SpideyMom

Interesting. I was told to "give it up." Luckily, I had been slowly doing this over the course of the past year for other reasons, so I just tapered it off quicker than I had been doing. I still long for a fountain Diet Coke, though....the last thing I gave up.

Good luck, Rebecca! Let us know how it goes!

Karebare, I'm sorry to hear that you have lupus. And sarahbellzz, sorry to hear about your arthritis in your hip. I can sympathize with both of you. I have fibromyalgia, which affects all of my muscles and joints, especially my legs and hips. Plus, I have arthritis in my knees. Like you KB, if I'm not careful about my exercise, I will be flat out and on pain meds for days. I was so excited to hear that the pool in my neighborhood in my pool offers Water aerobics in the evenings. I've been looking for an arthritis class, but everything is during the day, when I'm at work. Take it easy and slow, but keep on moving and hang in there!

OMG, are you reading my mind? Not only am I starving, but I'm not losing weight since starting on the pureed foods! What gives? I'm only eating *maybe* 500 calories, so in theory, I should be dropping the lbs like crazy, unless ... could it be... that my body now thinks it is in starvation mode and is holding on to the lbs? My doc told me I could eat 1/2 cup at a time, and if a little later I was still not hungry, eat some more, up to a total of a cup, but to try to load up on Water in between meals. I also do a Protein drink at the start of the day. I'm not big on food right away in the morning, so the choc. drink is just the right thing. Ugh! This is even harder than I thought it would be -- and I knew it would be hard!!!!

I'm pretty sure it does not stick out as you lose weight. When I had my port for chemo, I had it in for 1 1/2 years, and during that time, I gained 65 pounds and then lost 45 pounds. It always stayed exactly the same. I guess they stitch it in just under the skin so that it moves with you.

Yes, Melissa, I'm really glad I've found such a wonderful group of people to help me on my journey! The Mayo Banditos are awesome!

You know the gooey stuff that's left behind after your steri-strips come off? That stuff that won't come off without, say, nail polish remover (as was actually recommended to me).... Well, last night I put neosporin on my incisions and rubbed it all over. Went to bed, and this morning, when I went to put more neosporin on, the gooey stuff wiped right off. I think the petroleum jelly in the neosporin softened the glue overnight so that it came right off! :wink2: I think that's a much better way to get the adhesive off than putting nail polish remover on your skin! HTH!

OMG, I never thought cottage cheese would taste like heaven! LOL Today is my first day off of liquids and I'm eating cottage cheese! Funny thing is, despite how many times I chew it, it feels like it's getting stuck in my throat -- not my band. I'm dying to take a sip of water!!!!:smile:

WOW, John, congratulations! Your previous measurements are where my dh is now, and your current measurements are where my dh was when I met him. LOL I'm really hoping that when I lose weight it will be a good influence on him. I love him regardless, but I worry about his health. He has a lot of problems that he ignores. Good luck with the travel! Keep up the good work! :wink2:

Don't know about the sex thing... too afraid to try yet, but I do know that the port is supposed to be right under your skin. I had a port several years ago when I went through chemotherapy for breast cancer. It needs to be near the surface so they can insert the needle when they give you the fill. You'll get used to it. :wink2: It is weird at first, though!!

I use unjury Protein powder, and they just sent me a few recipes by email. I'm going to try the chocolate mint today! Hope these help give you an idea: OR-UNJURY berry smoothie 1 Scoop vanilla UNJURY 1/4 cup Dannon Light and Fit Blueberry Yogurt 1/4 cup Trop50 Orange juice 1/4 cup Ice 1/4 cup Frozen Raspberries Directions: In a blender, combine the ice, raspberries and orange juice. Mix UNJURY into yogurt and spoon into blender. Blend for 10-15 seconds, until a smooth consistency is reached. Nutrition Facts per 1 cup: 150 calories, 22 grams Protein, 15 grams carbohydrate, 10 grams sugar Variations on Vanilla: Experiment with other low-sugar yogurt flavors like peach, key lime, lemon, strawberry or raspberry Try substituting 1/4 small frozen banana, blueberries, peaches or blackberries for the raspberries Mint Chocolate shake 1/4 cup Skim Milk1 3/4 cup Ice 1 Scoop Chocolate UNJURY 1 Drop Peppermint Extract* Directions: Mix Chocolate UNJURY into milk. In a blender, combine the ice, UNJURY mixed in milk and peppermint extract. Blend for 10-15 seconds, until a smooth consistency is reached. Nutrition Facts per 1 cup: 120 calories, 22 grams Protein, 7 grams carbohydrate, 5 grams sugar * Additional peppermint may be added for stronger mint taste. Variations on Chocolate: Instead of peppermint add a couple teaspoons of low-sugar Peanut Butter and blend until smooth. And/Or Try adding 1/4 a banana

Hey, Leanne and Carrie, congratulations on becoming Banded Banditos!!! :thumbup: I'm sorry you're so uncomfortable, Leanne. Do you happen to have a Lazboy chair? That might help with your sleeping. If not, prop yourself up in bed with lots and lots of pillows all around, underneath, and behind you. And try to walk as often as you can to prevent the leg cramps and possible blood clots. Each day will get better and better, believe me. I was hospitalized for 36 hours because my pain was so excruciating, and I survived! LOL Best of luck to everyone from the 20th! :party:

