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Life with Real Restriction... it IS what I asked for, right? It's complicated, I'll say that. :tt2: The first week after the fill, I was doing great, following all the normal band rules, no problems, even eating out at restaurants (but mind you, very small portions). Then suddenly it got much tighter and I wasn't expecting that! Breakfast was going to be cottage cheese with pineapple, but two bites in and I heard gurgling. So, I stopped and ended up with a Protein shake. Later that day, I attempted to eat some leftovers from one of those restaurant visits, and a couple of bites in, gurgling again. An hour and half later, I had thrown up (sorry, TMI) everything from the last 6 hours with stomach acid. Back to liquids for a couple of days -- I was so swollen and tight that even Water was gurgling! Ever since, it's been a battle at most meals to avoid the overactive salivary response. No more PBs, but several near misses. I don't track my calories, carbs, or anything... The only thing I do is to just make sure I get enough Protein by supplementing with a shake a day and maybe a protein bar or protein pudding. I don't want to be a slave to tracking my meals, I just want to eat like a 'Normo'. (Okay, other than the shake and stuff...) However, I also understand that this is perhaps why I don't lose weight at quite the rapid pace some of you do. So, as for a bump in calories, who would know if I don't track them?? :thumbup: Fortunately, brownies are not too much of a weakness and 2/3 of them have nuts to which I'm allergic!:thumbup: It's the cake and ice cream that are more tempting for me. Oh well, one birthday down, three to go. Sorry this got so long... I guess that's what happens when I stay quiet too long. P.S. Congrats, Lynn, on Onederland! I, too, made it there recently, but it's not really the SV I'm waiting for -- I can't wait to report when I've finally lost all my 'pregnancy weight'... and my 'baby' is only almost 9 years old!! :biggrin2:

OH CRAP!!! No pun intended. I realized after I posted that you would be vomiting with a bowel obstruction, so just forget I said that. I do have some scar tissue adhesions in my way lower abdomen from c-sections that sometimes gets "tangled" in my bowels for a few days and hurts like a SOB. I lie on my back and pull on the skin and underlying tissue of my stomach over and over until it breaks up. Sorry. TMI. I am SO glad you're okay. I've been in a meeting for the past two hours and all I could think about was checking the board to see if you were okay! Man, I guess it's obvious that I've lived through having teenagers! Munchkin - I'm so glad that you stand up to doctors. Sometimes my daughter tells me things the doctors have said to her and I just want to scream. What makes them think they're so much better? Nurses are the ones who do all the work. I'm glad you liked "Munchkin and Hutch". We should pitch it to a network. That story about the beagle is so upsetting. People who don't research their doggy choices are so irresponsible. It's not like a sweater that you can just get rid of if it doesn't fit. Crikey.

1. I wont miss not being able to use a normal bathroom stall (always have to use the handicap stall cause I cant wipe in the normal stall. TMI? lol) 2.I wont miss not having anything to wear to weddings. 3. I wont miss every one telling me just go on a diet (like I havent tried every one in the book already) 4. I wont miss avoiding my friends because im ashamed of myself. 5. I wont skip out on theme parks because I can't fit on the rides. 6. I wont miss getting nasty looks in the super market. Just to name a few. LOL!

I was on my period so I told the nurse. Right before they wheeled me into surgery they had me use the restroom to use a new tampon. Sorry for the TMI. They gave me the option of the diaper or new tampon.. I didnt want a diaper lol

Hi Everyone: I had my band put in on April 25th I have had two fills so far am due for another this Thursday. My port is on the left side of my bellybutton. I have had a great deal of pain on my left side in the tummy region but further to the back. I thought it was perhaps I hadn't had a BM but I had a really good one (TMI) today and it still really hurts. I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing this - its quite uncomfy. Any help would be appreciated... Thanks Bandess

Hi Everyone: I had my band put in on April 25th I have had two fills so far am due for another this Thursday. My port is on the left side of my bellybutton. I have had a great deal of pain on my left side in the tummy region but further to the back. I thought it was perhaps I hadn't had a BM but I had a really good one (TMI) today and it still really hurts. I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing this - its quite uncomfy. Any help would be appreciated... Thanks Bandess

