Suzzzie.

Well, for protein and calcium I make my protein shakes using 16oz skim milk and 2 1/2 scoops of Body Fortress Whey Protein (23gm per scoop). I drink this off and on throughout the day. I have 1 fat free pudding cup. 1 fat free yogurt. And I've been drinking the V8 V-Fusion light, I like the peach and mango one. Each 8oz cup has 1/4 cup veggies and 1/4 cup fruit mixture. I'll have about 2 8oz cups a day. I've also really enjoyed blended cream of mushroom and cream of celery soups, but can't eat much of that before I start to feel really bloated.

I kinda agree about the regular foods thing. I'm good on liquids. Everything goes down, I have no hunger, getting in about 50-60 gms protein a day, plenty of calcium and fruits/veggies all with JUST liquids. Of course... I know I will get hungry at some point...and I will want to CHEW. Haha. But I am a bit worried about eating 'regular' foods.

I had my surgery at WTLSC on 6/15 by Dr. Ellison, and he did a great job. Everyone there is so nice, I would recommend them in a heatbeat! My first consultation was 5/9/07 and surgery date 6/15/07...so everything went very fast.

Haha, I saw that Velvety Potato soup at the store and wanted it so bad, but I was still on clears at the time and wasn't sure if we could even have that when we started fulls. Yum! Now I might have to go back to the store! As for the Ibuprofen, I would MUCH prefer that over the Tylenol, but couldn't find it in liquid? Maybe I didn't look long enough? It was when I went out by myself for the first time and I was really hurting and felt sick, so I just grabbed the Tylenol and left.

I quit taking the lortab elixor on Monday - it didn't help at all with the pain, and would knock me out for hours. I have been taking liquid tylenonl twice a day, mostly cause I get headaches. The pain I have is a cramping, like muscle cramps. I think I would benefit from a muscle relaxer...maybe I'll ask the doc about that on Friday? I am starting to feel a general discomfort around my port site, which is just odd and hard to explain. The skin around the port site is still numb to the touch, and swollen, and when I lightly push around it it feels weird. All of my incisions look great, no pain from them at all. And, no, I don't feel like I've lost weight. I still feel bloated and blah. Haha, either way, its nice to see the scale move in the RIGHT direction!

OK, I'm feeling better (emotionally) today than I was yesterday. I've decided to quit whining! I still have pain and am sleeping in the recliner because it hurts badly to lay anyway other than my back, but I'll deal with it! The pain is just temporary. When all is said and done I will be thinner and healthy! I had a dream last night that I went to some party and I was still quite chubby, but smaller than I am now, and there were guys hitting on ME instead of my friends! That was a great dream! I am also down to 365.5 pounds today. Started at 382... so this is amazing. I should count up my calories - even though I'm still in full liquids right now. ANYWAY - I hope everyone has an amazing day! CONGRATULATIONS - to all who are banded today!

Oy... so I am skipping work again today. There is just no way! Ha I think I was crazy to be thinking about going to work by Sunday (2 days post-op)! I still have alost of soreness in my left abdomen, today is a mix of muscle pain and that annoying gas - the gass hurts from left chest through to my back. Also I have pain in my mid chest/tummy...thinking its where my band is? I don't know, but its very uncomfortable. Wah, I'm turning into such a complainer! I did get out of the house on my own yesterday though. I drove 3 miles to Wal-Mart and bought some liquid tylenol, and then stopped on my way home and filled my gas tank. I was in so much pain from getting in and out of the car... I just want to cry! I feel like I should be 'better' by now?? Anyone else having boredom issues?? I'm so BORED sitting around the house!! Normally I would eat my boredom away, but obviously can't now. My neighbors were grilling out steaks last night and they smelled sooooo good, my mouth was watering and my tummy growled, which was weird. I had a bit of a pudding cup and was stuffed. I do miss food. Bah. I think I just need to start feeling better so I can get up and OUT of this house!!

I haven't heard anyone else say that they needed to do an enema, and my doc didn't require it. I'm not sure why they want it, other than to just be sure your bowel is empty. You might ask them. Its not that bad...people in general have an anxiety about enemas, especially if they've never had one before, but I'm a nurse and its not that big of a deal. Good luck!

Yes yes! Can't wait! I'm going to try to schedule it when I'm there on Friday for my post-op appt.

I have federal bcbs and was approved the same day as my papers were submitted. My BMI was 54, with no co-morbidities. good luck!!!

thats so awesome! Congrats to you! I have a pair of 24s I bought on clearance a few years ago... never worn them. CAN'T WAIT!!

Hey all. Just thought I'd mention a protein juice smoothie I found at Wal-Mart called Naked. Welcome to Naked Juice They have a few different ones... but the protein one is pretty good. a little bit grainy tasting - as I find most protein drinks/food do. Lol. But I like it. it has 20 gms protein per 8oz serving.

Glad to see you're doing well. I had some fat free choc pudding for breakfast, about 1/2 of one of those individule cups, and I am STUFFED! So weird. When I had my barium swallow it showed a large area of gas, but it has stayed pretty low in my abdomen. Annoying as all get out! Still most of my pain is left abdominal muscle. The muscle there is in a large knot. I haven't gone back to work yet - maybe tomorrow?!? I made my post-op appontmnet with the doc for friday at 1pm, do you know when you're going yet?

