Kaydotrn

How are you feeling? Where wasyour surgery? I am amazed that you were on your way home at 10am. Are you feeling better? Hang in there girl. Keep up with your meds so that you can stay ahead of the pain. It will get better fast! ~Kay

Boohoo..I am tired. But this stomach sleeping gal is struggling to get some decent shut eye laying on my side. I am going to go on the couch in a bit and tryto get a more comfortable position. I am up now drinking a smallprotein shake because I am actually hungry. I know it is not an optimum time to eat, but seeing as I stuglle to get food in right now, I will eat whenever my tummy tells me I can. I actually used a hang blender to mix my protein drink and it tastes tons better-none of that protein sludge in the cup. ::shudder::: I am so excitedfor Christmas. I knw it will be great and I am going to enjoy the company and my family and who gives a crap about food. It will always be there! These 3 weeks of liquids will be tough, but not the end of the world. I am however craving a piece of baked haddock. I think that will be the first thing I eat when I can have solids. What a strange thing for me to crave. I went through my closet today anddumped a crapload of clothes. I have sizes from 22 to 16 in there. I sorted the clothes together by size and then put the 16's at the back, followed by 18' and 20's. The 22's all went in the trash with some really old "thinner" clothes too because by the time they fit, I am buying something new. Ihavehung onto so mnay things because even whenI lost weight int he past, I think I knew that I woulg grow back into some of the clothes and I kept my favorite pieces. Not anymore!!! I may save some of the ncer things and try to get rid of them through friends here that are coming down in size. We'll see if I can figure out a way to do that. I have thingsthat have tags on them because I havea terrible habit of buying and not returning whenthe things don't fit. Now some of them are too big. geesh-what a waste of money. Mom told me today that whenI get down to my goal of a size 12 or 10 (we'll see if it is my goal when I get there), she will take me shopping. I am holding her to that! I love it! I went outlet shopping last week before surgery and fell in love with an Izod Black winter jacket. It was gorgeous and marked downto 50 bucks. I tried on the XL and it was barely zippable. I expected as much since an XL in a designer store is inherently small. Nothing like the "big girl" stores where sizes aremuch more forgiving! I now wish I had bought it, because deep down I think I could be wearing it is a month or so. Can you imagine? I cannot wait to shop in normal stores. How nice. Even being a 20, I find the clothes in size 20 are not comfy. It will be nice to shop off the rack. Okay, enough fantasizng for one night!

Boohoo..I am tired. But this stomach sleeping gal is struggling to get some decent shut eye laying on my side. I am going to go on the couch in a bit and tryto get a more comfortable position. I am up now drinking a smallprotein shake because I am actually hungry. I know it is not an optimum time to eat, but seeing as I stuglle to get food in right now, I will eat whenever my tummy tells me I can. I actually used a hang blender to mix my protein drink and it tastes tons better-none of that protein sludge in the cup. ::shudder::: I am so excitedfor Christmas. I knw it will be great and I am going to enjoy the company and my family and who gives a crap about food. It will always be there! These 3 weeks of liquids will be tough, but not the end of the world. I am however craving a piece of baked haddock. I think that will be the first thing I eat when I can have solids. What a strange thing for me to crave. I went through my closet today anddumped a crapload of clothes. I have sizes from 22 to 16 in there. I sorted the clothes together by size and then put the 16's at the back, followed by 18' and 20's. The 22's all went in the trash with some really old "thinner" clothes too because by the time they fit, I am buying something new. Ihavehung onto so mnay things because even whenI lost weight int he past, I think I knew that I woulg grow back into some of the clothes and I kept my favorite pieces. Not anymore!!! I may save some of the ncer things and try to get rid of them through friends here that are coming down in size. We'll see if I can figure out a way to do that. I have thingsthat have tags on them because I havea terrible habit of buying and not returning whenthe things don't fit. Now some of them are too big. geesh-what a waste of money. Mom told me today that whenI get down to my goal of a size 12 or 10 (we'll see if it is my goal when I get there), she will take me shopping. I am holding her to that! I love it! I went outlet shopping last week before surgery and fell in love with an Izod Black winter jacket. It was gorgeous and marked downto 50 bucks. I tried on the XL and it was barely zippable. I expected as much since an XL in a designer store is inherently small. Nothing like the "big girl" stores where sizes aremuch more forgiving! I now wish I had bought it, because deep down I think I could be wearing it is a month or so. Can you imagine? I cannot wait to shop in normal stores. How nice. Even being a 20, I find the clothes in size 20 are not comfy. It will be nice to shop off the rack. Okay, enough fantasizng for one night!

Beversman-you crack my big gurl butt up!!!! I hope you have found somerest and sleep. I can't wait to hear from you on drugs! hahahaha Karen-congrats on your 12/15 surgery. I haver to say I get a little jealous when I hear of those of you transitioning to some sort of food. I am not actually hungry but I long to "eat". I am concocting things I can put in my food processor and turn to cat food when the time comes. Yum. Never mind the idea of eating little bits of real food. That will be heaven. I plan to follow my doctor's order to a "t" but am so curious to know why the doctors all have such different post-op schedules. Maybe because the bad is so new here and the doctors are doing what they feel works best. My surgeon's theory is that the 3 to 4 weeks of liquids allows your stomach to heal longer without it having to do the work of digesting food and churning. 4 weeks does seem excessive, but I am not a surgeon nor do I play one on tv so will be obedient and do as I told. I will however live vicariously through those ofyou that are actually swallowing something with some consistency ::: As far as Christmas, on the eve I go to my Mom's. It is a food feast, but I havea very supportive network there and I think my sis is making me some soup. I will also bring some Protein shake and maybe a Jello for dessert. Christmas day will be tougher since it is at my in-laws and NO ONE knows. I am going with the "I have a sore throat" and bring soup and Protein shakes again and playing like I jsut can't swallow well--so much throat pain-andjust drink my soup. I am going to learn this Christmas howto enjoy friends, family and celebration without scoffing food. IT can be done and I can do it!!! Hangin there all. I am having a bitch of a time getting any sleep these days. I just want to roll onto my tummy and get a good night's rest. I think I got a solid 4 hours before my side started to hurt from laying that way. I am going to try to position myself on the couch for a bit. What I wouldn't do for a Lazy-Boy chair right now!!! Have a good one everyone!

I went out shopping at Target today and felt pretty well. I had only Tylenol this afternoon for pain but I know I won;t sleep well without the percocet tonight. I have some burning in my back and I don;t know what that is all about. My little girl fell off the rocking chair tonight and I jumped up to try to get her and ended up on the couch in tears. The two of us bawling! It was scary-I should notbe getting up that fast. ::ouch::: Food today: 1cup proteinshake over 2 hours water decaf tea (about 1/2 cup) small container of no sugar applesauce(about 1/2) 1/2 cup cottage cheese with strained marinara sauce (yummy) water I am going to take my measurements today too. I wish my big bloated belly would go down. ho-hum

I went out shopping at Target today and felt pretty well. I had only Tylenol this afternoon for pain but I know I won;t sleep well without the percocet tonight. I have some burning in my back and I don;t know what that is all about. My little girl fell off the rocking chair tonight and I jumped up to try to get her and ended up on the couch in tears. The two of us bawling! It was scary-I should notbe getting up that fast. ::ouch::: Food today: 1cup proteinshake over 2 hours water decaf tea (about 1/2 cup) small container of no sugar applesauce(about 1/2) 1/2 cup cottage cheese with strained marinara sauce (yummy) water I am going to take my measurements today too. I wish my big bloated belly would go down. ho-hum

