honk

I totally understand the frustration of waiting. I started the surgery process and had to postpone because of another health issue. One thing to consider is most doctors's require you to loose a percentage of body weight. So if you loose the weight between now and when your insurance will pay for the surgery perhaps you can have the surgery in 4/11 instead of waiting several more months. For example: my surgeon said I had to loose 10% of body weight before the surgery. Realisticly how long would that take you? Point two your doctor might tell you to start exercising now. In 9/08 I finally had to go to a doctor about the knee pain I was having. It was really and truely dibilitating. I was 38 and did'nt want to go anywhere because walking was agony. I did'nt want to go to the doctor because I knew they would tell me it was my own fault for being fat. I went to a Orthopedic Surgeon who was very brutal who said "The only answer is for the weight to come off. Period". I know that but boy was he rough. Anyway, he said because of my weight and the fact that I could'nt walk he suggested swimming. His office is in the building off a brand new gym with a pool. Long story short I joined. Bought some fat lady swimsuites (skirt included) and started swimming everyday. Preband I had lost 82 pounds from diet and exercise. Now 26 days post op I have lost another 15 pounds.

Could you try swimming? And it does'nt even have to be swimming it could be water walking. I find cardio workouts to be a lot harder for me than swimming.

I recently saw an new interview where she mentions having lap band surgery. I got the feeling that it is still in place. Perhaps she had to have the saline removed and has started over. Must be really hard to have literally the whole world watching your weight battle.

Gold Standard whey Isolate Powder Double chocolate from Vitamin Shoppe. I make it in the blender with ice cubes/and milk cubes. Also costco sells Premier Protein Ready to drink Chocolate shake which is pretty good.

I had surgery on Thursday 9/12 and went back to work on Monday 9/23. I do work from home but as a corporate recruiter I sit most of the day anyway so not sure whether that makes much difference. The first week I enjoyed having a nap early afternoons. One thing to consider was that Monday 9/16 I was back at the gym. I moved progressively from 30-55 minutes on the treadmill (my mother who came to stay went to the pool). I was careful to not have any incline and was very conservative about speed. The combination of the exercise and the fact that I went back on coumadin (blood thinner from previous health issue) could have led to the need for a nap. I was doing an hour of moderate swimming everyday pre op so my body was used to exercising. In regards to pain I had none when standing immediately following surgery and only had pain at the incision when I sat up from laying down.

I think I agree about saving treats for special occations and also making sure the food is something special. For example at my sister's birthday and my nephew's graduation the cake was from an uber fancy/very expensive bakery. I had a small piece and even gave most of the frosting to my nephew. I don't think I would keep something I really liked in the hosue (I can eat half a box of count chocula in about 20 minutes no milk required). Funny, part of my post op diet is low fat/suger pudding cups. I never buy those but right now I have 4 flavors in the fridge. I don't even have them every day (which is somthing considering I just now got to move to tuna three weeks post op).

I want to preface by commenting that I think my sister is nuts to watch surgeries on Discover/science channel. Well on YouTube there are doctors that post video's of lap band surgeries. I decided to watch one and it was very educational. Not at all bloody! They use a cauterizing tool that burns through the fat and other structures so there is no blood. My blood does'nt bother me but other peoples does. Anyway. Watching the doctor put the band on and then sewing small portions of the stomach above and below the band together (to keep it from moving) was a real eye opener. They don't sew it all the way around so it's really only a couple stitches. It's really easy to see how they could break if you began eating regular food to early. Also they show how the liver is moved out of the way. So you can also see how important it is for the liver to be thin and pliable. I think I have been lucky in that I have'nt really been hungry on the liquid diet. Just more bored.

I find stock to be a lot more interesting than broth. Also have you tried Greek Yogurt? I like Chobani brand. In general Greek yogurt has twice the protein than the regular kind. That might help you to feel full longer. Be glad you like jello. I had one serving post op and gave up. I went on line and saw that jello had no nutritional value and that was that for me. I gave them to my mother to take home.

I was allowed to resume swimming 2 weeks after sugery as long as my incisions were closed .

For the first couple days I had severe diarrhea which I think may have been from the meds and IV. Also I used some "protein shots" and I think the quality of the protein was not great and caused part of this problem. For the first week I was on clear liquids and I don't think that helped. I bought a large container of unflavored Benefiber and add it to everything hot and cold. It does'nt affect the flavor or thicken. I think it is really helping.

Hi. My doctor said to get 60 grams of protein even during the clear liquid stage. My Nut said to have protein shakes three times a day during the clear liquid stage. Not sure if they meant for them to be made with water but I made mine with fat free milk. Sure that adds 90 calories but it is mostly water and the broth I was eating was like 60 calories a day total. If you have a Costco near by I buy the Premier brand ready to drink Protein. It has 30 grams and is like chocolate milk. Not bad at all.

