jen120

I have not had this problem. Hang in there and keep your doctor in the loop. I hope things get better!

Hi Erin, I'm sorry this is going so rough for you. You are 20 and I know its tough to figure this out all on your own. I'm pretty sure I couldn't do this by myself at 20. You need to follow-up with your doctors office as soon as you can and explain the problem to them. Perhaps they can hook you into a local support group. I know what it is like to feel depressed and its tough to pull yourself out of that hole, but you got to do it! With regard to food, you dont have to spend a lot of money on food... For Protein I eat a lot of eggs, cottage cheese, tuna, sliced meat, chicken. You can buy these things inexpensively. Get some lettuce and other fruits and veggies that are in season and you are good to go. Track all your food using an online tracker like myfitnesspal or something similar. Aim for 60 grams of protein a day. Also, try to get some exercise in. Take a walk, ride a bike, something so you get moving. It will help with your weight loss and your depression. Once you start to make moves in the right direction, you'll start to feel better. PS...you need to take personal responsibility but I also think you should sit down with your mom and have a serious talk with her. Explain exactly how you are feeling, write it down if you need to. Tell her you need her help and support (that doesnt mean she does everything for you). Good Luck...

Well congrats on the surgery and sorry that your doc isnt the best. 1. My doc says no Protein shakes/drinks AT all. Do you agree? ( because i don't at all, nor does anyone i talked with ) I was on protein shakes made with Water then milk, Jello, broths, water for 2 weeks after surgery with a goal of getting 60 grams of protein. I must admit toward the end of the 2 weeks I started with some yogurt, smooth Soups, cottage cheese. 2. Two weeks of broth & juice ( no milk,..ect ) 3.Do you have the stitches removed or do they dissolve? I had the super glue to close me up. No issues. Could take a shower 1 day after surgery. 4. Should i be taking any Vitamins or something? I'm getting at most 500 cals a day. I was told not to start vitamins until 2 weeks after surgery. LIke the above poster, must be chewable or liquid. 5. What did you eat the first week, second week & then finally at a month? See above for first 2 weeks, week 3 added soft Proteins like eggs, cheese, sliced lunch meat, tuna, Beans. Week 4 could add regular protein like nuts, chicken breast or steak (small bites and chew very, very carefully these are notorious for ) 2 months after surgery we can add carbs. Not because our stomachs cant take it, just because they want us to focus on protein. 6. Can you take Gas EX? Yes...My doctor also said I could start taking my other meds 1 day after surgery but to take 1 at a time with plenty of water. Any big pills had to be split or crushed (ask pharmacist or doctor before crushing cause some pills cant be) Good luck on this exciting journey!

I was on my period and wore a tampon...no issues. In fact I dont think I even told anyone.

Brad, I have no advice. I just want to say that I hope things improve for you. My heart goes out to you. This will pass and it will get better. Just keep sipping away to keep yourself hydrated the best you can. Maybe some chicken broth might help? I know it was one of the only things that made me feel better the first week after surgery. Please keep us updated as to how you are doing. (((Hugs)))

I had bruising around most of my incisions. I particularly had a lot where the biggest incision was (port site). It was tender and took about 2.5 weeks to go away completely. After my surgery I couldnt feel my port, but then again I didnt go pushing on my tummy searching for it because I was tender. Now that I am fully healed, I can feel it if I push down, but not if I am just laying or sitting. I have a lot of padding so maybe that is why I cant feel mine as much. Congrats on your surgery and I wish you a speedy recovery!

