Cyndie B

Wow - all great advice as usual - I love this site!

Yes, I am not a fine print reader so I didn't read the instructions from my doctor to NOT drink while eating. My thought process was to drink while eating to help the food go down easier, but, alas, not true. I received Jean McMillan's book yesterday, Bandwagon, and read it in the book - thank God for her book...if you don't have it and you are going to get banded or have been banded it is absolutely a must read! I am so grateful that she took the time to write such a comprehensive book - it is amazing! My other issue is I'm having trouble eating enough. I know...not the trouble most people have. I had about 3 oz of a protien shake and a cup of coffee for breakfwast, 4 oz. of tuna salad and egg salad (combined) for lunch yesterday, but couldn't finish it all and then came home from work and wasn't hungry so I didn't eat anything. I am pretty sure this is not good but I don't want for force myself. I guess I am really having a hard time getting my protien in since I switched to mushies. I guess it is just a learning experience...I am having a protien shake now which is 11 oz.; however, my doctor's instructions say between 17 and 42 oz...there is no way I can drink that much. And on top of all that, I cannot get all of my Water in because I'm afraid if I drink too much that I will start belching...which has also been a major problem. I certainly don't regret the band at all but it is just difficult...back to Jean's book for more answers!

I am trying to put myself in your shoes and with me I had such a strong desire to change and to lose the weight and if my husband was overweight I would probably start to feel differently about him...like, "you need to lose weight, too, buster". Of course, I have been married for 27 years and my husband is not overweight. What stood out for me in your post is you said you are not attracted to him...I can almost guarantee that when you start losing the weight you will start to feel confident and really good about yourself and you may think that you can do better...do you think maybe part of you chose him because he is overweight like you? Your eating habits will also change drastically and it is my opinion that if you are together he should support you and adjust his way of eating as well..but is he willing to do that?

I am three weeks today but I started two days early. Nope, the instructions state protien shake (17oz to 42oz) and 60 oz of water a day...I am going to call them today to get clarification...I paid out of my pocket for some of this surgery so I am going to get answers!

I walked and took pain meds...but there are two different types of gas...the one that they put inside you to blow up your stomach to do the surgery and then the intestinal gas pains which I still have and I am 13 days post op. I take Gas-X and let it out whichever way I can...but it gets better each day...hang in there!

I may have ate a little too much...creamy soup about 2 oz., Smoothie Yogurt (4 oz.) and then I had some mushy zucchini..not all at the same time but probably within 30 minutes and all of a sudden the back of my neck and my upper back started hurting really bad...but I didn't feel stuck or anything. Does being stuck or eating too much come in different forms? I don't know it was just really strange...I'm 11 days post op...

Gives me hope, too! Great job!

I learned the hard way today...I started drinking a protien shake and then about an hour later felt really shaky so I started drinking some soup from a can (it's a slim can with a sippee cup - Campbell's I think) and I wasn't paying attention to how much I was drinking and OMG...I have been in pain all day...so with that being said, I would limit your portions to about 4 oz a sitting...that's just my take and I will never do that again.

Don't beat yourself up...you are human and we all have moments when we are not at our best...please don't regret what you did...it is the best thing you did! I can't really give you any advice other than to hang in there and tell your doctor what you are experiencing. I had such a desire to chew something so I ate about three nibbles of a saltine cracker...I'm 5 days post op...lol...how stupid was that? Anyway...don't give up!

Quinnmc...I went to true results and also had a hiatal hernia repaired and had my costs cut in half as well. I was banded last Wed 2/1 and still in pain...but I suppose I am a wimp...my port sight where they did the incision is killing me every time I get up and move or sit...

Angel Eyes...I would be very careful about having surgery when you have a cough...it is very painful to cough after you have been banded.

Oh, lordy...gas is so bad! No matter what I try to drink I get gas...I have been walking on my treadmill, taking Gas-X...I woke up this morning and didn't have any gas and felt the best I have felt since I had my surgery but once I started to drink, I felt the gas coming on...when will it end or will it? I am miserable.

Horsegirl...having the same burping issues as well...I could seriously win a burping contest! When I feel the gas pains coming on I take my liquid Loritab if the pain is really bad, which it usually is. I don't care what anyone says that is why I have it to help me get through it...no one should have to suffer if they don't have to. I also walk on my treadmill and move my stomach around with my hands trying to massage it out...sounds crazy but I am trying anything. But..it's not as bad today as it was yesterday...I'm confident that it is going to be better each day

Hi Becky - glad to hear that you are feeling better...that would really suck to have strep throat on top of just having surgery. I hear you about the gas...I don't know what else to do that I haven't been doing. What is causing it?

I am 2 days post op and I am using a pillow too...it really helps.

I was banded yesterday...Feb 1...am I the first to represent the February bandsters? Make sure you take a pillow for the drive home...it holds your stomach for the drive. I woke up and my shoulders were killing me...the pain killers helped. I thought I would escape the gas but I wasn't that lucky...it kicked in today unfortunately. Now just walking and using gas-x. I would be interested to hear from y'all about how many incision sites you have...I have 3 plus a long one about an inch long...I guess I won't ever be wearing a bikini - lol...

Hi Everyone - today is my surgery day and the first day of a new life for me. The decision was not easy but I'm so glad I made it. I have the same anxiety and worries that all of you have but I know I can overcome whatever is thrown my way...I will check in tomorrow and tell my "surgery day" story. This site has been great and I'm so glad I am able to read everyone's story and know that everyone shares the same feelings I do.

I just joined the group as well..what a great idea. Sweetsoutherngirl and Nikki - I'm near Houston...in Pearland about 10 minutes South of Houston. Are you with True Results? My surgery date is next Wednesday, Feb. 1st.

This is such a sore subject with me...I had to do a psych eval and it made me so mad! I mean, I hold down a good job, I have been married for 27 years, I am succesful and of sound mind yet I had to leave my life up to a doctor to tell me whether I could do something to better myself? Anyway...I had to tak all kinds of tests and then I talked to the doctor for about 30 minutes and she basically told me tips and strategies for making the band work, which it was things I already knew. I mean, if you are serious about the band and know what you are doing then there shouldn't be a problem. But be careful, because something you write down may seem harmless but they look at it completely different...you can say that you feel depressed "rarely" and they turn it around and ask you all kinds of questions about "why" you feel depressed, bla bla bla and you are like, "I said rarely, doc...maybe a couple of times every two or three months...I'm not going to harm myself because I ran out of money before my next payday and I was upset with myself because I didn't budget my money..." ugh!

I am doing Atkins...it's high protien and very low carbs/sugar. It also shrinks your liver. Here is a good article I found... Pre-op liver reduction plan Just because you are awaiting a surgical treatment for your morbid obesity, this is not an excuse to sit back and gorge out on as much food as you can! Any weight you can lose through dieting before your surgery is an advantage - it will make the surgery easier and will reduce the risks associated with it. Some surgeons mandate a very restricted diet - one that is low in fat, sugar and carbohydrates - for one week prior to surgery and even if your surgeon doesn't ask you to follow this diet, doing so will increase your chances of your operation being completed laparoscopically because it will shrink your liver down in size. By following a strict diet, your body reduces its glycogen stores (glycogen is a form of sugar stored in the liver and muscles for energy). With each ounce of glycogen, the body stores 3–4 ounces of Water, so when you follow a very strict diet, especially one that is low in starch and sugar, your body loses its glycogen stores and some water. The liver shrinks as it has less glycogen and water in it.

Hi - my surgery date was originally scheduled for Jan. 18 but I had to postpone it to Feb. 1st. Work has been crazy and I knew I wouldn't have been able to relax with all that was going on. I told my boss I am not postponing it again! I had my EGD last Wednesday...according to doctor...very large hernia...so I will be so glad not to have to take meds for that...I take two heartburn meds a day and plus pop Tums throughout the day...absolutely annoying! Has anyone had a bad reaction to Propofol? They gave it it me for my EGD and that night I was so violently ill. It was scary. Anyway, looking forward to getting this started! Yay - February bandsters!

So, I was chatting with the nurse and she said that when the band is put on this actually repairs the hernia and that it is really not two separate procedures. Has anyone ever heard of this? I thought to myself, "well, if that is the case then why am I being charged for two different procedures?" lol. Insurance is paying for the hernia repair and I am coughing up the difference for the lapband so if that is the case then why not accept what the insurance pays?

I have also been treated for bipolar for many years and I am being banded on 1/18. I don't think my meds will be a problem; however, I have had thoughts of one getting stuck. What did bother me the most is the nurse said I needed "Psych Eval" which was a little upsetting only because I am self-pay, fully able to make my own decisions, and felt that what I wanted to do should not be left up to my doctor to decide. I am of sound mind and not some loony bin. lol

Hi Sandy - so glad things are going well for you. I talked to a nurse practitioner where I am having my surgery and she said that I should be able to go to work the next day...but it doesn't sound like that is the case from the stories I have been reading. I guess there are other factors that go into that. I am taking 5 days off just in case but it sounds like if you did have to go to work the next day it might have been difficult. Are you actually hungry? Glad to hear that you are doing well!

Hello - I am new here as well. My surgery date is January 18...I'm super nervous but excited too. My biggest worry is that I love to eat and my life revolves around it so...what to do when you aren't hungry or you can't eat the things that you enjoy? I don't know...but I can survive it!