Marchies In April

[tammyj 15]

Hi Marchies! What a GLORIOUS day today is! I had my post-op follow up appt at 8:45 this morning. The doc took care of that stitch I had poking out and told me to do soft foods for 2 weeks, then regular food for 2 weeks and then see him again. So my next appt is May 17th.

But the most happiest, amazing, wonderful thing happened when I got on the scale... (go figure, LOL). Since March 19th I have lost 38 pounds!!!! I would be concerned that it was dehydration or something, but I ration everything out the night before so I don't have to think about it with work and everything going on. I get 64oz Water, about 850-900 calories and 65 grams of Protein.

Doc said exercise was ok, so I just signed up at the new Planet Fitness that opened up here in Morris Plains, NJ. You should check them out in your area. They seem great and for $19.99 a month you can bring a friend with you to workout for free, you get unlimited tanning, half off cooler drinks, and many other perks. I have a session with the personal trainer today to develop a program for me, a session tomorrow morning for upper body and a session tomorrow afternoon for the cardio equipment. All these sessions are free!! I'm really looking forward to the cardio session because they have treadmills and elliptical trainers and I've never used either. If anyone is in the area and wants to workout there, you can always come as my guest.

I think the best part, aside from the weight loss, is SOFT FOOOOODS! OMG supermarket here I come...salmon and tuna and an egg for easter! Who would have thought an egg could be so exciting. LOL

Virginia

WAY TO GO Virginia! Sounds like have a game plan and it will definitely pay off. Exercise is the key to really dropping those pounds and transforming your body.

[Hazelbunny 0]

Mrs Husker - when you lose weight quickly you are more prone to attacks. A lot of surgeons remove the gallbladder when they perform WLS although I don't know if it is common in band patients.

[slikchik10 85]

Also, I'm very tight in the chest of a morning (think this is also exasperbated by sleeping on my back all night) - it takes a few hours for me to feel normal - is this the case for everyone?

Have a great day Marchies!

Cate

Cate, I too feel that way in the AM....I've found that if I do something warm for Breakfast, it helps. I'm only a few days out from surgery, and I noticed this in the last couple of days, compared to the rest of the day. I don't know if it comes from sleeping on your back, because I sleep on my sides...I couldn't stand sleeping in a chair from the get go. So...warm & yummy is my solution to the tightness in the AM...best of luck. :high5:

[LoriPA 4]

I just got back from my first post-op appointment...all good news! I am on the soft food phase for only two weeks then it is automatically onto the solid food phase. NO MUSHY STUFF FOR ME...imagine that; I actually get to skip a phase! I am also scheduled for my first fill on May 7. As of today I have passed the 30 pound mark, 32 to be exact. I thought some of my clothes I hadn't worn in awhile were fitting differently! I certainly feel a lot better; that I know for sure.

[Medge 0]

I'm only a week out tomorrow but I'm still having some gas pain. It is only on my left shoulder side though. When it happens it causes pain all over my shoulder and radiates up my neck some...it also makes my fingers go numb. It also makes it hard to breathe. If I lay down or tilt myself back in a chair some it gets better. Does this sound at all normal? Again, it's only on that side. I'm used hot pad on it and massaged it but it's driving me nuts and really hurts. Suggestions?

[Mrs Husker 3]

Lori, 32 lbs!!! Holy Crap!! You are the woman!!

As to my gallbladder, its fine. No stones, nothing. I talked to my dr today about it and the only way to get a diognosis (sp) of S.O.D. is to sumit to the testing, which I am not ready to do. But the good news is I AM ON SOFT FOODS!!!! She told me I could start adding them IF liquids where not keeping me full. She gave me a list but all I heard was tuna. So after my appt, I went to Subway and got some of their tuna. They looked at me strange when I ordered it without bread or anything, just the tuna. It was heaven. Still only 24 lbs down but found out that I need to up my calories (I already knew that) because my body is keeping everything I put into it because it thinks that we are going to starve. So hope that by adding some soft foods I will lose more weight (that and the fact that I can now do whatever exercises I want). I don't really have another appt, but she let me know that if I am finding that I am getting hungery sooner then I should, that I can have a fill in 4 weeks. She said that the longest that one of her patients went without a fill was 5 months. I hope I can go as long a possible without one, but will be on the phone making an appt as soon as I know I need one.

[kyethra 0]

potatoe was not something my stomach liked. Things are going down just fine and I still have restriction. Its after they've been down that my tummy gets unhappy. It is not thrilled about the digestive process. Blech. I hate being sick like this. I have stuff to do. My stomach can handle ice cream ok though, go figure, but it still lets me know I need to find something better if I am determined to eat. I think also remember my doc telling me before that bread and stuff is better than diary to start out on with an upset tummy even though I digest dairy super well. I'm going to ask DH to bring home some bread from work. If I don't toast it it will be soft and if I chew well bread goes down just fine. I need something I can take my pills with so they aren't on a empty stomach.

