Darbyjack

Hi All !
I was banded Oct 23, 2012. Was in the surgery center 23 hours, insurance said so HA. Was down 35 pds before the banding, 20 of those from the 2 week diet of shakes, broth and Jello. I was totally shocked that morning when I stepped on the scale and saw I had lost 20 pds in 2 weeks.
I had some pain the first couple days. But the pain meds every 6 hours helped. Now just taking pain meds before bed. I am a tummy sleeper, still can't do that, but getting closer.
The Protein shakes from Bariatric Advantage are a life saver, they are awesome. I add some extracts, sf pudding to them to mix up the flavors. And the Protein Soups, chicken noodle and pea Soup from Protdiet, are pretty good too.
My stomach does 'gurgle' a lot. It isn't uncomfortable at all, just gurgles. I hope this will pass. I have never had any hunger. However, I just want to guzzle down a bottle of Water or a glass of tea. I'm so thirsty. I drink every 1/2 hr as instructed by Doc. But still thirsty.
So glad to have found this site, and FINALLY learned how to post HAHA.
I live with my boyfriend, and he really tried to understand, but he can't.
So I am here to stay with some awesome people to DO UNDERSTAND it all.
THANKS EVERYONE AND HAPPY BANDING !!

Weight can be a security blanket. Its not uncommon to be concerned about change. Its the unknown and no one is usually comfortable with it. You may want to seek counseling to help you deal with the pending changes to your body. It wouldnt be a crime to talk to a professional and might do you a world of good.
It you want to see what losing 215 lbs looks like.. check out my gallery on my profile. Granted it doesnt show the wrinkly thighs I have, the saggy butt or the frowning belly button... but I look pretty decent in clothes and according to my husband the rest of it is better than the hard fat was... even tho he loved me then as well.

With my program it was anything pureed. A few of my favorites:
tuna fish, low fat mayo (just enough for consistency), and a pinch of shreded cheese pureed.< /p>
Low fat refried Beans, salsa, and a pinch of cheese pureed and heated.
chicken and low fat vegetable flavored cream cheese pureed and heated.
Scrambled eggs, salsa, and a pinch of cheese pureed and heated.
Also, things like peaches, pears, green Beans, carrots, etc puree pretty good. Greek Yogurt was a staple at this stage.
Good luck!

As a new bandster, it's natural to wonder if every little (and big) thing that happens to you now is somehow connected to your band. Every hiccup, every twinge, makes you ask, “Is something wrong with my band?” How do you make sense of all these new experiences without making yourself crazy (or in my case, crazier)?


