Unforgettable

Jeepman, this is something I would ask your doctor about.

3 cool points for me! I had a professor in college from Scotland that used to drink Irn Bru. Never tried it myself though. I've never been a big pop drinker so I'm having no big issues with it. Sometimes the thought of sipping a Sprite pops in my head but I think that's just because I know I can't have one right now. Although the thought of drinking it flat just grosses me out!! I know some docs will approve an occasional pop every now and then when you're about a year out.

I just had my first fill a week ago, but have a great amount of restriction...maybe I'll be those lucky few who hit their sweet spot after only 1 or 2 fills. Anyway here is my menu from yesterday Breakfast - 1/2 cup greek yogurt w/1tbsp Peanut Butter lunch - reduced fat hot dog, no bun, and 1/4 cup green Beans snack - banana dinner - 1/2 homemade hamburger, 1/2 bun top, a few bites of baked beans That's not my normal menu, I was out visiting family yesterday. Usually I have the greek yogurt for breakfast and it will keep me full for a good 4 hours. I also use it as a snack if I get hungry in between meals.

Just try to look at it as a challenge. My first post-op week, when I went out and ran errands for the first time with my mom, she stopped and got White Castles. It took everything in me NOT to break down and eat some. We also went to the movies and she got buttered popcorn. Yikes! She asked me both times if I minded before she got it, and I just don't think it's fair for her not to get to eat what she wants just because I didn't. I took it as a challenge and basically tortured myself lol when it was over, I felt so proud that I resisted temptation and it gave me assurance that in the future when I am allowed to eat that stuff, I'll be able to say no. Plus I kept reminding myself "it's not that I can NEVER have that type of food, it's just that I can't have it right now."

It's not official until you have a ticker You're definitely on your way!

Banded, Every surgeon is different when it comes to both pre-op and post-op diets. You should really follow your doctors guidelines, because he probably came up with those based on his experiences in the past and he probably feels you'll be most successful if followed properly. But yes after reading lots of threads you'll notice every doc is different. For instance, mine did only one day of liquids only, then about 2 weeks of pureed food, then about 2 weeks of soft food, and after that I could eat a regular diet. I read other posts where they were allowed to have soft food within a week or so. I wished so bad I could follow their guidelines because hey, if they could do it then why couldn't I? But I trust my surgeon and felt he had the best recommendations with the best intentions so I stuck it out and sucked it up, literally lol

Glad I could be inspiring! This is such a mental game. For me it always has been, an that's where the problems with food started in the first place. I forgot to mention in my previous post that I would suggest going to a therapist as well, someone who specializes in bariatric surgery and/or eating problems. They'll help you identify triggers for eating, why you feel like a failure, and just help you sort out everything that's going through your head right now. I'd recommend it to anyone who went through WLS, but especially those that are feeling down in the dumps like you are. Good luck! You can do it

soocalchic you're not sick. That's perfectly natural and I have no shame admitting that when I'm uncomfortable at a social event I check to see if there are any other "big girls." If there isn't, then it makes me feel even more awkward. I recognize a lot of this comes from my head but other people think the same thing as well. Beauty does come from the inside and out but realistically in our society beauty and appearance is the first thing noticed, and that usually includes measuring up someone's size. We're all guilty of it, even us "big-boned" folks so let's not act like we aren't!

Did you also have a single incision surgery? When I had looked at other doctors that do the single incision in my area, I was told that there would be about a 4 inch scar in the middle of my stomach and that's why I decided to go the traditional way. I hope everyone starts catching onto this new way though! I'd think there would be more soreness this way however because they had to do a hell of a lot of manipulating to get everything in there.

WOOOOOOW!!! I can barely tell, that's awesome. Thanks for sharing the pic

Just a question for those that had the barium swallow the day of surgery...did you guys get a fill during surgery as well?

I'm about 9 pounds away and it will be an emotional day when it comes. Like you, keepingfaith08, as well as many others, I haven't seen this number since puberty hit. I'm gonna scream it to the world but cry every time I yell it because I will be so freakin happy lol Congrats to everyone!!!

