MistyD65

My itching is MUCH more bearable today...almost gone. Hooray!!! Hang in there everyone...this too will pass.

Trisha, I think you hit the nail on the head with that last statement. She is probably the self-appointed "expert" of that board and couldn't stand to be corrected or challenged by you. People like that can really be dangerous, especially if they make their posts sound like the absolute standard of information. Newcomers and others may base their actions on that one person's statements, when they really should be reading many people's experiences. You just keep putting in your two-cents' worth.

I am one week post-op today and have been on protein drinks. Before my surgery I did a lot of taste-testing, so I'd know what I'd like. And I only looked at RTDs. I didn't want to have to worry with mixing stuff up. Here are my suggestions: Lean Body RTD protein shakes by Labrada. Serving size-17 oz; Protein per serving - 40 g; sugars per serving - 0 g. $3.49 each at Vitamin Shoppe. Flavors - Strawberries and Cream, Chocolate Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream, Bananas and Cream. I tried both the Strawberries and Cream and Chocolate Ice cream and I LOVE THEM!! They really taste like melted milkshakes to me. The Strawberries and Cream is very new, so it might be hard to find. Labrada Nutrition Protein Blitz Fruit Drinks by Designer Whey. Serving size - 20 oz; Protein per serving - 30 g; sugars per serving - 1 g. $3.29 each at Vitamin Shoppe. Flavors - Grape, Orange Mango, Punch. Tried them all, LOVE them all. They taste like Kool-aid or Hi-C to me. The protein in them is a whey isolate, so they are clear drinks. A very nice change from all the milky things out there. These are a fairly new product. My GNC didn't have them at all and didn't know about them, but Vitamin Shoppe has them. DESIGNER WHEY - Protein Drinks Pure Protein Shake by WorldWide Sport Nutrition. Serving size - 11 oz; Protein per serving - 35g; sugars per serving 2 g. $2.79 at Vitamin Shoppe. Flavors - Frosty Chocolate, Strawberry Cream, Cookies and Cream, Vanilla Cream, Banana Cream. I tried the Frosty Chocolate and Strawberry Cream. They were ok...not nearly as good as the Lean Body, but I keep a couple in my fridge because of their high protein count. They have 3.18 g of protein per ounce, Lean Body has 2.35 g of protein per ounce, and Protein Blitz has 1.5 g of protein per ounce, if you want to compare ounce to ounce. WorldWide Sport Nutrition - Products (click "protein" on the Products page) Good luck! Misty

See, I KNEW there would be someone with some expertise in the area!:thumbup:

I asked my doc about that, too. And I don't even scuba! I also asked him about flying, even though I know people fly home from Mexico after having it done. He said it isn't a problem. I do remember seeing an earlier post from someone who was going to be spending a long vacation at a high altitude. Perhaps that person will respond, and hopefully someone who as actually been scuba diving since being banded. Good Luck!

Every doctor has different requirements for post-op. I am on "modified full liquids" for 3 weeks. I am supposed to have 2 ounces of a high Protein drink every hour on the hour while awake, plus I can have 2 ounces of another low calorie liquid every 15 minutes for a total of 8 ounces an hour. I'm not exactly doing the "every hour on the hour" thing, but I am keeping up with everything I drink and when. I'm supposed to get at least 40-60 g of protein a day and 48-64 ounces of Fluid a day, and I am. I use ProteinBlitz drinks, Lean Body and WorldWide milkshakes for my protein, and have Water and beef and chicken broth for the other fluids. I decided to see how many calories I'm getting, just out of curiosity and I'm averaging about 275 a day. I know that's awfully low, but I'm feeling fine and not hungry. It does seem like a lot to do that for 3 weeks, but I may get some different information when I go in next Friday for my 10-day post-op appointment. Good luck and happy losing

The link in Sue's post above takes you to where she initially posted about her hair problem, and she explains it all there.

