girlinnyc

hey, for next to nothing--why NOT go to china--altho--would you just be there for 3 days? it's a long long flight--for 3 days, if you're leaving on monday and returning on fri--won't 2 of those days be on the airplane? what is your friend doing there? as for missing a week of work's pay--if you can afford to--why not?! i am just about PLANNING on a week with no pay this year--because i'm using up vacation for surgery (monday, monday!) and then i have a vacation scheduled and paid for -- exactly one month after the surgery---so--that's 2/3 of my vacation allowance--and it's the first 2 months of the year! i feel almost sure that i'll need unpaid leave SOMETIME the rest of the year--when my other 5 days run out... but back to china--it sounds tempting--but find out how long the flights are. you might not even have time to acclimate to being AWAKE there, before you have to start flying back! best wishes, girlin nyc

OK==day 11...2 MORE DAYS. i'm not hungry. i stopped eating huge portions of cooked broccoli or string beans--i don't even want them anymore. i can't believe how NOT HUNGRY i am. it's weird. and i can go a long time on the protein shakes. it's funny how they immediately give your brain whatever it needs to get moving (not to mention your body)....and i can definitely feel when they stop--at which point, so do i. and just in time for MORE SHAKES. 2 in the morning, 2 at night--for lunch--vegetable soup and some raw vegetable salad. not bad. i know i'm losing weight because i can BREATHE when dressed in my work outfits...that's a change. as for the scale--well...who knows. i'll find out monday, pre-surgery. i assume they have to weigh you to know how much stuff you need to be anesthetized. i'm not even thinking about monday so much (except while i write this) because i'm so busy at work. i guess that's good--but at 5:00 p.m.--that's over. 2 more days of pre-op diet--and...voila--i'm banded! getting nervous about post-op pain...that's all i'm concerned about. oh yeah, and EATING too...but...we'll work on that. if i could be as NOT HUNGRY as i am on this stupid pre-op diet--that would be good.

Dreamer, Glad you're better! gee, i hope i'm able to DRINK well, after the surgery monday. gulp. And Sivan--that sounds like an ORDEAL--i hope you are better. What are the treatments for kidney stones these days?? that is a pain i hope never to feel--and my heart goes out to you both. i have heard that it is one of the most terrible pains you can feel. get well soon! girlin nyc

OK==day 11...2 MORE DAYS. i'm not hungry. i stopped eating huge portions of cooked broccoli or string beans--i don't even want them anymore. i can't believe how NOT HUNGRY i am. it's weird. and i can go a long time on the protein shakes. it's funny how they immediately give your brain whatever it needs to get moving (not to mention your body)....and i can definitely feel when they stop--at which point, so do i. and just in time for MORE SHAKES. 2 in the morning, 2 at night--for lunch--vegetable soup and some raw vegetable salad. not bad. i know i'm losing weight because i can BREATHE when dressed in my work outfits...that's a change. as for the scale--well...who knows. i'll find out monday, pre-surgery. i assume they have to weigh you to know how much stuff you need to be anesthetized. i'm not even thinking about monday so much (except while i write this) because i'm so busy at work. i guess that's good--but at 5:00 p.m.--that's over. 2 more days of pre-op diet--and...voila--i'm banded! getting nervous about post-op pain...that's all i'm concerned about. oh yeah, and EATING too...but...we'll work on that. if i could be as NOT HUNGRY as i am on this stupid pre-op diet--that would be good.

tazboobecky, it is natural to feel depressed after surgery and restriction of what you can eat. we all (most of us) have always used food, practically unconciously, to soothe ourselves--you're not alone! it is an awful feeling when you can't eat what you want. how about canned, mushed up chicken, with something to make it moister--like light mayo or something? or blenderize it with some chicken Soup. i'm sure people who've been through the mushy stage here have better recipes for you (i don't cook, i'm completely unimaginative in the kitchen). oh--and my dr. said dark meat chicken--moister--is better. try a tiny bite of that if you MUST have chicken?? at least you can find some distraction and friendly help here--i've found it invaluable--and i'm not even banded yet! but monday--i will be! great weight loss--try on something that didn't fit you last month--that should cheer you up a little--and have some Jello? chocolate pudding? something nice like that would be a treat--yes? and, if your mood doesn't lighten up--please ask your dr. about some medication == i take effexor xr--and i love it. completely stabilizes my mood. i'm prone to depression and this has really helped my life! best wishes, girlin nyc

What does anyone who's been banded think about my putting some kind of mark on myself where my waistline (of clothing) is and where my bra hits me? I have heard a few people say that they are somewhat uncomfortable after surgery because incisions or port sites are being hit exactly where their clothes waistband is. Has anyone else had this? done this? talked about it with surgeon? Many thanks for your responses!

i figure a little permanent marker writing can't hurt.

well, DAY 9 of pre-op diet--i'm just ADDICTED to optifast shakes now. plus i started putting 2 teaspoons of benefiber in it. i'm a little concerned that what's going in, is not moving along as it should be, on this liquid festival... so--2 shakes for b-fast...then nothing until lunch... lunch was onion soup--more salad things---2 diet ginger ales. boy i'm going to miss my diet ginger ale. now i'm plenty full--and there's no more to eat until dinner--2 more optifast things. and then 2 sugar free choc pops--to feel like i'm having "dessert"--and i'm done for the night. i could also chew on fruity vitamins the nutritionist gave me. oh--and the surgeon's office called--my insurance approved me. nothing like waiting until practically the LAST MINUTE--since surgery is MONDAY. SURE GLAD I'M NOT ON THIS LIQUID NONSENSE FOR NOTHING. boy would i have had a fit if i had an insurance problem. probably would have had a stroke. nothing new, nothing to talk about--just rolling along at work trying to GET THINGS DONE. and the more i try, the more things pile on before the first things are finished. thought i would get a lot done before surgery day--but it looks dismal right now. guess they're just going to have to LIVE WITHOUT ME for a week here. sure hope the co. doesn't go out of business or anything! (ha ha ha, cynical laugh).:heh:

well, DAY 9 of pre-op diet--i'm just ADDICTED to optifast shakes now. plus i started putting 2 teaspoons of benefiber in it. i'm a little concerned that what's going in, is not moving along as it should be, on this liquid festival... so--2 shakes for b-fast...then nothing until lunch... lunch was onion soup--more salad things---2 diet ginger ales. boy i'm going to miss my diet ginger ale. now i'm plenty full--and there's no more to eat until dinner--2 more optifast things. and then 2 sugar free choc pops--to feel like i'm having "dessert"--and i'm done for the night. i could also chew on fruity vitamins the nutritionist gave me. oh--and the surgeon's office called--my insurance approved me. nothing like waiting until practically the LAST MINUTE--since surgery is MONDAY. SURE GLAD I'M NOT ON THIS LIQUID NONSENSE FOR NOTHING. boy would i have had a fit if i had an insurance problem. probably would have had a stroke. nothing new, nothing to talk about--just rolling along at work trying to GET THINGS DONE. and the more i try, the more things pile on before the first things are finished. thought i would get a lot done before surgery day--but it looks dismal right now. guess they're just going to have to LIVE WITHOUT ME for a week here. sure hope the co. doesn't go out of business or anything! (ha ha ha, cynical laugh).:heh:

were you at NYU hospital? that's where i am going next week. thanks for your very detailed description of what it was like aftewards. that is what's terrifying me. also--eating afterwards. the pre-op diet, that i'm NOT liking--is starting to sound like a PICNIC compared to AFTER surgery. glad you're feeling better! best wishes, girlin nyc

at my corporate cafeteria!! bummer!! soup, some salad, and 2 diet sodas--over $10.00!! sheesh! well--day 8 of the disgusting 2 wk pre=op diet--and i'm back to being GOOD. 2 shakes in the morning--adding ICE, ICE, ICE--to make it as cold and frosty as possible--and 2 at night. the sugar-free chocolate pops are good. i feel like i've had dessert after 1 of those. for lunch--vegetable soup--(clear soup with vegetables, no peas, corn, potatoes--3 cheers for me, i RESISTED the fabulous au bon pain CORN CHOWDER they have every so often :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: ) i am starting to DREAD the thought of surgery. i'm wondering if my endocrinologist ever considered CUSHING's disease, i wonder what my cortisol level is, i'm wondering why i ever got myself into this....i'm desperately looking for OTHER ACTIVITIES to distract myself (oh yeah, i'm at work, supposed to be WORKING). i keep thinking 'what if this won't work on me', 'what if i only lose a little weight from the pre-op diet, and then a little weight from the 2-wks AFTER surgery liquid diet, and then...i just stop losing', 'what if blah blah blah'--anything you can think of--that's what i'm obsessing about... 'how does the band FEEL around your stomach?', 'can you actually FEEL it?', 'what if the dr. puts in the "wrong" kind of port?', 'do i have to PICK the kind of port?', 'how do they decide WHICH kind of port?,' 'how do they decide what size of band?', 'what causes band slippage?', 'am i going to be sliming, burping, pb'ing, reflexing and vomiting for the rest of my life because of this ELECTIVE surgery???' i'm driving myself KRAZEEEEEEE. any tips-- people out there who've done this???? thanks.... back to obsession land....

Julie, Doesn't the band help you with portion size in that it doesn't ALLOW you to eat all that you see in front of you? even if you take more than "you should?" what exactly are you struggling with--putting too much on your plate? eating so much that you get sick? knowing what are good food choices? i'm sorry if these are stupid questions--i am getting banded next monday--i am IGNORANT! best wishes, girlin nyc

at my corporate cafeteria!! bummer!! soup, some salad, and 2 diet sodas--over $10.00!! sheesh! well--day 8 of the disgusting 2 wk pre=op diet--and i'm back to being GOOD. 2 shakes in the morning--adding ICE, ICE, ICE--to make it as cold and frosty as possible--and 2 at night. the sugar-free chocolate pops are good. i feel like i've had dessert after 1 of those. for lunch--vegetable soup--(clear soup with vegetables, no peas, corn, potatoes--3 cheers for me, i RESISTED the fabulous au bon pain CORN CHOWDER they have every so often :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: ) i am starting to DREAD the thought of surgery. i'm wondering if my endocrinologist ever considered CUSHING's disease, i wonder what my cortisol level is, i'm wondering why i ever got myself into this....i'm desperately looking for OTHER ACTIVITIES to distract myself (oh yeah, i'm at work, supposed to be WORKING). i keep thinking 'what if this won't work on me', 'what if i only lose a little weight from the pre-op diet, and then a little weight from the 2-wks AFTER surgery liquid diet, and then...i just stop losing', 'what if blah blah blah'--anything you can think of--that's what i'm obsessing about... 'how does the band FEEL around your stomach?', 'can you actually FEEL it?', 'what if the dr. puts in the "wrong" kind of port?', 'do i have to PICK the kind of port?', 'how do they decide WHICH kind of port?,' 'how do they decide what size of band?', 'what causes band slippage?', 'am i going to be sliming, burping, pb'ing, reflexing and vomiting for the rest of my life because of this ELECTIVE surgery???' i'm driving myself KRAZEEEEEEE. any tips-- people out there who've done this???? thanks.... back to obsession land....

sue, that sounds AWFUL. hope you are doing well now---are you feeling ok? happy new year! (and happy new you!) girlin nyc

I really screwed up on pre-op diet tonight. i was doing ok--until this evening, when party food made its debut at my place. disaster. no alcohol tho. tomorrow--back on strict pre-op diet. hope i'm not doomed. what does anyone else think????? :cry :cry :cry

I really screwed up on pre-op diet tonight. i was doing ok--until this evening, when party food made its debut at my place. disaster. no alcohol tho. tomorrow--back on strict pre-op diet. hope i'm not doomed. what does anyone else think????? :cry :cry :cry

you've made the first decision--to take control back! you have kids to live for--this is a great decision for you! congratulations! best of luck! girlin nyc

have you been back to the dr? have they SEEN the gaping holes? this is would concern me a great deal. if you are concerned--go to the E.R. get a second opinion at the emergency room. please keep posting about this. i hope you are healing quickly. best wishes, girlin nyc

ok, i'm only drinking shakes and eating those cooked, unflavored vegetables (boy, salt is the only saving grace on those) and i feel SO energy-less, it's unbelievable. after i drink the shake--i have about 1 hr's worth of energy--during which i'm madly cleaning up my cluttered castle for a new year's eve party tomorrow (yes, i'm a masochist, too). then i collapse, lie down on the bed for a "minute"--and all of a sudden, it's 3 hrs later. now--this is FINE while i'm at home--but i go back to work tuesday--and there is NO NAPTIME there (although i've put that in the suggestion box many times--"more nap breaks, and bunkbeds in a dark room"). so--i conclude that the pre-op shake diet is for stay-at-home types, or people who control their own destiny. now--i DID do this before my wedding--a million yrs ago (well, 18) and i managed to do it AND go to work--looking back--i don't see how i did it. oh well--time marches on. my 1 hr's energy is rapidly coming to a close. i wrapped 2 xmas gifts (yes, i KNOW xmas is over) and put them in boxes to MAIL (who wants to go to the post office BEFORE xmas??) and there are just a few more of THOSE to get off the dining room table. did i mention that PARTY i have to get ready for tomorrow? why oh why did i agree to this? (you may be wondering)--well, family pressure. enough said. back to work

ok, i'm only drinking shakes and eating those cooked, unflavored vegetables (boy, salt is the only saving grace on those) and i feel SO energy-less, it's unbelievable. after i drink the shake--i have about 1 hr's worth of energy--during which i'm madly cleaning up my cluttered castle for a new year's eve party tomorrow (yes, i'm a masochist, too). then i collapse, lie down on the bed for a "minute"--and all of a sudden, it's 3 hrs later. now--this is FINE while i'm at home--but i go back to work tuesday--and there is NO NAPTIME there (although i've put that in the suggestion box many times--"more nap breaks, and bunkbeds in a dark room"). so--i conclude that the pre-op shake diet is for stay-at-home types, or people who control their own destiny. now--i DID do this before my wedding--a million yrs ago (well, 18) and i managed to do it AND go to work--looking back--i don't see how i did it. oh well--time marches on. my 1 hr's energy is rapidly coming to a close. i wrapped 2 xmas gifts (yes, i KNOW xmas is over) and put them in boxes to MAIL (who wants to go to the post office BEFORE xmas??) and there are just a few more of THOSE to get off the dining room table. did i mention that PARTY i have to get ready for tomorrow? why oh why did i agree to this? (you may be wondering)--well, family pressure. enough said. back to work

Day 3 of liquid pre-op diet. Not REALLY hungry--but a little bit hungry. in fact i think i feel weaker--due to low-protein. yesterday i had a headache--definitely from low protein (not from caffeine deprivation--i am totally off caffeine, have been for a long time now--at least a year). have tried to keep the liquids up to feel full too, but am feeling quite sorry for myself today. now--is DAY 4 supposed to be better? or AFTER day 4? i am doing what i've been told to do--for now--but i might have to cave in and call the nutritionist and see if there's ANYTHING else i may safely consume. bummer... i'm really feeling bummed out....

Mookie--hate to tell you--day 4 on optifast sucks too!! i'm not even hungry anymore--but i really would rather be EATING something (anything, even olive juice) than slurping this crap down.... :cry regards, girlin nyc

Your dr's office should have it.

Day 3 of liquid pre-op diet. Not REALLY hungry--but a little bit hungry. in fact i think i feel weaker--due to low-protein. yesterday i had a headache--definitely from low protein (not from caffeine deprivation--i am totally off caffeine, have been for a long time now--at least a year). have tried to keep the liquids up to feel full too, but am feeling quite sorry for myself today. now--is DAY 4 supposed to be better? or AFTER day 4? i am doing what i've been told to do--for now--but i might have to cave in and call the nutritionist and see if there's ANYTHING else i may safely consume. bummer... i'm really feeling bummed out....

i guess his experience is that this is "optimal" (in his experience) for shrinking the liver--and he puts all the patients on this. maybe it's also to demonstrate that you have the persistence to follow instructions and thus you are a good surgical and follow-up risk. i really don't know--i just know that i am getting less hungry--it's day 3. i think i had a big protein-lack headache yesterday...but today i feel better. i guess i'm just looking forward to being post-band---and getting thru the first few days of THAT! how bout you??