Follow your doctor's guidelines as everyone is different. The gurgles do eventually go away when your stomach settles down and accepts what just happened to it lol

:biggrin: That frustrates me. Besides the fact that some surgeons will band at even lower BMIs, it really isn't "that low." . Sure in comparison to a BMI of 50 it's low, but it's still not healthy, still considered obese, can still lead to a handful of medical conditions, etc. I applaud the OP for taking this step to prevent that number from creeping up any higher. I got banded at a BMI of 37 (maybe 36?) but that was the lowest BMI I've ever had and didn't ever want it to get higher again. It's just frustrating for us middle BMI-ers, seems like we can't get acceptance from the healthy low BMI because we're too fat and we can't get acceptance from the high BMI because we aren't fat enough. Let's just all support each other! Jaciqltz, don't mind my rant it wasn't directed towards you, just triggered other thoughts and needed to vent about it.

So true! A good surgeon will appreciate you questioning him and will not hesitate to give you a good explanation. I think a lot of people feel overwhelmed when it comes to medical stuff they "don't know much about" and like you said BLINDLY put all their trust into one doctor. This is a service we are PAYING for. I wouldn't invest in a brand new car without reading consumer reports, checking out the details, speaking with others that have the car, then checking up on the dealership that I'm going to buy it from, etc. It's just as much our responsibility to be informed and know what's going on.

Some people get what's called emergence delirium, where while coming out of the anesthesia stage to full consciousness your brain has a hard time adjusting and isn't able to cope and differentiate what is going on. This leads a lot of times to kicking, screaming, hallucinating, etc. I work on a post-op floor in the hospital and it can get so bad that it can take 5 or 6 nurses holding down a patient until they calm...keep in mind I work with kids, so these are 7 and 8 year olds.

At facility at 6am for a 730am start time. Was out the door by 915, didn't feel rushed at all and was ready to be in my comfort zone at home. Didn't have to have a barium swallow

I agree with RM. Some docs are very specific about what brand they want you to have. Mine just said for post-op IF I needed to take one, try to make it low carb high protein. You can go to cytosport.com, they are the makers of muscle milk (my fav shake) and if you send them an email saying you'd like to try samples, they'll send you a few packs in the mail for free including shipping.

Erin, Agree with the other posters. Also after reading your other posts, sounds like you get yourself worked up really easy and have anxiety issues. I'd recommend therapy as well to help you sort out your mental anxiety and fears of failure. I've started seeing one and have felt so much relief just talking to someone about it all. She's helping me realize my trigger foods, what causes my anxiety, etc. Just a suggestion. Good luck to you!

Your stomach will be swollen for a while after surgery. But you also need to fart :biggrin: Walk around, get those bowels moving and get some gas out! You'll feel so much better

I'm here to entertain...tips are always appreciated I just get so riled up with these doctor and their god-like complexes, and these patients who follow them around like puppy dogs and think their word is law (not referring to OP). I was a chronic patient in the hospital during my childhood, so between that and working in healthcare for the past 5 years I just get tired of the crap. If I wanna know about boogers, you bet I'm going to ask my doctor about it and he'll give me an answer or else another one will. That's all :biggrin:

When of you guys needs to put a picture up! I saw one on the internet but it wasn't really a good picture. I'm just curious about the scar itself. A smiley face sounds fun lol

I didn't get a lidocaine shot before hand...I got the spray. I made the mistake of looking at the needle before it went in, and even though I'm not afraid of needles or anything, I wouldn't recommend it! The NP fill my band with 8cc and that was a weird sensation to feel it tighten like that around my stomach. She then had me swallow some barium contrast and we watch the drink go through my esophagus and just sit in my pouch. She then slowly pulled out a few cc's at a time until the liquid flowed through the band just how she wanted it. That ended up being at 4cc (I had none placed during surgery). The needle itself didn't hurt, just felt pressure. Once she put the needle in she did have to move it around 2 times before she actually hit the port. Otherwise it wasn't as bad as I expected at all.

Wow why does it cost so much?