jensmallwood

Welcome! I agree-- this is a great place, with lots of supportive people. It's nice to be able to talk to people who "get it."

I "whisked" some Unury unflavored Protein powder into my mushroom soup today (still on liquids), and I couldn't even tell it was in there. It was awesome. I'm sick of Protein shakes, too!

The Atkins shakes also have a decent amount of fiber (5g), so maybe that contributes to the problem.

I was given a 50 g protein intake goal for each day. If you need the extra protein, you could add it to soup, juice or whatever. If you're reaching your protein goal with shakes or whatever, then you don't need to. I just get really sick of the protein shakes- so I dropped my lunch shake and added unflavored protein powder to my soup today instead.

Yeah, it sounds like it would be a dream come true for me! BUT-- do you have enough energy? I'd just be worried about eating enough for what your body needs to function. Are you feeling good otherwise?

Oh, also Kefir, if you like yogurt.

I like the Pacific and Imagine brands of cream soup found in my Kroger's organic section. They come in cartons. They are low fat, low calorie, and have a decent amount of Fiber in them. There is sweet potato, potato-leek, broccoli, portabello mushroom, red bliss potato and garlic, butternut squash and probably others. I just used some Unury unflavored Protein powder and added it to one of the soups (the Protein Powder adds no taste and no texture change if the soup's not too hot.) Very good (and no weird ingredients in the soup- no chemicals, etc. Just organic vegetables.) I'm gonna use some of those other ideas! The banana, Peanut Butter smoothie sounds great!

I'm 6 days post-op today and feeling *nearly* like my old self. Good energy, no pain, etc. BUT- I'm hungry again for the first time today. And I have another whole week of liquids. I know I have to do this to help heal my stomach-- but wow- fluids just do not keep me full for more than an hour and a half- maybe 2 if it's a Protein shake? I hate to do more than 3 Protein shakes a day; what do you guys think? I've added cream Soups, which is helpful. Any other suggestions?

Welcome, Jeri! Whereabouts in Maryland are you from? I spent most of my life in Maryland-- mostly out west (where Maryland gets "skinny", but also Baltimore and the DC area). My doctor took a couple of "before" shots, which I refused to look at! :smile2:

I just had my surgery on 2/26... I actually felt quite good (though sleepy) the day of my surgery. Hardly needed any pain meds (no morphine, just 1 Lortab). My biggest problem was a sore throat, and some moderate shoulder pain from the gas. I slept fairly well and was able to get in and out of bed without too much trouble (some people say they can't do it without help). Day 2 the shoulder pain and sore throat went away, but I had random pressure in my abdomen from gas. Day 3 was a little better, but on day 4 I had horrible nausea and dry heaves. I don't know why. Day 5 was great and day 6 (today) I feel almost normal again. I've been doing my normal stuff pretty much and feel great! There is a "surgery day" sticky threat in either the "Post Op" or the "General Discussion" forums.... I read a lot there that scared me, but helped me to expect the worst and have my experience seem "lucky." Good luck to you!

I'd call them and see if you can reschedule it for just after their visit. If they can, then that's what I'd do (for what THAT's worth). I don't think I could have handled a house full of people a couple of days after my surgery. Good luck, and congrats!

I think surgery recovery is just really random and different for everyone. I had a sore throat on surgery day along with an achey shoulder, general abdominal gas pressure but no pain on day 2, felt better on day 3, THEN had horrible nausea and dry heaves on day 4 (couldn't even stand up). Good but generally weak on day 5 and today (day 6) I feel almost perfectly normal. AND HUNGRY! I wonder what day 7 will bring!:smile2: No- I feel that I've turned "the corner," and you will, too!

I'm glad it went smoothly!! The gas pain does suck-- my shoulder pain went away the first night and I thought I was home free-- only to find the gas was just rumbling around in my abdomen (very uncomfortably) the next day making me not want to drink anything. Ah, well. It's mostly gone by now. I suppose that is Water weight you've gained. Due to your body holding onto Fluid to protect your "injured" stomach. It'll go away quick-like-a-bunny!

I think that this is a valid thing to consider, especially if someone is new to Protein drinks or had a problem with milk previously (lactose intolerant). If you suspect that might be a problem, look for a lactose-free Protein Drink (will likely be bought in powder form). Maybe a soy isolate protein? I THINK, even tho it is from dairy, that whey isolate (not concentrate) is also lactose free.

Maybe he just needs a little, um, "attention..." :biggrin:

Congratulations! That's awesome!

Are you thinking about leaving the day after your surgery, or a few days after? I wouldn't recommend traveling for the first 2 days- just to make sure everything is ok. You might feel lousy and just want to be at home. I don't think I would have enjoyed an 8 hour car ride. Especially the seat belt that will go right across some of your incisions. The other issue is your itinerary on your trip. Are you gonna be expected to go sight-seeing and out to restaurants with your family? You may be sore and tired and just want to rest. I think it will really depend on how you feel.