Becky you are doing good on the food only suggestion make your unjury with 100% skim milk (more protein) and add it to your Soups instead of water - that's what I did to boost the Protein.. - I don't think I was eating much for the first few day... Hows the other issue - the tmi issue has that gotten any better :redface: Hi Serenity I'm here for you but warning some tough band love coming your way (Love is the operative word) I am with your doctor - if your band is too tight to let you eat regular food then you are abusing it and with that abuse you could be injuring yourself. Also and not to be mean here but what are you accomplishing keeping your band so tight - you are eating around it anyway. The only person you are kidding is yourself - as I keep saying this battle with our obesity is mental - You just gotta get your mind in the game and quit playing games with yourself. I know all about those games - I have been there done that and even convinced myself I wasn't playing head games with myself:lol: That I didn't mind being fat - that I was happy the way I was - I enjoyed my food - couch and tv. Well that frickin couch food and tv were killing me - fatter and fatter - tired all the time - etc - you know the drill. You have started the journey to get healthy by being banded - but that little devil on your shoulder is telling you that your band isn't working - so just eat around it - it's ok you still are eating smaller portions its' ok eat that baked potato loaded with butter and sour cream - cuz that's all you are eating... Wrong !!!! Do you know how much food I have thrown away - You know those new cute snake packs of Cookies - ya 1 bag 100 calories but when you keep going back for one more bag - those 100 calories adds up.. So in the trash - If I can't control it - it goes in the trash - that's is empowering - throwing the crap away - You are a food addict - the addiction is worst than drugs or alcohol as we have to eat food to live - we can't totally abstain .. You have the prayer - now put it into effect in your life. To nite make a grocery list with healthy food choices (no sider foods) clean out the pantry of all the junk foods. Plan healthy meals for the week bf lunch dinner and 2 healthy Snacks - get a little note book or go online and keep a food diary (dailyplate.com) Call the doc's office tomorrow - get a slight unfill so that you can eat hard proteins - Do you do any exercise - if so what - starting tomorrow at least get in a 30 minute walk (you can break it down to 3 10 minute walks if need be) minimum 5 days of the week. If you can go to the gym even better - walk on the treadmill and then we will have you hitting the weight machines. You will weight yourself in the morning and then you will put the scale away til next Monday morning You will eat healthy for the next week - you will log your calories (keep them between 900-1200) you will exercise just for this week you will make this commitment to yourself You will drink your water or crystal lite (64 oz a day) for the next week. Next Monday if you have followed the plan - you will get your 1st 7 day chip for living a healthy lifestyle.. OK so now what to do when that old devil food is calling you. Don't buy the junk = have only healthy low calorie foods to eat (sf healthy choice fudgecicles - sf puddings - air popcorn) Look for a distraction - get on the computer come to LBT - it's open 24/7 - p.m. or email me - I will usually respond that day or the next (depending on the time 3 a.m i will be asleep and getting back to you when i am awake:lol:) If I am gone for a weekend - you have the other ladies here who will help you. -"you all can say - Oh Janet would say to do this or that" Or Oh we know Janet is going to kick our butts if we eat that candy bar and go over out calorie budget We are a team - We are accountable to ourselves 1st and the team secondly. We are all fat chicks battling the little devil on our shoulders telling us it's just to hard to do this - (Yes I still consider myself a fat chick - cuz in my head I will be forever - I Know that I can NEVER NEVER go back to being a couch potato and a foodie or it will come all back on even with the band) Ok other distractions - go clean the bath room - clean out your drawers - your closet - go wash your face and give yourself a facial. If you want to talk privately you can always p.m. or email me by going to my profile - but there really isn't anything you can say that the others here haven't already experienced (we all have done things that are embarrassing - closet eating bingeing etc) Give me one week - you can do that - small goals is what we are after and all those small goals add up to BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS :biggrin: BTW - I will be gone next weekend Friday - Sunday - I have been asked to participate on a lap-band patient advisory panel and I don't have a laptop nor do I have Internet on my cell phone - I don't text - my age is showing :tongue:- I am not one who has to be connected 24/7 -OMW my 13 yr GD carries her cell phone to the bathroom with her - my GS who's 17 is on the computer - house phone talking and texting on his cell.. Information overload for me :tt2: You can do this = just one week at a time ok - I am here for you - and yes some days it will be hard - but you are worth the work - you can do this - you have a brain and soul you have more control than you give yourself credit for.. You can and will do this... I have faith in you.. Hugs Janet

