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Okay, I know I'm being a BIG baby (no pun intended). I'm seriously depressed today after my mistake with starting soft foods yesterday with a scrambled egg. My esaphegous is inflamed (nurse at office over phone) and I'm still uncomfortable and belchy and really down on myself. I'm back on liquids today but can try again tomorrow, and now I'm scared to eat anything. I'm making pureed Soups for future use - sweet potato, and also cauliflower with Black Beans. They'll be delicious, but for now, I'm a silly silly wreck. Why write it....I guess I'm looking for some sympathy. And some ideas on what I might try tomorrow as I give it another go. The nurse keeps saying "food PROTEIN", but I feel like a small mashed potato would be better plus my Protein drinks. So what if for a day or two I don't get in 75 grams of protein. Any ideas out there? I have a tricky stomach at best. What do you think? A small piece of flounder or sole? Pureed tunafish? Just the mashed potato the first day? I'm beginning to strongly feel that the best advice is here, not the doctor's office. Thanks, Big Baby Gwenn

Until yesterday, I would have said the same! I have been doing great....and I'm no spring chicken. Mine had eggs on the okay list. I'm crossing them off for me for a while longer- they just didn't agree. They're through and gone now but left me gassy and uncomfortable. I'm back to liquids today and will try something thicker tomorrow. I guess much is trial and error. Just don't want to hurt myself much in the process. Thanks. Gwenn

I've just ended 3 weeks of liquids. My list of soft foods to go into included eggs so I had one egg, lightly scrambled this evening with 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese. I want to tell you that I've been suffering all evening. Eggs as a first meal was a big mistake. Too much. My espophagus (sp?) hurts and I've been burping and belching all evening. Nausea for a while but when I can belch, it passes. I've just had a nice cup of peppermint tea- known to be good for the stomach, and hopefully this will pass by tomorrow morning. And eggs were listed. So my advise is to take it very easy. I should have treated my stomach better today. Should have acted as if I'd finished a bad stomach flu and gone with watery oatmeal or farina. Or something completely pulverized in a blender. Live and learn. I don't think I did any damage to the band- I think it would take more than this- way more- but why make oneself uncomfortable. I know I'll be much more careful in the future. Take care and good luck. Gwenn

And I am feeling sorry for myself because I'm nauseus and burpy after having my first food in 3 weeks. I realize now I should have had something thinner in texture. I forgt that the doctor recommending doing that. Like loose oatmeal. Oh well, I'm sure this will pass once the food is through my system. But lesson learned. I'm deep breathing to try to keep the nausea at bay. I'm sitting with a cup of peppermint tea....said to be good for the stomach. Be well. Gwenn

Congratulations on the 118 and I wish you the best of luck with the new band. At least now I know that I'd know if it happened---that you are very aware if something is wrong. Good luck and thanks for responding. Gwenn

I thought about the egg afterwards, too. I recalled that egg is hard to digest, but I never thought it would be hard to get it down. Maybe I should have started like I would after a stomach flu..... a little mashed potato or some farina. It's certainly mashed than my egg was. Thanks. Gwenn

I actually finally took a sip. I haven't had any fills yet, but I am trying to get into the habit of no fluid. I am going to have a cup of tea in a few minutes just to soothe my innards. Thanks for responding. Gwenn

I haven't been on this thread but it's great to see everyone doing so well. I was banded on April 30 so I think of myself as April and May - I have more in common with a lot of the early May folks. Right now I'm moving from liquids to soft solids and I'm having a lot of discomfort. Not just full, but like it's stuck halfway down. Anyone have that experience? A couple of belches helped, but still a bit uncomfortable. Is this common when one starts to add food? I read on one of the posts about using hot tea to ease some food issues. Do you think that would work for me? Thanks-Gwenn

Hey Terri, Realized you're almost there. Good luck for Thursday! We're waiting for you to come back on the boards! Gwenn

Hi Makeupqueen, I have been on the boards the last hour trying to find out whatever I can about why food I'm having trouble with food. My surgeon has banders on liquid for 3 weeks post surgery so today I had my first soft food. just a liqhtly scrambled egg and a couple of tablespoons of cottage cheese....both on his list. I was told to eat 4-6 ounces and I'm sure I was within that. Within 10 minutes after eating I started to feel like the food was stuck halfway down. Here I am an hour and 2 good belches later and still feel that it's "stuck"....just a little less so. Of course I'm worried that I did something terrible and the band has now slipped, or I hurt something, or whatever. But reading your post made me think that maybe this is something that just happens to us. Have you found out anything about it in the past two days? I feel like calling the nurses tomorrow but they're gonna shot me I call so often. But everything is new and strange. Right now I feel like crying. Feel like I better go back to liquids. I certainly won't try this combo again. Did I eat too much? Is this normal? Any answers? Gwenn

