Stacie from St. Louis

I can't make it this month.

I'm hoping to attend but have to admit I'm nervous.

I really admire you for posting this and for making the committment to start again. That is fantastic~

As for what you should eat, your surgeon (or his nurses) will probably be able to give you written instructions, but why don't you spend the next 8 days/week doing the "pre-op" liquid diet, just as you did back in '08 before your surgery? Then, when you get the adjustment, you will be ready to hit the ground running with a day or two more of liquids, then mushies, then solid food. You can do this - this website is full of supportive people willing to help.

P.S. Congratulations on your son!

Hey, welcome! Where do you live in St. L? I'm in O'Fallon.

As for the liquid diet - it's brutal, but you'll get through it. It might actually make getting through the holidays easier! Looking back, I can't believe I was able to do it myself. I was banded on 10/11/11 and am doing well - over 20 lbs. lost.

These stories definitely make me realize that my aggravating aches and pains due to obesity are only minor inconveniences - thank you for making me realize how lucky I am to be otherwise "healthy."

I like the "getting over food poisoning" idea.

If you do not feel like telling him that is your choice. You have a few options, you can say that you have a stomach bug and dont go or if you do go tell them you are getting over food poising and that your doctor will only allow you to eat liquids. This way it is only a little white lie.

Thank you for this link - I can tell it already that it will help me.

I know I've seen this blog linked on the forums several times but thought I would throw it out there for any newbies looking for recipes. I use it all the time to get ideas. I love the "Day in my Pouch" posts. Tons of great bento box ideas - use these all the time for lunch at work recipes. Also tons of Protein Shake recipes - I especially like the "Click" espresso Protein shake recipes. I have officially replaced my morning coffee with a "Click" latte or shake using her recipes.

Check it out --> http://theworldaccor...e.blogspot.com/

I hope this helps someone else!! Have a great day!

Okay, I'm four weeks post-op and have had my first fill. I'm down 20 pounds since the start of the pre-op liquid diet. Today is the first day I can actually eat the way you are supposed to with the band - small portions, protein-first, tiny bites, well-chewed, etc. I've been so looking forward to "getting started" and now that it's time, I'm really excited but also a little overwhelmed! I sat down to make a grocery list and just drew a blank, LOL. Anyone else feel this way at my stage?

My suggestion would be to follow whatever recommendations your doctor or nurse practitioner makes.

Reading your post was like reading my own!!! The burping and resultant pain was crazy and I cried too, A LOT. We are so used to comforting ourselves with food, and when we can no longer do that, it's like being adrift in the ocean with no life raft. It gets so much better, really! By the 5th day I was feeling better, and two weeks after I felt pretty normal. This online forum saved my sanity, too. Just keep reading and reading, and by all means take the pain meds!!!

I was banded on October 11th and am going in for my first fill on November 8th. After a rough first couple of weeks, I am feeling great and doing well with my eating. I don't weigh myself at home so I am eager to see what the scale says next week. So far, however, I have learned a couple of very important things about myself and my eating habits:

1) I have probably eaten WAY TOO FAST for years. I know this because I just can't do it with the band and I've noticed my meals take longer now.

2) I have probably not chewed my food adequately, because now that I have the band it will not go down easily unless I chew and re-chew my food. I find my self attempting to swallow way too soon, which causes discomfort - my old way of chewing just doesn't work now!

3) Having second or third helpings was a reflex! When I finish my dinner now, it feels WEIRD to not go for another helping of something, even though I'm not evn hungry. It had become second-nature.

For me, these are great insights, and every day I am more and more aware.

Please feel free to comment and share your own insights!

Hi, Amymom2! You are down nearly 29 lbs?!?!?! Congratulations. That is awesome. How are you feeling? I think we had surgery at about the same time (mine was Oct 11th).

Hi

GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I enjoyed chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast when nothing else would go down...

Even before the band i am absolutely in love with Ensure shakes, but only the vanillla and strawberry ones. I highly recommend them!! I have been doing chicken broth, blue Jello, Water, apple juice and ensure. I do not feel hungry at all (at least i think i dont, too much goin on down there i think!) so i just take it easy but try those! and the apple juice i get is Simply Apple, it contains no Water and no concentrate, its just pure pressed apple juice and its amazing!

My stomach rumbled too. I figured it was complaining about what I'd done to it! LOL

also, i keep getting rumbling in my stomach like im hungry, but it kinda hurts? I cant tell if im hungry or if its just the co2 gas moving around? i dont necessarily feel hungry. Ive been eating my usual broth, Jello and today i had an ensure to try to get some nutrition in me.

I promise, it gets MUCH better. I think things started to turn around for me about the 5th day after surgery, so you're getting there! I took the pain medicine to combat the pain, but it sounds like you can't do that, and that sucks. They say to walk, walk, walk, so force yourself.

Burping/hiccupping is exactly what I did for the first 5 days, and they HURT! Miserable. But it gets so much better. Try to distract yourself with TV and books, and remind yourself why you took this dramatic step. It also helped me to surf the internet and this website for success stories.

Good luck!

Hello friends i am 3 days post op and i have never experienced so much pain in all my life. Apparently the C02 they pump in you during surgery can cause some serious pain. I have an issue with pain killers, they make me sick to my stomach so I can only take the really weak stuff by mouth. I have tried moving around and what not but with these weak meds it makes it really hard. I am finally passing some of the gas today, but when it feels like i have to burp, i hiccup instead? is that normal?

also I would like to take a shower today, any suggestions on how to do this without irritating my incisions?

I've tried, but the URL is what ends up showing up instead of the ticker! What am I doing wrong?

I'll try but not sure I remember exactly, but you should be able to figure it out from it anyway. Go up to the top left hand corner where it says "signed in as anymom" and click on it. That brings up a drop down menu. Click on settings, then click on profile. There should be an option that says change signature. Click that and paste the URL from the ticker site of choice in that box.

What an amazing and exciting accomplishment! You are gorgeous!

Hello! I'm two weeks post-op and keep reading about people using Unjury brand Protein shakes/products. I'd love to hear from some users about these - are they really that tasty? And what about the Vitamins? Most vitamins are huge and I'm wondering if the Unjury ones are small so as to fit through the band....thanks for your help!

That is good news (the lack of pain). I am 15 days post surgery and am doing much better, too. Each day brings an improvement.

Are you scared to get that fill? I'm a little scared, because I don't look forward to going back to that burping, painful feeling that I had post surgery - it probably won't be that bad, though.

We are having a baby shower at work today for a co-worker - these events usually mean everyone brings a dish and it is a food free-for-all. Not looking forward to that now that my appetite is back, LOL!

Boy - what a difference a week makes! On to regular food, and I am able to eat everything I have tried so far, unfortunately. After being in such bad pain and having to get an emergency "unfill" on 10/8, I can't wait until my appointment on 11/1 to get a fill! Mornings are OK, as I can tell that my stomach is more swollen, therefore feel more restricted and can't eat as much. But evening is BAD - hungry and no restricted feeling whatsoever. I NEED that fill - I am down 20 lbs. and don't want to go back up this week.

No pain or issues anymore. Only thing I feel is pressure at the port site whenever I have to lean over, reach out for the car door to shut it, etc. Doctor said it isn't the port I am feeling, but the swelling/scar tissue. The sample port he showed me is tiny - about the size of a dime, I am guessing, so I can't imagine it is that I am feeling.

Breeze0404,

I feel better every day. The incisions are not problematic, and the soreness from those was comparable to having done a whole lot of crunches and the muscle soreness you get the next day. It was the "gas" pains from the CO2 in my stomach and endless painful burping during the first week that was super difficult. I guess your esophagus and stomach are swollen following the surgery, so every swallow is rough at first. Take the pain medication they offer! Don't hesitate. The burping gets better by about the 5th day. Following that, my biggest issue has been nausea. They think that may be due to excess stomach acid, which seems to be better when I eat yogurt and Tums. At my 1 week follow up I'd lost about 17 lbs (presurgery diet and 1 week post op liquids) but haven't gotten on a scale since. My pants are definitely looser, which is exciting! I'm on soft foods now.

One big issue that I wasn't prepared for is trying to get my medications down. I take Celebrex (for joint pain) and Cymbalta (for depression/anxiety), and a blood pressure pill. The first two are in capsules, which are too big to swallow now. So I have to break them open and sprinkle the contents in Jello. I don't think that works terribly well, so I wish I'd known that ahead of time so I could get liquids or smaller tablets. Just FYI.

Looking foward to talking with you all and hearing about your experiences.

@soccermonster I complete my 6 month journey in November and I had to send in the paper work to the dr's office. I will be calling them in November to make sure my insurance approves when my 6 mos is complete-Dr. Eagon doesn't require a liquid diet prior to the surgery, but I asked him if it would be all right if I did so I can get used to just having liquids after. He told me that was fine. I purchaed unjury chocolate Protein and its actually pretty good!

@ STacie-HI!!!!! Congratulations on you being banded!!!!! How do you feel? Are you on liquids? Are you stillsore or able to get up and do things? What was your process? Yes the more support the better for everyone:)!

I live in O'Fallon, MO and was banded two weeks ago today. I'm a little older than you (51) but would love to connect and support one another.

Hello,

I am going through the pre cert process now and finishing my 6 month WW for proof of attempted weight loss. My BMI is 42 and I have pre hypertention along with knee and joint pain at 33 years old. It is ridiculous and I need to lose weight to save my life. I want to feel better and do things that I have not been able to do in years! I am definitely looking for some St. Louis/ or other newbies or ones going through this process so we don't have to do this alone. My hubby and close friends are extremely supportive. My immediate family....not so much but I'm not around them and have come to accept the fact that I am doing this for my health and longevity. So I wanted to introduce myself and say HEY!!!!

Okay, I went to the tickerfactory and set it up, but how do I post it on my profile here? (I'm technically-challenged.)

Go to www.tickerfactory.com

I want to know that, too! I hope someone tells you...

I was banded 10/18/2011. So glad to have found this websight, nice to see that so many others have the same questions, frustrations, worries etc that I do. Lots of great answers on here. I am also struggling with "gas" pain, and struggling with the Protein Shakes. Doing fine with other liquids but I am already sick of the Protein, and my doc says 30 day liquid diet, 1 week down! Looking forward to seeing everyone progress, The best of luck to all of you!

One question, how do you get the cute little "weight loss ticker" thing on all your posts? I love that, but havent figured out how to do it?

Again I am wishing all of you the best, and look forward to this journey "together"

I agree - without this online forum I'd be lost!

to be honest, i dont know what i am feeling. it feels like a restriction. i took my regular daily meds yesterday and i feel like they are stuck. the dr told me that all my meds need to be cut down as small as an M&M. i just feel really tight. I was hungry in the beginning but that has seemed to pass. i dont know if the dr filled me during surgery or not. i am waiting on them to call me back. they are taking forever to get back to me. i guess i just need to realize this is new both mentally and phyiscally. thank you both so much for responding and letting me know you got through this without wanting to rip this band out. thanks for the support. it really helps to talk to people who have experienced the same feelings.