Crissy8705

I was banded November 2nd, and have had no fills yet. I lost 17 lbs post up, but as soon as I started my mushie stage I stopped loosing weight! I've been on mushies for two weeks now, and I'm hardly eating. It makes me sad seeing that the scale hasn't moved at all. I eat 1/2 cup to 1 cup of food for lunch and dinner, and Breakfast is usually just my Protein drink. I haven't been exercising yet, was told I couldn't start until 6 weeks post-op. Am I eating to much? Is this normal? I was starting to think I wouldn't need a fill because I only felt hungry about 20 minutes before I was due to eat (so a meal would last 3-4 hours.) Now I'm not sure since I haven't lost any weight. A normal day is my Protein Drink for breakfast (on the weekends it's one egg scrambled and about 1 tablespoon of cottage cheese), egg salad (or tuna sald) for lunch, and mashed potatoes with some Beans for dinner. I don't eat between meals and I don't drink until an hour after I've eaten. Being discouraged so soon is not a good feeling! Other questions I had: I will be 4 weeks post-op tomorrow, and it's a bit unclear on how to progress my diet. What are some things I can add? Also, is caffeine 100% a no?! I know soda is a no-no because of the carbonation, but I was SO tired at work today and was dying for a small cup of coffee or Cappuccino. Just for a little bit of energy to survive the day. Has anyone had coffee from time to time?

I love this site! Thank's guys, I do feel a little bit better! I'm starting to feel like myself again for the first time since surgery and I didn't want the fact that the scale stopped moving to change that. I'M SO EXCITED to hear that I coffee isn't out of my life! I don't drink it all that often but there are certainly them days that you just need a coffee! I heard a lot about starbucks tall skinny Carmel something or other. I will have to try that!

The mashed potatoes that I eat are less than 6 grams of carbs, and they have 2 grams of Protein, which doesn't seem like much but when you are aiming for that 70 grams of protein it helps haha. There isn't much more I can eat for dinner. I will give it a shot though.

Bare with me! I have a lot going on. I was banded on November 2nd, tomorrow I will be 2 weeks post-op. I've been on a roller coaster of emotions. The first couple of days out of surgery I did great. Aside from pain and gas I didn't feel nauseous, never got sick, tolerated my sf Jello and chicken broth! I know for a fact I haven't been drinking as much as I should. I may have dehydrated myself, but have managed to drink 2 bottles of Water a day the past 2 days.My incisions have healed wonderfully, actually look really well compared to some of the pictures I've seen, and my pain is very minimal. Anyway, Here are my questions/concerns. I've had a HORRIBLE rash since surgery. Saw my doctor, he said it isn't related to surgery. So now I have to see my primary care doctor. The rash isn't around the incisions at all. Mostly my sides and lower belly. Has anyone else had this problem? The past 2 days I've had a strange pressure in my sternum area. Drinking water has become a little difficult. Almost feels as though it's sitting there a little bit before going down. Doctor says I may be a bit swollen, but why would I be swollen now, and not out of surgery. Any one else feel this strange pressure? Has it gone away? I'm afraid that I'm freaking out and seeing and feeling things out of pure paranoia. I broke down and cried this morning just from nerves alone. Fear of something getting stuck, knowing if something is stuck, stretching my pouch, and even slippage have been hitting home. I knew of all this stuff prior to surgery, but now that I have had.. it has become so much more real. It's like a baby I want to protect, and now I'm not sure how to do that! My Doctor doesn't seem concerned, but I certainly am! I just need suggestions and help, calming words from long-term banders, or even if new banders are feeling the same. Can I have suggestions on what you's ate in your mushy/pureed stage? I'm super nervous about getting stuck, or eating the wrong things. What do you's think I will be able to eat for thanksgiving? I will be 3 weeks post-op, and definitely need suggestions. What foods are you 100% not allowed to eat once at a normal diet? I know everyone tolerates certain foods differently. Some people can eat certain things that others cant, but are there things you can't eat at all?! Any other friendly advice or help is appreciated! I'm just nervous all of the sudden. A little to late to be so haha.