Not sure if you can have it or not, but Melatonin has worked wonders for alot of people! It's natural too! DBF is yawning and practically sleeping 10 minutes after he takes it, and wakes up very refreshed! :sad:(or maybe he's refreshed because we "talk" all night.. tmi, lol.:ohmy::thumbup::thumbup::crying:)

Hello all my name is Doug Steele, I'm from the loveiy town of Roseville Just north of the greatest city in the world (IMO) DETROIT!!!! I was banded Wednesday June 18th by Dr. Hawasli (St. Johns Hospital & Medical Center) Started at 340lbs 6-2-08 (BMI 50.1) Started pre-surgery liquid diet 6-4-08 Surgery at 324lbs. I Feel great!!!!! and I won't know what I weight now because I only weight myself on Wednesdays (also my wife snaps 2 pictures (front;side) SORRY TMI) Good luck to all See you all on the other side Doug

Thank you all so much for your responses. I'm having my surgery on July 2nd (less than two weeks and I'm so scared!) and have this on the list of questions to ask my surgeon on Thursday. I'm hoping he can be slightly flexible with the placement. If this is TMI I apologize, but I'm only 24 and since day 1 I've had VERY large saggy breasts (F cup). I'm so worried about the bra thing because there is NO way I could go without a bra in public. I can honestly say the sag to about 3 inches from my belly button. It's so embarrassing, especially for being so young, but if the good Lord can help me through this surgery, hopefully I'll get approved for a breast reduction! YAY! LOL that's if I can handle this surgery first. :ohmy:

Gosh Marvie I have the opposite problem. While I feel I do have some restriction with food, I can drink all day long. I am actually worried I might be overdoing it! Keep in mind though if you're have liquids in shakes and other purees that does also count. Not to give TMI, but as long as your urine isn't too dark you're ok for the meantime.

Hello Jenniferg, I feel ok over all, my port is on my right side and every once and a while if I move just right I will feel a pinch. I am gassy and having to take a lot of Gas X strips right now (sorry probably TMI lol) There is no way I would be able to got to work as I am exhausted, some times I am fine sitting up and the next I am dozing off, I need a lot of rest these days. Barbara:smile:

Ok, new tire balanced and on!! We are safe again! As you all know I have been taking the antibiotics for over 2 weeks now, and my stomach has been killing me! I have had massive heart burn and reflux....for about 5 days I have been miserable with them. I wake up feeling pretty good, then I take the 3 a day and by mid morning the heartburn starts and by midday, I am miserable....come bed time I am sick.....rest with no more to take, and I wake feeling pretty good, only to start over. So yesterday was the same way. We went to Fuddruckers for dinner, I had a small section of Rick's burger and some onion rings. When we got home, I felt sick. I joked that it was a good thing I hadn't eaten any tomatoes, or I'd think I had salmonella. Rick's friend from California was here, and we sat up and visited until almost 2 AM. Then went to bed and not for the sake of TMI, but just to cover all my bases in the telling of this, lets just say we jostled my stomach around some!!!!!!LOL After that I was really nauseated, so I got up, and was going to rinse my mouth and see if I could settle my stomach---but when I went into the bathroom and opened my mouth, I knew it was too late, and I threw up-----brown grainy, coffee ground looking stuff, which I knew was dried, old blood. Rick is having a conniption fit, to go to the ER. I convinced him to wait and see if any bright red blood were to follow, and nothing, I felt great when I got it out, and went to sleep. I believe my antibiotics to be the cause---so I called the on call PS today, and he has never returned my call, she said he would call after his appointments, and if I was concerned to go to the ER. Gee thanks! So, I have not taken any antibiotics today, my stomach feels 90% better! I called my band Dr. he was in agreement that they were the likely cause, but wants to see me to scope my band. That seems pretty invasive if not taking the meds makes it better I think. I mean he is 6.5 hours away, and gas is not cheap!!! I am also concerned that if I don't take the meds, my incision might re infect...... I have had zero nausea today, and only residual feeling heart burn, nothing like I have suffered with for days. Any feelings or suggestions......anything? Am I being foolish? I feel good today. And again, not to be gross with TMI, but BM's are totally normal, not black or tarry, or anything abnormal at all. Kat

Not unless its kinky, still waiting to see if I get one from last night:tt2: No but really, I try to do what Fairy was saying and go before and after. 'specially since my guy likes to do some g-spot stuff every now and again and it makes me feel like I need to pee!! I know TMI, but its the girls room!!

