smilin_apple

Hi all, It's been a few weeks since I have been on here but I am back to say hi and see how everyone is doing. I am now 9 weeks out from surgery as of today. I have lost about 16lbs since my surgery and trying to stay strong. I have involved myself with 2 different bible study groups at church and going to service every Sunday. I think it is the only thing right now getting me through each week. I have so much on my plate but with God by my side I feel like it all is at least within grasp. I am so blessed to have found a group on this site that not only can be there as a support which knows just what I am going through physically but also spiritually. I hope you all have a wonderful evening! God Bless

Hi all!!! I am new to this thread. I belong to a few others and don't remembe seeing this one when I was signing up on here. I am just elated to have found it, especially now. I have a long way to go, I started this whole journey at 416 lbs. back in November 14,2006 when I went to my first class. After a long and trying year I finally had my surgery on November 7th, 2007. So I have been banded a little over a month and a half. I am waiting for my first fill since my surgeon is out on Medical leave right now and will be back on January 7th to give me my fill. I am so finally looking forward to it, especially since my appetite has increased so much compared to what it was just 3 weeks ago. Well enough of me for now, I wish you all a Blessed Christmas and New Year and I will try to check back in before the end of the year.

Hi all! It's been a while since I have been on here, but I thought I would stop in. I haven't seen Vickie J post since right before her surgery, I hope she is doing well. I am doing ok a little frusterated because I was due to have my first fill this coming Monday on Christmas Eve and that was cancelled sinc eDr. Alami is out on Medical leave for a little while. And I refuse to see Dr. Li or Dr.Le, I want my doctor he is the BEST! So they scheduled me on January 7th, I NEED it SOOO Bad too. I am eating pretty regularly. My portion are still smaller but pretty normal. I am still having one problem... when I let myself get too humgry then I start to eat too fast again and it gets stuck....my eyes water a little and it takes a minute or two to go down, but thank God I haven't PB'd or anything like that...but boy does that hurt when it gets stuck! I have also notice that some things make me almost have feelings similar to what Bypass patients describe as Dumping but it only lasts for 5- 10 minutes or less. Anyone else get anything like that???? P.S. WELCOME TO ALL THE NEWBIES!!!

I have a question I think I WAY over did it last night... We had a potluck at work and I only had little bites of different things here and there and I was full then later on I made a BAD choice and had some cheesecake!!! I was so mad at myself for that but then all the sudden out of nowhere I got really sick. I have had ice cream here and there a couple of nights a week and no issues but something happened after the cheesecake, I started feeling Cramps, sweaty, nauseous and I thought I was going to die for about 10 minutes. I had to do EVERYTHING in my power not to throw-up. Luckily I didn't but then this morning I still felt like crap I couldn't even have the broth from my soup without feeling nauseous. So I had a half of a Rice cake and went to sleep for 2 hours then finished the other half. By late afternoon I finally started feeling a little better. Any ideas on whether this is "Normal"?

Wow still not hungry??? I had my surgery November 7th also and I get hungry 3-4 times a day. I eat smaller but normal protions. I was on mushy foods from week 1-2 and week 3 on Solids. I have a question I think I over did it last night. We had a potluck at work and I only had little bites of different things here and there and I was full then later on I made a BAD choice and had some cheesecake!!! I was so mad at myself for that but then all the sudden out of nowhere I got really sick, now I have had ice cream here and there a couple of nights a week and no issues but something happened after the cheesecake, I started feeling Cramps, sweaty, nauseous and I thought I was going to die for about 10 minutes. I had to do EVERYTHING in my power not to throw-up. Luckily I didn't but then this morning I still felt like crap I couldn't even have the broth from my soup without feeling nauseous. So I had a half of a Rice cake and went to sleep for 2 hours then finished the other half. By late afternoon I finally started feeling a little better. Any ideas on whether this is "Normal"?

Major CONGRATS sweethinkr!!! That is WONDERFUL....I can't wait until I am able to feel what it's like to lose 100 lbs. Keep up the great work! I had some issues myself...I had a very HEAVY one this month which was 3 weeks after surgery, My norm is light and short. I think it has to do with the surgery. A question for you though... Were you taking Birth Control...before, during surgery??? I was told not to take any BC during, my OB Gyn suggessted that I started them after surgery. I haven't started them up yet personally. I agree with the other person that said it changes the meds in some way by crushing them up. My docs suggessted the I cut all my pills in half but not the gel caps.

Thanks! And I know you will do just as good if not better, just keep a positive outlook the whole way through...by the way I forgot to mention and this might sound silly but it wasn't silly for me. I had two prior surgeries about 2 years ago for my back and my gallbladder. Right before surgery I was so nervous that I started crying and my recovery afterwards was not easy for either surgery but I have to say this time I did just 2 things differently and I think it helped tremendously. This first is that I prayed the night before and right before surgery (I know not everyone can/will do the same thing depending on beliefs but it worked for me) and the second was I purchased the "Preparing for a successful Surgery" CD from the SSF Kaiser. at my final appointment before surgery. And at the hotel the night before I played it on the CD player just as I laid down in bed and listened to that as I fell asleep and even left it playing while I sleeping. I think it made a real difference. I was so calm this time before the surgery and this time I didn't even have my mom there like I have always had her in the past. My best friend who went with me kept asking if I was nervous and I didn't get nervous at all! Not once! I think that CD really put me in the right mind set. As far as the foods on stage 2, I started adding cottage cheese (1/2 c. a day) about 5 days out from surgery, then I also had instant mashed potatoes with a lowfat (Campbells) turkey gravy on it to thin it out a little bit. I ate that 2 times a day. A typical meal for me from Day 5 until I was cleared for Stage 3 was: Breakfast: 4 ounce Activia Vanilla Yogurt 2-4 ounces of Unsweetened Applesauce Lunch: 2 ounces (1/4 of med. size) Sweet potato 1/4 cup Lowfat Cottage Cheese Dinner: 1/2 cup Mashed Potatoes 2-3 Tbsp Turkey Gravy 1/2 of (4 ounce) Activia Yogurt Snack: 1-2 Sugar Free Popsicle or Sugar Free Fudgesicle About 3 days before my 2 week follow up I started to get really hungry so I started adding in some Stage 3 foods slowly and I was ok with that. I told Dr.Alami about it at my 2 week appt., because he told me to stop the protein shakes and I told him I stopped taking them a while ago because I had a hard time drinking them. At that time my typical meal was: Breakfast: 2 ounces (1/4 of med. size) Sweet potato 1/4 cup Lowfat Cottage Cheese Lunch: 2 ounces cooked ground turkey meatball (cut up in 8ths);topped with 2 Tbsp tomato sauce; little Italian seasoning (sort of like a spaghetti sauce) 1/2 - 1 (4 ounce) Activia Yogurt Dinner: 2 ounces cooked ground turkey meatball (cut up in 8ths);topped with 2 Tbsp tomato sauce; little Italian seasoning (sort of like a spaghetti sauce) 1/4 cup mashed potatoes Snack: 1-2 Sugar Free Popsicles or S/F Fudgesicle Sorry for the BOOK, I hope this helps!!! If you have any more questions let me know

I am so happy for you Vicki!!! :whoo: I am finally doing much much better. Dr. Alami just cleard me to Stage 3 which is pretty much all foods, when I went to see him on Tuesday this week. I have been doing ok, wish my appetite was still as small as it was the first week and half out from surgery. I really do notice the difference. I mean I still don't eat ANY where near what I ate in one sitting last month but it is about double what I was eating right out from surgery. The second good news is that I lost 10.5 lbs since surgery!!!! Yeah for me! The surgeon was so proud of me. He did tell me to be careful and at least try to maintain that and maybe lose some more before I go in for my first fill. We will see?!?!? I am hoping that works out for me, since my fill isn't until Chritsmas Eve. Well I hope everyone is doing well!

I thought the diet my Surgeon put us on was hard to do post-op. We were allowed pureed things like bananas, no-sugar added applesauce, sugar-free popsicles and fudgesicles, Creamed soups, Jello-O, Malt-o-Meal, mashed potatoes (thinned out), yogurt, etc. Tomorrow I will be upgraded to Thicker mashed potatoes, ground meats, etc. It has been really hard for me even with the variety. I have to admit I pushed the envelope a little bit already with my textures of foods and have been ok with that, luckily. But I am doing my best to stick to the plan they gave us. All I can say is hang in there! The next stage will be here soon. I never thought it would for me and it is hard to believe that it has been almost 2 weeks since my surgery. What types of foods will you all be on for your next stage?

Thanks I will and I hope you have WONDERFUL Thanksgiving too!!!

Hi all... I am back! Too much to go back and read right now on how everyone is doing and what's been going on. So I just wanted to log on and let everyone know that I am finally doing much better, I was banded on November 7th, last week, I finally feel good but the incisions still hurt too bad to sit in a regular chair right now for more than 10 minutes or so. That's why I decided to take another week off work. I go back on Wednesday next week, by they I should be back on here chatting it up wih everyone and back in the grove of things. Take care everyone!!

Hi all... I am back! Too much to go back and read right now on how everyone is doing and what's been going on. So I just wanted to log on and let everyone know that I am finally doing much better, I was banded on November 7th, last week, I finally feel good but the incisions still hurt too bad to sit in a regular chair right now for more than 10 minutes or so. That's why I decided to take another week off work. I go back on Wednesday next week, by they I should be back on here chatting it up wih everyone and back in the grove of things. Take care everyone!!

Hi all... I am back! Too much to go back an read right now on how everyone is doing and what's been going on. So I just wanted to log on and let everyone know that I am finally doing much better, I was banded on November 7th, last week, I finally feel good but the incisions still hurt too bad to sit in a regular chair right now for more than 10 minutes or so. That's why I decided to take another week off work. I go back on Wednesday next week, by they I should be back on here chatting it up wih everyone and back in the grove of things. Take care everyone!!

Thank you so much....but unfortunately in my job I work in a 24 hour computer help desk room and I ALWAYS (every year) work on Thanksgiving and the day after...but I am used to it. At least I don't go in until 1 in the afternoon, I always go see my family for a few before work they understand.

Hi all... I am back! Too much to go back an read right now on how everyone is doing and what's been going on. So I just wanted to log on and let everyone know that I am finally doing much better, I was banded on November 7th, last week, I finally feel good but the incisions still hurt too bad to sit in a regular chair right now for more than 10 minutes or so. That's why I decided to take another week off work. I go back on Wednesday next week, by they I should be back on here chatting it up wih everyone and back in the grove of things. Take care everyone!! April:)

I am at my hotel down the street from the hospital and my admitting time is 10:30 in the morning. I am on clear fluids right now until midnight and then nothing at all after 12:00am. Just wanted to send a quick note to everyone.... To say HI!!! By the way the only unflavored powder I know that you can add to anything is UNJURY...it's at unjury.com

Thank you so much for the info...I am going to start packing my bag now. I will let everyone know how I am when I can get on the PC again...I don't really have a comfortable desk to sit at at home so it might be a few days or so. Have a great week!

Welcome Sagebird!... I am having surgery on Wednesday. I leave for SSF tomorrow morning. I am so excited at the same time extremely nervous. How does the whole process go at the hospital the morning of surgery. When you get there what happens? I just like to be prepared completely!

My doc suggested No sugar added Applesauce too. There is also a protein drink you can buy from some nutrition stores or online and it is called "ISOPURE"...it is pure protein nothing else. I haven't tasted it yet but most people I heard likes it. It looks like a kool aid or something. It has No Carbs...No Sugar...No anything but protein and it is whey protein isolate which is suppossed to be one of the best to have. The bottle is like 32 ounces or so and it cost me $3.00...it had 40 grams of protein in it

I had to lose some weight before surgery since mine is covered by my insurance 100%. I lost about 35lbs, then last week gained 5lbs. They will cancel for weight gain, not sure exactly why but since I am not self-pay I can't argue. To top it all off I am due to start my monthly cycle next week so I am praying not to have water gain on top of it. I am thinking about taking some Diuretics until then just to be safe. Any other suggesstions for quick weight loss for the 5lbs + the possible water gain???? :cry Congrats!!! Your surgery is almost here!!!!:clap2:

Thanks fo rthe advice everyone. As it turns out my mom is going to try and fly in for to San Francisco for the day I get released from the hospital and drive me back to Sacramento in my car. This way she can stay in Southern CA to work up through my surgery. My best friend said she is going to try and drive out there for my surgery day to be there when I go in and come out of surgery. I will defintely take the advice of preparing my house for after surgery ahead of time....HOPEFULLY I can get my stuff all unpacked and get settled in this weekend that way next weekend I can prepare for the surgery. I have so much unpacking to do but I have been so busy. I only had 1 day to move and now I have been working the my normal 10 hour swing shift all week since the move. Not to mention I found out today that my grandmother is at my parents house from out of town and we are having an early Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday with her. (Makes me happy I get to celebrate Thanksgiving w/my family) Since I am going to be recovering from my surgery 2 weeks before the holiday. But I CAN'T over do it!!! I can't put on anymore weight, matter of fact I am need to lose 5 lbs by Thursday next week, since I accidentally put on 5 lbs and if my surgeon sees that next week he will cancel my surgery :car: I DON'T WANT THAT!!!

I just found out that my mom can't take me to my surgery now. I don't know what to do? It is 2 hours away and she was suppossed to be taking me and staying with me until I come home. I have to go down there the day before surgery so I can't take myself. This is so stressful...I swear when it rains it POURS!!!!!!

I just found out that my mom can't take me to my surgery now. I don't know what to do? It is 2 hours away and she was suppossed to be taking me and staying with me until I come home. I have to go down there the day before surgery so I can't take myself. This is so stressful...:rain:I swear when it rains it POURS!!!!!!

You go girl Chrispy!!!! I am so happy that you are having fun! I can't wait to meet someone someday. I know it will happen just don't know when. By the way everyone I finally moved out of my house into my own Apartment with my daughter this week. It was really really hard though because my old roomate was the guy I had dated and then things ended about 1 year ago but we continued to live together. I fell in love with him and when I spent my first night in my own place I cried because I missed him so much. I mean we shared a room for the last 2 1/2 years for goodness sake!!! I hoping that the feeling gets easier as time goes on. I did however make it a point to tell him straight forward last night that I do Love him and that I know neither of us meant for that to happen when we first were dating; it just did. I just wanted him to know that no matter what we will always be BEST friends! We are so close with eachother but he doesn't love me that way Oh well finally a chance to TRY and move on...I just hope I can do it?

I go to see my surgeon for a final checkup on November 1st and also to meet the anestesioligist (sorry for the misspelling). I am so excited but a little nervous too because if I gain weight at my Nov 1st appt they will cancel surgery. I went to my PCP today for something else and I gained 5 lbs and now I am getting close to my monthly cycle....which means water gain possibly. So I have to try and lose that 5 lbs by next week...:help:I hope I can do it!!?? But I need some suggestions I only have one week to lose it!