avanderhoof

We have a place called Tropical Smoothie Cafe here, and you can ask for slenda instead of turbinado (the sugar they use). You can also get soy or whey Protein. I get a 24oz orange passion with splenda and whey protein. It has calories and 27 grams of protein. They work out well on the liquids stage and if you are out and need something, but would rather not venture into a drive thru.

I am not much further along than you are in this journey. I can tell you though that, for me, I was only like that for the first 3-4 days. I can now drink normal drinks without problem. I think this is due to the swelling around the pouch right after surgery. Kind of like mock band restriction. Not the real deal, just a short term deal. I was wondering though when you have good restriction are you back to sipping?

I could have written that post. I was down 15 pounds on my pre-ops. I am 8 days post-op now and I haven't lost anything. According my crappy $20 drugstore scale I have actually "gained" 1.5 pounds. I'm not sure how much faith in that number, but geez it feels crappy. Especially when I am still on post-op full liquids and not taking in more than 800ish calories a day. :tt2:

I haven't had a fill yet, as I am newly banded, but you don't get get put under for fills do you? I thought there may or may not be a number and then the fill was done in the office. That freaks me out, someone please calm my fear here.

I have 3 kiddos myself. Ages 6, 2, and 1. I know the feeling of wondering who is going to do the highchair lifts, bathing, bedtime, boo-boos, ect. My DH works from home, so it has been great to have him here. With that being said, my doctor, and it does change with your surgeon, said 2 weeks no lifting over 10 pounds. Period. No grocery bags, weights, laundry hampers, anything. I would check with your doctor and ask what the minimum time is, and if you feel ok at that time then go for it. If he says 2 weeks and at that time it hurts to do any lifting I would still hold off. As for pain meds. I was off mine all together by day 5. I think that day 4 and 5 I just took them at bedtime to help with port pain while I was getting settled.

:mad2: CONGRATS!

I feel for you, I didn't have terrible gas pain. (Port pain is another story :mad2:) I have heard that gasX works well for this, but it is very normal.

Not all doctors have the same post op diet. I was only ony clear liquids the day of surgery and then moved to full liquids the next day. I was allowed low fat yogurt on day 2. I didn't have any of those problems though. My advice would be make sure you get some protien in somehow and call the doctor as soon as you can to make sure everything is ok. I am newly banded, 1 week today, and I would call the doctor for any question that serious. Not being able to swallow is a big deal. I wouldn't leave the answer to that up to an online forum. Sorry, that's just my opinion.

:mad2: I will be watching for this answer!

Not that I an alcoholic or anything but this is nice to know. As a 25 year old woman it is nice to know that when I go to a bar with friends and everyone is singing kareoke (sp?) and puonding down drinks I know that I don't have to make 1 drink last 4 hours.

I am 6 days post op and I am nervous. I am starving. Half the time it is head hunger and half the time it isn't. It sucks. I hope that eventually I will have restriction, but if it takes a good 5 fills thats still another 6 months which means that yet again I am on a crappy diet that will fail. I have never managed to use will power for 6 months to lose weight. I am scared that if I can't the the full feeling I am going to eat whatever, whenever. The first 3 days were AMAZING! I was way tight. It took me over an hour to drink an 8 oz Carnation Instant Breakfast. I assume the sweeling around my stomach went down, and now this is how it will be for a while. Am I the only paranoid one that feels like this right after surgery? I can't have soft food for another 8 days. I'm going to pull my hair out. :tongue2:

Thanks for your answers. And I thought of one more question....Do most people lose weight at this stage or does that not really kick in until after the first fill? I weight today, granted on a $20 home scale, and I haven't lost a single pound. I have maybe had 8000 calories in the last 7 days and the scale hasn't moved a bit!

I am 1 week post op today, and I have some questions. At first I was amazingly restricted and it took quite some time to get anything. I'm not so lucky now. As I have posted in another thread I think that I am losing some of that swelling around my stomach, and therefore not feeling as tight. My question is how much should I be consuming at one setting? I am on full liquids which include cream Soups, skim milk, SF FF pudding, and anything that was on my clear liquid list. Should I be limiting myself to 1/2 c at a time? Honestly I could likely eat a lot more, but haven't ever pushed myself to do so. Also, how many times a day should I be eating? I am only having something 3 times per day right now just because I thought that is what I should be doing. I am making sure to get my protien in by using beneprotien powder. I feel hungry in between times to "eat", but have just been shoving in the Water. Which leads me to my next question. Is it okay that I can drink a 20 oz water in 30 minutes or less? I'm certainly not chugging it, but I don't feel bad or anything if I'm not sipping it. Lastly, if I don't fell pain when eating or drinking does that mean that the bite size/drink size is acceptable and won't do damage to my band? I thought I asked all my questions before surgery, but obviously not. :blushing: Thanks so much for everyone's supprt and answers.

I had surgery on Wed and was back to work on Saturday. I work a desk job as well.

I had the same problem. I take Loratab on a regualr basis for chronic knee pain, so I told the doctor that my tolernace for that is more than he wanted to give me. The doctor gave me percocet, but since it only comes in pill form I have to crush them up or cut it in 6ths.

Are you staying over night or out patient? If you an over nighter remember shower stuff and toothbush/toothpaste. I also took magazines b/c I not outpatient.

I have an AP 10 and I am newly banded. I haven't had a fill yet but I understand your hunger. I am so sorry that you are having such a hard time to get some restriction. I hope that someone can step in an adivse you of thier fills on the same band. GOOD LUCK!

I just want to tell you that the weight loss you have in your siggy from your seminar until yourl liquid diet is awesome! :tongue2: That is great to lose that much on your own! Keep it up!

I have PCOS and was just banded on 2/11. I had never considered that this may not work with the PCOS. :tongue2: Now I am flipping out. However, my insurance paid so if I don't lose a lot I'm not out of pocket much. My plan is to keep my carbs as complex as possible and not have too many, just like on a diabetic diet. That is what my Gyno has always suggested.

I was banded on 2/11. I am loving it so far. I either have some restriction or swellling (not sure which) but man, I feel full! I am an "full liquids" and have another week until soft foods. I think I might make it this time :thumbup:

Thanks! I will look into this. I have been using beneprotien, but I think it has a funky taste.

You have to be strong and pull through. I am 5 days post op, and honestly I don't think that I could eat that much. If you are able to eat that much you have to use good judgment and lots of will power. I have told everyone in my family that if I eat more than 1/2 cup of anything that I want to be reminded not to. Maybe you should ask for help the first week or so.

I'm still on full liquids. I had Jell-o :thumbup: but I made crab cakes, lobster tail, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, and dinner rolls. My sister, my boyfriend, and my kids loved it!

I am 5 days post op also, and I am on "full" liquids. I find that the thing that keeps me most full is Cream of Chicken Soup (without the chicken). I haven't really been starving, and if I find that I am hungry I try to determine if it's my head or my belly. I also make sure that I am drinking at least 8 cups of water a day. Are you getting in all of your water?

I am currently 2 days post op, and I HURT! I can't sit too long, and I can't get in and out of bed without help. I can't see myslef flying in the next two days, but I hope that you can if you have to do it. Good Luck!