Denise, your DD and Dimitri will be in my prayers, and have been added to the Azted First United Methodist Church's prayer chain. My Kinsey was a preemie....I know the fear, and the worries you are facing. They do miracles! I mentioned awhile back a little girl I took care of for many years is heading into her Senior year of high school, and just received a soccer scholarship---and she was 1 pound and 7 ounces at birth!!! She was one of the original babies they tested the surfactant in her lungs. She has no known problems from her low birth weight! She did have some issues with the roof of her mouth not stretching out as she grew, since she was being tube fed, but as soon as they got her sucking----it fixed itself---and she is a beauty!!! Keep the faith, and we will keep praying!!! As for the FUPA thing------yep I had it too! My PS lipo'd the pubic mound, and did tighten and lift the skin. He said that is not always possible without pre treatment of laser hair removal. There is no muscle in the pubic mound so once it gets fatty it stays that way---areas reduce better if there is a fit muscle beneath them to help burn fat. Following my chemo, not lots of hair grew back, so it made it simple for him to remove some excess skin, following the lipo and lift the mons as he did the TT. He said he seldom does a TT without at least trying to address the mons---or results will be as you say----strange looking. As for the fatty upper torso----bandsters will have more issue with that than others, because lipo has to be carefully done around the port and tubing. I can feel all my ribs, but my left side is either going to be fuller or is still much more swollen than the right. The left is where the muscle repair was though. I don't think my Dr. billed my insurance any differently for the mons lift to be honest....as I too doubt that would have been covered. Not to get into the TMI category----but the lift is AMAZING!!!! Suffice it to say WOW!!! Haydee, I know we discussed the situation with Juan in the car---but did you say he would or would not do counceling? And I was wondering how his Mom is taking this. Are you still working with her through it all at the event place? Pamela---fingers crossed for the IRB.......we will send not just you PURPLE POWER but them as well so they know what to do!!! Enjoy your friends!!! I am still very close friends with my oldest childhood friend Sharon. We have been friends since 3rd grade!!! She has moved to Texas--outside Dallas, so we don't see a lot of one another. She is totally all about her DH's family. She doesn't even see much of her folks, or her friends. Disappointing---but it is what it is! Tracy, the new pics are great, you look wonderful! I am like your sister, I hate tight things! TracyK, what are you and Macy going to do today while you "recover"? Michelle----let the fun begin, summer has struck!!! Terry---so are any of your beads going to be compatible??? LOL! Jane---how ya feeling? Emotionally? Physically? Today, I wanted to mow, but something was going on last night, and seems to still be...from about 4 this morning, we had cops looking in yards with spotlights---I know it was happening, because Rick got called out, so I was home alone!!! They are still cruising the alley---so Kinsey and I are staying in, until we head to town, we are meeting my folks for lunch. Will check in with you girls later!!! Kat

My dr. had me take a colon cleaner before surgery so nothing would be in my bowel, so not having to go for a long while after surgery is normal. Also, if you've spent a long time after surgery on liquids, it'll be a while before you go. I know that my dr. told me to remember that I would be eating smaller amounts, therefore BM's would not come as frequently as prior to surgery. Now that said, I have found that the papaya juice I drink for times I get stuck has had a wonderful effect on the bowel issue. Also, I love split pea Soup, so that too has been a good thing. I tend to avoid the pill form of taking care of constipation if possible. Usually Water and a really fibrous meal help me out. Sorry for the TMI answer, but it was a TMI question...lol. :drool: Annette

Has anybody else had a problem with constipation? I've barely gone once since surgery and now that I'm mostly eating foods with some density I don't think that's healthy at all. I'm not uncomfortable or anything, but I'm starting to get worried. Should take a ex-lax? I bought some colace should I take that instead? Or should I just wait it out?

Maybe I'm just a freak, but I used to get my armpits waxed all the time (no longer unfortunately, due to a delicate financial situation) and it never hurt very much. I used to get regular brazilians too, same story. The thing that DOES hurt me is my eyebrows. Yeouch! PREPARE FOR A POSSIBLE TMI. Brazilian-wise -- At the moment, it's a jungle down there. I'm very poor right now (paying off a certain surgery) plus i'm single, so there's no-one to get annoyed. It certainly annoys me, so I keep it trimmed, but otherwise "au naturel". Whatever. Not sure why i'm sharing this with you all. Ah well :biggrin:

Froggi, I will glady ship you the frogs in my pool! And, nope, they are all still green. They are fast little buggers too! Now it is thundering and I can't go in the darn pool. Sometimes these Florida summer storms get on my nerves. I hope this one passes fast. I love broccoli with cheese too, but, sigh, it makes for a very gassy day. TMI???

