hookemhorns

Hey all! It's been a while!! Hopefully everyone is doing well. As I write this at 11P, i am STARVING! I can't believe it; I thought that I would never be able to get to 800-1200 cals, and now I'm struggling to keep it within bounds. I can't wait for restriction. Think I'll call the doc to set it up. I am probably eating too much at each setting, and really need to work on keeping it down. This week, I'll go back and read all of the posts that have accrued. Anyone gone for their first fill yet?

Hey there, I'm a 24 yo currently in school in Houston, (went to UT for undergrad obviously!) and got banded last Friday, the 23. I am a bridesmaid in a wedding and have a few questions that I need answers to ASAP! 1) I am headed to Austin for a Bachelorette party on Friday. I am supposed to be transitioning to mushies this weekend, so I'm wondering what I should eat. I am pretty sure I'm just going to go with a broth based Soup, but am wondering how I can keep this surgery discrete... can I chew some of the pieces to a pulp? Are scallops mushie friendly? Are there other liquid/mushie items that I can order at a restaurant? 2) Drinking. The focal event of our friday night. I have no idea what I can do and what I'll physically be able to handle. Regardless, not drinking is not really an option, though I wish it was. Any advice/knowlege would be greatly appreciated. I haven't told any of my girlfriends, and am trying to keep this surgery under wraps for now. Normally I'm the life of the party (and a heavy drinker...obviously) so I'm worried they're going to wonder what's up. The 'foodpoisoning' excuse as of late can only go so far. 3) Bridesmaids dress. Wedding is the following Saturday. I have a corset-like dress that when I tried on preop was tight. Not just normal tight, but sausage casing tight. My incisions are still pretty tender right now, I think my abdomen is swollen, and am worried that I will be in intense pain the entire night. So I ask, how was your pain level 2 weeks post op? Am I going to be able to handle this? Did your swelling go down by then? Thanks everyone in advance. I look forward to many days of losing together ahead!

I posted this in the twenties support group also, and apologize for the double post, but am deserate for answers before friday and I figure I could get a few from some early january bandsters. Hey there, I'm a 24 yo currently in school in Houston, (went to UT for undergrad obviously!) and got banded last Friday, the 23. I am a bridesmaid in a wedding and have a few questions that I need answers to ASAP! 1) I am headed to Austin for a Bachelorette party on Friday. I am supposed to be transitioning to mushies this weekend, so I'm wondering what I should eat. I am pretty sure I'm just going to go with a broth based Soup, but am wondering how I can keep this surgery discrete... can I chew some of the pieces to a pulp? Are scallops mushie friendly? Are there other liquid/mushie items that I can order at a restaurant? 2) Drinking. The focal event of our friday night. I have no idea what I can do and what I'll physically be able to handle. Regardless, not drinking is not really an option, though I wish it was. Any advice/knowlege would be greatly appreciated. I haven't told any of my girlfriends, and am trying to keep this surgery under wraps for now. Normally I'm the life of the party (and a heavy drinker...obviously) so I'm worried they're going to wonder what's up. The 'foodpoisoning' excuse as of late can only go so far. 3) Bridesmaids dress. Wedding is the following Saturday. I have a corset-like dress that when I tried on preop was tight. Not just normal tight, but sausage casing tight. My incisions are still pretty tender right now, I think my abdomen is swollen, and am worried that I will be in intense pain the entire night. So I ask, how was your pain level 2 weeks post op? Am I going to be able to handle this? Did your swelling go down by then? Thanks everyone in advance. I look forward to many days of losing together ahead!

"I like Mapquest" "That's a good one too" "Google Maps is the best!" "...double true!!" Lazy Sunday- Watch the Video

any news on the group yet? I'd love to join!

I found this post through search and am wondering the same question. I am supposed to take a 20 mg Adderall XR everyday, and since being banded I haven't been able to take it (obviously). In every dept other than food, my life has been slightly haywire. I need to be able to get back on my meds, and since this is a non-crushable pill I'm wondering what those with ADD/ADHD have done....

Buying the other girls lots of shots...best (and most expensive) advice ever!! Sounds like you understand the gravity of the situation. haha my god, I am so with you on mourning the beer. I think it's so sad how I'm already thinking about how different superbowl sunday is going to be for me. My bf said the same thing. He's still unsure of this whole thing because it is so new. I'm sure he won't be dissatisfied with the results! call me a guy, but beer and football are...err...were...my staples in life. Guess I'm going to have to find another one.I actually can't drink wine but I will try some of the other options you suggest. Thanks for the comments

Thanks Burgy Telling my girlfriends is definitely on the agenda longterm. I know they'll be supportive, that's not the issue, it's that we are all in school together and them knowing at this stage may jeapordize my future career options... In addition, I'd rather get some weight loss underway to escape some potential critisism and perhaps show everyone that this was a good thing for me before they find out and cheapen what has been the best and hardest thing for me. As for the alcohol- We unfortunately booked a hotel downtown so we don't need a DD (which normally is an awesome thing, but boy do I wish we needed one now!). My doc does allow us to drink a small amt of alcohol at this point if desired, so I will just have to limit and start learning the word 'NO.' Your comments on the dress are encouraging! If I lose a little I may actually be excited to try it on. And thanks for mentioning this....you're right... this WLS is for life. I am in the healing process. The last thing I need to do is to damage my investment or hurt my body.

congrats! Keep up the positive attitude!

