SpideyMom

Oh, boy, do I hear ya... and feel for you!! I have a 4 1/2 year old son who is very hyperactive, and I had a mini meltdown the other day because he just wore me out! My dh has been fabulous also, but he has to work tomorrow, so I have to take my ds to tae kwon do and a birthday party. Then all of us have to go to a graduation party. It's going to be a tough day. I'm going to sleep all through Sunday, I think! LOL

Wow, what great posts! I have felt everything that has been mentioned here -- and I've had the food dreams too! I was very depressed after having the surgery, and I had a session with a therapist about it. She said it was very normal to feel that way after major surgery. We are on the brink of a new life -- one that involves major changes. So it is normal to feel some sadness about so many things! I was really glad to hear that. When I was in the hospital, I was lucky that I had wonderful nurses who were all very, very kind and supportive. What I didn't expect was to run into one of the ladies from the PTA!!!! She was my case manager! OMG, I was shocked. I didn't know she worked there! I was walking around the hall, and she and I just looked at each other with wide eyes. She said, "What are you doing here, Ann?" When I told her I had LapBand, she said, "Oh, that's great! Good for you! If you need anything, just let me know!" Wow, I was so relieved. I did have one nurse in the middle of the night, however, who told me she had had the Lap Band two years ago at a different hospital and how she lost 30 lbs and then gained it all back. She was very candid about how it really is a tool and that if you don't eat the right things, it won't work magic for you. She was still kind, though, and wished me luck. It's great that we all have each other, I think, to lean on for support. What a wonderful group we have! :grouphug:

Congratulations to all of you! And welcome to the world of Banded Banditos! :grouphug: NF, it is sorta surreal, isn't it? I'm 8 days out, and it gets better each day. Keep your chins up and you'll do great! :hurray:

I think it's a personal choice that you discuss with your dietitian. I'm going to be following a low-carb, low-fat diet. I'm also giving up sweets because those are my downfall every time. I have an addiction to sugar, and my doctor told me that the majority of people who fail with the LapBand are those that have a sweet tooth.

GonnaRide, I'm so, so sorry that you've had such a tough time!!! :hurray: I had a really rough time and was in terrible pain, but your story is awful! Just keep thinking about riding that horse! Keep your mind on that goal. I know that I was doubting my decision to have this done electively after all the pain I went through, but now that it's been a week and the pain is subsiding (still there, but getting better each day), I'm not feeling as bad about my decision anymore. Trust that that will happen to you, also. So keep your mind on your dream, lean on your dh and kids for support, and come here to vent as often as you need! We're here for you!!!! :grouphug:

Hi! I'm 8 days out and still in pain, as you describe. I went back to my surgeon today for my post-op appointment, and he said this was normal, so not to worry. He did say to continue with liquids for another week, so as to let the swelling continue to go down. That is what is causing the pain. I would say, listen to your body. Good luck! :grouphug:

Hello Lili and TamTam! I'm here! Just a little slow getting around these days. I get on the computer and can only stay for a short while. Have very little energy since surgery last week. Well, it's been one week since surgery, and I'm glad it's over! It was very difficult for me. I ended up staying in the hospital for 36 hours because I had such intense pain. I was hooked up to self-administer morphine for the first 12 hours, then dilaudid for the remainder of the time to try to get the pain under control. (I believe it was a lot worse for me because I have fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition of the muscles and joints.) Well, those heavy duty meds then made me itch something crazy, so I couldn't sleep at all -- just stayed up scratching my nose, face, and scalp. They kept giving me shots of Benedryl, to very little relief. And through all this, I couldn't release any gas or urinate. I was miserable!! But I finally got out of there on Friday night, and was thrilled to be home. Since then I've spent most days just sleeping and resting. Had no appetite until about 3 days ago. Now I'm living mostly on Soup and an occasional Protein drink. I'll be so glad to eat some mushie food soon! I'm jealous to hear about all the lovely food you can eat, Lili! Glad to hear that Lisa is doing well, also. Thank you both for telling me about the plauteau. Now I know what to expect. I've heard about the so-called "Bandster Hell" that happens before the first fill. I guess it really does happen to everyone! Enjoy your trips, Lili. Where are you going in the U.S.? Let's continue to keep in touch as we continue on our journeys! Good to hear from you, ladies! Best wishes to you all! :thumbup:

Glad to hear you're all doing better day by day. John, sorry you're not getting much sleep! I've been sleeping in my bed since the first night home, and I've been sleeping on my side since night three. Here is my secret: When you're on your side, put a pillow underneath your belly as it "hangs down" on the side. The pillow keeps it propped up and the incisions don't hurt as much because gravity isn't pulling on the stitches! Also keep a pillow between your knees. I can sleep all night like that! Hope that helps!!!

I am almost positive that Unjury has a money-back guarantee. That was one reason I was willing to try it. I did the same thing with Slim Fast -- bought cases of it, and now the mere thought of it makes me gag. So now I have 4 or 5 cases left and don't know what to do. I may sell it on craigslist. Or, I may offer it to someone at my WLS support group if anyone else can stand it. Another mushie/soft food idea I had last night was egg salad. I love that and am really looking forward to having some soon! It's really good if you add mustard so it tastes like deviled eggs. Yum!

Hi, everyone, and welcome to the Mayo Banditos!! We have a great group going already, and we'd love for you to join us. Here is a link that will take you to our forum. There are lots of threads going with all sorts of topics related to our recent and upcoming surgeries. Just click here: May 09 Bandsters - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum See you there! :thumbup:

As someone who had a really bad time with her pre-op diet, all I can say is HANG IN THERE!!! It is worth it. My surgeon said my liver looked fantastic -- very small and lean. But I agree, I'll be happy never to look at a SlimFast again!!!!!!!!

I'm on full liquids now, and I agree with Hallelujah, creamed soups are the best. I found an organic red pepper tomato that is out of this world! For clear liquids, I found that Fuze Slenderize is a good alternative to Crystal Lite (which I've never liked). There are different flavors, and I think they most calories they have are 10 cal. If you have Giant food stores near you, they are on sale this week 10 for $10. It also helped me wean off of soda before surgery. :crying: Anyone else with ideas, bring 'em on!

Yeah, that sounds silly, I know, but last week when I had my preop, I had a sinus infection. They told me if it didn't clear up, they would cancel my surgery and reschedule. Well, the sinus infection cleared up and then last night I started sneezing and now have a constant runny nose. My surgery is tomorrow! Do you think they'll make me reschedule? :cool2: Not wanting go there at 6 a.m. tomorrow and find out the bad news, I emailed the nurse this morning, but downplayed it as related to pollen or perhaps my sinuses are just now draining. Benedryl does seem to stop it. Now I sorta wish I hadn't told her! I SO SO do not want to be bumped at the last minute!! :laugh: Anyone know anything about this??? Sincerely, The Constant Worrier

Yes, I'm fine! In fact, by later that evening (the night of surgery) I had no more fever and no more runny nose. Weird. Just all vanished! :crying: Thanks for asking!

Congrats, CrazyLady, John, and Melissa, on being banded! John, I felt exactly the same way as you -- completely beaten up. I hope they sent you home with some of those good liquid drugs. :w00t: Finally, the last two days I've been hungry -- no -- starving. But I just can't get a whole lot down without pain, so I continue to starve. It sux. I can't wait to eat mushy foods!!!! Hope each day gets better and better for all of you! :crying:

Glad to hear your doctor's appointment went well! And, you're right -- you will find out who your true friends are during this journey! :mad2:

Well, I wasn't sure about the mushies stage, either, because it sounds so gross, but I went on the "What did you eat today" thread and got some good ideas. Here's a few things that I plan to eat: * fat-free refried Beans with melted low-fat cheese, topped with FF or LF sour cream (YUM - love Mexican) * Ricotta Bake - basically lasagne without the noodles. LF ricotta topped with spaghetti sauce (no meat), topped with LF mozzarella, baked until cheese is bubbly. (Dying to try this one!) * Scrambled eggs (Egg Beaters) with LF cheese * Hummus * Mashed sweet potatoes Hope that helps you with some ideas.

