soonergirl

Well, That makes me feel a lot better! I guess every physician is just so different. I am making sure to Water everything down so much now!!! I am with you - no reason to go too fast and mess this up - NOT WORTH IT!!!! I am so excited - my husband found a new EAS protien drink with 42 grams of protien - I was having such a hard time getting all of the protien that I was supposed to have!!!! I am REALLY enjoying those coffee ones with the sugar free syrup in the morning. Is anyone else walking yet? I am limiting myself to the 20-30 minute "strolls", but hve really had a lot of energy - i just don't want to push myself!!!

I have NO idea what to tell you about the pills - I would call the Dr. BUT - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh

I have actually chosen not to tell most people in my life about the band. It is not because I want everyone to be under the illusion that I did this all through diet and excercise without the assistance of the band - but because I did not trust the judgement of most of the people in my life to deal with this and me responsibly after knowing. Now I know this sounds like I must have some crappy friends, but I don't think that is the case - I just don't think that I can expect people that have never had a lifeong battle with weight to understand my struggles and my choices. I also don't think that they will ever take the time to educate themselves on the band and understand why is was the right choice for me - it is too much easier for them to judge, turn their nose up, say something offensive to me or about me behind my back. One the other hand, I have a number of friends heavier than I am that I will also choose not to tell. I don't want them to say - why did you get this - your not THAT heavy. You have been able to lose weight before????? My "best friend" before the surgery used to be heavier than I was considerably and then she lost weight and is about 10 pounds lighter than I am - Everytime I eat healthy - she eats healthier, If I go walking - she goes running. She says that it is because I am "motivating her" - ya - I am motivating her to always stay just a little bit smaller than I am. When I decided to get the band and I talked to my husband about who I chose to tell - I didn't pick her. That told me a lot about our friendship. Don't get me wrong - she would be really supportive to my face, but I know the things she would say behind my back - so why?? why tell her? It is not doing me any good and I don't owe her that! I chose to tell people in my life that would be supportive - it just so happens, those are the people I find myself spending more time with lately. I know that not everyone supports the decision for some of us to be "closet bandsters", but I had to make the chose that served me and my well being the best through this experience. I am sure with time, I will selectively share my experience with others who I think it may interest or help. The actions of the people in your life that have acted this way don't really surprise me - maybe she liked a lot of attention and feels like your ongiong and dramatic weight loss will make you and that subject the center of attention moving forward? Who knows, but don't let it drag your emotions through the mud, the way she is acting is about her and her issues - not you and your choice to make this decision for yourself and your health!!!! A lot of people just don't know how to act. I would try to initiate something that you want to do , or lunch somewhere of your choice - take control of the situation a little and see how she reacts? Good luck with everything!!

My first check up is not until 19 days post op????? Doesn't that seem like a long time? They have checked on me with phone calls and are moving me along with my food pretty quickly (I got to eat velvetta mashed potatos last night - oh my goodness these things ROCK! - I made them with skim milk and no butter so they only have about 125 calories/serving) My incisions look amazing already! I am shocked at how small they are and how fast they are healing. They said that I can start excercising next week. I have already been walking - or should I stay - strolling about 20-30 minutes a night. I am really ready to start walking more - I have tons of energy late in the afternoon and I want to capitalize on it!!!! What did they ask you in your post-op? Did they take your tape off of your incisions? I really need new tape! Please let me know what I am missing out on!

YES - we were all scared - about a week before I was freaking out. Now I am a week post-op and I just got back from a business trip......Granted, flying and hauling my bag around wan't fun - I flagged down that little handicap train, but my bag didn't wiegh less than 20 punds either - I already love the thought that this band is going to be with me forever - I am down about 9 pounds that I will never see again!!!! The most frustrating thing was the liquids the last few days before you can have soup, but that too will pass. Today I am stuffed after 1/2 cup of watered down instant mashed potatos!!!! YES!!!! It is totally ok to be scared - you might be surprised that the day of it may have passed!!!!! mine did. Please let us know how everything goes - you'll do great!!

Well, I didn't even tell ANYONE that I had surgery. So everyone was wondering what happened to us over the 4th of July weekend. I told everyone a few weeks before in very casual conversation that I was getting ready to take my health, diet and excercise very seriously. I was planning on giving up beer and really cutting back on the food intake. I got a personal trainer a few months back, so this part really didn't seem to shock anyone. Although - I must say ME mysteriously giving up BEER????? One of my favorites - If anyone I knew would have seen me with my HUGE blown up belly over the 4th and not drinking - there is no way I could have convinced anyone that I was not pregnant!! But - I figure that I will just continue with that line of answering to my weight loss. I put so much thought into this months before - so I think I set the scene pretty well. I am commited to smaller portions, healthier choices and cutting back on empty calories (like my delicious beer) I was going to tell people girl problems for my surgery, but as hard as it was to completely hide that - I chose not to tell anyone about the surgery at all. I am not sure what I would say now. I will think about it and if I come up with anything good, I'll share! Congrats to everyone on their great weight loss. I think I might hit a big milestone for me tomorrow - I'll let you know!!

