lovecats85

Also, I think Dr. Nyguyn (pronounced Win) is in Plano w/ Dr. Cribbens and Dr. Hamm - heard lots of good things about them from my GI doctors. Their site is www.txcenterforobesitysurgery.com

www.drwbarker.com - He did my surgery - I really like him.

Also, Barker does bypass the regular way and the laproscopic way. And the surgery was in all honesty not that bad. I mean, it's surgery and it has side effects but it was totally managable.

I consulted with Dr. Cribbens in Plano - He was great but too expensive (I had to self pay). I ended up going with Dr. Barker - I think he takes Medicare. His website is www.drwbarker.com and his office is in mesquite (or very close to it). I had my surgery at Vista Hospital in Garland. I think Dr. Barker is a WONDERFUL surgeon!!!!

I forgot to tell you guys that I had my 1st NSV on my surgery day! Along time ago I was watching Dr. 90210 and Dr. Li cut out this small tattoo from this lady while she was under for her boob job and a light bulb went off in my head! B/C along long long long time ago I decided it would be cool to get a tatoo. Well, it's never a good idea to let a 16 year old punk guy with a needle tatoo you but we all know I've grown up since then! So, anyways, long story short - I had the "blob" cut out of my leg while I was getting my band, and I didn't feel a thing! I saved hundreds of dollars on laser treatment AND I won't be embarrassed to wear short shorts when I lose my weight b/c I won't have the "blob" and what's one more tiny scar anyways? Noone will even notice when I look all hot in a bathing suit next summer b/c I'll no longer have the weight or the stupid tattoo!!!

Good for you! Cheers!

Well, since my car's name is Rosita I will stick with the Spanish theme and name my band "Bandida" but hopefully she won't be too much of a rascal!

I know ya'll are getting anoyed with every other post being from me but since I am in recovery I have nothing to do but surf the web! So, ya'll have answered all my ?'s about eating bread - but can I still eat whole wheat or low carb pasta sometimes? Will it go down ok? I know carbs are bad for weight loss but if it would go down ok I would like to continue to eat the "healthier" pasta from time to time. What do ya'll think? Does pasta go down ok?

What about pasta? Pre-band I ate alot of whole wheat pasta - is this ok to have sometimes?

Thanks Ladies! So I guess the point is that with regular check up/follow up you would probably catch it.

I took a class about nutrition and the teacher/nurse talked about how some people are "true thins" and she made alot of good points such as true thins eat one food at a time so they satisfy thier cravings with a few bites (like if they have a steak, salad, and potato - they eat some steak, then some salad, then some potato and that's it.) Also, true thins are like babies - they stop eating when they are full! Think about how hard it is to feed a 2 yr old - that's because when they are full you couldn't force another bite into them. She also said true thins CHEW TEDIOUSLY SLOW AND EAT SLOW - this is probably part of why the band works!

I know erosion is unlikley, but how would one tell if thier band was eroding? Just curious.

My doc says diet sode is ok after 4 weeks of banding. I plan to drink what I did before - 1/2 one can of diet per day and that's it. Don't have to quit - won't drink too much!

Ok, I broke down and bought a 99 cent enema and 5 minutes later I feel anew again! Warning to anyone about to get surgery - drink the prune juice/milk of magnesia/whatever and keep an enema on hand!

Thanks guys - my doc's instruction sheet says "anything of mushy consistency" - ok - I need more specific than that!

Noone is responding to my post in food so help me make a list of mushies I can eat on Friday.

start mixing 1/2 diet 1/2 regular for one week - quitting cold turkey is hard! Also, remember that every 4 grams of sugar on that label = 1 tablespoon of sugar! Empty a coke bottle, fill it back up with those 4-5 tablespoons of sugar and wave it around, look at it, imagine how sick you would feel if you ate that sugar! I promise this mental trick can help you get off the sugar! Everytime you pop a coke, picture those tablespoons of sugar you put in that bottle.

Diane - That's basically what I went thru a few hours ago. I'm feeling much better now and I am about to go to the store and get fiber and milk of mag (dr's recs). The good news is I am now prepared to have a baby someday, as I imagine that's what it feels like!

When am I going to win this battle with my colon? I haven't had a BM since before surgery and basically it's just sitting in my colon and my mind is wrestling with my colon to make it come out and my mind is losing. How much more of this day do I have to sit on the toilet playing tug of war!!!! I was supposed to go back to work today and now I don't see that happening. Can I take liquid fiber?

Someone told me along time ago that bandsters can't eat "fibrous food" such as broccoli, sweet potatoes, and tomato skins. Is this true??? (and more importantly, can I have the blended broccoli cheese soup I am craving?)

Good luck! I was scared on Friday when I went it, but here I am - 14 pounds lighter already, and going back to work this afternoon! You'll be fine in no time!

I start the "mushies" on Friday and I've heard people say on here that mush is everything from mashed potatoes, to jello, to chips and guacomole! I need to send the DH shopping for mush and so I need a list. So far I have eggs, yogurt, sf pudding, sf ice cream, mashed potatoes - what else? Can I have chicken or tuna salad for protein?

Last night my hubby made a steak - i dipped my finger in the juice and licked it!

I'm confused. How come creamy soups blenderized are liquids and not mush when other stuff blended is mush? I'm doing fine with liquids but can I have egg drop soup blenderized? Is that a liquid or do I need to wait until day 7? It says milkshakes are ok but that seems like "food" to me! I'm confused. For now I guess I'll stick with protein shake and water and just have some of the egg drop soup broth.

I just had my surgery yesterday! Pre-op I had a physch eval (although the doctor I ended up choosing didn't require it). It was a multiple choice test with ?'s about my feelings - it took like one hour and wasn't at all bad. I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy 4 months before surgery b/c I was having problems which turned out to be a hiatal hernia. Don't know if my doc required this but he did see the pictures. That was no big deal - I was knocked out thru the whole thing. Pre-op on Tues I had blood drawn and an EKG that took 5 seconds! No big deal. Surgery day - showed up at 7:15, filled out some paperwork and put the sexy robe and booties on. Went to sleep. Woke up - drank barium and had a stomach x-ray - hardly remember that. Went home by 2 and now I'm sore but ok. That's the gist of it. Alot better than I ever would have thought although I won't lie - my side and shoulder are sore!