CalicoskiesNC

I read so many suggestions and shopped for 3mo before my surgery. Just today I returned a bunch of stuff to Target. Keep all your receipts! Here are things I have found to be most helpful. I'm day 5 post op. 1. Heating pad...this has been crucial to help me with some back pain which I think is from the CO2 gas. I have the micro mushy one and an electric, the electric is by far the best help. 2. Mushy, refreezable ice pack, this has helped alot on my tummy where my incision is. I think its why I had pretty much no pain. 3. Mushy foods and liquids ready to go in a tub (easy to find and grab): Soups, refried f/f Beans, veggie chili, applesauce, canned pears to puree, Carnation Instant Breakfast, s/f hot cocoa, decaf tea. 4. Mushy and liqs ready in fridge: apple juice, white cran juices, cottage cheese, Activia yogurt, Yoplait Light yogurt, greek yogurt (excellent replacement for sour cream), low fat shredded cheddar, skim or 1% milk (1% for me) Jello puddings/jellos, eggs, Alfresco chicken breakfast sausage (brown and chop, place in freezer bags for easy addition to eggs) Ball Park turkey dogs, some light flavored cream cheese and Laughing cow wedges. 5. supplements I need: Viactiv, Flintstone vits, chewable Fiber or Benefiber powder (I have both) sublingual Biotin, D3 and B12. Also, Gas-X strips, Milk of Mag, and liquid Tylenol. $3 thermometer. I could only find childrens Tylenol, ask pharmacy how to dose to be sure you know. 6. Baby Magic bath soap, I love the smell and its very gentle on my skin. 7. Extra pillows. 8. Baby spoons, small glass Pyrex w/lids, tiny glass mise-en-plas bowls, tupperware midgees, small size freezer bags. The baby spoons I got are silicone and scrape along the tiny glass bowls very nice. Its really hard to remember tiny bites when I use a regular spoon/fork. I am going to get some cocktail forks too. The little glass lidded bowls are for storing my leftovers and getting meal bits ready for me to freeze. The mise-en-plas bowls are the perfect serving size, they hold like 1-2oz. 9. Pyrex shot glass w/measurement markings...great for monitoring liquid ounces and meds. Hope some of this helps. Lori

I don't think people lie about their pain, I just think that everyone's body responds differently. I also think our surgeon's expertise and our own mental preparedness affect how we deal with the pain. I didnt have much pain at all. I slept about 4hrs after surgery, spent night in hospital with some dilaudid. My last dose of IV pain med was 7pm after my noon surgery. I went home by noon the next day. At home I had Vicadin, which I have used 1 + 1/2tablets so far. Today I feel almost normal. I didn't have the severe gas pain, just some gas pain. It was gone by day 3. My incision is only tender if I move to fast. I cleaned my 2story house yesterday, grocery shopped for 1hr today. I use a heating pad a few times a day if I get some pain on my back. ETA that my dr told me chewing well is great, but if you chew till the food is a slider food, it will not help you. He said that the chewed food needs to be chunky enough to actually sit in the pouch and curb your hunger by triggering the sensors at the top of the pouch. Ask your dr or nutritionist about this. He told me to cut things into pencil eraser sized bites then just chew normally.

Hi Jed...sorry for your discomfort. I was banded 11.19. A heating pad has helped my gas pain alot, as has a few Gas-x strips, altho I my dr said they would not help. On Sunday I was so weak from no food, and I could not tolerate the clear protein supps. I called my nurse Mon AM and after several questions, she allowed me to have bland mushies, preferrably protein packed ones. Ask your dr if you are having so much trouble. It was like a light switch went off when I ate just a tablespoon of cottage cheese. My nausea was gone, and in 10min I had some energy. I was able to clean my 2story house! I finished over the day that 4oz container of cottage cheese. Today I had a few tablespoons of refried beans topped with 0% greek yogurt. I did 20g protein yesterday, and today I'm up to 27. My nutritionist said the first week is not crucial for protein intake but after that I have to get in at least 60. I'm going to do my best to do it with food as I cannot stomach most any protein supps. Just call or email your dr's office, see if they can help you feel better. Walking did help me a lot, I just moved slow.

