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OMG! I just said the same thing!!! I was like "were there ALWAYS this many food commercials on TV??!?!?!" I mean I knew subway was on all the time with their 5 dollar foot long deals (that is always in my head!!) but I hadn't noticed all the other ones. It is maddening!!! Thank God for being able to DVR shows and fast forward through them all. I'm exactly one week post-op today and though I feel pretty much healed and almost back to normal physically, I'm hungry a lot........can't wait for the mushy phase and real food!

wow! congrats...that is awesome and great to hear as someone who is newly banded!!!

I am feeling VERY blessed reading these posts! I was on the computer the day after my surgery. I just got banded on Feb 11th and I've been back at work since Monday. Granted, it's just a desk job but I just don't feel like I've had a lot of issues thus far (knock on wood). I will admit it is HUGELY embarrassing speaking with clients at my desk (I'm a mortgage consultant) and having my tummy rumble soooo loudly! My significant other suggested I tell people that I am playing those nature-type cd's....and this particular track is of a volcano erupting. LOL. I'd love to stay at home and just veg but when you're 100% commission, sometimes that's not an option. :eek:( And to answer the question, I DO feel bloated and it is STILL uncomfortable sometimes even 1 week post-op. Good luck to you!!!

I'm just recently banded (Feb 11th) but I just wanted to say WOW!!!! 78 lbs in 6 months? You are truly an inspiration!!!! I wonder if getting out a pic of you pre-surgery might help you remember how far you've come and give you a bit of motivation to keep going? I hope you feel better soon....I hope I'm checking back in 6 months from now with even 1/2 the weight loss that you've managed!!!

wow! after reading some of these stories, I feel soo very blessed and fortunate. My surgery was totally smooth. I was banded at St. Luke's in phoenix, AZ. The hospital was pretty old and run down but I was super impressed with each person I interacted with. Admitting was even painless, prompt and efficient. The first nurse who too all my vitals and logged in my belongings was super sweet and and comforting as soon as I told her I was terrified since I'd never had surgery before. As soon as I was settled onto the gurney, the anesthesiologist came by and introduced himself. I told him the same thing I told the nurse...that I was terrified and was scared he'd put me to sleep and I wouldn't wake up again. He made me feel better by telling me that the only time he's ever known that to happen was when there was already trauma such as a car accident, heart attack, etc. Then the anesthetist came by and introduced himself. I asked the difference in their roles and he said one was like the pilot and the other the co-pilot and that instead of having just one person looking out for, I'd have 2. Before Dr. Fang (surgeon) came by, the surgical assistant stopped by. He made me feel the most comfortable of all. He was knowledgeable, confident, professional and a bunch of other complimentary words! By the time Dr. Fang came by to say we were ready, I was feeling 100% better and the fright had turned to excitement. I was wheeled into the OR (which was a bit intimidating!!) and moved from the gurney to the table. I remember my arms being outstretched and saying I felt like I was being laid on a cross and then NOTHING again until i woke up in the recovery room. Like Mr. Rice Guy said, I felt as if I'd time traveled!!! Within minutes of me waking up in the recovery room, I was handed some ice chips and my significant other was there helping me get dressed. My surgery was at 10am and I was home by 1pm!!! That was Wednesday and it's now Sunday. I feel great. Eating full liquids, up walking around and puttering around the house. Going on small walks each day. Very little pain. Going back to work on Tuesday. I am just praying that everything continues this smoothly!!!

Yeah, juice isn't on the list of things I'm allowed to consume either. I'm surprised there is such a variance in what one doctor allows vs another. I see a Protein shakes on many people's lists and whilst i'm allowed to have them, I was told if I felt I just MUST have protein, to use flavorless powder stirred into Soups but that it wasn't recommended and actually even advised against it. Seems like there would be more consistency....

Hola Miriam, I'm just out of surgery myself (this past Wednesday) so I can't help with questions #2 and #3 but as far as the surgery/anesthesia went, it was pretty uneventful. I had never had surgery before so to say I was nervous was an understatement! I asked "what if you put me to sleep and I don't wake up?" The anesthesiologist was super nice and explained that except when a patient was already in bad shape (like a heart attack, car crash, etc), he had never seen that happen. That made me feel a lot better. I don't remember anything from the time I went from the gurney to the operating table until I woke up in the recovery room. They told my significant other that I had come to and was breathing/responding fine but I don't remember any of that. Good luck to you!!

whilst 6 cups of soup is a lot, I was told I could consume freely anything on my "full liquids" list so maybe you're okay. I'm only 4 days post-op so i don't have a whole lot of advice for you but i can sure feel your pain.... Hang in there! tomorrow is another day! try to put this behind you....

Your ticker did work! YAY! I haven't put on jeans yet but I did put on a sun dress (I'm in PHX) and venture out to BestBuy yesterday. I'm planning to go back to work on Tuesday and like you, feel like I'll be fine.... Here's hoping the journey continues smoothly for us. I feel so fortunate that it started out this good....

Hola, I was on full liquids from day 1 (well the day after surgery anyway). My diet is pretty much a yogurt smoothie in the morning and/or runny oatmeal and then a cream soup for both lunch and dinner. Even though they are already "cream of whatever" I still blend them in the blender too. I don't use any protein shake. The nurse who did our "Band Camp" (isn't that a cute name? LOL) said we didn't need them and actually advised against them. I'm not the least bit hungry and I figure I have PLENTY of fat to get through before my body starts looking for protein!! I am doing a 10-15 minute walk each day as well as puttering around the house....not doing anything major but tidying up and stuff. I feel pretty fortunate so far that it's been as easy as it has been and I'm just hoping it stays that way.... As for the ticker....go to tickerfactory.com and pick out the little scale thing, then the marker you want and fill in the info about starting weight, goal weight etc. At the end it will give you some code to cut/paste into whatever you are using (a bulletin board like this or myspace or facebook, etc). I copied it, came here and put it in my "signature" in my profile. Hope that helps!!!

So happy you posted that!!! I am having the same problem and I was banded the same day. I was worried because I was told you can have the opposite problem (constipation). Other than getting up and down, I'm not in any pain.....

Hola! Where are you getting your surgery done? i had mine done on Wednesday (Feb 11th) at St. Luke's. The hospital seemed run-down but the staff was top notch! I was so impressed!!! So far, everything is going well (knock on wood). I haven't had any difficulty eating (full liquids) and the only real pain I've had is just getting up and down from a sitting or laying down position. I'm hoping and praying it continues to go this smoothly. Congrats on your decision and good luck!!!

1. Learn to scuba dive 2. Shop in a non plus size clothing store 3. Stop refusing to have my picture taken