hollyberries

Great Job Phil. You are one lucky duck to able to eat what you want. I have to do 2 weeks liquids, 2 weeks mushies and then on to real food. It is not bad. I too, am celebrating my 2 week anniversary on 11/20. I feel absolutely fabulous. Longhorn, I do not have the patience that you do. I weight myself every morning (naked of course) but I do not allow myself to be upset if it doesn't go up or down. Last year, I lost about 60lbs on NutriSystem and I weighed everyday and it allowed me to adjust my diet if I went up or down. I am looking at it positively instead of negatively and will not beat myself up. Also, I find that when I go down it changes my attitude; as well as if I gain. Steph-How are you feeling? We hadn't heard from you and I was hoping to see you post how you were doing...been following you. Details girl!

Best wishes on your surgery tomorrow. Do not be apprehensive, you will do great. Remember that this is a decision that you made to improve your life and get you healthy. You will do just great. I am two weeks out and am feeling great. The best decision I have made. Your in my thoughts.

Steph...we haven't heard from you. I hope that you are feeling better. Get well quick and let us know how things are going.

Trystelle- I have just gotta ask you how the heck you have lost 103lbs in 5 months. That is remarkable. Did you lose some weight prior to surgery. I am down 35lbs. in 6 weeks. I just had my surgery 2 weeks about this Tuesday but I want your secrets. Details girl...details...please.

My name is Cindy and I was banded on November 6th. During recovery I started to actively post and read www.lapbandtalk.com. It is funny how I did not find this thread until today. Ever since I started to research WLS; I have been at peace about it. A strange queit peace. I stumbled upon Lapband during my research and just found it to be a safer choice to me. When I approached my husband about it; he was very supportive to my decision. He actually said that he was not comfortable with GB but felt that if I wanted to do the Lapband, he was behind me. He has seen how I have struggled with my weight for a long time. I really didn't tell anyone of my decision except family; who were also supportive. A little nervous about it but once I explained it and had my Mom come to my appts with me they were on board with my decision. I must say that the peace I felt from God went right with me into surgery. I was never once nervous and did not even need to have the happy juice to calm me prior to surgery. Recovery was a little slower as I had never had surgery before so I did not know that I would feel as tired as I was. However, Thursday was my turning point and I felt like a million bucks. Each day gets better and better but I know when I have over done it because my body tells me. As for the diet, the Lord has been helping me with this as well. It has not been as bad as I thought it was going to be. The pre-op was fine and I actually lost 24lbs during the two weeks. I was astonished that I was not hungry and believe me I thank him for that. The two week post op diet has been fine a bit cumbersome with the Protein shakes and I am kinda sick of it but I will prevail. I just harken to the scripture; "He who has begun a good work in me" not sure where it is in the Bible but it has been a great comfort to me. As you can see from my ticker, I have lost 35lbs. all together so far. I know it won't be all roses and butterflys but I am looking forward to my new found body. I thank the Lord for giving the people who created the Band the knowledge and science to follow through and help us with the struggle of obesity. Thanks for listening and I look forward to getting to know everyone. God Bless, Cindy

There are so many Protein shakes out there but I chose a Body Fortress whey Protein that you can get at Wal*Mart. I like the chocolate because it is like drinking choco milk. Alot of bandsters by Unjury; which you can only get on-line by Googling unjury. I just ordered the unflavored because I want to add it to my Soups for added protein during the mushies part of the diet. I will be 2 weeks post op on Tuesday and have been on a liquid diet consisting of 5 shakes a day and 56+ oz of Clear liquids a day. I had to do a pre op diet of 3 shakes and one small lean meal a day. I have to admit that I thought that it was going to be very difficult but I had gotten my mind set and found that I did not think about it much. I must say now that I am getting sick of the shakes and am ready to eat a real meal but that is to be expected. Best of luck! It has been the best decision I made. I have lost 35lbs. in 6 weeks. Who would of thunk it!

Get a grip. You can do this. I know the mind may not have caught up with the body but you have to avoid the temptations to succeed. Obviously, you know this. I had surgery on the 6th and am still on my liquid diet until Wednesday. Tonight my family had Chinese food and it was really tough not to be able to eat but I ordered Wonton Soup took the veggies and wonton out and just at the broth. Now I am not saying it was easy but I reminded myself what I just went throught to lose weight and that I did not want to sabatoge my efforts. By the way, how the heck did you drink a coke. I though soda was a no-no. Best of luck and hang in there. Tomorrow is another day and start if off on a good foot.

