RSREED53

Running the foods through the blender or food processor would work fine. I am about to graduate to semisolids, depends on what my dr says tomorrow morning. Take great care not to pull your sleeve or injure the staple line. I know I was hungry, especially for something to chew--not gum, tho! Ronda

Your doctor doing the EGD should be able to determine the condition your stomach is in. There could be ulcers forming, tissue irritationfrohom the acid reflux problems, or just scar tissue developing after having the band. I would not worry what they find or how long the healing time--just be glad situation you are currently in with the lapband. I would think the healing time might be about 4 to 6 weeks. Everybody is different, and your doctor may have a different idea about that. Just follow their orders, get the EGD, and let your surgical team work a plan for you. Good luck! Ronda anonynurse - do you know how long it takes for reflux damage/ulcerations to heal to the point that it can't be visually detected? I'm curious about this. I have only had reflux twice since getting a total unfill (early last month), and both times were within a week of the unfill. My fills/unfills apparently now take about 8 days to kick in - I know that's not unusual, but it is for me. Prior to that, I was having severe reflux (severe as in the degree, not frequency -- only 1 or 2 times a month, but all night long, as soon as I would doze off, even if I was sitting up, 1 - 3 nights in a row. That had gone on for at least 2 - 2.5 years that I can remember... I got tired of hearing "need more unfill" and actually started thinking it was dysmotility, especially since it was so intermittent... with 20/20 hindsight I should have connected the dots, but I didn't have much in common with other slips I had read about. Also because I knew 100% when I would have the spells... it was a weird feeling that I thought was the food not passing thru... I just attributed that feeling to yet another change (since it was my 3rd or 4th complete change in band sensations). I also had at least one case of aspiration pneumonia, but it was just documented/diagnosed as "pneumonia" (but when I'm not sick, and no one around me is sick, and I have no fever, and 4 days prior I woke up to acid in my lungs... I never finished med school, but I'm comfortable taking a somewhat educated guess...) I'm wondering if that damage would still be visible, since I (hopefully) won't have had any reflux for about 5 weeks by the time of me EGD.

Wonderful feeling!! I am working on a stalling factor too! I am 197 pounds, but trying to peel more fat is a bit rough. I am 4 wks postop and will start solids pretty soon. Ronda

You are doing this for YOU!!! That is a great goal. Stay focused on this factor. Those that doubt your intentions are just jealous, and uncertain about your successes--show them otherwise. I had my revision a month ago. Doing great with it. Took me 4 years to get it. Glad I had it done! Hang in there. We are here to support each other. Ronda

Thanks for your list. Very much like the PreOp things. :DRonda My surgeon gave me a grocery shopping list for things to have on hand after surgery. Keep in mind each surgeon's diet plan is a bit different, but here are some things from my list: skim milk plain Greek yogurt (or CarbMaster) egg substitute fat-free cottage cheese Water packed tuna lean beef, chicken, turkey, fish (for blending/puree) carrots or green Beans (again for blending) low sodium tomato sauce low sodium vegetable soup low sodium V8 unsweetened canned fruit unsweetened applesauce cream of wheat oatmeal (old fashioned) cream of rice mashed potatoes (made with chicken broth, no butter or sour cream) winter squash or sweet potatoes low fat mayo or low fat miracle whip crystal light sugar free kool aid sugar free hot chocolate sugar free popsicles sugar free syrup flavorings sugar substitute flavoring extracts true lemon packets Protein supplement

I was sleeved in Phoenix on May 31, 2011 by Dr. Steven Simon. Doing swell after a month out!! 26 pounds lost! Ronda

:DCongrats to you for such wonderful progress, John!! I am 4 weeks postop, and looking forward to reaching my goal and maintaining it. Yes, my taste has changed alot. Foods taste sweeter that I don't really like anymore. Ronda

It does get better, Lyndy. Glad you are doing better. Take care! Ronda

So sorry to hear of your complications after surgery. It sounds like you have some anemia from blood loss, too. I hope you will be better very soon! So I went home Saturday got very weak and had to come back in. My bp dropped to 40/10. And the dr determined I was bleeding inside. I went to the icu for a night and then to a room. So here I am waiting for my blood levels to go up. Thank u all for your prayers and well wishes

I cannot tolerate anything over 2 oz of proteins. I usually braise my meats so they stay moist. What I like best are the pate's--whiz your portion in the blender, then add one tsp of olive oil mayo (I like Best Foods brand.) To further moisten your meat, add a tablespoon of Light Creamy Ranch dressing to that and stir it into a pate'. I place a fourth of this meat onto my crackers to eat as lunch today. It was very tasty!! I am not very interested in too much spice or condiment, but do use some pepper, or lemon juice, maybe garlic, onion, or a smidge of garlic salt to a dish, if needed. I also cook a lot with either chicken or beef broth. This adds fuller flavor to the foods. I also like unsweetened applesauce, have blended veg soup (Homemade), and I also add a fruit to my shakes sometimes. Main thing is getting the liquids, vitamins, and working at getting the balanced meals into place. I live in Phoenix, AZ where we have extreme heat advisories this week, so the exercise time has been challenging. Otherwise, I am feeling great. Losing weight, and really excited to reach goal and maintenance.

EGD is a standard test needed. It allows the doc to get a good look at your band and the overall condition of your stomach pouch. This result will help determine the type of revision you need. Take this as a good thing to have, and be glad the dr is being thorough. Good luck! Ronda Just got a call from my surgeon's office. My insurance apparently requires an EGD. The lady called me on my cell, which gets horrible reception, so I didn't hear everything and didn't have much opportunity to ask. I'm going to call her back as soon as I have a chance. I don't know if the EGS is required for the band removal part, or the revision part. Or if it's required b/c my chief symptom from my slip was reflux. Or if it's standard to check for hiatal hernias when doing a sleeve-type procedure. Or... who knows. Just curious if it was "standard" for band -> sleeve revisions. Hope to have more info soon.

I have the book~~ It is a good one! He uses Myoplex Protein powders, but imagine any brand you have works fine with the recipes. I have not tried the recipes, but plan to do so. It was a gift several Christmases ago. He follows our plan very closely. :rolleyes:Ronda I thought I would mention that I found this cookbook/eating plan called 'Eating for Life' by Bill Phillips. The book talks about the importance of eating 6 time a day... high protein & healthy carb. Exactly like what we are supposed to be doing. He has a lot of really good recipes, including desert ideas (sugar free pudding with a couple of scoops of protein powder). I thought I would pass along the info since it seems more fitting that a lot of the bariatric surgery cookbooks I've looked at. You may want to see if your library has it available.

Way to go!!! You are doing swell! I am almost 4 weeks out and lost 26 pounds now. Still going strong! Surgery was worth it!! So glad I had it done!! Ronda

:rolleyes:I am almost a month out. Lost 26 pounds, and my thing is wanting to chew--not tobacco, or gum! LOL! But I get to thinking what foods might taste good, then I try em but they don't really taste that good. Now I am getting smaller, and my clothes are starting to bag. Hoping your dr can find out why and you get better soon! Ronda

With you having a surgery date, I would think your auth should be in place very soon. Good luck. Ronda Mine was being sent to the insurance company today!! I am so nervous. I have done everything that is required of me so I hope the approval is not a problem. I already have my surgery date for July 19th.

Today I was at the dr for checkup. Lost 3 pounds over the past 2 wks/24.5 pound gone now!! I am losing alot of inches, and feeling swell. My incisions are almost all gone now. Still not fully ready for eating solids yet. I am in the 100's now--don't miss the 200s and balloon clothes for anything!

Mine was the culmination of 4 years trying to get my revision surgery done. Just so happy I finally had the surgery on 5/31. I went through a bunch of hell in order to get this surgery. You just have to never give up and always stay on top of each level of progress in your treatment and care. Ronda

I have finally completed all of the requirements and jumped through all of the hoops, and my file was submitted to my insurance company today! I will be waiting on pins and needles until I get that approval! How long does it usually take to get an answer? And once approved, how far out was your surgery scheduled? Thanks! Ins companies vary, but once papers are received and processed, and auth usually takes 10-15 business days. Once the auth is granted, it is up to the surgeon to schedule and set up your surgery date that must be at least another 2 weeks after the dr has you scheduled for surgery. You will be placed on a Preop Diet for the 2 weeks in order to shrink your liver and basically detox the body of fats/carbs that have been in your system--you will feel much better in recovery from doing the PreOp Diet. Good luck with everything. Ronda

I would have your surgeon put in writing your need for time off for this major surgery. THEN, maybe you could put in for short term disability or even go the FMLA route for up to 3 mos. In the meantime, stack your cards for a fat lawsuit. That was horrible in response to your medical needs. Ronda

Wow, that is amazing! What an inspiration for all of us! Continued happiness and success!

]You are doing swell, Cammy!! I lost that much preop,too. Being 3 weeks post op now, I go to the dr tomorrow. I have lost 24 pounds overall. Have about 55 left to lose. Noticing alot of inches are gone. You will do fine at surgery. The preop diet is to shrink your liver as they will flip it over to expose your stomach organ to do the work. My incisions are almost h healed now. Glad you are doing so well!! Keep us posted! Ronda

My dr's dietician gave me strict orders to shrink my liver. I stayed on my preop diet almost 3 weeks--19.5 days. Since mine was revision surgery, I wanted to make sure my Dr would have no probs getting instruments into me for the procedure. It was 6 hrs of surgery, but everything went very well. I did not even have to have a drain tube in my nostrils like my first surgery in 2001. It will benefit your surgery and recovery if you follow your preop diet. Wishing you the best!! Ronda When I saw my surgeon on the 17th he suggested I follow the liquid diet that the Dietician had given me to lose at least 5 lbs this week. The reason for his suggestion , he said it would shrink the liver which is in the area of where they will need to perform the procedure. If anything it gives you the headstart on weening yourself from cafienne and sugars so that you are not just cold turkey. Thats my thought process , plus I have lost weight these couple of weeks that I have done the diet. Use your best judgement , but I think its better to be completely ready for the change in consumption .