eatoandc

My surgery is scheduled for 10/10... So just a few days before you. I like keeping up with the newly banded like lapbandlo btw thx for all your info. Anyway I see my dr this Friday but they've already told me to start on Protein Shakes whatever I choose that's high in Protein low on sugar. I think they will give me some shakes on Friday to take til surgery. Glad you are on here and maybe I'll have some tips for u soon and we can keep in touch!!

The alpine punch? Mix with crystal light fruit punch and it doesn't have any after taste! It changed my whole mindset

Wow...you posted again while I was posting the last message. I'm going to say a prayer for you tonight before I go to bed. I really will...I just made a reminder on my phone so I wouldn't forget. Those are a lot of things to be concerned about. Since you are a nurse, you know the importance of positive thoughts and surrounding yourself with positive people. Don't allow anyone around that's going to feel sorry for you, only those who believe in your strength to overcome. I don't know you, but I'm sending those vibes your way now. You can overcome anything that comes against you, there is a power within that makes it possible. Find it, use it.

My favorite towel now completely covers my cootchie. Lmaooo

Hey!! You look relatively young! I'm 24 so its nice to see younger people on here I didn't have a pre-op diet because my surgeon doesn't believe it them haha so not too much info on that. Here is a rundown on my surgery expirience though!
I was banded on Sept 17th (5 days ago) and today I feel GREAT, just tired (see other posts haha)
I was on this site non stop the moment I got my surgery date. When they say everyone is different please believe it!
My surgery was a breeze, really. I was a mess with nerves but it all went smooth. I arrived at the hospital at 8:30 and was in surgery around 12:30. I woke up in recovery around 1:30-2:00 in pain due to gas but they still gave me pain meds and oxygen and I felt better. I was scheduled as outpatient but due to the pain meds they gave me they wanted to make sure I could get liquids down without vomiting so I ended up staying until 6:30PM.
5 days out I am fighting hunger A LOT being on liquids. At first I thought it might be "head hunger" which is a common term around here but I'm actually feeling hunger pains. I'm sipping Protein (By the way, Isopure mixed with crystal light is delicious!) and broths and it ususally goes away for a couple of hours but I can't wait to get some substance in my life! My post op is tomorrow and I'm hoping she adds a few things to the list. I'm feeling good about things but its different. I do notice I am feeling satisfied on either 1/2-1cup of liquids for a couple of hours at a time which is insane. My head has to catch up lol.
Good luck! The people on this forum are amazing!

Me exhausted guys! All I want to do is sleep. That can't be normal.
I'm taking the multi Vitamin, I'm hydrated, and I'm trying to get my Protein in with ease. Its been a little rough because nothing tastes good.
I'm not sure if I don't have enough nutrition in my body or if I'm possibly throwing a little pitty party because I'm starving and am craving something with substance. 5 days post op today.

PILLOW for the ride home (to splint your abdomen, esp w/ bumps in the road).
If you live a few hours away I would suggest bringing a cooler with a couple of drinks (Gatorade was nice & cold b/c my husband had frozen some the night before and they slightly thawed in the cooler..yum); also Protein shakes if ok with surgeon.
Make sure your PAIN MEDS are filled PRIOR to leaving the hospital (I did not do this and suffered until the next night before we could get it filled) (also some pharmacies do not carry the liquid pain meds in regular stock).
Also CVS sells ADULT liquid Tylenol; which is very hard to find.
Dress for comfort and make sure you wear something that is easy to maneuver for potty breaks (nothing tight on abdomen).
Stock up your pantry prior to surgery and make sure you have enough post-op food to make it at least a week. (Protein shakes, chicken/beef/vegetable broth, warm cup tea... were my staples wk 1).
Gas-ex for gas pain... some claim it works... some not... but if your having lots of gas pain it just may make you feel better to take it (comes in ready melt strips).
Ginger helps with nausea & soothes the tummy; try tea or suck on hard candy).
Remember: No heavy lifting!
Be prepared to walk walk walk (to reduces gas pain) have a path mapped out in the back yard or house that is free if objects because you will not want to trip, fall or pick things up out of your path.
--good luck!

Only my husband and mother know. I've seen too many negative reactions, be it jealousy or whatever, .. And I'm just not mentally where I should be To deal with the gossip etc. I was itching
To tell some people that are closer to me pre op but I knew in my heart I wouldn't get the support I was hoping for, so I kept it to myself... Four mos post op and I'm so happy I kept it to myself. My mantra was " you can't unring a bell". Good luck;)

That is an awesome NSV! I had one today also! I can wear my 10 year old sons shirts, they are L youth. made my day!!!

I am being banded October 4. I am half way through day two of the pre op detox. Yesterday I came down with a wicked chest code. I am hoping/expecting that once I get down in weight the chest colds/pneumonia will be less.
I am aware that I have to make sure I do consume enough calories now Oy!
I am fortunate that here in Toronto my doctor has me on a low fat low carb diet. Oh and low taste I did a protien shake yesterday. It took me a whole day to finish it I thought it wasn't going to stay down.
Like others I carry that monkey on my who keeps chattering "you are going to fail"
And then more monkeys chatter all my doubts, fears and shame
So I put on florence and listen to "Shake it out"
"It is hard to danc with the devil on your back. So shake it out"

That's just one person. And I totally understand it stung hearing that. But the only person that makes a real difference in your life is you.
My dad told me long ago when some girls that were my "friends" hurt my feelings - "were they important in your life two years ago? Will they be part of your life in 20 yrs?" "Only you are going to be part of your life every single minute. You're the one that counts."
Believe in yourself. I believe you can.
Tara

Mixed emotions. Cleaning out my closet down 43 pounds and my close friend who is 7 months pregnant came over. We were going shopping to get her maternity clothes as she is outgrowing her current ones after returning home I had her try on a few of my too big for the new me clothes. What the hell 10 shirts and 10 pants and two dresses later all of which fit a 7 month pregnant that barely fit me before deciding to get the band!!! I don't know if I should laugh or cry. I'm so happy of my success 1/3 of the way to goal but so sad that I was a size of a pregnant woman... Now if I had been pregnant maybe it wouldn't hit me so hard. 6 months ago I was the size of 1.5 people. How crazy is that??? N I didn't realize how big I was just bought bigger clothes... She was complaining about how big she had gotten she used to work out daily n eat clean but is pregnant n baby is hungry and mommy can't train like she used to. Had I been her size due to fact I had a precious baby growing inside of me maybe I wouldn't be so hurt sad disappointed at myself.
Just a bag of mixed emotions ... That I was the size of a pregnant lady yet so happy I'm no longer that size and continue to shrink... That's my success story for now although I'm still emotional ....

i am so excited and happy!! im nervous too lol my doctor at first was being a butt and was saying well this would be a challenging one... and kept dancing around saying it, then finally said oct25th sound good? and i freaked out saying you mean its a yes?!?!?! lol then i got light headed and felt like i was going to throw up! lol
now i know some people will read this and think im being too excited... yes i know this is not THE answer. its just a tool. but a tool i am excited to use to help me!!!!!! GAHHHHH

I went to my PCM the other day for a check up. She still has the old dinosaur weight scale. I had always wanted to not have to move that huge bottom weight past the 100 mark. I thought by the time I lost that much, those scales would be long gone! But none the less......it happened! 149.25 lbs. I did not have to move that bottom weight!!!!!!

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I lost 20 pounds!! I did not have a pre-op diet (just Clear Liquids the day before surgery) and since then I can't believe how much I've lost! I LIVED off carbs before surgery. Some days I would eat literally no protein....it was pretty sad. So I kind of expected to lose a decent amount quickly, but not 20 pounds in 11 days! Just wanted to share!

Hello to all in this community, my name is Dave. I have always been a lifelong heavy person and overweight, athletic football build type of guy who was losing the battle with diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea. My endocrinologist suggested I consider a bariatric surgery option as a route to help. Over the course of six months I researched options and settled on the Lap Band. While talking through the surgery with my wife, my best friend in the world, she suggested we do it together. We decided we both want to be healthier for each other and live longer and fuller lives so we took on the journey together. I was very fortunate to have such a great support partner with my best friend in the world. Going through pre-op diet together made a world of difference down to us having surgery on the same day 9/19/13.
I started at 394 and lost 31.4 lbs over the three weeks of the pre-op liquid diet. I know the journey is just beginning but I am already looking forward to our new lives ahead.
Now two days post op, I am just starting to feel better. The last 24 hours have been killer. I have been having bad side effects from the pain meds I went home on or from the anesthesia. My muscles all ached so bad that sitting for 10 mins my legs and arms would seize up. After talking with my doctor this morning who has been great through this whole process, I am stopping my pain meds and just walking, walking, walking. Trying to get a mile in a day. It is a marathon not a sprint however and today is a better than yesterday.... one foot forward to a better life.

Very since my approval I have been unable to sleep! I'm obsessing now on how I'm chewing even though I don't have the band yet! Am I going freaking crazy! My surgery is set for 10/22 and I'm already buying stuff. Did anyone lose it too? Please tell me this is normal!

That gives me hope, I'm just fresh off the slice & dice table today .... Hoping this gets easier (I know it will). Cheers to us & our fresh bands!!!

Still kind of sore but OMG I feel sooooo much better. I'm able to kick the pain meds and use liquid Tylenol. I'm not gonna lie I'm ready for Mushies cuz I am starving!!!! I'm not cheating though.

The day I had surgery, I decided to tell two of my "best" friends of my decision. I couldn't be more disappointed in their reactions. One said, "I think you're crazy. You were doing so well on your own." The other didn't verbally express any kind of disapproval but you could hear it in her tone. Unfortunately, I somewhat expected it but it doesn't change the disappointment.
Now, I know that not everyone will understand, approve of or support my decision. I don't expect people to and frankly, I don't need their approval. But my two best friends whom I have helped and supported through some very tough times, can't support me? I don't expect approval -- just support. One hasn't even reached out to ask how I'm feeling while the other said, "I'm just not for it".
Funny thing is this is why I held off telling them in the first place. Yet, here I sit, slightly annoyed and disappointed in them. I know that I shouldn't let it get to me but these are two women who have been friends for more than 20 years. I feel like I never should have told them but I am not the kind of person to keep "secrets". I am an open book and share most things about my life.
I know I'll get over it. I guess I just needed to vent a little about it.

frankly, what doesnt cause cancer???
drink coffee every day (straight up black)
no issues with me...my dr said it was okay and i never looked back...i say drink and enjoy it..

Hello everyone I was banded August 12 at 9:00 and it was by far the best decision I've ever made in my 21 years of living roughly 2 weeks before my surgery me and my boyfriend went on a weekend getaway to Charleston, S.C on that trip I went shopping and bought a dress that was purposely 3 sizes too small and I promised myself that when I lose 50 pounds I'll go on another weekend getaway and wear that same dress and on that getaway I'll buy something that I can wear or use on my next goal....Well today is my day I leave tonight to Atlanta Georgia to a Tyler Perry play with my sister! I'm 4 pounds away from my first 50 pound goal but CLOSE ENOUGH!.... I LOVE YOU ALL and I'll post pictures of me and the dress tonight before the play. What's your goals and rewards?

ME!!! I'm totally obsessed with mine too! I have had it a week as of tomorrow and I have actually gotten out of bed at 10 minutes to midnight to burn an extra 70 calories to hit my calorie goal! LOL I love it!! I did learn that if you set a 15k step goal for the day you gotta get to work on those early in the day or you will be on the elliptical at 10pm! Ha!
I also use a Heart Rate monitor (Polar FT4) while I am exercising and that is also very motivating because you know just how hard (or not) you are pushing yourself. Then it tells you how many calories you burned based on your weight and heart rate. LOVE IT!!

I'm so sorry. Never say never, you could be the lucky winner of Powerball tonight and get whatever you want done. I know the odds, but you have to keep positive thoughts. Good things happen when you least expect them to. This could also be a blessing in diguise, you just never know.

My surgery date was May 1st. I had a 12:15 surgery time and was instructed to be at the hospital at 10:00. I checked in and proceeded to the ambulatory surgery center.
Blood labs were drawn. I had an IV started and they started Lactated Ringers. They also had a 2 gram bag of ancef ready to be started as I started to surgery. I was given a shot of Lovenox in my arm to reduce the risk of blood clots.
At 12:30, they took me to surgery. The anesthesiologist introduced himself and asked again if I had ever had any reactions in the past. They put me on the surgery table and applied a mask and told me to breathe deeply and count backwards from 10. I remember saying the number 8. LOL.
At 2:15, a nurse asked me how I was feeling and told me she was giving me 4mg of Zofran (for nausea). She told me I was in recovery and the surgery went well. Everything was blurry. I asked if that was normal and she explained they used a gel in my eyes during the surgery. She gave me a moist rag and instructed me to blink and carefully wipe my eyes. In about 5 minutes I could see normal. I asked if I could try to sit up and eat some ice. She said I could try. No nausea and it felt very nice to have the ice.
I asked how long I would be in recovery. It was 2:30 by now and I felt fine except when I initially sat up. I could feel some soreness and the "pulling" of the incision sites. I went to the post op area about 10 minutes later. By 15:30, I felt pretty clear and asked if I could use the restroom. They said I could but to sit on the side of the ned first. That went well. I asked if I could head home after that. Getting dressed was fairly easy. I brought sweats so I didn't have to bend much to slip my feet in and tug them gently up. I did ask my sister in law to assist with my socks. ( I forgot my sandals...bummer)
For three days I was sore when getting up or down and there was pain if I bent forward over about 15 degrees. I took Mepergan Fortis (demerol and phenergan mixed, demerol for pain and phenergan for nausea). It as a gel cap and they went down easily; I was taking 1 every 6 to 12 hours the first 2 days. Then at night for two more days. By one week I felt pretty good without pain medicine except when bending over.