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This 15 #'s is huge for me. I am walking with more of a spring in my step and my knees are not hurting anymore. GB

I just printed out your recipe, John. I get to have fish starting Thursday. My menu will be Tasty Tilapia with mashed potatos. I can finally cook something my husband likes too. GB

Wow, it really shows Karrianne. Good job! GB

Sorry this response is so late, but I just noticed the question. I was banded 2 weeks ago last Friday and started back on my exercise bike on Monday. It's fine with my doc. I feel much better being back to bike riding. GB

pre-op 5/19 216 surgery 5/22 213 1st week 5/29 208 week 2 6/5 202 (6 #'s this week). GB

Mine is halfway between belly button and bra line. At this point there is no pain & I can just now tell where it is exactly. GB

My doctor told me to have 3 meals a day plus 3 Protein shakes in between & then after dinner. That's what I have been sticking with, except I have low fat, sf pudding with low fat whipped cream. GB

Mine is raised as well. I took the bandage off for the 1st time today and it was the steri strips creased in the middle pushing up right along the cut line. I pulled off 2 strips by mistake from pulling up the bandage and it no longer raises at that part of the wound. GB

You may want to try making your own chicken broth. Put a chicken in a pot full of water with seasoning to your taste and boil it, then medium simmer for about 45 minutes. Skim off the fat, give the chicken to someone else, and the broth left is for you. It tastes much better fresh. You can do this with vegetables if you like too. If this makes you nausiated too, then call your nurse I think. GB

Surgery was on a Friday at 213, then 1 week later on last Friday was 208, so 5 pounds since surgery and 8 since pre-op. Yay! :thumbup:GB

Yesterday I made omelets. I'm trying my best to start cooking again for my husband, so the omelets are made of 2 eggs and eggbeaters, pureed spinach and sauteed onions, (it's on my allowed list now), low fat cheese on my little section of the skillet/hot jack cheese on his now big boy section of the pan, salt, pepper. It was pretty good. Today I'm having lentil soup or egg salad with 3 crackers. Yum. GB

Sara, I'm so glad you're finally feeling good. It looks like we are all off to a really good start. GB

I feel less thirsty today thank goodness. I'm really glad to hear that we will be back to normal soon. GB

My doc says no alcoholic drinks for 6 months to a year and no caffein ever again. I've started drinking de-caf tea and I'll probably go to de-caf coffee when it gets cold again. I'm putting lemon or lime in my water and it helps so much. GB

Hi WM, A couple of things I'm looking forward to on the mushie stage is refried beans with low fat cheese & ff sour cream, also hummus. On my list, we can also have eggs, crackers, toast, kidney or black beans, canned tuna & chicken, mashed bananas & pears, pureed spinach. I am going to make a very small egg salad sandwich (less than 1/2, with ff mayo) I can't wait! Does that help with ideas? I'm from Ok also.

You are both doing really good it sounds like. I was banded Friday and have lost 9 1/2, 7.5 since surgery. You all should go to the Mayo Banditos group of threads since you were banded in May. (just go to "search" at the top of the page and type in May 2009, It will take you to a bunch of listings, go to Mayo Banditos from there. There's a whole lot of threads and discussion. You can also get a May banner and a counter like mine. Go to your "Signature" on your profile and paste these items on there. (click on my counter, go to the site, put in info, be sure to save it, then go back to your signature & place it there.) for the Banditos banner, it seems like you just copy and paste onto your signature. GB

Hi Jalicia, I was banded on Friday and I'm doing good. My starting BMI was 37 as well. I have high blood pressure which made it possible to have it done. Your pix are great. You have really lost a lot and it shows! That is really encouraging. Has it been a steady weight loss and how much did you lose in the 1st week or 2? GB

Hi Sarah, I see that the instructions just say not to "scrub" the abdomen. I think you can gently wash the area with no problem. I had my surgery yesterday and came home today after showering at the hospital. I was gentle with the bandaids. Good luck to us! GB

Hi Binda, I had my surgery yesterday as well. It went along very smoothly. I am drowsy now, but probably because I was given 2 Lortabs this morning. The gas pain is pretty bad today. I really have walked a lot though, trying to help it subside. I wil take a nap now and write again later. GB

Sara, Good luck with your's tomorrow. I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 in the a.m. I had my chicken broth for dinner earlier and can't drink anything else starting at midnight. I just remembered, I forgot my dessert, sugar free Jello. Better than nothing. Best wishes to us all. Talk with you on Saturday. GB

Thanks for the reply Kathy. It's good to hear that, especially since tomorrow is my surgery. Are you banded? How long ago was your friend?

I too have had thoughts today of "Do I really want to do this", but I think it's because I have had so little to eat since Sunday (being on liquids only). Restaraunts, etc are really beckoning to me to eat. I passed by one of my favorite hot dog joints and had such a longing for a plain old hot dog. I was not hungry until today and I know it's because I missed a protein shake between lunch and dinner and then didn't get home from work until close to 7pm. I will do fine though and I'm really looking forward to the new me as time goes by.

Hi, Mine is on Friday the 22nd. I am so excited and I don't feel nervous yet. I have been on liquids only since Sunday. I had my pre op at the hospital yesterday and with the surgeon today. They gave me the stomach soap liquid to start using tomorrow. Did y'all get that as well? I found out that my red toe nail polish is okay during surgery, just not blue, black or purple. I wear clear polish on my finger nails only. I will be staying overnight in the hospital. Anyone else? GB

Hi Venus, How are feeling today? Still good I hope. You can get a Mayo Banditos Banner by clicking on mine, copy and paste to your signature area if you would like. I'm pretty sure you can use any strained soup during liquids only. How about a smoothie with frozen fruit, banana, milk, spenda and ice in the blender? I don't start my liquid diet pre-op until a week from today, so I haven't checked into all of the possibilities. When you find out , let me know if there is any exciting liquid items. GB

Hi Aussie, I have bad sciatica as well and it affects my legs too. My chiropractor taught me how to keep the pain way down with pulling the nerves. It is incredible how well it works. Try this: Sit up straight, cross your bad leg over the other, pull your knee up (bad leg), & while pulling it up, force it in the direction of the other leg with your hands, you will feel it if you are doing it correctly in your lower back at your sciatic nerve. Hold for about 10 seconds, stop for about 15 seconds and do again, about 3 to 5 times. You can do the other side also to balance it out if you like. Do this several times a day and as often as you need (every day if needed). It pulls your sciatic nerve and in a day or 2 the pain will be gone. If you keep this up, you can stop the pain as soon as it starts and you'll be able to walk without pain. Good luck with it! GB