addelapp5

I'm too tight in the morning too. I tested a few times because I'm hungry. I didn't get stuck, but two bites in, I knew better than to continue. Now I either go with a carnation instant breakfast, or a yogurt smoothie. I can't handle Protein shakes anymore! One of those gets me through until 11 or 12. I can eat then, but I have to be very careful. It gets better as the day goes on, but never loose enough to let me eat "anything."

My doctor said I could walk every day, but nothing more for the first 6 weeks after surgery. Now that I'm beyond that, he said to keep it light for the first month (no heavy work on my stomach/abs), but anything else was fine. I've been doing the couch to 5k running program, and yoga but I haven't added more than that yet.

I know how you feel! I am almost 2 months post-op and while I do not "crave" soda, I went from drinking 6-7 cans in a day to nada. I haven't had even a sip since the day before my surgery. I have been tempted once or twice to just have a sip of one, but I was so addicted before, I'm afraid that a sip will slip into way more, so I stay away. I used to hate Water. I find that the more I drink now, the better. I am less hungry and to be honest, not as thirsty. However, I am no water preacher, nor can I *just* drink water. I typically have the Vitamin Water 10 (as stated above, orange is really good). I usually have one of those a day, along with maybe a tea or crystal light. My only drink indulgence is juice. I'm aware that we shouldn't be drinking our calories and that it's basically sugar water, but... I was a huge fruit eater (no pun intended) before the band and I am just now allowed to start adding some back in. I find that ONE 8oz glass of juice per day satisfies both the sweet craving and the fruit craving for me. Though I dilute mine. It's too sweet alone. Funny how my tastes changed after my band. My favourite is strawberry cranberry juice. I go about 5 oz juice and 3 oz water so that I can still taste it but it's not so strong. I'll also do apple juice, etc. I found a store-brand organic juice the other day (at Giant stores if you know what those are) that is called berry berry good lemonade that has a very faint taste and is very good and kind of refreshing. You have to alternate to not get bored/sick of stuff. I couldn't touch a crystal light for a month after surgery becuase I was so sick of them. Just keep searching for something you like!

Well first off, congrats on your weight loss!!! That's great! Second, I can't really offer any advice, but I can tell you that you are right in line with me. I was banded on 3/23 so I'm a week shy of 2 months post op, but I have lost 30 pounds and am thrilled. I know that everyone looses at a different pace and that it doesn't realllllly matter, but I am always curious as to how everyone is doing that was banded around the same time as myself. I just got my first fill on the 7th and I am definitely feeling it. I had some restriction before but now I've got it for sure and that's helped me a lot. Good luck and congrats again! :mad2:

Agreed! I was banded on March 23 and was on this site a LOT the first week. Then I got burnt out and today is actually the first time I've sat down and read any posts in the past three weeks. It took me almost two weeks to feel okay (lots of anesthesia side effects for me), and now I am finally back to feeling 100%! I have my first fill next thursday the 7th. I can eat more than a cup at a time but not much more. I have been sticking to Protein protein protein as directed. Have had a few small things not on the list here and there but I definitely can NOT eat even half of what I used to. Will be glad for a fill though. I can't say I see myself being on here much in the next few months either. I obsess about how much weight I am loosing and such if I read too much on here. I just want to do my thing and take my time and see where that gets me. It puts me on edge when I read here a lot. I guess that sounds bad. I don't know. I feel more in control if I don't obsess about food and the lapband. And I think about both a little too much when I read here on a daily basis. I definitely love the info and support here but I definitely feel you on the break thing. Hope you guys are all doing well!

My doctor and nutritionist didn't have a mushies stage. Well not one like described around here. I went from 2 weeks of liquids straight to solids. Though they said to start with soft solids like fish, eggs, etc. I am not allowed any fruits, veggies or carbs until 6 weeks out though (2 1/2 more weeks to go). I have had no problem with hamburger meat and chicken. I do not like fish (I'm working on it!) and I am not brave enough to do pork or steak. My nutritionist did say to always have a sauce for meat though. I have made cheeseburgers without the bun, mexican style chicken with cheeses, and a jalapeno sauce and salsa, etc. I've done a million things with chicken. I've used italian dressing, alfredo sauce, salsa, taco seasoning, etc. I travel a lot and have found that chick-fil-a chicken nuggets are great. They are minimally breaded and 4-6 fill me up and last me 4-5 hours. I am not supposed to have anything fried but my doctor was fine with nuggets from chick-fil-a. I also always have cheese sticks and yogurt smoothies at work. The sugar is a little higher than I'd like on those but they keep me full in the mornings when I'm too tight to get anything solid down (I don't drink a Protein shake unless I have to. I'm so sick of them!). I've found a bunch of low-carb recipe stuff online. You just have to pick and choose for what you're allowed to have. I basically sat down and wrote out my favourite dishes. Chicken fet. alfredo is one of them. And then I took out what I couldn't have. The noodles. Oddly, it's just as good without them. I have been doing that when a food tempts me and I find that my craving is cured, and I am satisfied.

It definitely depends on your doctor. I see the "norm" around here to be 2ish weeks of liquids and then 2 more weeks of mushies. My doctor and nutritionist told me 2 weeks of liquids, and then I could go straight to solids. Though the "solids" are just protiens. eggs, cheese, fish, chicken, etc. No carbs, fruit, veggies until 6 weeks out for me. Ask your doctor and/or nutritionist.

Glad everyone is doing well so far! I was banded on 3/23. Had tonsss of nausea and gas trouble. Stayed out of work for 10 days but am now feeling almost 100%. I still feel that I get kind of worn out during my work day and taking my dogs on a walk really gets me tired, but I think that's fairly normal. Lost 15 on pre-op and have lost 10-12ish since surgery. I was able to start "real" food 2 weeks pre-op so I've been doing that for this week, and I'm glad I'm done with liquids (mostly anyway). My real foods basically just consist of Protein, just like my post-op. I can try fruits, veggies and carbs after my first fill which is scheduled for May 7th. I have not had much trouble eating. I definitely have restriction going on, and I have to go super slow when I eat. I PB'd the other day on chicken and it taught me to pay more attention while eating, that's for sure! I can manage about 3-4 oz of protein at a time and I find myself satisfied for quite a while. I hope that lasts! We'll see.

Welcome! I had surgery the same day as you. Congrats and I hope you're feeling well!

Oh I feel you now... I'm so tired of them too. I actually put some beef/veggie Soup in the blender yesterday and it made all of the difference. I felt about 200% better. I'm so sick of sweet stuff right now. Can't wait until I can have something different! Hang in!

Hey Tummy, My surgeon and nutritionist told me that I should work to get 64-100 oz of Water per day but that it would definitely take me a while to get there, and not to worry if I could not do it initially. The nutritionist told me that some people were able to get all 64oz a few weeks post-op while others were only able to get in half of that in the same time frame. I'd talk to your doc and/or nutritionist. Get in as much as you can obviously, but don't shove it in. I had surgery a few days after you and until today I was only able to get in about 12oz of water a day (plus another 12 of Protein shake, etc). Today I've managed about 20 which is surprising!

My family knows, and one of my closest friends. I told my boss I was having my gall-bladder removed to get the time off of work. Would I have gotten it off regardless? Sure. I have decided, for now anyway, to keep it to myself. I want to go at my own pace, and to lose for myself. I am not afraid of people criticizing, but I am worried that I will start to lose weight to keep up appearances, opposed to wanting to do it for myself. Twisted, I'm sure. Oh well. I think that in the future, I will definitely be comfortable telling people that I have the lapband. For now, mum's the word for me. If I tell people right now, I will worry that I should be losing more weight, going faster, etc. I want this to be for me, as it should be.

Hi Kathy, I had surgery the same day as you. I also feel fine during the day, and around 6-7pm I start to feel pretty bad! I had to call my doc. a few days ago to get nausea meds because I kept dry heaving. Seems we're clear now (knock on wood), and today is the first day I have not taken pain or nausea medicine. I took a walk last night around the block (about 1/2 a mile) and I felt horrible after. I definitely pushed too far there. As much as I hate to say it, I think it's just a wait and see kind of thing. I do not go back to work until Thursday (easy desk job) but I am also a photographer and have a horse show to photograph on Sunday and I'm pretty worried about it! I know I can sit for a few hours of it but I'll be there about 9 hours total. I'm sure I'll be wiped the next day. I plan on resting a LOT from now until then. Today is better than yesterday. Yesterday was better than the day before. Good luck and feel better!

I had surgery on 3/23 (Monday) and planned on going back Sunday. I had a LOT of side effects from the anesthesia which have knocked me on my butt. I was not expecting it at all. Soreness-wise, I'm fine. But I dry heave a lot from the gas, get pretty nauseous, etc. I called my boss and am now going back on Thursday, so that will have been 11 days since surgery that I've been off. I hate that I've needed this much time but there's no wayyy I'd make it into work today like I had originally planned. I would take off a few extra days if I were you. Let them know that you might be up to working earlier than you stated but personally I'd rather have a few days extra than not enough.

I know how you feel! I started getting a cold about 8 days before surgery and I FREAKED OUT! I was so worried that I wouldn't get to have surgery. Check with your surgeon first for sure. For me, I took Airborne 3x a day and did the Zicam nasal stuff (on the q-tip not the spray) every 4 hours and I had mine knocked in 3 days thankfully.

I can't tell you much. I got banded the day before you. Until today, I felt horrrrible. Today I feel MUCH better. Basically all I did for the first few days was sleep, walk, and deal with gas pain. I wasn't really able to drink much Protein shake until today, and even now, I'm having a hard time. I'm doing my best to get the Water in as well. Sleep has definitely been a big part of making me feel better I think. I have been taking pain meds, especially at night. They make me tired. I have been feeling better every time I wake up though, so that's good. Just rest and drink what you can. Keep walking too! It's been hard for me since it's been cold and rainy but I have done as much as possible. We'll be feeling better soon!

Sorry for the abundance of info here but I figured some of you might be able to answer. After surgery, when I would go to the bathroom, I would have a little bit of blood in my urine. I asked my nurse if this was normal and she said yes, it can be. I don't normally have periods so I was concerned. That has stopped now that I'm a few days post-op, but... Now I have blood in my nose. Not nose bleeds. But when I go to blow my nose, there is a little bit of blood. I assume this is also normal, as I had a good amount of blood thinners and my body is on the rebound from surgery, but I wanted to see if anyone else had this happen? I don't mind calling the doctor's office to speak to the surgeon on call but I didn't want to call for something that's not important! Any answers are greatly appreciated!

I called the surgeon on call at my doctor's office this morning and he basically said the same thing as you Cathy! Thank you both for the replies. Here it has been rainy and a little cold but two days ago it was sunny and 70, so he said the change, plus the probably dry air in the house would be a likely cause. He said if it doesn't clear up in the next few days, to call back but he wasn't concerned. :cursing:

I feel you! I don't have to sleep in a chair but I definitely have to prop myself up a little with pillows. However, I can't sit straight up without a decent amount of pain. I'm a little worried because I'm going to need to sit pretty straight up starting on Sunday for work. Hopefully it will get better. I agree with whomever said to take a little pain medicine before sleep. It helps a good deal for me. I sleep pretty sound and feel a LOT better when I wake up. Good luck! It'll pass I'm sure. Everyone else around here seems to be alright, I'm sure we will too!

I'm excited that I finally get to post on this thread! Haha. I had surgery on Monday March 23. I had to be at the hospital at 7:45 for my 9:45 surgery. Got there and did all of the pre-op junk. Weighed in (which I was nervous about) and dropped 12 pounds on my pre-op diet, so that made me feel better! Then I peed in a cup, changed into my snazzy gown and then got the heparin shot (which stung a bit). Then I was wheeled to the OR. Once there, I had my IV put in, and the anesthesiologist and my doc came in to visit, ask if I had any questions, etc. Stayed parked with two other patients there for about 30 minutes. Anesthesiologist came back to me around 9:30 and said it was time to go! Gave me drugs (which I guess kicked in mighty freaking fast), and wheeled me into the OR. I remember getting onto the table, and putting my arms out on either side of me, and then a nurse putting socks on my feet and that's seriously all I remember. I don't remember having to count down or anything... huh. Next I knew, I was in recovery. I halfway remember trying to be woken up and I felt like I was having a bad dream, but then I was right back out I guess. Apparently my room wasn't ready and I was in recovery for over 2 hours. I didn't even notice. I thought I was there for like 20 minutes. First thing I asked was how many incisions I had (I was worried because on the surgery board in the OR my surgery said lap-band, possible OPEN, so that freaked me out!). Nurse said 6, and that I did great so I was like "whew" and went right back to sleep. Woke up a little bit later and was told it was time to go to my room finally! Got there and my mom came up. I got some pain meds and pretty much went right back to sleep after I talked to my mom for a few minutes. I was all grumpy for the week before surgery because I really didn't want to stay in the hospital overnight (my surgeon requires that you do). But in the end, I am definitely glad I stayed! I didn't hurt much but I did get pain meds every four hours. Basically I timed everything with my ice chips. I got them every four hours. So every four hours I'd buzz the nurse and ask to get up and walk. I'd do a lap or two around the floor and then go to the bathroom. I'd also get my ice chips and pain meds. The walking helped with the gas but made my stomach hurrrrt (I assume sore muscles from poking and prodding). The absolute WORST thing for me were the "hose" to prevent blood clots. They made my legs itch like crazy! Anyway, I was discharged the next day after seeing my surgeon. He said I did well, and that I had an extra incision to repair a small hernia. Now that I'm home, I felt like poo for the first two days. The gas was gross. Not in my shoulder but in my chest. Still kind of is. I feel a lot better right now though. Hopefully it will last. I definitely have not been able to drink much though. The first day home I managed like 2oz of protein shake and then about 6 oz of water. 2nd day I managed about the same. Today (yeah it's like 3am) I've already had 2oz of protein shake so things are looking up! My stomach has started with the crazy gurgling noises. Good luck to everyone. All in all it was a decent experience. The gas seems to be the worst for me and I'm hoping that subsides soon!

Yepyep. I was just told anti-bacterial. I stayed away from anything scented. I just got Dial as well. I was told to use a washcloth and gently clean AROUND my incisions but not on them, and then to squeeze the washcloth (wring it out) over them before rinsing them off, and to not actually clean them.

It kind of depends on you I think! I've read lots of varying opinions on this. For me, I didn't feel crap until about 4 hours after surgery when I had to get up and walk the first time. Even then, the only thing that hurt was actually getting in/out of bed, and it wasn't that bad! I hardly hurt at all in the hospital, but my pain medicine didn't make me feel loopy/groggy/gross so any time I started to hurt, I went ahead and asked for a little. May as well stay comfy. Now that I am home (I had surgery on Monday morning, came home Tuesday)... Wednesday was definitely the hardest day for me. I have LOTS of gas but it is not in my shoulder, it's smack dab in the middle of my chest. I will get gas, try to burp to make it feel better, and then feel like I need to throw up instead. If I press my fingers into my chest, it makes it feel better. The more I walk the better I feel. I haven't taken much of my prescribed pain meds but I have taken a little. It has helped and it doesn't make me feel "gross" so I'm game for it for now. I just woke up (it's like 2:20am) and I feel better than I have since surgery. Yesterday I was almost regretting the band because I felt so crappy! I think it just depends on each individual. Just know that the pain will go away and it'll be worth it! :cursing:

Glad your surgery went well! I had mine on the same day. I was alright with gas pain. I'd get up and walk and then I'd get a little woozy and my stomach would hurt, presumably because of sore muscles and such. Now that I'm home, the gas pain seems to be the most trouble. It's not bad in my shoulder but I have a bunch in the center of my chest and it HURTS. I haven't been able to drink too much either. They said 3oz of Protein drink every 3 hours. I've managed 3... for the day. I just can't handle any more than that! I'm sure it will get better. I'm not a big broth fan but apparently hot liquids help a little with the gas so I'm going to try that tonight. Hope you have a speedy recovery. I am just ready to not be sore!

Congrats! My surgery date is also on Monday the 23rd. Wooo! Finally.