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Hello! I just had surgery on Wednesday Nov. 17th and let me tell you... I was not quite ready for the amount of care that I need! I would suggest that you find a place to stay with family that can be available when you need help sitting up and getting out of bed to use the restroom or keeping you on schedule with meds and fluids. I haven't been able to bend over so if my undies fall down, I need my hubby to help me out. When I first got home, I couldn't even sit down without assistance because it hurt so bad! Now, I can sit up on my own, sit on the toilet by myself and even wipe pretty well (still can't bend enough in the middle to wipe well if I have had a BM). I know.. TMI.. but I kinda of wish I would have known that it would be this hard! I am lucky that my husband has been here. I called my sister Saturday night and she came to "babysit" me and I made my husband go out with friends. I have a hard time accepting help from others and even after 3 kids- this is the first time my husband has had to wipe up anything because of me! Walking is painful and as much as I hate it, I try to do more and more each day so that hopefully I can get back to being me quicker! I hope I am not scaring you.. I am so happy about the surgery. Moving at first is most painful. I have not had anything but fluids for a week now and I am actually in good spirits and feel good. No hunger although my stomache rumbles all the time (pretty sure it is gas!). I really believe that this is the very best option for me and will allow me to have a much better life! I just have to give up a little dignity for a bit! I am going to give you my list of things I never thought I would have to ask my family for help with... but do. To wipe me after I peed. To wipe me after I had a BM. To clean up the dribbles off the toilet when the only way I could wipe was to stand up. To help me dry off each and every roll and between my legs when I got out of the shower. To put down a towel when I didn't sit far enough back on the toilet and ended up peeing on the floor. To change my undies because of the left over pee that I didn't get off. To empty my drain and strip the tubing so no blood clots would be there. To ask my hubby to put a pad in my underwear because my cycle is off. To have to pee at 3a and need to wake up my hubby to help me sit up and then stand. To change the gauze on my drain hole. To help me ensure my meds are on time and that I have plenty of protein options and fulids near me at all time. Again, I am very lucky and my husband is very supportive. It sounds like your family is behind you on this so you will want to figure out now where you can be for that first week that you are out of the hospital so that you can rest and stretch and walk and drink without having to over do it. Sorry if this is to much info.. just want to make sure that you aren't surprised later on! Best wishes!

As usual, you folks have come through for me. I read a couple of responses about ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. This morning, with my legs sooooo stiff from doing a school holiday fair (I am a caterer, among other things) I decided to just do it. I took ONE naproxen sodium (aka, Aleve)...usually, I take two. I followed it with a Tums. It made a huge difference -- I am less stiff and creaky, more able to move without pain -- that I feel it was worth it. I'm going to try very hard not to get into a habit of doing this, and stick with the Tylenol wherever possible. But if I start behaving like I'm 100, I think I'll go for the little blue pill! Also, I think that, for the first time, I may have overeaten just a little at lunch. I had some mushroom soup (pureed a bit more than when I first made it, with an immersion blender), four little crackers with some cheese, and 1/4 c. homemade applesauce. It was delicious, but the last three mouthfuls of applesauce felt like 'stuffing' -- and I have been burping ever since. So (and yes, this is a bit TMI) is burping one of the indicators that you've overdone it?? Best, Deb WS

Wow did THAT suck! LOL I've got 6ccs in a 10cc band and am feeling pretty good restriction and pretty satisfied for a couple of hours. I haven't had any issues with getting stuck before and even though I try to be careful with my bites and chewing...sometimes one gets down without really really getting it chewed as well as I know it should. I've been able to eat veggies, chicken breast etc with no issues, so I must admit I had gotten a little cocky that it wouldn't ever happen to me. Yesterday, I was eating a piece of turkey lunch meat and it wasn't that big of a piece. While chewing, this actually WAS one that I chewed up well. Well, when I swallowed..oh boy. I could feel that sudden stuck feeling in my chest that wouldn't clear. I actually started to panic! I wasn't like I was choking..but BOY was it uncomfortable. I started trying to swallow to get it down and burping (I guess this is PB'ing and sliming???) Walking....squaking around like a chicken with my arms, Finally.......TMI...here it comes!! My body was having NONE OF THAT.... and I ended up spitting up. Cockiness...GONE. Lesson learned. I don't EVER want that to happen again if I can help it. What a HORRIBLE feeling! BLECH!

Morning Gang! I am packed and ready to roll. I guess I will get the"pat down" today. DH always does because of his knees. My traveling son called this morning and asked if I was ready for a cavity search. I told him it shouldn't be any worse than a colonoscopy. He said EEEWWWW.....TMI. The joke was on him. The weather here is great......same as Vegas only humidity. I lost another lb, but found it. I haven't been able to go to the gym this week.....I have walked. I will be getting serious when I get back. Okay peeps........I'll post on Friday night! I have my phone so you can always text me. Love Y'all!!!!!!

I did, but pretty pricey and no guarantee it would work for me. Then... we always have to think about... where is it going to be stored, and one review said it weighed 60 lb!! And I'd have to use it outside, so there would be a lot of winter days that I couldn't use it, and I'd feel conspicuous hanging upside down out on my patio!! But, I appreciate you thinking of solutions!! I do have a pain clinic appt now... Dec. 1st, and they will probably do an epidural block/injection, that day. Unless they can prove that you knew about it and didn't disclose it, I think they're up a creek without a paddle! I agree... they're blowing smoke! We had people try to put the screws to us twice. First time they just made us hire someone to service the furnace because they didn't think it was working right. There was NOTHING wrong with it. That was our fault for letting them move in w/a rental agreement before closing. Then they started nit-picking! The second threat was when we sold the next house. That time we DID disclose that one of two ovens was not working and they threatened to sue us over that and a dishwasher they insisted was faulty when it was only a few months old! We ignored the threats of lawsuits and nothing ever materialized. Scallops sound wonderful. Earl hasn't bought any in a long time. I may have to bug him about getting some! I said he fixed salmon last night, but I forgot it was grilled steelhead. Looks just like salmon. I think it was even better than salmon. He fixed spinach and balsmetti rice with it. I know I spelled that wrong! Can't remember how to spell it. Beading teacher sick today so no beading class. But we did bead on Wanda's porch for a few hours yesterday. I thought we were going to do that again today, but no one is over there so I'm vegging w/my computer and watching TV! TMI coming: That stuff I told you about that the gyn dr prescribed for me is really making my "lady parts" sore so I am going back to see her on Thursday. I haven't used it since Sunday and it still hurts to sit! That's just not right. It has some testosterone in it and I think that's the problem. And just as I suspected, tender nipples from dropping the Evista. Ointment for my back from the neuro guy doesn't really seem to help. But... I'm coping with all these things!! LOL! Zoey and I going up to the beauty shop in a little while so Pat can cut my hair.

Well...Janet, you were right. Not the prep that I was supposed to do. I was by no means cleaned out and did not have the "urge" at all as I stated till 11pm. Went a couple of times and did not even go this morning b/4 I left house. (TMI...sorry) They did not give me all the instructions. They did do the procedure (after a couple of hours of very harsh lax trying to get me cleaned out) and had one pollyp and filled me with LOTS of gas due to not doing the correct prep. The doc's nurse sent me one page on instructions with the 15th of Nov as the day to do them. Well, came to find out the big blue folder they send to patients was omitted from my instructions. I even called his office yesterday and asked about their prep sheet. Anyway, correct was was to not eat anything after midnight on the 13th (Sat), do the prep I did yesterday with Miralax and dulcolax and then do the regular harsher prep stuff starting at 8am yesterday. I'm good to go for 5yrs and I am thinking I will be travelling to the clinic in Alexandria for that. It's done. Phyll...have not had the chance to try the chicken yet but thinking that tomorrow I will make it. I always stand my chickens up in a roasting pan when I do them. I open a beer and shove it up the cavity. I have a similar recipe for a BBQ roast chicken that is slow roasted that I do the beer thing with. Also do it on the grill that way. I am thinking I will like the combination of herbs/spices in this recipe you posted. Thanks. As far as going to church...I've been missing it. We never missed a Sunday for years and years and we had something (bad...preist sexual abuse thing) go on in one of our local Cath churches and both DH and I walked with the intention of finding a diff church but could never get him to go. When we married I told him that I would not go to church alone...wanted and needed to go as a couple. Long story short...missed going, missed the involvement I used to have and the social aspect of it also. As far as FIL goes, we will be close enough to him in AZ that we can see him a few times a week. He is going back to his old neighborhood and still has some friends there. He is as spry as they come for his age. He could pass for 65 yrs old. Jodi...thanks for the holiday tips. Arlene...have a good trip. Make the best choices possible and just enjoy yourself. TX...nice to hear of how much movement you have in the shoulder. Keep it going. Linda...I think the pouch test should be an annual requirement with a banded person and also it can be such a good thing for struggling bandster to help them get back to the basics. Miss you. Lori...if you ever do get to MPLS for some reason, I would have no problem making the 4 hour trip to have lunch or to shop. MOA and I would take you just up the road to my fav shopping center. Gotta go take a few laps around the yard. They blew me up like a nickle balloon and pretty uncomfortable. Need to get rid of it. BTW...a big thanks to all for listening to my B&Ming yesterday and this morning. Loves

