sandiegokate

I was banded on 8/26 and the first couple of days I spent a lot of time in bed. Each day it has gotten better, the last couple of days exponentially. I was on Clear liquids for the first 4 days and then progressed to full liquids that included milk, Protein drinks, yogurt, oatmaeal with a lot of milk, and creamed Soups. I am anxious to move to the next phase. So anxious that I bought yams, rutabaga (I am one of the few that likes them!), turkey, and broccoli and cooked, pureed, and froze them so that I would be ready to move on to them probably by my post op visit next week. I know I will be very busy going back to work next week (home working this week) so I thought it best I prepare ahead. I might make a couple other things that will be ready to go also. Probably butternut squash (bake it with some olive oil...need some good fats), possibly lean ham steak or turkey ham ground (my friend did that for baby food and it turned out pretty good). We'll see.... So far all food and drink is going down well. Today I have been trying to make sure to "follow the rules" and not drink before eating or for 45 minutes after. By doing this I am able to notice the "full" feeling. I have been drinking a Protein shake (either a ready to drink or an unjury or muscle milk or ??) before each meal, to insure that I get the amount of protein that I need every day. I am not hungry until I am suppose to be, at a meal time, and I am satisfying it, and losing weight, so...So far so good!!! As of today I am down 22 lbs since starting pre-op diet on 8/15 and 8 lbs since the operation. I know this rate of loss won't continue but it is a nice start!!:smile2:

One meal at a time... I think that just about says it all!! I guess we have to do whatever we have to do early in the game to get used to the program. I had an idea about pizza after reading this thread.. what about pounding chicken breast really thin, topping it with pizza toppings? Could even put some ricotta on it? Sounds good to me anyway!

This is so funny because I think I can speak for all Americans in saying that most all of our cheddar cheese is Orange! Only in the last few years have they come out with "white cheddar". I had no idea our style of cheddar cheese wasn't common everywhere. So funny how different places have different things... :biggrin: Now that Vegamite stuff... still trying to figure out what it is... Costco ... my FAVORITE store!

Fast food didn't get me where I am today, I am in a little different situation than many of you. I am 45 and have been living alone and cooking meals for a family when I don't have one! I don't have kids to run after, I don't go to school at night, I am not THAT busy compared to many of you all. I love to cook, and I cook quite healthy, but I just eat too much of it! I am not a big fast food person, never have been... its the grocery store that is my demon. If I had a family to eat all I have cooked and baked, and ate the ice cream I bought over the years, I could possibly be a different person. Its all about calories in and calories out. I am the person who is probably better off eating out and having portion control. Then spend the extra time I have from not cooking/baking exercising!! We are ALL in different situations and lives and we need to figure out what it is that helps us out as individuals, its not a one size fits all approach. Everyone has to find out what works in their life. I hope each and every one of us finds out what works and is very successful. :biggrin:

I thought I would start a thread to see how everyone is doing, whether you have had surgery yet or not. What are your feelings since you have been banded? Are you happy? Adjusting well? How are you healing? How is eating/drinking going at your current stage? Social events? I'll start... I am on the pre-op diet of mostly liquid Protein, but I can have some yogurt and cottage cheese, strawberries/blueberries in my shakes. Egg Drop Soup has helped too. I find if I keep myself satiated I do fine. When I get hungry I get REAL hungry and I have to have something or else I feel like falling off the wagon. Today is day 7.. 4 more days to go on the diet, surgery is on Wednesday. I am ready to go!! I have been reading everyone's experiences who have had surgery before me and appreciate all the information gained. I have lost 10 lbs in this past week a good jump start but I am sure it is a lot of Water. :sneaky: Who is next? :biggrin:

Dawn, Wow.. two 20 month old girls and a 5 month old.. wow, you are a supermom!!! How wonderful though....:thumbup:

I think you meant Vitamin World.. :frown: Muscle Milk is probably one of the only shakes I like to drink as well. The unjury isn't bad, but I like the convenience of the ready to drink. FYI.. costco has a $6/off coupon through September 6th if you are a member for a case of Muscle Milk in chocolate. I like ColoradoBanding's suggestion of having one on the way to work every morning. Probably a good idea to have one on the way home too:rolleyes2:. I think I will start that myself.