Hi all, I'm home. Thanks so much for the positive notes. I am banded, hurting and just wanting to feel stronger. This was definitely not as easy as some make it out to be. And, if you knew me, would know I am not a whiner. But, I guess everyone's experience is different. The gas pain is horrible and its moving no where (I know TMI). I had one of my sons place his hand on my tummy and he was shocked. Had some issues with shallow breathing and very low BP in the hospital (I normally run high), but things have stabilized. (Okay, maybe I'm whining now a little bit). Thanks again. I'm off to get some rest. -Trishadish

I am at the end of my 6th day post-op. I guess the initial high from having the surgery is wearing off, because man, I've been in the dumps all day. I'm tearful. I'm gloomy. I feel sorry for myself because I am STILL on Clear liquids and it's starting to get to me. I think I might have actually felt hunger today . . . which I hadn't felt yet post-op. I think at some point I even regretted my decision. My brain doesn't regret it . . . but my heart is kind of falling apart right now. I also feel like I *should* be feeling better . . . but, honestly, I am still having some pain from the surgery. some of it's gas and some of it is port pain, but it's pain nonetheless. This may be TMI, but I'm also on my time of the month right now and it's really weird -- not like all of my other times of the month. Very strange. I'm trying to focus on how exciting it is right now that I've lost so much weight . . . but my sad little brain can only see my shrinking boobs and very swollen belly. LOL. I know this too shall pass. Thank you for letting me come here and let it out. Reading this forum is the only thing keeping me sane right now.

froggi- I totally know how you feel. It's getting better now a days... but I count it as a workout too. I'm 330, 5'7" and I can straddle my hubby. He's pretty skinny around the waist though. Actually, had a NSV the other day... hope this isn't tmi- but there's not as much fat in the nether-regions now- actually "scored" without my hubby having to work his fingers! That's NEVER happened for me.