Well, you have certainly come to the right place if you want support! :thumbup: The Mayo Banditos are fantastic In fact, I encourage you to click on this link below and then bookmark the page. This is the main forum for the Mayo Banditos, where you can find all the threads on a whole variety of topics! So glad to have you as one of us! Click here: May 09 Bandsters - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum Happy Memorial Day weekend! :party:

ABSOTIVELY, POSOLUTELY! I felt the same way, and so did others who were banded in May. Don't worry. It's a common feeling. I felt so depressed right after, wondering why in the world had I done this elective surgery?! But, as the days go by, and as you can eat more and you feel your clothes start to get looser, you feelings about this will change. Why don't you join us on the Mayo Bandito board, where we have lots of threads going about all sorts of subjects, including our emotions. Simply click here and you'll be taken to Mayo Bandito land! :thumbup: May 09 Bandsters - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum Hope to see you there! Keep your chin up! It will get better!

Someone else on here (I believe it was meem) had an allergic reaction to the whey in her protein shakes. Sometimes it takes a while for the reaction to develop. For instance, you'll tolerate it for a while, then one day your body just says, enough! I can't take this anymore! and it breaks out. Good luck! Hope the Benedryl helps quickly!

Congrats on your surgery!! :thumbup: You are now a Banded Bandito! Everyone is different with sleeping, but it may help you to sleep on your back for awhile, propped up by pillows. If you try to sleep on your side, put a pillow under your belly to support it. Gravity does evil things to those sore incisions! Good luck! :party:

Yes, CL, I made it through the work week, but it's been tough. I've been thoroughly exhausted. And, I have a tip for anyone who is going back to work -- wear loose pants if you have to sit a lot! Yesterday I was all excited because I could get back into a pair of pants that I hadn't worn in 6 months. Well, by midday I was squirming in my seat and by quitting time, I was in pain! It just put too much pressure on my abdomen near the incisions. :thumbup: I'm so glad it's a three-day weekend!!

Hi, CL. I've personally never worn Spanx, but I know a very large woman who swears by them. She's given me the scoop. Here is a link to there size charts: Spanx Hope that helps! :thumbup:

Oh, believe me, I know the feeling!!! I had a cold and a slight fever the day of my surgery, and I was so afraid they would postpone the operation... but they didn't! They were mostly concerned about my breathing. If you're not having excruciating pain and fever, my guess is you don't have an infection. Your surgeon just has to tell you that to cover his @ss, probably. Just think good thoughts... good thoughts... goood thoughts....... :thumbup: :smile2: :laugh:

Good luck to you, less of me! And welcome to the Mayo Banditos! We're a fun and friendly group. Glad to have you! :smile2: Mac, have you ever tried a sports bra? Or perhaps -- just a thought -- a support top that has a built in bra and goes all the way to your waist. I know that Spanx makes those and so do other brands. They're made to slim your tummy. What I'm thinking is that it might support your incisions while giving you bra support all at the same time, in one continuous piece of fabric, so there's no wire or such to hurt you. Just a thought! :thumbup:

I'm sorry, Juniper. I had my gallbladder removed 8 1/2 years ago, and it is a simple surgery. My gb was REALLY in bad shape and I could barely function, but when they went in for surgery, there was no infection. I hope that encourages you that yours probably won't have infection. Also, try not to worry too much about being put to sleep. That's the easy and "fun" part. :thumbup: I've had 6 major surgeries in the past 8 years, and I can tell you, it is so relaxing when they give you the drugs to sleep. First they will give you something in your IV to relax you. This alone may make you fall asleep. (It did for me this last time.) If you don't fall asleep from this, you will at least feel very drowsy and happy. Then they will put an oxygen mask on you that also pumps some gas that knocks you out. You won't feel a thing. It's very, very quick, and the next thing you know, you'll be waking up in the recovery room going, "It's over already??!" I say that every time. LOL I wish you the best of luck! And if you do have to be a Juno Bandito, you can still be an Honorary Mayo Bandito! :smile2: Keep us updated!

Congrats, tinman! Glad to hear a great success story! :thumbup:

I started walking as soon as I got out of the hospital bed, but I can't walk very much at all... only about a half a mile and then I'm wiped out! I asked the surgeon about it last week and he told me not to worry, that it takes a while after surgery to get back up to speed (I used to be able to walk a lot more). The important thing, he said, was for me not to push it because that could then cause a set back. He'd rather I go slow. So, that's what I'm doing. But! I did put a new battery in my pedometer, so I'm trying to get more steps in during the workday, and I'm parking very far away wherever I go. Every little bit helps! :thumbup:

Oh, that reminds me! On my last two days of creamy Soups, I found a way to make some soups really delicious -- add a couple T. of FF sour cream!! I had it with potato soup (tasted like a baked potato!!!) and with southwestern corn soup (blended in the blender of course). YUMMMMMMMY! 2 T. of FF sour cream adds only 30 cals., 0 fat, and 1 g. Protein, but tons of flavor! :thumbup:

Cyndi, try copying your picture into Word, the resizing it. That is a very simple way to make it smaller. Then copy and paste it back into your siggie. And as far as work goes, yes, definitely get up and move around. It can hurt to sit for too long. Mac, ouch! I would put some cotton or other soft material under your bra or over your port site to cushion it. That's a very tender area!