kizzie

My heart goes out to you Musicman. The loss of a companion is just devastating. I lost my 21 year old cat this past February, words cannot express how much these little darlings mean when they pass. Keep hold of your memories and cuddle little Lucy I am sure she will need you too now and will understand your tears and your pain. God bless you Kizzie (the name of my cat I had her when I was 14 and lost her this year.)

French vanilla, I feel for you. I have just finished TWO weeks of clears. The first few days were no problem.. it was the end of the first week that I was going crazy. I was about ready to throw broth at anyone who told me to 'eat some broth if you're hungry".. The middle of the second week I was much better again and I found my grumbling tummy subsided. I was just excited to see the pounds come off everyday!!... When I was going mad I had a great mantra!.. try it!!. Look at whatever food it is that is tempting you (or grossing you out.. ie BROTH) and say.. "I AM STRONGER THAN YOU.. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME EAT YOU'.. You can do this in your head if you fear family members will call men in white coats!! it DID work for me. Am on puree now.. still quite loose puree but enough substance to satisfy. I posted two recipes for broth (french onion and Chinese chicken).. yummy! got me through.. take care and all the best.. three weeks out of your life is marginal in the grand scheme of things and HEY!>. I didn't have sugar free anything or Protein drinks!!... (they haven't heard of that here in Spain! )... so you do have a larger range of clears than I had.. You go girl!! you can do it!

SO.... I went to the hospital to have my stitches removed as scheduled. By the time I got there my temp was 39C/102F.. My surgeon was on holiday but I was seen by his superior who did an ultra sound and found liquid in either my diaphragm region around the stomach or in my left lung. He sent me straight for a CAT scan. It was confirmed I have liquid in the diaphragm/stomach region. They admitted me straight away and put me on intravenous antibiotics and paracetamol. I honestly felt like I was dying last night. The pain in my back was horrendous. I could hardly move. I didn't sleep even with a sleep aid. Worst night of my surgery so far. This morning, my fever had subsided. My surgeon came in from his vacation to check me over himself. He said my band is perfect and that 'sometimes' these complications can arise. He said it was also very lucky I got myself to the hospital when I did. I had actually thought I may have just picked up a bug from the children I teach. I have to monitor my temperature closely and my pulse. Pulse is still fast but fever is down so am improving. Just a bit of advice. Really listen to your body. Ask for advice here but the best person to tell you if all is ok is your doctor. I am home now with a cocktail of drugs. I also have breathing physio to do as well to strengthen my diaphragm. I have the rest of the week off of work 'doctors orders' so will rest and take it easy. OH was my first day on mushies yesterday! I MISSED IT!.. so I had some pureed mashed potatoes today. YUM. made me feel a lot better. thanks to those for their support yesterday. Kizzie

Yesterday I posted that I had developed pain under my lower shoulder and in my back. I am two weeks post op with NO previous 'gas' pains from the surgery. I had severe chills and felt rotten and aching. I went to the hospital to have my stitches removed as scheduled. By the time I got there my temp was 39C/102F.. My surgeon was on holiday but I was seen by his superior who did an ultra sound and cat scan. He found liquid in in the diaphragm/stomach region. They admitted me straight away and put me on intravenous antibiotics and paracetamol. I honestly felt like I was dying last night. The pain in my back was horrendous. I could hardly move. I didn't sleep even with a sleep aid. Worst night of my surgery so far. This morning, my fever had subsided. My surgeon came in from his vacation to check me over himself. He said my band is perfect and that 'sometimes' these complications can arise. He said it was also very lucky I got myself to the hospital when I did. I had actually thought I may have just picked up a bug from the children I teach. I have to monitor my temperature closely and my pulse. Pulse is still fast but fever is down so am improving. Just a bit of advice. Really listen to your body. Ask for advice here but the best person to tell you if all is ok is your doctor. I am home now with a cocktail of drugs. I also have breathing physio to do as well to strengthen my diaphragm. I have the rest of the week off of work 'doctors orders' so will rest and take it easy. OH was my first day on mushies yesterday! I MISSED IT!.. so I had some pureed mashed potatoes today. YUM. made me feel a lot better. thanks to those for their support yesterday. Kizzie

Thanks for the message Greyhoundmom. I guess paranoia is a good thing in the early stages.. or all stages in fact!.. That is why I posted just to hear if anyone else had similar experiences. I like to know as much as possible to be prepared for ANYTHING!!.. Glad you are ok now!!..

