StephC

B-man our prayers are with you girl! Can't wait for the loopy side to come out <--- sarcasm But seriously we will all be with you in thought today. Kay - you're sounding chipper - I'm sure the sore throat thing will work - don't you have kids? Can't believe they aren't telling the world. My 16 y/o told her boyfriends mom and she works with a gossip from my town... and people at the church know and ... I just hate being the lastest bit of news, ya know? I didn't want my mil to know but of course she does and hasn't said anything rude - yet. The lazyboy didn't help me any, it made it harder to get up, the bending in the middle when I was sore didn't help. But each day you will feel better and before you know it you'll be back to the belly. Toni & Karen - welcome to December bandsters. Believe me when I say we KNOW about liver shrinkage - read the first 15 pages of this thread. We went over and over it during our pre-op struggles and I have to admit Karen, you are the first to ever have a MILK diet. Thats too funny! I thought they wanted to shrink the fat, milk is loaded with fat you'd think it would produce more. Anyhoo - glad to have you with us! I am continuing to do my progression from liquids to mushies, waiting to drink for a half hour after I've eaten. So far its working. I was laying in bed this morning thinking, man I could really go for a scrambled egg and some toast, maybe Lf deli turkey, made into a bk sandwich - and then I'm thinking about what I'm going to eat for Breakfast when I get my first fill - and then I start counting the calories and thinking about losing weight - and then I got up and made my oatmeal, nice and thin, just like the dr ordered.

I love you!!!! All of you! I feel so much better this evening! So I decided to watch everything I was putting in my mouth today and I decided to do the drinking thing, nothing before or after. So I ate my 1/2 cup of oatmeal but not as watered down as I had been - I didn't drink for at least a half hour afterwards, that was around 10:30, did my dr appt and grocery shopping and then met my daughter for lunch around 2:00 - the Soups of the day were chili, bean and bacon, and wedding Soup - I opted for bean and bacon - still in my fat lady mindset I ordered a bowl and not a cup - stupid - I ate about a cup if that - but it was thicker then the soups I have been eating and more like a mushie I supose - well I know I didn't over eat - my nose starts to run when I'm getting full - so I put my spoon down and stopped. I'm so proud of me!!! And I was very tempted to drink Water with my meal but I resisted and I still feel full. I made a cup of ff capicinno - and I'm very happy with my eating today. I even bought pizza for dh and dd for supper and thought I'd wait until hunger calls and then have some soup later. I keep telling myself this is a life style change and its not as easy done as it is said. But together we can do it. I really need you all - you're the best. Its so good to hear that you're not alone that someone else is struggling through it too. At support group the other night they all said that the liquid 2 weeks was the worst. So like I said I think I'm going to slowly thicken my liquids until Sunday when I can eat mushies. Ok so how's about we got us a MAN??? hey ERIC! Glad to have you with us! B-man one lastXOXOXOXO - we'll be here when you get back.

looking good! Girlinnyc - to answer your questions - I feel great! I was suprised at how horrible I felt the day of the surgery and then the 2nd day was tough - but by day 3 I was back to feeling semi-normal again. Coming out I had alot of restrictions, only able to drink about 1/4 cup at a time of Protein shakes, etc - but now almost 2 weeks out I am feeling hunger and want to eat - I start mushies on Sunday and I'm looking forward to it. If you want to talk PM me.

Carol - I didn't see your post - good luck! You'll do great! Bandiva - you go girl! wow - you're doing great! I didn't need the pain meds either, I think some of us just have a higher tolerance. But to be shopping the next day? wow - I was like get me to the couch!

I need help. I have figured that as much as I am healed on the outside I am that much healed on the inside and I have NO restriction left. Its hard to beleive just less then 2 weeks since I've been banded when I could barely get 1/4 cup of anything down and it lasted for 4 hours. Last night I wanted to eat - I had my soup, and I picked at a piece of bbq rib - I didn't eat much of it but I know I was crossing the line. Then I ate a 1/2 cup of cream of wheat - which always fills me up and I could hear it gurgling on its way down to the mother stomach. My dd was eating popcorn chicken and I popped one - that got her and dh on a scolding - so I had to sit through 5 minutes of you're just going to go back to the way you were picking and snacking.... blah blah blah... it made me so mad! They were doing it in love I knw but still - I just felt like crap - my fears of "is this going to work for me" just flooded over and after they went to bed I ate about 5 funions - you know those crunchy onion ring things - I got mad at myself and took a sleeping pill and went to bed. I hope it was just a temporary lapse but its horrible not having the restriction now. And not quite on mushies yet - but then I'm thinking ok so I go on mushies and eat 1/2 cup how long is that going to last me? My doctor doesnt do a fill until 6 weeks so thats Jan.22 - and I'm thinking what if I gain all that I've lost back before I even get my first fill!??! All I can say is pray for me. I am so discouraged today - I feel like bawling. You're posts do cheer me up and like Nat this is my home - I wander out now and then but this is where I come first and usually stay. As for the poopies - I haven't had a solid since I came home, its just the smeary dabs - except for the blow-outs - last night was a couple blow outs. I guess our bodies are just changing. And if you think of it, how could we have a solid #2 when we haven't been eating anything solid? B-man - girl I'm so excited for you! It'll all go great! Did you say what time your surgery is? Anyhoo I'll be thinking and praying for you. I'm off to shower and dress. I go to the ortho today about my knee. I haven't been wearing my brace since I had the band done - and I'm bending it pretty good. I think they'll give me a green light and maybe some therapy. Its a bummer cause its keeping me from any real exercise. Have good day - Steph

Yes pureed and mushies are the same. But if you Water them down enough they become liquids. I was allowed cream of wheat, oatmeal, that kind of stuff but I had to add enough milk to make it thin enough that it could go through a straw. For a change up.. lets see, I did the sf Jello, sf fudgecicles (my fav), soup, broth, Protein drinks<--yuk, I've had enough of them for a lifetime, the cereals I mentioned above, I took soup strained it,threw the chunky stuff in the blender, then added the broth so I was able to have all the soup and not just the broth. But no matter how creative you get when you are feeling good and ready to eat none of it looks appealing. The other night I opened 2 cans of soup took a bite and said no, then tried the mac/ch fiasco - took a bite and said no - today I made some homemade potato soup and it hit the spot but don't know what I'll do about supper. You were all talking about being bloated and not having lost any weight right away. Take a look at my scar stages pics. Day 2 my belly was like a big balloon! by day 8 it had gone way down. I'm down 16 lbs - which includes my pre-op 8 lbs. I can tell it too. I look in the mirror and see it in my face around my cheek bones and jaw and my upper body. I'm wearing a tshirt today that I haven't worn in 6 months because I felt too fat in it. Ddee - I unsubscribed to the posts because when I'd get on my email there would be 110 updates - and I'd spend 10 minutes deleting them. I pretty much know what threads I've been on so I don't need to be reminded. Its good to see so many back and doing well - keep up the good work ladies. In regards to tummy rumbles - I think its the liquids draining down into the big empty stomach. Anyway thats how mine feels. And my hunger doesn't feel like the old hunger I had. I'm never quite sure if I'm hungry because it doesn't rumble like it used to - am I talking in circles? I think that I'm healing on the inside as much as the outside, like the swelling in the band must be down because I'm able to drink more and not staying satisfied as long. I'm hoping when I can start eating mushies that they'll hang around longer and not get washed down. Thats another question I have. When do we stop sipping on water. My instructions are to eat about a half cup, no fluids 1/2 hour before or after I eat, so does that start with the mushie stage or solid stage? hmmmmm?

Morning Ladies! Welcome Kirsten & Browneyedgirl! Yes we are all dysfuncional (some more then others) I had some fear of eating solid food - NOT - I guess I really did the first few days out, I was just worried I'd do harm to the precious life perserver tucked away in my tummy. I was afraid of it not being healed enough to eat - but thats done. I'm now fearless and can't wait to eat my mushies!!! yeehaw! B-man - I had some v-E caplets on the shelf so I cracked one open and smeared it on - total relief! And the tape is gone now too so that may have been causing some itches - I'm using the E a few times a day - its 40,000 so it should do the job. Thanks for the advice. Thanks Brownie for the info on the apple juice - I'm going to pick some up today to try it out. At this stage I'll try anything new. I made a cappicino this morning and added half a scoop of Protein - YUKKKK! Down the drain it went. Apparently protein crap doesn't do well in hot liquids. Kay - welcome back to the living and near dead! Hope you're enjoying your down time - I know I did. Talk with you soon. Nat - glad to hear you figured out the warm stuff goes down easier. Other then Water I drink hot tea so I guess I just never thot of it. As for the yogurt smoothies and shakes those feel more like a meal then a drink to me. Guess cuz they're heavier - and Soup - dang I'm sick of soup! I went to McD's again last night after the support group and got a cup of the chicken noodle - drank the broth and gave the rest to the dogs - waste of $2 - I coulda done a broth at home but I'm grasping for something new. I suppose I could make some homemade soup but my nesting days are gone. LOL Oh and thats probably gas and not a kink in your shoulder/neck, sweetie thats what it feels like. Use the heating pad and take a gasx and it'll go away. Sweethot - I'm glad you're feeling up to the recital - try to rest before you go because you'll be exhausted when you get home - I'll bet she does wonderful! Geesh I miss those days! Belly Sleepers of America Unite - I'm back to the belly - took a week but I'm back again. Still feel a little nervous about the port area but I'm not feeling it so it must be ok. My chiro told me its the worst thing for my back - sleeping on the tummy - but I can't break it. Have a good day ladies - I'll talk with you later!