Apples.......how's it going......I hope everything comes out ok. If you a$$ starts stinging use Neosporin. Might be TMI, but hey prepping can be miserable. Lori, Okay, I'll cut out oatmeal too. I will start on eggwhites tomorrow, but then for several days I will be in Vegas. What you eat in Vegas.......just saying......lol Melissa, I am so glad you got an unfill so your gut can heal. Journal or you will start eating too much. Sndy....sorry for the crud. Get better soon! Juile, how are you? Laura.....saw the pics on FB...Nels is such a cutie pie! Laurak.....walked lately? Linda......how's the FM pain. New front coming in today.....YUK! I need to move to a desert. Janet.....glad you checked in. Joyce......home yet? Eva....are you gone again? Phyl, how's the back pain? Sorry if if missed anyone today. I changed my menu. Gotta finish eating those dang Lean Cuisines I bought.

Hey Everyone! I had my second fill a few weeks ago and it was to tight so I had a slight unfill... Once I got the unfill I was doing great! Since Friday it seems my band has a mind of its own!!! I am having trouble keeping solids down... But not all the time... sometimes i can keep it some times i cant.. fluids go down perfectly (so i dont think it is a slip) but i just dont know if when i first pb'd if i should have went on liquids for a while... also (i know TMI) it seems i have had a lot more gas/constipation lately. Does anyone know if that can affect your band tightness? any help would be great... thanks!

I waas just banded on Nov. 9th. Still feel very tight and uncomfortable. Just had first bowel movemet in 10 days! Pebbles, I know, TMI, but had to see if this is common? When can I start more solids?

im 5 weeks post-op today and have only lost 17lbs. I was down 15 lbs at 2 weeks post-op, at 2.5 weeks i had to get IV fluids which made me gain 5 lbs. i keep looking at everyones weightloss that had surgery after me and most have lost way more than me. Im tracking my protein, carbs and calories trying to keep it around 500-600 cals, 60 protein and under 30 carbs. i know I'm a slow loser but to see my scale only move .4 in a week and I hardly eat anything just makes me want to cry. Im having problems when i first get to work, the past 3 days i damn near past out while dealing cards and have to go sit down for a 10 mins and then im fine. not sure whats causing this my mom thinks low blood suger. TMI- Im also having problems with BMs Im lucky to go once a week and then its not much that comes out. Ive tryed maralax doesnt help, 4 days of exlax in a row never went.

im 5 weeks post-op today and have only lost 17lbs. I was down 15 lbs at 2 weeks post-op, at 2.5 weeks i had to get IV fluids which made me gain 5 lbs. i keep looking at everyones weightloss that had surgery after me and most have lost way more than me. Im tracking my Protein, carbs and calories trying to keep it around 500-600 cals, 60 protein and under 30 carbs. i know I'm a slow loser but to see my scale only move .4 in a week and I hardly eat anything just makes me want to cry. Im having problems when i first get to work, the past 3 days i damn near past out while dealing cards and have to go sit down for a 10 mins and then im fine. not sure whats causing this my mom thinks low blood suger. TMI- Im also having problems with BMs Im lucky to go once a week and then its not much that comes out. Ive tryed maralax doesnt help, 4 days of exlax in a row never went. Any advice?

Hey Gang You know what Karla - I bet it is lack of water - I haven't been too good lately about my water.. Got some capisain cream - don't put it on the back of your knees - and make sure you wash your hands VERY VERY VERY GOOD before going potty and wiping ;0) - it was a little warm down there ;0) tmi Phyl - I went to Desert Ortho - last yr about my knee - they did an mri and never called me.. I got some drinkable gulosmosnae (sp) I will see if that helps. Candice - I'm tight too - had 2 eggs this a.m. pre-gym - then came home went to target & marshalls (didn't buy any clothes) came home and had popcorn and it's sitting there.. I was going to have green salad w/chicken & avocado - but it will be a while - I think it's lack of water in my case - I think that I was tight before when I wasn't drinking enough .. Phyl Your freind Jackie - is super woman - how old is she - hell - I'm worn out reading about what she's done/doing.. Karla - I'm not packed but getting an idea of what I am taking - yesterday it was like 84 (humid) lows 70's in playa del carmen- so that's pretty much summer weather - The hard part is knowing what to take - $25 for a ck bag (x2) cking one bag and taking one carry on in case the bag get's delayed Phyl I like El Pollo Chicken - bought their seasoning - it just doesn't come out the same when you make it yourself - hell $4.99 for a Costco ck that's BIG - You can't make it at home for that... I have a rotisserie - and it makes a good chicken - but then I have to clean up the mess.. Candice - I am physically full - but want to eat - proof it's all in our heads - a low calorie day isn't going to kill us ;0).. You are doing very very well - Keep it up !!! Well, work tomorrow - going to be crazy - 14 days till vacation !!!

Shoot I was thinking about it and maybe TMI but I haven't even had sex since the last time the did a PG test for my EDG! LOL I KNOW I am not PG! LOL Thank Tiff!

Aww Shad...hope you're doing better now! Here's what the Mayo Clinic says about dumping. It's not something I've ever had. On the first day of a rapid diet change, like going from a carb loaded diet to no carbs or vice verse, within hours I just get (warning TMI) explosive diarrhea and my body will clean itself out but none of the other side effects they talk about with dumping. .

Yeah Christie. Way to keep the party jumping Melody: had a crazy day. Yesterday sucked on a piece candy just to get nasty taste of mouth. I was on liquids. Well just as soon as I did that had to run to toilet and no not puke--the other end sorry TMI. Well today I got up to make some chilli for a luncheon later that day. I got so queasy and a little dizzy. I thought maybe since I have not been getting in a lot of calories, maybe I was just weak plus I had not eaten or drunk a shake? So I went and got a Dannon Greek yogurt. I ate it and a few more minutes later back in the bathroom followed by being cold and weak. Tried to eat a devil egg later--back to the bathroom. Finally tried the chili I had with ground chicken. Just about 1/3 of a cup. Finally it stayed in me! Was this dumping? The shakes I had been drinking had no sugar.

Hey there fellow nuts. I ended up helping a friend at her holistic fair today, in order to prep, I hate a shake in the morning and bought an Isopure to keep my protein up. I didn't get home until 5:30 and got some of my chili and chewed it well. Probably not enough but I did my best, seeing as I was starving. I must make a note that eating when super hungry should not be done. I am glad to keep fluids up though. So that was good. Oh and about this TMI topick Bowels? Mine are still not working right. I need to take something. Nearly 11 days post op you would think things would be moving right. UGH, I think if I could use the bathroom I might loose 3 pounds!

I actually have another name on this forum but I cant post this information there because my husband reads it. Just a quick note about myself, I have lost 100% of my excess weight and have a BMI between 21 and 22. I am very happy with my size and weight. My husband hates my new body. He calls me bony and hates the fact that my boobs are gone. He says my pelvis is sharp and hurts when we have sex. We fight all the time and I am afraid we are headed toward a divorce. Anybody else have these problems?

Hi All Well I seem to have plenty of restriction and can only really eat cuppa soup (chicken mainly) as it stays down! Have tried solid food and it just doesn't want to know. My usual staples have gone out of the window and I am having difficulties in the toilet area (TMI!) Anyway biggest difficulty is getting the water down. It has stopped pooling now and just lots of gurgling. I am taking it that this is a sign of restriction? So tried drinking yogurt a couple of days ago and that was ok so shall start to put the pureed fruit back in as really need to get something in me. Lost a 1/2 lb and 1 inch this week so definately starting to get to the plateau. Don't feel that I want to go fo another fill just yet. What do others think? Have a good day all.

Hey Irene -- so sorry you went through this -- but I'm really glad it had a happy ending. I was slightly lactose intolerant before surgery and now am REALLY lactose intolerant -- won't go near the stuff. It will just come out really fast (I know, I know - TMI). And good for you to recognize that you were getting back into some bad habits. Let us know how your liquid diet goes. Feel better soon!

I wanted to share a note about weight gain during the surgery. As a few posted before, the fluid from surgery makes you GAIN weight when you get it, so don't be sad or look at the scale for a while! I knew I would gain fluid, also since I missed a few doses of diuretic meds during/after the surgery. I gained TWELVE POUNDS when I got home- and this is after almost no calories for two days! So far I have lost two of those pounds (TMI- peed them right out, ha ha). It will take some time for the rest of the liquid to go away- I can feel a lot of it in my gut, etc. Even more TMI- my main incision (I have five- the big one is right above my bellybutton) is definitely worse than the others, and last night there was a lot of bloody drainage out of it. Hopefully this is normal, and it seems to have calmed down. Not fun cleaning that off the floor through :rolleyes2: I'm sure this happens to a lot of other people, so I think we should just not look at that scale (or realize it's all fluids!). I have to say I think I have more pain than some others on here, along with a killer headache- I think maybe it's just the different ways we are affected by surgery, and how much they have to dig in there to do the surgery. I have to take two vicodin every four hours just to manage. I found that instead of grinding them and putting them into a spoonful of yogurt, it actually tasted way less bad to just chew them a bit and swallow with water. It is lovely here in MI today so I walked outside, slowly, for half a mile. Being outside was a relief! I hope the rest of you are doing well!

Good idea- maybe I will steal all of the pillows from the couch and put them on the bed. heh. Elevation really does help. I"ve been very active tonight with moving around and especially using the breathing exerciser. This is extra important since I have asthma. (TMI alert) when using it, and then coughing like we are supposed to, it felt impossible, but I did cough up some nasty chunks of goo. That goo is really important to get out, and it surprised me that it was in there- so there's some motivation to use that device! I've been working hard at it and it seems to be paying off. I know tomorrow will be better. Thanks so much to all on here- having these boards to refer to has been a lifesaver!!

So I had my Psych evaluation this morning, I would love to hear how you felt about yours, mine had the "tests" pencil and paper but also a 45 min conversation that felt like 2 hrs. She asked where I was raised then went on to how many times I cry then on to something else then something else then she asked me if I knew what it would take for me to live after surgery and keep the weight off why I felt I could not do this without the surgery...WELL...how do you answer that without giving TMI!!! Lady I need a freaking stop button! The she blurts out of nowhere: "You are too hard on yourself aren't you?" I don't even know what to tell this lady at that point but thank God it ended. I really find therapy interesting but is it normal for them to pick and poke like that, I think I would rather journal or talk to a close friend. Here is my favorite question: "Do you think you overeat to fill an emotional need?" I consider myself deep but seriously I didn't know what to say I don't know what my emotional pit is this was way too deep girls that's all I can say. This Psych eval was exhausting... can't wait to see the surgeon on the 23 of November. Hope everyone is having a great week!

Hi, I had my sleeve done on Oct 15. I am currently down 20 lbs, but have been having constipation issues. I just started mushies, only eating them 1 meal a day. I can eat a half of scrambled egg, and 2 oz of refried low fat Beans. I have a total TMI question, has anyone ever gotten to the point where they are in so much intestinal pain and then all of a sudden all heck breaks loose. On Friday, I was in the bathroom for over an hour non-stop pooping. It was so painful. is this normal??? thanks, Patti

My notes said to take "colace" 2 days before, but um, I'm super-regular (TMI I know) so I opted out. I had no problems whatsoever during surgery or after. My NUT recommended taking Benefiber powder but honestly I guess I will wait until it is a problem before I start messing with whats working. I think it tends to be a problem after you start doing the high protein/low carb thing...we'll see though.

Hello guys. I am great full tom have this forum to learn so much. I am 5 months post op and have lost almost 60 lbs. I find that I am not losing as much as I used to and I go into constant stalls. I know its my diet. Sometimes I am not able to eat what I should and whey Protein gives me diarrhea.. i know TMI... Im hoping that someone can give me some encouragement or a meal plan to follow so that I can kick this weight loss off again. I just hope I am not alone in this... It feels crazy when you dont lose weight. Please help.... Thank you, Swany