HI Wendy, I just ate my first mushies. I was banded on April 30, but my surgeon keeps everyone on 3 weeks of liquid. I just ate one softly scrambled egg and 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese- both on my okay list. I have a hard feeling in my chest and just finally let out one belch. I feel awful. I thought I'd be so happy I was eating. I know your post was a week or so ago, so I'm wondering how you're doing now. Did the pain stop? Did you learn anything you could pass along to me on this. I stopped taking my reflux meds after surgery and have been fine and I'm really hoping starting to eat again doesn't start up the reflux again. Thanks-Gwenn

Hi- As some of you know, my doctor does 3 weeks of liquid diet after banding. So, after 3 weeks, I had my first soft food a little while ago. One egg, lightly scrambled and 2 tablespoons of small curd cottage cheese. Both on his list. I feel like the food is not quite gone down and hour later. Feel like belching but can't get it done. Is this common? Many of you started back on food much sooner after banding. I know there's still swelling after 3 weeks, so there must have been some when you guys ate. Anyone experience what I'm feeling? I know I ate less than 6 ounces of food and I did chew, although there was much to chew on. I ate slowly. I don't feel great- I thought I would. Help! Gwenn

I have a couple of questions if you don't mind..... What causes slippage? How did you know it slipped? Is it a full, new surgery to replace it- did you have to go through the whole thing again? Did you insurance cover it? Thanks. I was just banded a few weeks ago and I'd like to learn more. Gwenn

YAY- 3 weeks. For me it means I can start to add soft foods to my diet (my surgeon has patients on 3 weeks liquid after surgery). I'm down 27 pounds. I'm looking forward to adding foods, but at the same time, I'm nervous. Tell me I can have mashed potato and I'm thinking lots of it. My head certainly is not restricted yet! So, I have to be very careful as I add. With no restriction on the band yet...there is a gap that I hope NOT to fill. I walk almost everyday- I do about a mile. I'm purposely not pushing myself too much as my habit has been to overdue it, hurt myself, and then stop exercising at all. I'm trying to break that habit this time around. So, I take it slow. The negatives.....I would like to see my incisions all healed- I try to sit around with no top on when possible to let them breath. And when I overdo it (housework, etc) the area above and around the port hurts me. I keep thinking I've screwed something up but really it's just warning me to stop. Happily, I had plenty of sick time so I'm still off for a couple more weeks. Gwenn

Great! Glad it went well. I'll hope along with you. Sounds good. Gwenn

I can't believe it was two weeks ago. Feels long ago in some ways. I'm pain free other than gas on and off. My stomach is still sounding symphonic sometimes. Shoulder pain is almost extinct. It comes back when I walk a lot so I guess I'm stirring up the gas - but I'm not giving up the walking. I'm slow and don't go that far yet, but it's good. I can do most things but I am careful. My surgeon doesn't do a pre-op diet; just asked to tone it down which I didn't do until the week prior to surgery. However, he does 3 weeks of liquid post-op, then mush, etc. I've lost 23 pounds post-surgery! I am still finding that if I drink too quickly or too much at a time there's a lot of pressure so I don't take a lot in at once. Sometimes I can't see the future- I know in my head that everyone I know who has had this is eating almost everything and is losing and living like the normal human beings we always wished we were. But I've been down one or two days because it's still liquid and still gassy and it's hard to see forward. This board helps tremendously. Thanks for asking! Gwenn

By the way, don't you have an appointment tomorrow for the nutritionist and social worker? With the social worker (I saw Amy Severs?) they want to know that you're level headed about the surgery and what the band can give you. If you 're in therapy they love that, and if you tell them you're planning to do a lot of work to support yourself in this, they'll be happy too. They want to know you don't think you will be a size zero and that you have support from family and friends. They have support groups 2x a month so you can also say you heard about them and are looking forward to attending. You may have heard this already, but statistically they find that volume eaters do better than sweet eaters. And they understand that we're all emotional eaters. They just want you to be willing to take on the task of dealing with the emotional side. She also asked about exercise and about starting a new hobby like needlepoint so that hands aren't idle. She was nice and very understanding. I think I cried a little about getting my life back to where it was 15 years ago. The nutritionist I saw (Samaam?) gave me too much information. Could not take it all in. Realized I didn't need and I most of what she said and wrote for me was repeated in the educational class. She got me a little overwhelmed with it all, but it all sorts out. So good luck! Let me know how it went. Gwenn

Thanks....hope all is going well with you as well! I ended up going over to the surgeon's office and after all that with the nurse......he put a bandaid on it! LOL!!!!!! I learned something new today....just when you think all the gas is gone, it comes back! OY! Gwenn

That's why I'm trying so hard not to have hard stools. I have a hem. and it shows it's face every so often. Yup, I had a small bout with straining this week, and the resultant problem. I'm trying to drink a lot of Water and contacted my gastroenterologist. He's relented about Benefiber so I'm starting slowly. Just trying to get in enough fluids. It's not easy. Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. Gwenn

Glad you liked your doctor. That's very important. Some people don't think so, but I think that the best doctor's I've met were also good people. My port is located about 4 inches above and a bit to the left of my belly-button. So, it's out of breast range (I'm low but not THAT low) and safe from the waist on pants, etc. Some surgeons put it on the side (think love handles). My brother-in-law had his moved to the side because he lifts things and he felt he'd bang it in from too much. My only concern was that it would be a while before my husband and I could resume "activities", and yup, probably another month or so. The port scar is heavier than the lapascopic scars- and about 2 inches wide. I have 4 small incisions -thin lines about an inch each. All but one get "covered" by me, but they are healing. The on that's centered between the "girls" is completely closed, pin thin and as of this afternoon's visit to the surgeon, uncovered. The others may take longer because they are underneath- something my brother-in-law didn't need to deal with- every woman would have this to some degree, but some not as much as I. My husband says I'm crazy to even care about scars, because no one will see them. I have to keep reminding him that I'm not hairy like he is and yes, the port scar will annoy me, but I'll live with it. I'm sure we'll "talk" more before you get banded, but I'll tell you now and again later.....walk as soon as they let you and keep on walking. I got out the chair (I stayed out of bed unless asleep) and walked in the corridors every hour on the hour for a few laps around the hospitial floor. You'll read it everywhere on the boards....walk walk walk. Slowly slowly, not for distance- for frequency. Are you staying overnight or going home the same day? If at home, try to find a short walk you can take all night if you're awake. When I first got home, I went up and down the hall of our building 10, 20, 30 times. Again, not for distance....just to keep moving. And even with today, and gas and stuff like that....I have to say I've had a very good recovery so far. I wish you the same! Gwenn

Hi Terri, You're coming up very soon. My brain is on vacation......who is doing your surgery? I went to the surgeon's office today. One of the surgistrips came off and there was a little unsutured section of one of the incisions. Well, I'm very large on top, so there was no way it would heal under there. The nurse at the office was NOT helpful, and I was concerned that it heal with no infection so I called late afternoon and told them that I wanted it seen and I wasn't waiting two weeks for an appointment (I live walking distance to Cedars). So they said come in and Khalili (the surgeon) say me and completely relaxed me and said "no problem". I think the office sometimes overprotects the doctors.....heck, they are there for us.....I think people forget that sometimes. The nurse had told me NO BANDAIDS, NO this and that. Dr. K pulls out a BAND AID and puts it on. Hilarious. Now, if I see anything similar with the others, I won't get worried because I now know what to expect. And yes, I'm a worry-wart. I'm doing well and don't want anything to screw it up. Thanks for the congrats on the weight. I expect it to slow down to a crawl once I'm eating again, but that's fine. It's going in the right direction and this quick start is giving me a boost. Take care! Gwenn

THanks. Drinking like a fish. H2O alway works with weight loss. Gwenn

Yes, I'm starting with one "serving" a day. For regularity overall, you need to build it up slowly. Last night one of my little strips fell off one of the incisions. Of course, there's just one spot at the end not closed...I guess the suture did take there. The rest of it is fine, but because it's open (and under my breast) I am now concerned that it doesn't get infected. I called the surgeon's office and the nurse was less than helpful. Don't use a bandaid, she said, but as there's something on it skin to skin, it needs to be covered. She thought my bra would take care of it, but I don't wear one all the time and mine are not cotton. I suggested a gauze pad, but she had no idea what that was (!?!) So, I have a gauze pad over it. If it doesn't close up by tomorrow, I'm calling back and going over- I live a few blocks from the office. Let them put a new piece of surgical tape on it. Good news is 23 pounds!!! Thanks for listening! Gwenn

Thanks, Mae. I called and they said Benefiber was okay to take and that this is common with liquid diets. I then contacted the Gastroenterologist I went to in the past- he's a terrific person- let's you email so I didn't have to go through trying to get an appointment to ask his advice. He okayed the benefiber - at least for now- and felt it could be the change to Previcid from Protonix (I changed so I could take the soluable form for a while) so I've got to try dropping that as well. He said my reflux could be gone soon as well and maybe I don't need the meds everyday. YAY. So nice of him. Just having him encourage me by saying how great it all sounds and just hang on for a bit really helped. It's a blessing when there are decent people in those white coats. So, next few days I'll be experimenting. It will give me something to do! Hope you're doing well!

Thank you!!!! You may be feel better mentally, if not my rump!!! I did not have antibiotics (at least non orally) but I did go on probiotics- I may need to reduce the amount as too much of that isn't the best either. I think these liquid Protein drinks are awful for some of us as well. They are fine as a one-Meal Replacement, but as a diet, nope. Trying to drink more Water. And my surgeon suggests benefiber. My gastro suggest Metamucil as usual, but hte surgeon says no to that- too lumpy and could get stuck after fills. However, maybe the meta crackers. Whatever, I need to do something so I'm going to try the benefiber, at least to experiment. Everything else is going so well, that this is disheartening. Gwenn