ocbutterfly

Hey! We got the surgery the same day! I flubbed over the past weekend and was suprised to see I could tolerate "normal" food fairly well. HOWEVER, I'm back on track. I get to start eating soft Protein starting tmrw. What I was told by my nurtionist is to eat a serving size portion of either of the following throughout the day: high protein greek yogurt a cheese stick [doesn't matter what kind] wrapped up in a lean chicken or turkey breast lunch meat slice = at least 14 gram of protein. 1 Egg White or Hard/Soft boiled Egg 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese [7 grams of protein] 1 can of chopped chicken breast with 1 tbs of light mayo thos are just some ideas....

I wasn't expecting anything and actually meant the "thanks". In all honesty, I did want to come off defensively after reading a couple posts, but it all came down to the clear and obvious fact that I should not test my band, no matter how curious I am. The truth is, I do have the tendancy to self sabotage and while I didn't like what I read [at times] as far as some of the posts go, I had to realize it was the truth. After some time off of the boards and really thinking about it, my confession and the responses [negative or mild] helped me get back on track anyway. What have I done to ruffle your feathers?

ok, like a BAD BAD BAD Bandster, I decided to push the envelope and test my limit. I'm about 13 days post op and on Fri I decided to see how much food it would take for me to feel full. I ate... in my opinion... a lot. I was able to eat chicken [grilled on a BBQ] just fine. Beef jerkey just fine. Pretzel Thins [ i was scared to try but did so anyway] just fine. chips and Salsa...just fine. I even drank Water with the food and still nothing! I just would feel full, not overtly full. WTH? Nothing's been stuck and I've had no urge to puke when I was eating and drinking what I thought was more than what I was permitted to. It's freaking me out to the max! Granted, I did not eat all these things at one sitting, it's been throughout this weekend because Soup and the shakes have driven me crazy, but still. I was expecting to not survive without puking or feeling some sort of pain.... Not a darn thing has happened. I'm going to share this with my Surgeon tomorrow [Mon] and see what the big deal is.... I want a fill, but am not allowed to have one until about 4 weeks from now :puke: my little experiment is OVER. But I found this to be so strange. Has anyone else been able to eat just fine so soon? BTW, I was supposed to start on soft Proteins [i.e. eggs, cottage cheese and lunch meat] on Wed.

:thumbup: Indeed, thank you :laugh:

Ok. Thanks for everyone's opinion's/lectures, but I just want to be clear on one thing. I was not gorging myself silly or eating huge amounts of food. On that note, I'm back doing what I had been doing [shakes].

all i know is i feel better that i'm not alone. i screwed up myself for the past two days and giving myself a swift kick in the ass to stop the madness.

nearly everyone that i've told had the nerve to tell me i was making a mistake :tongue2: psh, tell that to all the things that i've missed out on because i was/am overweight. im 5'3 and also started out at 230 and people, even my surgeon, said i carried my weight well and didn't look like it. forgive me, but i thought they were full of it! i thought they were [God bless em] just trying to spare my feelings. pish posh. i know how being jumbo sized has affected me all my Life and i'm at a point were i'm ready to get healthy...though my PCP said "your suprisingly in good health" <--- thanks Doc. i just would like to be thinner and go for daily runs and wear clothes i've only dreamed of. [i.e. stylish stuff, not hoochy junk] and i've been dieting and doing exercising programs since i was 9 years old! i want my goal weight to be 130lbs an people have the samae reaction "omg that's disgusting!" :crying: yeah. sure. we'll see.

:tongue2: i myself, just want something solid to munch on. i've realized i've been isolating myself because it is difficult to be around people who are eating or be around things i'd like to eat. it's damn near torture when my roomies bring my fave [chinese food] and the smell seeps to my room. awful. i just want it to be the 13th so i can find out what i'm permitted to eat because this is just not fun. it's tough, but i just keep reminding myself "this is what i signed up for. you bought the ticket, now ride the ride."

