscle or joint in my body hurts. Which, I am sure is the gas that they pumped into my body. Apparently my liver was REALLY fatty. Which makes me feel awful, cuz I cheated twice on the pre-op, once for pizza and then had a cheeseburger for my "last meal" the day before surgery. But I still managed to lose 14 lbs. I dunno what to feel. I think I am going to hit the sack tonight, cuz all I am doing is sleeping on the couch, and then start tomorrow as a new day. The first day of the rest of my life! So far, so good!

Ok I know that this is gross, but has anyone banded this week had a bowel movement yet? I am having problems discerning the port pain vs hunger pangs vs gas in the bowels.... Have you taken a laxative? And if so, which one?

I just got banded Monday and put some stuff in the blender for liquids and it was really tasty! 1 container of Atkins Vanilla Shake (11oz) 2 Tablespoons of cashew butter 10 frozen banana slices 4 ice cubes 4 oz 1% milk scoop and a half of unflavored protein powder Blend until smooth, I drank maybe 6 oz, so there is enough left over for 3 more 6 oz treats... I need savory stuff now, I am sick of the sweets already!

hmarko - that is exactly what I feel! And to top it all off, I am coughing from fall allergies! At this point, I dont care too much because I KNOW that this is the right decision for me!

I have had it on many occasions. Pre-op I would eat it at Ted's Montana Grill and frankly, it tasted just like beef to me. Both the pot roast, and the burgers were delicious! I have seen it at the grocery store and have bought bison burgers before. Just be careful because they are so lean that they could end up too dry for you.

Thanks for the props everyone! So excited for this journey! Gonna go have some ff cream of chicken soup now!

I am type 2 and take Glucovance 500 2x daily. However, I do not test my blood sugars daily, only every 3 months with the A1C. My Dr said that some patients even leave the hospital not needing meds anymore! This is my whole reason for doing the surgery, I do not want to have this disease anymore! Hopefully I will not needs meds in a couple of weeks, I get banded Monday morning at 7:30am!

I have a cold, and a slight cough and am scheduled to be banded on Monday. No fever, and have started antibiotics and cold medicine... anyone's surgeon say no because of this?

123crod, did you crush your sleeping pill when you got home from surgery? I am curious because I take one too, and they are small, but I didnt know if you could crush them...

For those of you taking Glucophage, have you considered changing to Riomet? It is liquid metformin. go to www.riomet.com to read more!

Congrats Greg! I am on day 2, yesterday wasnt so bad with the holiday and running around, but today was tough! I am looking forward to a sugar free popsicle (they are "free" on my pre-op) in a couple of hours!

I too, have had major surgery in the past, and my hair fell out for a while, I just woke up one morning and there was a bunch on the pillow. I dont think that it is specific to band patients, I think it has something to do with the trauma your body is going through. I read something that your hair is falling out all of the time, in cycles, and something about the major surgery makes 2-3 of your cycles clash. Which is the reason that it seems like you are losing a ton of hair, when in actuality you are losing the same amount of hair, just in a shorting time. Dunno if it is true...

I know that this is a crazy question because every BODY is different, but I am thinking towards the future and buying something to fit into by Christmas. So, how much did you weigh when you were wearing an 18? Or a 16, 14 etc.... I am being banded on Sept 21 at Central DuPage Hospital by Dr Vallina and am so excited over what is to come!