deneicy

Sociologists say one of the major qualities of successful groups of people is that they have learned to "defer gratification." They see The Big Picture and choose and conduct themselves toward long-term goals. That said, I believe it is also important when we feel frustrated with slow results to write down all our mini-accomplishments....and if that doesn't work, make a blessings list. And if we're still stuck, do something nice for someone else.

First, I love ILUVMYCAT. Thanks for the uplifting reply to the intial post. And hooray for you! I was banded Wednesday and feel like I'm healing nicely, and, yes, dealing with the usual side effects of surgery, anesthesia, and liquids. Slosh, slosh. Would love to get out today but need to stay near the potty. Re the original post of frustratton--one of the main comments from my pre-op psychologist was that I'd need to get counseling regarding the addiction, using food to salve emotions. She said once you decide to no longer eat to calm down, to solve boredom and restlessness, to feel joy, or to blanket pain, anger, resentment, etc....you/we have an opportunity to I guess the question for us all is what we have been using food for? Best to you all!

There were only a few hard and fast ABSOLUTE RESTRICTIONS-- two as I recall--and no carbonation was one. No soda pop. No champagne. and I was told I could drink my AIRBORNE after it was flat, by the surgical practice nurse. You need to google carbonation and lapband and it will explain why this is absolutely critical. It can really mess up the band and your stomach. Heck, tell your doctor who said you could have no carb soda pop to google it for you an the rest of his patients. I am amazed.

When I breathe deeply, it hurts on the tops and front of my shoulders/clavical. I wonder if that's gas, too??? maybe from the CO2 used to pump up the torso??

Congrats on your decision! I was banded Wednesday and you will be amazed how quickly you feel better. Yeah, you'll have some post-surgery stuff, but I've had 6 surgeries and this was by far the easiest for me. Best to you! D:mellow:

I assume this is a blockage. How do you unblock? I'm crushing even tiny hrt pills and spreading over the day. Using Jello for the time-release Effexor with instructions to not chew the tiny globules inside the capsule. Tums for Calcium and Bugs Bunny Vitamins. I'll take the effexor on applesauce when I get that, per mfr instructions

I've had some "reflux" sensations, too, during these early days after surgery. even had feeling of gas around heart. I suspect we're still experiencing the CO2 they blew into our bellies. Reminds me--time to use that inhaler thingie....and walk walk walk to reduce the bloating.

I was also banded by Dr. Horgan at UCSD, but I believe some, if not all of us, are part of scientific study, ie clinical trials with the robotic procedure. I would not be surprised that they do not fill persons who are not part of their study groups, since they are not a private business. On the other hand, I believe UCSD is a Medicaid hospital and may have a "community" orientation. It's worth a phone call. My surgery was Jan. 30 and I feel pretty good. I wanted a surgeon I could trust to give me the best chance for this to succeed. I liked the ability to have easy, ready, professional follow-up. I liked having a LOT of doctors and staff to work with. It cost more. I had to pay on my own, but I'm paying for a new life. Best to you.

I had surgery 1-30 and know what you're thinking. I shifted to apple juice today from crystal light and popsicles. Felt like I was living on Splenda. I sip 1 ounce of clear liquid every 15 minutes. If I get behind schedule, I can definitely tell. My stomach growls or cramps. This morning I awoke nauseous ....from hunger. As soon as I drank Water, I was fine. We can survive for much longer than we think without food actually. We REQUIRE water. You're on the cusp of getting your Protein. I'm right behind you. I even saw some tempting Soup recipes in here for the full liquid stage.:eek:~ Hang in there!