This is really good news! I am sure that baby is so happy to have a mom dedicated to her health!!

Well, today has been a very challenging one - I was back to my work travel schedule - (I travel a lot with my job) I had to haul my computer onto a plane - through the airport to the car - appointment - car-ariport AAHHHHHHAAAHHHHH! I didn't think it would be that bad, but between waking up at 5 am, barely being able to get 1/2 a protien shake down that early and all that hauling around of my computer, I am wiped out!!!! Not to mention trying to find anything to eat - I am in El Paso and the ONLY thing to eat here is mexican food. no Soups, so I had them give me a small bowl of those blended refried Beans and pour some hot Water into it so I could thin them out. I was so scared!!! They tasted awsome and went down fine Thank Goodness!!! I have been walking in the evenings, but this was a little much for one week post-op. The good news is that I have been walking my butt off and haven't eaten hardly anything - so maybe I will lose another pound today!! BTW - how many of you are telling people you are banded? I have every intent to remain a "closet bandster". However, I did tell the few people that I intended to tell, a very old and close friend, my nieghbors and my mom. I thought for sure my mom would react very negatively, but she really surprosed me (I think she wants to see how I like it to see if she may have me talk my dad into letting her get it) My friend and neighbors were awsome! I expected them to be ok, but I was still so surporised. One of my friends was so jealous - she asked me if I would go to Mexico with her if she has it done! I don't suspect that any of our other friends would react that way, so I don't intend to tell any of them. How are any of you dealing with this if you are?? Sorry for the long post, but I missed you guys!

I am doing so good today!!! I have been so full all day - weird huh????? I had that Protein drink for Breakfast - it took me over an hour and a half to finish - then for lunch I had some Soup - about 1/2 cup or so and then for dinner I had a sugar free pudding cup with protien powder - i couldn't finish it at all. I just got back from walking the dogs - was out about 30 minutes, that seems like about all I am up to. How about you girls? How is everyone doing today?

They have a responsiblity to you as a patient - they should have known what size band you had and should have been way more on top of this - THEY WILL NOT "OFFER" to make this right - you need to demand it (nice requests usually work better!!!!) Medical establishment like this will bill - bill - bill if you have insurance - their thought is that you were just paying your co-pay right?? Well, now things have changed for you and their mistake should not COST YOU!! You need to negotiate with them a number of fills that you think is fair. This is a very reasonable request!!! I work in the insurance industry and work with patients all of the time helping them negotiate with physicians and facilities- if your request is reasonable - there should not be any problems with them making things right - as a general rule - they do want to make sure that you are taken care of in a fair and reasonable way - but you have to ask!!

giveyouthemoon - sorry that I gave the credit for those syrups to myomy - btw - we had a few of them - vanilla and almond that I had forgotten about - my husband and I both tried them - we also discovered that these are the same ones Borders uses in their coffee - Thanks again for the heads up on these. They have tons of recipes on their website for shakes that can easily be adapted to protein drinks!!!!!!!

Actually, this is a great question. My husband asked me the same thing last might and I had no idea what to tell him. My follow-up visit is 19 days post op, as he is on vacation and I was hoping I wasn't going to have to wait until then to find out!!!!:laugh

WOW!!!!!! Great job - 13+???? I am so excited for you!!! I have lost 7 pounds. myomy - please let us know how you Dr.s appointment is - my first one isn't for another 1 1/2 weeks??? Doesn't that seem like a while after wards? 19 days? BTW - I had the vanilla shake this morniing with some flavoring - I am still so fullllllllllll kind of sucks, because I was really looking forward to my lunch - broccoli and cheese Soup - oh well - 13.5 pounds - I am remotivated - I didn't need that soup yet!! Way to girl - raise your glasses of cryst 'al light to our week one success!

For me, the envasive nature of the other options amde this MY only option. I was banded last week and have been up and walking around since day one. This is completely reversable, which also appealed to me. It has been used in Europe for about 10 years with reduced side effects over the other surgeries and reduced side effects with the newer bands over the ones they originally used. There is a TON of great information on this site - every subject that you could imagine and tons that I am sure you couldn't imagine. start reading through old threads, ask any questions - the support here has been great. By the time that I went in for my first appointment, I already had so many of my questions answered from lurking here. Good luck and I know you will make the right decision for you!

Baby Phat - Did your Dr. say two weeks of Clear Liquids?? Or can you move to full liquids?? I was banded the day after you and I too was STARVING!!!!! I called the Dr.s office yesterday and they said that I was good to move to full liquids. For me this meant cream of mushroom soup blended and then put through a strainer - my husband said I acted like a different person afterwards. I am not telling you what is ok for week two - but you might check with your doc to see if you can at least start adding some full liquids. I went to the market and discovered a whole world of liquids - I got a number of homeade soups that I have strained - brocoli and cheese, cream of mushroom, tomato bisc. I also bought a little strainer with a wooden tool that I can work these through. Amazing how much more fulling these things can be. Also there is another thread that a number of us banded around the same time have been sharing ideas on called - I am banded under the general section. Bondgirl shared some great ideas for shakes and myomy gave us a link to these sugarfree syrups that you use to make coffee drinks - we tried them this morning in the EAS cappachino Protein shakes - I don't miss startbucks anymore!! Odwalla also maked this honey vanilla soy Protein Drink that has been yummy - HMMMMMM I will post some more ideas - but ask your Dr. - I was really confused on their "liquid stages" and didn't think I could start adding a few things - I have also added sugar free pudding eaten really slowly and sugar free popscicles and sugar free fudgecicles. I can also add the yogurt smoothie drinks. Hope this helps, please let me know what your Dr. says!!!!! Congrats on one full week under your band!!

I am no dummy - I played that pain up BIG TIME in the hospital!!!! I even got a refill :banana LOL

Ok - As I posted earlier - EAS makes the Cappachino protien shakes iwth 15 grams of protien and 100 calories - they taste a lot like a latte - I like them on ice. My husband and I just went on this site and are both so psyched to order some of these to make some of our healthy starbuck's Protein shakes!!!! We had the malibu rum flovor the other day in a mocha latte - delicious!!!!!! thanks, what a find!

BTW - I thought I was done with the hydrocodone until I read your posts - I might have to get a refill bacause my incisions are going to bust open laughing any minute!!!!

This is soooooo funny!!!!!!! I just have to add one that I have already shared on another post. Probably best under the Gas Section: Unless you want to play along and tell everyone your are "due" in a few months - stay home for a few days after surgery or be prepared for the question!!!!! I was darting pregnant women left and right at the Farmers Market two days after the surgery in FULL BLOAT!!!! There is also the liquid diet deleria!!!! I woke up in the middle of the might laughing histerically because I was dreaming of how delightful mac and cheese would be in the blender!!!!! Thanks for the humor!!! Much needed right in the thick of my first week! BTW - my DH expresses his deepest sympathy for your nipple. The BM talk - glow in the dark BM - no problem, but the nicked nipple - That one really got him!!!!!

It is past 9 here, or I would go get some of that sugar free syrup right now - what a great idea. I am also looking forward to the Peanut Butter and banana shakes!!! I may want to stay on this liquid thing for a while longer than I am supposed to -----NOT------ but they do sound good, thanks for the ideas.

I was banded the same day as bondgirl, and I got to move to creamy Soups, applesauce, pudding and Jello today. My DH said that he "got me back today" after a cup of cream of mushroom Soup. I had been so liquid cranky. They would not have moved me yet had I not talked to the dietician so she could visit with me about how I was doing - I would have had to wait another 3 days. I will be adding mushies the first part of next week. At first watered down, then slowly adding consistancy.

I would love some recipes for protien shakes. i know that I am not getting enough protien!

I just rechecked my post op diet list - it says that I can have skim and lactaid milk. I was only on sugar free everything, but I was having a bit of nausea - so today, they told me to incorporate a few "regular" items. They also moved me to cream and full liquids today. yeah!!!!!

Nita, I can totally relate - I am 6 days out and have just been on Clear liquids - Last night I was trying to relax and go to sleep, the insanity of this diet finally kicked in. I just started laughing uncontrollably. My DH was like - what the hell is that funny at 11:30 out of no where - I asked him - how do you think maccaroni and cheese would taste in the blender - He was like - WHAT?? then I him that I caught myself drifting off thinking of all of the things I could put in the blender next week for my mushy stage. Luckly the dietician said that I could go on full liquids and creamy Soups today. Man, i am losing it!! (oh ya, not just my mind - a few pounds too 4.5 in 6 days)

Well, I think that I am hungry because it seems that my stomach is healing pretty quickly. Everything goes down pretty easily, but I am not at all the type to "challenge" it! I will just be really happy with some cream soups. I guess that is only a few days away. I have weighed myself - this morning I was down a total of 7 pounds - 4.5 since surgery, the rest pre-op. My belly had gone down quite a bit today though, just look fat again lol I walked again all day today, I feel really good except this bloated feeling! I wish that food didn't smell good to me! I got a scent from the BBQ joint and it was really painful!!! I told my husband I was ok with just the sauce! He didn't go for it I know that I am not really hungry - I just miss the taste! This has been a really useful thread over the holiday weekend! We have had some of our firiends call us to come out and do things, but I just didn't feel like it yet - especially being around food and beer! So, here's a cheers to the 4th of July weekends bansters - come on, raise your "cryst -al light" to us! By the way, thanks for the funny comments - according to my DH, I am just a kranky starving b%#$& this weekend! At least now I know I am a - funny cranky starving b&%#$*!! WOOHOO