Tinkerbell77

Chim and Kathybad~ I can totally relate. I started spotting the morning of my surgery. Yup 4 days early! Totally sucks! Jackie, Biggest loser, mango24, ReneeMarie~ Welcome to the banded side! So glad to hear you are doing so well!!! Good luck Chimboree, Nelli,Stepht7s,Nevada Spirit, and Betty B. If I am missing anyone else I am so sorry and Good luck!!! Icybreeze~ YUM that sounds sooo good. I can’t wait til I start my mushies, I am gonna try that! Tomorrow I get to start yogurt and pudding. Not so sure about the yogurt, haven't been a fan since junior high when I learned it was live bacteria! Just can't get that idea out of my head with every bite I take. But I am very excited about the pudding. YUM!!! Banded July 18, 2007 6/1/07 350 6/27/07 339 7/18/07 331 7/24/07 325.6

Hey everyone. Just wanted to stop by and see how everyone is doing? Today is my day 6 and I am doing well. I was able to start cream soups yesterday and applesauce. I had some Creamy portabella and some tomatoe soup. Yum! I was only able to get down down maybe 2 oz, before I was full. I am still drinking my Profect protein drinks which are 2.9 ounces each and can only drink half at a time. Whew this is a different feeling. Doing much better today. My tummy is itching where the incisions are but that is just cuz I am healing. Also, I have real sensitive skin, so where some of the stiprs have come off are red and that itches too. Can't wait til I can actually wash that area. Right now I can only let the water run over it. So good news I have lost 5 1/2 pounds since surgery! Woo hoo!!! :whoo: I am so excited. Chim~ I am so excited for you. Today is gonna be the longest day for you I know!. Just keep yourself busy and try to get a good nights sleep. I'll be anxious to hear from you after surgery! Oh and yes, I can already taste my yummy tuna salad. I can't wait! Surgery Date July 18, 2007 6/1/07 350 6/27/07 339 7/18/07 331 7/24/07 325.6

Yay chimboree26!!! So close!!!!

Sunshinesonya~ I hear ya with the constipation. My doctor told me to take Milk of Magnesia. I took the minimum does of the 2 tablespoons and 1 hour later whew did I feel better! It can take 6 hours or even longer, but it worked fast on me. Just an idea. I got the cherry flavor and it wasn’t all that bad. Good luck! Wow I am really starting to look forward to the mushy stage. I don't know why but I have been craving canned tuna. Is that ok with some fat free may? What about canned chicken or just chicken that is pureed? Any ideas anyone??? 6/1/07 350 6/27/07 339 7/18/07 331

Dmtjet~ If you are interested in muscle milk, also check out amazon.com. I got my 5 pound container there for $42 and free shipping. I haven’t found it that cheap anywhere else. Wrangler054~ swelling by the port is totally normal. It can actually last a couple of weeks. It is even normal to feel a bit hard around it as well. It is just the muscle, but that will go away too. Don’t worry, everything is the way it should be. My doctor gave me a list of things to be prepared for so I didn’t freak out if things happened and that was one of them. I’ve been a bit swollen at port site but it is going down Lindaa~ I am so sorry to hear of the loss. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Hello to everyone else! So today is day 5 and I get to have some thin cream soups and applesauce. YUM!!!! Kinda scared to try it though as I could barely even get down my protein drinks, but looking forward to the new tastes. Hope everyone else is having a great day! 6/1/07 350 6/27/07 339 7/18/07 331

MsPris~ Thank you! Peaches9~ Thanks, I am going to try the Benefiber when I start to eat food. Lynettee617~ I went to GNC and got some unflavored protein powder to put in soups and drinks and stuff. They said it was great for smoothies and stuff too. If it is good I’ll let ya’ll know! I think they rather the isolate cuz like you said it is absorbed better. That is what I believe the one I got is. Good luck to all of tomorrows bandsters! 6/1/07 350 6/27/07 339 7/18/07 331

