novena

Hi to all, I have not written for quite a while...lots has been happening. It has been two years since lapband surgery. I lost about 40 pounds and gained ten back. I returned to clinic for some support...some good ideas, which they gave me but I seem to gain and lose the same two pounds. I know one of my issues is late night eating. Usually, I can be a fairly disciplined person but I surely don't think I am now! Any suggestions?

Novena

I am one year post op and am gaining weight. Too much evening snacking and love of sweets. Looking for help to break this cycle or turn it into something healthy. Fortunately, I also do like popcorn and apples. I will try to start keeping low carb Snacks on hand and less 'diet' candybars!

Hi, I had lapband surgergy on March 8th. I bought a weight loss journal and am I ever glad I did! I live by that journal. I keep track of calorie, amount, and Protein count. I add it all up mid day. Earlier in the journal, I set my intake goals and try very hard not to go over that. I need 60 grams of protein and Water intake and try to do this within a 700 calorie intake. It helps me to control my grazing, which I have always been good at! I also found a site on line for foods for lapband clients. they have wonderful products that are low in calories and high in protein. The food is very tasty. They even have good Snacks. good luck. Novena

I just got my lap band on 3/22 and I am in the pureed stage. I feel like I am constantly looking for something to eat! Is there something wrong? I have not gotten a fill but why am I eating so much. (1 cup of food for a meal and then grazing.. )

Hi,

I am glad the tenderness is getting better. So is mine. Yes, my tenderness is also in the upper left area. I also have an incision about 2 inches in length in that area. . Not sure what that is but will find out tomorrow. I was told I also had a hernia repair. I was surprised about that! If i get a little too active (which doesn't take much) I get actual pain in the left shoulder and neck area. I'll check into that tomorrow too. Tomorrow is my first post op check. I still take a little liquid pain med but much less now, about twice a day. I'm not sure when all the swelling will go down...Have you heard how long it takes? Yes, I would like to be your friend. Novena

Thanks Novena! Is it ok if I try to add you as a friend? My soreness is getting a little better each day. Good idea about the sage steams. May try it. I am glad to hear that the bra helped you some. My best friend bought me a special pillow for my birthday before my surgery. My birthday was 3/3. She knew this would help with the tenderness and it has. Do you feel the band in your mid to upper left chest area? I think this is what I am feeling and can be uncomfortable. Hoping it is just because of swelling.

Take care~

Ohh, I am sooo glad you made it! Good for you! Now, that cold...I too was still a little head congested lots of juices and rest, rest, rest. I have a long line bra that hooks in the front. I have been wearing that since I got home...it helps a little with support then pressure of my hands on the hurt spots does the rest. I think walking around when not resting helps.. Oh, did I tell you about the sage steams? It's an old remedy I have used for years. Steam my nose and head with sage drops in the water...clears the sinuses every time.. I had the surgery on the eighth and the gas is pretty much gone.now. You know, I wonder if the long line bra helped with the swelling. I'm pretty sure the swelling is down. Before I thought of the long line bra, I was planning on figuring a way of binding my abs a bit. I hope you will keep me posted as to how you are doing. My first post op visit is Monday14th of March...I sure want more than Clear Liquids to Celebrate with!!. Novena

Awesome Novena!! I was thinking of you and hoping you were able to have your surgery. I too was able to have mine on March 10th. I still have my cold, but not near as bad as before. My lungs were all clear, no fever and no chills. My cough had pretty much subsided, but since surgery, I seem to have it back some. Nothing like beofre though, so that is good. Like you, I too am dealing with "soreness" and post suegical pain and gas pains. Still dealing with head congestion. Makes is rough to cough or blow my nose right now. lol!! I am a great deal of "pressure" where I think my band is. Do you have that? I am assuming it is because My stomach and band area is still swollen.

I did it! I did it! talk about miracles! Two days before surgery...actually the day before, I still had that bad cold. To bed early again, lots of positive thoughts and prayers and Monday we drove in to the cities...a hotel near the hospital for the most part cold free. Prior to admissions, I told the doctors all. But I was no longer congested and was cough free. We went ahead with the surgery. All went well! Now I am home and just dealing with the tenderness...to put it mildly. Along with 'work' at resting. Vitamin C and Airborn and lots of fluids and prayers...a miracle happened and I am in my second day post op!!! Novena

Thanks for the suggestions 54Shirley. Excellent idea. I will try it!

Littledutchee...I think there still is hope here, You have 4 days...is it possible for you to get a lot of rest? Lots of Vitamin C and then more rest. I think it did help me...I have a very poor immune system. I think it happened when I had a very bad case of mono when I was younger. I'm feeling a little feverish tonight...if not better by tomorrow I will have to call the surgery team. It's hard to pick my spirits up right now...all things work out for the best is the best thing I can think of...but my tears won't stop. Novena

Oh man!! I am in the same boat! My surgery is on thursday, march 10th. I have had this "cold" for 2 and a half weeks now. I have been on antibiotics, mucinex D, robitussin and benadryl. Nothing is helping. I am so scared they will cancel my surgery!!! I have 3 days left to rid this cold!!!! Any suggestions???? I am miserable, but more imporantly....freaking out!!!!

Littledutchee

Okay, on March third I noticed the cold and put myself on bed rest and made myself do nothing but sleep. I took lots of Water and Vitamin C. Now, three days later I am seeing the light! Cough is mostly gone. Congestion in head still remains...now I am steaming with a little sage. Tomorrow my husband and I will drive to the cities...about 60 to 70 miles away. We have a hotel room reserved very near the hospital. I was so afraid I was going to have to cancel surgery...but ...I think I can make it...I think I can...I think I can...am I just dreaming? Novena

Thanks for your response to my " cold" delema . I helps to know I;m not the only one! Novena

Absolutely tell your doctor. Have you already has your pre-op appointment? I had my pre-op appt a week before my surgery and day 3 of a cold with a low grade temperature. I was in the exact same situation as you.. freaking out! On top of my cold, I was day three of antibiotics from PINK EYE that my toddler gave me!!!! I went to the pre-op appt with swollen, red eyes, a stuffy nose, sweaty/clammy and I basically look like crap.. or looked high .

I also have asthma and typically my colds go to my chest into a productive cough by the last week of the cold. I 100% knew that if I couldn't get over the cold that with a chest cold and asthma, surgery was NOT safe. I did joke that if I had to be rescheduled after the 2 week pro-op diet, I was going to say F it and get Burger King hehe.

My advice: Rest, fluids, rest, fluids, rest, rest, rest! That weekend I drank a ton of Water and took several naps and the cold went away before surgery. Be honest with yourself; surgery is nothing to sneeze at (ha ha, I'm funny). Going under anesthesia is serious and not to messed with. A postponed surgery is much better than a risky surgery and a harder post-op recovery. You'll want to rip your gut out if you have a sick cough post-op, because the deep tissue sutures hurt when you sneeze or cough. Another fact I learned.

Good luck... rest, fluids, rest, fluids...drink drink drink!!

I want to thank all of you for your very good advice. It's good to hear your support...especially now.

As for update, I put myself on bed rest. It wasn't hard to sleep the hours away. This morning I was feeling much better. Only problem is the congestion in my head remains...so I started steaming with Sage...an ole naturalistic trick I used to use when fighting a cold and singing in choir. Anyway...the congestion is breaking a little...at least I can breath from my nose.

One of the reasons for the urgency on my part is that I will be turning 69 then end of April. Normally this health team does not do this surgery on people as old as me. I suppose they cleared me because of my general health and active lifestyle...(when not sick!) I am concerned this will be my only chance to have this surgery.....Open to suggestions. Thanks again, Novena

I started experiencing symptoms of cold yesterday.. Today I am experiencing an almost constant cough...non productive. I am not wanting to report this to my health team for fear of canceling the surgery. I probably wouldn't be able to get scheduled for another month or so. Any suggestions what to do? Novena

About Dairy Queen vanilla shake.....would it be so bad? I mean...it is mostly milk Protein. I am now finishing my 4th day of ten day preop liquid diet. It's been going well so far...but oh, would I love to have a vanilla shake from Dairy Queen! Hope I don;t get kicked out of this group for such blasphemy...I'm just asking.... Novena

You have sooo much on your plate right now. I hope you will appreciate what you have done so far...which I would say is no small matter. I solute you on you're on going schooling work. Patience with yourself remember the very fine person you are. Please consider to treat yourself with something special you would like...sounds like this is the time now to do that. Get good rest as you can. would a graph of what you are doing help? Do you have a good support system/group...people you can trust I truly hope you will keep us posted...you are very precious you know. Novena

I had my surgery Jan 10^th 2010 … so about a month and a half ago. I have been in for one fill (3cc) and I'm still just as hungry as before my surgery. I feel like I'm at a complete loss my mind is starting play all the metal tricks again … I have been working really hard to keep "bad" food from not entering my mouth… but in the past two weeks I have been eating like I did before I had my surgery. I'm so disappointed in myself! My mind is saying "once you feel restriction you can start on your journey" the other downside of this is I really don't have time to exercise! I'm finishing up my maters (I will be defending in 2 months) on top of working a 40+ hours job and I have to commute over an hour to work every day. Until I defend my thesis for my masters I honestly don't have the time for working out, I'm not making an excuse I just really don't have the time! Plus I live in two different locations... during the week I live in a town closer to my work (yes still an hour commute) and then head home on the weekends to be with my family and closer to my school.

I feel like I'm the only one in this weight loss battle (I know am not) but I have skinny friends and skinny family … I'm surrounded by people that are beautiful and skinny. I haven't even told any of them about my lap band surgery because they "don't believe in that". My friends and family are great but they just don't get it and they just don't understand! This past week I found out that I have to transfer my job to a less then desirable location and I just feel like all this stuff is piling up on my plate (literally). I'm just so down in the dumps right now! I'm so glad this forum is here because this is the only place I can go and be completely honest and feel like I'm not being judged. I want so badly to be happy right now… I really just need a pick me up! Thanks as always for listening and sharing! Some days this forum is the only place I really feel comfortable.

I bought myself my favorite perfume...Graine de Soleil and matching soap and lotion as I prepare for my banding day of March 8th. Also I bought some books from Elizabeth Peters mystery historic novels. She is the Grand Master Mystery Writer and keeps me from thinking of food or anything else bothersome at this time. Novena

You go Dave!!!! geezz, what will you get for goal?

Hi everyone, I have not been banded yet, but in doing my research and reading all these posts, I am making lists of things I need to buy, etc. One thing that is on my list is a Louis Vuitton bag!!! I think that after all the preparation for this surgery (and as we all know, it takes a few years from first thinking about it to actually going through with it!), we deserve a special gift. I think of it like a 'push" present that women get for giving birth. I keep focusing on the bag that I want to keep my spirits up. I know the ultimate gift will be getting fit and healthy, but I think that we all deserve a special something. I quit smoking five years ago and every year on my anniversary, I give myself a piece of jewelry, to keep me on track and feeling happy about quitting. So I think that everyone on this board, needs to get themselves a "banding day' gift. Please submit ideas!!!

ErinK

Hi all! I too am getting banded on the 8th! So nervous and excited right now. My Dr didn't tell me anything about a diet before surgery, I wonder if that was a mistake on his part? Since everyone here seems to be doing it I guess I will try to do it too, can't hurt and I might lose some weight before surgery. I'd love someone to hold my hand on this new journey. So if anyone is interested I'll be your buddy!

onebadkitty

I am working with what appears to me to be a very well organized team. The dietician starts everyone out on ten day liquid diet prior to surgery. This is to reduce the size of the liver which is located very near the stomach. I am told that the surgeon I am working will cancel surgery if a patient has eaten any solids ten days prior to surgery! He needs room to work in and doesn't want a fatty liver in the way. I am going to try and give him ALL the room he needs! Carnation Breakfast diet was suggested. The best to you. Novena

Looking for anyone who is getting banded the same day as me. There's something oddly comforting knowing that others will be having the procedure on the same day.

I will also be banded on March 8th. Not very far away. Saturday I begin the ten day liqud diet. Novena