pennreporter

Melliecat, I was banded Monday, June 1. Still no appetite or hunger. Just at times, I know I need to get something in my system. I get the gurgling noises all the time. Learned big lesson today. I had a cup of Soup and drank it just a little too quickly. I felt like I had eaten a five course meal and had to go out for a walk. I'm actually good with a half of cup of whatever it is I'm eating. The soy in the Protein drinks was giving me gas. So switched to GNC, but really like the EAS Edge drinks. Congrats and glad to hear you're doing good. Trisha (pennreporter)

Glad to hear you're doing good, Pam. I go back to work on Wednesday. I have all day dr's stuff going on tomorrow (surgeon, some kind of barium test, nutritionist and a 160-mile round trip). But everything going good on my end. Wednesday will start being my test, once I get back to a normal schedule. Good luck Trisha

spudmama, laughing and coughing hurt a little bit after...I sometimes wrap my arms around middle section, at least the first few days, not so much anymore. Sneezing is definitely not fun!! Trisha (pennreporter)

spudmama, if you go to maidenform.com and click on the lilyette sports bras, they have two that are front closures and for different levels of motions. They also make bras for back fat. My daughter got me hooked on their minimizer bras and i love their whole line. Lots of big sizes, DDD and DDDD

Lillyette (spelling) is a great bra line for large sizes (38DDD here). And they make some great front closure sports bras. I didn't think of getting one ahead of time. Wished I had. For large sizes it's one of the best bra line I've ever had. Now that my daughter is in Houston with reconstructive surgery including a breast reduction, guess I'll get all of her old bras...:thumbup: I went a couple of days without one with no real problem. Everything is fine now. good luck

Sorry to hear it's a little slow going janet (childcare). Some people swell more and again, some doctors leave some fill in the band. My daughter had fill left in hers. I don't have much restriction but I haven't pushed it either. Half a cup of soup and I'm pretty full and it's takes me a half hour to eat that. I also have to do 60 grams, which I haven't met so far. I also buy soups and puree them. If I was a better cook I'd make them but that's another story...lol. I didn't have the gas pain because my surgeon sucks as much back out as he can. I'm sure within a few days you'll start feeling better. hang in there. Trisha (pennreporter)

Congrats Maureen! I'm in the Poconos. So almost a neighbor. I'm impressed that you get rice already. I was banded June 1, this past Monday but I have to stay with liquids for two weeks AGAIN, thank you very much. Although not a real issue because not hungry yet anyway. I'm hoping when I go for follow-up next Tuesday he will progress me to next food stage where I get at least eggs and cottage cheese...whoo hoo. Good going girl Trisha

Astera, about the same for me. A half of cup is about it. just got a cup of soup and about halfway through, which was 15 mins, I was full and may have needed to go even slower, gurgling as I type. Only pain is sometimes if I twist a certain way, the main incision and the port will remind they're there. But still no hunger/appetite. Got the soup because i was feeling like I needed something in my system. Jello and SF pops are a breeze, but I kind of chew up the jello just to be on the safe side. Good luck to you Trisha (pennreporter)

Update on Naked Protein drinks...not having those anymore. Duh, it helps to read the silly label. it's 440 calories per bottle. You would think with all my dieting years I would have noticed that there were two servings per bottle. Yes, it is 30 grams. So no more of those!! :blushing: Trisha (pennreporter)

oh, yeah, spud-mama, every day I do the dance...it's my happy dance...at least in my mind!! My excuse for not learning the dance is my doctor hasn't released me to full activity. That's my story and I'm sticking with it...lol Trisha (pennreporter)

good luck on the 5 grams of sugar in the Protein...I guess maybe if you make them yourself and add maybe splenda. I like the Naked Protein drinks. Have fun Trisha

