msdollaz

Hi there, Sorry, like everyone else for the long pause in posting. The holiday are just torture on a schedule! I too have found it harder around the holidays. I think the key is just protein - if you focus on protein it will all work out. Speaking of..I started with a personal trainer and we were working on "core" exercises which involved rolling on the balance ball on my stomach..the next day I was super sore and then I remember it probably wouldn't be a good idea with the port for those types of exercises - so trainer gave me a bunch more. I also have some exciting news. I've been appointed by examiner.com to write the Boston Surgical Weight Loss Examiner! It can be found here: Boston Surgical Weight Loss Examiner Be sure to subscribe! I'd love to know what topics you would like to see written about and what you think other banders might like to know as well. I'll try to check in again before the holidays to see how everyone is doing!

Sorry - had my dates wrong..I'm so busy at work, I can't keep things straight. I had the fill on Tues. Lana (Dr. R's asst) told me to do 1 day of liquid (the protein shakes kill my stomach), 1 day of mushies and then back on reg. so that is what I did. No, it doesn't seem to change based on what I eat. Maybe I'll start the process again. liquid-mushy-reg. I had this problem after surgery as well with the protein shakes..they just tear up my stomach.

Hi Everyone, Sorry it's been some time since I've posted but I haven't really had anything to talk about. I do now! So, I had my surgery May 13, 2009. I've never had a fill until yesterday! I never needed one - I've lost 56 lbs without a fill. I still lost another 7lbs but I'm eating more for sure so I pushed for the fill. I did the liquid for 1.5 days, mushies and now I'm back on reg. however, I've noticed about 1-2 hours after I eat I'm getting the worst pain in my stomach and shoulder - so I know it's gas pain. Last night, I thought it might be hunger pain, today I realize it can't be hunger pain - I just ate a little over an hour ago. Does anyone know what it could be? Am I eating to fast and it just takes that long to catch up with me?

They just ask you a bunch of questions about your medical history and take lots of blood.

Hey all, just checking in...I'm always reading even though I might not respond. I went in for a my second fill today..and once again..I didn't get one. Dr. Robinson says I'm loosing it a bit to fast about 3.5 lbs per week. So in 12 weeks (3 months), I've lost 41 lbs - with no fill. I'm not quite sure what this means. I read that many people are frustrated with not getting return calls from Dr. R's office - I hear you. This morning I was running WAY late for my appointment and I couldn't even get through to anyone to let them know. I do think Jennifer gets the messages and listens to them - I just think she is really overwhelmed with everything. I'm doing fine otherwise, I just tend to get some gas pain when I don't eat enough throughout the day. I haven't really started working out yet - I need to. Only if there was enough time in the day! I really enjoy reading about what everyone is going through. Keep the posts coming.

I find that if you call her around 9am - you can get her on the phone. I was trying to get an appt with the nutritionist and she would never call me back so I just emailed Sari Kalin directly and she got me an appt. I think since Jennifer is pregnant - she is loosing her umph a little. I find calls go unreturned as well. I would just keep calling and calling and calling until she either answers or calls you back. If you have Dr. R's email - email him! I understand you may not want to throw Jennifer under the bus but there comes a point when you have to do what you have to do! Singing..no I'm not hungry really. I'm just neurotic about the diet.

It's been awhile since I've posted..I've just been so busy lately. I just returned from my second post-op with Dr. R and it went good - or he thought it did anyway. At my first appt after surgery, I had lost 17 lbs. It's been 3.5 weeks since that appt and my clothes don't fit - I'm down two sizes in pants. This morning I got on the scale and it was only down 8 lbs. I thought for sure it would be more than that. That brings my total in 7 weeks to 32 lbs. Dr. R said this was going a bit fast and so he didn't give me a fill. I was kind of bummed but I'm having issues getting all the food in as it is and he said that I didn't need a fill because I was losing and I need to eat more. On a side note, how many of you have scales at home? I don't. I only weigh myself at his office - but I'm contemplating buying one. What do you think?

Can anyone recommend a good skin firming lotion? Someone told me I should get something with collagen in it to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Any advice?

It's totally gas pain. I'm 4 weeks out from surgery and I still have gas pain in my left shoulder. Try taking liquid tylenol - it's not as imparing as the liquid narcotics you might have been prescribed. The heating pad is key! Put a heating pad on where ever you have gas pain. It rocks! Gas-X won't help because the gas is not in your intestinal tract.

Yes, I have 5 incisions as well. The nurse told me to leave the bandages on until they fall off - which I did and that was about 3 weeks. And now for the good news..I lost 17lbs!!! in three weeks!! that is amazing. I cried on the scale. I tried not to because I don't want them to think I'm unstable, but I'm pms-ing and it was impossible to hold them back! Dr. R was very happy. He said I did great! It's all starting to pay off now.

