tzbandtobypass

I had a JP drain like that for 10 days post-op. I hated it and it annoyed me the whole time, but the worst part was when it came out. I'm with you that it didn't really hurt, but it felt like there were snakes moving around in my belly!!

I found a different brand (it's organic and actually seemed "better" than PB2) at Vitamin Shoppe. The brand I bought is Just Great Stuff: http://www.bettylousinc.com/products_detail.php?id=287&ref=0 I bought a container of both the Peanut Butter and the chocolate peanut butter. They are both amazing and taste incredible mixed with the plain Greek Yogurt! I've also seen the PB2 on Amazon.

Our doc allows only 1 ounce of food per sitting. It doesn't sound like much, but it seems to be the right amount for me. I have been having refried Beans for about a week. It sounds gross but I have been taking the 1 ounce refried beans and mixing it with a small (think baby spoon) spoonful of cottage cheese. Once it heats up, it makes it a little cheesy and helps thin it out a little. I have really enjoyed it and despised cottage cheese pre-surgery. The beans have not made me sick, but I had trouble with eggs. I tried some scrambled egg beaters on Monday night and the doc thinks that is what caused the swelling that landed me back in the hospital on Tuesday (no stricture, just swelling). Another suggestion for you since it sounds like you're willing to try yogurt! I have been in love with Chobani 0% Greek Yogurt (1 ounce) mixed with a spoonful of PB2. Since it is nice and thick it almost tastes like I am eating a spoonful of really soft Peanut Butter. I've tried the one that is like Nutella and it is just as delicious.

Has anyone had a stricture? I knew that with the band to bypass procedure there was a higher risk of ending up with a stricture, but I also figured that I would beat the odds. This morning I woke up and cold liquids aren't going through without pain. I can do warm liquids very, very slowly, but not nearly what I need to stay hydrated and avoid a trip back to the hospital. It has taken me about 2 hours to drink half a cup of hot chamomile tea. I called the doctor this morning and the nurse said that it is probably a stricture. She said this is the earliest she has seen one post-op, as my surgery was only 15 days ago, but that it is possible if I am a fast healer. I am supposed to go to the ER at around 3pm for IV fluids and have them contact my gastroenterologist and bypass surgeon for an emergency consult. I don't scare that easily, but I can't help but be worried about already having issues with this surgery. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Could you help me to understand what to expect if it is a stricture?

I've been an emotional mess too! This morning I woke up and couldn't seem to get cool liquids down without incredible pain. I called the on call nurse and she said it is probably a stricture. I was advised to try warm liquids to see if it loosens it up, but if it doesn't get better and allow for 64 ounces of fluids today, I am headed back to the hospital. The nurse said the upper GI doc would meet me at the ER to rule out a stricture before any other testing and that I would also get IV fluids. Sounds like fun times to me I am praying for the warm liquids to work this out on its own!

I lost just under 20 pounds in the first ten days out from surgery (that doesn't include the added hospital weight). Then they allowed me to have 5, 1 oz, high protein soft "meals" along with protein shakes and other no-cal liquids. All of the sudden I stopped losing weight. I am getting in between 500 and 600 calories, my protein is above 60g per day, my fluids are above 80oz per day. I have been as active as I can be this close out from surgery. It just doesn't make sense. Oh and my surgery was 1/14. Any advice, words of wisdom, and/or help would be greatly appreciated. I felt like a failure with my Lapband. I don't want to fail at this too...

Thanks for all of the support! I am still stuck and just cannot figure it out. Reducing fluids is an option, but I live in Denver. Getting dehydrated is super easy out here between the altitude and the dry air. Pre-surgery I was taking in much more H2O and I am afraid of what might happen if I reduce the quantity anymore. My lips are already really dry and my mouth is like a freaking cotton ball I have been tracking very closely. I've use MFP in the past but have just been using pen and paper because of all the math I need to do to get the correct portion size. I will make it a goal to switch over this week. I think I may also get a BodyBugg so that I can get a better grasp on my calorie burn. It shouldn't matter that much this close to surgery, but it certainly can't hurt. I think going back to work today is going to help. I have a standing desk so I am rarely sitting down. I stay pretty active in the office and I am hopeful that will be all it takes to get the scale moving again.

I am only allowed 5 foods right now: 0% plain Greek yogurt, sugar free pudding, low fat cottage cheese, egg beaters, and refried Beans.. And I am only consuming 1 oz 4-5 times per day, so even if what I was eating was loaded with sodium I don't know that it would matter all that much. I guess I just need to wait it out, but it sure is hard!!

Oh me too! My scale hasn't budged since Wednesday and I have actually shed years over it. I am following my doctor's instructions to the letter so all I can do is just hope for the best. I started a thread about this and everyone has been saying it is totally normal, but I can't help but think that this is just the start of another failed diet program We'll get through it! Hang in there, follow the rules, and give your scale a good kicking.

Oh and I am also still sore - that port incision is my largest one and it really hurts. I had that problem when they put the stupid thing in too!

I am down 18 pounds but I have at least 100 to lose, so it'a nice to get the first 18 out of the way so quickly! With the band every time I lost weight, I would go down a big chunk and then back up a few. It was a constant yo-yo. I sure hope this is different and the pounds stay gone!!

Yep! I am partially looking forward to it and also dreading it. We had a company party tonight that I had planned to attend but just couldn't muster up the energy. How in the world am I going to take a full day in the office?!?! Good luck on Monday!

It may just be because I am only 11 days out from surgery and this is my first day getting to "eat" anything, but I mixed a scoop of Cookies and cream Protein powder with sugar free Jello pudding cup and it turned into a delicious soupy/milkshake like treat. I felt guilty eating it but that tiny little bowl is 20 grams of protein! It made me about as happy as a pre-surgery giant froyo from Menchies My surgeon allows us to have our choice of 5 foods every other hour for weeks 2-4 and then we move to full soft foods. The five foods are cottage cheese, refried Beans, sugar free pudding, Greek yogurt (plain), and egg whites or egg beaters. We are only supposed to have 1 oz at a time and I have been delighted with some of the stuff the nut suggested. I abhor (well, I used to) cottage cheese but it tastes really good when mixed and heated with refried beans and a little unflavored whey Protein Powder. I've been mixing various protein powders with the 5 foods , but not the eggs, and everything is really tasty. For my first "meal" this morning I had 1 oz of Plain 0% Chobani with one scoop of Fresh Cinnamon Roll Lean Dessert Protein and nearly fell out of my chair because it was so good. Does anyone else's doc allow them to do anything similar this far out from surgery? If so, what kinds of foods are you allowed? Also, if anyone has any suggestions on ways to mix up the 5 foods into delightful "meals", please share! And my last question - do you think it's just because we had to go so long without food that this stuff tastes so good?

I'm so sorry I hated my band in the end and I was terrified I would need two surgeries. I hope you heal quickly from the removal and that the next 6 months go by quickly.

I do think it is strange that each doctor can make up their own rules! Mine has said mashed potatoes are terrible because there is no protein. I would love to have a bite of potatoes!

I agree - my surgeon has no mashed potatoes like ever. Same with soda. I have been on the Lapband talk boards and blogs for a few years and it is the same deal with them too. It makes it hard to compare and get advice because what one will allow, another will not. The only consistent thing I have heard is protein, protein, protein

My doc says it will stretch your pouch. I haven't had soda since I had my Lapband surgery over 3 years ago, so I have no idea if that is true! I'm a week out from RNY and I'm not about to try a soda!

I haven't measured mine but I haven't made any "from scratch". I suppose if you are making them on your own you'd want to keep the volume to the range you specified. My doc told me yesterday that he doesn't really care when I drink them and when I drink my other liquids as long as I am getting in my daily amounts.

I had a post op appointment yesterday and i asked this very question. I drink way more than the 1 ounce per hour they were letting me have in the hospital so I was getting really nervous. I was told that as long as you are not gulping Water, you really can't damage your pouch with fluids. It made me feel much better to know that I wasn't messing up this early on! FYI - This is not true if you are drinking carbonated beverages.

Those are the calcium chews I found too! They had them at the Vitamin Shoppe. They carry that whole line of bariatric Vitamins in their store.

Those aren't calcium citrate though! I had bought a whole box of viactiv chews and then got home and realized that there is a difference. Our RNY bodies cannot absorb the regular calcium, so we must have calcium citrate instead.

I was lactose intolerant before surgery, but still ate some dairy, but not milk. Milk isn't on my surgeon's diet for this week, but he does allow skim, 1%, and 2% later. I will probably just use almond milk. I prefer it and I know it won't give me any issues. One of my co-workers said that you can buy drops online that will take the lactose out of the milk in 24 hours. That is what our RNY bodies have a hard time with, so if you were really into cow's milk, you could go that route!

I had a similar situation in October last year. My husband was diagnosed with cancer (and he is in full remission now) and I had to choose between my own surgery or being his primary care giver during his treatment. I postponed my surgery, helped him get well, and now he is helping me. I would do it again in a heartbeat. It is so hard to postpone when you've gone through so much to get approved, but you have to be in a place where you can give 110% to yourself. I can't imagine all that you are going through right now, but it doesn't sound like you have 110%to give to yourself.