I heard about different port sizes and asked my dr about it before surgery and he said he puts the larger one in everyone and then after you lose the weight and if its sticking out he puts in the flatter one. He brought them both out to show me, they are basically the same size except one is thinner. He said its done in the the office under local anthes. - he acted like it was no big deal. I can feel my port if I search for it, it just feels like a lump.

Tammi - I was just reading your signature - wow - 61 lbs in 3 months! Thats wonderful! Can you share with us what you've been doing?

Kathy in Chattanooga - and Bexleygal - Good luck sweethearts! Let us know how you're doing when your'e up to it. I'll say a prayer for ya and be thinking of you. I can totally relate to both of you - cleaning house like a mad woman - which is great cuz when you come home you aren't going to be cleaning no houses! and not sleeping - I had more then one of them! I finally got to the point where I took an otc sleeping pill the last couple nights before surgery. But boy did I sleep after surgery! All that night, half of the next day, next night and napping on into day 3 or 4. In fact I think I'll go catch me some zzzz's now - talk with ya'll tomorrow.

Nat - today I had a cappiccino - my first since surgery, a Jello cup, 1/2 cup of Soup, then at support group tonight I had more jello (freaking jello coming out of my ears!) and another cup of broth around 8 - but I drink Water all day - I probably get at least 64 - 96 oz of water - I have always drank alot of water. I have a water cooler - you knw the kind that holds 5 gallon jugs and we all drink water all the time. I don't do flavored stuff - kinda gross to me so I don't think I'm having a Fluid problem. I just so darn sick of liquids. At support group those who have been banded said the same thing - the liquid phase is the worst, once you get past that its alot easier going. The other thing my dr said is to take slow sips all day long, just have it sitting around - I can drink 16 oz without even thinking about it. DDee - its good to hear something encouraging isn't it? WTG Hubby! Annie - about the poopies - I don't know if we'll ever be the way we were. Dreikilina - do you have another name or should we call you dre? Anyhoo- WELCOME to Decemeber bansters!! Now explain why you live in Mass and are going to Ga for a fill. Do tell.

I agree Cj - I don't think any of us want it sugar coated but we are here to hear others say yeah me too but this is what I did to get me through... thats why I asked "seriously did you just say ok, thats it, and never have a moment of weakness?" I know I want others to say yeah I had my moment of weakness - more then once - BUT ... this is what I did.

Is there a difference between a tummy tuck and an apron removel? My sister had a tummy tuck a few years ago - she has the apple shape like me - and it threw her in total menopause. I guess what happened is that our hormones are stored in our fat and when they took most of her fat it took most of her hormones. Crazy I know. Her tummy looks great, he repaired the torn muscles from an old c-section and its great but - theres always a butt - and thats whats getting bigger on her - her butt, arms, all those other fatty places that were 2nd in line to her tummy fat. Anyway I was wondering if the apron removel is just a term to get the insurance companies to pay for tummy tucks?

Dee did I understand you correctly? You had the surgery Friday and went to work Monday? Thats great! You sound like you did very well. I went to work after 3 days but I was only there an hour and all I did was open mail and enter checks. Not real strenous work. Anyway its good to have you with us.

LOL Mystique - too funny! I was always an everyday maybe twice a day pooper but after my surgery I was like ok what should I do... I bought some prune juice and came home from the store and exploded. I haven't opened the prune juice yet - think I'll mark it on the calander and see if its still there next Christmas. I'm still not going everyday but then theres not alot going in so there can't be much to come out.

