LonghornGirl

I was close to a pack a day before surgery and was told not to smoke 24 hours before surgery which was difficult (I ended up smoking 3)... the first day and a half wasn't hard because I was resting and it was hot outside (we don't smoke in our house) and I couldn't stand getting overheated... now its almost 2 weeks post op and I have realized that I do smoke alot less (maybe 1/2 pack or less per day)... its hard to quit doing something that you like and frankly I like to smoke... haven't drank in almost a year but never was a big drinker... a night out with friends I might drink 2 beers (I was a cheap date) and I gave that up b/c my son who was 12 at the time asked me to so after my birthday party I just didn't drink anymore... now I've given up double meat double chez burgers and greasy yummy fries so I feel like I've given up 2 outta 3 of the things that I enjoyed and its difficult to give up everything! I think one day I will just stop smoking and that will be that but until that day comes I'm going to enjoy my one and only vice! lol

30 Pounds For the first time in more than 8 months I can finally put on my wedding ring again... :smile: I think it was to the point that my DH thought I just didn't want to wear it anymore... Though he knew I was overweight I guess it never dawned on him that it was a "can't" as opposed to a "don't want to". So what do all of you feel like you have gained since losing?

first off be thankful that you are even able to eat chicken! lol i was banded on 10/07 and am not supposed to have chicken until the 21st and can't have beef or pork til 3 days after my first fill (nov 3rd)... did you get a list of stuff that you can eat over the course of 2-3 weeks post op? maybe you are graduating your food too fast??? my doctor said the stomach needs at least 3 weeks to get back to "normal" and maybe your tummy isn't ready for chicken yet? you might also ask for topical Fenagrin (spelling?)... it really helped me in the first couple of days after surgery but luckily i haven't needed it since then... just take good care of yourself and talk to your dr or nurse regarding foods that you might not be ready for... Best of luck

DH just realized last night that I had my wedding ring on! For a while he was always asking why I wasn't wearing it and then when I finally am able to again, he doesnt notice. MEN!!!!!! :w00t:

This was from my post on Friday regarding BMs (or lack thereof) To upcoming bandsters-some possibly helpful info regarding meds Please speak to your doctor concerning the adverse effects that narcotic (at home) pain meds can have on you. Was banded 10 days ago and when I went for my one week post op had not gone to the bathroom. I guess in all of the excitement of finally being on the road to better health I overlooked the fact that I had not had a bowel movement since the day before surgery. No one ever mentioned to me that the medicine used during surgery and the viacodin/hydrocodone that was sent home with me could cause constipation. Believe me, it can and it does. So before surgery discuss w/ your surgeon what type of OTC meds you can use and when is a good time to start using them. I'd venture to guess that if I had realized the situation I was about to be in I would have started Miralax or Milk of Magnesia (acceptable to my doctor) on day 2 or 3. The pain that is associated with the introduction of gas during your surgery will be 10x worse if you can't go to the bathroom. Just something to put out there so that hopefully no one else has to deal with it. I didn't feel constipated either so maybe that is another reason I didn't think anything of not going... Renee'

My doctor told me that as long as I maintain (or even go over) my required daily Protein requirement that I wouldn't have to worry about it... if you really have major concerns you should speak to your doctor and ask what you can do to keep this from happening... Best of luck on your upcoming surgery! :w00t: Renee' p.s. make sure you are doing your Vitamins also if the doctor tells you to take them

hey RM, still slightly miserable but getting better! I think maybe I didn't realize that I hadn't gone potty. I just wish someone ANYONE would have mentioned it. The doctor said when that feat is accomplished all my pain will go away. So hopefully it will be soon! Remember guys and girls talk to your doctor. I don't want to see any of you in the shape I was (and am still partially in) for the better part of a week!

skylady, best of luck to you! you might miss those sweet treats now but in a few short weeks you might be able to have a small bit and feel better... trust me when i was in my last days of the pre op before surgery my husband and son ate a giant chez burger in front of me (i couldn't have bread or red meat)... i was afraid i'd miss surgery b/c i'd be in jail for beating them both!!!! lol but i know that in just 10 days i'll be able to have some and it will be okay! just keep up the awesome work you are doing now!

do you guys have to modify your diet after a fill? when i was in post op group we were told that the day of a fill that we should go back to liquids for that day and the next and then slowly progress back to wherever we were in the plan. day 3 after fill would be mushies and then day 4 back to regular diet. i guess each doctor gives different info so checking with him/her would be best. best of luck to all of you!

this is my first post since being banded tuesday oct 7th. after surgery i felt so good and was so confident that i had made it then on the day after and yesterday i was in total pain from the gas! you would think if they could pump it in they could pump it out. its horrible! i walk around my pool 15 times every hour and then barely get a tiny burp. and honestly i would rather it go south because it doesn't hurt when you do it that way. :confused: i had voiced a concern to someone about the pain meds and so far i've only taken 7 doses in 3.5 days. even though i never had a problem with hydrocodone before this time it has made me throw up (maybe b/c of empty stomach). i decided to go with children's tylenol and have been okay since. i did take the hydrocodone last night after having a cup of soup and didn't feel bad. post op appt is tuesday the 14th so i hope everything is good. congrats to everyone who had surgery this week!!!

no i will not have to stay overnight... i go in at 630am on tuesday and should be home by the time my son gets off the bus (430pm)... barring any complications that is... clv811 i will add you to my friends list and best of luck to you on your surgery just in case i'm too whiney to send you a msg closer to your date... prayers to everyone getting the band this week!

Just wanted to wish everyone banding on Oct 6th and 7th (my date YEAH) the best of luck... Today is my last day of work for a week (thankfully I have a slacker type job and don't have to do much)... if there is anyone banding on 10/07 I would like to connect with you... Just send a PM... I'm also on myspace so if you have one just let me know and we can trade info... Much love to all of our October Bandsters!!! :tongue2: Renee'

my mother in law had them but she is fairly thin and prob didn't get them for the excercise (?) benefits. i'll ask her what she thought of them though. i do recall her saying they were like $170 at lady foot locker but that was months ago.

Luluc, congrats on completing the 5k and on your amazing weight loss. we were told to be careful of any spaghetti because of its shape. dietician said something about it being hard to get down, said it will bunch up on top of the band and has to change direction before it will go down. maybe that is a precaution. she said to try other shapes (rotini, elbow, etc). let me know if you had any trouble with any spaghetti. i'm italian so its a big deal around our house. thanks!

yes there were 9 of us in the pre op class for Drs Smith and Ferrara. we were told if we had drank a soda that day that is was our last. we were told to do high protein (according to our individual nutrition guidelines) lean meats, eggs, chez, etc, that we could eat all veggies except corn, peas, beans and potatoes, nothing deep fried, no sweets, no alcohol, no bread of any sort (sliced, tortillas, bagels, chips, etc) and at least 64 oz of water a day but we could drink as much non carbonated, sugar free drinks that we wanted. also we could not have any fruits (juices, whole, or otherwise). i started a week earlier because i knew we would be required to do it. i followed my dietician's instructions for high protein, no carbs and lost a total of 14 lbs in 3 weeks but i was also walking a mile 3 times a week which doesn't seem like much but i've had 3 knee surgeries (1 on the left and 3 of the right, 2 of them back to back in less than one year on the right) so for me at my weight that is a good bit of effort. my surgery date is this tuesday oct 7th and i'm so excited!