I did a bit of searching about mushie foods and found some really good things. I picked up some stuff today! I got stuff for the fat free refried Beans, and the pastaless lasagne! I'm excited to try them. I also saw some people mention tuna salad and chicken salad. (I picked up a food processor haha.) Those things are okay to eat 2 weeks post op? Should I wait until my 2nd week of mushies? I also picked up cream Soups (cream of broccoli, cream of cheddar, cream of potato). These are okay too, right? What about beans? I picked up some bushes baked beans. Are these okay? Do I have you puree those as well? Just looking for some ideas so I can make some stuff for lunches during the week!

Technically mashed potato's are part of the mushie stage, doctors also recommend plain baked potato's (no skin) between mushies and solids stage.

I am SO glad I'm not the only one! I was banded on 11/3 and have been itching like mad ever since! Mostly near the incisions, but the iodine also dried me out, sot it's an all over belly itch! It drives me insane sometimes. I actually was afraid I was allergic to the band itself. The doctor reassured me that it was VERY unlikely and to use a non medicated non scented lotion. I've been using Eucerin, with little help. Hopefully it goes away soon!

I'm 9 days post-op and down 17lbs. I've been living on sf pudding/ sf jello/ chicken broth/ and cream of wheat. While I don't find myself hungry, I do find myself needing some sort of substance. If you've been banded, what were you eating after 9 days post op? I was told to wait 2 full weeks for mushies, but I need substance! Is it safe to introduce cottage cheese to my diet? Maybe mashed potatoes? I saw a lot of people posting about the tuna salad and chicken salad pureed, how many days/weeks post-op did you incorporate that!?

So I was Banded on November 3rd. I woke up around 7:30 in the morning, scheduled to be at the hospital by 9:00am. I got to the hospital around 8:30. They registered me and took me back to the room where I was asked a million one and questions by a million people. It seemed like in no time they were putting that silly little hat on me and wheeling me into the operating room. Once in the room I slid over to the operating table. They put the air cuffs on my legs to prevent clots. About 5 minutes into being in the operating room, I was drifting off to no where land. I woke up in recovery so incredibly itchy! A lovely side effect of the pain medication haha. I will unfortunately openly admit that the pain was a little more then I had expected. I remember asking if the pain was normal, only because I expected to be sore at most. I also had trouble breathing. Apparently because of the anesthesia and the tube down my throat it made my lungs lazy. So I had to be on oxygen. My surgery lasted about an hour, and I was in recovery for about 3 hours. Once I was somewhat awake they wheeled me to do a barium swallow to check the placement of the band and to make sure there was no obstruction. I had to sit up, and that was horribly painful. Around 3:30pm they took me to my room where they gave me some Tylenol with codeine. It did absolutely nothing lol. So the rest of my stay they injected dilauded into my IV. Once I had that the rest of the stay was pretty comfortable. It was tough to get up to use the rest room, and about 7pm the gas pains started setting in. They wouldn't let me take gas x in the hospital, so I had to walk around to get it out. I was discharged the following day around 12:20pm. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The hospital and staff were amazing, as was my surgeon. So far, so worth it!

I first started the lap band process about 2 years ago. I had unfortunately lost my job about 3/4 of the way though and couldn't get everything completed before loosing my insurance. 2 years later I had my job and my insurance back. He remembered me and worked with me closely to make sure we could get things done in a timely matter (you never know with this economy). Eva was just as patient and kind. Lord knows I was on the phone with her at least twice a week. It took me around 2 months to get everything done, and Eva had my approval the same day the paperwork was submitted to the insurance company! I was at work when I got the call and I can't help but remember how I actually cried. I look forward to my surgery with Dr. Goldstein and the process that will follow. I will be banded in 4 days! November 2nd will the the first day of the rest of my life!

I will be banded on Wednesday, November 2rd 2011!! 4 days away! I'm very anxious, nervous, starting on fear and doubt. It seemed so long getting here, now it seems like it's creeping on me so fast! I'm sure the doubts and questions are normal, which is why I love lapbandtalk! Everyone has so much advice! Wish me luck!

Don't they say if you can't keep small sips of liquid down to call the dr. Asap? It could mean your stoma got blocked, not to mention vomiting can make your band slip, especially since you are only three days post-op. I would definitely consider calling the doctor! Not to worry you, but that is what they are there for.

Congrats! Hope it goes great for you! I'll keep an eye out on your blog for sure. Not sure when I'm getting banded. Have 2 more pre-op appointments then it's getting submitted to the insurance company! :crosses fingers:

So we all know protein is a HUGE part of being banded. I was reccomened UNJURY protein. It's medical grade and it actually taste pretty decent. However, you only get 17 scoops per container and it's $20. Kind of on the expensive side. Any other medical grade recomended protein mixes out there?!

I heard about the muscle milk light, but doesn't that actually have a higher caloric intake to help you gain weight? Can you mix the liquid protein in with the powdered drink for that extra protein or do you take them separately?

How does it taste? I've been weighing all the different types of protein mix, most important being how much protein you get, second the calories, third the amount in container, and forth the cost. I did an unjury sample and it really was tasty. 20 grams of protein.. but its only 17 scoops per container for $20. Just can't weight if its worth it. I'll have to look up Isopure. Do you know how many calories?

I couldn't have said it better myself!

So this is my 2nd time around the block going through the lap-band procedure. About 4 years ago I started researching the different types of bariatric surgery and after about 2 years of supervised dieting/pills/ect I decided on the lap-band and the doctor. I was 1 or 2 pre-op appointments away from being able to submit everything to insurance when I had lost my job AND my insurance. So here I am 2 years later going through it all again! All I have left is my Primary care visit, bloodwork, and a stress test/echo. 3 more appointmens scheduled within the next two weeks and I'm done! I've never been more ready for anything in my life. It's been such a long tiring and at times upsetting process. I know it ultimately rests in my insurance's (Amerihealth POS) hands, and that is making me VERY nervous. As far as health issues, I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 15 and it has only gotten worse over the years. I was also diganosed with sleep apnea with the first round of pre-op appointments. Heart disease and diabetes run deep in my family history. I'm 24 years old and tired of living my life being uncomfortable and overweight. Not to meantion working 10 hours a day is exhausting with the added weight. I've always been overweight, for as long as I can remember, and it's time for a change! I've been reading a ton of the forums here and there is so much more insight and information then I could have ever imagined. I love knowing there is a community of people there no matter the time or day for help with any question that someone could have! To our journies!

Just curious as to if any has gone through the process with Amerihealth POS. How did approval go? So far it's been good with my pre-op appointments. Just have my $50 co-pay (ugh). Now that I'm coming near to the end and getting ready to submit to my insurance I'm getting nervous as to how it's going to go.

I also have PCOS (was diagnosed when I was 15, now 24). That is one of the main contributing factors of my getting the surgery. I'm still pre-op. I have about 2 more clearance appointments before they subit to the insurance. The lap-band is only a tool, and still requires a lot of work after getting it. I suggest doing LOTS of research prior to making and decisions. I looked into the process for 2 years prior to going forth with it. I then lost my job and insurance which gave me 2 more years to research and help me decide that it was good for me. 4 years of total research and I'm confident. I've seen good, bad, ugly.. Just make sure you know as much as you possibly can.

I haven't been put on an official pre-op diet yet (surgery not scheduled yet) but I have been on a strict low cal diet, and I've been doing well. Lost 11lbs in 3 weeks. I did question as to whether I thought I could do it long term and stick with it. Truth be told, while right now is going well, I don't think it would last. I think it's a general thought.. can I do this on my own without surgery. Most cases we've come to surgery for a reason.