:crying: i want to eat :sad: i'm still stuck on Protein and jello's until the 13th. this part sucks just as much as the pre op stuff did good ideas though and i'm looking forward to a small piece of chicken or a forkfull of mashed potatoes for goodness sake! :tongue2:

thanks Brian, i'm glad too! it could have turned into full on bowel obstruction which could have meant another surgery :wink2: i initially thought it was a hernia cause the pains were soooo bad. glad it wasn't that either :/ as for my job, *sigh* im afraid the pay isn't what i would like it to be. i know managment likes me a lot though so i'm hoping i can continue to get promoted through the company and eventually get to examiner [people who actually pay the medical claims] to make a few extra hourly $. sadly, our examiners are treated just as badly. they have been on this forced overtime for almost 3 years :smile2: it's....unfortunate. i came in as a grunt, a gopher, a "sh*t position" as one of my coworkers put it. i came in as a claims clerk and the pressure was intense and the pay was crap because i had only 1 year of previous work exp. :mad2: im considered "clerical" which is the bottom of the totem pole. BUT! i was promoted within a year and half to Data Entry Processor and the next place to get promoted to is Examiner. i'm movin on up i suppose. i just have to bust my hump to prove myself which isn't an issue for me. i'm willing to work hard in order to benefit myself. the benefits aren't much better either. pay an arm and a leg to be able to have them. when i was hired nearly almost 3 years ago, i was paying $40 for my medical insurance. when 2010 came around i was given a choice to stay within my own medical group [the one i work for] for $60 a paycheck, or i can stick with my PCP i currently had and pay $80 a paycheck. i liked my PCP an didn't want to lose her. im forking out the $80. besides, if i would have went with my own employer as my medical group, my medical claims would hve been paid by my own coworkers! no effing way! they don't need to know my problems lol! however, they did offer a VERY good HMO plan, which is Anthem Blue Cross/California Care. they do have bariatric benefits and the whole process lasted about 3 months. i got approved within a day of submitting the Authorization. the medical insurance is about the only thing i love about my job lmao. the medical group i have {St Jospehs Affiliated Phys.] is great. very speedy auths and referrals. the vision and dental are so-so. not too bad but not the best our there either.

:smile2: im in a lot of pain all of a sudden. i suspect something is wrong in the area of the belly button incison. when i lie down, there is no pain, but when i move or walk or stand and arch my back or bend side to side while standing i get very sharp pains in the area beneath my belly button. it...just hurts... i think i'll sadly be making a trip to the E.R. tonight. just thought i'd ask if anyone else has experienced this.

me too! thanks doll

not exactly the band.... any sort of abdominal surgery can slow down your intestines. that's what really caused it. my intestines didn't really get back into motion after the first few days which they should have been doing..... this was taken from webMD Font Size A A A Ileus Ileus (adynamic or paralytic ileus) is a type of bowel obstruction that occurs when the intestines stop moving normally even though there is nothing blocking them. This prevents the digestion of food and the movement of waste out of the body. Ileus can also be called a nonmechanical bowel obstruction. Ileus most commonly occurs after abdominal surgery, though it has many other possible causes. Symptoms of adynamic ileus include: Cramping abdominal pain. Bloating. Nausea and vomiting. Vomit may be green or dark. Minimal or no passage of gas or stool. This combination of symptoms requires immediate medical evaluation. Treatment for ileus begins with intravenous (IV) fluids and electrolytes. This treatment helps to keep blood pressure at a normal level and to provide some nutrition. A tube placed in the nose and down into the stomach removes digestive fluids, which helps relieve and prevent pain and bloating. When ileus occurs after surgery, the intestines usually move normally after about 1 to 3 days.

Hey Brian, Yes indeed, 12 hours I work for an IPA/Medical Group in the Medical Insurance business. It's not standard; it's forced overtime. A little something they like to call "mandatory". When the economy took a horrible turn my COmpany downsized drastically. I work in the Claims Dept as a Data Entry Processor, however there are days when I cover for the Mailroom, Provider Dispute Resolution Dept. and Claims Clerk position. *sigh* and people tell me I should be happy I have a job :mad2: pff, i am, but it's a huge slap in the face when they heedlessly take advantage of you because you "should be happy you have a job in this economy". uh. yeah, sure.whatever. excuse my bitterness :wink2: but i work because I have too and while it's a "comfortable" job, it's one that drains you completely. I suppose I wouldn't be so nasty about it if I were able to make boo-ku bucks for signing away my Life. As for Facebook, I heard it was a good film :thumbup: if you go, please do tell what you thought of it.

thanks Group! i went because i just knew something was just not right and i'm sure glad i did. i was admitted after being in the er for about 6 hours. i was x-rayed and had blood drawn out as well as a urine test to try and see what was the problem. after all the investigation the x-ray determined that i was in the beginning stages of bowel obstruction. O.O my body was developing an Ileus which is when your intestines are having a problem with motility [process of moving waste through the digestive tract]. they then hooked me up to an IV and not longer permitted me to have any food or drink. i stayed overnight in the hospital with the nurses giving me pain meds to help ease the killer sharp cramping that was going on in my lower abdominal area which were in full swing by then. i was just discharged from the hospital with the suggestion of one more day off of work and the intructions to continue with the liquid Proteins and broth and walking. I no longer am having the intense pains i was having last night so the treatment def worked. i was ust happy that i didn't have a hernia or full on bowel obstruction. thanks for your concern everyone