See this article for a full explanation... Everyone experiences hair loss on a daily basis. Normal hair loss is barely noticeable, amounting to less than 100 hairs per day. However, the stress of a major surgery can cause hair loss to accelerate up to three times as much in both men and women. It's the body's way of reacting to the trauma of the operation. The Facts During a normal hair growth cycle, hair grows, then enters into a resting or "telogen" period and eventually sheds. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, "telogen effluvium" is a term used to describe hair that has been rushed into the resting state after the body suffers a shock due to major surgery. As resources are redirected to help heal the affected surgical area, the body temporarily shuts down hair production because it is not necessary for survival. Identification Telogen effluvium related to surgery can be distinguished from other forms of hair loss in several ways. Individuals typically begin to notice the increasing hair loss two to three months after the surgery. Hair loss after surgery is uniform, noticeable on the scalp but never excessive enough to cause a patchy appearance or complete baldness. In addition, the shed hairs all exhibit a specific pattern at the root, which resembles a white bulb. Time Frame Hair usually resides in the telogen phase for a period of two to four months before growth resumes. Individuals don't begin to notice the increase in hair loss when showering or brushing the hair until about three months post-surgery. Although the resting hair is being pushed out of the scalp by new hair that is already growing, it can take anywhere from about six months to a year for the hair to return to its normal fullness. Gastric Bypass Surgery Individuals who have undergone gastric bypass or other operations of the digestive tract designed to reduce obesity are more prone to hair loss post-surgery. This is due to the reduced intake of food in the weeks and months immediately following these procedures. The body needs an adequate amount of Proteins and Vitamins to maintain hair production. Protein-enhanced shakes are often recommended for these patients as a substitute until solid food can be better tolerated. Proper Diet Hair loss related to surgery typically reverses itself without any medicinal intervention or the need for over-the-counter hair loss tonics or treatments. However, maintaining a diet rich in Protein and Iron is believed to help promote and speed up healthy hair growth. Suggested foods include salmon, Beans, eggs, spinach, broccoli, nuts and whole-grain cereals. Avoid foods that can inhibit hair growth, such as those that contain high levels of caffeine and fat. Read more: Losing Hair After Surgery | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...l#ixzz1QtFeANl3

I would add cell phone to the list. Maybe something to read.

If you like Cran-Grape juice...Ocean Spray makes sugar free "on the go" little packets to mix in water. It is like crystal light. The cran-grape tastes exactly like the juice. They also have White Cran-Peach, Cran-Cherry, Cran-Cherry-Limeade and some other flavors. They are awesome!

Movies, scrapbooking or some other craft (if they do that sort of thing), maybe the theater or a comedy show, shopping for new clothes, start a mini book club where you read a book then discuss once a month, take a low carb cooking class or buy a cookbook and each of you pick one healthy recipe to make for the other ladies. Enjoy!

This is pretty normal. Since you are only 2 weeks out, you are definitely not fully healed on the inside. You probably overdid it last night and the swelling is from that. Take it easy for the next couple of days...no heavy lifting or hard work. You should improve a little bit each day.

Good for you! Now I'm thinking maybe I should make some taco meat instead of the tuna I had planned!

For calcium and Vitamin D I do the chewable viactiv Vitamins. They are chocolate and remind me of a tootsie roll. I actually buy a generic version. I take 2 a day. Usually both at the same time, maybe I should split them up. I have been taking Bariatric Advantage Lap Band chewable vitamins. They taste horrible. I can't wait till I'm done with my bottle so I can try something else.

I was using the Realize site for tracking my food and exercise since my surgery because the doctor and nutritionist said I could give them permission and they could have access to it directly on the computer if I ever needed to consult them. Their site is very limited and inadequate. So I wanted to ask for recommendations for tracking all nutrition and exercise. This is what I am looking for... Must be online Must track both food, full nutrition and exercise on one site Must allow for printing out so I can bring them to Dr. (my Dr. wont do a fill unless you bring printouts of the last 2 weeks of food and exercise) I'd like to be able to add comments and notes for each day if possible. Thanks in advance...I know you guys will have some great info!

Awesome! I wish you much continued success!

You will definitely have constipation right after surgery. I didnt have a BM for 4 days. Then I didnt have any issue until I started solid food. Now I am definitely constipated and I have started using Miralax. I think it would be ok for you.

