December Delights 2009

[zobee 0]

Hi Everyone...

I was banded on the 11th after much ado. The surgery itself was flawless, and recovery has been fairly easy. I was up and walking as soon as I came fully out of anesthesia. No gas/bloating from the surgery.

The only real pain I experienced were at the actual incision sights, which is to be expected, and my throat -- good Lord, but my throat hurt from being tubed. It felt like it was on fire for days!! Lots of warm tea helped that, though.

Didn't really worry about Protein. My doctor said if I had to chose between eating and drinking, to concentrate on drinking, so I sipped on herbal teas for the first few days. Oh, a suggestion for those with nausea: ginger tea is excellent for nausea. You can find it at your local health food or herbal store. Peppermint tea is also good, but ginger tea is the best!

Also for those with nausea, I would definitely advise that anyone hoping to get banded requests the nausea patch -- and keep that sucker on for the full three days. I had one and didn't have the first bit of nausea. They are miraculous!

Gradually added broths to my diet and stayed on Clear Liquids for a week post op. Went to full liquids on Friday (Tomato Basil Soup has never tasted so good!).

Had my first check up today. I'm down 21 pounds in 20 days between pre and post op dieting. Doctor's assistant says I'm doing well enough to move on to mushies, so had some mashed potatoes today. Her instructions: take it slow. Try one thing at a time, and when I do try something new, try it at home, just in case I have a problem with it! If I feel any pain, discontinue mushies and go back to liquids.

I'm scheduled for another check up in 3 weeks. I may or may not have my first fill then, depending on how I'm doing. The doctor said that they are conservative -- they fill about 2 to 3 ccs, then about .5 ccs every month thereafter. She said it could be up to THREE MONTHS before I feel any restriction!! That's a long time in Bandster Hell!

@ The person who was having breathing problems and called the nurse -- I would absolutely follow up on that with your doctor. No offense to your nurse, she's probably spot on, but that sounds rather suspect to me and nurses have been known to be wrong. Regardless if you've got a cold or not, since you have been having breathing problems since surgery, I would absolutely follow up. It took me three days before I finally coughed up the yucky congestion out of my lungs, but I felt so much better afterward. Please do follow up with your doctor!!

Nice to meet everyone -- look forward to your updates!

[mepainting 0]

I haven't, but I'm starting to. I decided this afternoon to move to my cream Soups that I add skim milk to, cook, then strain to make sure I'm getting out any small bits and pieces.

Before I move to any additional full liquids, I'll see my surgeon tomorrow for my follow up visit and ask his advice.

Are you getting yours in?

I dont get in all my Protein. I am on full liquid and 7 days out. I did not have a preop diet. Ive lost 13 lbs. My diet says to eat every 4 hours and sip in between. When I do eat, it is not to be more than 1/2 cup total. I add nonflavored Unjury to my cream of mushroom with garlic Soup (really good) and skim milk. It took me 3 days to finish the soup eating it at almost every meal. Adding all the calories up each day, its not very much. I also take the Vitamins. I guess I get about 25-30 gr of protein if I finish 1 Protein Drink.< /p>

[mepainting 0]

Be Careful to try and follow your doctors guidelines. Banding is only a tool. If youre not hungry dont eat.

[michelleisaac 0]

I dont get in all my Protein. I am on full liquid and 7 days out. I did not have a preop diet. Ive lost 13 lbs. My diet says to eat every 4 hours and sip in between. When I do eat, it is not to be more than 1/2 cup total. I add nonflavored Unjury to my cream of mushroom with garlic Soup (really good) and skim milk. It took me 3 days to finish the soup eating it at almost every meal. Adding all the calories up each day, its not very much. I also take the Vitamins. I guess I get about 25-30 gr of protein if I finish 1 protein drink.

I bought a clear liquid Protein Powder in lemonade. Something like 24 grams in a cup.. nectar I believe it is called. Also Isopure is not great but has the protein.. That is how I make sure i am getting in my protein and water..

[LindseyKay 0]

Today was my first day back at work (I was banded on the 17th) OUCH!!! I was fine at home, but sitting all day combined with wearing actual clothes NOT INCLUDING ELASTIC :biggrin: made for one looooooooong day.

My problem is that I can't de-code the messages my tummy is sending. One minute I'm dying of starvation, the next I think I might have gas, the next I am full. Any help here?? Please tell me that I wont have a schitzo stomach forever...:tongue:

I had Protein drink for Breakfast, lots of Water througout the day, Soup for lunch, and *cheat* some soft scrambled egg for dinner.< /p>

[cgreen43 0]

I was banded on Dec 14th and wanna join the December Delights:smile2:

[Melinco 1]

Also posted on my blog:

I had a good appointment with the surgeon. Weight loss from my pre-op appointment on 12/7 to today was 14 pounds! Woohoo!

He took the steristrips off my incisions. Gross, now I have to see them.

He asked how I thought everything went, and I said everything went well except for my freaking out when they gave me the first medicine when I went into the OR. I said they did it before even getting me on the table, and he said they shouldn't have given me anything until I was on the operating table. He seemed a bit shocked. I started crying when I told him about it, it's the first time I've allowed myself to really feel the panic and let it out. At the end of the appointment, he gave me a hug.

I get to move on to the mushy stage of food! So I made some mashed cauliflower tonight, and added the ranch mix for flavoring as well as two string cheeses for Protein. I'll have plenty leftover to eat tomorrow for lunch and dinner. I'm looking forward to having cream of wheat for breakfast in the morning!

I can take the anti-nausea patch off, but I think I'll wait until tomorrow, just in case the cauliflower doesn't agree with me, but so far so good.

I go in on February 2 for my first fill. Then again a week later for another fill. How cool is that?

So all in all, everything went well. Now I can at least partially enjoy my upcoming Christmas dinners. :0)

[65DueceCoupe 0]

I'm on the post op side now and doing awesome. woohooo

[HappyMe2009 0]

Hi Delights! I haven't been online in a minute or two... I am heading to my 2 week post-op and will catch up with everyone when I come back! I hope everyone is doing well and Congrats to all those being banded today!

[mepainting 0]

Today was my first day back at work (I was banded on the 17th) OUCH!!! I was fine at home, but sitting all day combined with wearing actual clothes NOT INCLUDING ELASTIC :biggrin: made for one looooooooong day.

My problem is that I can't de-code the messages my tummy is sending. One minute I'm dying of starvation, the next I think I might have gas, the next I am full. Any help here?? Please tell me that I wont have a schitzo stomach forever...:tongue:

I had Protein drink for breakfast, lots of Water througout the day, Soup for lunch, and *cheat* some soft scrambled egg for dinner.< /p>

well I [cheat] a tiny bit too I guess cause I fry an egg using Pam and sprinkle a bit of cheddar on it and cut it in tiny pieces and eat it as a meal too. No problems. I was banded the 14th. I keep track of calories, Im eating about 600 - 700 a day and have lost 16 lbs since surgery day.

[mepainting 0]

I was banded on Dec 14th and wanna join the December Delights:smile2:

Great! Same day as me! Do you still hurt when you bend over?

[AE09 3]

I'm post op too!! I got banded on Monday, I'm on liquid diet now, the doc wants me to eat every 2 hours....up to 6 times a day. I'm getting mixed signals from my stomach...am I hungry? is it gas? What are those noises?? Still sore, nervous about going back to work next week, but excited about my new life!!

[HappyMe2009 0]

2-week post op visit went well! Surgi-strips are off my incisions and everything is healed, on the outside at least. Surgeon said there is still minimal swelling around the port incision and that's to be expected. He told me I could advance my diet to include soft foods and moist meats, and I had to confess that I had already advanced myself about a week ago! ().

After surgery I had NO appetite at all for a few days, so if I managed to eat a cup of broth, it was a good day. I found that sleeping with ice packs wrapped in thin towels on my belly helped A LOT with discomfort and the swelling. Once the swelling went down, I moved on to Soups and Protein Drinks, but they have been hard for me to get used to. I am not a milk drinker and they all had such bad aftertastes to me. I finally settled on Boost high Protein, Special K Protein Shake, and Isopure from GNC. The Boost has 15g, Special K has 10g and the Isopure drinks have 40g per bottle.

I basically have NO restriction now that the swelling has mostly gone down, so I have been eating basically what I want, just in moderation. My doctor said that is fine as long as I don't gain weight. He isn't really expecting that I will start to lose any "real" weight until I get my fills. I go for my first one in 2 weeks, Jan 5th and I am looking forward to that. I am glad that I have made it over the "hump" but it's kinda scary not having any restriction.

To those with chest pains, PLEASE use your spirometer.. it will help relieve the pains that could be caused by phlegm and congestion. I used mine daily and I can't describe the "yuckiness" that came out of my lungs. Just a suggestion.

I am finally able to sleep on my stomach again (Thank you Lord) and only have mild discomfort when I bend or turn my body in certain angles.

Also, I bought pure Vitamin E oil and have been putting it on my incisions since the steri-strips came off and it really helps with the healing and bringing the color back evenly.

[juke 0]

I'm Fricken Freaking out! I was banded 12/4, lost 11 pounds in two weeks, and now I feel no restriction! I went to my 2 week follow-up, and my doc said not to worry, and that when my band is filled on 1/17 I will feel a difference. I'm still freaking out! I can eat! The only issue is that I get the hiccups everytime I eat. I don't want to GAIN weight! Help! I feel like I could still eat. I don't feel like eating bad, in fact all I crave is chicken. But I did this so I could feel in control, and now I'm not so sure. Am I crazy?

[tmaiello 0]

I'm Fricken Freaking out! I was banded 12/4, lost 11 pounds in two weeks, and now I feel no restriction! I went to my 2 week follow-up, and my doc said not to worry, and that when my band is filled on 1/17 I will feel a difference. I'm still freaking out! I can eat! The only issue is that I get the hiccups everytime I eat. I don't want to GAIN weight! Help! I feel like I could still eat. I don't feel like eating bad, in fact all I crave is chicken. But I did this so I could feel in control, and now I'm not so sure. Am I crazy?

Juke,

You are not crazy. Less than 2 weeks post op, I felt NO restriction and could drink for hours on end. It's how you heal, not a failure in the surgery. I promise you will feel better when you get your first fill and "realize" that the band does work. I was banded 12/3....so I really feel your issue now!

I am in your shoes right now and work hard to slow myself down eating. I have lost a few pounds from just dieting on my own, per my dietician's advice (clear liquids and Protein drinks only for 3 weeks! Boy, that is real hard!!!!) Try your best to follow Dr's and dieticians advice b4 the fill. It WILL make a difference!

Keep on the path, you will make it!

Anthony :thumbup::w00t:

Edited December 24, 2009 by tmaiello
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