Kristine73

Yes, I've tried it. I ordered it from an online veg*n store. It was like a stuffed roast. My omnivore hubs loved it! So, I know it's good. I haven't tried making it myself, though. I'll have give it a try before the summer break ends.

Oh, a massage! I'm jealous! But, pre-op, you deserve it. The day before my surgery, and the morning of, I kept asking hubs if I was doing the right thing? Now I know, I did! Enjoy the massage

Odjii ... good luck! I started my process about a month before the semester ended. I had surgery 6/08. I have my post-op tomorrow and am wondering if I lost anything. I know between the pre-surgery Protein shake diet and 5 days post op, I's lost about 20 pounds. It's a great feeling. Welcome to the beginning of your journey :thumbup: I like the college student thread idea :thumbup:

Could be she is uneducated. When I mentioned I was a vegetarian, I got the deer in the head lights look. I've been doing at least one Protein shake a day, today I did two. I use soy milk, frozen fruit instead of ice, for added nutrition, and the soy Protein powder which has 25 grams of protein per scoop. Between the milk and the powder, that puts me at 31 grams, just for Breakfast. I do eat eggs and dairy yogurt. My surgeon wants us to have a goal for 75 grams of protein for the first few months. Then, keep it between 60 and 75 grams a day. I'm just worried about getting into a habit of eating the same things all the time and getting bored. When I'm hungry and bored, that's when grazing and trouble happens, LOL! I ordered to lap-band cookbooks and am sure that I can modify many recipes. I live in a small town where it's a 50 + mile drive to the nearest whole foods. So, I don't really have access to stuff like tempeh and a broad selection of veg*n items. I did buy some quinoa and am looking forward to trying it next week: 3 weeks post op. Thanks for the responses, the nutritionists seems to think that animal protein is the ONLY protein out there. My hubs, who is not a veg*n, always has some sort of animal protein around here. So, I guess I can always just appease the nutritionist and tell her that I do have animal protein in the house ... lol. I meet w/her thursday morning to discuss portion sizes, what I am eating and what I should be eating. My surgeon requires this as part of his post-op plan.

Good luck! You have made the right decision for you , at this time, and that's all that matters! Make sure your hubs pampers you on the way there and back! :smile2: Hugs

:eek: Woo-hoo .... good for you! I can't wait to join in the 'no longer obese' club! Congratulations! :eek::cuss::rant::smile2:

A few suggestions; 1) use a heating pad on your back 2) Do not drink w/a straw, that induces more gas 3) when you walk, or are sitting down, try and move your arms around as much as possible. 4) Keep up w/your gas x hope you feel better soon

Hi Enote, I was banded 6/08. I was banded in Louisiana. It's nice to see another supportive spouse. Mine wasn't, at first. But the more research I did, the more supportive he began. As far as when anyone goes back to work ... it's different to everyone. Some people on here were back to work 3 days after the surgery. It took me about 10 days. I will say this, I had to go back to the surgeons office 5 days after surgery, I couldn't keep anything down and was dry heaving. My hubs drove me. My hubs is one of those that thinks stuff on docs counters are toys to be picked up, inspected, ect ... drives me nuts! Anyway, he saw the tummy model there w/the band on it. OMG, he embarrassed me soooo much. When the nurse practitioner came in, he started asking all kinds of questions, "Is this what it looks like, is it this pliable, how many cc's does it hold ... blah blah blah" He was asking stuff that I had either told him or that I had shown him on web pages. The nurse shot me a look that said, 'I thought you said you did your research and discussed w/your hubs.' I wanted a hole to open up in the floor and swallow me, right then and there! I wanted to say something on the other thread, but didn't want to get caught up dealing w/some who can't see beyond their own own narrow sighted opinions/experience/knowledge. I did however, applaud headhunter and wasa :smile2: Now, I am married to a sailor. So I have heard a lot of colorful stuff on our 16 years of marriage. One of the things he told me realy on in our marriage when I was upset about something goes like this: "Opinions are like assholes. We all have them and we think ours are the only ones that don't stink." Don't let some nay-sayers get to you or your wife. Sounds like she has some serious health problems that need to be addressed and you both are doing just that. Good luck