(((Beversman)))) In case I missed you before you went. BIG HUGS and get back here soon girl! Today was interesting. I was not hungry all day. I had to force a Protein shake down over the course of 2 hours. Small sips of Water throughout the day and a 1/2 cup of no sugar applesauce that I couldbarely finish. Allof a sudden at dinnertime, i was hungry! Hubby and kids for chicken fingers, fried, and boneless b-b-que wings with bleu cheese dressing. :: I heated about 1/2 cup of whipped cottage cheese and strained a little jarred marinara sauce over it so that there were no chunks and I heated it in the microwave. Wow, it was yummy. I don't know how it is on Stage 3 when it is not actually liquid,but my post op diet says it is okay so I tried it. No bad reaction. It was nice to have a little thicker consistency and I think I will bring this to my Christmas Eve dinner. For those of you struggling. I know how hard this is. I cannot transition to mushies until after my January 11th appt!!! I don't know how I am going to make it that far. I will do whatever I can though because i am so afraid of messing things up internally. Good for you all that got right back on the wagon. This is definitely the toughest time of year to be going through this, but hey, at least we won't put on that Holiday 10 pounds!!! Sweethot-my tummy too is so bloated that I look pregnant! Wacky. But the gas is really moving and picking up speed. I have caught the girls mudd that Nathalie had after drinking the MOM. I had no MOM but still have mudd. Embarassing to be out because it is loud! Sorry, I know TMI. My surgeon's office called to check up on me today and I told them that I went out shopping and had a particularly good day. I tried to transition of the percs and to Tylenol today without too much trouble but I am somewhat uncomfy now. I am going to go back to the percocet for bed tonight. Have a good night all. Welcom to the Man Eric! Hopefully more of you will come out of lurkdom. You are a brave brave man!

I am home among the living-thank God. Presently, I am feeling pretty well. I was not feeling well at all yesterday and part of today. I am very bloated and gassy and I feel like a semi backed over my stomach but it is definitely getting better. It sounds gross, but I so thrilled when I pass gas because it is a huge relief. The gas pain is mostly in my lower belly and lower back. Not in my shoulder as of yet. I am including my scar pics (despite my icky stretch marked bloated belly). I think it is important to be able to look back...

Sorry it took so long to respond. My surgeon was Dr. Schneider. He was fantastic. Originally I had hoped for Dr. Jones since that is who my friend had and she loved him. But i didn't choose and I was assigned Dr. S. I am thrilled with him. They are a great team. Who did you have? Maybe we can meet up at a post op meeting...how fun...

Hi everyone, I cannot sleep and decided yo jump on and catch up a bit. I would love to respond to everyone's posts individually but I don't know that I have it in me yet. ((((December Sisters)))) <----my official group hug for those newly banded, being banded soon and new to the group. I will get more personal as I get some more energy. That said, I am feeling better every minute. The percocet is definitely keeping the edge off my pain. I am not hungry at all. I am trying to have something every 2 hours or so and sipping Water throughout the day. It is slow going. It took me an hour to eat 1/2 of a Jello cup. I can drink about 4 oz of Protein shake an hour so it is a bit longer to get the whole thing down. My gas is still mad crazy and every time I wipe I put a little pressure on the peri area to see if I can pass some and man it feels good when it does. I know that is a lot of personal info, but if Nat and Lap can talk about their mudd butts than I can talk about my gas. hahaha I am passing stoll but it is miniscule and like mustard. Weird. I hope that is okay. I was given liquid colace but took one dose and I just cannot take it if I don't have to. If I start to get bound, I will try it but it is horrendous and the dose is a tablespoon. ack! Beversman-hang in there. You will do fine and I can tell you I have NO REGRETS! And I was totally not 100% sure going in. I know it is soon to say since I don't know what the future holds but I am feeling much more confident in my decision. Best of luck! I am thinking of having DH take me to Target today for a few last minute things. He said he can just pick the stuff up for me, but I really want to try to get out and walk a bit. If I get tired, I can always wait in the car. Wish me luck on my outing. It should be tolerable. I think I was under the belief that I would be up and walking the neighborhood the next day and at the gym a few days later. So not happening!!!! I am going to take it slow. I think I will try to go back to sleep for a bit. Night all.

I can relate to the addictive behaviors. I know I could have so many addictions if I didn't get control of them. Or what I deem to be control. my biggest vice has been food and there is that small, very real fear that when this is conquered, I will move onto something else. I don't drink, I don't smoke(anymore), I don't shop, I occasionally gamble (once a year DH and I take a trip to Foxwoods and I am too cheap to get that into it). But the sex thing is really real for me. I just hope I don't find myself looking hot and looking elsewhere for attn. That is awful to even admit..I have a great husband who is also very handsome, but I don't think that is what addiction is about. I have a close family member who is in AA and I love when she talks (sort of preaches) to me about all she has learned. She is working her program and I love to hear her outlook on life. It is very motivating and uplifting and I think I could benefit from a similair program. Maybe a general addictive behavior 12 step. I never did OA, anyone else? Maybe that is somewhere I should have looked before. BTW, puddin-I have been following your progress with the band and you are a great inspiration for me! I hope you find all your strengths within yourself and discover your true self in this journey.

I know the feeling you are talking about. I have not much desire to eat, but things are very rumbly in my tummy. I am sipping slowly and find that I cannot get much down (2 days post op) but I am getting some proteing and a good amount of water. I tried a small cup of jello today and ittook me about 45 minutes to eat half of it. I am chalking up the rumblies to all the gas that is moving around my tummy. Just keep getting your liquids slowly and I am sure you will be fine. Take it slow!!! That is what I am doing.

I am home among the living-thank God. Presently, I am feeling pretty well. I was not feeling well at all yesterday and part of today. I am very bloated and gassy and I feel like a semi backed over my stomach but it is definitely getting better. It sounds gross, but I so thrilled when I pass gas because it is a huge relief. The gas pain is mostly in my lower belly and lower back. Not in my shoulder as of yet. I am including my scar pics (despite my icky stretch marked bloated belly). I think it is important to be able to look back...

Here are my 2 day post op pics. I cannot believe I am sharing my hideously stretch marked belly (it has never been the same since my first pregnancy). It is also way more bloated than pre-surgery. It was actually starting to get smaller so I hope it returns to "normal" soon. I ended up with 7 incisions. One is so tiny I almost wouldn't count it. Overall I am pleased-they don't look too bad. [/html]

Hi ladies, I am just posting a quick reply before I go through all the messages. I am so relieved to be up and sitting in from of this computer. I feel a 100 times better right now than I did yesterday. Far from feeling great but it is a relief to know that every day it should get better. I am taking percocet, though I am taking as little as I can manage on, so bear with me if I seem a bit loopy. My tummy is very sore-to be expected. The gas is driving me nuts. Every time I pass some (sorry of too much info)-I want to sing out in joy. It just feels so good to get it out. Mine has not travelled to my shoulders but my tummy is super bloated. I have had a few big coughs that scared the crap out of me-expecting to see the band go flying across the room-and some nasty stuff comes out of my chest. Really thick and gross. But I know it is important to get it out. I am not really sure if I am eating right. I have no desire and I don't know if I am hungry or if it is the gas making everything rumble. I am just sipping througgout the day. I was sipping Water this am. Had 4oz Protein shake at 8am, another 4oz at 9am, sipped water until 11am and now I am sipping a little creamy soup...I can't do too much at any one time. I am walking around my house and was standing for a good 45 minutes or so doing some things which made me feel a little less gassy than when I just lay in my bed. Can I just say that the hospital staff at Beth Israel in Boston are the most phenomenal people I have ever come into contact with? The first thing out of my mouth when I woke up was "how was my liver?". I was so paranoid about it being fatty. The surgeon said it was beautiful and he was so proud of my 18 pound weight loss. I am like a kid-and totalyl eating up the priase. haha. The pre-op nurse was so wonderful and comforted my fears. I cried on the way in to the hospital because I was really really scared, but once I was there, things totally lightened up. I am just so relieved and excited for my new life to begin. I am up 2 pounds since Monday but I am totally not concerned about the weight right now.I know it iwll come off in time and this is all about healing and learning how to live with this amazing tool. Take care everyone...I am off to read a few posts and then take a nap. Thanks for letting me babble. Love to you all!