I'm sorry to hear that you've had a hard time. I am a little suprised that you're doctor has you on clear liquids for 14 days. I was on broth (and jello which I refuse to eat) for 7 days and then could move on to smooth yogurt and smooth soups (tomato). While I was'nt necessarily hungry by the end of the first week I was definately tired of broth; and actually enjoyed drinking something different. Also what are you having for protein right now? My doctor required up to 60 grams per day even at the beginning and I was using protein shakes.

You have a right to your medical records. I would ask them nicely to tell you how much is in the band. If they won't tell you I would remind them that you have a right to know your medical details. Period. Regarding the "surgery" lable. I had the Plantars Wart that Ate New England this year on my left foot. Took five months of PCP, Dermotologist and Pediatrist visits to take that sucker down. The statements I received from insurance after visits where they cut down the dead wart with a razer before treating it with acid were called "Surgeries". Those procedures cost $250. For a razer blade and some Eat Away Your Skin (literally) Acid.

How long have you known him? Are you dating exclusively? I know that it can be hard not to tell someone when the surgery is the center of your life (which mine was to me). If you are seeing each other several days a week I would probably tell him. If by slow mean you go out once every couple weeks probably not.

Chest pain from gas 0, pain when trying to take really deep breaths for the breathing toy 2.

Hi I will be three weeks out from sugery tomorrow. I have been doing really well; able to consume my liquid diet but also not often feeling hungry between meals (only if I go like 6 hours between eating). Well I am I PMS big time and I have started to get a tightness feeling in the center of my back. Not painfull really and at the back of my through feels kind of swollen. I have no trouble swallowing Water, taking pills, and last night had a pudding cup (did'nt feel hungry enough to have soup). I had been on Zytec for a post surgery rash and I wonder if that was helping with internal swelling. Now that I stopped taking that I think I am swelling big time. I've read here that some woman feel significantly more restriction during TOM and I wonder if the short time since my surgery and PMS are magnifying the experience. Since I can eat and drink and don't have any pain I have'nt called my doctor. Anyone else have similar experience post op?

I felt more like eating when I was allowed on day 8 to move to creamy/puree soups. I never even liked tomato soup; now I have it for breakfast.

bump; looking for replies

I was banded on 8/12 and my surgeon would not give me a permission to move to mushies early. I can't have tuna or ground Turkey until Friday 9/3. I find that if I have puree soup wait an hour or so and then have a protein shake I don't get hungry. Perhaps if you space out some of the approved foods you won't feel hungry to move to new foods ahead of schedule.

To quote my surgeon the best thing you can do for yourself long term and for your safety during the surgery is to start loosing weight now. I will admit that when he talks like that it irritates me. Since my surgery had to be postponed for other health reasons I ended up loosing about 55 pounds from the time of my first consult until I had surgery. Once I made the decision I really wanted to move forward. Many surgeons require you to loose a percentage of body weight before they will do the surgery; soooo you may have a period of time you have to wait anyway. I ended up having to wait 7.5 months or the surgery.

Okay this is not going to be like eating ice cream I'll admit that upfront! I make my protein shakes with the following items: fat free milk frozen into ice cubes, sometimes sugar free flavored water cubes as well, chocolate protein powder, sugar/fat free instant pudding powder. liquid fat free milk, splendra, occationally PB2 (peanut powder with most of the oil removed). I mix my choices in a blender. Voila! Chocolate Frappe (Thick milk shake). Has about 200-220 calories and 30-35 grams protein.

I am so not a morning person. I am currently consulting and work from home so can go to the gym when I want. But that also means I might be emailing my boss data at 11:00 at night like I did yesterday. Does your current employer have a gym that you could use before, during, after work? I chose a gym (that had a pool) that was between me and work. It was far enough from my house that if I went home first I knew I would never ever come back out. So I had to stop on the way home. When I lived closer to my gym I used to tell myself "Sure you can go home but no dinner until you work out." That really motivated me to go to the gym before I went home.

From Vitamin Shoppe I like Gold Standard Double Chocolate Whey Isolate. Depending on your doctors requirements you can consider some add ons. I use suger/fat free instant pudding mix's, Davinci suger free syrups (traditionaly used in coffee) and Spendra. A new favorite of mine is PB2 which is peanut butter powder where the peanut oil has been mostly removed and then the peanuts ground into a powder. They have both plain and chocolate flavor. I add that to my chocolate shakes and love it (significantly less fat and calories than peanut butter). Also I use a personal blender to mix the shake. I freeze fat free milk and flavored suger free water in ice cube trays and use those to give the shake a thicker texture.

I have to admit being a bit jealous. I am not scheduled to start shredded chicken until week 4. Did you have your surgery hear in the US or in Mexico?

I have had the most luck at Vitamin Shoppe. I find their prices to be much better than GNC. Also I bought GNC brand chocolate whey isolate and thought it was bad.