I'm feeling pretty good. Can't run a foot race yet but I am hustling to the toilet better. I had mild discomfort at the larger incision site but it is going away. The tylenol with codeine was great help. I have been working to sip an ounce of liquid every 15 minutes and inhaling on that apparatus every hour to get the CO2 out of my system. They inflate your torso during surgery. I had a little blister on a lip afterwards, probably from the intubation tube. I had a moderate sore throat the first day only and lozenges helped. No problem walking after the general anesthesia wore down. A little trouble changing postures, like standing from bed, sitting and rising, anything that required core muscles. That is passing day by day and I can move easily now without the muscle tension. Still some tightness in my shoulders and neck from the operation, being in the same posture for an hour. My surgery only lasted 44 minutes. I came in at 7 for prep, surgery at 9, over before 10, awoke easily at 1130sh, left around 1 after I dribbled a few drops of urine and had the post-op swallow procedure. Much easier than the barium--it tasted like a liquer, kinda licorice like Jaegermeister. The most painful, uncomfortable experience for me was the Manometry. The doc shoved it up my right nostil which we discovered was deviated, ie had been broken sometime in my life. Then when I got the first drops of Water to swallow, they went down my windpipe into my lungs. Going under was such a snap. I recall three nice breaths of oxygen thinking it smelled kinda like faint flowers. Nice. Then I awoke and was just slightly sore... I told them 6 on the 10 scale for the sore throat, as I recall. Then they gave me something for pain and I soon told them 2 when I left. I had a bit of bloating and gas but didn't take gas x. Maybe I will try that if it returns. Enjoyed some sips of apple juice. I'd been living on crystal light, water, popsicles....and Jello for my meds that require "food." My stomach has been pretty hungry for about a week now, ie growling very loudly. But I'm doing okay mentally not having food. I occasinally remember "cheese enchiladas" but don't feel anxious. Best to you! You'll do great!

I had surgery three days ago. This morning I drank warm decaf tea and wonder if i drank it too fast. It was about a cup and I drank it over maybe 5-7 minutes. I didn't feel anything unusual immediately but about 5 minutes later, I was lying down and felt a sharp tight pain under my left breast, like when you have gas around your heart. Have any of you ever experienced that or know what caused it? Thanks.

I had surgery two days ago....and finally went to the potty today...and I'm in, as you described, that awful "liquids in-liquids out" stage. Hmmm, I sent my sweetie to the grocery store for TUCKS thinking it something to STOP the problem. He came back with wipies. As Peggy Lee sang, is that all there is? Can't take milk of magnesia, I suppose? Did you also recommend GasX strips? Do they help right after surgery with the puffiness in the lower gut?

I'm baaaaaack. Surgery went well Wednesday. I came back to do a little research regarding, well, hmmm, what happens when you live on liquids for over two weeks. :smile:~

The pre-op diet is to shrink your liver, which sits right next to the stomach. If it is swollen, it can be cut and you can hemmorrhage. A surgeon who doesn't put their patients on a pre-op diet to reduce this risk better have excellent malpractice insurance. I would not trust them to put a band aid on my blister. I had my surgery Wednesday and feel pretty darn good. Just came on to find some tips about lose BM, which is certainly expected living on liquids for over 2 weeks.

...until AFTER my surgery. I'm going in next Wednesday and despite the amazing advice in here, which I intend to digest later... I've decided to stop reading about all the problems, challenges, and, gulp, agonizing pain from infected ports, food stuck in throats, puking, constipation, diarrhea, weight not falling fast enough, tiresome liquid diets, etc. I want to have a smile on my face when I walk into the hospital and a feeling of gratitude for the possibility of a virtual miracle in my life... Imagine. I can finally be a healthy weight again. WOW Thank you, God. ; )

One of the reasons we have weight challenges is that we want IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION. The same impulse that made us grab that cake or pull into the fast food drive-thru makes us want to see pounds OFF FAST. We need to think about lifestyle changes..which take time. But all good things take time. Even God took 7 whole days to create the Universe. lol And some say a little...well...longer than that even. :smile:~

My doc said to take my effexor time-released capsules, opened, with jello after surgery.

good luck, tink. Mine is next wednesday. :smile:

Thanks. My surgery is next Wednesday Tick tock

Great posting, Miss... ! I only have one slight difference of opinion on whether food is LIKE a drug for some of us. I believe that food IS the drug of choice for MOST of us, maybe even ALL of us. I use it to calm down when I'm stressed. I use it to feel happy when I'm sad. I use it to celebrate when I'm happy. I use it to feel SOMethiNG when I'm bored and feeling nothing. Sounds like a drug to me. So I need counseling to find a non-eating way to handle my emotions, don't I/we? :smile:

Great posting, Miss... ! I only have one slight difference of opinion on whether food is LIKE a drug for some of us. I believe that food IS the drug of choice for MOST of us, maybe even ALL of us. I use it to calm down when I'm stressed. I use it to feel happy when I'm sad. I use it to Celebrate when I'm happy. I use it to feel SOMethiNG when I'm bored and feeling nothing. Sounds like a drug to me. So I need counseling to find a non-eating way to handle my emotions, don't I/we? :smile:

I had reflux during my pre-op barium test and they found a small hernia. I had heartburn only a few times a year and never was on medication. Never bought a TUMS. But is it possible you have a hernia still and that it wasn't repaired? Hiatal hernias are very common among the overweight and obese. The surgeon will repair mine during the lapband surgery next Wednesday. Best to you all.

I received the following note from my surgeon's staff and thought it valuable to share. I'd asked why I couldn't add Egg Beaters or Lean chicken to my 2-week pre-op liquids diet. (Most of the hospital's patients have more weight to lose and are on the pre-op diet for a MONTH.) "You are to follow the pre-op meal plan that was given to you. I know it's hard because it doesn't consist of a lot of substance, but it is a requirement from Dr. --- in order to have surgery. Every person whom is overweight or obese has an enlarged liver. The liquid diet helps shrink the size of the liver, fat around the abdomen and helps Dr. --- perform the surgery in record time and prevents him from poking your fatty liver with his surgical tools. If your liver is fatty and it gets poked it will bleed and therefore the operation will take longer. Please follow the guidelines and don't have anything that isn't already listed on the pre-op diet. Dr. --- has been known to put his camera in the belly, look at the liver and if it's still too large, a funny color from eating solid foods or if he feels that you cheated, he will cancel your surgery on that very day! So please take full advantage of 2 Protein shakes a day and 3 servings of cottage cheese, milk or yogurt to help fill you up as much as possible. The previous items include protein for satiety! " guess that answered my question. I hope my liver is the right color--whatever that is--when Dr. --- sees it next Wednesday. Prayers for all of us. :smile:

Here's what my nutritionist wrote when I asked why the liquid diet was necessary and not just a low glycemic diet: "You are to follow the pre-op meal plan that was given to you. I know it's hard because it doesn't consist of a lot of substance, but it is a requirement from Dr. --- in order to have surgery. Every person whom is overweight or obese has an enlarged liver. The liquid diet helps shrink the size of the liver, fat around the abdomen and helps Dr. -- perform the surgery in record time and prevents him from poking your fatty liver with his surgical tools. If your liver is fatty and it gets poked it will bleed and therefore the operation will take longer. Please follow the guidelines and don't have anything that isn't already listed on the pre-op diet. Dr. -- has been known to put his camera in the belly, look at the liver and if it's still too large, a funny color from eating solid foods or if he feels that you cheated, he will cancel your surgery on that very day! So please take full advantage of 2 Protein shakes a day and 3 servings of cottage cheese, milk or yogurt to help fill you up as much as possible. The previous items include protein for satiety! " Guess that puts the fear of God (and Dr.--) in ME! I want my liver the right color, whatever that is!!

Before I knew better, I was using a DELICIOUS protein powder by HMR, which a friend said was used in hospital programs. But when I looked at the SUGAR grams (11 !) versus Atkins Advantage cans (only 1 g sugar), I made an immediate purchase at the drugstore. Maybe I'll use the HMR drinks when I'm nearer goal. My surgery is next Wednesday. I'm on the pre-op semi-liquids diet and living on--shakes, sf sicles, jello, cottage cheese, light yogurt. Anyone found a tasty clear broth?? thanks