My surgery was 12noon on 11.19 and I'm doing great today. I had my surgery at Rex Hospital in Raleigh NC with Dr Enochs. I have one incision about 2" and 2 other very small ones. I spent the night in hospital, required since I have sleep apnea, but I'm actually very glad I did. Was a relief to be there with nurses, I needed help moving at first. I had a lot of nausea despite anti-nausea drugs. And dilaudid made me sleep al ot of the rough first hours. Got home at noon the next day. I did have some pain, but not much really. Pretty much just had to move slow and ask for a hand when standing up. I was able to sleep on my side that night at home. I took crushed Vicodin that first night and again the next morning and thats all. The liquid LORTAB is the nastiest stuff, I highly recommend that if you can't swallow a whole tablespoon of that gross stuff, ask for Vicodin (same ingredients) and you can crush and stir into teaspoon of applesauce, have a Water chaser right there cuz its still nasty and bitter. I had some gas pain that I felt in my shoulder and mid back, but the heating pad and walking took care of that. All in all, I'm thrilled its over and it was so much less scary than I thought it would be. Either my body has recovered well or my surgeon knows what he's doing. I'm down 11lb since last Wed. I"m not hungry at all. But I get nausea and my stomach rumbles if I have nothing in it, so I got permission to move to mushies from my Dr one week early. He said only 1-2T at a time, and don't mix foods yet. The cottage cheese I nibbled yesterday was soooo good! I don't tolerate the clear Protein liquid supps very well, they are so strong and sweet even when diluted, and bad after taste. And I have yet to find a shake I like. I am using Pure Protein powder to mix in stuff. I'm working to get all my liquids in...hard when you are not hungry or thirsty. I have set my iPhone to beep at me every 7min and I have to take 6 sips then! The games we play.... So far so good!

I'll give up on my ticker till another day. Tired of messing with it now!

I'm Nov 19 too. I have really calmed myself in the last week. Now, I'm not really anxious for having the band, but just for the actual procedure. I don't have much experience with surgery, only my gb out in 1996. My sons were not c-section. I trust my surgeon, so I'll be ok. I'm not even really hungry today, I think the nerves squash some appetite. Good luck to everyone, see you on the other side. Lori

I will be banded Nov 19. I'm so nervous and frightened. I have all the normal fears. I've tried to stop reading this forum because it causes me to have very bad dreams. Just tell me that you all went thru this awful anxiety. It makes me cry. I have a lot of family/friend support, but I don't think they truly understand. My biggest fear is that I will have complications and regret my decision. I so want it to be this time next year when I'm past all this and maybe down 75lb and look back and think how foolish I was to be so afraid.

Toohot, thanks for the incredibly positive post-op report!! I hope I bounce back like you have. My surgery is 11/19. Continued success to you!

Marisas, I hope you feel calmer today. I am right there with you sharing all those same fears and anxieties. Something that has helped when I start to panic, I tell myself "It's only food!" I just say it a few times to myself. Life is great, I'm in love, I have 3 great sons, my dog is my buddy, the trees are colorful, the fall air feels great, Christmas is coming and I get to focus on loved ones, decorations and gifts, NOT FOOD! Just redirect your thoughts. ANother thing, I found a book called On THe Bandwagon that has been helpful. And getting my post surgery supplies and groceries has kept me busy, I'm a big list maker and organizer.

Hi ya, Got Me I'm sched for Nov 19. Fortunate for me, my dr didn't rx a liquid diet for a prolonged time before surgery. Just the day before and then the week after of course, all Clear liquids. I've been extremely anxious and fearful, almost panicking for the last 2wks, but its finally crossed over a threshold and now I'm feeling calmer. I found a book that has been a great read and very informative and inspiring: On The Bandwagon by Jean McMillan. I've used post-its to mark pages I want to refer back. Tonight was the first night I portioned my dinner to band specs: 3oz Protein (lean ground beef patty) 1/4C mashed tatoes made with broth and 1/4C green Beans. I made myself chew bites 20times (eww) and cut my bites into pencil eraser sized bits. I took 20min to eat my tiny meal and did ok. I will practice all this week. I'm using Water to keep me full till Breakfast now. I've got my hospital bag out of the closet and started to assemble things I need to bring. And I have 3 totes in my dining room all ready with my after surgery supplies: liquid meds, heating pad, Isopure, Pure Protein powder, Soups, juices, Carnation Instant Breakast S/F, Flintstone vits, chewable Fiber and calc, my B12 and Biotin. Ugh, I think I'm ready. Ready as I will ever be. Still fearful of surgery: anesthesia, pain, complications, pain, being opened up rather than SILS, pain, hunger, pain, vomiting, pain...did I mention pain? Good luck to you for next Monday and I look forward to finding your post-surgery post saying it was much easier than you worried about! Take good care. Lori

