CateyP

Hi there! I'm probably not supposed to post an introduction in this spot, but wanted to say hello I'm new to lapbandtalk - just found you all today! LOVE it!! I live in Kent, and am scheduled for the band on 8/8/06 ... 2 weeks and one day!! Fridge is stocked with Costco's version of Slimfast to start the pre-op liquid diet tomorrow, with tonight being the offical "last supper" at a steak place :hungry: I'm so excited I can hardly stand myself!! (Excited about the surgery, not the steak dinner :phanvan ). Of course I also just found an "I regret my lapband" thread someplace (might not be on this site), and am a little nervous, but trying to stay focused on the goodness. Anyway, that's me! I'd love to hear from you all - thank you!

Hi there, I pureed soups during my liquid phase - are you limited to clear liquids? If not, you can make any yummy soups you like (from Campbell's to homemade) and run them through the blender. I had cream of mushroom, and then some bean with bacon, and I thought I'd gone to heaven

That's one thing my surgeon warned me could happen -- diarrhea from the antibiotics they use during surgery, combined with having a primarily liquid diet. Diarrhea is so dehydrating, so please be sure to get enough liquids to make up for it, and keep after the doctor if you don't improve. Get well soon!

Congratulations!! I was banded at NWWLS in early August, but had Dr. Montgomery. I think Dr. Michaelson is SO great, though. He's such a compassionate guy, and so talented. Anyway, welcome to this side of it

I'm always so impressed with stories from people who bounced back so quickly -- mowing the lawn??! Good for you!! I couldn't even walk for a couple of days! I'm just over two weeks out, and I'm finally feeling my strength come back. My mom came over to take me to the grocery store about a week ago, and I truly thought I was going to faint in the store :embarassed: I was pale, shaky ... no fun! But every day I'm stronger, so I echo what everyone is saying about just paying attention to your body and be gentle with yourself as you're healing. It's a journey, that's for sure. Take care!

Hi Losin' It -- I'm glad you asked that! I'm still on mushy foods, but am curious about the protein/carb/fat ratio I should shoot for in an average day. All I've gotten from my surgeon is to shoot for 60g of protein a day, but I'd like more comprehensive suggestions. Thanks for asking the question!

Yeah for your new grandbaby!! And the one on the way, too!! I'm thrilled for you :clap2: Congratulations!

Hi guys, I'm almost 2 weeks out, and I feel better now, but I did experience the same thing you all are. Almost worse than not being able to take in much of anything was the fear about it. My friend/boss had her surgery a month before, and she healed so quickly! But 2 weeks out I'm just now able to get enough liquid in. My advice for you is to take it easy, be gentle, and sip Water. Don't push yourself, because the pain/pressure from taking in too much too soon isn't worth it. Keep track of how many ounces you can get in during the day, and let your doc know. If they're concerned, they can give you a prescription for something to help the swelling. No worries, sweetpeas. Sip, sip, sip and good luck! It only gets better from here!

Hi Lisa! I was banded by Dr. M on 8/8, and I empathize with your pre-op liquid struggles ... so hard to do!!! Truly tough. I didn't have to do the CPAP thing, but you have all my sympathy about it - what a pain! As far as pre-surgery doubts - I assume you talked to Linda at NWWLS? When I told her my confidence level was only a 4 or 5 out of 10 that this would work for me, she said, "You're not that special. It will work." :-) Of course she said it in a sweet way, but now that I'm on the other side I see what she meant. Unless I have milkshakes every day, the tool is going to work. Like someone said on another thread, it keeps working even when your motivation wanes (which mine has done on every other plan I've tried). So just be patient with the process, and with yourself, and good luck!! :clap2:

I agree that Walmart cards are a GREAT idea! I'd love to send something ... please drop me your address in a private message, and I'll send you something as soon as I can (I'm still getting my energy back from the band surgery, and not sure I can drive just yet ).

I felt the same way! I'm 10 days post-op, and it's been an emotional roller-coaster. This is a big deal -- not only is it surgery, which is big all by itself, but it's also a major change to how we move through the world. Relying on food as a comfort and a friend for soooo long is now going to change. It makes perfect sense that you'd be feeling emotional and worried! I'd suggest being very gentle with yourself, write out your long-term goals for having the surgery, and then be gentle with yourself some more I'm sending you lots of hugs, and all my best wishes. I'm sure you're going to be absolutely fine! Do some searches on this board for anxiety and/or depression and see what others have had to say. Surround yourself with love & support, and know that you're making a powerful decision to take care of yourself by taking charge of your health. Much love to you!

Hi all, I was banded three days ago, and am more sore than I expected. I'm sure that will get better, but I'm so sad. I didn't really expect to feel like this -- I'm nervous about what I've done to my body. What if I've made a horrible mistake? Will I feel better? I'm not interested in eating or drinking, although I get some sips in. I just feel so blue, and anxious. What I really need to hear is that this is normal, that someone else has felt this way, that I will heal and get stronger and be myself again. Please help :cry

Hi everyone, I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I wanted to tell you all that I'm so grateful for your kind words about depression after surgery. I'm right in the middle of it, and want to cry all the time. I too am so surprised about the amount of pain, the sadness, the vulnerability, the worry. I posted about this elsewhere, and have gotten a lot of great responses, but am finding such comfort in this thread as well. Thank you all for your kindness and comfort! Much love, Catey

I hear you, Nellie! It makes it a little tougher because my parents have never really been on board with my decision. They're supportive and sweet, and they're taking great care of me (I'm staying with them for the first few days), but neither one was really very excited about my decision. That makes it so much harder when I'm feeling vulnerable and blue, and questioning what I've done to myself. I still have a good amount of pain, so that makes me feel that much more low. I just hold on to what the others have said in this thread and others - that others felt this way too, that it does get better, and that the band was the best decision they made. Hang in there - every day gets us closer to healing and getting stronger.

