adorable

OMG I am SUCH a Lost fanatic!!! I have watched that show since day 1 and have never missed an episode. I hate that they've broken the season up into 2 segments, however I don't think that any of the episodes have sucked. It's had me hook, line and sinker since day 1 of season 1!!! My hubby and I both count the days to each Wednesday! :clap2:

I'll try that!!! Thank you sooooooooo much for the tip!!! I'll let you know if it worked for me! :clap2:

Thank you so much for the reassurance. Here I am an RN and if it were anyone else I'd tell them the same thing, however with myself I am SUCH a worry wart! I've been searching the forums for the past 30 minutes about this nagging pain under my left rib cage every time I take a deep breath. I know that it could be a blood clot, however more than likely it's just trapped gas so I'm going to wait it out LOL...God I feel pathetic sometimes! :help:

Ok gals, I tried the scrambled egg last night with just a little bit of cheese to make it more wet. Tasted great, went down great...was up at 4am with diarrhea. Then was nauseated most of the morning until I had some runny cream of wheat. After that I was perfectly fine (with the exception of this pain right under my left ribcage...feels like someone has their fist up there turning it when I try to take a deep breath - I think it's gas pains! LOL) Today after lunch (I had 1/2 can of cream of chicken soup, strained), I started belching and hiccuping. I'm really wondering if I'm eating too much...at the same time I want to make sure that I'm getting enough calories and nutrition. I never actually FEEL hungry, so I just eat what I think is appropriate. When I mentioned before that I at 1/2 cup of split pea soup, that was AFTER adding the water it came to 1/2 cup. So to be honest, it was probably only 1/4th of the can.... Anyway, just wanted to let you know MY experience with the eggs last night! Wasn't pretty! :sick

That's the problem, I'm not hungry! I just eat to make sure that I'm getting some calories, protein and other nutrients....Well I feel good so far so I must be doing something right. Thanks for your response Christy

Hmmm comes to about 475 calories...wowthat just doesn't seem enough....I'm trying to eat foods that have quite a bit of protein in them, but the calories don't seem to be enough compared to what I used to eat! LOL

Ok does anyone think that I'm eating too much?? ?? I'm on mushies (6 days out) and here is what I had today: * Breakfast: 1 - 6 oz Lite Yoplait Smoothie drink (4g protein) * Lunch: 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese & 1/2 cup split pea soup (12g protein) * Dinner: 1 scrambled egg with sprinkle of cheese to make moist, 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese (19g protein) * 48 oz fluid (5g protein) Total protein: 40g (I know, I need more protein! I just can't handle the way those drinks taste and I've tried several so far...) :help:

Ok everyone - I wanted to get up close and personal with my new band too! See the link for the picture! WARNING: If you have a weak stomach or cannot handle viewing the inside of the human body, do NOT click the following link! http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/281/deniselapband42607akg3.jpg By the way, I went to the doctor today for my first visit (5 days post op) and I've lost 5.4 lbs since the surgery! I'm not going to list it on here because my scale and his scale weigh so different. My numbers are based on my scale and are the same weight loss!

Wow, I had it easy - 1 day of clear liquids pre-op, then 3 days liquids (clear or full) post-op, then on day 4 I could start with yogurt, cottage cheese, soft boiled eggs, runny cream of wheat, jars of baby food, creamy soups, etc.

If it makes you feel any better, I've done well on mushies. I haven't hardly been hungry at all, so I've attempted a about 1/4 cup of milky cream of wheat and splenda...it was warm and sweet...after all those liquids, it tasted like heaven lol! I've also pureed split pea soup from a can, which had a lot of protein. Low fat cottage cheese has went down well and it has a ton of protein too. Baby food bananas was a great treat. I also bought some sugar free syrups and made shaved ice cones...omg they were yummy! no nutrients though they were good for my fluid intake. :clap2: Trust me when I say, I am the BIGGEST chicken ever, and I've done good with mushies so far. Everything tastes DIVINE! LOL The last thing that I want to do is PB!!! I hate vomitting and I do NOT want to get anything stuck. If I can do it, YOU can do it!

Jennifur, I just sent a request on your myspace to add as a friend.... Thought I should let you know so you don't think I'm just some loony bin adding people.

