Klisa

I hear ya, Stefani - It's hard to watch the fam eat...I made homemade spaghetti sauce right before I went liquid so that my hubs could make himself something 'easy'. I made dinner for him last night...chicken...and am planning on bbq'ing a steak for him tonight, but I'm not entirely sure I can bbq it and hand it over vs beat him to death with it. He's not asking me to do any of this...I'm just torturing myself...but I'm trying to be nice while I can cuz I know the beast is rising and I need the brownie points when it comes - hahahaha! My largest incision is a little sore, but isn't itching...Did you get stitched, stapled or glued? I've been glued...It's hard not to play with the incisions. I'm like a little kid futzing with a scab except that I stop myself from actually picking. 10 lbs is excellent! I think that it's probably good not to weigh yourself every day just because you end up feeling let down, but who am I kidding? I'm one of those 'wake up, weigh, pee, weigh, shower, weigh, dry hair after shower, weigh' cuz it's fun to see the difference. Pure torture at times though. Try not to be disappointed that you plateaued for a few days. It'll start again.

Oh! One other thing - if you value your hair and don't want to lose a ton of it, get your Protein, calcium and B Complex Vitamins in! I know of folks who have lost hair after having the gastric sleeve or bypass and was told by the nutritionist that it was due to their inability to absorb as many vitamins/minerals. This made sense...but I was confused why this ALSO happened to a person I know who got banded...She had GLORIOUS hair and lost A LOT of it and it's just not that healthy anymore...I found out that she is TERRIBLE with her diet...she doesn't get in hardly any protein, doesn't eat veggies, rarely eats solids (she was banded in Dec, had complications and couldn't get her first fill till Mar), etc. She's just NOT getting her nutrients in and although she is losing weight, she losing her hair too. She's lost 55 lbs so far, but that hair of hers is no longer amazing... My hair is one of my attributes that people know me for (not that it's super amazing, but it's long and it just happens to be what people think of when they think of me), so I do NOT want it falling out if I can help it. I'm using Bosley defense shampoo & conditioner and then trying my damndest to get my nutrients in. I'm taking liquid multi vits & a liquid B Complex. Just thought I'd warn you all...I didn't realize that this could be an issue till shortly before I was banded and then I nearly freaked out.

OMG - I look at how some people are still in a ton of pain and I feel lucky! I still have the heavy chest where it's uncomfortable to breathe deep, and I am still gassy, but NOTHING compared to that first night. I think that staying up and cleaning for an hour or so at a time that first night saved me! I went to my Auntie's memorial on 8/1 and did pretty well...It was a long car ride and I was able to stay for about 2 hrs. Today is my first day back to work, but I am a programmer and work from home, so it's not a stretch. I took a nap during lunch. It's hard to focus, but just because I want to eat, not because I'm hungry. Naps are heavenly right now cuz you don't think about food! I can't wait to get to mushies! Mashed potatoes? YUM! Overcooked broccoli - who would have thought I'd crave it?!?! I'm already very tired of the liquids. I started them 2 days prior to being banded, so it's been a week for me. I don't feel 'hungry' so much as just really have the desire to consume something with some consistency! So, obviously it's psychological. I've been using the Amplify Protein shake mix...I had vanilla which I liked (and accidentally returned instead of a different flavor), chocolate and Cookies & cream (the one I meant to return). I threw a peach into the vanilla (pre op) and it was quite good. The chocolate is OK though I tried to do to much with it. The cookies and cream is good by itself. I blend them with milk so I get the extra protein and Calcium from the milk too. 1 srv = 20 g protein & 5 carbs. I'm 'juicing' too...something new to me. Today I juiced about 1 cup of spinnich, 2 carrots, 1/3 cucumber, 1 pear & 1 green apple. It made a large cup of juice and I threw some of that Fibersure stuff in it to get some extra Fiber. I figure this is a good way to get extra nutrients till I can eat veggies again. I've also been throwing some unflavored Protein powder in my Soups. I found it at a health food store called Lassens. There's 15 g of protein in 1/4 cup. You just have to stir it pretty good cuz it will form some lumps...I keep telling myself 'it's miso soup'. You know how miso Soup has floaties? That's what I'm going with... My stomach just growled... Has anyone noticed that the signals you get from your tummy aren't what they used to be? I've gotten one a couple of times and have thought - is that a 'stuffed' signal or a 'feed me' signal...I guess they are just mild cramps, but I had to think about them...

Mommy2Ps - I've thought the same thing a gazillion times...'Well, if you chew it REALLY well, then isn't it the same thing as pureed?' People will say we are rationalizing, but it IS kinda the same, right? I've lost about 5 lbs...I started the liquid diet 2 days prior...and was banded on 7/30 so it's been about 1 week of liquids. Given the amt of solids I would consume before, it's no wonder I've lost something. My surgeon and nutritionist DID say that this first few weeks were NOT for weight loss and how a couple weeks down the road I'd be able to consume a good amt of food (though I s/b on liquids?) and that that would be totally normal. They said we're just looking to let the tummy heal right now and THEN I'd get my first fill and start being restricted. They want to do my first fill at 3 weeks. Then I hear it's another couple days of liquids & then a couple of mushies. I guess they are getting that fill in there before I can get to solid foods...They see that look in my eye, don't they?

I'm trying soooo hard to be good but I want something to CHEW, dang it! I've been doing Protein shakes, 'juicing', drinking Soups...Last night I made my husband chicken and the tiniest piece fell off (the size of an pencil eraser) and I snatched it up and chewed on it forever and it was heaven. I don't think I ever even swallowed anything. I just masticated it till I could find it no more. :blushing: But I'm not planning on continuing down that path. I want this to work and just keep telling myself to get past this first month...THEN I can chew to my hearts content (well, kinda) again. It's tough though...My surgery was 7/30 and I'm already chompin' at the bit.

So they inflate the band when they first put it in? To maybe verify it works? And then they are supposed to deflate it? I just had a different struggle...I was banded on Friday (7/30) & came home the same day...Have been doing pretty well...the standard gas pains...but I just made my hubs dinner and let me tell you...THAT was painful! BBQ'd chicken, salad & some mac n cheese. I actually tore off the teeniest bite of chicken and hoarded it in the corner of the kitchen...It was soooo good...but then after I told him to serve himself I went in the office and shed a pitiful tear or two. Just pouting. Of course he told me not to worry about feeding him, but he eat'd granola bars for dinner if I didn't help him out...and then I'd have to listen to him whine about 'dying'. He's spoiled. :thumbup: So, that sucked, but I did pretty good considering that I figured I would have gnawed the arm off anyone who got between me and that chicken thigh.

I still have a lot of pressure. I keep hoping to fart...who knew I'd EVER wish that...hahaha. I have more pressure in the evenings, but I think that's because I'm having Soup and then something to drink along with it. Too much at once and I'm left feeling stuffed, bloated, etc. Today I drank some coffee, which I know we're supposed to avoid caffeine but I was hoping to embrace the 'caffeine push' if you know what I mean. Not much happening in that dept, but I don't really know whether I should be bothered by that since I haven't eaten anything solid since last Wed! I stepped on the scale the day after surgery (just for fun) and weighed 7 lbs more! Today it's gone (phew!). Does it feel to you guys like you can't empty your bladder completely? It's getting better, but that's how I've kinda felt since my surgery on Friday. That was probably what a lot of that 7 lbs of weight was! I can see how it's going to be difficult to get all of our protien, Calcium, etc. in like we should...especially after the 1st fill. I'm hearing that the amt we feel like we can take in is NOTHING compared to how restricted it will feel later. I know it's important to get in our nutrients though...I have a cousin who got the lap band in Dec 09 and she has lost a good portion of her glorious hair because she's not making sure to get what she needs in...Not that hair is THAT important, but if you are losing it, you know there is other stuff going on as well and that your body is just not all that happy with you. This'll be a challenge, but if we can get through the first couple of months, we'll be well on our way.

Moving has been helping me a lot. It feels better to move than to be still, it seems. My pain was horrible the first day, but is getting better and better. I was banded on Friday, 7/30. I've been busting open GasX capsules and swallowing the contents...Does everyone else just take them normal? I've been on broth or bisque Soups, Water, tea...yesterday I felt like I had a rock in my belly but not so much today. My main incision is kinda sore today though...It feels stretched...my belly is distended.

