December Bandsters

[bkwalling 0]

glad to hear you are feeling better levi

[StephC 0]

I love you!!!! All of you! I feel so much better this evening! So I decided to watch everything I was putting in my mouth today and I decided to do the drinking thing, nothing before or after. So I ate my 1/2 cup of oatmeal but not as watered down as I had been - I didn't drink for at least a half hour afterwards, that was around 10:30, did my dr appt and grocery shopping and then met my daughter for lunch around 2:00 - the Soups of the day were chili, bean and bacon, and wedding Soup - I opted for bean and bacon - still in my fat lady mindset I ordered a bowl and not a cup - stupid - I ate about a cup if that - but it was thicker then the Soups I have been eating and more like a mushie I supose - well I know I didn't over eat - my nose starts to run when I'm getting full - so I put my spoon down and stopped. I'm so proud of me!!! And I was very tempted to drink Water with my meal but I resisted and I still feel full. I made a cup of ff capicinno - and I'm very happy with my eating today. I even bought pizza for dh and dd for supper and thought I'd wait until hunger calls and then have some Soup later. I keep telling myself this is a life style change and its not as easy done as it is said. But together we can do it. I really need you all - you're the best. Its so good to hear that you're not alone that someone else is struggling through it too. At support group the other night they all said that the liquid 2 weeks was the worst. So like I said I think I'm going to slowly thicken my liquids until Sunday when I can eat mushies.

Ok so how's about we got us a MAN??? hey ERIC! Glad to have you with us!

B-man one lastXOXOXOXO - we'll be here when you get back.

[Kaydotrn 1]

(((Beversman)))) In case I missed you before you went. BIG HUGS and get back here soon girl!

Today was interesting. I was not hungry all day. I had to force a Protein shake down over the course of 2 hours. Small sips of Water throughout the day and a 1/2 cup of no sugar applesauce that I couldbarely finish. Allof a sudden at dinnertime, i was hungry! Hubby and kids for chicken fingers, fried, and boneless b-b-que wings with bleu cheese dressing. :: I heated about 1/2 cup of whipped cottage cheese and strained a little jarred marinara sauce over it so that there were no chunks and I heated it in the microwave. Wow, it was yummy. I don't know how it is on Stage 3 when it is not actually liquid, but my post op diet says it is okay so I tried it. No bad reaction. It was nice to have a little thicker consistency and I think I will bring this to my Christmas Eve dinner.

For those of you struggling. I know how hard this is. I cannot transition to mushies until after my January 11th appt!!! I don't know how I am going to make it that far. I will do whatever I can though because i am so afraid of messing things up internally. Good for you all that got right back on the wagon. This is definitely the toughest time of year to be going through this, but hey, at least we won't put on that Holiday 10 pounds!!!

Sweethot-my tummy too is so bloated that I look pregnant! Wacky. But the gas is really moving and picking up speed. I have caught the girls mudd that Nathalie had after drinking the MOM. I had no MOM but still have mudd. Embarassing to be out because it is loud! Sorry, I know TMI.

My surgeon's office called to check up on me today and I told them that I went out shopping and had a particularly good day. I tried to transition of the percs and to Tylenol today without too much trouble but I am somewhat uncomfy now. I am going to go back to the percocet for bed tonight.

Have a good night all.

Welcom to the Man Eric! Hopefully more of you will come out of lurkdom. You are a brave brave man!

[girlinnyc 0]

you're sounding very up and like you're all better! super!

keep us posted!

best,

girlin

nyc

*(spent all afternoon getting pre-op tests--ekg wasn't quite right--now have to squeeze in a visit to the cardiologist too. the fun never ends..)

[beversman 0]

[Cue Dramatic music]

[enter - that announcer guy from the movies]

"In a world where, solid food is a thing of dreams and liquids are considered a main course.

The question remains will sleep elude this restless soul. Only time will tell the tale."

[music climax... Cue suspended cymbal and tympany] :clap2:

hehe... I am creating my own mini-drama

I will call it "The Night Before."

....and this is me NOT on drugs!

Boy you guys have had it tomorrow when I get back!

[Banannie 0]

Good Luck Beversman!!!

[ddee 0]

Hey, all! I went to the doc today. He says I can start soft foods; gave me a list to go by. I ate 3 smoked viennas and 2 crackers for supper. I was so glad to finally eat some form of meat. Got some bad news. The hernia I had repaired during my band surgery which the hospital charged me separately for was denied under my insurance coverage. I'll have to appeal. They had pre-approved the hernia surgery, just not the band portion($15,000.) My husband assures me it will work out, but I'm in a nervous panic. I had borrowed money for band surgery (just paid off the MX band surgery). Please say a little prayer that insurance will come through for me...Thanks, all...

[tonijo 0]

Hello, I am excited about being a December bandster, I am going to be banded the day after Christmas. I have pre-op on Friday 12/22. i am taking a list and chicking it twice.. Haha. This has been a real God thing for me. I am on a journey of a life changing experience. I am so excited. Hopefully get all information tommorrow and get my ticker on the page and see where I am at and where I am going.

Tonijo

[KarenAR 0]

Hi

I'm in the UK and had my lapband done on 15th December. The 5 days before I was put on a milk diet to shrink my liver - apparently it can get in the way. I was told they can tell if you do follow that diet because they X-ray before to show the size of your liver. I think it also tells them if you have any discipline.

I'm not in too much pain but the port site is sore and very bruised. It's a week and that's flown by. I had to be on fluids for the 2 days after surgery and then I started on the mushy food stage. I have to say that I find an evening meal too much even though it's mushed up veggies and meat. I prefer yoghurts and drinks. I'm not missing food and I'm not lusting after a fat juicy steak, well not yet!! Unlike many I've read here who were on fluids for a month after the banding I am allowed to move to toast and mashed fruit and more solid food from tomorrow onwards. As to whether I can cope with that I have no idea. I get a very tight, full feeling after very little going in and very little hunger at this point.

So all of you who are at or about my stage, how are you doing? How are you all planning on coping with Christmas day?? I have to cook for my daughter and a friend of hers. I was told by the dietician that by Christmas day I'd be able to manage mashed up roast potato and veggies and a flaked slice of turkey in gravy.

Karen

[Kaydotrn 1]

Beversman-you crack my big gurl butt up!!!! I hope you have found somerest and sleep. I can't wait to hear from you on drugs! hahahaha

Karen-congrats on your 12/15 surgery. I haver to say I get a little jealous when I hear of those of you transitioning to some sort of food. I am not actually hungry but I long to "eat". I am concocting things I can put in my food processor and turn to cat food when the time comes. Yum. Never mind the idea of eating little bits of real food. That will be heaven. I plan to follow my doctor's order to a "t" but am so curious to know why the doctors all have such different post-op schedules. Maybe because the bad is so new here and the doctors are doing what they feel works best. My surgeon's theory is that the 3 to 4 weeks of liquids allows your stomach to heal longer without it having to do the work of digesting food and churning. 4 weeks does seem excessive, but I am not a surgeon nor do I play one on tv so will be obedient and do as I told. I will however live vicariously through those ofyou that are actually swallowing something with some consistency :::

As far as Christmas, on the eve I go to my Mom's. It is a food feast, but I havea very supportive network there and I think my sis is making me some Soup. I will also bring some Protein shake and maybe a Jello for dessert. Christmas day will be tougher since it is at my in-laws and NO ONE knows. I am going with the "I have a sore throat" and bring soup and Protein shakes again and playing like I jsut can't swallow well--so much throat pain-andjust drink my soup. I am going to learn this Christmas howto enjoy friends, family and celebration without scoffing food. IT can be done and I can do it!!!

