Karen*4041

Hi, I was banded on 10/18 and I am now down 15 pounds since surgery. 25 since pre op. I get to advance to mushys tomarrow!! had a little cottage cheese today, I guess I literaly cant wait!!

Is anyone experiencing pain with their port? I can feel my port and it seems to be pushing up against my side, seems to be more painful when sat on a chair. What are your experiences with your port? Has anybody found a cure? Painkillers do not appear to work. Any help appreciated.

I was banded 10-18-11 I find I need to wear lloose pants. I went and bought sports bras,buy them loose. Other than that I take tylenol and it seems to be OK

My instructions say 60 to 80 grams of Protein per day, not 600 to 800! I had surgery on 10/28/11 and I am still on the postop liquids. (I was on the same diet for two weeks before surgery too - Protein Shakes are getting very tiresome.)

I was on Clear Liquids for 2 weeks after surgey. Now I am on milky and smoothie liquids.

Did your surgeon clear you for "working out hard?" This time post-op is for healing and not worrying about losing weight. You need lots of rest and Protein for your body to heal. If you are wearing yourself out your body cannot heal as quickly. The only time I weigh in is when I go to the doctor; I don't even own a scale. If you are really worried, you should talk to your surgeon. I was told that only walking should be done for several weeks after surgery. My surgeon will let me know when I can get more intense. I was banded on October 19th and I am still taking it easy; I walk more and more every day but that is it.

Good Luck to you.

Thanks, I was just getting ready to get on my eliptcal!! Guess I will go out and walk instead. I was banded oct 18 and havent done much in the way of exercise. I lost 10 first wk and now about 2 more.

Hi a little advise would be good

i was banded in July and have been doing really good ,i have had 2 fills and was feeling really good lost about 28lb then i moved house infact moved country then its all gone belly up i just want to eat junk , I am not losing no weight infact i have fell right of track and i hate myself for it , i am needing a little help on getting back into the swing of things and menus PLEASE

We would all love to eat just junk, who wouldnt if it was OK, it is not OK!!!!!!! did not go threw all this and spend good money to not do good!!!!!!!!!

From what I have read here, there are mixed opinions from both users here and their doctors as to when you can start eating soft foods. Could you guys (and gals) tell me when you switched and how your band and body responded? I had surgery Nov. 2 which was 5 days ago. I can drink liquids pertty fast and they go down very well. I haven't had any issues with liquids hurting me and I have cheated once or twice with a bite of ricotta cheese but I chewed the heck out of it which is what I will do when I start with soft foods too.

So... What do you think? When should I start? I am just asking because its torture not being able to eat anything even semi-solid. I would be most appreciative of your opinions and experiences no matter good or bad. THanks in advance

My Doctor wants me to wait a month. Had surgery 10-18-11. 2 weeks Clear Liquids, 2 weeks full liquids(milk drinks,avacado smoothies,lentil bean Soup blended,things added to broth blended ect. Then on to 2 weeeks miushies. I hope that means I can have Turkey blended with gravy!

Hi there,

Thank you so much for getting back to me. I totally agree with you on this and I will definitely be going down a very similar route to that which you describe. I have been pretty miserable for around a week now - you've really helped. Love Desa xxx

We are told to avoid those things

Today I started my day knowing I've lost 17 lbs since 9 day preop diet to 1 wk post op.

I had such hunger pains tonight I cheated and ate 1/2 cup of puree mac n cheese and 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes and topped it off with a hershey kiss....ughh what did I do?

how is every1 curbing hunger and over coming weakness?

I have found that If I eat Jello, even though I dont want to, It will help temporarily, during this time I Start something to keep my mind off and can last longer till next meal time.