My hubs was initially kind of against the idea of the surgery because we know folks who have done some of the other bariatric surgeries and have regained weight. He didn't want me putting myself through a surgery if it wasn't going to be a true solution. He was worried that there was a problem behind the weight that needed to be fixed first. I explained to him that this was just a 'tool' to help and he was willing to learn about it and then felt better. I just had my surgery yesterday. He's been good about not eating food in front of me during the pre op diet...food is my very favorite thing, so he knows this will be really tough for me at first. I'm going to do my best not to be horrid to him this first month while I can't eat. I sent him away with friends today since I was doing so well, so he's gotta be grateful for that! I also made homemade spaghetti sauce for him a couple of days ago so he would have something easy to make himself for dinner while I was out of commision. Building up my brownie points for when I am a beeoooch, I guess. :rolleyes2: He's a bit spoiled too, I guess, but he's a good guy. :w00t:

I ended up being awake for a good portion of the night, but actually made quite good use of the time...I was doing the 'walk around the pool thing', but then it hit me that I might as well do light chores rather than just walk around the pool, so I ran my dustmop over my floors, did some light dusting, cleaned the kitchen, etc. I do about an hour of work (moved slow, but that's OK since my point was just to move), sleep for about 2 hrs, do another hour of work, etc. I think the longer bouts of activity helped a lot because after a couple of them I was able to sleep for about 4 hours at a time, which was nice. Still have some pain when taking deep breaths and the belly area is a bit sore from where the port was placed (behind the belly button), but the gas is MUCH better. Still there some, but NOTHING compared to last night! Phew! sleeping on my side helped too...as well as the heating pad. Today I've had some Jerry's Deli chicken Soup broth (the pups are getting the chicken, noodles & carrots in their dinner tonight), some Vietnamese beef broth w/ some Protein powder in it, a small rootbeer float, a little juice (I 'juiced' 2 apples, a pear and threw in some coconut Water, but then was too full to drink most of it) and about a 1/2 liter of water. I know I need to up the water quite a bit, but I think I'm doing not so bad for my first day. :rolleyes2: Oh, I had my liquid Vitamins too. All in all I'm doing much better than I figured I would be... However it kinda sucks seeing a steak or something on tv and thinking, 'Hey, maybe I'll BBQ one!' and then 'remembering'... Just gotta get through this first month and it'll hopefully be not so bad.

OMG! The gas pains are HORRIBLE!!! The pain killer doesn't even make them go away. I'm trying to walk around my pool 10 times every once in a while...I got home a little over 3 hrs ago and have done it 3 times. The funny part is that I'm too tired to count so Lord only knows how long I am actually walking. It feels A BIT better WHILE I'm doing it, but afterwards, it sucks again. I took some GasX as well. It feels like it hasn't helped much, but who knows hwat this would feel like if I weren't walking or taking the Gasx and the pain meds. Forgive any bad spelling here. I'm half asleep. Came back on to look ofr addtl suggestons. Heating pad next. I hope you are having an easier night than me, Nicole!

I'm new to navigating in this site, but I found what looked like a 'friend' request and sent it to you, Nicole. My name is actually Klisa...Lisa with a K in the front of it (lisawithak). Ohhh, I'm so jealous that you had sushi! I've been dying for something to CHEW on! I was on the phone laughing with my Mom about how I was going to wrap a steak in a pair of nylons so that I could chew on it to get the flavor but still maintain the 'liquid only' diet because I wouldn't be able to swallow any of it. Hahaha! I have to be at the facility at 10:30 am tomorrow (PT), so my surgery will probably be 12:30-1:00...hopefully things aren't delayed much... surgeries always seem to get backed up. Rheaosun - 35 lbs in 9 weeks?! That's so wonderful!!! I was only planning on taking a couple days off of work...surgery tomorrow, return to work on Tuesday, HOWEVER, I work from home (programmer), so I don't have to move much at all to work. We'll see how it goes.

My surgery is tomorrow too! I figure tomorrow will be fairly easy to get through because I'll be groggy from the anesthesia, but I hope the rest of the days the first week go well. I've been doing the 'liquid' thing yesterday and today in preparation and have been thinking 'oh it's no problem getting in that protein' but right now I'm doing a couple of good sized shakes and after the surgery it'll be hard to fit both those shakes in if I can only kinda sip it...We'll see how it goes...Good luck to you Nicole!

I have Anthem BCBS. I was told you need to have a BMI of 40 or a BMI of < 40 but with other issues such as high BP, high chol, diabetes, etc. I had to select one of BCBS's 'centers of excellence' facilities. I live in So Ca, about an hour from LA, so I selected Cedars Sinia. I have a BMI of 39 and high BP, high chol, high trigs so I was able to get my approval OK without receiving any initial denials...