I agree with you Carol that the band is a tool and we need to be smart on how we use it and I plan to use it to the best of my abilities but seriously did you just say ok, thats it, and never have a moment of weakness?

my 2 cents - it was me who licked the flavor off the ranch doritos! and it was me who took a bite of haluski and spit it out - TWICE! I had a horrible time with the pre-op diet - I cheated more then once - but I always tried to keep my calorie intake below 900. It was the chewing that got to me. Now I'm in my 2nd week of liquids post op and its still hard. I did the haluski and dorito thing on Saturday - and I was so afraid of hurting my band but those old food demons were really working on me. I just think that some of the posts here sounded a little self righteous - if thats the term I'm looking for. We all have a problem with self discipline or we wouldn't be here - right? I know it was and is all for my own good but it doesn't mean I don't struggle with it from day to day, hour to hour - I definitely get my strength from fellow bandsters and hope that I never come off all self righteous but rather compasionate.

sweethot - did you get some gasx? I had to take it a few times - not sure what other you could use to relieve the gas - I used a heating pad alot - still do at night. And I walked - back and forth through the house - had hubby laughing at me. Dawn - my favorite tea is Celestial Seasonings, Madagascar vanilla Red - I'm not really a vanilla lover but I love this tea! and its 100% natural and caffine free - it says its Rooibos tea with vanilla bean. While I'm thinking of it - how many of you are coffee drinkers? I was a pot a day - and I haven't had a cup since I got banded. I can't stand it, every morning I make a pot for hubby, pour a cup, take a taste and dump it out. Then I make a cup of tea. SOOOOOO weird. Take a look at the scar stages - just posted my 8 days out scars. I'm a sicko. Not sure if I was bloated from the surgery one my day 2 pic or if it was just the camera angle but geesh - big difference in my belly.

the brown around the scars is the dye from the stuff they use - I'm not bruised. But I am a little irratated from the tape.

Thought I'd update - I took one that included my belly button - just to prove I really do have one. Its not a very clear pic, I had to use the mirror to take it. The other pretty much shows it like it is.

Dawn - good to hear from you again! I'm sorry to hear your about the port pain - do you think you over ate? I can't imagine going through this and taking care of the babes - God love ya girl! And I know about the un-encouraging words from family - my mother in law - ugh! I never told her I was having the surgery but dh (and its not dear this time) did. My step-father in law's son got the band and all I've heard was the bad about it from them - so I never even told her to pray for me. But she did call to see how I was doing and said she hopes it works for me. So we will leave it at that. My mom, sister, neice, ex sil, daughters, hubby... they are sooooo supportive and so excited to see me lose weight. Just talked to my neice and she said she could tell in church that my face looked thinner. I said you know it was one thing being over weight but then when I got so fat that it distorted my looks - thats when it really became a problem. Yes its vain - but being overweight I could still look nice but being obese I never felt like I looked nice. I'm talking past tense and I'm still obese ... lol ... but its the hope talking. BTW - my middle name is Hope - true story.

Hi Mel - welcome! I know what you mean about afraid of getting sick right before surgery - I took airborne - swear by that stuff but the dr told me now since I'm banded I can't take it anymore due to the fizzies - like alka seltzer. It won't hurt to take it pre-op its loaded with Vitamins. Dee - you said "I have found that the surgeon in MX had all his paperwork, pre-op and post-op, for the patient's info. much moreso than the doc here in the states." Do you think its because the dr's in Mx probably aren't going to see any of their patients again? And I was curious about that - bc having it done here we go to the dr for pre-op visits, post-op and anything inbetween so what do you do once you leave Mexico? Do you get a dr up here who will see you? Just wondering. I talked to Nate - the PA - he said I can rub E or hydrocort... cream on my itchy's if I want and I can pull the rest of the tape off since I had healed so well when they saw me on Thursday. AND this is the BIGGIE.... I CAN EAT CHRISTMAS DINNER!!!! :hungry:WOOHHOOO!:clap2: YIPPEE!!!:cheer2: Of course I have to puree it but still I'm excited! I have everyone at my house for Christmas Eve and its a buffet of everyones favorites - oyster stew, hot wings, taco ring, cheese tray - you get the picture - food - so I'm ok with that.. I figure I'll eat the oyster stew and I'll be happy with that but then on Christmas day its just hubby, and the girls and its important to me to make them the ham dinner we always have so I was a bit disappointed about not being able to eat that day - with them, ya know? but my dd - thats dear doctor - has a heart. I wasn't suppose to go to mushies until the 28th after my post op visit. How's everyone else handling the holidays? I'm thinking of you B-man - actually you won't really feel like eating at that point will you - I'm sorry hun, remind me when you're getting banded - is it 4 days????!!! Friday? Nat- love you!!! you make me lmao! So when you get back to work and someone says medical leave whisper - ((lady stuff)) How long did you have to wait to shower? When I read sweethot had what 6 days? I was like omgoodness! I was able to shower 2 days later. Although if you saw me today at 12:31 pm in my jammies - STILL - you wouldn't know it. Guess I'll go take a shower. <!-- / message -->

hey dee - I never knew about the band card - does doc give it to you? BTW - sorry about that last post.. didn't know I was going on like that! whew! b-man - you said about the vit.E - are you talking cream or break open the pills and rub the oil on? I think I have both but not sure when to start using it.