I don't see why it would be a problem, unless you are loading it with sugar. It DOES have some caffeine (though not as much as coffee or black tea does), but they also make decaf green tea. I love green tea, and don't plan to give it up!

My doctor didn't mention to weigh every day OR not to.... I guess it makes sense though... I'd do what your doctor recommends and if you have questions about it, then call him or her. FWIW, I am two days post-op and I got on the scale this morning. :biggrin: Couldn't help it.

Congrats on the great loss!

Another thought: Can you eat real food for breakfast rather than a protein shake? I'm thinking the shake goes right through while some scrambled eggs or something might help you stay full longer.

I wouldn't buy a juicer just for the procedure-- you'll probably be on a liquid only diet for 2-4 weeks.... I have a juicer (a Breville) and I bought a bunch of veggies planning to juice stuff for my liquid only phase. So far (only 2 days post-op I really don't feel like drinking any veggie juice.) I'm hoping they don't rot in my veggie bin. My grocery store sells quite a number of veggie-only juices in the organic section, and I kinda wish I'd gotten some of those instead of all the fresh vegetables (which aren't fresh anymore). After the liquid only phase, my nutritionist said that it counted as "drinks with calories" and that they would prefer that I eat actual vegetables at that time. Hope that's somewhat helpful! Oh, I found a heating pad handy for my shoulder pain the first night.

I was banded this past Friday, 2/26 at the Center for Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery in Bloomington, Indiana, by Dr. Bradley Ray. I arrived just before 9 for a 10am surgery, and the nurse came out and promptly told my husband that she was getting his room ready. She was slightly flustered and embarassed when I told her it was MY room. :wink2: He's bigger than me, so I can understand the mistake. I got back into my room, and lovely gown and socks by about 9:20 or so, and they did fun stuff like check my blood pressure (which was higher than normal, but they assured me that as I was having surgery that day, it was normal for it to be high.) The nurse came in and was wonderful-- she got my IV in my left hand without any pain or fuss-- I didn't even end up with a bruise! Kudos to her. She started the saline and an antibiotic drip. My husband and I stayed in the pre-op room and watched tv for a while, when there was some hub-bub about lab work and did I have this done or that done? I told them I had whatever they told me to get done and I was nervous something had been missed and they were gonna send me home. But nope, it was all ok, I guess. Soon, the operating room nurse and the anaesthesiologist came back and chatted about what was going to happen, and they took me to the OR-- they also added a quick shot to my IV that made me calm and relaxed. (where can I get some of that for my 9-year-old son?) In the OR they had me scooch over onto the operating table, the anaesthesiologist put a mask over my face and told me to breathe deep. Next thing I know I am coming to as they are pushing me into the recovery room. I was so sleepy and cob-webby, but I wanted to wake up, so I tried pretty hard. I got some sips of water and they even gave me a couple of small bites of jello and a Lortab (not even liquid, which surprised me.) I had no trouble swallowing it at all. They kept asking me about pain, but I didn't have much, fortunately. A short while later, I was wheeled back into my pre-op room where my husband was. I spoke to the surgeon-- who told me that I had a hiatal hernia which he repaired. I hadn't even been having reflux, so I was surprised by that! I was released just before 1pm and went home. I took a nap and when I woke up I felt quite good. Had some pain in my shoulder, but not excruciating. My biggest complaint was my sore throat! My incisions didn't hurt really at all. Not even the port. I didn't take anymore Lortab until bedtime that night (because I don't like the drowsy) but I did nap several times that day. Next day (yesterday), my sore throat and shoulder were gone, but I had gas pressure in my abdomen that really bothered me. I tried to get up and walk around a bunch, and today that is a LOT better. I got a shower today, and am drinking what I can. It's weird to know that I haven't eaten for two days, and I'm seriously not hungry. I don't even miss food yet. I know it will come, but still, it's a bit of a weird feeling! All is well!!!:laugh:

Wow, Melissa! 15 pounds the first week. That's just crazy! It sounds like your surgery went really smoothly, and you're recovery just nicely!! Hooray! My surgery was this morning, and so far I think I'm having it quite easy. I have minimal to no pain in incision areas-- even my port doesn't hurt. My left shoulder hurts-- but it's not excruciating or anything. I have even had periods today where the pain went away. Hopefully it won't last too long. Interestingly, the thing that bothers me most is my throat! It has been quite sore at times, though I just woke up from a nap and it feels a great deal better. I don't know if it'll start hurting again when my Tylenol wears off... I stopped taking the Lortab when I left the hospital (only took one there). They make me sooo groggy, so I've been using liquid tylenol instead. I'm not having any problem drinking fluids, which is nice. I was worried I'd have a hard time getting sips in... but it's not been a problem! Yay! Hooray for us!! Jen- oh btw-- my doctor gave me a picture of my band in place and one of the hiatal hernia that I didn't know I had! :crying: There's one for the scrap book!:cursing:

Hi all! I'm going in tomorrow for my band!! I'm excited (though I'll probably be nervous tomorrow morning.) Mine will be done out-patient-- barring any complications, of course. I hope all of you who went today are resting and recovering well!