jjades31

I was diagnosed with PCOS back in 2001, along with type 1 diabetes...the weight gain, lack of menstrual cycles, hair growth, dark ring around my neck - the whole 9 yards. I was banded on 10-25 of this year, and I have had a total weight loss of 35 lbs. I have recently joined a gym and I work out 3 to 4 times a week. I am happy that the weight is coming off - I am also happy that once my target weight loss is met, that the chances of my husband and I conceiving are even greater than what they have been. It takes time - but I know that if you stick to it, the results will have been well worth all of the effort. I wish you the best of luck, and I look forward to reading about how everything has been coming along for you I know it is hard - and I know many don't understand what us women with PCOS have to deal with - but if there is anytime you need help, or just someone to listen - I'm hear - I know you can do it...don't get discouraged...you've made it this far

I just had THE worst stuck issue to date 2 days ago - I am most positive it was that the piece of meat I was chewing just did not want to go down. Yes, it feels like a heart attack (or what I would think a heart attack feels like!) - my eyes water, I cough and hiccup and feel horrible. It came back up - but I was in so much pain, not even tiny sips of water helped. I usually get up and walk around with my arms up in the air (if I'm home) and it passes - out in public - that's a whole different story. I will definitely try the papaya emzyme mention....

I was actually really nervous about what I was going to be able to eat, but it really hasn't been hard. Scrambled eggs, cream of wheat, oatmeal, roast beef hash, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes,refried Beans mixed with some salsa and sprinkled with cheese - I also like my refried beans with roasted red and yellow peppers (they become super soft and mushie) I pureed some cannellini beans and added a little bit of pesto, put it in a baking dish, sprinkled with some grated parm - good stuff! I even made an italian chicken stew in my crock pot that had stewed tomatoes, herbs, spices, zucchini, green beans, bone in chicken thighs and breats - cooked it all day and shredded the chicken - then I portioned it out in small containers. And for my sweet tooth, I mix ricotta cheese with some sugar free vanilla syrup and some vanilla extract, and it's like the inside of a canolli :thumbup: The possiblities are endless - you just have to think outside the box. Let me know if any of these things work for you - I'd LOVE to hear your feed back. ~Jacqui

Congrats on being banded - my surgery was on 10-25. I think that each doctor has their own set of rules when it comes to how long diet restrictions are set. I was on Clear Liquids from 10-26 up until 10-30, and now I'm on soft foods. I was actually really nervous about what I was going to be able to eat, but it really hasn't been hard. Scrambled eggs, cream of wheat, oatmeal, roast beef hash, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes,refried Beans mixed with some salsa and sprinkled with cheese - I also like my refried beans with roasted red and yellow peppers (they become super soft and mushie) I pureed some cannellini beans and added a little bit of pesto, put it in a baking dish, sprinkled with some grated parm - good stuff! I even made an italian chicken stew in my crock pot that had stewed tomatoes, herbs, spices, zucchini, green beans, bone in chicken thighs and breats - cooked it all day and shredded the chicken - then I portioned it out in small containers. The possiblities are endless - you just have to think outside the box. Let me know if any of these things work for you - I'd LOVE to hear your feed back. Congratulations and good luck! ~Jacqui

I just had my surgery on Monday, Oct.25 - and I must admit, I'm only 3 days in, and it's hard. I mean, the whole pre-op was hard, and now dealing with the pain is even worse. I understand the depression...I feel it coming on, and I understand the feeling of "how did I let it get this bad?" but you have to remember - we have all made a very important choice, and it's going to take work to get to where we need to be. The spasms I have are killer - and even though every nurse in the hospital said it was gas and it would pass, my doctor assured me that is was the stretching of my sternum that is the painful culprit. Clear liquids, broth, teas, juices, popcicles and Jello (s/f of course) have been my diet, but I'm in so much pain, even with my meds, that I don't have much to begin with. I know it will get better...I look forward to being able to walk, and not all hunched over :0)

I will be getting banded tomorrow at 7:30 am - wishing you all the very best of luck, and looking forward to reading how everyone did!!!

