herghost

Yep, I've noticed the same thing. Maybe it's a way to get back to the board. I do find, that when I go check in at the site, I find more interesting messages. Sue " I'm subscribed to this forum and I'll get notices for a while that someone has added a new message, then all of a sudden, I'll stop getting those messages. It seems that once I visit the site again, it starts sending the messages again. So what's with that? Anyone else experienced this?

Are there other sites for journaling your food? I'm currently using FitDay.com and like it, am thinking of buying the program so I can use it off line and on trips. But I want to make sure that this will do the overall job for me and that there isn't something better out there for me. Anyone know of other sites? Sue

I was Metformin twice a day before surgery. My doctor took me off the med the day of surgery and I was to monitor my blood sugars. My surgery was 8/30 and I havent' been on the meds since surgery and my blood sugars have been normal (well, most of the time). I'm also off my blood pressure meds!!!! One of the things I decided before surgery was to make a list of non-weight related goals, or things I wanted to accomplish. I also promised myself not to get on the scale unless at a dr. appt. So far, I've been able to accomplish this. I like the surprise of the big weight loss when I'm at the dr.'s office. My PCP has been seeing me every 2 weeks to keep track of "vitals" and lab work. Clothes feel good, energy level feels good, ability to wlak batter feels real good. I'm liking that I can accomplish what I need to do every day (meaning I follow the diet and rules). I keep telling people that my head was in the right place to succeed at this. I also know that I'm probably in the honeymoon phase with this and a few months down the road I'm worried I'll want to go back to old habits. But, one day at a time! Sue Stenzel

Hi, I've only been banded since 8/30. I just advanced to pureed food. I have been out to eat twice since banding and had Soup both times (was on liquids). The waitress was pleasant and did not treat me any differently than anyone else at the table. I've told people I want to tell about being banded. And then life goes on. Yes there are changes, and no, I do not feel different eating different portions. In the weeks before my surgery, I too vacillated back and forth. While I haven't "learned" all the lessons yet, I do agree, the band is always with you as a reminder. I've found things that I used to do as habit, I now think twice. Want to grab a candy bar out of that basket on my secretary's desk? Do I really want it? Can I really tolerate it? And I pass. Stress eating? Nope, have to find another outlet. I'm enjoying Minute Maid Lemonate light with sugar free raspberry syrup lately. Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY! Even if I only lose 50% of my excess weight. I ALREADY feel better, am off 3 meds, walk easier, sleep better, and have more energy. Good luck! Sue Stenzel

Can someone help me with how to find where I left off in the messages? It takes me forever to find the messages from the current day or yesterday. I've got it set for hybrid view, I've tried searching for the thread number. I think I'm chat board impaired! Sue :heh:

Congrats to all of you doing so well during the post op phase. I was banded 8/30, and am still on liquids. Tomorrow I get to start pureed. Never thought I'd look forward to pulverized egg before! Yipeee! I had Blue Bunny orange bar, can't remember the name but it has no added sugar and no fat. It was yummy! A nice treat. I've lost 28 pounds since my pre-op visit. Was on liquids for 1 week before surgery and lost 12 pounds before surgery, so that 16 after surgery. I feel good, people have noticed the difference. It's a challenge getting the Protein in but I'm making the 40 gm per day. I too got the newer band and am glad due to the improvements that have been made. My dr. seems to like it better too. Next appt with him is 6 weeks and we'll "talk" about a fill. At this point, don't think I need one, if I drink too much Fluid I get a stomach ache, so I must be getting some restriction already. Great job everyone! Sue

Good choice on car, and gas conservative! These days, that's important and you can use the money you save on gas on new clothes!!!! We went grocery shopping yesterday, only for hubby, a couple things for me, and spent less than 1/2 of what we usually do! What does that say for what I used to eat! Actually, hubby has been losing weight by association. Had a day last week where I couldn't cope with anything. I tried to make a dietitian appt. and was having conflicts all over the place and that reduced me to tears!!! So, have been staying away from decision making and just taking it day by day. I had promised myself before surgery I wouldn't weigh myself until my first dr. appt. But I've noticed that my wedding ring fits better, I walk easier and a little further than I used to. Before surgery, I made a list of non-weight goals, things I wanted to feel or be able to do better or differently. That has helped to keep on track. My follow up is tomorrow, so will be interesting to see what happened. Sue

Hi Candle Thanks for the shopping tips. I have until Friday before starting pureed. I have to admit, it hasn't been too bad so far. Last week, went to run some errands on the hottest day of the week. Forgot my water and hadn't had any protein in that day. Got dizzy, lightheaded and saw stars before my eyes. So went home and tried to compensate for not taking in enough fluids and got a stomach ache!!! Now how dumb was all of that? Learned several lessons in one day. Looking forward to a variety in texture of foods. Hubby made chili the other day and left the sauce on the watery side, so I've been eating that. Yummy. The Campbell's fiest cheese soup (kind of Mexican flavor) was good but had to be strained. Sue

When I talked to the program coordinator at my dr,s office, she said one of the patients told her they pureed pizza! Now that sounds good! I work at a nursing home and they puree everything -even apple pie. Oops, maybe I shouldn't have said that! SueStenzel Do you think hamburger would taste good pureed? You know with the cheese, tomato, onion, ketchup, etc. lol Take care and I will talk to you tomorrow. shelli:girl_hug:

Mmmmmmm.....!!!!! This sounds great! I think it will be dinner. Never thought about blending it and watering down, great idea!!!! I can do that! Sue Stenzel

Well, now day 4 and the nausea seems to have subsided, it was just the one day. I figured out that I was taking less than the prescribed pain med, so I don't think the nausea was from the pain meds. I did switch to more clear Water and sipped constantly. So, maybe dehydration was the problem. Thanks for the advice. Sue

I'm using the protein powder from GNC. I mix it up and only a little clumps up, don't seem to have the problem with curdling. It does have a different texture. The powder is 25 gm/scoop, I only use 1/2 the scoop. Sorry, not much help. Sue

has anyone tried taking lactaid with the milk products? I am lactose intolerant and discussed this with the dietitian. I'm too nauseated at the moment to introduce the milk yet, will have to wait another day or two. Sue Stenzel

HI Yep, I'm 3 days post op and love to drink fluids. This is way different than pre-op. What I find is working for me, is room temperature liquids, or warm, taking sips at about 1-2 tsp size. Sit up, stay sitting up. Sometimes walking around afterwards helps. My dr. said there will be swelling around the band from day 3-5 so I'm hoping the drinking problems are short lived. Sue Stenzel

I was banded on August 30th. Post op so far is uneventful, I think. I have much less pain than I expected, able to get up and walk around. sleep a lot, but I expected that from recovery from anesthesia. I find that I cannot tolerate anything with sugar in it, makes me nauseated or thow up. Although, taking my pain med I'm sure has sugar in it and I can tolerate that. So far, I've been only able to do the Protein powder in soup or hot chocolate (the protein packet I got from the dr.) without getting nauseated. I was drinking some gatorade and could not tolerate it at all. I tried Diet Snapple, it has 2gm of sugar, and got nauseated after that too. The dr. told me there would be swelling around the band at day 3-5 so I'm hoping that is part of the problem. Has anyone had problems with gas after surgery? I have A LOT!!! I'm hoping it's the gas used in surgery finding it's way out. I hope it stops soon! Glad to hear everyone is doing ok. This is a new experience all the way around. Feelings I never expected, some I did expect. Glad I'm on the other side! Sue Stenzel

Wendy, I love the comment about wanting to see yourself as beautiful as your boyfriend sees you. How touching! I love the sentiment. Good luck in your quest. Sue

My doctor present the information for both and actually the decision was mine. I was adamant as I could not stand the thought of having my insides rearranged. His statistics show that the lap band and the RNY have about the same outcome 5 years out. And yes, the lap band is slower weight loss and more work. In my Dr.s office, they have 2 sets of handouts, one for lap band and one for RNY. The staff work with you and help you through the process. The coordinator actually had RNY surgery about 5 years ago and so has walked the talk. I agree that this is your decision. Knowing the risks/benefits and what you are about to go through will help make you a success, I believe. I know my road is not going to be easy, but to get where I am today, has not been easy either. Easy to stuff the food in my mouth, not easy to cope with the results. Good luck to you! SueS.

I don't have my date yet, but was just informed that my insurance will cover this. I was stunned, this was like my first reality check. I wondered what I was doing to myself, why I was doing this, what will happen next. Then, reality kicked in, actually I looked down. This belly of mine isn't going anywhere with what I'm doing, so, this is another try. I fear failing afterwards, I fear not being able to follow the diet, messing up, etc, etc, etc. But then I think, I've researched this, know what I'm getting into, know what I have to do and then calm back down. I read about others journeys and know there will be bumps in the road, but I have told close friends, friends at work and a few family members. They are all rooting for me. I know I can count on them in the tough times. So, I go back and forth on this several times a day. But, I'm gonna forge ahead! to a healthier me! SueS.

for me, it was being diagnosed with high blood pressure. I started thinking about not seeing my son's children (and at the moment, he doesn't even have a girlfriend). SueS.