ADJUSTING TO BANDED LIFE
Having weight loss surgery is a huge project. You spent months, even years, in research, education, preparation, recovery and adjustment. No wonder you're obsessed with it. But it is not the only thing going on in your body and your life. It is not the cause of every adverse - or favorable - event.
When I buy a new car, I go through phases similar to the ones I experienced as a new bandster. I look around, do research, study and compare before I buy. With all of that foremost in my limited-capacity brain, I cherish my new possession, and suddenly I see that same vehicle everywhere. Like magic, the same make, model, and even color is on every road, in every parking lot. It’s as if the 2011 Toyota Camry has become my world. Gradually the novelty wears off, things shift back into position, and the Camry becomes transportation again – at least until it suffers its first scratch or dent.
Adjusting to life with a new band can be a lot like life with a new car, or even more so, because an adjustable gastric band isn’t something (I hope) you’re going to tire of and trade in one day. It’s a lifetime commitment, and even if your insurance pays for all or part of it, a band is a huge investment in terms of time and energy.
It’s not surprising that everything that happens to you as a new post-op gets filtered through the AGB lens. We suddenly tune in to every little whisper of AGB stories, especially scary ones. As we move forward in the shiny new vehicle that we hope will take us far from the land of obesity, we listen carefully for any suspicious creaks, squeaks or whines, while cringing at every little bump in the road. After months of preparation and anticipation, we’re now in a hyper-vigilant mode that rings an alarm bell every time something even mildly unfamiliar happens in our bodies. We’re so alert that even a sore toe could be a sign of something insidious happening to our bands. We analyze every sneeze, every burp, asking, “Is this normal? Is something wrong with me or my band?”
The answer to that is almost always, “Completely normal, and nothing wrong.”
Although there's a tendency to interpret every post-op experience (especially physical ones) as band-related, chances are that the pain in your big toe has nothing to do with your band. It's easy to "awfulize" things when you have a pain, symptom or experience you didn't expect and can't explain. You're sure that's something's wrong. You haven't lost weight in three days, or you found hair clogging your shower drain, or you puked up your spaghetti dinner.< /p>
You’ve probably had more practice at dealing with this kind of worry than you give yourself credit for, because it applies to many other aspects of your life. It's extremely difficult to make a good decision when you're in a panic. Your vomiting might be band-related, but it could also be the result of a garden-variety intestinal bug. Your teenaged daughter's failure to return your phone call could be because she was in a terrible accident, or it could be because her cell-phone battery died.
WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG
First, take a deep breath. Panic will not solve the problem, and it might make it worse.
First, have a look at any discharge instructions or other written post-op information you were given before or after your surgery (if your surgeon or the hospital doesn’t give you anything like that, ask for it!). Then ask yourself: Is this an emergency? Is it life-threatening, disabling, or just inconvenient? What will happen if I don't do something about it right now? Can I deal with this myself, or do I need help? What kind of help (medical, emotional, spiritual, financial)? Who can help me (my surgeon, therapist, best friend, minister)? Be careful how you choose your helper(s). I know you love your sister, who might tell you that everyone in her family has been sick with a bug since you saw them (and their germs) on Sunday, but she cannot tell you whether or not your band slipped. So please don’t ask her, me, your hairdresser, neighbor, personal trainer, or a casual Internet acquaintance for medical advice. We may be well qualified to sympathize, but we’re not qualified to give you medical treatment, so call your surgeon instead.
But first, make a list. I like list-making because it gives me the illusion of control and because it helps jog my memory when I finally get a doctor, nurse or dietitian on the line. If nothing serious (a temperature over 101°F, you can’t drink Clear Liquids, you can’t stop vomiting) or life-threatening (you can’t breathe, can’t move, can’t speak, are bleeding profusely, etc.) is on the list, consider waiting to call your surgeon for an hour or two, or until you have a list of at least three questions. Use that time to think of the answers to some basic questions your surgeon is sure to ask: how long the problem has been going on, whether it’s constant or intermittent, and whether it seems related to a particular behavior, time of day, or other event.
If your list includes something life-threatening (see above), leave a brief message like “This is Jane Doe. I’m on my way to the ER at Hometown Hospital because I’m having severe chest pain” and don’t wait for your surgeon to call you back. Call 911 or have someone take you to the emergency room. But once you’re there, remember that you can’t expect the average ER doctor to know how to treat a problem related to bariatric surgery. The ER will rule out and treat things like cardiac arrest, infection, pneumonia, stroke, and the like, and will give you palliative care to make you more comfortable until your surgeon arrives or tells them what to do next.
While it’s always okay to ask your surgeon or his/her staff about your worries, it’s important to remember that you are not the only patient under their care. If you don’t get a return call within a few hours of leaving a message, it may be because they’re overwhelmed with other patients’ problems and/or because they didn't understand the nature of your problem. Leave a clear, simple, but specific message. If you’re running a temperature and have a bad headache, say, “This is Jane Doe. I’ve had a temperature of 103°F and a bad headache for 5 hours. Please call me back as soon as possible at 123-456-7890.”
NOT EVERYTHING IS RELATED TO YOUR BAND
Now that you’re at least somewhat prepared to deal with medical emergencies that might arise, you need to hear this: not everything is related to your band. While it’s appropriate to be concerned and alert after any surgery and in adjusting to life with an implanted medical device like a band, don't let fear cloud your thinking. You will wear yourself to a frazzle if every event becomes a crisis, and you don’t want to neglect other important things in your life (like family, job, etc.) because your band has somehow taken over every waking thought..
I may sound unsympathetic, but I'm really not. I can whine with the best of 'em. I’m not saying that your confusion and struggles as a new bandster aren't important. They are. But it will be easier for you to handle them if you do it with a clear mind and a calm heart. I know from personal experience that worry and self-pity are deadly traps because they tend to paralyze you. So while it's good to keep your little buddy in the back of your mind when trying to figure out what's going on, remember that you are still vulnerable to the bacteria, viruses, accidents, exhaustion, bad habits, and dumb luck that ambushed you before your band surgery. Try not to let a three-inch ring of plastic hold you hostage. Your post-op life includes much, much more than just your band, eating, and weight loss efforts!