Hey everyone! I thought I'd check in. (Warning! I'm babbling alot - Blame it on the Lortab and I have a lot to tell! Some of this is from my diary but I thought it might help someone.) I was banded on June 4th. I was super nervous! Almost to the point of backing out nervous. I joked to myself that the anesthesiologist should lurk in the hospital lobby and put me out as soon as I crossed the threshold! So after dealing with my little voices arguing for and against surgery for the two days before, THE DAY finally arrived. I had tried switched to Clear liquids the last two day pre-op, and really tried to push Water as much as I could, because I felt a little dehydrated. So I drank and drank before midnight on the 3rd, but the morning of the 4th I was still peeing pretty dark. I figured I'd make it up with the IV. So I needed to be at the hospital at 7am and my surgery was scheduled for 8:30am (Dr McBride's 1st of the day) on the 4th. Got to bed around midnight the night before and work up at 6am. Got ready and it was just a 10 minute drive over to the hospital for us. Checked in at registration, waited a little, signed some paperwork, got my oh so fashionable bracelets, then back to the waiting room for another 15 or 20 minutes. Then a tech called my name and someone else's and both of us went upstairs with our families (I just had DH). Tech Jacquelyn showed me to my little pre-op area, and I met Nurse Geri. She gave me my lovely gown and told me to strip down and put it on. Then they took all my stuff and put it in a locker. Nurse Geri got me situated on the bed and put on the little booties, (and I hated that my legs were like hairy gorilla's because I'm getting them waxed next week! - so embarrassing!) Of course she didn't mind at all. Then she put a Scopolamine patch behind my ear, and started my IV and gave me a shot of Lovenox in the thigh. The Anesthesiologist's resident Dr Lowell, stopped by and talked to me for a couple of minutes about what to expect, and later my surgeon's fellow stopped by and said hello, double checked all my info and signed off on my procedure (initialed my tummy!). The pre-op area of UNMC was very nice, it's was all just built a couple of years ago with very soothing lighting and cool fiber-optic stars in the ceiling. I think it was almost 8:30 and I still hadn't seen Dr McBride, but I didn't worry. After another 15 minutes or so, Dr Lowell was back, and said he was going to give me some Versed. Then we wheeled off down a couple of corridors to the OR. I was surprised by how big and very white the room was! They moved me to the other bed, and I remember meeting Dr Margalles, and thinking as she introduced herself, "you're the anesthesiologist" and "I think I might have met you once before about 10yrs ago for some care for my DD" but I was too sleepy to say anything and that's all I remember until Dr Lowell woke me up in recovery! I got to recovery around 10:30am and my nurse there took great care of me, I had oxygen, and she gave me another shot of Lovenox in my tummy. We chatted about Mary Kay (my job) and I had brought goodie bags of samples for everyone. About 12:30, they moved me over to the Extended Stay area where I was going to spend the night. I wasn't in any pain until I switched to the bed, and it wasn't too bad sort of "too many sit-ups", with a bit of burning when I pulled at the incisions. I wasn't expecting too much because I have a pretty high pain tolerance. I was in a nice private room, and my DH came in and stayed until around 2:30pm or so, then I sent him home because he hadn't had anything to eat yet. I was on bedrest for 2 hours, and fell asleep for a while. I was only allowed a few ice chips for a few hours, and I was sooo thirsty! Around 6pm, my nurse (the 2nd one) brought me a cup of ice chips and just told me to limit them to a few at a time. Lots of pain. OMG. LOTS of PAIN. Apparently I was super swollen. I only was able to drink about 100cc of water all day long. Got up and walked around at 6pm and 11pm. Was able to pee after my 6pm walk (but it was still pretty dark urine). I think they hung 3 or 4 bags of IV fluids during my stay and I only went pee about 3 times! June 5 - The next morning, the hospital's surgical staff did general rounds, then the surgeon's Fellow, Dr Varnell, came in and saw me, and about 1pm I saw Dr McBride! I teased her that she must have been in the OR because she had left her marks on me! She's 8 months preggers, and apparently fell down after my surgery so they made her stay in Labor and Delivery for a few hours which is why I didn't see her yesterday post-op. I got to go home around 2pm. Got home and settled in and got a phone call from my DH's office - They knew I had surgery, but not what kind, and they called to see if I'd rather have flowers delivered or pizza. LOL! Since I already had 3 flower arrangements, I told them to send pizza for the family. That was a special kind of torture, because she asked me about a dozen questions about what we'd like. Irony at it's best! I can't fault them, I could have picked the flowers! And it was nice not to have the family fussing around in the kitchen and coming up to ask me a zillion questions about food. The pizza arrived around 6pm, they ate downstairs, and I stayed up in my flower scented bedroom! (Which is my major coping mechanism for the next 2 weeks!) Home from the hospital. I was pretty sore. I'm also having trouble getting down liquids. I'm still a bit bloated from surgery. I hope the swelling goes down soon because I'm starting to get dehydrated. I took one dose (10ml) of pain meds when I got home and one dose at bedtime (20ml). Took a colace gel cap - had a very hard time getting it down it got stuck and I had major pain and nausea until it went down. I'll skip those until the swelling goes down a lot more. Slept with a heating pad. Slept pretty well. June 6 - Actually I'm just feeling pretty dry and in a little pain. More muscle soreness today, and now (6am) I've got a lot of gas rumbling around in my stomach. I'm going to take more pain meds and see if I can stay ahead of the pain today. 