Astera, my doctor gave me a script for xantac for gas. But I know a lot of people on here get the gax-x strips. I really haven't had any gas (yet). And haven't notice the little bumps but it could very well just be a little irritation from the tape. Glad you're doing good otherwise Trisha

lotsabirds, if you click on it it will take you to the site and I think once there, do a search for dance or dancing. and then I think it's added to your signature but then at first it wasn't moving. So it took a few tries and pasting it to the right area. Trisha

I'm finding it hard to stay awake also, several naps throughout the day. The surgical strips, hmm..my surgeon's office called yesterday. I have the surgical glue, the clear strips and then bandaids over that. They told me just to take bandaids off. I go back in on next Tuesday for ANOTHER test, thank you very much, so I guess I'll find out then. But I think the clear things will eventually come off with showering. How many incisions did you have? I have five, four across (one of them bigger than the others) and then the port which is kind of under my right breast. I haven't had hiccups but had a sneezing spell. that was fun. But no hunger, hard to get down protein drinks. Almost two today, a SF pop, two jellos, now on some beef broth...whoo hoo...all those 15 calories items, I'm really moving along...lol Good luck Trisha

oreal, at the top little bar, under Thread Tools, you should be able to subscribe again. Trisha

Another great PSM!! Keep them coming. I can't think of anything funny that happened during my 6-month pre-op journey. My only out of the ordinary is day of surgery, anesthesia all of a sudden told me I was staying overnight because of sleep apnea. I was like, fine, but which one of you is giving me a ride home. Needless to say, surgeon got on the phone himself and made arrangements for a cab to take me 85 miles home. My group counseling meetings were somewhat useless because there were never any banders there, only bypass people. Because I'm a low BMI patient, I would definitely get the evil eye, like, what are you doing here. L Keep the messages coming...always need a good laugh Trisha in da Poconos (Banded June 1, '09)

welcome home Pam. You're on the loser's bench now!! Trisha

Julie M, can't say I have any bad reports so far. So I can only wish you guys good luck and don't stress over it. I also had my daughter's experience to rely upon. I went in figuring if it didn't hurt any worse than having staples removed from a crushed ankle, it was all good. So far it's A-OK. I will say because my sleep pattern was distubed I'm taking a nap in the middle of the day. Stomach is still swollen but incisions look good. Can't quite get the etch-a-sketch marks off yet. Sneezes are real special. At least I know they're coming and kind of wrap arms around middle section. so it's all good y'all!! Will be waiting on the loser's bench for ya Trisha

Welcome back Sandy. Glad all went well. I was banded on Monday and mine was pretty much like yours. Still no appetite or hunger. Do the protein drinks because I know I have to. Only time now I have any pain is sneezing...ouch...:biggrin: Good luck Trisha

Phenry, I'm sure your grandkids love you no matter what...kids are like that. But just think how much better it will be when you can do even more with them because you won't have the weight slowing you down. I was banded on Monday June 1. So far have lost about 10 lbs with pre-op diet and now but I really am able to get my yogurt and jello and soup down pretty good, just slow. And really only eat it because I know I need to. Just take it easy the first few days. You know us "older" patients aren't 21 anymore...lol. My daughter was banded last year in Feb on a Tuesday, flew back from Houston on Friday and worked Saturday. I'm taking off until next Wednesday. No pain, but still sore. Good luck next week Trisha

My daughter had to self-pay because even though insurance covered it, she had to have at least 'some' comorbidites, which she didn't have any. The cost has truly come down in the US so that you don't necessarily have to Mexico anymore. I've heard the 7k price coming out of Utah and Colorado. My daughter paid 13k but she also had one of the top surgeons in the US. Here in PA it's in the 25k range...so definitely do your homework. If you're self-pay at least you can also self-choose who you doctor will be. I'm in an HMO so I had no choice. Luckily I liked my surgeon but he hadn't done very many bands as compared to bypass. So that is the plus side and many many doctors when you're self pay don't require the six months jumping through the hoops. That is mostly an insurance thing. So good luck!! Trisha