Gladster12~ totally having gurgling in my stomach too so loud and annoying! I think mine is gas cuz it doesn’t go away Phyllser~I don’t wait to drink my liquids with my Proteins. I talked to one of the doctors front office personnel and she said just to get what I can down. As long as I am getting a good amount of liquid and Protein I should be fine. As for the pain meds, I take mine right before bed. I then usually wake up at like 6 or 6:30 for no reason and would take it again which would get me through the morning. Today (day 5) I woke up and just took some tyleonl and I am doing great. Yesterday I was able to go 12 hours between doses of pain meds. It will get easier. Today I woke up and actually felt human again. Just keep your chin up and get what you can down. Don’t push it, each day you will be able to get a little more down. You are doing a great job! Lynette617~ my doctor wants between 40 and 70 grams of protein a day. Is there an unflavored powder that you recommend? I know they have one at GNC, but they don’t know if it is really tasteless and how well it works. Any suggestions? 6/1/07 350 6/27/07 339 7/18/07 331

<p>Janiee~Day three post op is SOOO much easier. There will still be some soreness at the port site, but moving around will get much easier. The dizziness is normal and will get less often as well. I am still having it a bit too. Keep up the good work, you are doing great!!!</p> 6/1/07 350 6/27/07 339 7/18/07 331

Welcome cate54! :help: So I am just finishing up my day 3 and I started drinking my protein drinks today. I am drinking Profect as they have 25 grams of protein in only 2.9 ounces with no carbs and no sugars. They don't taste bad and are fruity. I had been able to get down about 40-50- ounces of clear liquids, but now I am so full from the protein drinks that I am only getting down like 30-35. Any suggestions? I read someone suggested beei-protein like beni-fiber which dissolves and is tastelss? Does that work? Has anyone heard of it? Do they sell it at Wal-mart? I need someehing to mix into my water and broth to get more protein in. Any help is greatly appreciated. Other than that doing great. The worst of my pain is gas in my chest and back. Congrats to all the new bandsters and the soon to be bandsters!!! Woo hoo, we can do it!!!

Thank you again to everyone for all the support and encouraging words. Today is a much better day. I am actually able to get up on my own and don't need help walking around. The worst discomfort I am feelling is in my chest and the doctors office said that is the gas trying to escape so they told me some stretchig and breathing things to do to help alleviate the discomfort and prevent getting the sharp back and shoulder pain. Any advice and of you have would be greatly apprecaited as well. Still a bit sore at the incesion sites of course but much better today. Kcorbin~welcome to the group. Everyone here is so amazing and helpful!

Well day two is nearing the end. Taking a shower today was an experience in itself and whew did it make me tired! Chimboree26~ I am doing alright, just sore and tired. Been up and down my stairs once today which I was told would be horrible, but it wasn't too bad, just went slowly. Everything isn't nearly as bad as I antisipated which is a big relief. I am glad to be back on here so quickly! MsPris~I am so sorry to hear about the problems that occured during your surgery. I must agree that everything does happen for a reason even though sometimes we don't know what is. Good luck to you and keep your spirits up. dmtjet~ your nephew is gorgeous. Congrats again! Well I am off to bed, might try sleeping in bed tonight. I'll let ya'll know how it went in the morning. Good luck to all Fridays bandsters.

Lynette glad to hear you are doing better today! dmtjet~congrats on the new baby! I do have a question for you. You said it is normal to pass a lot of liquids in the beginning which I am. When should I expect to have to go to the bathroom more than just urinating? I am so afraid of getting constipated from the pain medicine, but I can't go without it. So day two and I am SORE!!! I first woke up and said, "Wow I am feeling great!" Then I moved and WHEW!!!!! My stomach is sore. Not like killing me just sore. Once I am up I am ok, but it is the getting up or readjusting myself on my couch or recliner that gets me. Other then that doing well. Trying to get my liquids down. Yesterday I got down about 40 today I want to get down 50. Still getting groggy from the medicine. I fade in and out when watching tv. My husband has to look at me before he talks to me to make sure I am awake, because I am literaly falling asleep in a matter of a minute! Then five minutes later I am up again. Crazy! Congrats to all of todays bandsters! :clap2: 6/1/07 350 6/27/07 339 7/18/07 331