Hello everyone, my name is Jacqui and I am 16 days away from getting the Lap-Band. My surgeon in Dr. John Dietrich, and he is located in Tampa, Florida. This is the very first time I have ever joined any type of support group, written a blog, or started a thread on a forum of any kind. This has been a very long, very hard journey - and I know the toughest part is yet to come. I have a wonderful husband, and awesome friends and family that have been uber supportive, but I can honestly say that none of them truly know what this has been like for me. I have been reading through many of the threads on here and I can finally say (without sounding cliché, I hope) I finally feel...understood. I have so many questions, worries, more questions, and even more worries, that I don't even know where to start. I really look forward to finally being able to talk to people that are at the very beginning of this life changing process, as well as those going through and dealing with the Lap-Band procedure pre and post op. I'm sorry for rambling on - I'm just really excited and looking forward to what's yet to come :biggrin:

so I am 4 days into my liquid diet pre-op, and 7 days away from getting the surgery. The liquid diet has been hard as hell - but I just keep telling myself that I am worth it, and that it will all have such a wonderful payoff, none of this will have mattered in the end. I wish everyone the best of luck, and I would love to be kept posted, because I know it's hard, and I also know what it is to have a support system, but not really because they just truly don't get it. My husband is great - but he just doesn't think sometimes, and it was really hard for me over the weekend, because I refuse to give into temptation, but it didn't make it any easier that while I'm choking down my "awesome" Protein shakes, he's eating McDonald's. I don't know, maybe I'm just super hypersensitive, since I can't eat - but damn...really??? Anyway, I have already lost 8 lbs. since Thursday, and I just keep going...slowly but surely :0)

So I am on day 3 of my pre-op liquid diet...I have to admit, yesterday was by far the worse. Being the weekend and all, I was trying to keep myself occupied, but I was so cranky and grumpy...I have to keep a close eye on my blood glucose because being on this diet means no carbs, and since I take insulin, my sugar can bottom out at any given time. Man - the only saving grace is that since Thursday, I've lost 6 lbs. I keep telling myself I'm worth all of this - all of this is for the greater good...and if was supposed to be easy, it wouldn't be called work, but damn...this is rough.

so I had my pre-op today, and I came home with my mind swimming with all this info and even more super duper excited . I am now exactly 10 days away from surgery and just getting ready for what's to come. Tomorrow is the first "official" day of my twice a day protein shakes and a small high protein low carb meal. I will keep everyone posted as to what shakes I really enjoyed. More to come soon

I am preparing myself for my pre-op tomorrow, and I am excited and nervous...I've been on the hunt for a good protein shake, and I've been taking 2 shakes a day for the past 3 days. Today I've been feeling super blah...not really hungry, but no energy...I know the liquid diet is going to be hard - I know this whole thing is going to be hard...but I have to do it. I was going through all the posts here, and Fluffy - I wish you a speedy recovery. My surgery is scheduled for the 25th, and I can't wait! Please keep us posted as to how things are coming along - I am cheering for you!!! You too Tabitha Lynn...

Let me know what you think of the Optifast shakes...I'm still in search of something that's tolerable...Congrats on your set date - I will be having my procedure done on Oct. 25 I'm new to this site too, and the more I look through, the more questions I get answered, the more support I know I will have. Welcome and good luck to you! I hope to hear back about those shakes

My pre-op is set for Oct.14 and my surgery has been scheduled for Oct. 25 - my 7 year wedding anniversary. There are literally no words for the excitment/nervousness/anxiety that I feel :biggrin: I have been on the search for the high protein/low carb shakes/powders so that I can begin my optifast diet next week. Any suggestions are welcomed - since I am super new to all of this, and I look forward to getting to know the October '10 Bandsters :thumbup: