StLouisGal

Ouch, laughing still hurts. Thanks for the information. That makes me feel a lot less worried.

I have seen lots of information about stitches, glue, and steri stips but I have staples. I've never had them before. Does it hurt when they take them out. I have about 30 of them.

These recipes are making me hungry. I am on clear liquids plus four 4 ounce servings of protein shake until Monday. I am ready to go out and look for Tomato Parm soup right now just so it will be ready. It sounds yummy. Guess what I am having for lunch on Monday.

I feel like I have been discriminated against in many ways, my sister didn't want me in her wedding because I didn't fit the dress she wanted, The doctor who assumed the need for a skin graft was my own fault because I was fat and refused to let me have anesthesia for the procedure, even though the anesthesiologist and all nurses thought I needed it. (Ever had a skin graft with a local?) The doctor who told me they gave me enough medicine to stop a horse when I had a colonoscopy and couldn't understand why I woke up twice, the airplane company that charges double for a person who weighs over 250, (Bet they don't give a discount for people under 150), theater seats, bus seats, airplane seats, toilet stalls, none of them are very accommodating. Yes, I may have an attitude that brings out the best in people, but I am well educated and usually well dressed, work out four times a week, carry myself well, but people still look past me when I need assistance in a store, I'm very outgoing and never met a stranger but people do treat heavy people differently and often assume we are lazy, slovenly, illiterate, and want to be this way. Let me tell you, I didn't choose to be fat, I was dealt the genes and body make-up that I have and have to live with it. I am pumped about my band. Not everyone I encounter treats me this way. I look past doctors who seem to have a problem seeing past the layer of fat and find one willing to look at the person that I am and help me with my unique health problems. The people I work with depend on me and know how hard I work to be the best that I can be. Yes, I have limitations but so do thin people. Sorry for the long rant but as you can tell, this is one of my hot button issues. Good luck to everyone on this board. We all come from unique circumstances and backgrounds but we are all dealing with what we have to and trying to get healthier.

I got a bracelet because we travel a lot and you never know what can happen on the road. The only thing I didn't remember to plan on was that I was going to lose weight (Duh) It will soon fit on my ankle, which is a better place for it in my opinion. This is the info I had put on mine: name DOB Lapband AGB No blind NG tube PCP name and number Surgeon name and number. allergies. In a true emergency they probably aren't going to give you nsaids by mouth anyway. IV ones shouldn't affect the stomach.

Walking helps a bunch. I was up an walking about 30 minutes after leaving the recovery room and every hour after that. At first it was only two or three minutes down the hall but by the time I left the hospital 30 hours later I was walking ten minutes an hour. I have had no gas pain.:redface: The pain from walking was much less than the pain from gas. I am now 5 days post-op and feeling about 95%, except that the staples are itching like crazy.:thumbup: Guess there is not real help for that. I just wish I could get outside. Right now the temp is 19 degrees with a wind chill of 4 degrees so I am not sure a stroll outside would be the best idea. My house is much smaller than it seems when I have to clean it. :hurray: Hang in there, everybody and keep walking. :biggrin:

Who would have thought that a cup of ricotta cheese would have made you feel guilty. We've come a long way on this journey. Congratulations. I can hardly wait for the cottage cheese stage.

The prilosec is an average sized capsule, about half an inch long, about the same size as the tylenol quick release, My lexapro is about the size of a bayer aspirin and the water pill is smaller than both of those. They have had no problem going down. My vitamins are chewable.

Hey, I was banded Friday too and have lost ten pounds post op. I can handle this. So far I am not all that tired of liquids. I just had some french onion broth with all of the onions strained out and some low cal cranberry grape juice. I tasted pretty good. Glad you are doing well. I had a great experience at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis.

Army medicine has their own rules. It is a bummer. Are you eligable for TriCare?

My doctor suggested sublingual B-12 500 mcg daily or 1000 mcg two or three times a week. I am also supposed to take B-1 for the first month after surgery. That plus 60 grams of protein should have you energized. Also make sure you are staying hydrated.

My doctor said I could take anything the size of an aspirin or smaller. The only thing that I was afraid of was my prilosec capsule. I opened it and poured it into a spoonful of protein drink the first two days but today I just swallowed the capsule. I also swallowed two tylenol quick release capsules and so far have had not problem. (It's been about three hours) The capsules are much easier to swallow than the nasty liquid. Just take it slow and allow a little time between pills.

My doctor wanted me to start taking the bariatric Vitamins and Vitamin B-1 and B-12 two weeks before the surgery. I started about 8 days before because I had to wait for them to come. The doctor's office gave us a whole list of web sites to check to get the vitamins. I didn't have a pre-op diet, just instructions to eat small soft meals the day before surgery. I did drink a couple of Protein shakes for about two weeks before surgery along with one meal of something I really enjoyed. So far my surgery has been picture perfect.

My doctor told me the same thing, The weight at your pre-op appointment is the weight they use for their records. The more you lose pre-op the less you have to lose after the surgery. And just think, the band will not let you gain it back. Good luck!

Don't let them stress you out. They probably don't understand this way of eating. Follow your doctor's advice exactly and you will be fine. Make sure you are staying hydrated. This time is to take care of you! :thumbup:

I have five small incisions (four staples or less) My port incision is about two inches above and one inch to the left of my belly button. The port incision is about three inches long. They all look like they are healing well.

Brandy, When were you banded?

My name is Pat. I think I have it worked out so I can be there. DD had a meeting she can't get out of until six so DH is going to have to forgo church this one time unless I decide I can drive myself. As good as I feel right now that is a good possibility. Where is it? The May Center?

Ask them again when you get there if you think you can handle the treadmill. I called the day before to question it and was told that I was too large for their equipment and they didnt' think I could do the treadmill. I took my shoes along anyway and asked the nurse who checked me in. She said if the doctor running the test said it was ok we could try. My DH and BF have both had the chemical stress test and said it wasn't bad. I just got my back up on this one and decided I wasn't going to let them treat me differently because I am fat if I could avoid it. I work out at curves 4 times a week. The treadmill wasn't a problem. Just don't let it stress you out.

Don't worry about the stress test. I talked them into letting me use the treadmill because I didn't want the medicine to make my heart race. It was a breeze and then I got a nice nap while they took pictures. Good luck to you!

Tuna salad sounds so yummy. I'm still three weeks out from that. I'm looking forward to cottage cheese and creamy soups.

The best thing that was recommended to me was a small fan (the clip on kind). My hospital room was very warm and the air movement helped a lot. I think I paid about $15. at wallyworld. I also changed into my own night gown as soon as the nurse came to change the IV bag. She unhooked it so I could slip my gown over my head. It made me a lot more comfortable than the bulky hospital gown. The day in the hospital is all about you, pamper yourself. My own pillows were nice too. Much softer than hospital pillows.

Sorry you are having these problems. Hang in there and be gentle on yourself. If solids don't go down, try the softer stuff until you see you doctor again. Liquids go down and stay there don't they? Your system may just not be quite ready to tolerate the solid foods yet. you are still only a couple of weeks out. New skill sets are hard to learn, just be patient with yourself and give yourself time to heal. A month from now hopefully this will just be a dull memory.

They started me on Isopure clear the day of surgery. As soon as I got home I was to take 4 four ounce servings of Protein powder mixed with skim milk. Their standard for a protein supplement is twice as much protein as carbs, (20 grams protein, no more than 10 grams carb) The nurse fussed at me a little for getting 78 grams of protein yesterday (said too much protein was bad for kidneys) She told me to back off to 60 grams and lots of liquids. My literature says Protein shakes will continue through week 6 when solids are introduced. After that it is ok to take a Protein shake "to make sure" but all necessary protein should be available through the foods eaten. So far everything he has told me has worked perfectly and I'm sticking with his plan. It is a proven plan. I guess every doctor has a different experience.