I was banded last Friday by Dr. Spivak (woohoo!) and am looking for a support group in the Medical Center area. I was told that Dr. Spivak has a support group for bandsters and am wondering if anyone knows when they are... Whether it's Dr. Spivak's or just a general support group, I'm definitely in need of some familiar faces to walk this journey with! Any help would be appreciated.

illinigirl, I just went through the same thing today. I was in the room with a patient, and despite having just downed a Protein shake, I was feeling so faint I had to sit down in the exam room! I had that warm sweaty feeling, tunnel/spotty vision, the works, and it was miserable. After about 30 min, it passed. Water and fluids- as well as sugars(even a simple hard candy if you can't get anything down) will do a lot to relieve the dizziness. Thankfully today is the first day I can definitively say I am doing better! I still have some constant gas/tightness pain, but today has been the first day that I got a whole bottle of water down in a reasonable amt of time (after the fainting spell of course) and I'm planning on getting all fluids for the first time today. ...Hoping that this is the first sign that things are looking up, and if I can get through this weekend (see thread about bachelorette party) I think I can get through almost anything.

Sharon- sounds like you're doing really well! Best of luck and let us know how the post op apt went Saundra- It appears I'm down about 6 lbs since the surgery, but I am attributing the majority of this to Water loss since I'm still having a hard time getting all of these fluids down. Go us! Good luck with that bean and bacon soup... As for me, I thought I was doing better but it appears this discomfort/tightening/dull pain has no plans of leaving just yet. I am sure part of this is due to swelling and such, but I can't shake the notion that I either have an infection, this is due to abdominal adhesions, or my band slipped due to my violent vomiting episodes the day of surgery. Hypochondriac I know, but I am just HATING this feeling right now and it is actually making me question the surgery. I called my doctor today and they were happy to answer any questions, but I don't have a post op scheduled until 4 weeks out.

my god! you can get 64 oz of water down?!? I could barely fit in 10 oz today. And all of that food? I am really starting to worry that something is wrong with me. When I was just out of the OR Dr Spivak tolk me I had some abdominal adhesions and I'm wondering if this is what I could be suffering from. Colorado it appears you and I are in a similar boat. I'm glad you posted so I know i'm not the only one going through these horrendous feelings. I'm definitely getting that liquidy swooshing dull pain. My incisions aren't too bad, he used dermaband so I'm hoping they heal accordingly. I am in school so I went today...it's not easy when you don't plan on telling anyone about your surgery and you're slowly hobbling around! Anyone else have pain that intensifies upon inspiration?

Thanks for the tips. I drank about 4 oz of a Protein shake...SLOWLY.. (then the other 4 shortly thereafter) and that didn't seem to bring on as severe of pain. I have to admit that the tightness really seems to be there all the time, its intensity in waves. Gas X has given me relief on occasion. I think I must still be drinking/eating too much too fast, and am worried about dilating my pouch!! Honestly, today I didn't feel much better than yesterday, but I'm hoping we all feel brand new tomorrow!!

Hi, I'm new to the website and new to the lap band! Dr. Spivak performed my surgery last Friday and as a physician in training I can tell you that he is top caliber. I would not have undergone the procedure with any other surgeon in the area. In my brief encounters thus far he's been very understanding and very hands on- he even took pictures of the procedure for me (which I thought was awesome.) I do have a question though, and since I'm new I figure I'd just post it here: Does anyone know where/when Dr. Spivak's lap band support groups take place? Also, how long should I wait to visit his office after surgery? I didn't have a barium swallow/chest xray the day of my surgery, and am wondering when most patients go back for a checkup, fill, or whatever.

Hey guys, I'm new here, and I just got banded on Friday as well. Saw this thread and knew it was the place for me! I am happy to see that this hasn't been a cakewalk for everyone also. I am almost done with the sore muscle achiness, its just this tightness in my chest (is this what bandsters call fullness?) that WILL not go away today that is driving me crazy. I've barely drunk anything today, except for about 7 oz of Protein shake, and it's left this horrendously tight feeling in my stomach for the past 4-5 hours. I sure hope it goes away. I also agree with you guys on the lortab...all it does is make me sleep! So I guess I'm just going to take it right before going to bed to get some good solid hours in. I hope recovery comes quick for all of us!