Glad to know I'm not alone! I think I was really looking for someone to whine with as much as for suggestions. lol Yeah Nikole, that's what's itching for me too - the area around the stitches. But don't worry Headhunter, I don't give into the urge to scratch very often, and when I do it's more rubbing than scratching.:thumbup: JeanMarie, I'm praying it'll be over for me quickly too. Thanks everyone!

Oooh, my incisions are itching, especially around the port. I'm trying to be good and not scratch, but it feels so darn gooooood to do so! Anyone else encounter this or have any tried and true suggestions?

I was banded Monday and stayed overnight with an IV of "Lactated Ringer's". The only thing I had by mouth was about 6 ounces of water over the course of about 12 hours. I had a couple of very loose bms about midmorning Tuesday, and a very small one Wed morning. By Thursday afternoon I took a dose of Milk of Magnesia, as recommended by my surgeon for constipation brought on by the liquid pain meds. It did the trick within a few hours. Still very loose, but I figured there's nothing solid in there to begin with!

I was banded Monday and I've not been the least bit nauseous or felt like i needed to throw up. Gas now...that's another matter lol

I used to be a Cokeaholic, then became a DietCokewithSplendaholic, but in the last couple of years I'd pretty much given sodas up. Now, Starbucks Green Shaken Iced Tea with Splenda is my vice. Well, it was up until Monday, when I was banded. I do hope to be able to enjoy it from time to time again in a few months, once everything has healed. Wish they made it in decaf. :tt2:

I read a suggestion in another post regarding the gas pain...a surgeon had recommended getting down on elbows and knees and lowering your head to the floor, rear-end high, head low (well that was the gist of it, anyway). I tried it and it helped. Of course, it all depends on if you can get down there and then back up. :w00t:

Had my surgery Monday morning. Everything went very smoothly, spent the night in the hospital since I was to have an upper GI the next morning. Since Edouard decided to drench us with lots of rain Tuesday morning, I was really glad I stayed over rather than trying to get back to the hospital in that. I've had no trouble at all with full liquids - no nausea, thank goodness. The operative gas seems to have mostly dissappeared after spending most of yesterday up in my left shoulder. But the rumblings and gurglings in my tummy and intestines at times makes me laugh...the GasX strips do help though, as does walking. The pain at the incision sites is really more of an ache - nothing terrible. Still, I'll be glad when that fades away too. I'm so excited to start my journey and join the ranks of the successful, shrinking Bandsters! :wink_smile:

I have to agree with Brandy. I have yet to run across anyone who regrets getting the Band, although I'm sure there are some out there who do. I am just 2 days post-op, so I know I"m just a baby in the process, but I am so glad to have this new tool in my journey towards health. And that's what you have to remember...it is a TOOL...the Lap Band isn't going to lose the weight for you. Habits must change, new habits formed, your relationship with food will never be the same. Read the positive posts, the successes, the uplifting stories and people helping each other. That's not to say there isn't helpful information to be had from reading about others' struggles, but don't dwell on those. You have taken a drastic but wonderful step towards health and being the YOU you want to be. Embrace it. :wink_smile:

I posted this on the Pre-Op forum, but it'll fit here too! **Added since initial post** I've been taste testing several things, since I have to do Protein drinks for 3 weeks post-surgery. I was interested in things other than milkshakes, too. Here's what I've tried: Isopure - clear, fruity drinks 40g/Protein in a 20oz bottle, 0 sugars. I tried the Icy Orange. It wasn't bad, but the Vitamin Shoppe guy said some flavors are "more dry" than others. It did leave my tongue a bit coated, but nothing I couldn't live with. Other flavors are Passion Fruit, Apple Melon, Grape Frost, Alpine Punch, Mango Peach, Blue Raspberry, pineapple Orange Banana, and I think a Green Tea. **Apple Melon...smelled like Midori!! Taste was pretty good. Neither it nor the Icy Orange have very intense tastes. I think adding some appropriately flavored Crystal Light would bump the flavor up.** ProteinBlitz by Designer Whey - these are really new. Also a fruity, non-milky drink. 30g/Protein in a 20 oz bottle, 1 g sugars. I tried the Grape...I LOVED it...reminded me of a grape soda without the fizz. Also comes in Orange Mango and Punch. **Punch is YUMMY! Orange Mango was good too. Hubby nailed it when he said they all tasted like Kool-aid. And that's a good thing!** Lean Body by Labrada - milkshakes 40g/Protein in a 17 oz serving, 0 sugars. I tried the Strawberries and Cream, which is a brand new flavor, and it was really, really good. It also comes in chocolate Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream and Bananas and Cream. **Chocolate Ice Cream was very good. Really had a melted-ice cream quality to it.** Worldwide Pure Protein shake - comes in an aluminum can like soda. 35g/Protein in an 11 oz can, 2 g sugars. I tried the Frosty Chocolate and enjoyed it. Just make sure to shake them up REALLY good. It also comes in Cookies and Cream, strawberry Cream, Vanilla Cream and Banana Cream. **Strawberry Cream was pretty good. These are fairly thin, watery shakes, which isn't necessarily a bad thing sometimes.** EAS AdvantEDGE Carb Control - 17g/Protein in an 11 oz carton, 2 g carbs. I tried the Chocolate Fudge and Strawberry Cream. Didn't like them one bit :biggrin: Based on my research...lol...I've bought a 12-pack of the Lean Body Strawberries and Cream, and another Grape Protein Blitz, plus the rest of all the "testers" (except the EAS....down the sink they went) to get me through the first 5 days or so after surgery...which is tomorrow!!

It's almost here!! This weekend I've been a tiny bit weepy...I think it's really finally hit me what a huge change is about to take place in my life. So I'm excited, nervous, scared and excited again. food, which has been my comfort, entertainment, reward, instant gratification, is going to find a new, more appropriate place in my world, with the help of the Band. Right now I'm waiting for a load of towels to dry so I can take my shower and scrub with the stuff the hospital gave me. I've got fresh clean sheets to climb into, freshly washed clothes to wear tomorrow (even though they were already clean lol), my overnight bag almost ready. Won't have much to do to get ready in the morning after showering *again*, since I can't wear makeup or deodorant or my contact lenses. I'm so afraid I'm going to forget something, but I know it's just nerves. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...my surgery is at 11:15 AM Central time. I have to be there at 9:15...fun, we get to fight Houston rush hour traffic to get to the hospital :biggrin: Best wishes and prayers to the other August 4th Bandsters!! Misty

**Added since initial post** I've been taste testing several things, since I have to do Protein drinks for 3 weeks post-surgery. I was interested in things other than milkshakes, too. Here's what I've tried: Isopure - clear, fruity drinks 40g/Protein in a 20oz bottle, 0 sugars. I tried the Icy Orange. It wasn't bad, but the Vitamin Shoppe guy said some flavors are "more dry" than others. It did leave my tongue a bit coated, but nothing I couldn't live with. Other flavors are Passion Fruit, Apple Melon, Grape Frost, Alpine Punch, Mango Peach, Blue Raspberry, pineapple Orange banana, and I think a Green Tea. **Apple Melon...smelled like Midori!! Taste was pretty good. Neither it nor the Icy Orange have very intense tastes. I think adding some appropriately flavored Crystal Light would bump the flavor up.** ProteinBlitz by Designer Whey - these are really new. Also a fruity, non-milky drink. 30g/Protein in a 20 oz bottle, 1 g sugars. I tried the Grape...I LOVED it...reminded me of a grape soda without the fizz. Also comes in Orange Mango and Punch. **Punch is YUMMY! Orange Mango was good too. Hubby nailed it when he said they all tasted like Kool-aid. And that's a good thing!** Lean Body by Labrada - milkshakes 40g/Protein in a 17 oz serving, 0 sugars. I tried the Strawberries and Cream, which is a brand new flavor, and it was really, really good. It also comes in chocolate Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream and Bananas and Cream. **Chocolate Ice Cream was very good. Really had a melted-ice cream quality to it.** Worldwide Pure Protein shake - comes in an aluminum can like soda. 35g/Protein in an 11 oz can, 2 g sugars. I tried the Frosty Chocolate and enjoyed it. Just make sure to shake them up REALLY good. It also comes in Cookies and Cream, strawberry Cream, Vanilla Cream and Banana Cream. **Strawberry Cream was pretty good. These are fairly thin, watery shakes, which isn't necessarily a bad thing sometimes.** EAS AdvantEDGE Carb Control - 17g/Protein in an 11 oz carton, 2 g carbs. I tried the Chocolate Fudge and Strawberry Cream. Didn't like them one bit :smile: Based on my research...lol...I've bought a 12-pack of the Lean Body Strawberries and Cream, and another Grape Protein Blitz, plus the rest of all the "testers" (except the EAS....down the sink they went) to get me through the first 5 days or so after surgery...which is tomorrow!! :biggrin:

I've sampled both flavors and didn't care for either of them. But that's ok. All I want from Starbucks is my Venti Green Shaken Iced Tea with 7 Splendas. I'm going to miss that until I can start adding some caffeine back into my diet. :wink2:

Hi Terri Dr. Ricardo Bonnor is my doctor. And I'd love to meet up with you sometime soon. You too Sandra! Hope your surgery went well! Misty

Charles, I'm just starting on this journey myself, but from what I've read here, the things you are going to be able to eat after you have completely healed (10-12 weeks after surgery) vary wildly from person to person. There are people here who eat bread with no problem and others who can't tolerate it at all. The same for many of the other "0" foods you listed. One constant does seem to be that you must chew everything VERY well. I didn't consider WLS for a long time because I knew it was still going to require a change of eating habits on my part, and if I could do that, why have surgery? But just this past year, after putting back on 40 pounds that I had kept off for a year and a half, I decided I needed the tool that the Lap Band would provide. Yes, I've mourned over foods I'm probably going to have to give up...but then I kicked myself and said "Good Grief woman, it's just food." I've got to learn to eat to live, rather than living to eat. And who knows, further down the line, I may be able to allow myself a bit of the "forbidden" foods that I am fond of...but then again, by that time I may find myself not so fond of them anymore...kind of like old friends that you look back on and realize "boy, they seemed like great, fun friends at the time, but really, they were just jerks and using me...good riddance." lol So, do some reading here, ask hard questions of the forum members and make the choice that is right for you. And best of luck, whatever you decide.

That's what works for me, too. I use the Stayfree Ultra-thin Overnights with wings and Ultra-thin Regular with wings. Overnight goes in front, Regular behind with the Overnight overlapping. I looked into the Novasure, but it turns out my uterus is on the outer limit of the size range it is effective for. Since my periods aren't THAT big of a problem, I decided not to have it done, since there was the risk that it wouldn't be effective.

I'm scheduled for the 4th too! Blessings and best wishes to us all

As far as the female taste goes, I've been told that chewing lots of Big Red gum makes things rather spicy and tingly.

There's also the fitness room and pool at Mary Jo Peckham Park. They have Water aerobics classes on M-F at 9:05 AM, M/W/F at 5 PM and T/TH at 6 PM. You can also do water walking almost any time during the day. The fitness room has lots of machines that are available all day, except when classes are going on. You can see the schedule and find out more about the Park at Harris County - Precinct Three Commissioner Steve Radack - Mary Jo Peckham I'd planned to go to the morning water aerobics classes this summer but never seemed to get around to it. :tt2: I know that having to be accountable to someone would help me a LOT. lol I live near Mason and Franz Rd, btw.