Singin..I feel your frustrations with Dr. R's office. I have found that if you call around 9am you can usually get Jennifer on the phone. Also, if it is a nutrionist question - Sari is great via email if that is who you are with. Congrats on getting banded - WALK AROUND A LOT. It is the only thing that will help that gas pain. Recently, from advice on the boards, I learned that putting a heating pad on your belly can also help the gas and it does! It works like magic. I go tomorrow for my first appt since surgery. My incisions are healing quite nicely. I'm really hoping to get on the scale and have lost some weight! I've been taking my measurements and those are good and I have been sticking to the stage 2 and now stage 3 diet like clockwork. The only area where I sometimes fail is in getting all the liquids in. I'll let you know tomorrow how I do.

be sure to keep your measurements as well. Even thought you aren't loosing weight, you could be shedding inches!I take my once per week - and I only get on the scale at the dr. office. If I weighed myself at home I would constantley be fretting about the weight. Why cause yourself the added stress? I'm an emotional eater so for me, the less stress the better!

The rule of thumb my doctor told me is if it is smaller than your pinky finger nail - then it is fine to take. Your REAL finger nail - I wear fake nails so my doc got a good laugh out of that. You could always try milk of magnesia - just make sure to get the kind without sorbitol. It works the same as the pills.

Hi - I got banded 9 days ago and I'm still having a considerable amount of gas pain. Did other people have this? I have stopped having milk based Protein shakes and I'm just on the lactose free kind now - 5 a day. I called my doctor this morning and she said to cut the Protein Shakes in half and try having some Soups like chicken noodle. I've been taking 2 gas-x per day and it helps a little bit. Also, how long after surgery are you sore for - weeks or months??

I don't think I'm lactose..I've been drinking the milk based shakes okay. I don't think I'm drinking a lot of aspartame..my diet consists of: Glucerna, Atkins Advantage Shakes, unjury, Carnation Instant, and Trader Joes World Protein. For Water, I'm drinking Fruit 2 0, Propel and regular water with some sugar free Jello mixed in.

I'm doing much better now. It's been 6 days since I got banded and when they say it takes 5 days to recover -- it does! I never should of come to work yesterday but I had to in order to prepare for a presentation this week. But, then last night (the 5th day) it was like I had turned a new leaf and I'm feeling much better! I have a few questions for those banded: 1) how long did you continue to have gas pain? I'm still having it rather bad (although it only comes on in the afternoon) and I just take a gas-x to help relieve the pain. 2) sorry this question is kind of gross - but how long are you running for the bathroom? (not to urinate) and how long does the diarrhea last? 3) Are you supposed to be adding Protein (unjury - which I love btw) to Carnation Instant Breakfast? Thanks in advance for your answers! p.s. can anyone tell me why my photo doesn't show up? I've uploaded it about a gazillion times and it never shows up!

I GOT BANDED!! on Wednesday. I am in so much pain!! Went on on wednesday morning everything went smoothly. Got up to the room and I was seriously nauseas. The gave me medicine to fix that. Made it through the day with a 6 on the pain scale. Went to be (or tried to it's virtually impossible to sleep in the hospital). Got up -- holy GAS pain. The gas really hit me on Thursday. I have never been in so much pain. I am still trying to relieve the gas..they say walking around helps. I must have walked a mile around that hospital and it didn't work. FINALLY, got released around 5pm went to the pharmacy and apparently very few places have the liquid oxycontin. So, my husband had to drive all over trying to find it. They also gave me suppository to help with nausea. I had to "take" two of those when I got home - so buy some plastic gloves before your surgery. I'm up now, and just had my first shake..It's going pretty well so far. But, up to now, I've had that "What in the hell did I do??" feeling. Post more soon.

Singin - I got the unjury online. So, I'm pissed. my employer just told me they are switching to Blue Cross on June 1. This doesn't effect my surgery because it is May 13 but what about the follow-ups? Does anyone have Blue Cross HMO Blue? How does it work with the fills? I LOVE Harvard Pilgrim and I am really bummed that we are switching. I'm also really nervous that this is going to cost me an arm and a leg!

So, I can't remember if I posted this or not, but when I went in last week for my "final" appt before surgery - I had gained 4 lbs. Dr. Robinson was not happy and told me I had to lose it by today or else my surgery would be postponed. I went today and I lost SEVEN!! So, I am a go for May 13th! yay! K8 - the psych is a JOKE! make sure you leave yourself enough time because she schedules 3 appts at the same time and takes you in order of arrival. and luv2tch was right, answer yes, to everything, except of course "Do you hear voices?" and "Do you want to hurt yourself or others?" lol. I've determined that I am one hell of an emotional eater. Since I have been doing the pre-op diet since last Wednesday, I have had some emotional battles and boy, what I wouldn't give for a cheesburger! But, I'm actually liking the shakes. luc2tch - I think it was you who recommended Unjury. I got the chocolate, vanilla and raspberry sorbet. I also like the Atkins Advantage Strawberry - yum! I don't like EAS carb control - they taste like bad water. The Trader Joe's World Protein is good, if you pour it out of the can and then there is always my fav, Carnation Instant Breakfast..or CIB as I write in my food diary.

I just want to thank everyone for being on this board. I find all of the information SO helpful. I go tomorrow for my pre-op and last meeting with Dr. R before surgery! I'll let you know how it goes.

"thinking" - I'm scheduled for May 13th too!! Maybe they can put us in the same room post-op! I'm going to the group tonight - I look forward to meeting everyone!

I think I am going to go the Brigham group on Tuesday. Is anyone else going?