Hi Brian! Thanks! dude, this is it for me! i don't want to have an unhealthy relationship with food and while this won't cure my addiction it'll help me look towards another direction. so far so good :] oh man, i go back on Mon too! i kinda feel like :smile2::wink2::sad::biggrin::mad2::biggrin: about going back haha. that's a lot of emotions :biggrin: it's been hard though because we work 12 hour days and while i like the extra money, it sucks because we have no time for anything else. my little one week mini recovery/vacation just reminded me how much time i lose because i spend so much time at work :/ ah well. that's Life i spose. i actually went to see "Let Me In" starring Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloe Moretz and directed by Matt Reeves. i guess it's a remake of a swedish film? none the less i thought the movie was cute. my counterparts were pretty critical and not so enthusiastic but i enjoyed it....however the plot was easy to catch onto :/ and the film was rather long. the acting was very good though! hope those kids continue to act because they have talent and it's refreshing to see that the editing was terrific and the effects were good. in my opinion it's not really a horror film....i thought it was comical though because people were expecting it to be. i saw a grown man try and brace himself for the "jumpy" moments. he was quite literally gripping his arms rests or holding onto the head rest of his seat. overall it was interesting, but predictable i'm afraid. it'll suit a select patient audiance i think.

:biggrin: whhhaaaaaattt!?!?? goodness! well that's unfortunate and highly unexpected i'm sure it'll be a well worth investment i have heard that's it's a good industry to go to because it pays well but it can be difficult to break into. i was taking classes for music production at one point in my educational exp. and my Prof. had been a film editor as well as a music producer. for a project we had to go ahead and edit a radio commercial and also a film scene. to be quite honest, i thought my intentions were good for the film scene but i missed the mark :biggrin: but it was loads of fun and kind of frustrating because you want to set a certain mood for the scene with the music and effects that are to be placed in it. i'm not sure if that's the element you work in post production but it all seems fun to me :biggrin: all i know is i appreciate movies and music a heck of alot more because i got a taste of all the work that goes into it.

it was like that for the first 4 days for me. just now am i able to drink at least 12 oz of the Protein shake that im supposed to be drinking 24 oz of a day[8oz 3x a day]. a big help for me was to sip on broth and eat Jello and take in some sugar free popsicles. i got frightfully sick on the 4th day.on thursday i went to Target which was a huge mistake. i got all headachey and i felt weak so i pushed to sip on the Protein shakes more to try and get some source of nutrients. i also began taking my Vitamins and not overextending myself. i m beginning to feel a bit better and not so "out of it" and im going on my sixth day. hope you feel better soon.

lucky! that sounds like fun to me! awesome! i used to live there! i miss it very much it's chaos here in OC

hey everyone :smile2: down 10lbs so far and i was banded 9/27 super excited but i know this journey may get tough. i went to the movies today and almost broke. the smell of the popcorn and my lack of enthusiasm for my protein shakes/sugar free jello/pops/broth did not mix well. i asked if i could smell the popcorn. i figured if i couldn't much on the stuff i could at least get a good whiff of it. sad isn't it? but alas, i hunkered down and took a few sips of water to help the craving pass along and found myself more interested in the previews than the popcorn within minutes. i think that's what will be the hardest for me along the way; getting through the cravings. here's a tip: try reading veganism books or vegetarian books along this journey. i noticed that when i went through my veggie phase [sadly it was just a phase ] i read up on the stuff and found it alot easier to not overeat and stay away from the unhealthy junk because i was reading information that explained what our bodies truly need and what various factors in our day to day lives [media, association, etc] make us feel we need. i hope to become a veggie again one day, but please don't think im trying to convert you. it really is informative. it's a bit more "aggressive" when it comes to shedding light on the facts of our nutritional needs. just a thought or suggestion for those willing to look into it. good luck fellow Sept. bandsters!

i thought i was the only one! phew! good to know that itching just may be a good sign [that it's healing anyway] even though the itching itself can drive you up the wall :smile2:

yikes! i myself am 4 days post op and feel the same way. good to know it won't be forever :]

City: Anaheim State: California Occupation: Data Entry Clerk for an IPA/Medical Group and part time student. :smile2: