LSF

I was told Tylenol is fine, no Advil or Motrin. I am able to swallow the pills also.

YES! Because I'm always drinking my protein drinks - my breath feels nasty. I am constantly sucking on tic tacs - especially at work.

If you need to eat - then try to pig out on protein until your fill. Eat cheese sticks and steak & eggs , ground turkey etc... It will help to curb your appetite and you can still eat and lose weight. I had to do it to drop 7 pounds quickly before getting banded and it helped alot. Once you get your fill, you can get back on track.

Well - I can't wait to eat some crackers. After all these liquid and mushy phase - I just need something crunchy!!!

I was banded the same day as you (11/19)and was allowed to start mushies by 11.28th.

I brought a book - never read it - all I could do was sleep afterwards. I'm ALWAYS cold so I brought a flannel shirt to put over my hospital gown - never used it. I was suprised that I was comfortable with their blankets and the bed props up anyway.

Start eating soups - nothing chunky - I found that tomato soup helps fill me up a bit more. I'm on the mushy phase but I was eating tomato soup during the full liquid phase. Also - make sure you are getting enough protein from your shakes - try to get 50 grams in if you can.

Heather - I was banded on the 19th and also had a hiatal hernia repaired. By day 6, I started to feel much better and it got better each day. I should warn you though, I have had tremendous pain in my left shoulder - especially when Im eat or drink. I've been reading on the other posts that alot of the people with the hiatal hernia repair are also experiencing the shoulder pain. It didn't start until around 6 days after my surgery. As farm as the pain in the abdominal area, I just took tylenol during the day and my pain meds at night. It will get better though each day - good luck!

I'm just curious if there are people out there that have found that they are able to eat rice & pasta and if so - what are you doing that makes it agreebale with the band. (I'm still on the mushy phase)

It's nice to read your uplifting post right now while I'm going through bandster hell. I needed to read it -

I was having the same problems at night - waking up after 4 hours and be wide awake. I started taking the costco brand - Kirkland PM pills and those have helped alot. I'm cold too but it's only been 30 degrees out so that to me is normal.

Just get right back on and you will be fine. I'm too scared of the band inside of me to screw it up. I'm only 11 days post -op and I can't stop thinking about food. I can't wait to try the soft food stage because I'm sick of the mushy's but I think my fear of having a foreign object inside me is what's keeping me on track.

I noticed that over the weekend, the pain wasn't as bad but was it because I was home resting alot? It feels better when I lie down and I can't do that when I'm working. I know they keep saying it's from the hernia repairs but I can feel the gas going from my stomach right up to my left shoulder.

I just hate having it while I'm at work. That's the worst!

Joan - Get your protein drinks in - you need that to heal and the protein will help to fill you up. (I'm on the mushy phase now - can't wait to eat food again) Also, I found that just some plain tomato soup helped to fill a void of what I was craving.

Our hospital provided us with the "non-slip" socks and told me not to bring pajamas because I'll just wear their gown overnight. I wore the clothes that I arrived in to go home in.

Wow! 25 pounds so fast!!! You are very lucky!

I agree to check with your doctor but mine has us adding mashed potatoes, applesauce and yogurt & creamed soups by day 9. No eggs though - that comes with his 'soft food' stage. I can't wait to eat regular food again!

Look at what you are eating - I'm only on the mushy phase right now but as I've been checking out the recipes, I want to try the chili/beans but I KNOW that is going to give me gas. I will eat it if I know I'm not going anywhere afterwards. Do you notice it more after eating certain foods or is it consistent with everything?

Oh, I thought of you this morning Gentlywind when you had mentioned in an other post about the diarrea (sp?) - I'm on day 8 since surgery and this morning - BAM! I'm wondering if it's because I started mushies. I was afraid to eat anything while I was at work. When I'm home, I will try to lie down with the shoulder pain but when at work.........

At work today everyone could tell I was in pain - the funny thing was my stomach was fine!! It was that damn neck pain. I don't know if I can survive it for 6 weeks like HeatherO did and Heather, I follow your advice religiously throughout the posts since I saw how successful you have been.

I will definitely take your advice - I don't have a husband to massage my neck & shoulder so I guess my own hands will have to do for now.

I totally get what you are saying - full at the top - hungry at the bottom. And - I also get the gas pains after I eat (drink really). I made mashed potatoes tonight in anticipation of me moving onto to mushies tomorrow and could not resist a couple of bites - boy was that delicious!! After a week of Protein drinks & jello!

Now that we have been talikg about it - my shoulder pain has been getitng worse after I eat (protein shakes & jello of course). I have been using the heating pad and walking. The pain is so immense while walking that I can only walk for 5-8 minutes. Then it seems to get better but how am I going to deal with it at work? I go back tomorrow! I'm going to try the Icy Hot patch next.

I'm planning on being careful with the sauces - that's why I thought the homemade chicken soup would be a good start. (no noodles yet). While I've been home recovering this past week - I keep seeing a commercial about a chef cooking chicken & veggies in chicken broth. I might try that as well. I love meat and will need to find creative ways of cooking it so that it will work with the band.