tnewton8351

My doc did not have a pre-op diet I just couldn't eat anything for 24 hours before the surgery...only liquids. After surgery i was on the clear liquid stage for 3 days which includes anything you can see through i.e. Water, crystal light, tea, chicken broth, SF Jello, etc. Then the full liquid stage for a week. Creamed Soups minus the chunks, Egg drop soup, wonton soup, etc. Mushies next. Mashed potatoes, oatmeal, grits, SF pudding, applesauce, etc. Then the soft foods...tuna, scrambled eggs, ground beef, chicken, baked fish, etc. I haven't tried bread yet and don't feel like i am ready to either. I described on another thread how I took a bite of a flour tortilla and it was not good! I am still on the soft food stage and I'm a little over 3 weeks post op. In the first week I did have nausea and the first week and 1/2 I had really bad gas pains in my stomach, chest and shoulder. After I started walking, it began to dissipate. I wish I had started walking right after surgery and I don't think I would have had the gas pains as bad. Re: nicotine. Sorry I don't smoke. It seems that every doc is different. So far everything seems to be going well for me and I am happy that I had the surgery. Good luck on whatever you decide! T

No sorry I haven't. I am also a little over 3 weeks post op. I did try to eat a bite of a flour tortilla and it hurt going down so bad. It felt like it was stuck and I had a terrible pain in my chest. I am not going to try that again anytime soon. The thing is the pain was short lived and was gone maybe 30 min or an hour later. If you're still having pain and vomiting I would absolutely contact your doctor ASAP. Something is wrong.

I felt pretty awful the first week and a half to two weeks after surgery. My stomach and chest hurt all the time. I started regretting my decision to have the lapband but then I was told to walk....walk...and then walk some more. Trust me I did not want to but I did it anyway and it really helped! I started by just walking for like 10-15 minutes around my house...walking slowly. Then I just increased from there and then started walking outside. I don't know if it will work for you but that is really what helped me. The GasX and Mylanta did nothing for me. I think some ppl just have a harder time afterward than others. I was one of them that had a hard time. Good luck to you and hopefully things will get better for you. I feel really good now and am thankful for being able to have the lapband. :thumbup:

I am 3 weeks out and I don't crush or half anything. I did at first and it was horrible. Then I decided I would just try one whole and see what happened. Nothing happened. So now I just spread them out during the day and have no trouble whatsoever. Good luck to you! Seems to me it depends on the person whether or not they can swallow whole.

I was trying to crush mine and half them etc in the beginning. It was absolutely horrible. The bitterness would make me gag and felt like it was burning. Then I just decided to take them one at a time with Water and you know what? I haven't had one problem. I also take buproprion and a couple of others. My doctor and pharmacist said that if the pill is no bigger than an m&m then it should not be a problem to swallow whole. I'm 3 weeks post op now and don't even think about it. Hope you find something that works for you.

Hey there! I know what you mean about doing it alone. My husband is in the AF deployed to Afghanistan until next July. My daughter and I live here off base and have no family anywhere near us. I made a few aquaintances through church but really have no friends. It's hard but I am taking it one day at a time. I was banded on 08/26/09 and feel so much better now than I did in the first week and a half. I was really regretting my decision to have the band at first. I was freaking out thinking what in the world have I done! You hang in there okay? Take it one day at a time. I love to read these boards because I know there are others who feel and have felt the same way as I have. They got through it so I figure I can too...and so can you. Right? Maybe we can support each other. Encourage one another. We're all in this together so you're not alone...and neither am I. Take care and keep your chin up. We can do this. T

Walking is what helped me more than anything else. I did NOT feel like walking but I made myself do it and it really did start helping. Good luck to you. It's not fun but it does go away. :thumbup:

Hang in there! It truly does get better. I was like you. I was so miserable I really regretted having the band put in and thought why in the world did I do this?? Fortunately, it DOES get better and you just have to keep telling yourself that. I posted on here because I was in pain and others told me to hang in there and encouraged me. I am so thankful for that because they were right! The gas pain was AWFUL. I was taking Gas X then my dr. recommended Mylanta and neither really made much difference to me. The only thing I found that helped me was walking...walking...and then some more walking. It didn't feel good while I was walking but I kept doing it and sure enough the gas pains started to dissipate. I too would wake up with headaches in the morning that just wouldn't go away. You've got to drink the Water. Little sips all the time. Don't give up. Try to focus on the positive. This will get better. I was banded on the 26th and it is so much better now than it was. :thumbup:

I was banded on 8/26 and still having pain on my left side. I am very uncomfortable and feel like my stomach is bloated all the time. I thought maybe it was gas pains so I have been taking Gas X then I called the nurse and she suggested Mylanta so I started taking it. Neither one seemed to help or make a difference. Eating or not eating makes no difference so I don't think there is an issue there. I have no trouble keeping food or liquids down. This afternoon I called my dr's office and spoke with another gastric dr. (mine is in Europe on vacation). He said I should start taking the pain medication again and if it doesnt get any better to go to the Emergency center. The pain is not unbearable so I don't think an emergency room is warranted but I don't know what to do. I don't want to ignore a potential problem but I also don't want to over react. My mom says I just have a low tolerance for pain and that may be true but has anyone had this experience? Should I just wait it out and see if this subsides? At this point, are most of you completely pain free? I read where everyone seems to be feeling wonderful and I am not. Does this mean the band does not work for me?? Any suggestions, comments, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Talisa

Thank you so much for responding. I was really worried something was wrong with me. I walked for 25 minutes this evening and I think it did help. I guess I haven't been walking enough. I wish I had a rocking chair but we got rid of the one we had about a year or so ago. My daughter is 5 now and we figured we wouldn't need it anymore! I guess I will just keep walking and hoping this will pass. I am feeling better about it after reading your responses. Thanks again.

I would love a huge burp too! I know I would feel so much better!!

I was banded on the 26th and have been exhausted lately. I get tired and feel weak after a shower. I can't walk around the stores to shop much although I have tried. The main problem I have had is the pain in my stomach and chest. I called the Dr's office and the nurse said it is probably gas. She recommended taking Gas X so I went and got some today. I took two of the chewable tablets and it seemed to help a little but the pain is still there. Not sure what else to do.

That is so awesome! You took control. I hope that I am able to do what you did when the temptation comes! I just got banded last Wednesday so I know my day is coming. You should be so proud of yourself! Way to go girl!

I was banded on Wednesday (26th) and on liquids too. I was on Clear Liquids for 3 days and then moved to a more full liquid diet. I've been having a little bit of potato soup without the potatoes and mushroom soup again...without the mushrooms. I also have pudding as well. (Sugar free of course) I think I definitely want to try the won ton soup though!

I had my band surgery on Wednesday the 26th and so far have lost 12 lbs! It really hasn't been that difficult. I've been living off of Jello, Water, apple juice, and tea. Today I had a little bit of potato soup (without the potatoes) and it was heavenly! Who knew Campbell's condensed potato soup was so wonderful?? I think they must have changed something because I don't ever remember it being all that awesome! LOL Maybe it's just me... Anyway, the first day or so I was kind of thinking what in the world have I done but now I feeling much more confident. I hope it continues. I have found that walking helps me sooooo much. A friend who had banding two years ago told me to walk as soon as possible after surgery and it helped me so much. It helped with the gas pains in my shoulder and back. I love to hear how everyone else is doing. Talisa

Hang in there. You will get through this and it will be so worth it. I think it's harder to do the liquid diet before surgery than after ward. I had mine done on Wednesday (the 26th) so I am brand new to all this but please try to keep focused on why you're doing this. Keep your chin up. You can do this.