heidi8

No, not a one! My stomach started to cramp last Friday at about 10:15, and by 11 it was so painful I could hardly walk. My doctor says I must have had smaller bouts before this, but none that I noticed at all. At least it won't happen again!

I've dropped about 30 pounds since I was banded in November, and nine days ago I had a terribly, sudden pain across my abdomen. The next morning, I went to the ER where they diagnosed pancreatitis, and I ended up having my gall bladder removed five days ago. I went home within about 24 hours, and while I've been feeling pretty run-down since then, I'm definitely on the mend, and feeling much, much better than I did five days after my lap band was installed.

I was a full fledged diet coke head for years - since Baby #3, I've limited it to three a day, but I always had those three each day. Since the day I was banded, I haven't had a sip, and I miss it a little, but not enough to risk band-slippage.

You do need to ask your doctor and nutririonist, and I am only 10 days post-op, but I've spiced at least one thing every day since my third day post-op. I've used tabasco, wasabi, curry powders and lemongrass and everything's been fine with me! Good luck, and I hope you don't have to give it up either.

Has your doctor okayed protein "bullets" like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/IDS-Liquid-Protein-Fruit-Punch/dp/B000RZ91M6">these</a>? You might be able to get away with mixing one into a large bottle of water and drinking it throughout the day, if your doctor says yes. I don't love the shakes either, but these fruit punch shots, mixed in with water (or in my case, lemonade) work very well for me.

Thanks, everyone! I am feeling better today than I did yesterday - still a little achy and not my normal energy levels, but I'm not completely woozy like I was yesterday for most of the day. And I managed a walk around Target with a friend! More lemonade crystal light for me!

I'm five days post-surgery this morning, and while I don't ache at my incision sites anymore, I still feel pretty week. Is it just that I haven't gotten all the anesthetic out of my system yet? Is it ongoing caffeine withdrawal? I've had 45 - 50 g of protein each of the last two days so that's probably not it, but I'm wondering when I'll feel normal again.

I am only two days ahead of you, which I know means I have very little knowledge of what is to come - but I felt *horrible* on Thursday, and slept most of the afternoon away, but now, I feel pretty good. No, I couldn't run any distance and I can't pick up anything heavy yet, but my energy is coming back and I don't feel completely washed out anymore. Don't over-do it. If you need to take a light day on Monday, do so, so you recuperate as best you can. And take it very, very easy this weekend. And I hope by Monday you feel as good as I do today.

I had the same issue this morning - woke up at about 5 AM with major hunger pains. It's the first time I've felt any hunger since I was banded on Wednesday - so, I'm four days post-op, and it aches. It calmed down with Water - about 10 ounces - and I'm going to have some Soup shortly. But you know, I'm down seven pounds so far, so it's feeling very, very worth it!

He banded me yesterday and he was fantastic at my initial consult and at my surgery yesterday, but obviously, I haven't lost anything yet, so check with me again in a week or two for more. I feel fantastic, though- took a long nap today but am not too uncomfortable at all!

Wow, only three days left until I go in for my surgery! I had my last test - an upper GI/esophogeal scan - on Thursday, and have been given a final okay from the doctor, so as of Wednesday evening I will be (God willing) banded and safely home. Important Fact: Never go for your blood draw and EKG the day before an important and world-changing election - you'll be too nervous to relax completely! But a good lab tech will get the blood into the tubes painlessly. I've stocked in Soup and Jello for the first few days, but I am worried about getting a no-caffeine headache if I don't have my usual Diet Coke for Breakfast. Maybe if I de-bubble it by opening it up the night before, I can have a few tablespoons, which would be enough to avoid the worst of the headache. Any thoughts along those lines, or suggestions?

Squee, my first post on these forums and I get to be helpful! I suggest checking out the menus at WDWIG/AllEars - you can see a menu for each of the counter service restaurants - and you can get things like grapes at the pushcarts all around the Parks - they have Dole froze-fruit bars, too. In EPCOT, I definitely recommend visiting The Land - they have a wide range of healthy and fantastic foods there. You also might want to bring some portable Protein that you can mix into Water along the way, and you're allowed to bring your own water bottles into the park, but don't overdo it because you don't want to lug multiple heavy bottles around.