Junebug36

I've asked for a check, but my insurance refuses until I'm 40. Ridiculous. I've never felt any oddities...other than being slightly uneven.

I'm on mushies...so I have oatmeal mixed with protein powder....I get my protein and stay satiated. It's actually quite good and filling.

I also miss Chinese buffets! Eating popcorn at the movies will be missed as well. I can still gulp water, but can only eat a cup of food. Guess I'm lucky? I am finding ice cold drinks hard to drink...more due to temp and it making me feel tight. I was also a gamer! Kinda bored with what's out there now, which is probably a good thing. Lol

I almost forgot to tell you, ladies...take your rings off prior to going in for surgery. They never told me to until I was laying there with my hospital gown on...just before I was to be wheeled in, I had to grease up my fingers and work hard to pull then off (my fingers were swollen by then from the IV fluids, and just fat fingers in general). Lol! Luckily my hubby was right there to hold them for me.

Get a heating pad if you don't already have one :-) The day of, you will probably be nervous, but its easy peasy. You will hurt a bit at first, but it only lasts about a week. Walk every hour like Weevie says. You will probably be the most swollen on days 4, 5 or 6. So just be careful of swallowing the protein shakes on those days...(something I wish my surgeon told me before hand). You will do great!

Good luck, @@4me4them ! You are making the first steps to a new you! The first steps can be frustrating....a lot of appointments, but it's worth it :-).

I started one on blogger, just not published yet. I'll share it with you all once I do :-). I struggle with telling people close to me because of the negative comments they have already made about this kind of surgery. It really sucks there is a stigma attached to it, when it helps so many!

Good luck! You will do great!

Mine are all right below my breast area.

I could shower from day 1...but had no bandages. Instead I have 3 incisions that appeared glued together with clear glue like covering. It kept them dry. I was instructed no bath or hot tub for 1st week.

The meds will get you through the worst of it. No need to suffer if you don't have to. The first few days are the roughest. It does get better ...just hang in there

Mine was about 9 days...I just kept trying to walk it off...then turned the heating pad on the worst areas. Did you get pain meds?

I want to start blogging, but considering I haven't really told family or friends about my surgery...I feel odd blogging about it. At the same time, I want to share my experiences with like minded people...and help others along this journey. Plus, I feel it will keep me accountable. Those of you with blogs...is it worth it?

I had pretty bad gas pains for about 9 days...and was most swollen throat wise on days 4 & 5. Have your meds and a heating pad ready...and walk every hour. The liquid phase is the worst, because I ended up getting my hunger back towards day 6..once I was on mushies, my energy came back and I felt less like a zombie. Now, I feel fine..still a little tender 2 weeks out, but feeling energetic!

@@The Icy One Wow, sounds like we have the same surgeon... Mine primed my band with 5cc's in surgery. And had the same post op diet...I feel like I'm in the green right out of the gate with this thing. I wonder why surgeons are so different? All you can do is make a list of questions you want answered by your surgeon about the process he uses and why.

Hmm...never had an issue with the pain meds. They numbed the hunger pains and the icky feelings. I was on protien shakes on day 2, though...so maybe that helped? I was also allowed sugar free pudding, which helped calm the hungry stomach. I ended up feeling more ill by all the sugar free crap...including the shakes. My last day of liquids, all I drank was water and juice because I could not handle the sugar free shakes any more. Mushies were a godsend! Prepare to be constipated, though. Milk of Magnesia really helps. You may find gas pains return with mushies for the first couple days...start walking...I'm doing C25K, but speed walking during the run sections...it works!

I felt like a zombie on the shakes by the second week...plus my hunger was coming back...mushies gave me back my energy! Be wary of days 4, 5 and 6. I was very swollen on day 5, and essentially choked on one of my shakes..it was painful! I asked my surgeon about it, and he said it was normal to be the most swollen on those days. So just a heads up! Glad you are doing so well! Walk those gas pains away :-) They stuck with me till day 9 or so.

I just complete day 1 of C25K...speed walking instead of running...felt good!

I'm not sure what I should or shouldn't do 2 weeks out...I'm still tender in the stomach area...but my energy levels are returning, so I feel the need to workout and take advantage of it :-)

I'm planning on starting C25K tomorrow...I'm only 2 weeks out, so will probably end up walking majority of it. I would love to hear what you all do. Love getting ideas to break up the monotony. If you found a workout really pushed you past a weight loss rut...please share!

I'm lopsided too! I used to have to use those cutlet things in one side, otherwise bras never fit. I wear sports bras mostly because I cannot find a bra that fits me.

I just started the soft food/mushy stage...and I can honestly say, I now crave proteins...not sweets. Maybe all the jello and sweet protein shakes have turned me off sweets. But, so far, I have eaten things like refried beans, cottage cheese and am satisfied for about four hours after just 1cup of food. I have energy, and feel really good right now! I was offered cookies and other old trigger foods by people who don't know I had surgery....and to my surprise, I have no desire for any of it. Things like chips, cookies and cakes don't even look appetizing. Really strange experience. I am, for once in my life, actually satisfied. The surgeon put 5 cc in my band during surgery...and I'm starting to wonder if I even need a fill. We will see as time goes. Point is, I was grieving over food I thought I would miss prior to the band...and now I am satisfied with a small protein meal. I am very surprised and excited to think this is actually working! It also makes me wonder why I could never get this feeling prior to the band. I was always hungry...I could always eat. Everyone is different...but this has been my experience so far...hope it helps!

I am on mushies now...and I can say its worth it! I feel so much better. Just letting you know, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Wow! You guys are rocking the pre op diet. Good luck tomorrow!

I think the main reason for pre-op diets is to shrink the liver and make it easier to move it out of the way. The whole thought of the surgeon not being able to easily work around it made me stay on the diet...I was worried about my organs! Lol!