hi all - I heard about the low bmi thread but I'm just now checking it out. Audrey I'm glad you started it. I'm Steph - from Shanksville, PA (where Flight 93 went down), 44, married, 3 kids, 22,20 & 16, boy and then 2 girls. I started with a 40 bmi. Well the first visit I weighed 220 and said I was 5'3" but that put me at a bmi of 39 so he remeasured me and I am now 5'2 1/2" - lol - that 1/2" put me at 40 bmi - during the 6 month pcp weight study I gained 6 lbs so pre-op I was 226. I was banded 12/11 just one week out and I'm about 15 lbs down. I didn't know lower bmi's had a harder time losing - news to me. My eating plan is to eat healthy - I plan on following the nutrionists diet, protein first, then vegs, fruits, carbs ... I really want this to be a lifestyle change - not a diet! I promised myself that my pre-op diet would be my last! I will probably journal my cals just to see how I'm doing but I hope to get into a healthy eating lifestyle. I work at a private golf club and I've been watching how people eat the past 5 years - one lady in particular - she's in her 50's, a grandma and thin - I see her walking by the club everyday - she walks 9 holes when she golfs - and when she comes in for lunch she either has soup and a salad or she shares a sandwich with someone - for dinners she won't eat gravy's or fatty foods - and she looks wonderful! I think she eats a dessert at dinner but only then - and once I saw her share a cookie with another lady. She's my idol. Seriously - its my goal to eat healthy, walk everyday, and stay healthy on through my later years. She's not even really pretty or even "good looking" but she just seems healthy to me. And she dresses beautifully! I always think if I could just lose the weight I am going to dress so nice! All last summer I wore capris with a button up shirts - to hide the fat - next summer I am going to wear skirts and sleeveless dresses.

hi ladies - Nat - yes I was also very dry and kept feeling like I was catching a cold - which by now I think I would have caught - its been a week! I'm still blowing the boogers - and the cough - was it you who asked? well thats good, a cough clears the lungs of all the anthesia, and I also would think that the little bit of blood was just from the tube or being dry. I was soooooo dry mouthed after the surgery I never felt like I'd rehydrate again. Sweethot - nice to hear from you hon! I never had a pump either, but they gave me shots of it in the iv whenever I asked. I'm not a pillpopper normally and I think I have a high pain tolerence because I only took liquid tylenol 2-3 times, I never fill the script from doc. I never have pain now - now I itch. All around my incisions - itchy itchy itchy - think I'm gonna call dr to see if I can put some hyrocoritizone...(sp? lol ) cream on or around them. Support groups are good - I only went once pre-op - last month - and there were a few banded but most are waiting to be banded. BC/BS local is highmark and they haven't approved the band here so they are all fighting it. I guess my doc is quite the advocate, the lady who had surgery with me said he fought it for 14 months - and used his own lawyers! Not sure thats norm or not but dang he's cute!!! - (Steph <---- still crushing doc Marley) Back to support groups - tonight is one and we are to bring a holiday dish (so I guess it kinda a Christmas party) I'm making sf lime Jello, sf strawberry jello, with coolwhip FREE - I thought I would layer it in a clear glass bowl so it looks all christmassy and pretty. I can actually eat it too - its part of the liquids. Nat you should go - don't worry about fat guy from work - LOL - you're too dang funny!!! I love ya! If he is there just say hey and tell him you'd really like to keep it quiet that you've had the surgery. He might lose the weight and come back as Erik on the biggest loser - omgoodness!!! Who'd have thought such a hunk was inside there? Ok - so a small nsv - when I saw Charlie yesterday he said he can see the weight loss in my face - yippeeeee! Hubby always says I lose in my face first - scale it telling me 15lbs so far - but 8 of it was pre-op and btw did I tell you when I went to doc to look at my incisions (cuz my tape came off 3 days out) I was only down 5 lbs? Yeah I was like WTF - as Nat would say.. lol ... but it must do with the procedure, PA said they don't normally weigh until 2 weeks. I'm not changing my ticker until I get on the dr's scale. mystique - I haven't said hi for a while - hi - sounds like you're doing good. I'm still using the heating pad for my shoulder - its getting better everyday. kari - I was tired alot too - and then on Sunday - 6 days out I finally got over it. Ok tv viewers - why is there nothing on tv interesting during the day? I don't even bother flipping through 400 channels anymore - and what about reading? Anyone read a book lately? I am a BIG reader - like a book a week or more - and I haven't been able to focus on reading since a month before surgery. Do you think its just the excitement of being banded? My only reading comes from LBT. Love ya girls!