SillyWillyMommy

My date is 8/19... we'll be doing pre-op starvation together

I had a band as well.... my doctor removed it back in March, and my sleeve date will be 8/19...

How are you feeling? I am having VSG with Dr. Ahmad on 8/19

Dr. Mehta did my lap band... she's very sweet.

My date is Aug 19th.... We will be suffering thru our preop diet together!

I am in Long Island as well. My Doctor was in Riverhead.

Thanks, Karla. I'm not 'worried' about it. I was just curious. I am on full liquids, which includes things like yogurts.. which DO fill me up. I guess what I was asking.. (and I think you answered it)... was if, (obviously once everything is settled and healed) the 'fullness' you feel resembled a natural 'fullness' which would be in the belly. Thank you for your help.

Ok.. so this is what I'm doing to get thru the liquids, which I'm sick of. (Congrats to all you that were banded yesterday, and today!!!).. I took a container of cottage cheese, and scooped some out. The rest I put in the blender with a splash of milk... then blended and put back in the fridge. When I'm craving something sweet... I have a tablespoon or two of cottage cheese with some jelly folded in. You can use sugar free. I'm using regular because yesterday, I used all sf foods and I think I ended up consuming 60 calories for the day... For right now, I'm allowing myself one or two regular sugar foods. Enjoy! (Oh yeh.. I wouldn't eat it right after blending... because (for me anyhow) it gets too airy and contributes to my gas problem!)

Ok, so I was just banded on Wednesday (May 16). I'm finally starting to feel like something OTHER than someone who's just had surgery. I am eating (full liquids) regularly. My question is... Right now, feeling 'full' to me is a tightness in my chest.. well, my esophagus. Does this eventually change to a more natural feeling of fullness.. does it ever feel like you are full in your tummy?? Or will it always be a discomfort a little higher up?? Does that make sense?? :eek:

Congratulations!!!! Keep up the good work!

Try drinking something hot or warm. Bigelow makes a decaf French vanilla tea.. It's very yummy!!! Best wishes. PS- Or try drinking something very cold. Freeze a bottle of Water, or crystal light... honestly, even a hawaiin punch or something.. drink it as it defrosts.

Also.. try moving a little more. Excercise can DEFINATELY get that scale moving!! You're doing great.

I was banded Wednesday. I had really bad dizziness over the weekend (when I didn't have much Thur or Friday)... Today I feel better.. but still get a little dizzy after standing for too long. I'm pretty sure I'm dehydrated. Tonight I'm Freezing a few spring water bottles... I'll drink them as they defrost, hopefully that will keep me hydrated. It will get better :-)

Dutchgrl... ARGHHH!!!! MEN!!!!! I cannot imagine how you feel. Is there someone who can help YOU at the house with the boys?? A relative/friend?? I saw your older boys are 14... so maybe they could step it up a bit so you wouldn't have to do cleaning.. and just order delivery??? I cannot imagine what it would be like not knowing that my children were in good care while I recovered. Best of luck with everything!

Melissa.. glad to see I was not the only one who had to do the barium balance. :-) My surgeon has a stand up xray that you just stand there and drink the stuff and watch the monitor.. but I guess the hospital wasn't as advanced :-(

Cindy/Wenjea- Thanks for making me feel sooo not alone. It seems that the positive stuff gets posted 100x more than the negative. I guess that's because no one wants to scare anyone off... which I totally understand. Cindy- I was on 6 days full/ 1 day clear preop. Post op, my doc seems to be the most lenient. I was on clear liquids for about 12 hours post op. (But I couldn't/wouldn't eat or drink anything anyhow).. Then the hospital gave me yougurt and skim milk the night of my surgery (didn't eat or drink that either), ... and for my one week follow up she'll put me on mushies. I'm still only consuming about 4-6ozs of food daily.. and I eat MOSTLY things like chicken broth and tea.. Hey, those of you on clear liquids.. I found this tea.. I think it's by earl grey.. not sure.. it's French Vanilla Decaf.. YUMMY!! IT's sooo good..... Thanks again guys.