Hi, I have fibro, as well. I know it's hard w/the added weight. It's a catch 22, at least for me. Exercise hurts the whole body for days afterward .... but need to exercise to lose weight I started looking into the band about a year ago. I was banded 6/08. So far, I'd say it was well worth it. When I first brought the issue up w/my mom, I thought she'd be against it. But, she was very encouraging. Turns out one of her friends had one put in years ago, one of the first band-types on the market. He loves it. Only thing he hates about it is that he can not eat anything w/cinnamon in it. Good luck on your ventures :smile2:

A friend of my husbands went in for a simple, everyday abdominal hernia repair. It was a same day surgery. A week later he died. Turns out that the surgeon nicked his bowels and he died of a septic infection. This was about 3 years ago. Moral of the story, anyone who goes in for ANY type of surgery is at risk. For me, I looked at the health risks of obesity and NOT having the band surgery vs. having the band surgery and the benefits of getting to a healthy weight. I didn't want many people to know, either. I told two good friends and, of course, hubs knew. They 'story' for the surgery was hiatel hernia repair, which was done at the same time. Well, a friend of ours in her 50's died the same week of my surgery, she had surgery for a triple bypass and didn't make it. So, hubs was proud that at age 35, I had this done. When people asked him what my surgery was for, he told them I work w/people who are married to people he works with. Well, the real reason of my surgery was soon well known. I've gotten a lot of negative feedback from some of the people I work with. I was very irritated at first. But then I realized, screw them, it's about MY HEALTH! Not what "someone's cousins sisters brothers wife" said about a negative experience that was had. Good for you for taking your health into your own health Keep your chin up.

Lap-band ports are sewn into the muscle. I think the the realize band clamps onto the muscle wall. I would call your doctor. I was told that sometimes a port can come lose or 'flip' and if I feel any pain "out of the ordinary" to call. SO CALL, that's just my humble opinion.

I was hungry, as well. Try and drink warm broth. It'll help you stay hydrated and help curb your hunger. Good luck!

Call your surgeon's office first thing in the morning. I had the band w/a hernia repair on 6/08. I had a lot of the same symptoms as you. But, 4 days after the surgery, I started dry heaving. It was very painful. I called my surgeon, they wanted me in that day. Turns out that when they put the band in, they prime it w/a fill to make sure it works properly. Well, the surgeon left me w/a partial fill. Between the swelling and the partial fill, my stoma completely closed up. Once the nurse unfilled it, I had almost instant relief. They made me drink 8 oz of Water there, over 45 mins. I was able to hold it down, no dry heaving of slimeing (excess saliva production or drool). In the mean time, I hope you start to feel better. Try and drink luke warm, NOT hot, fluids. Warmth will relax your esophagus and tummy. Put a heating pad on your back and/or shoulder to help gas pains. I had gas so bad it hurt to breath. The heating pad really helped. WALK WALK WALK. Just do a walk-about of your house every 30 mins or hour. Try and move your shoulders to get the gas loosened up. Also try and get gas x to help w/the intestinal gas. It comes in chewables and strips that disolve on your tongue. Good luck Hope some of this info helps.

My husband smoked over 30 years. He quit w/chantix. He's been smoke free for 1 1/2 years, now. My surgeon requires we are smoke free for 1 month (at the minimum) prior to surgery. I quit smoking over 10 years ago. Now I'm addicted to gum at least it's sugar free! Surgeons not to trilled about that, lol Good luck

Remember it's a tool, not a magic bullet. You get out of it what you put into it. I was banded 6/08 and am slowly loosing weight. I drink 2 soy Protein shakes a day. I use the powder and instead of ice, I use frozen fruit when I blend the shake for added nutrition. For a snack I use either ff yogurt or sf pudding. I also drink low sodium v8 juice for the added nutrition. If I'm still hungry, then I do scrambled eggs, 1 part egg product w/1 real egg (I like the taste that way). Oh, and I did have about 1/4 of egg salad today (no scrambled eggs) made w/ff mayo. Notice, I'm not eating ice cream, full fat dairy products and I am putting and emphasis on protein, not carbs. Remember it takes time to learn how to use a tool. There will be set back, but the object is to learn from them, modify your diet and move on. Good luck

I had to break off ties w/my father and his family. I didn't tell them I was 'breaking up' with them. Hell, simply thinking about talking to any of them induces a migraine. I simply stopped talking to them. I didn't answer the phone, gotta love caller id. I haven't spoken to him in years and I am better off for it. You have to do what you have to do for your survival.