Hi Sally, Oh Nooooooo!! Well, I think you would have felt it... I have had a problem picking up my dog's poop when I've been taking her for a walk so I can imagine. Or picking anything up off the floor just is a killer.:party: I went to the pool at the gym today and just moved around mostly but afterward I "felt" it! I tell ya, this thing has hit me a big harder than I expected. I know I will get better day by day but I still get "the pains" here and there and that feeling where I really need to sit down. I bet the hiatal hernia repair and scar tissue removal adds extra time to healing. I know you had the hiatal hernia repair too. I hope in a week I am feeling much better, as that is when I start going to work (I am technically working from home now). Well, don't do that again.. listen to your little girl!! :biggrin:

I am sipping on a couple of extra Protein shakes a day, the ready to drink are the easiest for me to consume because I don't need to "make" them. I want to get atleast 60 grams of protein a day. Hard to do without supplementing. Definitely you need more than what you have been consuming. It is ok for a couple of days but the body needs adequate nutrition to survive. :biggrin: My doctor's full liquid diet includes cream of wheat also (very soupy), and light yogurt that is blended, creamy soups with no chunks, and that sort of thing. I started on day 5 "very slowly". So far so good. I bought cream of broccoli and a potato soup and added milk and broth to both and put them in my magic bullet to cream, put them back in the fridge to use as I need over the next week or so. I can have applesauce too. Feels good to go to the next step!

I guess the best answer is to call your doctor. :biggrin: I think it is all about progressing slowly so that you naturally progress into regular food and make sure your band can handle it. For example mushies to not quite mushy to not mushy at all. Not from mushie to completely solid. I don't think I would eat steak though for a while. :biggrin: I can't wait until I am at your spot! I just started my creamy Soups, yogurt, etc. I am on this until probably the 9th when I see my doctor next. Then I suspect I will start more mushies. One day at a time is all we can do! :blushing:

Its not too early for pumpkin flavors!! Just today I saw that Starbuck's is offering their Pumpkin Spice Latte's... so, it is just in time! Sounds delish... I plan on trying it tomorrow!! Thanks, :wink2:

I think I read that you are on 6 carnation instant breakfasts a day? That would be very tough to stick to if that is all you can have for 3 weeks... I was on a liquid diet but it had some variety. I could have cottage cheese, light yogurt (not a lot but some), broths, plus Protein drinks, I asked the doctor specifically if I could have frozen strawberries/blueberries in my Protein Drinks that I make in the blender (they are low sugar), he said yes. If I were you I would maybe ask the doctor if you could have some variety. If it means you stick to the diet, it is worth it. If the goal is low carb to shrink your liver, then there are options. For me, egg drop Soup takeout from my local chinese restaurant really helped me. I usually added some extra broth to it. It was nice and warm. Then cottage cheese with sugar free Jello. S/F popsicles too. I did my pre-op diet for 11 days and lost 14 lbs. My doctor said my liver looked "beautiful". Regardless.. you will do it!! It does get easier... I had my surgery this past Wednesday and I can already tell it is easier post op than pre-op.. so hang in there!! We're all here for you!!

Hi Sally, Hmmm... are you having a problem avoiding caffeine? :wink2: I cut back during my pre-op diet. I first did half-half then solid unleaded... I miss my daily cup of real coffee though. Luckily it is hot here right now and I don't crave it when it is warm outside. My doctor said "avoid caffeine".. I think for the first couple of months, during the healing phase. It can be an irritant to the digestive tract so I guess that makes sense. I don't usually drink more than one large cup a day but I like it strong. Hope you are feeling better? I am a "little better" every day. I took a trip to the grocery store (my first outing) but now I am tired. It seems to go that way. I guess over time the feeling good times will get longer and the little pains will get less. I started cream Soups and yogurt today.. definitely a treat! :ohmy: Take care, Katie

Amen...!! Throughout life you learn that no matter what you do you won't please everyone. What is important is to please yourself... :ohmy:

Darce, I too am so sorry to hear this!! I am very glad that you were in the hospital and had antibiotics pumped into you for a few days though... better safe than sorry for sure. I hope you heal quickly and the procedure to replace the port goes smoothly... make sure to keep us all updated!! Take care, Katie

Hi Sally, How did the surgery go? I hope you are feeling well and happy it is all over like me... I had a hiatal hernia repair (which I need to look up) and he removed some scar tissue from a past gall bladder operation. Still feel good... luckily. I wonder if more pain will kick in tomorrow? Time will tell... Take care and let us know how it went when you have a chance!! Katie

I woke up just like you would from a sleep on a weekend morning.. very peaceful. Absolutely no pain at all. In fact there has never been any pain from just laying or sitting. It is only when I get up and back down, like I did 1,000 situps I would say. I am so much better today though... I am ready to get up, take a shower and get dressed. I am taking it easy though just to be sure all is ok.. but I know the worst is over. Truly, it isn't that bad... have you ever had surgery before? If you haven't that is probably why you are nervous. They will give you something to relax that makes you really happy and drowsy. :w00t:

Hi Sally, I've had that burp feeling too...but I feel like I don't want to burp too deep.. that is how I feel anyway. I got liquid painkillers, Lortab, tastes nasty but I suck it up for pain. Although I think I am going to try to not take it for the rest of the day and see how I do. I am taking Gas X strips too.. I know what you mean though as there is two types of gas, the internal gastric gases but then you are feeling pain up in your shoulders from the CO2 they pumped inside you that a lot of people feel. I have heard walking helps that. You will be fine.... It is just day two as you said.... take it easy and tomorrow will be a much better day!!:w00t: Soon we'll be the folks that tell everyone else that it was all worth it!!!! :w00t:

I am two days out of surgery and I am glad it is over! The anticipation is the hardest part of the process. I do have a little pain but nothing more than I expected. It is better today than yesterday and I am sure tomorrow will be better yet. You will do fine... :w00t:

I always try to stay positive...:w00t: Life has given me a few kicks in the rear and I've found if I stay positive it isn't so bad.. :w00t: Roll with the punches... I do feel better today... I even fed the dog today (don't worry, mom fed her the last couple of days..). :w00t: I can now lay on my right side, the left.. not yet! The port area is sensitive.. finally I know what all of you have been talking about!! I am not going to take it for granted though.. back in bed with the laptop.. and watching TV. I will get up and walk around and maybe even take a shower later today. :w00t: Sally, I am anxious to hear what the doctor tells you... Katie

Sally, I'm glad you called the doctor... Did he give you a prescription for Pepcid or something like that? My doctor wants me to take two tablets a day for a month. I also took gas x strips starting last night. I felt like I wanted to burp and fart.. sorry if TMI! Let me know what happens.....I'll be sending you positive thoughts!!

What I don't have in gas pains I feel like I am making up in abdominal pain... I feel like I was beat up! Lower in my abdomen too.. I wonder if that is the scar tissue he took out? Who knows... I'll just keep taking the pain meds!! Tomorrow we should feel a little better... atleast I hope!!:thumbup:

Sally, I truly know how you feel today!! It really hurts when I get up and down. I imagine each day will be better. :thumbup: Like me I am sure you are glad it is over... now we're on the other side. Its all down hill (on the scale) from here!!:crying:

Definitely some abdomen pain today but I guess that is to be expected. It only hurts when I get up or down from bed. I think that is normal. Otherwise the liquids are going down well. I'm trying to learn from others here and make sure to drink as much as possible... I even think I am ahead of schedule for today. Still no gas pains... maybe I was a lucky one? Thanks again for all your support. Hope everyone else is having a wonderful day! :-)

I posted this as a possibility to someone in one of these forums a while back. I had that happen to me once, unrelated to surgery, I first thought it was dry lips, etc.. The prescriptions works quick, eating yogurt helps too! I think it is easy to get thrush and the like on these diets we're on until we can eat normal.. not much balance! Hope it clears quickly!!!