I kinda of figured out how to do it. First, you take a sip, keep in your mouth, blow air out your nose and swallow. I feel like this is a whole new world. I wasn't a straw user before so that wasn't to hard but this swallowing air stuff has affected me with the bloated feeling. However, since initiating this way of swallowing it has been much better. Weird but better.

Awesome! Doesn't it feel good. Can't wait until I am in the "Can Cross My Legs Comfortably". Woo-hoo!

I have come realize that everyone is different. I am post op 9 days and have lost 1lb a day but I have alot of weight to lose as well. Depends on what you have to lose and you may still have alot of gas left in you. Not sure but I know that it is to early to be worrying about it. So consider this the kick in !@@# you need. Good Luck.

Isn't it refreshing. I was worried that I was going to blow the roof off the house when everything started moving. That got a laugh out of my kids. They were like yeah! lets see it.

Hi, I have loved reading this post. Long but worth it. It is nice to have something in common with you all. I look forward to being a part of the family. I am fairly new to Lapbandtalk.com but since the surgery have been coming here alot. Especially during recovery and trying to diagnos all the quirky things I am feeling. I started out on the surgeons scales at 358 and a BMI of 52.3 (ouch). My home scale which I believe is more reliable read 354 so I like mine better and look to more than the docs. I started my pre-op diet on 10/20/07 and lost about 24lbs. prior to surgery. I am not sure how just followed the pre-op diet to the tee. Three protein shakes a day, water and a small meal of 4 oz. lean protein, starch, 2 cups of veggies, 1 fat, 1 fruit and 1 dairy. I was completely faithful to it and found it was not bad; as it could have been. Also, I was converting my store over to Christmas and worked like a dog for 10 hours a day for 7 days a week. Then 2 days later had surgery. Go figure, I always do things like that. I had surgery on 11/6/07 and have lost 9lbs since surgery. I had a few issues resulting from surgery but the biggest has been figuring out when I am full. Prior to banding I could eat and eat and never really knew that I was full. This presented a problem yesterday when I drank 32 oz. of water in a 2 hour period. That was a no no because between not having a bowel movement in 9 days and drinking that much I was so full that I felt like exploding. This morning was like another world....finally relief with the BM and I feel wonderful. I went back to my deiticians instructions and followed it to the tee today. It really has been a great day physically and emotionally. I have turned the proverbial corner. I have to go to work tomorrow so I am glad for feeling better. The bonus is losing 33lbs in 3 weeks. I know it is going to slow down but I will take the jump start. I also know that I must follow the docs instructions and I will be successful. Its just been hard distingishing what my body is telling me. Does that get easier? I hope so because the old mindset takes over and the body tells you later. I know that it will just take some time. Best wishes to all of you. You have done remarkable and I look forward to getting to know you. Primitive Blessings, Cindy

Thanks for the advice. I will surely try these tricks. The reason I asked is because in my Dieticians instructions they indicated not to drink to fast, to sip so that you do not inhale air because you could get additional gas. Yesterday, I was hungry in the afternoon and out without my Protein shake and kept drinking Water. Well, in about 2.25 hours I had drunk 32 oz. of water and became so full and my stomach hurt like crazy but I was still hungry (weird Huh). Today, I re-read the material and found that they had recommended that I do not drink more than 8 oz in one hour. So I followed their directions for today and felt much better and did not feel as hungry. It's funny how you think you know what you are suppose to do until something happens and you re-read the instructions to see how far off you really have been. I think the other problem is not knowing when I was full because I was still full of gas. Today, was the first day for a BM and boy I felt 100 x better after that (something to say about being full of @#$%). It's amazing what Gas can do for your system that I why I wanted to address getting less gas into my system by drinking. Thanks guys...you're the best!

Ok...I am 10 days post op and I have a dumb question. How do you drink without getting air in. I have sat here trying to figure out how to do this. Anyone can you explain it to me.

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Langleygirl, let me know what your Doc says. I would be curious. I don't have a post op appointment with the Doc until 11/29. I kind of think that is long time not to see the Doc for a post op appt. don't you? The other thing that has been tough is figuring out the full feeling from the bloating feeling.

Hi everyone! I am banded a week today and am still feeling really bloated and some residual pain in my left shoulder. However, yesterday I tried to go to my business and do some paperwork and found that I could not sit without pain. The pain was directly under my breasts at the top of my stomach. However, after time the pain became concentrated on my right side. It was sort of like a sharp pain you get in your side and when you take a breath it is really uncomfortable. So last night I took pain meds put a heating pad on it and chocked it up to stubborn gas pain. I went to bed and had an uncomfortable night sleeping because the stabbing pain in on my right side. When I press on my right side it hurts under the skin but enough away from the port to not lead me to believe it is the port. Also, I have had not had a bowel movement in 7 days. Today, I had a litte movement but it was difficult. As directed by my doctor, I have been taking liquid Colace but man that stuff hasn't kicked in at all. Today, I woke up feeling pretty cruddy for day 7. However, I started to feel better and got some work done (God knows that I need to...I own my own business). However, this evening this pain came back. I am gurgling quite a bit and feel the gas moving around but I am concerned about the sharp pain on my right side. I am going to call my doctor tomorrow because I think that I should be feeling much better by now. I have been eating just fine. As a matter of fact, my hunger has come back full force and I had my most difficult time with hunger today. Just thought I would check with you all and see if anyone as experienced this and offer up some advice until I talk with the Doc tomorrow. Thanks a bunch.

<p>My diet is different. We are allowed 4 2oz servings of lean protien, 1 fruit, 1 vegeteble, 1 starch, 1 fat and 1 Dairy serving. Also, 56 oz of non-caloric, non carbonated, non caffeinated liquid per day. Our protein goal is 50-60 grams a day. This is it during mushies.</p>

Ok...chicken broth is quite boring and I am tiring of it. Can you season the broth with a little salt and a little pepper or other seasonings. Anyone have this issue out there?

Ok...I am one who does not want to complain about pain. I am having a hard time figuring something out. The top portion of stomach just below the breasts really hurts and its almost like a full feeling. The full feeling really does not interfere with my ability to eat because I can without problems but I am not sure what it is. My first reaction is that it is still gas pains. Also, my shoulder still has pain on the left side. The pain doesn't really show up until I have moved around alot more than usual but really hurt yesterday enough to take my pain killers; as Tylenol would not cut it. Has anyone else out there had this issue 6 days post op. I keep reading that alot of you are doing much better with gas at this point and I am just a little concerned that I am still not comfortable. Any advice from you experience Bandsters would be awesome.

I am day 6 post op and slept on my stomach the last 2 nights. I have to find the right postion but once I do I am in heaven. Now if I get rid of the damn gas..thats what is hurting my stomach and shoulder the most.

Thanks for the suggestion Longhorn. I chose to sleep in my bed last night and took pain meds before bedtime. I was a bit uncomfortable at first but settled into a better position. The only time woke up was when I had to turn but I just did it gingerly. I cannot tell you how much better I feel this morning. Just sleeping in my bed made a world of difference. The gas is not as bad today...still there but working its way out. The shoulder feels a bit better as well. I actually cleaned up after the family this morning so I must feel better. I definately don't have my energy level back and that is hard for me because I am a go go person all the time. I have to be to own my own business, homeschool my children, take them to all their activities and keep up with a family of 5. My kids and DH have been wonderful. The boys are 14, 13 & 10 and have cooked dinner most nights and helped me by getting anything I needed. Although, they cannot wait until I cook them dinner again, they miss my cooking. I was sorry to hear about your incision issues but glad that your Doc called in the antibiotics for you. I am sorry that you did not get there in time but understand your fascination with finishing the football game first. You are talking to a die hard BC and Patriots fan. I am in a BC depression right now not sure what is up with them but am in a Patriots high with my Mighty Mighty Pats. Have a good last day and rest up for tomorrow. You will be tired when you come home so expect it. Best Wishes, Hollyberries

I am post op day 5 and still have pain in my left shoulder and gas like crazy. I have tried everything to get rid of it but to no avail. I am chewing Mylanta tabs, walking and moving around but it just won't go. The upper portion of my stomach is what hurts the most and I had to take my pain meds this morning for it. I was so damn mad because I was hoping to just use Tylenol. I haven't been able to really sleep in my bed yet. I have been sleeping in the recliner but this morning, I did go up and sleep in bed for a few hours and felt awful when I got up but I really want to sleep in my bed. So I am going to take my pain meds and sleep in my bed tonight. I can't do to much yet because I have no energy but each day I do feel much better than the day before. I felt much more hungry today than I have the last few.

Thanks Longhorn. It has been fun reading your posts and great to know that we are not alone in this journey. Even if we are states apart. Best wishes in your recovery..can't wait until we are in more normal mode of losing. I don't know if it will ever be normal. LOL.

Not bad. I was a little naseauted when I moved around but they gave me something for that and it helped. I am only sore right now and have lots of gas. I knew that I would so it is a wait to escape kind of thing. You shouldn't experience any problems. They do give you a pain pump so if you are in pain you have control over it. I found I did not use it much but when I was in real pain it was good know it was there. Best wishes with your surgery, you are in good hands.