Hi again, Nellie :-) I've heard that hunger can stay away for months, or can come back much sooner. I think because we're still very early in the pre-op phase, concentrating on getting liquids in is our main concern. I'm sure I'm dehydrated because I'm just not interested in putting anything at all in my stomach, but I'm working on it. I was also curious about how quickly to be drinking the Water. I'm just sipping slowly -- it takes me hours to get through a glass :-) But again, we're so early in the process that our tummies need time to heal. Be patient with yourself - treat yourself like you would your best friend if she had just had surgery. I'm sending you lots of hugs & kisses!

Thank you so much, everyone! I felt better last night, and then woke up sad this morning again ... what a blessing that you're all there! I'm so grateful for your stories & words of comfort. Hang in there, Nellie, we'll be there too :-)

P.S. Kiana - We're neighbors! I got banded by Dr. Montgomery at NWWLS in Everett, but I live in the south end. So even though I can't come over & give you a hug, I want you to know that I'm virtually hugging you right now. If you want to talk, drop me a Private Message ... :Banane27:

Hi Kiana, I'm so thankful you wrote. I posted a thread that is very similar to yours earlier today, and cried all the way through it. I'm only 3 days out, and I hurt more than I expected. I feel so blue, and now I'm wondering what in the world I've done to my body. It feels weird to drink even a little bit of a yogurt smoothie --- like an almost-painful-pressure in my upper chest. What is that?? A week ago I could've eaten an entire cow, but I've been working on the same 8-ounce smoothie for two days! I did the same thing you did -- I researched, I planned, I got myself all ready and now I'm wondering how I got here :Banane27: But I take a lot of comfort in the postings from others who remind me that surgery of any kind is tough on your body. It takes time to heal, and going through the sadness is part of the process. See if you can find my post from earlier today in this same area of the board ("Lap-Band Support"), and maybe some of the responses will help. Hang in there, sweetheart. Know that you are not alone in this process. You have sisters (and probably brothers too!) walking the same road with you ... although it's more of a shuffle than a real walk so far I'm sending you all my best wishes, and many (gentle) hugs!!!!

Thank you so much, everyone. I'm so grateful that you all wrote ... I'll just take this all a little bit at a time, and not try to heal on a schedule :phanvan Many (gentle) hugs & kisses to you all - thank you!

Hi all, I'm getting banded tomorrow morning (oh my gosh!!), so I don't have any real-life PB experience yet, but wanted to let you know that someone told me a PB is not like throwing up as you know it now. There isn't any stomach acid that comes up with it - it's just burping up what was too big to go down. So I don't think there are any worries about esophageal erosion with PB's :clap2:

Hi Buffie, I soooo understand how you feel!! Instead of mad, though, I've been just so down about it. I'm so, so, so tired of the compulsion! I'm SICK of waking up thinking about food, planning it, getting it, eating it, thinking about the next thing I'm going to have ... None of my friends or family have the issue, so while I can cry on their shoulder a little bit, they really don't "get it". I wish I had perfect words for you, but I don't. I do agree with the practical suggestions that others offered - the problem is being in the right frame of mind to implement them ... :decision: ... I'm sending you all the best, tons of love, and hope for patience with the process for both of us!

OH MY GOSH!!! I can't believe it's almost here. My date is August 8 ... I thought it was so far away, but it snuck right up on me! I think I'm excited, but I'm probably still in denial that it's actually happening. And oh my gosh ... they could do a documentary on the last supper syndrome by dropping by my house!! It's like somehow I think there isn't any food on the other side!! :faint: What's my deal?? I'm supposed to be in the preop liquid phase, but haven't been very good at sticking with it. (Not terribly shocking that I'm not good at diets!! ) Much love to the rest of you August-bandsters! And yeah for us! :clap2:

First of all, I'm so sorry you lost your kitty cat!! What a doll-face. :think I'm sending you lots of (((((hugs))))). When my kitties go, I plan on having them cremated too. I figured I'd just have a little urn for their ashes, and put it on the hearth next to the fireplace. That way it's subtle, but I know they're close. I live in a townhouse, so I'd hate to bury them out in the common area! Much love to you ...

Hi there -- Just wanted to let you know that I'm there too! I thought it was just me, so I'm thrilled you posted this ... at least as thrilled as an apathetic woman can be . I'm so relieved to see others have felt that way too. I think part of my apathy is the feeling that I've been down similar roads before with no success, you know? Every diet or program I tried got me all excited that 'This is it!!', and then I failed. Maybe I'm just tired of getting all excited, and am trying to protect myself. Not sure. But I'm looking forward to being on the other side, that's for sure.

Hi Vinesqueen! Small world, hmm?? I'm going to Dr. Montgomery up at the Northwest Weight Loss Surgery center (NWWLS) ... Whoo-hoo! 2 weeks from today!! :clap2: