MiriamE

So today was my 2nd fill, feeling good. Not at the green zone yet, but working on it. I'm frustrated becasue I haven't lost but I haven't gained either. I'm upping my walking and starting to count my calorie intake. That's been the problem, I have been eating to much starchy food and fruit that converts to sugar that just LLLOOOVVEEESSSS to hang around my fat cells. So cutting that out. I did ask her about not feeling the choking/gagging effect that i have read, she stated that not all people exprience it and that I should not be looking for that exprience what I am doing with chewing my food and waiting the minute is the right way to go. I have a 14cc and have 7 cc's, I go back in two weeks to see if I need more or not. What a journey!! Keep up the good work, keep motivated! Live Long & Prosper Miriam

The recovery went well, I have to say I was very lucky and didn't exprience much pain. I had some discomfort with the gas, but took Gas X and walked around the house and girl..I just let it ou! LOL!! I had prewarned my husband about it the gas, so he was well aware. Seriously, though, when I got home from surgery I was very nauseated, took some nausea medication and just threw up, I seriously think that helped me. (Don't try this at home) I just got my 1st fill, I had 5 cc's during surgery and just got 1 cc more but I think i'm going to need more. I am learning the difference between being satisfied and being full, very two different things. It will be frustrating at times but remember it took us how many years to gain the pounds, it's going to take us time to lose them to. Miriam

Try Special K Protein shakes, that's what I had the week of liquids after being banded, I couldn't even smell the powder shakes..I was sick of them. I bought the french vanilla which i liked. Of course I asked the Dr if that was ok and he said it was So now I have them around when i don't feel like having Breakfast or lunch, I have one of the shakes and mix in either berries or bananananana Good luck! Keep us posted! Miriam

i was on Protein shakes 2 weeks before my surgery, i had a headache for about 3 -4 days. it's your body missing that yummy addicting sugar and caffeine. it should subside in a couple of days, keep hydrated. if i'm not mistaken adkins is about protein, so have some slices of turkey, ham, or peanuts on hand. there's plenty of books that can help you out on the do's & don't of the adkins. Good luck Miriam

I was banded on the 23rd! Last week was my 1st week back to work, it went well. I was sore but I would get up and walk around to feel better (sitting on my butt for 8 hours). Anyhoo, I was on mushy foods so I took tuna salad, sf Jello, yogurt and a banana. We have a good cafetria so I would get scrammble eggs and some Beans for Breakfast. That actually would fill me up till about 12:30 and then I would have the tuna and the jello. Could never finish it all. YAY!!! Now that I am on the solid foods, I notice that I'm hungry more often, I don't feel satisfied. Is that normal? My 1st fill will be 9/20 and i'm thinking that will help with the hungry phase. Am i correct? Miriam

Whew! I thought there was something wrong, good to know that it's normal. I've started to us a salad plate instead of a normal plate and only eat that. I did cheat a bit today and had 1/2 a glass of coke and guess what after 4 weeks of not having it, it tasted wierd, didn't like it all. So that's a good thing..no more coke for me!

OMG!!!! I am very happy to say that I have lost 25 lbs since I started with the pre-op diet and now banded!!! And I am healing well from the incisions, etc... I'm in the mushy stage right now and I'm looking forward to it! So what do you all suggest on foods? I had a friend suggest to try baby food, i'm lik umm no that doesn't sound appetizing. Also, have any of you tried the Speacial K shakes? I'm trying to find some that I will like, I do need to make a trip to GNC and check out the ones that were suggested to me on a prior post. Thanks Miriam

Thanks so much! I'm looking forward to the journey! :-)

August 23rd was the magic day!

Hello! Tomorrow is the day I get banded! Can't wait, I've been working on this for the past 6 months, never thought the day would get here. I am excited, anxious and a wee bit nervous. I think I got everything I need for the post-op: Gax X Strips , prescriped Nausea Medication and prescriped Pain Killer oh and I do have an electric blanky warmer so I think I'm set. I hope I don't have to use all of them, but I like to be prepared. I will post once I'm home and awake! Miriam

Hi I had surgery on August 23rd and I'm on the liquid diet..I can't take the shakes anymore. I'm not very hungry so I'm drinking 2 shakes a day, sf Jello, popsicles, crystal light and Water. Can I drink broth instead of the shakes? I'm at the point that I'm gagging my shakes everytime I take them. Any suggestions! Thanks, Miriam

I have heard about it but don't know what that is and what it is for. Can someone let me know! Thanks Miriam

@ OTR- No, I was only given the choice of the shakes they sell at the Dr. I got chocolate and strawberry but they taste like powder with water.

Thanks all, I'm going tomorrow to see if I can find another protein shakes. I think that will help me get over the "I hate the powder shake" hump!

YAY!!! I went through with it..I was nervous when I was on the operating room table, I was like this is it..this is real and then I took a couple deep breathes and next thing you know I'm in recovery waking up! I was bit out of it and a bit sore but feeling ok. Took the x-ray (whatever they give you to drink sucks)! Then went back to the room, the nurse was great, they brought me some Jello, tea, leamonade, a sf popsicle and a shake! I had the shake, some jello and 1/2 the popsicle and that satisfied me. I was felt like i had something on the top of my stomach. I walked with the nurse for about 10 minutes and then off I went home. The wheelchair drive seemed like I was on a rollercoaster and well the car itself felt like that to. So when I got home, I told my mom who is staying this week to take care of me that I felt nauses and was going to take the prescribed anit-nauses medication. I took 1/2 a teaspoon and told her it tasted wierd. Then to her and my husbands suprise I threw up. Pure liquid, I did not stop until all the liquid was out of me, and boy did I feel better. I was able to walk around and then finally went to bed. I was expecting to have a pain in my left shoulder but as of today, I still do not (whew)..I am sore from the incisision and a bit inbetween my left breast. That's where the air is trapped. I finally was able to start burping and excuse my language but farting (alot) last night! I was so excited that I yelled to my husband...VICTORY IS MINE!!!! Haven't been feeling hungry at all, I had some Water and 1 1/2 glass of shakes yesterday, I'm suppose to have 8 glasses of water and two shakes, I don't know how I am going to do that! But I am trying. So overall, sore but feeling good!!! My post op appt. is August 30th, can't wait till then! Miriam

Tomorrow I have my last appt. before my surgery on Thursday. I think the nervousness has subsided, now I just want to get it over and done, so I can start my new life! It will be great to keep in touch with y'all. :-) Miriam

Hi! I'm in San Antonio!! My surgery is this coming Thursday with Dr Wright at the Nix, going through the process with True Results. Who are you with? This is a good forum, lots of good advice and support! Miriam

I also have Cigna..I started the process back in February. I started it with True Results- had the physcial, mental evluation with TR- Cinga required 6 months of nutrionist visits which are really a bit of wast of time. I met with the nutrionist for 10-15 minutes once a month for 3 months, then they called stating Cigna was not going to need anymore nutrionist visits but my surgery had to be done at the Hospital where the Dr. practices. Finally got approved towards the end of July and I'm having my surgery on August 23rd. The process is tedious but well worth it. I like that they are covering 80% so it's only going to cost me out of pocket about 1800.00 overall. Don't get discouraged, like I said it will be well worth it in the end. Good Luck Miriam

So it is day 7 of my pre-op diet and it's getting better. I have a really cool glass that mixes drinks and have been using it at work. Well today, for some reason I was not paying attention and I accidentally tiped it over and spilled my shake. I take the powder for 3 shakes, 1 in the morning, 1 for lunch and 1 for the mid-day snack. I was pretty upset and didn't think of using the rest of the powder so I opted to go to the cafetria and get me some soup. They had poblano soup which is very creamy and asked for a small cup of it, bad idea! About 1/2 an hour later, I could feel my intestines and stomach churning and off I went to the ladies room. I was in and out ALL DAY today and felt horrible. My bowels have been up and down this 7 days and it's very furstrating. I called the Dr office today and the nutrionist told me not to take any Pepto, Immodium, etc... I know it was the soup since it was very creamy so it had to have milk and I haven't had milk in the last 4 months. Believe me, lesson has been learned!!! Miriam

The Dr wanted me to do all Shakes and nothing else. When I called yesterday to find out if i could take pepto, the nutrionist told me i can substitute one shake for 4 ozs of meat, which i have done and boy do i feel better. I save my 4 ozs for dinner, so i can have it with my hubby and the shakes at work. I feel so much much better today! YAY! Miriam

i have a suggestion, before you have the heart to heart talk tell him you want him and yourself to make a list of the pro and cons of your current weight, then set up a night and show each other that list and go down each one of them and talk about them. If he doesn't want to then do it for yourself. I did that and it really helped me make the choice.

My husband was a bit hesitant about it, but I also had a heart to heart with him about me and my feelings. I told him that I wanted to do this mainly for me because I was tired of being tired, sick, everything hurting. I was tired that he had to wait for me everytime we went anywhere walking, I was tired of him dropping me off at the front door and picking me up. I think what also made up his mind about supporting me was that I told him I wanted to be healthier for me and for him and our marriage. If you decide on doing this, remember you are doing it for you and your health and remind him you feeling more confident and healther would be a big BONUS for him! Good luck with your decision!

I agree with everyone, do not give up, do not cancel the surgery. It will get better, I have been on the shakes for 7 days now, it's getting better. At work it's much easier for me since I'm on the go since I get there, I also have the cafeteria around the corner of our office so when I walk to the ladies room or break room it's torture so now I walk to the other side of the building to use the restroom and get my ice and Water. I also take with me some Jello for the inbetween shakes and that has helped me. Hang in there, we are all in it for the better!! HUGS! Miriam

Today was a good day, my headache is gone and I was able to stick to the shakes!! Super excited! It was hard the 1st few days going from having solid food to no food at all. It's still a struggle but I'm coping. What do you all do to cope with the temptation of being hungry & wanting FOOD? thanks Miriam

Hello, My name is Miriam, I will be banded August 23rd and I'm nervous, scared and excited. The Dr. put me on the Protein shake diet and this past few days have been really really difficult. Not only am I hungry but I have a headache and I have low energy. I also have felt lightheaded, my husband is worried about me, but I think this is normal and should go away in a few days. Am I right? Is it ok if I have a handful of peanuts, I don't know what else i can eat to make me feel better. Thanks Miriam