I guess it depends what kind of person you are. If you are someone who reads about another poster who is having significant problems and its going to make you nervous, or cause you to worry excessively then you might limit what you read. There is no point in making yourself feel bad or worry.

You can do this!! I had PMS during my pre-surgery diet of shakes, broth and Jello only. Ugh, I was grouchy and was craving food non-stop. Like Karen, I just told myself that my liver needed to shrink and this was like taking medicine. What made me frustrated is that every surgeon seems to have a different pre-op diet. Different lengths, different foods, different restrictions. At the end of the pre-op diet I was craving lettuce! Of course, I had to do the same diet after surgery as before. But that seemed easier for some reason. Hang in there and good luck with surgery!

I am so frustrated that I havent lost any weight in 2 weeks. Yes, I am only 5 weeks post-op but I started at 415 pounds. With the huge amount of weight I have to lose, after the initial big loss, I feel like I should be dropping 2-3 pounds a week. I have lost 35 including the pre-op diet. I am currently eating 800-1100 calories a day, usually about 100 grams of Protein, maybe 30 grams of fat, and usually less than 50 grams of carbs a day. Even with no fill, I am not hungry between meals. Since I was very sedentary and very out of shape prior to surgery, I have started exercising very slowly. This week I've started riding a stationary bike for 10-15 minutes a day. (I cant walk due to severe arthritis in one knee). I am also doing some "chair exercises", mostly stretching and some strength moves. I know I need to be patient and I am going to continue with the program. I just want to see results and feel thinner! Also, I am so lonely. I lost my best friend (he is a guy and I was in love with him and he didnt feel the same for me.) because he got back together with his old girlfriend from 4 years ago and now he is so in love he wants to get married. My heart couldnt take it. I was destroyed emotionally. I had to cut off all contact because I just couldnt take it anymore. We used to talk on the phone for 2 hours a day and I really miss him and our friendship. I must admit, part of my motivation for the surgery was that maybe if I lost weight he would fall in love with me. I know I'm jumping all over the place. I really just needed to get this off my chest... (((Hugs)))

Congrats! That is so amazing and awesome! Keep up the good work!

I usually eat sliced turkey from the deli. Usually 4oz of turkey fills me up. Sometimes I add a slice of cheese to eat with it. I just munch on it in the car on my way to work. (I know you are supposed to sit at a table, concentrate and eat, but I just cant do that)

It's different for everyone. I took 2 weeks off and I am glad I did. I healed perfectly and was able to get plenty of rest. I could have gone to work after about a week but I was still sore. I had plenty of sick time and vacation so it wasnt an issue.

Hi Jen, I know how you feel. I was banded May 23 and have lost 36 pounds including the pre-op diet. Since starting regular food of Proteins, fruit and veggies my weight loss has significantly slowed and pretty much stopped. I am doing my best to be patient. I am eating about 800-1100 calories a day. Lots of Protein and very little carbs (less than 50). I have started some very light exercise and hope it will kick things into gear. It is not realistic to expect to lose 35 pounds a month...4-8 pounds a month is what my doctor told me to expect. So I am trying to focus on that. Sticking with the plan and staying focused. I know it is hard when you look at the scale and its not moving. I say, dont weigh yourself for 2 weeks and see what happens. Good Luck...

Your liver is on the right side of your body...so the pain is not from that. Its from the bigger incision where they put the camera and the port. The pain will get better. I seemed to feel dramatically better after about 8-10 days.

The pre-op diet was HELL for me. I cried, I was moody, I was tired, Ugh... It was completely psychological. I wanted to eat so badly but I kept reminding myself that I needed to stick to the liquid diet so my liver would shrink. I had to avoid a birthday brunch with my friends because the temptation was just too great. I never was extremely "hungry" I just wanted to eat. This web site helped me a lot. I am now almost 4 weeks out and am eating Protein, fruits and veggies. I am so much happier. I have lost 35 pounds since May 9th (when I started my pre-op diet). You can do this!! Let me know how things go!