Congrats on a smooth operation, Danimal! You described the feeling in the stomach very accurately -- like someone has their hands squeezed around you. I hope that goes away soon. I didn't expect that to last so long. That's great that you are up and walking every two hours. I am so exhausted that all I want to do is sleep. I have been getting some walking in, though. Just not a whole lot. Hallelujah, I had to laugh when you said change the channel when the commercials come on. My dh likes to watch the food Network, and I've had to tell him to change it because it kills me to see all that yummy food! Lol Glad you're able to sleep in your own bed now.

Hi, Mac. Congrats on your surgery! Glad to hear it went so well and that you were able to come home that night. I am also having trouble getting enough Protein drinks in. Today is the first day that I am actually feeling any hunger. I'm jealous that you get to go to mushies so quickly! Best wishes for continued success! :mad2:

Wow, I'm overwhelmed by all the wonderful support you all have given me! Thank you so much! I didn't realize that depression could come after surgery. I had actually been thinking that I was mourning the loss of my old life and that there was no backing out now. I really appreciate all the kind words and support. This is such a great group! And, it is getting a little better each day. Thanks, everyone! :mad2: Oh, and btw, SailorChristy, yes, I was on both morphine and dilaudid and it caused me to itch like crazy, especially my nose and scalp, so then they gave me Benedryl also. I was a true zombie. LOL Ramg66, congrats on your successful surgery and weight loss! I haven't lost anything yet. I was also supposed to have hiatal hernia repair, but when they got in there, the hernia wasn't there! It had been diagnosed two years ago, but I guess it got better on its own. Strange. BTW, I think creatine is fine. Best wishes for continued success!

I'm so sorry you had such a tough time! I also had a lot of pain and was in the hospital for 36 hours. I'm also a bit depressed about doing this electively, but thankfully I'm surrounding by loving, supportive people who continue to tell me that I've done the right thing. Hang in there, and keep your chin up!

Hi, everyone! Well, despite my cold and a slight temp, they went ahead and did my surgery on Thursday, the 7th, as planned. It's all a bit of a blur for me, though, because I was in a lot of pain. Before you freak out about the pain, please realize that I have fibromyalgia, which is a chronic pain condition, so I wasn't surprised that my pain was intense. Most people don't have pain like I do. Anyhow, I stayed in for 36 hours, hooked up to morphine and dilaudid. That's why it was all a blur. I got home Friday night and have been doing a lot of sleeping since then. I'm not very hungry and haven't been eating much of anything. I don't have intense pain like I did -- thank God! -- but my incisions are still sore (especially where the port is), and I can feel something inside everytime I swallow. That's just the swelling, I'm told. Hopefully that will go away soon. The weird thing is, I keep having dreams that I ate something I'm not supposed to, and that I ruin the band! Anyone else experiencing that? Am also feeling a bit depressed for some reason. Hoping that will lift once all my pain is gone. Hope everyone else is doing well! I've been thinking of all of you! :frown:

Just a quick follow-up to this... by the morning of my surgery, my cold was worse and I had a slight temp ranging from 99.2 to 99.6. I was breathing fine, though, and they said it would be okay, so I went ahead with surgery. :frown:

Thanks for your reply! Luckily I don't have a fever. And everyone in my area has allergies because there are so many flowering trees and bushes in our area. It's just a given, lol. So I'm not worried about them believing me about the allergies. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed! :thumbup:

Hallelujah, welcome back! Wow, you were in and out of there really fast! I wish my surgeon would let me go home the same day. I have to stay until at least noon the following day, even though I get there tomorrow at 6 a.m. I'm glad to hear it went so well and that you didn't have a bad time with the pain. Take care of yourself, and I hope it continues to go just as well!! :thumbup: (And thanks for the well wishes, btw!)