Tracy, The page is "view only"...that's why it can't be edited....

nbjen, I had a hiatal hernia, so my doctor repaired that....I wonder if that will delay my recovery time at all? So far I feel great. I've been a little sore internally, but only enough for the liquid Tylenol...no Vicodin! I hate the way those pain meds make me feel! So far I haven't had any incision pain, it's been mainly muscle soreness and gas LOL! I've been sleeping on the couch recliner as well...I'm hoping to be sleeping in my bed by tonight or tomorrow! I miss it sooooo much! Wow 4 weeks of clear liquids...I'd go nuts! I started mushies today...I wonder why the surgeons are so different in their post-op diet orders??? That just is bizarre! Good luck on your recovery and congrats on your banding!!! :clap2:

Tracy, Not only am I scared to eat too much too, so that I'm only taking in 300-500 calories per day, and not enough protein I'm sure, but I weighed in on the day of my surgery at 253.8! Just a bit more than you did. :biggrin1: I can't wait to see how much I've lost when I go for my appt on Tuesday. I doubt I've lost near what many lose at first seeing that my doctor only put me on clear liquids for a day before surgery and 3 days after surgery. I'm on mushies/purees now....I had a 1/4 cup of low fat cottage cheese. OMG it was SO yummy and 14 grams of protein!!!!

My DH wasn't at all supportive pre-op, however since my surgery, he has been nothing BUT supportive. When I need something, he's there. When I want to take a walk, he's there. When I am hungry, he's there. He's been fabulous! I have a question - I just started my mushies/purees today. I had a little bit of cream of wheat for breakfast (a few tablespoons), and for lunch I had a scrambled egg (probably 1/2 of a large egg), with some milk and a tad bit of cheese mixed in. Not much because I'm afraid that I'll eat too much. I don't feel all that hungry, but I don't feel much restriction either....I guess what I'm asking, is how much has everyone been able to eat post-op?? I don't want to malnourish myself, but I don't want to get anything stuck or PB either!

I just took off my bandages and took a hot shower...OMG it felt SO good...although my tummy is still bright yellow from the Betadine! LOL

Ok this may sound gross - but has anyone else had any problems with diarrhea while on the liquid phase of your diet??

Well today I'm a little more sore than I was yesterday - which I was expecting. Took some liquid Tylenol, so we'll see what that does for me. I don't feel hungry - just some head hunger when I see food on T.V. I'm trying my best to get my liquids in....Taking Gax-X and been playing the tuba from both ends! LOL Funny - since my surgery, my hubby seems more supportive than he did before the surgery. Weird, but very welcoming and comforting to me. Didn't sleep great last night - ended up in the recliner in the living room because I can't sleep flat on my back, on my tummy, or on either side just yet. I woke up several times though the night, but I feel pretty refreshed so far this morning. I'm sure I'll be taking a nap (or a few of them) throughout the day! It's good to be on the losing side finally! :clap2:

It's weird how doctors are so different in their approach with the lapband. My surgeon only had me on clear liquids for 1 day before the surgery, and 2 days after the surgery. Then I get to start on mushies for 2 weeks, advancing to regular food slowly thereafter....So far I've felt no restriction with the liquids. Although I don't guzzle, it feels like I could and I'd be ok....I hope I really DO have restriction! However I don't feel all that hungry either.... So far I haven't had to take any pain meds besides the children's tylenol....I may take some Lortab before I go to bed to ensure a full night sleep though! Good luck to those of you who are to be banded tomorrow!!!

Wow this was quick and easy (so far!). I was banded this morning at 8am and it's 1:45pm and I'm home. Not much pain - except for some gassy pains under my ribs I think. No nausea..I'm drinking fluids fine so far. I can't believe it's over!!!!

LOL that is sooooo funny! That definitely sounds like something I'd do. I can just imagine me doing it right now! Yep that will be me next week! At least you didn't eat the crust, just sucked on it.... :clap2: 3 more days and counting!!! I'm excited, I'm nervous, I was so nervous this morning before my pre-op labs that I almost had myself sick physcially. Sad thing is, I know after the surgery I'll realize how silly I was. I just had an abdominal hysterectomy last year and if I could handle THAT pain, I surely can handle this.....right?? :girl_hug:

My official surgery date is April 26th!!!!! I'm soooo excited, yet I'm scared too. I have so many things to look forward to, but I also have fears...fears of the unknown I suppose. I'm afraid that I'll fail as I always have at losing weight. I'm afraid that I'll lose this weight and continue to have the same health problems that I have being fat. I'm afraid that my family won't be a good source of support (yes they're all overweight and love to eat - including my hubby). I'm afraid that this will affect my marriage - and I love this guy dearly. I'm afraid that I'll not make it out of the anesthesia, and how my kids will take that... But despite all of my fears, I know that for myself I have to do this. I'm killing myself just being so overweight... *I* am tired of being overweight, I'm tired of feeling unattractive, and I'm tired of being unhealthy. Also, despite my fears I have so many things to look forward to. Here is a list of my goals: 1) Get rid of my high blood pressure (and the meds that go along with it!) 2) Get rid of my swollen ankles and legs (and the meds that go along with it! lol) 3) Get rid of my aching joints (and the meds that go along with it!) 4) Get rid of my GERD and hiatal hernia (and the meds that go along with it! jeez I'm on a lot of meds....) 5) Hopefully have more of a sex drive for my poor hubby (it's not as fun when some positions just hurt or make your arms tired LOL) 6) Be able to tie my shoe without that sideways bow and without having to lift my leg up on the bed and get out of breath 7) Be able to wear shirts that don't go down past my butt so that I can hide my gutt and butt! (or at least THINK that I'm hiding them) 8) Be able to try on clothes in the regular "misses" section without trying to be inconspicuous in the "plus size" section of the store. 9) Be able to try on a bra and have it actually fit all the way around me. I went shopping for a bra this weekend - Do you believe that not even Lane Bryant (for plus size women) had a bra that was a 48C??? I guess C cup there ends at a 44 which was too tight....I just wanted to cry so I'm still wearing the only bra that I have left that I've stretched enough to fit.... 10) Be able to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night without the bottoms of my feet killing me 11) Be able to sleep all night without waking up and waking up tired (I think I may have sleep apnea - I snore louder than a man LOL) 12) Be able to fit into a 12 (a 9 would be great...hell who am I kidding??? I'd settle for a 16 right about now lol) 13) To not be afraid that I'm going to die from heart disease because I have so much fat in body and my arteries...heart disease runs in my family, as does diabetes, hypertension, etc. I feel that by being fat I'm slowly killing myself. Sure I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, but I can't control THAT. I CAN control what I do to my own body. 12) To have a BMI under 25 (I'll even settle for under 30) 13) To be able to sit in a chair and actually fit. 14) To be able to go to a concert at the local convention center and fit comfortably in the seat. 15) To be able to wipe in some very specific places (or dry off, or shave my legs) without getting a cramp in my side from twisting back around. 16) To be able to clip and paint my own toenails and not depend on my daughters or the hubby to do this for me. 17) To go get a massage and not wonder if the masseuse is thinking of charging me double LOL 18) Be able to feel attractive and healthy again - for myself and for my beautiful daughters and hubby so that they can enjoy me more (even though it will technically be LESS of me!)....

Funny that you all mention people making negative comments about WLS...I used to be one of those people.... I guess it was probably that I envied them more than anything...that I knew (or thought) that my family wouldn't support my decision to have it myself. I didn't know if my insurance company would cover it...or whatever the reason, I was just jealous that they would be losing weight and I wasn't. Then there was the fear of surgery itself...I guess that I was afraid AND jealous lol.... Finally I said to heck with it...I'm going to look into it myself and see what it's all about. Simply put, I educated myself. Now I realize that WLS is NOT the easy way out at all...yet a tool to help where I've failed before. Just because I'm having the band does not mean that I'll lose (yes it does because I'm going to work hard!), and I can always gain it back if I stop working at it. My thought process is not that I'm dieting, yet that I'm eating healthier, becoming healthier. I've told everyone that I know about my plans to have this surgery. I don't give a hoot what they say...they don't live my life, they don't look in the mirror and see what I see. In fact they probably aren't happy with their weight either! They may be scared or envious too! Anyway, that's my honesty for the day. :clap2:

I haven't gotten my official surgery date yet, however I'm hoping that it will be April!!! I just got a call from my insurance company on Friday, well the Nurse Case Manager that they assigned me to to take the entire journey with me, she told me that I was approved for the lapband and that she's always there for questions, concerns, fears, etc. Now I have to wait until tomorrow to call my doctor's office to see if they actually received the approval yet and how soon I can be scheduled!!! I'm SO excited!!!! Denise Awaiting surgery date! Hoping to be an April bandster!! 260/260/140?

Omg!! Congrats on your surgery! I'm SO envious of you!!! Tell us all about it....how did it go? What's it like so far? How sore ARE you?? Etc, etc, etc. :clap2: