August Band Crew!!!!!

[Serendipity4124 1]

thanks for the broth info, I think I'll try the veggie one. I just made some chicken broth with boulion cubes instead of by can and I like it much better that way!! I'm 1/2 way through the first day and I'm okay so I might actually make it!!! YAY

[wavydaby 1]

Ive been getting the broth in a box, actually its chicken stock in a box.

I found the chicken stock tastes much better, has more of a veggie aftertaste. And since its in a box container thing, there is none of that metal aftertaste.

[RLittman 4]

I felt no nausea after surgery but definitely had the cold/hot sweats. My nutritionist told me that this is our body undergoing ketosis because we are consuming purely Protein and no carbs. It lifts after a few days.

Clarityseeker (Jessica) - I am hungrier as well because the swelling has decreased. I can definitely take in more now than I could a week ago. I have eaten chicken, Pasta, eggs, cheese, and sausage. Whatever I do eat though, I make sure I first chew to mush in my mouth. I have increased my liquid intake to compensate for this increased hunger. I still watch Portion Control and make sure I don't eat quickly - that is where it can become painful. I have a nasty sinus infection now which is making me very tired - Haven't had a chance to exercise in three days but my weight is the same.

Lapband forum was definitely down. I felt so dejected and cut off!!!

Hi everyone - This is my second post, but no one replied - so I am trying again - LOL. I am 6 days out now. My surgery was Monday and went fine. I was up and about in no time with minimal pain. I have been so excited to have this surgery and for whats to come after getting out of this full liquid/pureed stage. I have been reading some of your post and this is a super site - I just found it yesterday.

I do have a question - I have been feeling episodes of cold sweats, hot flashes and bits of nausea. Did anyone else feel this after surgery? At first I thought it might be my pain medicine - but I discontinued that Thursday and that is about when these episodes started. I haven't thrown up or anything - thankfully. And I am following my diet just as I should - lots of Carnation instant Breakfast and cream of chicken Soup, etc... with dry milk powder or Unjury added in.

The Unjury is a great source of protein. It's a powder and each scoop is 20 g of protein. It comes in unflavored, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. The unflavored is great to add into Soups, oatmeal, cream of wheat or anything really - you can barely taste it. I even added in to a Crystal Light and got 20 g of protein from drinking a Crystal Light. That was great. My DR and Dietician recommended it. I haven't tried all the flavors yet - but I did order them. You can only get it online and the website is www.unjury.com for anyone who is interested - it really is saving me on protein.

I do feel hungry a lot - and didn't know if maybe the hunger is what is causing those episodes - but just don't know if this is normal.

On the positive note - I have lost 10 lbs since my surgery on Monday. So I am really excited about that.

Thanks so much for listening...and replying....

YEAH - August Banders!!!

[MicmaddLapBand 0]

Diana - my dr said I could drink the 8oz Protein Shakes such as Carnation Instant Breakfast or the Unjury Protein shakes - just sip them slowly - They actually gave me an 8oz one in the hospital the day after my surgery and she told me that it should take me at least 30 minutes to drink it. My dietician said the 4oz is for food - but your Dr. may be different.

Thanks Bug - that does make sense - now that I think about it - I was just afraid it was because I wasn't eating as much and my body was starving or something - because I used to get sick if I wouldn't eat for a long period of time. It's better today - nothing yet.

I actually braved some soft cooked squash today that I chewed and chewed and chewed and it went down pretty good. It was quite pureed by the time it went down. LOL...

[RLittman 4]

My doctor said I could remove the steristrips after two weeks. They easily peeled off but left a glue like residue. I did not rub this off for another week since I did not want to put pressure on the would sites. Sounds like this is another topic to raise with your doctor.

According to My Surgeon the Steristrips will fall off when they are meant to. he said if it make sme feel uncomfortable, then feel free to put a bandaid/bandage on them.

personally, I would reccomend that neosporn scar formula stuff.

[RLittman 4]

Ladydi,

good luck with tomorrow's surgery. Dr. Spivak is so reassuring during the pre-op. You will do great. See you on the other side.

:clap2:

Hi, My Sx Is 8-21-06 Only 3 Days Away! I'm Really Excited! I Can't Wait To Start My New Life With The Band.

[RLittman 4]

Okay, here is my take on all this. I have stumbled a few times and tried things I should not. Boy, did I pay. Like with rice, it hurt like you know what and then I worried about band slippage. Then I ate too quickly a few times, and boy did I feel like the Titantic was stuck in my stomach. Then I ate too fast a few times, and I paid for that too. So what have I learned? I should use this fear to avoid eating and drinking what may or may not be harmful to me, and to avoid eating in a manner which could undo the good of the band. For example, I have drank Coke about everyday of my life up until a month ago. Have not had it, won't do it because the Dr. says NO. Why take a chance? Why not use that fear of what could happen to your advantage? Instead of testing the waters with NO-NOs, just don't test the waters! My goal through all of this is to lose weight now!!! Now did I swipe some chocolate icing off a cupcake yesterday? You bet. I knew it would slide right down, but I also knew I had had only 500-600 calories that day and that it wouldn't jeopardize my weight loss. I believe it is okay to moderately give into a craving, IF it does not hurt your band. Just like with real life dieting, you must find a balance in what you take in on a daily basis.

I would suggest that you don't play with fire here. I know the next 3 weeks for me before my first fill will be challenging as my hunger increases, but it is also the time for a big learning curve, IF I am open to understanding how and why I eat the way I do. Follow the doctor's advice - that is why we all sought him or her out in the first place!!! Good luck!

I am on Day 14. Had some semi solid food today (ground up hamburger and some salad). To be honest, I could eat without any feeling of restriction. Is this normal? I was expecting it to feel so different. I heard so much about how I'd have to chew and chew and chew. But I didn't find that to be the case. I heard that I wouldn't be able to eat salad - it went down fine and tasted good. SO much better than those gross, gross, gross God-forsaken shakes !! I'm soooo OD'd on those that just the smell makes me nauseous.

I'm thinking of trying some diet coke, because Lord knows I'm really jonesing for that. I used to have 6 or 7 a day between diet coke and diet sprite. I have not tried any because I heard in all the support group meetings about what havoc it causes. But I feel like I'm cruising along. Then I get this feeling: hey, I'm trying to turn a new leaf here and create a new way of eating and drinking. I shouldn't have soda. But it is calorie free, and I certainly read much, much worse food items openly discussed on these boards as regular menu items for bandsters which shock me. They are so high calorie (like spare ribs). So what's a little diet sprite???

Am I in the right mindset here? I'd appreciate hearing from some of you who are very successful in losing weight with your band - what should I be eating at day 14 (for the next few days and weeks) if I want to be successful like you??? Please give it to me straight - I can take it!! What the "skinny" on doing great, yet maintaining your sanity and not feeling like a freak? At my OB-GYN appt on day 11, I was down 10 pounds from my surgery day weight. That's great, but as I transition to solid food, I want to keep losing the FLAB!!

Some other questions are: When will I start to feel restriction? And am I doing myself a disservice by having hamburger so early on here? The Protein Shakes were grossing me out so bad, I haven't had a single one in 48 hours, so I went to the burger to get Protein. Also, will I always be consious of my port? It kinda jumps out at me when I smooth over my stomach area. My husband calls it my "doorbell"!!

I'm so grateful for this band, and for this forum to learn, share, and blow off some steam! THANKS EACH AND EVERY ONE!

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[Kate27 0]

Well, I am 3rd day post-op. Bug - I too am sooo bloated. I feel like I'm 5 mos pregnant. I wasn a little dissapointed today when I stepped on the scale...only 1/2 lb down since my liquid diet, 2 days pre-op. I thought I would be further than that, but I am attributing it to the swelling...hope I'm not fooling myself.

I am doing better today. I still have quite a bit of pain on my left/port side, but other than that...not too bad. I am up and moving around...slowly. I am going to try to go back to work tomorrow...we'll see if I can make it through an entire day.

Hope everyone else is doing ok...good luck to those getting banded next week!! You'll do great!

[Sweet Caroline 0]

Robin ~ many thanks for taking the time to give me your view. You are only 2 days ahead of me, but you still offer valuable rationale. I appreciate it !!

[joliesmom 0]

Had my surgery 8/16, feeling better than I thought I would. Had some Tomato Soup which could have been filet it tasted so good. I miss my surgery compadres Littlebird and Kirsten117, hopefully Richard found the boards. I'm avoiding the scale because I still feel bloated, but I did lose 19 lbs pre-op with carnation instant breakfast. Good luck to everyone going soon, it'll be well worth it.

Patti

[ladydi 0]

thank you RLITTMAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT IS FINALLY HERE! MY FRIEND WAS REALLY SCARED BUT I AM JUST HAPPY! JUST THE THOUGHT OF BEING NORMAL AGAIN, I CAN'T STOP SMILING! I'M FINISHING UP MY LAST SHIFT AT WORK AND WILL BE HOME BY 9:30. I HAVE ALL MY THINGS I BOUGHT FOR POST SX IN A BAG SO I DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FOR IT. JUST NEED MY PILLOW AND SOCKS. LOL

LADYDI

[diva 0]

Good luck to everyone soon to be banded!!!! I cannot believe we are all doing so well.

Don't worry about weighing yourself till about 2 weeks after surgery 'cause you are so bloated with gas. Just relax and let yourself heal.

I am losing that feeling of restriction that comes from swelling so I am now hungrier in a shorter period of time. Being on mushies helps. I am nervous that I might make the pouch bigger. Scheduled for my first fill in about 2 1/2 weeks. Incisions are healing up great. No more liquid tylenol. No more gas swelling.

I am so proud of all of us.

[LittleBird 0]

Ugh! I was banded on 8/16 - so this is day 5 banded. I'm happy but my body is a mess. I'm so gassy (like a huge burp that won't come out) every time I try to take anything in.

I'm trying to drink more Water (64 oz seems impossible right now, I'm lucky to get 16-20oz in). I've tried Jello, homemade broth, apple juice diliuted and yesterday I had a few spoonfuls of low cal yogurt. I've heard others say they feel no restriction, but NOT ME.

I can only take like an ounce or two at a time and then feel like crap while the sick, gassy feeling rumbles around my tummy for hours. I haven't been able to sit long and have been walking a lot. I just keep telling myself its only temporary.

My nose is quite refined now - I can smell food a mile away! *wink* My DH has been great and the kids just hope I feel better soon.

[jekbird 0]

Nice jekbird! great to hear that you are feeling great and less toxic is a great description. LOL. btw, are you gonna put up your stats?

I will keep trying. LOL Not exactly a winner at this yet. Thanks for letting me know.

[RLittman 4]

Hey Sweetie,

You are most welcome. We are all in this together and we have gone down this path before. What is it they say about the obese - our drug of choice is food and unfortunately everyone can see our addiction? After being overweight for most of my life, I want the chance to look and feel normal, and if this darn band is the way to do, then I am going to give it every chance I can. I am 46 and my bones can no longer carry this weight without damaging my knees and back. I just have to let this work and trust the process. I am making huge emotional and physical sacrifices right now to get this weight off. I never had scars on my body until this surgery nor underwent general anesthesia. But I had to go through with this. I want to learn from this experience as much as I can. I don't think I ever realized how good food made me feel. I never realized how quickly I ate. I never realized how much I ate when I was bored and not hungry. I never realized how little conversation I made at the table because I was too busy eating. Now I talk while everyone else eats. It has been an eye opening experience in just 2 weeks. This is no miracle and no one can claim this is the easy route to losing weight because it ain't. I'm as much focused on this as when I was dieting normally. So far the swelling acts as a reminder that I have a limit as to what I can consume. I want that reminder to hit me in the face every chance it can get! So go ahead and take a chance - give some food or drink up that you always had before. I say to myself you had 46 years of this or that food or drink- been there, done that! Make the most of this and you might find yourself changing in ways you never knew possible.

Over the last 1 1/2 years, a friend has lost weight over 60 pounds and has about 30 to go. I see the glow in her eyes when folks praise her for the change - I want some of that glow. Go for that! Robin

quote=Sweet Caroline]Robin ~ many thanks for taking the time to give me your view. You are only 2 days ahead of me, but you still offer valuable rationale. I appreciate it !!