I am 10 weeks post op and still having lots of gas. I know Protein drinks do it to me but I do not have them often. I am staying on my program, eating sensibly, drinking my Water, and getting in my Protein. Weight loss has been slow but pretty steady. I had the shoulder gas pains post op and this is not it. Just plain old gas! My Dr put me on Flagyl for a week and told me this happens to some people. It's because of the drastic change to our digestion. He thought that would do the trick. It did not. I tried Gas X and it did nothing. I do not drink carbonated drinks and I am out of ideas. Has anyone out there had this? I just got some papaya enzymes and hope that will help. I have taken Beano in the past so I guess I will try it again too. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Blessings,

GG

Try a probiotic, it seemed to realy help me. They have one that is like a piece of chocolate 10 cals ,1 carb, I got it at Walmart. The packageing looks like a pint of ice cream.

Healthy delights ProBiotic bites dark chocolate. A Probiotic is sort of like yogart on steroids,each piece has one Billion live cultures. Live cultures if you dont know already, are good bacteria that eat up or kill or something bad bacteria.

I remember an old Dr. Oz show, he suggested playing video games as a way to help lose weight! This was before the WII and the Kinnect type games. Anyway back to the subject, My nutrisionist said she had a Patient who said they were having a problem with trying not to drink (alcohol) to much, so I think, it is true, you have to be careful not to trade one addiction for another. Mine may be this support group!

I've been spending a lot of time playing video games to keep my hands busy and my mouth empty.

I agree with KisKi, It sounds to me like during surgery you might of strained something.Massage Therapy would help if this is so.Go easy on the heating pad, if it is a stain and not gas, heat could increase inflamation, like a sprained ankle heat would not be suggested. I always use Ice for a strain, no more than 15 minutes though, after 15 minutes your body may think it is freezing and send blood to the area, thus increasing inflamation. Another thing I found good for gas is a probiotic, it really helped me. Good Luck, Karen

Hi fellow bandsters,

I was banded on Oct 20. I am in my second day of pureed foods. I wondering wether I am getting enough calories in (see my menu from yesterday). I only hit 375 calories. I also was only able to get 1 17 oz bottle of Water down. It is not that I am hungry, but I don't think it is healthy with that little amount of calories. I don't want my body to go into starvation mode. I have lost 26 pounds in 3 weeks (17 of it was during pre surgery liquid diet) . How many calories are you all getting in at this stage?

Breakfast

3 oz pureed egg salad with ff miracle whip 150 cal 12 Protein

lunch

2.5 oz pureed tuna with FF miracle whip 50 cal 13 Protein

1 oz of pureed egg salad with FF whip 50 cal 6 protein

dinner

2.5 oz pureed tuna with FF whip 50 cal 13 protein

snack

1/4 cup of cottage cheese 45 cal 6.5 prot

total 375 cal 50.5 gr protein.

thanks for your help

I Was banded 10/18 I lost 11 on pre op Diet. Now ON Clear liquids, maybe a few calories with some low sugar juice and Low sugar Gatorade, Propel ero, Tea chicken broth. Not may calories but OK. Just dont ask me a comples Question. P.PS. Dont have a jpb at this time It is just like doing a fast,

Had my xray and follow up with the surgeon today. I was feeling so good today (8 days post op) that I practically skipped to the hospital. Surgeon was happy with my healing and I got to skip ahead to mushies. I could not wait to get home to a scrambled egg! Tonight, refried black Beans. Heavenly!

Has your Doctor said all beans are oK or just some?

Congrats! I was banded on 10/19. I too am very itchy. They used steri-strips on me, and I think it's the glue from the strips that are making me itch. You're so lucky to be on mushies!! I have to wait 17 days! 10 days to go.. I can't sleep on my stomach yet either. Great job on your weight loss so far:) What ate you eating for mushies?

Do, nt feel alone I was banded 10-18 and have 19 days to g0 before mushies, still on Clear Liquids, no Protein, but doing OK taking my Vitamins and drinking Water. I Dont understand the no protein for 2 weeks unless it would irritate the stomach? Last thing I need is to erritate my stomach. Have you found it as hard to think as I, I dont drive now, to scarry with no brain power.

I was suprised also as I had had galbladder surgery and the biggest incision was less than an inch. I might of just assumed it would of been the same but my largest of 5 is 2 inches. My Journy has been slightly different than ya'lls

SO FAR SO GOOD! Just a little different than most other october bandsters!

Banded 10-18, Stayed overnight, Hospital was ok, so I came home wednessday did fine, thursday I had nassea and day heave (one). called Dr office and they called in a RX for me. They asked if I wanted it by liquid or suppository I said liquid and I am sorry I did!!! IF you are not nasiated befor you will be trying to get it down. So that worked for that day until the next night, I tryed to take my meds crushing them in Water, Not sure why but as soon as I layed down with bed proped up the nasea came and would not stop. I finally gave up at 1 in the mourning . Called and Dr.Called right back and said he could meet me at the office in a half an hour. So hear I am 1:30 in the mourning 3 days or so post op kand getting an unfill. So I may be the only one of ya'll who has had any kind of a fill. I have not read other peoples discription of fills. But he pressed on the port (not fun) sprayed area with freezing spray and the rest was the easy part. Now it is 2 days later and am doing great! The Dr said at least we know you will be tight. I am really happy!

Question: what is the average size of the main incision? I had my bandages removed today (surgery was on Oct 15) and was surprised (read: shocked) to see about 1-1.5 inch scar across my belly button. For some reason I expected all incisions to be 1/4 inch or less, similar to my secondary incision around liver area or 2-3 similarly small incision I had with my laparoscopic surgery for torn meniscus.

Is this a typical scenario?

Wow, you make it sound so easy! The nausea worries me beause in the 2 surgeries I have had I woke up upchucking. But maybe I will bee lucku like you and it will go away. ( They gave me a pill to take before surgery).

Congrats to all I however was banded on 10/4/11 not as happy as most here but hope to get there one day. I have lost 13 pounds already n I'm happy about that but I'm suppose to be on liquids for three weeks n couldn't make it I was starving to the point that I cried n cried until the next day I had to eat something n felt much better. Now everyday I'm doing the same not bad choices but not liquids. I do this once a day liquids most of the day but soft or solid one time a day if needed. It could be fish or an egg or Soup not just the broth but I really don't know what to feel.

Are you aloud to have sugar free Jello? That seem to help me a little ( I am on 4 shakes and clear liquids). Was supposed to be 3 shakes but could not do it.

Hi, I am on my 7th day of pre-op diet. Totally lost all willpower last night. I quess this is why I am having this surgery. Did not have anything really bad just that I am supposed to be on 3 shake a day and Clear Liquids only. I had Triscuts,cherrios,and cottage cheese. by the way I gained 3 pounds. Luckily I have lost 30 since 6 months ago.

Hello everyone. Just wanted to let you know that I started a "October Bandsters!!!!" Group for us in post-op.

Thanks that is a great Idea!

I introduced myself awhile back. Since then I've been lurking, learning and reading lots. I received my authorization last week. I'm scheduled for Oct 27. I have only told a select few friends. It's odd to me that they are all so quick to tell me horror stories that they've heard or tell me about a friend of a friend of a friend who didn't succeed. I KNOW that if I work this tool properly I WILL be successful.

I'm glad there is a place like this on the web. Good luck to everyone.

one of my friends did the same thing, Also bringing it up in group settings where I really didnt want to dabate with her. Other friends are fine, I think they thought she was being rude.

like you say I WILL be successful.

I am on day 4 of the liquid diet post-op. It sucks! I just wanna cheew something. Anyone else out there in the same boat?

We are on the same schedule, today ( day 5) seemed a little better. I hope tomarrow will be even better. can you have Jello? That helps along with the ugar free ice pops.

Hi, it is my third day also. I think I willl be ok too. thinking is a little harder, I am better prepared for the headache tonight.

Went and got some tylenol. I was going to get the liquid but it had High Fructose corn Syrup in it. Anyone know if they make a sugar free liquid?

Karen

It the third day and I think I'm doing okay. I've completely blocked the thoughts of breakfast and dinner out of my mind. The Protein Shakes are still not pleasant and I'm still running to the restroom but for the most part my good.Focusing on surgery day!However, I will admit its very hard to smell other people food or watch them eat.Even driving by restaurants is hard because you can smell the food, which sucks!