LadyLeigh2012

I takes me a while to get the Soup and water/juice down … not because I feel restrictions, but because the doc and guidelines insist I take me time and use small sips. Now that I really sit and take notice of my amounts, I am taking in somewhere between 50 and 64 oz. per day … slowly throughout the day.

I actually just told my hubby that I needed to up my water intake. I don't feel any real big restriction, so taking in water or other liquids has not been a problem. I have not kept track of ounces per say, but I know my protein shakes are about 11 oz. per container and when I have my soup it is about a half cup to a cup at a time and no more than 2 times per day. As for water, tea, and low-cal/sugar juice I am having one regular size glass at a time; about 6-8 oz.

Good morning everyone! Well, it sure sounds like a lot of us are still feeling 'backed up' and I guess that is normal at this point. LOL! I did weigh myself and the scale says I'm down 3 pounds from the 18th (surgery day) … not bad considering my lack of activity and 'potty time'! My incision sites don't hurt much at all, but I think I may still be a little swollen so wearing jeans is probably not such a great idea as of yet. How is everyone else feeling today??

They gave me a lot of stuff via IV … antibiotics + a blood thinner to void off blood clots. To go home, they sent me with a spirometer and a big ol' blue pillow that has the name of the hospital screen printed on it with a silver marker attached to it so friends and family can sign it for me! The pillow is so I can hold it tight against my tummy and give some good coughs. ​I got my milk of mag from the store, but still not 'movement' … ugh! My belly keeps bubbling though. I am not hungry, but I did enjoy a small cup of butternut squash Soup earlier. I do think I need to get down more Water. I, too, was told that nothing should be going down in big or fast gulps … sips are good for now on!

I sent hubby to the store for some Milk of Mag … hopefully that will get things 'going'! Everything else feels great … I don't feel the band in there and the puncture wounds feel like they're healing well. The gas is the only annoying part, but everyone's posts are assuring that they'll pass. As for the 'menu mapping' I mentioned earlier … I mapped out all the guidelines my doc and nutritionalist gave to me. A list of what, how, and when foods can be eaten post-op. I know everyone gets varied advice, but this is what they have told me, so I broke it down and plotted it out by weeks.

My blog is Sass & Silhouette … there is a link to it w/ my signature here.

I can't wait until I can have some tuna w/ mayo in a blender! LOL!! My menu map says I can have saltine crackers as of week 3 … the perfect lunch will be a little Soup with tuna and crackers! I am only post-op day 3 now … trying diff. Soups is sure to keep the next 2 weeks interesting, but I do long for a certain 'crunch' of a cracker!

My hubby is the ultimate nurse. He woke me up about 15 minutes ago to 'get me moving' … saying that he doesn't want me to get 'too stiff' … but I'm wondering if a full night's rest would be better for me or not. What are your thoughts? Another thing … and this may be a little TMI … but I have a potty question. My bladder woke about 6 hours post-op … but well, the other side has not …if you catch my drift. In fact, I haven't gone to the bathroom [in the way] since about Sunday. It is now Friday. I realize I have not eaten solid foods in a long time so there may not be much to work with here, but I did have a little stool softener yesterday afternoon so maybe that'll help. Anyone else having this 'issue'??? I can only imagine how much better I would feel in the belly area if only I could 'go' …. ugh!

Hey! I was banded on the 18th, too! I got a nice hot shower this morning and was told I could remove the dressings. Four punctures and one inch and a half cut (for the port I guess) are what I am left with now. I feel good walking around, but the tightness in my chest is a pain … gas in the left shoulder, too. The heating pad helps a lot! I think the tightness and gas pain caused me a headache … that and a 2-day coffee withdrawal … so my hubby made me a cup of coffee with a little half-n-half and trivia … headache gone! Whew! I am excited about this … we certainly did make the right choice and as foods become reintroduced we will feel a 'new normal'. I made a menu map on my blog of how and when to eat different types of foods. I should try and see if I can attach it here, too.

I am!!! DLeigh77 is my username!

We did it!!! December 2012 was our time … jumping from pre-op to post-op … here's to the new friends we've made and to the continued success we'll share in 2013! Let's keep in touch, share our journeys, swap some recipes, and high-5 our pics as they leap from before to afters!

Don't beat yourself up too much … tomorrow is a new day … BUT … stick w/ the program. This journey does not begin w/ the day of surgery … it begins now. I mapped out my foods as per all the info my doc and nutritionalist gave me on my blog. This is a wonderful time of year for soups … use them to add flavor and maintain your 'liquid' diet. Everyone is different; however, I lost 20 pounds on the pre-op diet … it's a rough road, but worth the travel! You can do this!!!

Day 2 post-op … found the guts to take pics of my 'wounds' and posted them. I think they look pretty good! No swelling or redness. Gas pain in shoulder is still there, but overall it has been a great day. Hubby helped me into the shower and then I was able to remove the dressings. I'm guess the bigger puncture/cut is where my port is located. How is everyone else doing??

I will post my list on my blog. You can download it from there! Nothing but liquid until week 3 post-op … I have it mapped out by weeks up to 20 weeks and beyond. This info came from my doc and my nutritionalist.

Yeah!!!! I am one day post-op and all is well here, too! I also lost 20 pounds on the pre-op … it's a good feeling, isn't it!?!

So are you sticking with the plan or eating 'normal' foods? The restriction will come when you get your fill, but the restricting has to begin with your mind and dedication to letting the post-op diet get its running start.

Nooooo!!! LOL! The days of focusing on food are gone, except for when thinking up new and fun ways to enjoy eating as per our guidelines! Look at some soup recipes online and think of ways to make some enjoyable soups to have during the full-liquid phase. I mapped everything out as per my doc and nutritionalist. I can send you my list if you'd like! It's like a map of when and how I can eat. My surgery was yesterday and recovery as been great thus far! You got this, girl!!!

I did 3 weeks, too … after the first few days it got better … and seeing 20 pounds come off on pre-op made it worth it. I also think it really helped to prepare my body and mind for what post-op would be like. It really tested will power!

Today is post-op day 1 … had a little protein shake, some creamy soup, tea, water, and juice … all 'eaten' with tiny, slow sips. It took me two episodes of Bones to get down about a half cup of soup … so that's about an hour. All that hurts is my chest … taking those deep breaths and coughing up whatever mucus is there is no easy task, but I do it. The hospital gave me a pillow (with a marker to so visitors could sign it!) and I am to hold the pillow to my stomach and give 2 good coughs about 4 x and hour. The gas pain is still lingering in the left shoulder, but like everyone else says … walking around helps to get it moving. Hope all is well on everyone else's end … especially to those getting banded today!!

Oh ok! They saw that I had one once they were in there. The doc said he fixed it before placing the band on. Seems to be quite common.

The pain meds seem to help w/ the gas 'pain' itself … walking around gets it going, too … but I would have probably slept through the night if I didn't have it. They say it takes about a week for it to pass … you'll be there soon!!! Have you weighed yourself yet? I'm wondering if the gas pumped into us adds temp. weight.

I know the pre-op phase is hard … but you can do this! If you 'break-down' now you will set yourself back … you've come this far … following our diet guidelines is the KEY to success with being banded. Try having some broth … it helps to ease the craving. Maybe even some thinned out cream of chicken Soup may help … but keep things liquid and take control … you can do this!!!

Very exciting! What a great way to kick off the New Year!!! 2013 is going to be awesome … here's to good health and a summer of feeling 'happy' wearing shorts!

What is a EGD?