Hazelbunny

My surgeon called this referred pain - it isn't actually gas pain. Sometimes your diaphragm gets stretched during surgery and the pain is felt in your shoulder and neck. I didn't have it this time but I have in previous surgeries. It sucks - tylenol might help but the best cure is just time.

I go to WW - but I started over a year ago. I haven't said anything about the band. I think it helps with the "making good choices and incorporating exercise" part of being banded.

I am almost 4 weeks out and I really don't have much appetite. I also have alot of restriction - I get full really fast on mushies and soft foods. I don't have any fill in my band - is the restriction still just swelling?

Mrs Husker - when you lose weight quickly you are more prone to attacks. A lot of surgeons remove the gallbladder when they perform WLS although I don't know if it is common in band patients.

I have never been able to drink any kind of Protein shake and trust me I have tried them all. I can smell it and it ruins it for me. I drink the Carnation Instant Breakfast No sugar added made with skim milk. I love the taste and it has 13 grams of protein (with the milk) - not as much as most Protein shakes but I can't choke any of those down anyway.

For the cooktarded here is my suggestion - go to Whole Foods or any other organic food store and buy some of their preprepared foods, take it home and follow the blend, freeze in ice cubes, ziploc process. No need to mess with the big computer in the kitchen.

Baby food sucks. I made my all of my kids baby food because when I was pregnant with my first I did a taste test of different baby food brands (I was on bedrest with a lot of time on my hands). They all taste terrible. I think it is easier to cook the food with your own spices and then blend it up and freeze in ice cube trays. When they are frozen pop into ziploc bags and label. It makes it super easy to make a mushie meal - pop a few cubes out and nuke in the micro - voilá

I had full liquids for 2 days and then 4 weeks of mushies which includes fish, well cooked veggies and soft fruits. Next monday I get to start back to real food.

Today was a hard day - went out to eat for a relative's birthday dinner. Got some fabulous fish and well cooked veggies. As usual I was full VERY quickly. But I still wanted to eat because it tasted so good. I was so pissed off that I couldn't. I guess that is part of the adjustment phase - my body wasn't hungry but man oh man did my taste buds and head want some more!

Please God let a bunch of people be talking about how I have gotten too thin a couple years from now I think she looked better a little chunkier - that is my opinion. She however has the right to do whatever she wants - it is her life and she needs to feel comfortable in her skin. I don't think stating the opinion that she looked better with about 20 more pounds on her is somehow being unsupportive of weight loss surgery or weight loss in general.

I am wearing size 26 jeans today!!! I just can't believe what a difference a couple of weeks has made. I wish I had done this 5 years ago.

I just had tilapia for lunch - ummm umm good! I just pan fry mine with Pam - I sprinkle Tony Cachere seasoning on it. Simple, fast and delicious.

I have never particularly liked bumper stickers - why do I want to turn my car into a billboard? I prefer to support my beliefs with my actions. And I cannot stand kids out of car seats. I can understand the sentiment of the sticker but you have to take care of the child AFTER it is born too.

The book Watership Down - I love that Hazel never gave up.

I would go ahead and get someone to help the first day or two. After that you should be fine. My DH took care of our three kids for the first two days and then he went back to work - it was fine. I was a little tired but what Mom hasn't sucked it up when they are tired?

I am starting to get hungrier in the afternoons but it is still very manageable. And although I can swallow liquids MUCH faster I notice that when I eat I get full SO MUCH faster. It is truly amazing. I was banded on the 12th.

I had it done at Park Plaza - everything about the experience was positive. I didn't feel uncomfortable with anyone taking care of me - in fact two of my nurses at Park Plaza had used Dr. Spivak for their own Lap-band surgeries.

I live in Katy too. I can't say enough good things about Dr. Spivak. He is a wonderful surgeon, kind and professional but even better his staff is wonderful. His price is good too if you are going to be self-pay. I had scar tissue built up from prior surgeries - when he was in there he noticed it, realized it must be causing me discomfort from the way it was pulling (it was - I had every test known to man trying to figure it out) so he removed it. My surgery took longer than normal because he chose to do something extra to make me more comfortable. That is a good surgeon in my book. Good luck with your choice.

HOLY MOLY!! I am on soft foods now and I was eating very soft cooked veggies yesterday. I did not eat slowly enough or chew well enough for the first couple of bites (out of habit). All of a sudden I had a golf ball flare of pain inthe middle of my chest - it brought tears to my eyes. I didn't PB but I felt like I was going to die. I called my surgeon and he said that is part of the "behavioral conditioning" of the band. No kidding - I don't want to ever go through that again!! - It only lasted a few minutes but it got my attention.

The Magic Bullet blender has been great for the mushies stage - My meals would have been much more boring without the ability to blend up the meals I prepared for my family.

I am a high bmi patient (bmi over 50) and my liver was perfect - according to my surgeon it was the perfect size and color. And I had no pre-op diet. I think it just depends on the person. As far as pre-op diet or no pre-op diet - I chose my surgeon because I trusted and if he had wanted me to do liquids for two weeks prior I would have - because he is the doctor. But I am sure glad he didn't.

I burped constantly the first week. They might want to wait until after you finish a cycle of antibiotics. But if I have learned anything it is that all the surgeons are different.

I quit cold turkey when I had surgery. I just drink Water now since I don't like tea or coffee and fruit juice to me is just wasted calories. I haven't had a problem - which surprised me. I thought i would really miss it.

I think the "what the hell have I done to myself" phase is pretty normal. It is a big change we are undertaking. I think alot of what people can and can't eat has to do with how restricted people are. As far biting into an apple peel and all or popping big purple grapes in my mouth - yea I will miss that. But not being morbidly obese is much more important to me than popping grapes. also - anesthetic can cause a little weepiness or depression short time. I have had 14 surgeries (the lap band being the 14th) and after every one I had a few days of unexplained depression about a week or two out. It will get better.

Did anyone go to Tuesdays session? How was it? I can't start until this semester since I am in school Tuesday nights but I am looking forward to going in the summer.