Just wanted to update quickly - 2 days post-op and doing good. I have muscle cramping in my left abdominal wall... its above the posrt site, by another incision. Also, the area directly below my port site is numb. Has anyone else had that? Its weird!! Went to Wal-Mart with some friends yesterday to get broth and jello and stuff. The walking was good, but by the time we went to checkout I was feeling ill. And of course the checkout lane was CRAZY long. I made it through OK, but won't be doing that again. My cats (2 of them) are being very good - only jumped up on my tummy once so far! Lol. But I need someone to come over and scoop out my litter box. I just can't bend over with this abd muscle cramping! It hurts enought to SIT! OK... I hope everyone is having a great weekend. I'm gonna go park it on my comfy recliner now!

Haha. OK, I hurt. I admit it. But it's not the incision sites - its the dang GAS! Feels like its trying to push through my ribs on my left side. Its horrible. I took some lortab elixer, doesn't help with gas pain at all. So my surgery went great. I remember being wheeled into the OR and just feeling slightly drugged already. Then they started messing around, puttting the heart monitors on and all and the anesthesiologist noticed my Caduceus tattoo on my left shoulder. Someone asked me if I got it before or after nursing school, I told them I just got it in Nov, and someone asked if its a nursing symbol or a doctor symbol. Weird conversation, considering everyone was either a doc or nurse, right? I told them I have a friend who is a med student and she got one also. Next thing I know I have people telling me I'm alright, I did great, and that they would give me pain meds. Got me some toradol before I even knew it. Though it didn't help the gas pain at all... Also, from them wheeling me from the recovery room to my little room I got really nauseated, I started dry-heaving. Ugh. Got some phenergren (sp?) and felt better. They had to give me that 2 more times throughout the day. I slept sooo much between the pain meds andthe nausea meds. I couldn't wake up! They were like "You need to get up and walk" I'd say "OK, lets do this!" and fell asleep again before my covers could be pulled back! I didn't end up leaving there until about 7:30 last night, cause all I wanted was to sleep. The first time I got up to walk it was about 1pm-ish. DId the barium swallow - perfect. I was just so grateful to have ANYTHING to drink that the barium was fine with me! (Did anyone else have to drink some nasty tart stuff before surgery to neutralize somach acids?) Then I got apple juice, crystal light, and ice chips. Yeah, I still have the juice and crystal ice. All I wanted was the ice!!! Met BeckieT for a minute! SHe was in the room next to me. (Hi!) I was so drugged, I'm sure I made a great impression. Haha. But I'm sure she totally understood how I was feeling!! Did anyone else feel very emotional? From the time I woke up I just wanted to cry! I'd start crying cause I wanted Water and my friend wouldn't reach for it fast enough. I'd cry cause the nurse wasn't getting the phenergren fast enough. I'd cry cause I was so tired, but really wanted to walk. It was insane! I NEVER cry!! Anyway. I'm home and feelig well, other than gas pain. Got up at about 5:30 am to call in "sick" to work. ANd by 6am I was walking outside, walked about 3 blocks... it was NICE out this morning. I have 2 friends coming to check on me... one of them is going to take me to Wal Mart so I can walk there and also buy me some broth and stuff. NOTHING sounds good today. I did eat about 1/4 cup Jello. and have been sipping on water. Not sure if its gas bubbles moving, or if my stomach is groweling. I'm up 3 pounds from yesterday. I also discovered that I am a far better nurse than I am a patient! Haha! How is everyone else doing?

Yes, I've had diarrhea. Ugh! But its not like 'normal' diarrhea, its just like... liquid. But I did 24 hours of full liquids on Wed, and then clears thurs... so I think the 48 hours of liquids is just now all I have left in my bowel. I also think I read in a post several days or a week or so ago that someone else had this issue. Tummy feels mighty empty today!! Not a huge issue though, I usually get up at 6am and don't eat until 12 or 1pm. I'll be good. OMGoodness... surgery is in THREE HOURS!!!

First off, if you're gonna ask about me, you should know my 'real' name is Suzanne. haha. It'll be awesome. We'll have to get together for a smoothie when we are both feeling better!! I did really good today. But it was so weird cause I SWEAR I smelled BBQ all day - no one else around me could smell it. I kept having dreams last night that I forgot I was supposed to be on clears and I started eating a massive chocolate cake and stuff. Lol. Its all so psychological! I had veggie broth, jello, lots of water and crystal light, and for a treat I froze a small apple juice and cranberry juice (I was at work, stealing patient stock. Haha!) Once they were mostly frozen I ate them with a spoon. It felt good to not 'drink' something! I have NO CLUE how people do liquids for 2 weeks!! I'm so excited and ready!!

I sooooooooooooooo identify with the "pretty face" comment. I HATE that!!!! I found this "Fat Girl Manifesto" a couple years ago, and have it on my myspace... The Hot Fat Girl Manifesto Because being a hot fat girl is a lot of work and is undervalued or unrecognized. Because a fat girl still has to pay more money for uglier clothes or spend 11 hours at the thrift store to find anything hot to wear. Because if you take the elevator, people think you're lazy but if you're on the treadmill, people laugh. Because men like John Goodman and Bernie Mac get to have careers on television but sitcom-moms-of-three still have size-two waists. Because even feminist magazines publish fat-phobic articles under the guise of it being a "health issue." Because anti-capitalist activists still use expressions like "fat capitalist pig." Because girls are dieting at the age of nine. Because side effects of the most popular diet drugs are seizures, heart failure, fecal urgency, breast cancer, lung disease, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, dangerously high blood pressure, abnormal heartbeat, psychosis, strokes, hallucinations and sudden death. Because the Cooper Institute's ongoing study of 30,000 people has found that those who are fittest live the longest, no matter what they weigh. Because the doctor who said that there were 30,000 "obesity-related" deaths each year received over $2 million in research funding from Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers. Because that study prompted the FDA to approve Phen-Phen and Redux. Because fat-hatred is a money-making industry. Because fat people who exercise live longer than thin people who don't. Because if you lose weight 'cause you're sick, people telling you how great you look. Because hatred is so ingrained in every single one of us, especially inside the heart of even the hottest fat girl. Because even the most progressive people don't talk or write about it. Because I am tired of being ignored, invisible, de-sexualized and told that I have such a pretty face. Because it's not fat that kills, it's fear of fat. For all that and more I am a part of the HOT FAT GIRL REVOLUTION! ~ written by Zoe Whittall

Thank you! I'm really hoping all goes well and very smooth... I really want to be able to return to work on Sunday. I know thats probably not realistic...but I want to do it anyway. Haha. I'll see ya there chickie! Haha. Or, maybe not, but I'll be thinking about you! I live in MO, but having surgery in Overland Park KS - TOMORROW! Good luck to you!

I am Sooooooooooooooooo jealous about this sipping with meals thing! I'm gonna ask my doc about it, though he already told me that its a no-no. Haha. I've been trying to be very mindful of how much I drink with my meals. I went out for italian the other night and only went through 1 glass of water. Thats very good for me, since I could usually go through 3-4! Seriously, I'm a BIG water drinker!! OK. So, today I had to drink only full liquids. And I know I'm very lucky to only have 1 day of fulls, and one day of clears... but OMGoodness! Haha. I went through 6 slim fasts, 4oz OJ and 4oz apple juice. And for dinner I had a can of cream of mushroom soup, blended. And I probably drank 2 gallons of water. I was a bit cranky this afternoon, but felt better when I got a diet coke... I think because it felt 'normal' to me. Sigh. I don't know HOW you all got through your 14 days of liquids. I had to buy some gum today just so I could chew. Ha! So tomorrow I have 2 cans of Veggie broth(low sodium!) and will get some jello from the cafeteria at work, that will be my 'treat.' I'm mad cause I have a baked chicken breast in my fridge that I will have to throw out. Lol. I wanna drown it in some 'wing sauce' and eat it!! Alright. Hope you all have a great night. I forgot to check the calendar, but good luck to whoever gets their band tomorrow!!

Yes!!! Just 35 hours from now I'll be getting my lap band!! :0) If you didn't have any other way to get to the center then I was gonna offer that you just ride with me and my friend brian. Lol. You'd be there WAY early, but it would be a ride none the less. I'm glad your friend is going to take you. Rita, Sooo sorry to hear about this!! I would be so disappointed... but all in due time. First things first, ya know!

I'm not banded yet (FRIDAY!!) but my understanding is that I will be covered for fills. Of course, all policies are different... I have federal BCBS and there are advantages there. Either way, a $900 charge for a fill is INSANE!!! Around these boards I've seen them for anywhere from $100 - $250... you may ask your doc, he may have a reduced fill rate for self pay patients. Good luck!!

No I haven't asked. I think I'll take my camera and see if they'll take a few pictures... if not then I guess my friend that is taking me can just sit in the waiting area and take pictures of himself. haha. And I wouldn't worry about the BMI thing. You were over 40 when they approved you. Its not your fault an all liquid diet has made you go below. Lol.

My last straw... I couldn't weigh myself on my home scale - and it goes up to 380!! (at the docs I was 382.) I'm thrilled to see others mentions bathroom hygiene issues! That is a major embarassing point for me. I actually bruised my hand on the rim of the toilet once!! And airplane seatbelts!?!? I can get it fastened, but its not easy! I have to discretely lift up my stomach and let the belt slip under my fat, to where it is just on top of my legs... and its a very tight squeeze still. Clothing... for the past year I have sufferend and only had 2 pairs of pants, and 3 shirts that fit me. Thank goodness I'm a nurse, so I get to wear scrubs to work everyday, but still. Even my work uniforms are getting tight. I refuse to buy them in a bigger size... if I could even find a bigger size!! AND, I can't even count the number of times I have stayed home rather than go out with friends for a night out on the town... so self conscious about my fat... Ahh, I get banded on Friday... AMEN!

Nope. The center I am going to only does Lap Band (that I know of). Bypass was never an option in my mind.