Hey my lovelies! I am home safe and sound. so far so good. I have not read any of the messages but I wanted to leave a quick post so you all could sleep knowing that I am okay-hehe. I feel alright. This stomach sleeper is struggling to get a good rest on my back but it wil allwork out. I have a small fear that every time I cough, this band is going to fly out of my stiches and land across the room somewhere-maybe dangling off my Christmas tree-how pretty. The procedure itself was a piece of cake and the staff was glorious. Everyone treated me so well. I look forward to being back to my old self soon-hoping by Sunday I will be up and about. Have a good one all, I will post more later.

Hi everyone, I am about 30 hours until my surgery and just looking for any last minute tips, encouragement, support etc. I am so anxious but I really can't wait for this to happen too! Everyone on this board os so encouraging! Thanks for being here. ~Kay

I quickly just wanted to say goodnight. I am off to bed soon and in the am I will be heading to the hospital! Good luck Sweethot and BKwalling. Anyone else having surgery tomorrow? Good luck to you if I missed you. I can't wait to get online and do the forum version of "drunk dialing". I LLOOOVVVEE YOOOOUU GUUYSS :hiccup: haha. Mystique and Nathalie-y'all sound junked up. Just kidding. nathalie-thanks so much for your PM-I got you back. Steph-stop baking girl. You are not superhuman and I can only imagine how hard it would be to not rationalize a single bite. We can't all be as strong as Beversman. hehe. Keep it up B-man you are so strong and I know you are going to do great! I am off....

mypov-do you find that you see thinner people and would never believe they were ever overweight? I am always amazed when someone tells me they were once bigger and I just can't picture it. In the same respect, I cannot picture myself thin! I know what I will look like at aroun 190 or so but that is the lowest that I have a visual in my head for. I cannot imagine being 150-that woudl be glorious!! Good luck on your surgery. Jack, That is refreshing to hear you say that. My surgery is tomorrow and I am convinced this will be a tough Christmas since the holiday is so surrounded with food events. I figure this will be the first holiday I don't out on 10 pounds! Besides, I have had 34 Christmases where I could eat what I wanted and it didn't do a bit of good to me. What a great time to give yourself a gift like this.

As far as the crying thing-my friends said she was really grumpy for about two weeks out. Another friend said she was in mourning of the loss of her friend "food". I think the emotional toll this surgery takes is totally normal. Especially since in my case, every time I am sad I would normally have something to eat. When you can't do that, the floods open. Think of it as detoxing. The feelings have to go somewhere. I would rather they come out in tears then end up in my flabby belly! ~Kay

This thread is making me depressed! The thought of not eating fruit, salads and chicken which are my mainstays is almost too much to take. I hope I am lucky and can eventually eat these things. I am so interested in the portion control that this tool will give me, but without my healthy foods like the previously mentioned, I will be at a loss as to what to eat. I guess we have to be able to sacrifice in order to get to goal. I am fine with no Pasta, bread, rice, sugar, and "junk", but the chicken?veggies?fruit? ugh. I am sure I will adapt, it just seems daunting right now! ~Kay

aarrghhh! I cannot believe this is happening tomorrow!!!! I keep reading about you all falling asleep and waking up in recovery and as nice as that truly is, it it freaking me out. I feel so out of control. Believe me, I certainly wouldn;t want to be awake!!! haha. Today is my only pre-op diet day and it is pretty simple. Light Breakfast (oatmeal), light lunch-20z of meat sandwich or Soup, yogurt for snack and soup for dinner. Nothin but clear liquids after 7pm and NPO after midnight. The past 2 days I ate more than I have in months of following Weight Watchers to lose my required 10 pounds. I had about 10 Hershey Kisses yesterday and for lunch yesterday I had a BIG panini. I think I had some weird urge to eat since I know I won't be chewing for a LONG time-my surgeon has me on liquids for 4 weeks post op and mushies another 2 weeks. 6 weeks without real food seems so daunting. I did a search and found some nice soup recipes to try when I am back among the living. A lot of them called for heavy cream :::gasp::: but I will substitute that for evaporated skim milk and hope it still gets the creamy texture I am looking for. I have some last minute errands today and then I will pack my bag. My husband took the whole week off since he never took a vacation this year and he will be watching the kids. My mom will come tomorrow morning to get the kids off to school and I think I will send my husband out of the hospital after I go in. I don't want him waiting around-or do I? I don't know what to do. I imagine I will be out of it so it won't matter if he is there or not, right? then part of me is scared and I want the peace of knowing he is there. Nathalie-you sound great-funny as ever. I understand what you said about the c-section and being in the hospital for 5 days. That makes a lot of sense that you would remember being up and at 'em when you got home. Do your deep breathing too!!! It is important-besides, you want to get those nasty booger out of you asap (thanks for the visual by the way:D . mystique-you sounds great. I am very happy for you!:clap2: A big shout out to my 12/18 girls! Best wishes. I am sure I will be back online at several points today. I am totally obsessing and reading everything. But have a great pre-op day. By the way, I didn't mention that I have a med student who is following me through this whole procedure..from my first consult, to my psych eval, to my actual surgery, he is there. It is a fellowship program that had just started at my hospital. He is a nice kid-Harvard Medical!!! I am impressed. haha. Should be interesting. ~Kay

Hang in there. I have heard that kidney stones are excrutiating! I hope youare better soon. May I ask, do you have high blood pressure? I am just wondering if that would add to it. I know that if you have Protein in your urine, it is usually due to the blood pressure being high and protein being forced through even though it is usually to big of a molecule to make it out. hmm. What are stones made from I wonder. You have me thinking now... How much protein were you eating? Best wishes and I hope you get that big stone passed soon.

Bkwalling- I am sooooooo excited and nervous! When you said "30 hours", my heart skipped a beat. Is that true? OMG-I still cannot believe it. I feel like I have so much to do but don't know what to do. I cleaned my bathroom on my hands and knees today, scrubbed the inside of the fridge, in the process of doing all of the laundry etc. I have not nested like this since I had my last baby. Even then I didn't clean the pipes UNDER my sink! haha. At least I better come home to a clean house for recovery or someone is going to get it! I cannot sit still in a messy house (which is why I am rarely home haha). I hope everyone is feeling great. I am off to a recipe site to find some Soup recipes. I need something to make to get me through Christmas!!! ~Kay

Hi Ladies! (are there any men here???) ddee-I am giggling about the milkshake. That is totally something my husband would do! haha. It is sweet of him nonetheless. Carol-Yay for you and your party last night! I am so happy for you and I totally know what you mean about worrying that people are watching you and how much you are eating. I find that I don't eat much at parties and then come home and eat junk since I feel bad for myself. So pathetic! Beversman-thx-I will try to sleep this weekend but I am HYPER!!! I cannot believe how quickly this weekend is going by. Scary! Mystique-glad you are back and feeling alright! Hi Steph-thanks for your kind words! This is a great group! I hope we all stick together because I have to say I am eternally grateful for all the support I have received here. Best wishes to you all. ~Kay PS-does anyone here have a myspace acct? I have one but since I am trying to be private in my surgery decision, I made a new one today so that I could invite my lapband friends. Of course, for those of you that would not post "good luck on your surgery", I would give you my normal myspace address. :eek: check out my new page if you want-it is a work in progress www.myspace.com/kaydotrn