dcowens

I haven't progressed to mushy foods yet but in my opinion I wouldn't try the corned beef. It's not a healthy food, and I'm only suggesting this because you're worried about gaining weight. =) I am excited for the mushy phase. I plan on buying instant mashed potatoes because I wont want to make them homemade every day. I am also going to buy canned chicken and make chicken salad with a teeny bit of mayo and some fat free italian dressing. It's one of my favorite foods, and it's healthy. =)

YOUR STORIES ARE ALL INSPIRING! Congratulations to all of you that have lost weight and become pregnant and best wishes to those that are trying to conceive!

Don't get discouraged, this is a learning experience. I wouldn't do the corn or noodles again. Stick with liquids even if it means little texture for your palate =( I had some blended and strained bean with bacon soup yesterday (I was banded the 25th) and it was nice to have SOME texture again. My list of foods I can eat also include 'liquidy oatmeal' if you're interested, try that as well. =)

@Tori (happygirl65) thank you very much lovely!!!! You'll do great yourself. I cant wait to eat regular food and get this diet and exercise thing started!

Hey Cliff! Congrats on your band! I had my band surgery on the 25th and I'm so happy I got it. I'm still very sore, but I'm excited. The left is where the port is placed, and the pain may be because they suture the port onto your muscle there. It may also be a gas pain. I know you think it doesn't feel quite like that but you'd be surprised how many things feel different just within the first few days of being banded. My ideals and advice are to just take it easy and try to relax. Get up and down gently and rest when possible. When you do get those cramps though you might try walking a little bit. If it's gas that you're feeling walking will move that gas bubble and help some of that pain. I have gone through a whole box of gas-x strips now that desolve in your mouth and I tell ya they're great. =) I hope I helped a little bit and I wish you the best! -Dani

Congratulations! I was banded on the 25th. I wish you the best with your journey.

OMNOMNOMNOM! man does that sound delicious! I'm still on post-op liquids, but i'm going to promise myself i'll try that when I can have solids!

think that the way fluffy took the post was as if elfie had said "well why do you THINK it didn't work for you" as if she was saying she didn't actually know if her band wasn't working for her. The way that she had actually mean the post was "why do YOU think the band didn't work for you" maybe it was just her way of trying to be supportive and figure out what it was that was causing her problems.

This is a little off topic, but I had a hiatal hernia, too. I'm 20 years old and was banded 3 days ago. I could not have been more shocked to have had a hernia. I didn't even know what a hernia was! I don't feel any difference, and I wasn't very reflux-y before, but I'm glad it was fixed. Just the sound of having my stomach hanging out of my diaphram makes me a little sick. Haha. My 21st birthday is in March and by then I will be able to have solids. I plan on taking a trip to Las Vegas to go to the Olive Garden and go to my first club. =) I will be ordering a glass of wine with dinner and I'm excited although it's a ways away.

It doesn't sound like you're getting enough. I was told to have 300 cal per meal 3x a day and that I could save 100 cal for drinks that I consume. SO, that would mean I can have 900-1000 a day.

So all day today I've been having trouble getting my liquids down. I can take little sips but in the beginning of the day it was very painful and it put a terrible pressure in my stomach. I attributed it to gas still. It burned and felt kinda like I was swallowing a ball. It was worse with my tomato soup that I made myself for my first post-op meal. I don't know whether this is normal because I haven't heard anything about this. Any advice? I would really appreciate it!!!

On my pre-op diet I was only allowed 3 protein shakes, crystal light, water, sugar free jello, and broth. That's it! I wish I could have had veggies or a bar! I lost 20 lbs pre-op and it set me off to a great start. I'm happy now that I did as well as I did on my pre-op diet. I know that you feel like you're starving and I'm sorry that you do; you just need to remember that this has to be done. This is a great test of self control and practice for what's to come with the band.

I have been planning a tattoo that i've wanted for quite a while now, but I'm still waiting to lose the weight before i get it. It will be stars on each of my hips...one with marilyn monroe's face in it and the other with elvis. I love them both. =) I'm getting married in september and I want to look STUNNING in my dress. Especially because a LOT of family will be there that will not have seen me since before I got my band. I want to look good in a bikini and lay out on a beach or at a lake and not be worried about my thighs or fat roll on my tummy. I want to work out daily and not struggle to do so. I want my fiance to be able to carry me in his arms without struggle.

Thanks guys, I am not sure if my surgeon put fluid in my band already. As far as I know my surgery center has told me not to use protein drinks anymore, so I haven't had any protein or anything. I have no MOM but I'm not so sure about taking that either. I called and left a message for my surgery center and I will call back tomorrow to try and ask some more questions.

I'm really really glad that this was posted. This is how I"m feeling right now. I'm excited for when I can actually swallow normally. For some reason lately whenever I swallow anything at all I have this terrible burning pressure in my stomach and I don't know if that's just gas or what. I was told it was. I just need it to go away. lol. I had my surgery yesterday and all day today has been horrible. I woke up SO sore and it definitely hurts when I get up and down. It hurts to stand or to walk. My port site is the only thing hurting anymore. It's terrible pulling pain. I wish I could eat some soup though. I tried some tomato soup today and with every spoonful I had that terrible horrible bloating burning discomfort in my stomach. I hope to God that it will be better tomorrow. I'm going to take this all with a grain of salt and try to believe that the days to come will be better and less painful. I DO not regret getting my band but today and yesterday I have felt as though I may not have made the smartest decision. I'm hoping I did.