I had to do it 5 x/day 1 week prior and 1 week post surgery. Post surgery is the reduce risk is pneumonia. With gas pain, or just surgery pain, and sleeping a lot, people tend to breathe shallow. This allows stuff to 'accumulate' at the bottom of our lungs. This leads to infections and pneumonia. Deep breaths keep our lungs 'clean.'

I've had the vanilla two times. I liked it. I've grabbed them when I was out and about and HUNGER would strike. I'm not a big chocolate fan (I know, strange) so I can't tell you about chocolate. As headhunter said, there are many Protein drinks out there. I CAN'T STAND Isopure bottled Protein Drinks. But, some people on here love isopure. I've also tried the EAS premade protein drinks. But I think so far, the muscle milk is my favorite type of premade whey protein. I actually prefer soy based protein powders as me and dairy don't always agree. But, when I need something to go, it seems my only options are whey. I guess the best thing you can do is experiment.

Ok, so today I had to go to mandatory training for my job. I had my surgery 6/08. I walked in and I knew word about the surgery had gotten round, as the people who usually say hi to me suddenly vanished. I'd say half the room is obese. Half of those glared at me most of the meeting. They were serving doughnuts and orange juice. I saw some of the 'glaring obese' go back for seconds and thirds. At break, I went out to my car and got my thing of SF vanilla pudding. As I sat there and ate it, I received some of the dirtiest looks I've received in a long time .... and why? Because I chose to take my health into my own hands? Am I upset by my treatment today? No! I expected in, in an age where people sue mcdonnalds for their being obese, when someone takes responsibility, it threatens others that maybe their weight IS their fault and not mdonnalds. Ok, so I'm a bit irritated. Oh well, At least I knew I am getting healthier and I did NOT nibble even so much as a doughnut crumb, today. :thumbup:

I have tricare, so I am not knowledgeable with yours. But, it seems to me that you may want to look for another surgeon. If they show you respect when you start the process, you sure aren't going to get any post-op. Ask your primary care doc to recommend a surgeon, ask around or call your ins co. Good luck

Well, I'd be a bit ticked, too. But, maybe you can look into it and see if they'll cover your fills. Then you can put that money back into your savings.

Hubs ran by walmart last night and grabbed himself one of thos take-and-bake pizzas. I'm still in the mushies stage of post-op recovery. That pizza smelled soooo fregging good. I don't be grudge his skinny butt for eating what he wants. But, lsat night I almost cried, which made him feel so bad. Not, my intention. I was goof and ate a vanilla pudding

I wanted to add that you should take something for the gas. Prior to surgery, the surgeons nurse told me to get liquid mylanta. OMG, that made it soooo much worse. I think that's because of the thick consistency. Hubs ran to CVS and got me some Gas X chewables. With in minutes, I started with small burps ... oh the relief! It took a day for a good fart :biggrin: to work up ... and that was a huge relief They also have the Gas X strips that disolve in the mouth. CVS only had mint flavored. I had a hiatal hernia (which they repaired during surgery) and I had learned to stear clear of mint. That's why hubs got me the chewables, which basically began to disolve the minute that hit my mouth. Last time I was at walmart I looked and they had the strips in cherry ... :thumbup: Do small walks, get something for the gas and do your best to keep as hydrated as possible

I was banded 6/08 and sounds like you are having some of the same experiences I had, sorry you are having a hard recovery :tongue: Did they give you anything for the nausea? If not, insist that they call something into to your pharmacy. Try drinking room temp liquids and/or warm (NOT HOT) liquids. It will help to sooth the muscles of your esophagus and your tummy. Also, try putting a heating pad on your back to help get rid of some of the gas. If it get worse ... dry heaving, vomiting, ect ... insist that someone see you. Keep us posted and try to rest

woo-hoo ... good for you! Mine took about 36 hours w/tricare. Will you be going through a base hospital or off-base?