Constance

HopeW, that is totally the standard feeling for being only a few days post-op. Don't worry! You'll find as your swelling subsides you'll be able to have more and more. Make sure you get enough water right now. Trust me,s oon you'll be ready for food again -- probably in a few weeks.

I know of some docs in Canon City Colorado...that's the closest I can think of, but perhaps others know of more.

Hey Cheri. I'm sorry about the denial. I was denied too. Check out the Insurance forum here. You will find many others going through the same thing. The doctro in Colorado is Dr. Kirshenbaum. He does not work with insurance typically. That rate is self-pay. You shoudl consider contacting ObesityLaw.com. Walter and Kelly Lindstrom are the lawyers and they have a great success rate. It is cheaper than you would think to retain their services. I decided to go self pay -- but if I couldn't have, I would have used Walter and Kelly. Best of luck!

Trizzy I just PM'd you about the fill with Ortiz.

Telly, thanks for sharing those quotes - I have been curious.

So Faybie, you do mushies with nothing to drink. Maybe I should try that until I move to solids. I haven't been avoiding drinking since, well, all I do is drink my food.

Um, confession. In the spirit of moving into mushies. I just had a small dairy queen cocoa fudge sundae. oops. It was, quite seriously, the most AMAZING thing ever!!

What was your timeline for progressing to solid food after surgery?

I guess it is inevitable. I'm at day 12 and suddenly feel so hungry. I'm on liquids for 9 more days (the straight to solids) and I think I may need to cheat and add some mushies. I still feel like I fill up easier. But the hunger comes back so much sooner. Like after an hour I'm ready to eat again. I hoped I'd be a no-fill type. Although, how can you really judge restriction until you've had solid food, right?

T O M, so true! I can't resist...here is my little dog. I love her so much. Small dogs have a bad rep. She loves people and is so easy going adn she gets plenty of exercise in our yard. AND her poops are the size of tootsie rolls! Less yard clean-up.

Linzee, the only doctor I could think you might mean is Dr. Covarrubias?

Libra, sorry hear about your slimeing the sandwich. Hey if you did eat it. at least it would be pre-lubricated! ha..sorry. I feel like a giant Snoopy balloon at the Macy's Parade. I am so bloated and gas-filled I can hardly see straight. I have the shoulder pain, the diaphram/back pain, I can't bend over or get comfortable and I can't burp! Faybie, I was going to ask the SAME thing. I was driving home thinking "what if I am terribly constipated and I just keep getting more gas in my body until I actually pop?!" Like my incisons are just going to give way and my guts will spill out. Actually, at this point, that might feel good. I know everything going on is normal -- but can I still whine? Did I mention I *miss* wearing a bra? Having my yams pressed against me all day from the zero support tank top I wear is lame.

Smitty, you and I were banded the same day and I feel the same thing. I adjusted my chair to lean back more. But still, after about 6 hours I so sore. I know it will get better, but right now it really bugs me.

Yes! I have found brushing my tongue seems to help. There is some normal scrping of the tongue that happens when you eat real food. And with all these liquids we just get more and more layers of gunk. That, and probably ketosis. Although I feel like I am drinking tons of carbs so I don't know. I knew it was bad when my husband was DEMANDING I find the mints in the bottom of my purse. I said "geez, what is the problem" and he said "You're killing me! Have a mint!"

Kate don't be too hard on yourself! It's only been a few weeks and I agree with AndyLiz. Our metabolisms have been ALL over the place! Liquids, clears, anethesia, that's a huge shift for our bodies. Also, about a year ago I worked with a personal trainer. Right away she had me start eating way more food. I went from 1200 to 1600 calories. I was like "Are you crazy?!" But she insisted I had to fuel my metabolism, not starve myself. When you are overweight, you need way more calories than a woman who weights 120lbs. Just your resting metabolic needs can be 1400 calories. That's just to sleep and breathe and blink - not counting any activity. So while we are on these wacky eating regimes with liquids or mushies and so few calories -- or a bunch of smooth carb calories, just rest assured that the weight loss WILL come for all of us! We are so new at this still and it will take awhile for the metabolism to 'catch up'. I am totally impatient too! I have decided I will only weigh myself every 2 weeks. Really what difference does 3 or 4 lbs make? When we know that after we get the right restriction and physically heal we can lose weight and start getting more exercise. Hang in there Kate. We will all be losing steadily in time!

Kirsten that's great! I sort of feel like a little toddler, learning how and what to eat. I'm still on liquids -- like an infant. But you're like eating like grown up! I glad it went well!

Yeah, I suppose either way I'm good, No restriction = hey, I can eat a little food before a fill. Restriction = cool, no need for fill. Trizzy, is that the Best Western? Was somebody saying it was sketchy? Not that I'm a Diva or anything about where I stay.

I still have 2 bottles in the fridge from the clear liquids phase. Just seeing the bottles makes me want to gag. I would rather drink my dog's pee! I even had a DREAM that I was cleaning up a puppy accident and in the dream I thought to myself "wait it's the 'tropcial' flavored Isopure!". Seriously.

I feel the same way - and I see we're both just a week out. I know it is a good thing to NOT need a fill. But there is a part of me that just wishes I could get the lack of restriction everyone is talking about so I could maybe have a little bread and more ' difficult ' foods before I get a fill. But that is the food addict in me talking. It would be great to not need a fill! I guess we should feel lucky Faybie. But I am preparing myself mentally to lose this post-op restriction and face a little gain. I know I know, it isn't about the weight loss yet -- but I'm impatient!

It'll be fine! I was so nervous and now I see what a huge waste of energy it was. It is no big deal at all. You will drift off to sleep and wake up feeling so much better than you think. Nothing scary! Remember why you are taking this step and that this is just a tiny part of the lifetime you'll enjoy with a healthier bod!

Hey guys, it sounds like for the most part everybody is doing good. Like, Mferra (same doc, same day) I'm only 5 days out. I feel like a total rookie compared to you guys! What a difference 20 days can make. Chrissie, that bagel...oh I'm so envious! Er, I mean, I'm so dissapointed in you. No No, seriously, it's ok. You don't even have restriction yet. It was a little splurge. Don't be too hard on yourself. Everyone keeps saying 'the band is a tool' but the tool hasn't been engaged yet -- so you're working on will power alone. And we ALL know how totally impossib;e the will power game can be. I kinda let me BC pill linger in my mouth too long before I took a swig of water. No it's all burny in my esophagus. I used to do this by accident pre-band too - but now I'm all hyper tuned in to everyting little thing trying to feel for the 'soft stop' and all. I'm sipping some warm water. Beat it, pill residue - get outta my esophagus!

So sorry to hear that. My thought sand prayers are with you Mr. Trish and Trish. We are here for support when she is ready and able!

Hey all, 2 days after surgery I'm feeling really good - just sleepy. I have a couple of questions. 1)My husband noted that some of my liquids weren't technically clear - like beef broth and I bought a drink that iIthought was clear but iht was opaque (I only had a few oz). It's ok, right? 2) Do you guys feel sort of a burpy sensation but nothing comes to the surface. I get it whether I've been eating or not. Like a gas rising in my chest -- and I have to take a breath to make it pass - but no burp payoff? sound right? 3) Sticky surgical glue removal and/or iodine removal ideas? Not that I'm hanging out in a bikini, but my shirt sticks to me. So far I can sip about 1/2 cup of liquid, a little more and I feel that tightness. I am hungry but not ravenous. My stomach has been growling most of the day. I guess this is all normal. I can't belive it's done! I'm so glad I took this step!