CherieRyde

You are only 3 days out. Give yourself a break. You'll get there.

Stop expecting so much in the very beginning. Everything you are feeling is normal, and you are perfectly fine. I've had 2 fills now, and let me tell you ... it's VERY different. I feel restriction now. I may not stay full the entire time, but MAN do I feel restriction. I've learned that in the mornings, all I can tolerate is a Protein shake and maybe half a cup of coffee. At lunch time, I can handle something with a little more substance, but not much. At dinner time, I can handle solids, but I have to be careful about which ones they are. This is different for everyone, but everyone gets to that point eventually. So .. chill. Enjoy the ride. It's ALL worth it. ^.^

I was told not to use gummy vitamins because they could get stuck in my stoma. I'd RATHER have my gummies than the Flintstones chewables I've been taking.

I preferred room temp stuff, to be honest. I still do. If I needed anything for swelling, then I sucked on a Pedialyte Pop or an icy-pop.

I have NO idea of name brands. My hubby is the same way, so I totally get it. Just tell him "Honey, I trust you. Just pick one that says Miso Soup, and we'll give it a try. Ok?"

Yes. Also, I bruise my port site every time I bump into something and hit that area. Also ... be careful not to pop the sutures holding your port to your muscles. I did that with a SNEEZE earlier this week. It feels like popping / ripping your insides open. Not fun.

From my experience? Yes. this is normal. The amount you are able to eat will vary depending on what it is, but yeah ... this is pretty normal. I now have 3ccs in my band, and I'm fluctuating between mushies and chopped foods again. This is my second fill, and it's the same as the first.

I can actually answer this because my husband and I have been tracking it. Pre-op we'd spend close to $300/week at the grocery store for a family of 3. Then we'd spend close to $100/week eating out. Post op, I'm spending closer to $150 - $200 on groceries, my son and husband are eating more leftovers, and *if* we go out to eat, we are spending closer to $50. So yes. The savings is significant. However. I'm spending that savings on undergarments, sweaters, and tights. I'm avoiding purchasing pants at the moment because my size is changing often enough that I'm sticking to winterizing my dresses. Dresses are easier to alter than pants are. Does this help?

My surgeon *and* Nutritionist said to wait 30 to 60 minutes after I eat. That way, the food has time to work it's way through the band on it's own and I benefit from feeling full for a longer period of time.

Ask your Nutritionist to be sure. You'd be surprised what you *can* have if you ask them. But yeah ... increasing Water intake helps too. Good luck!

Pay more attention to the non-scale victories than what the scale says. How are things fitting? How do you FEEL? Are you able to do something that you weren't able to do before? The scale will eventually reflect what you are seeing and feeling. Don't stress over that. Keep up the good work!

Honestly, most of us had a cheat day around day 5 or 6 from what I've seen so far. My pre-op diet happened to fall around the same time as my son's birthday, and I did have some things that were not on my diet. HOWEVER. I started fresh the next morning, stuck to my diet for the remainder of the time, and everything was fine. My doc didn't even ask about it, and my NUT told me that it happens and not to stress as long as it was only once.

Pureed prunes, prune juice, or raisins ALWAYS work for me.

I can only help with giving the info for my Doc in Illinois. Sorry.

I had a couple that poked out. However, as a medical professional, I know that the skin has mostly healed 2 weeks post op. So, I gently tugged on the sutures that were poking out and they came away easily. It looks gross, but you don't really feel anything. If you gently tug and they do NOT come away easily, then cover them with a band-aid until you see your doc again and let him take care of them. The only thing covering them with band-aids does is keep them from catching on things and driving you nuts. Also ... change the band-aids daily so that you don't create an issue for yourself with yucky band-aids.

This is not unusual.

EXACTLY what TMF and @@lisacaron said. Listen to the two of them. They have a lot of good advice and have been at this for a while.

Did your nutritionist not give you a diet to follow?

Yeah .. go back to liquids. Soups, Protein drinks, etc. You've moved too fast for your body, and it's telling you as much. Also, pay attention to the way you feel while eating. I usually know within 2 bites if I can tolerate a specific food that day. If I can't tolerate it, I feel like I'm struggling to swallow the bite. Almost like it's too dry or thick. Finally, make sure you are *NOT* drinking while eating. I usually sip on my drink while I wait for my main dish (avoid eating the salads or whatever they bring to you first), and then I push the drink away or ask the waiter to take it away when my main dish arrives.

I've learned that the feeling you described comes back with fills. You will know when you are hungry. One minute you are fine, and the next you feel like "OMG I need to eat NOW or I'm going to pass out right here!" I've compared this with the experience my friends who have had other WLSs have, and it seems to be the same across the board. Also ... there will be times when you can feel your food going into your stoma and through the band. It's .... weird.

LUCK!! The surgery is a piece of cake. It's the rest of it ... We'll see you on the flip side.

I prefer straws, but I don't like the gas issues I have after using them. *shrugs*

@@cumbfrog I also have BCBS. The policy we have allowed my band to be free. There are other hidden fees as well, but BCBS paid 90% of those. Your surgeon will give you a list of evaluations you need to complete before they send the whole packet to your insurance company. I had to have a psych eval, a lung / breathing test, a meeting with the nutritionist, and a meeting with their exercise specialist. Good luck with everything!

*sends hugs to smarti210* That sounds awful! I've had a similar experience with ground beef and rice. But everything you described reminds me of Gastritis. THAT was heinous! Maybe liquids tomorrow is a good thing. Give yourself time to heal.

Candles aren't allowed. I had my iPhone with me so that I could read, play games, or play music until time to go. My husband was with me, so he took all of my personal items to the waiting room with him. Also, they had tvs in the rooms so that I could watch whatever I wanted. Groceries .... I picked up a bunch of broth, baby food veggies and fruits (especially prunes), and prune juice. You WILL be constipated for a bit from the meds they give you at the hospital, and for as long as you are on pain meds. pureed prunes and prune juice are your FRIENDS. I also have some cranberry juice to help with urination. I've been doing 1 part prune juice to 2 parts cranberry juice, and it's extremely helpful. Good luck!!