My pre-op eating plan only has me on clear liquids the day before. Of course, I'm trying to eat fewer calories now. I do admit though to some "Last Supper Syndrome" I call it. I've had a few last runs to Mac's and Chic Fil A. A few last Desserts, fave foods...and so on. I'm reading a book called On The Bandwagon by Jean McMillan and its really motivating me and making me feel good with my decision.

Laura, thx for ur reply. I am working hard at focusing on the positives. I know this is the right decision and I trust my doctor very much.

Kozy, thx so much for your msg. It really helps.

Mine was submitted on a Monday and they got the approval on Tuesday, so about 1 day.

I've told everyone near and dear to me. I want their support. I am proud of making this difficult decision to better my health.

I will be banded Nov19. I wrote a list of my fears/anxieties and one of them is that I will feel hungry and starved for the rest of my life. (hey, was a note to myself...I can be a drama queen when writing to me!) Then I wrote a list answering the first list with actions for me to get done in the next 2.5wks. I think I understand the biology of how the band works. Smaller stomach pouch, takes longer to empty thus hunger is satisfied longer, along with eating more Protein and Fiber to feed my hunger as opposed to french fries and chocolate bars. My question is does it truly help with feeling hungry? Or will I still be fighting myself with willpower? Obviously, overcoming cravings and recognizing my hunger is the main reason I am 100lb overweight. I haven't been successful at fighting cravings in the past. I appreciate the honest, informed replies I read here.

Thanks for the reply, Maggie. I too have "head" hunger. Its gotten much, much better since I've begun this journey back in January 2010. I also have told everyone near and dear to me so I have a lot of support everywhere I turn. The house is not filled with junk, we eat so much better now. I am pretty confident that the physical side effect of overeating with the band will prevent me from doing that. I have not thrown up in probably 3-4yrs so I don't want to break my streak. The "stuck" thing has me very frightened, hopefully it will not happen often and I will learn from it if it does. Today is day one of my pre-surgery diet. I'm doing protein shakes 2x and sensible dinner.

I too will say Pure from bariatriceating.com is great. Its totally hidden when I mix it with cold items: pudding, applesauce, yogurt. I have not mixed with hot things yet, but my friend with GB has and says its undetectable.

I told my husband I was going to take my most faved fat outfit and get it framed like women do with the pretty little baby dresses!

Hi everyone! My lap band surgery is Nov 19 in Raleigh NC. I have so many different emotions and thoughts I feel just lost. I keep rereading my materials. I have dreams at night about foods and fills and protein concoctions. Sometimes I feel prepared and ready to go, other times I feel confused and frightened. The other day while eating some bacon and toast, I told my husband that I feel like with every bite of food pre-surgery, I feel like I'm breaking up with my best friend. I will really miss her too. I fear failure, I fear pain and discomfort. I fear hunger. I haven't even been reading much at this site just out of fear and anxiety. I have confidence in my doctor and my family supports me. So anyway, thats a little about me. Sounds like I'm having a pity party today. I'm not like that everyday, really I'm not. I look forward to a day in the future when I have control over food, not the other way around. I look forward to being a pro here helping others who feel like I do today. And I look forward to never stepping foot in Lane Bryant again. Lori

Hello! I have just rec'd my BCBS approval today. My surgery consult is Oct 26. I hope to have my surgery Nov 22. I am thrilled that I can move forward. Very anxious too, but in a good way.

I have BCBS in NC. Dr Enochs office submitted my package on Monday and iwas told today I have my approval. That was much quicker than I was expecting. I plan to do my surgery in late Nov as that's when I have several days off work. I hope your answer is just as quick and also a yes.

Chicago, you must have been thinking like my husband when I was on the way back from Costco and told him what we had bought, I said and "I got a Magic Bullet for 44.99" and he says "they sell THAT stuff at Costco and you bought it where everyone could see?????" I had a very good laugh!

I got mine a few weeks ago at Costco. It was $44.99 and was the "deluxe" setup, with 2 blades and lots of cups and even a mini blender attachment. I really like it.