I had my surgery yesterday January 25th, 2011. My origional surgery time was 2:00 pm, but they had a cancellation, so the day before I was called and told to be there at 10:30 am for a 12:30 pm surgery. I had to take osmoprep the day before surgery to clean out my intestines for some reason, and was happy when my last dose of that was taken. The next day I woke up at 6:00 am and showered and scrubbed myself down with dial antibacterial soap as instructed taking a good 5 min. on my abdominal area. I packed my bag for the hospital with a robe, my slippers, camera, glasses case, baby wipes, and a few other little things I thought I may need. I headed for the hospital and got there early around 9:45 am and checked in early at 10:00. I was sent to surgery waiting and wasn't called back to get ready for surgery untill 11:45. When I was called back I was made to pee for a pregnancy test, take all of my jewelry off and out, and put on socks and leg pumper-things that help circulate your blood while in surgery. My nurse told me she had heard they felt good, but not once did I feel mine pump. haha. I was given an I.V. in the bend of my elbow and a heparin shot in my belly. I was so nervous about the shot that I may have been more nervous about that than surgery itself. It didn't hurt at all. Not even a little sting for me. =) after another hour of waiting in the surgery prep area my fiance and best friend from high school were all taking pictures and talking when my surgeon, anesthesiologist and 2 nurses that would be in the room came to introduce themselves and be sure that I didn't have any other questions. I asked a few, but everything was all set and I would be heading back. They gave me what my anesthesiologist called a "margarita" and I slurred all of my words together while saying "Wow I didn't even feel that till just now" LOL. They wheeled me back and had me climb onto a table which I vaguely remember. I remember putting my head on what felt like a wooden board or.....something like that, and stretching my arms out to the side. They put a mask on my face and put my feet up against something and asked me if I was ready to take a nap. I remember nodding while my eyes rolled back in my head. My surgery began at around 1:15 pm. (a little behind schedule) and was done at 2:00pm. I didn't wake up until 3:00 and was MISERABLE. I have never been in so much pain. I still had a mask on my face, and I felt that the mask was making it hard to breathe. I couldn't take a deep breath anyways because of the unbearable pain in my stomach when I did. I told my nurse that I was in pain and she kept the morphine coming, but it barely touched my pain. I don't understand why... I was told that once I could tolerate ice chips and urinate that I would be able to leave. I spent from 3-5:00pm in recovery. I was never take to another room or offered any broth or tea or anything lol. I wish. It was rather busy actually. When I finally could get up and put my clothes on my incisions were oozing. =/ They were covered with some dressings and I finished dressing and finished everything needed to go home and drove to a wal-greens to pick up my liquid loritab for the ride home. I also picked up a liquid vitamin and some gas x strips. I lost 20 lbs on my pre-op diet all together, and after coming home from surgery the day of, I had gained 10! My recovery is slow going although this is only day 2 haha. I am in horrible pain still and have gas to get rid of that wont go away. I've tried walking, gas x, a heating pad to my shoulder, (where my gas pain is) and nothing has helped so far. A few little burps...that's it though.

So it's Sunday already and that means I make the 4 hour journey to Phoenix later this evening! I'll be meeting up with an old friend and staying in a Motel for that night at the next night. My surgery is Tuesday at 2:00 pm and check-in is at 12:00 noon. =) I cant believe that 8 months of hard work to get this lap band is finally paying off! I've been picturing myself thinner and healthier and more active for a LONG time and I am SO thankful that I have been lucky enough to have everything go through with my surgery! I'll be taking a robe, slippers, chapstick, tampons (i was advised to bring them just in case), some baby wipes, a camera, a hair tye, my incentive*sp* spirometer I was given at the hospital during testing, and of course my fiance and friend. I AM SO HAPPY!!!!! I can be healthier for my son! I can be thinner on my wedding day! I can be confident in everyday life! I may not know all of you, or any of you personally, but I want each and every one of you to know that you're doing great! Whether you're going through the motions with your Doctor to have the surgery, pre-op dieting, post-op recently, or for years! We should all be proud that we've made a commitment to even get the band! I pray that my surgery and recovery will go well as well as everyone else being banded on Tuesday or thereafter! Thank you ALL for your advice, support, words of wisdom, and stories of encouragement! One way or another your posts or replies have helped someone, somewhere! Love, Dani.

@Dora, Thank you and I know how difficult that liquid diet is. I'm still on mine today and tomorrow. I have some family in OR. Beautiful place. I'm excited about the energy as well. I cant wait to go play soccer with my little boy when he's bigger and I'm littler and be able to actually play with him. =) Your surgery is not too far away! Just keep in mind that you'll need to have this kind of strength and will power with liquid diets after your lap band is in! Now is good practice. It's awesome that you're starting your journey, too and you've come pretty far already! GREAT JOB!

Your family sounds like a wonderful one! How sweet of your little girl! You'll be alright I'm sure, and me, too. =) Sometimes I guess when going through with something like this you need reassurance. Even if that comes from your babies! I'm making sure to bring with me the stuff you mentioned plus some period supplies. My Doctors office actually told me to bring them because it's fairly common I guess for women to start there menses at the time of surgery?!?!!? Anyhow. I cant think of anything else I would bring. I'm not taking any of my liquid diet stuff because I'm sure they'll have that. (I'm only staying for a few hours after anyhow) You'll do great! CHIN UP!