Sometimes when I get sick things hang on for a while. I have CFS/Fibromyalgia. And recovering from something like surgery, even if it is minor, can also make my immune system a bit lower. About a year and a half ago I had pneumonia a couple of times and after I got over that it took my immune system several months to get back up to normal. So I am just trying to get my fluids in and rest. Lots of rest.

[Denise 0]

I'm only a week out tomorrow but I'm still having some gas pain. It is only on my left shoulder side though. When it happens it causes pain all over my shoulder and radiates up my neck some...it also makes my fingers go numb. It also makes it hard to breathe. If I lay down or tilt myself back in a chair some it gets better. Does this sound at all normal? Again, it's only on that side. I'm used hot pad on it and massaged it but it's driving me nuts and really hurts. Suggestions?

Hi Medge,

This happened to me with the shoulder pain. It lasted about a week---I used a heating pad and laid horizontal---and tried to walk as much as I could. Take care!

Denise

[LoriPA 4]

I just started on this book called You on a Diet. Normally, I am not into "diet books, " per se, but this isn't one of those. It's actually very good, with some interesting facts about our bodies as well as a two-week meal and exercise plan (30 minute exercise plan! Yay!) that isn't that difficult at all and looks quite band-friendly, at least IMO. I got mine at Wal-Mart, but they have it [ame=http://www.amazon.com/You-Owners-Manual-Waist-Management/dp/0743292545/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-0285198-2664610?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175816658&sr=8-1]here[/ame] at Amazon.com quite reasonable too. I got a couple more chapters read today at the doctor's office while I was waiting for my appointment.

[Hazelbunny 0]

I'm only a week out tomorrow but I'm still having some gas pain. It is only on my left shoulder side though. When it happens it causes pain all over my shoulder and radiates up my neck some...it also makes my fingers go numb. It also makes it hard to breathe. If I lay down or tilt myself back in a chair some it gets better. Does this sound at all normal? Again, it's only on that side. I'm used hot pad on it and massaged it but it's driving me nuts and really hurts. Suggestions?

My surgeon called this referred pain - it isn't actually gas pain. Sometimes your diaphragm gets stretched during surgery and the pain is felt in your shoulder and neck.

I didn't have it this time but I have in previous surgeries. It sucks - tylenol might help but the best cure is just time.

[slikchik10 85]

I just started on this book called You on a Diet. Normally, I am not into "diet books, " per se, but this isn't one of those. It's actually very good, with some interesting facts about our bodies as well as a two-week meal and exercise plan (30 minute exercise plan! Yay!) that isn't that difficult at all and looks quite band-friendly, at least IMO. I got mine at Wal-Mart, but they have it here at Amazon.com quite reasonable too. I got a couple more chapters read today at the doctor's office while I was waiting for my appointment.

I had a friend just before surgery recommend this book, so I too am working my way through it. Also, I found out one of my friends that's had the RNY surgery is reading it. It's a neat premise....so far I find it facinating. Keep me posted on what you think. :typing:

[JosieK 120]

hi medge,

i had a similar pain.

my doctor said it wasn't gas. it was something called "referred pain". this is when they touch a nerve during the operation possibly in the stomach area....and it can be felt somewhere else where the nerve is connected but not necessarily in the stomach area. it is similar to what happens when someone having a heart attack feels pain in their left arm.

liquid tylenol helped me with this.

mine also travelled to my hands becoming numb.

he said it can last a few days to a couple of weeks.

anyway hope you feel better

[LoriPA 4]

First full day on actual F-O-O-D! OK, it is the softer stuff, but it beats Jell-O and strained creamed Soup any day This morning, it was scrambled Egg Beaters and a small bowl of oatmeal for Breakfast, two ounces of tuna and egg salad and a banana for lunch, and some fat free Fig Newtons for a light snack. I'll probably have more of the tuna for dinner or maybe do a cottage cheese salad. Phew...thank goodness this is only for two weeks. LOL.

[JackSpratsWife 0]

I had my post op appointment yesterday. I found out why my port was hurting so bad (worse then right after the surgery) I guess I blew some stiches coughing and bending. The Dr. Could tell because I had some new bruising, yellow bruises over the port. His suggestion try not to cough (yeah right) and ibuprofen to keep the inflamation down.

Unfortunately he is a stickler on the liquid diet and didn't okay me to go to mushies.

I am jealous of all you girls losing weight. I am only down four pounds!

[Mrs Husker 3]

Jacksprat, All I can say is OUCH!! I hope you get better soon. The dr suggesting that you not cough?!? Did he give you anything for that?

Lori, I know what you mean about soft foods. I didn't plan on starting them until full liquids didn't keep me full, but the temptation was too much. I had eggs over medium yesterday, all I can say is YUM!