Cindy/Wenjea- Thanks

I'm back. Very run down. I spent 60 hours in the hospital (for which, I AM thankful).. I was in alot of pain but could not stomach any kind of pain medication. They gave pain meds via injection for the first day after but then I had to swallow.. which I couldn't ... too gross. I also had a hard time with the barium for the swallow test... (Mostly because of the conturtionist table they put you on :-) but I did it. I vomited once, and all the nurses were like "YOU CAN'T VOMIT... YOU'LL SLIP YOUR BAND"... (Like I was vomitting because I wanted to). It was worse than I expected, and when I was checking out.. I asked the surgeon how soon I could schedule a lapband removal. When I got home.. I walked as much as possible, but constantly felt dizzy, clammy and cold.. Most likely from dehydration because I couldn't drink much (not that there was anything wrong with the band.. just the gas pain and the boulder in my neck :-). Yesterday (day 4 post op) I started to feel a bit better.. I've been craving salt.. I would have licked the salt off a potato chip it there was one available.... (I don't know what that was from). Today is the first day that I feel like things are going up. It's sunny out. The excruciating pain in my shoulder has lessened.. the gas is not as bad, and my tummy feels ok. (My incisions were the only thing that never actually hurt. Not even when I sneezed or coughed). I have yet to have a bowel movement... But I haven't really eaten much. Today is the FIRST day that I don't feel like I've made a bad decision. I've also lost about 10lbs since the surgery... but I'm quite sure that will creep back on once I start drinking regularly. I don't want to discourage anyone.. and everyone recovers differently.. BUT this definately was major surgery and by no means whatsoever a quick fix. Congrats to all you banded already.. and good luck to those on deck. :-) Rachel

Ok, right now the Actitrainer can NOT be worn under Water (althought it IS water resistant). They are working on a new neoprene casing... but I don't think that would be water proof either. They are constantly evolving the software, and although there is not currently a feature that asks what you were doing when you weren't wearing it... it may be available in the future. So... to answer your question.. you can't wear it while swimming :-(

I have the actitrainer and LOVE it.. However, the 'novelty' of it wore off for me after about two weeks. I want to start using it again now... BUT it involves wearing a chest strap, and since I just had my lap band surgery, I have some tenderness and scars along wear the strap goes.. I think I'll be without it for a few weeks.

Hey... was it just me, or did you guys all have a hard time getting on the boards before... and what are those orange and green boxes at the bottom of each post.. maybe they're not there.. maybe I'm just alittle loopy from the lack of food .... :-)

Cannot LIVE without my Tivo, Oil of Olay body ribbons body wash, Oil Of Olay Total Effects Moisturizer, my blender..and now.. My lbt board :-)

Amy... you were banded only one week ago, and are CONSIDERING walking a MILE?!?!?!?!?!? That is SO encouraging.. because I have my daughter's birthday party next weekend (10 days post op), and I was so afraid that I'd have to be practicaly wheeled out to the yard and wouldn't be able to participate.. (And then have to explain to all my family and friends.. most of which have no idea about the surgery why I'm such an invalid)... Now, it seems like I might be able to at the very least participate with my daughter.. if not even help out a tiny bit (Don't want to OVERDO it with the clean up *wink wink*).. Thank you for the update, and the italian wedding soup broth seems yummy. Enjoy!! We had a mother's day bbq, and since I was on the pre-op diet (full liquids) I had to get creative.. I took a few slices of london broil, 1/4 hot dog and diced them, I sauteed them with onion, garlic, and some diced yellow and red peppers.. when everything was sauteed, I tossed in some corn, and beef broth and let simmer for an hour or so.. Then I threw it in the blender... YUMMY YUMMY.. I made a big batch and had it for breakfast lunch and dinner yesterday. Slurp :-)

Hey Eddie.. I'm getting banded on Wednesday too!! I'll be thinking of you.. our doc requires a 2 night stay.... So, I'll be back online Friday. Best of luck!!!