Thanks for all the support everyone! Denise~You will be great! I was totally scared even made my monthly visitor visit me early! So far it isn't nearly as bad as I anticipated. The surgeon said my abdominal wall was deeper then he anticipated because of my weight, but once he got that he said I was perfect and a piece of cake. If you have any questions or concerns let me know, I as well as several others on here, know all the pre-op fears and concerns. Good luck at your pre-op! 6/1/07 350 6/27/07 339 7/18/07 331

Hey everyone just wanted to check in and say hi. I had my surgery today so I am officialy a bandster!:whoo: I went in at 7 this morning. Surgery was at 8 and they let me go home a little after noon. I am pretty sore, but not as bad as I anticipated. I think the gas pains are really what is getting the best of me. My back is just killing me. My mouth is still dry, not matter how much liquids I get down. My doctor wants me to drink 64 ounces today and so far I've only gotten down about 35 ugh! I am just so not hungry and everytime I drink it makes that fact that I need to burp even worse. It was cute I told the nurse I felt like I had to burp and she said this is the one time in your life that we encourage you to burp! I've also been urinating a lot, which I don't understand. The only thing I can think of is all the fluids they pumped into me. Anyway, I hope all of the rest of you are doing well and good luck to tomorrow bandsters. Just relax and you'll do great! 6/1/07 350 6/27/07 339 7/18/07 331

Well it is 5:55 AM and I am off to the surgery center for my banding. A bit nervous. Very thirsty. Cross your fringers everything goes ok. I'll be back on as soon as I can to post how everything went. Good luck to all other July 18th bandsters!

Hey everyone congrats to everyone and their success! I totally agree about those t-shirts, would totally not feel comfortable wearing one of those right now. Maybe at my goal weight, but that is a ways off. Anyway surgery is in less then two days and I am soooo nervous and excited. Any post-op advice anyone wants to share would be greatly appreciated!

So I have a questions for all you bandsters out there. How long did it take before you really felt like yourself and could resume every day activities as well as more strenuous activities after your surgery and after your first fill. I have a friend coming in 3 weeks after surgery and she wants to go Six Flags and stuff, do you think I"ll be up to it by then? I am also supposed to go to the lake with some friends for a friends birthday to go seadooing about 6 1/2 weeks after surgery. That will be right after my first fill according to what my doctor says. Bad idea? Will I be able to do anything or am I just going to be sitting on the boat or on the shore watching them on the seadoos? :help:

Thank you Lynette617 those are all great ideas. I especially like the tuna wrapped in lettuce I think I might try that for dinner tonight it sounds great! I have had the South Beach dinners. There are olny a couple I can have because most are only for phase 2 or 3 and that inculdes the pizza even though it is really good! My doctor said after surgery I could try phase 2 and 3 if I wanted. Thanks again!

Thank you to everyone for your support with my surgery being rescheduled, icybreeze, Lynette617 and dmtjet. :whoo:It is definite, my surgery is July 18th at 8 AM. Here is hoping there are no more problems! Lynette617~ What happened is it is our first year with UHC so we have a $20000 cap for the first year. Insurance will be 60% of reasonable charges meaning they have an agreed price of $12000. So everything including the surgery center, doctor, doctor visits, and anastheologist had to be in that $12000 budget. So last Friday I was told that it was going to be over that, so I needed another $3000 for the surgery center to accept me as they are the last ones to get paid and are going to be shorted and they don't do payment plans. They are making an exception and allowing me to pay out 1588 because I was at 4588 over what the insurance would pay. My doctors office took $1000 off his bill so it could go towards the surgery center and he is letting me pay him privately for that. So all in all it worked out and I believe my surgeon is an angel for doing all this for me! Anyway, as for the pre-op diet. Basically I am allowed the south beach phase 1 diet, but most of the recipes don'd sound appealing to me. I am supposed to be drinking Protein shakes, and have only high protein foods, with low fat, sugar and carbs. My favorite snack which was suggested by my nutritionist is a low fat string cheese and 30 pistachio nuts. That is also in the South Beach diet book. I have just been living on chicken and Broccoli and I'm going nuts. I am allowed chicken, ground turkey/beef, steak, and all sorts of vegetables. Any suggestions you have would be great. Thanks again to everyone and good luck!

First I want to congratuate all the July banders and all their great work. So I was supposed to have my surgery on the 9th, however there were some problems with the surgery center which I was not notified about until one business day before my surgery. So after waiting 6 tremendously long days I finally got the ok that everything was worked out. I was told that I will probably be having the surgery on Wednesday the 18th, but I'll know tomorrow for sure when the scheduler calls me. So I am trying to hard to stay on the liquid and protein diet. I have already been on it for over tweek weeks now and now have to continue another week. I cheated a couple of times having bread and it made me feel so sick and gain back 2 pounds! Horrifying, so that is a motivation in itself to not eat any more breads or other carbs. I didn't have a hard time the first week and a half, but once I found out that there was a problem with my surgery and it was cancelled, I kinda freaked out and ate stuff I knew I shouldn't have, but I was so upset I didn't care. Now I am upset with myself that I let myself do that. Anyway, I have vowed to be good for this next week so everything goes well with my surgery. It is just so hard because it will be 3 1/2 weeks of this liquid protein diet. Ugghhh!!! Any ideas on how to get through this?

I live in Frisco. My surgery was supposed to be on Monday, but had some problems so I have to reschedule it. I will know more on Monday.

Hi, my name is Heidi, I am 29 year old, and live in Texas. I just set my surgery date today with my doctor for July 11. I am very excited and also very nervous!

7 days to go So I have been on my pre-op diet for three days now. Only seven more to go. My surgery is scheduled for July 9th, a week from tomorrow at 12 noon. So I have been drinking so much fluids that my stomach feels different. I'm full but a different kind of full. My husband is getting me some sugar free hard candy so I can have the idea of chewing something. My doctor allows us to follow the South Beach diet phase 1 so I am lucky there being alllowed to consume some food pre-op, but it's pretty simple and basic and I am bored! Nothing sounds good. Even foods that are on the unapproved list don't sound good to me. The first couple days of the pre-op diet were horrible, but now...I get hungry and just drink some Water or my Protein Shake. I am not really having any cravings. The hardest thing was last night I went with friends to Olive Garden and watching them eat all the yummy stuff I couldn't have. The only thing I wanted that I couldn't have was the bread, but after it being in front of me a couple of minutes, it didn't bother me anymore. I am very proud of myself for not breaking down and having any bread. Everyone says it won't hurt to cheat a little, but if I am afraid if I cheat a little, there will be no end to it. Being that I am on such a strict diet right now, they let me order from the kids meal. I ordered the grilled chicken breast with broccoli and instead of the Pasta it comes with I asked for mushrooms. I had salad and they were out of their light dressing, so I used a drop of olive oil (on my approved list) and balsamic vinegar and it was very satisfying. It seems real hard in the begining, but is getting easier. I just can't allow food to control me anymore I have to control it. Now after surgery, that may be a different story. We'll see!

Hi! I am being banded on July 9 as well so I am right there with you! As nervous as I am that is how excited I am. How are you doing on your pre-op diet? Good luck. We CAN do it!

<p>Peaches9 I haven't had the surgery yet it is scheduled for the July 9th. I will let you know as I go what I have been able to consume as I go through it.</p> <p> </p> <p>Michele (dover) thanks for the luck and good luck to you too! I joined the group and it has been helpful thanks!</p>