Hi All !
I was banded Oct 23, 2012. Was in the surgery center 23 hours, insurance said so HA. Was down 35 pds before the banding, 20 of those from the 2 week diet of shakes, broth and Jello. I was totally shocked that morning when I stepped on the scale and saw I had lost 20 pds in 2 weeks.
I had some pain the first couple days. But the pain meds every 6 hours helped. Now just taking pain meds before bed. I am a tummy sleeper, still can't do that, but getting closer.
The Protein shakes from Bariatric Advantage are a life saver, they are awesome. I add some extracts, sf pudding to them to mix up the flavors. And the Protein Soups, chicken noodle and pea Soup from Protdiet, are pretty good too.
My stomach does 'gurgle' a lot. It isn't uncomfortable at all, just gurgles. I hope this will pass. I have never had any hunger. However, I just want to guzzle down a bottle of Water or a glass of tea. I'm so thirsty. I drink every 1/2 hr as instructed by Doc. But still thirsty.
So glad to have found this site, and FINALLY learned how to post HAHA.
I live with my boyfriend, and he really tried to understand, but he can't.
So I am here to stay with some awesome people to DO UNDERSTAND it all.
THANKS EVERYONE AND HAPPY BANDING !!

The 2 weeks is rough for sure, YOU WILL GET THRU IT. When I got the desperation, I had boiled eggs, and small can's of chicken. HELPED SO MUCH. But, we had a bon fire we went to during that time frame, and I actually....licked a rib HAHA and it cured this beast of an appetite.
It' s hard, but so worth it. I lost 20 lbs during the 2 wks prep, and 35 total. Just keep the end goal in site. And, LICK something if ya need to ! LOL
GOOD LUCK pam

Hi All !
I was banded Oct 23, 2012. Was in the surgery center 23 hours, insurance said so HA. Was down 35 pds before the banding, 20 of those from the 2 week diet of shakes, broth and Jello. I was totally shocked that morning when I stepped on the scale and saw I had lost 20 pds in 2 weeks.
I had some pain the first couple days. But the pain meds every 6 hours helped. Now just taking pain meds before bed. I am a tummy sleeper, still can't do that, but getting closer.
The Protein shakes from Bariatric Advantage are a life saver, they are awesome. I add some extracts, sf pudding to them to mix up the flavors. And the Protein Soups, chicken noodle and pea Soup from Protdiet, are pretty good too.
My stomach does 'gurgle' a lot. It isn't uncomfortable at all, just gurgles. I hope this will pass. I have never had any hunger. However, I just want to guzzle down a bottle of Water or a glass of tea. I'm so thirsty. I drink every 1/2 hr as instructed by Doc. But still thirsty.
So glad to have found this site, and FINALLY learned how to post HAHA.
I live with my boyfriend, and he really tried to understand, but he can't.
So I am here to stay with some awesome people to DO UNDERSTAND it all.
THANKS EVERYONE AND HAPPY BANDING !!

Hi All !
I was banded Oct 23, 2012. Was in the surgery center 23 hours, insurance said so HA. Was down 35 pds before the banding, 20 of those from the 2 week diet of shakes, broth and Jello. I was totally shocked that morning when I stepped on the scale and saw I had lost 20 pds in 2 weeks.
I had some pain the first couple days. But the pain meds every 6 hours helped. Now just taking pain meds before bed. I am a tummy sleeper, still can't do that, but getting closer.
The Protein shakes from Bariatric Advantage are a life saver, they are awesome. I add some extracts, sf pudding to them to mix up the flavors. And the Protein Soups, chicken noodle and pea Soup from Protdiet, are pretty good too.
My stomach does 'gurgle' a lot. It isn't uncomfortable at all, just gurgles. I hope this will pass. I have never had any hunger. However, I just want to guzzle down a bottle of Water or a glass of tea. I'm so thirsty. I drink every 1/2 hr as instructed by Doc. But still thirsty.
So glad to have found this site, and FINALLY learned how to post HAHA.
I live with my boyfriend, and he really tried to understand, but he can't.
So I am here to stay with some awesome people to DO UNDERSTAND it all.
THANKS EVERYONE AND HAPPY BANDING !!

I was Banded on Oct 23rd,just came home yesterday .I"m in a little discomfort but i can deal with it,just walked 1/4 mile. I lost 35lbs prior to my banding.I"m on my way on a new journey in life !
I have been at least 350lbs for about 32 years.I"m 68 years old and i feel great & very positive about my new journey!

I got banded Monday the 22, went great had a hostel hernia repaired. Today has been hard but hope it gets better pain wise. Having chicken broth but half a can at a time and Jello. Please let me know what you are going through.

Am just starting pre op diet for two weeks. What Protein Shake did you go with? I am in Texas and I am so excited also. I would love a buddie to chat with.