4pm: I've managed to get down nearly all the rest of my Isopure. So that's 10oz Fluid and 20g Protein. I've also had my chewable Vitamins and Calcium. Still have a lot of gas pain with every little sip, but not as much in between. 8pm yay me! I had a whole protein bullet and it went down well - still took a couple of hours, but it's progress! Got a shower for the 1st time since surgery. Removed the bandages. Looks sort of icky. Had a fruit bar. Feel pretty bad, thirsty. I'm going to take some Lortab and got to bed. June 7 - Ok, still having trouble with drinking without pain. I worked all morning to get in 8oz of water. Took lots of gas-x. Still working on the vitamins. 12:30 took more Lortab. Mixed up a shake of 8oz labrada lean body banana & cream and 1 scoop of chocolate Protein powder plus a splash of divinci SF caramel. Much better than the banana plain. I'm going to try to get it all in while the pain meds are working then grab a nap. 7pm: I think Ive had a break through! I've felt awful all afternoon, hot, low grade fever, gassy, dehydrated. Just miserable. Finally I decided to take a 20ml dose of Lortab, lie down and wait for it to work, and then try to get in some fluids. It worked! I've had about .75 liters so far. I'm going to try to drink some more. TMI alert! - I finally had a BM today. (Ok, it's totally a liquids in/liquids out situation, but at least something is happening! June 8 - Well that was exciting! At 2:30am we were roused out of bed by the tornado sirens. (It turned out to be an EF2 tornado in the SW part of the city. The damage missed our area by a few blocks) Had to hustle down two flights of stairs into the basement. Major pain. Got the all clear and went back upstairs around 3:30, took another dose of lortab and got back to sleep around 4am. Good news is even though my stomach was just roiling with gas, I was able to pass a lot of it, so I feel a little less bloated today. 11am: I've been able to drink about 16oz of water! Yay! Did take one swig too big and paid for it dearly. Pain, nausea, saliva glands in overdrive - but I was able to stand up and walk it off, so I didn't puke. I'll take it easy for a little bit, then get back to the water. I think I have a big gas bubble sitting up under my diaphragm, because I'm feeling a little short of breath this morning, like I can't quite draw a deep enough one. Some shoulder pain too. 3pm- I took a nap for about 2 hours. I'm feeling better now, except for the shoulder pain. Oh and joy...TOM started. At least it's still on schedule. After my nap, I took some more Lortab, and about 4pm I started on a protein bullet. I finished it around 5pm. Yay! Now back to water. 7pm starting to have more pain and getting short of breath again. It's the pain - I start breathing more shallow and just cant draw a deep breath. Took more lortab. Got my water and vitamins in after my 7pm lortab. Feel much better. Also had another Protein Drink. 11pm Ok I've had my protein drink. I feel good. Clearly the key is to keep the pain under control. I'm sure in a couple of days I have recovered enough not to need the pain meds. June 9 Today, I feel better. I'm still having a lot of pain when I swallow and I had one incident where I took a sip too large and felt like I was going to hurl (I still need to keep the sips in the teaspoon range), and I'm still having to work pretty hard to get in enough fluids and protein, but now that I've figured out I HAVE to take the Lortab first then wait, then drink, I'm at least making progress. Feeling less muscular/incision pain today. Actually got out of the house (had to go to the pharmacy for a refill on the Lortab. I'm actually really surprised by how much I've needed the Lortab! I hardly even need pain relievers. But I'm not fighting it. I know it's just for this week or so and things will be back to normal. I had to take off one of my steri-strips today. One of my incisions was bleeding a little in the hospital, but it eventually stopped. When I took off the bandage on Friday, and showered, that steri-strip looked like it was a bit puffier than the others. Pain was similar to the others, no redness or excessive warmth (they all felt warm). I've been running a low grade fever -mostly 99ish, since coming home. It went up to 100, then briefly to 101 (like an hour) when I was at the worst of the dehydration, but hit normal once I finally got that first liter of water in. So today the steri-strip oozed out a tiny bit of gunk - like less than a drop. I pulled off the strip, checked the wound, no redness or streaks, no other drainage. So I cleaned the area, put some peroxide on it, let it dry a bit, then covered it with a band-aid. I'll shower tonight, then pull off the bandage and let it dry out again. It's not open much. I think it just leaked and stayed more moist than the others right after surgery. I'll keep an eye on it!. Temp is 99 which is consistent with how much water I've been able to drink. I don't think it's infected. Sorry this was soo long! Always Hunzi

Manatee... Isn't that just the wierdest thing...I don't understand why the fill gets tighter after some time. They always said it would be tight right after a fill, swelling irritation etc... but it seems just the opposite. I've never really heard a good explanation why it would get tighter after a couple of weeks?!? I get REALLY tight every month (TOM...I know, TMI, and not your issue) but that's explainable...everything swells! Just when I think I'm ready for a fill I have that week that just kicks my butt. And I know what you mean about going for the bad stuff that will slide down :0, it's nuts & cookies for me!

What a great hubby you are. I would say from personal experience, make helping her any way you can for the first week or so your first, second, and third priority. When I had my surgery, my DH roomed in with me and every time I so much as winced, he was right there trying to help. Walked with me, helped me dress, and even helped change my tampon TMI I know. When I got home, he made my Protein shakes and broth and helped me up and down the stairs. Best of luck to your wife with her surgery!!