Hangin there all. I am having a bitch of a time getting any sleep these days. I just want to roll onto my tummy and get a good night's rest. I think I got a solid 4 hours before my side started to hurt from laying that way. I am going to try to position myself on the couch for a bit. What I wouldn't do for a Lazy-Boy chair right now!!!

Have a good one everyone!

[beversman 0]

Getting ready to walk out the door.

• Gas X - check
  
• chapstick - check
  
• pain meds - check
  
• nausea meds - check
  
• big fat ass - check

hehehe...

Yep, looks like I got everything!

Later ladies! See ya on the flip side!

[StephC 0]

B-man our prayers are with you girl! Can't wait for the loopy side to come out <--- sarcasm But seriously we will all be with you in thought today.

Kay - you're sounding chipper - I'm sure the sore throat thing will work - don't you have kids? Can't believe they aren't telling the world. My 16 y/o told her boyfriends mom and she works with a gossip from my town... and people at the church know and ... I just hate being the lastest bit of news, ya know? I didn't want my mil to know but of course she does and hasn't said anything rude - yet. The lazyboy didn't help me any, it made it harder to get up, the bending in the middle when I was sore didn't help. But each day you will feel better and before you know it you'll be back to the belly.

Toni & Karen - welcome to December bandsters. Believe me when I say we KNOW about liver shrinkage - read the first 15 pages of this thread. We went over and over it during our pre-op struggles and I have to admit Karen, you are the first to ever have a MILK diet. Thats too funny! I thought they wanted to shrink the fat, milk is loaded with fat you'd think it would produce more. Anyhoo - glad to have you with us!

I am continuing to do my progression from liquids to mushies, waiting to drink for a half hour after I've eaten. So far its working. I was laying in bed this morning thinking, man I could really go for a scrambled egg and some toast, maybe Lf deli turkey, made into a bk sandwich - and then I'm thinking about what I'm going to eat for Breakfast when I get my first fill - and then I start counting the calories and thinking about losing weight - and then I got up and made my oatmeal, nice and thin, just like the dr ordered.

[emilyd 0]

I have never done any type of forum before but this one seems so positive! I was banded on Tuesday and feeling much better now. I am in Houston, Tx. I am 31 and I weighed 197 two weeks ago before my two week Protein diet and as of today I am at 185:) . I am seperated from my husband right now and this entire process has for the first time let me focus on myself.

[KarenAR 0]

Steph ...

Hi there. The milk diet was semi-skimmed milk. I was also allowed a packet of sugar free jelly [or Jello as you call it] and a drink of Bovril, which is like a beef stock cube. And treat of treat 3 sticks of sugar free gum. Actually I was allowed up to 4 pints of milk a day. I was also allowed a further 2 pints of other non-sweetened low fat liquids. The total calorie content of that was 1200. It was lower fat and low carb. Actually it was very filling and removed the thought of food for which I was grateful. I, like many here, became paranoid about losing food when I got my operation date and started to lust after everything I felt I would no longer be able to eat. Anyone else do that before the liquids only pre-op diet?

I am on week 2 as of today and can now eat toast for Breakfast as well as cornflakes if I wish. Such progress!! I took off my plasters last night [well they were peeling off] and I can't believe how tiny the cuts are. They're super glued together by the looks of it and are hardly going to be noticeable. The port site looks like a dark plum mass. I choose not to sleep on that side at night but I can lay on that side if I want. I can actually feel it now since the swelling seems to be going down fast. Unlike many here my surgeon seemed to have removed most of the gas from the laparoscopy and so I have had very little pain and discomfort in that respect. I must admit I went to bed with a smile on my face last night when I realised my scars were tiny and being vain I am not going to look like a crash wreck!

[sweethot143 2]

hi, i think i'm feeling better today. very tired, since I can't sleep comfortably on my side and back.

still some pain. I went shopping today, odds and ends for christmas. Wrapped gifts with DH. tummy is so sore after all that, but overall I think getting better.

I am starting to want food, but I'm not hungry, I just want some pizza hut or chicken man chicken, is that too much to ask?