Thanks Cris. I have come to terms (in the last two weeks) that getting to know my body involves an element of paranoia.. I guess we have to be wary and listen carefully to our bodies... Everything I am not sure about I will be bugging my surgeon.. that is what he is there for!!... he is the expert not me! lol thanks for the kind words again.. I feel really rotten now and do have a slight temperature.

that was the gas I was referring to aswell Jodi. Maybe you are right!.. I won't rule anything out..I had the 'CO2 gas pains' for the first day in my higher shoulder. It was uncomfortable but not painful.I didn't suffer anything but port and incision pain since then. The 'intestinal' gas doesn't cause me pain. I rarely suffer from it. Which I am happy to say. I only posted this because this 'pain' has come on slowly over the last two days until today when I can hardly sit still for two minutes.. and to make things worse right now, I feel rotten and have developed flu like symptoms in the last two hours... so hoping there isn't any infection anywhere. Appointment is at 5 today. I guess it takes time to get to know my new body with the band.

Happy 50th Birthday to you!!.. what a wonderful way to Celebrate and feel GREAT!!!. . CONGRATULATIONS!

Thanks for your reply. I too, was told about gas pains on many occasions. I had a slight gas problem on the first day but nothing since. This pain is completely different and not like the gas I had in the beginning. It actually feels like the muscle, it hurts more when I lean back on it and when I press it. It isn't high up in the shoulder but lower down under my bra area, almost directly on the 'back' area of where the band is positioned. Thanks anyway though. I will post later with my surgeons comments.

You are right Jasmine it is called 'conscious sedation' the term for the medicine is 'Twilight' you can look it up. You are actually extremely relaxed and they will talk to you during the procedure, mainly to swallow etc... but you will have NO recollection of this at all!.. incredible really. Apparently I must have cried a bit as I had mascara all down my face!!.. but DON"T PANIC!... I remember falling asleep and waking up.. I actually fell on the floor as I woke up as I thought I was in bed and late for work!.. thankfully the doctor and the nurse caught me ha.. nothing to fear.. enjoy the dreams!!!.. you won't remember them for long!..

Hi all for the last few days I have been feeling like a muscle strain under my shoulder blade/ just below bra line area, on my left side. I thought it was just a pulled muscle but each day it has gotten worse. Today it feels like the pain you get in your neck when you sleep in an awkward position. I am hoping nothing has happened with my band!!!. I just have visions of it poking me in the back!.. paranoia probably. I haven't had any problems with gas since surgery so I am almost sure it isn't gas and it is in the same spot each day. Have an appointment with my surgeon today to remove stitches and to ask him about moving my port so will bring it up.. just wondering if anyone else has had this problem.. Am not feeling too good either today.. feel as if I am getting a bad cold.. (no temperature though.. just feel rotten).. thanks guys

Good LUCK!!.. I am going crazy too!!.. I have made SOO many Soups. Honestly if I never see a bowl of broth or even thin pureed soup I will be a happy lady!.. After 10 days of clear, I was SOOO hungry that I took some of the veggies from my broth and pureed them.. it was still very thin..but really tasted like I was eating something!. I hear the clear Protein drinks are a life saver.. I don't have those here but if I could get them I certainly would!.. If you need any advice about the recipes let me know.. (I used beef bovril and chicken bovril for stock/broth, when I didn't have time to make it from scratch.. I do have a nice vegetable and chicken stock recipe if you want that too). take care Kizzie

CONGRATULATIONS JUNIES.....!!!!!...... HERE IS TO AN INCREDIBLE FUTURE!... I HOPE WE CAN ALL KEEP IN TOUCH AND LET EACH OTHER KNOW OUR PROGRESSES... ...I know I personally need your support!!.. big hugs!!! Kizzie

Just Jan! I was a week post op and felt my first hunger pangs too.. I try to keep busy but meal times are awful. I am sick of soup and can't wait to get onto the mushie stage!.. .I keep thinking of the reasons why I did this and my goals... that keeps me going.. I have this mantra too!.. ha. maybe it will help I AM STRONGER THAN FOOD.. IT CAN'T MAKE ME EAT IT! (or when I am looking at it... YOU CANT MAKE ME EAT YOU!)... sounds silly.. but it works for me!.. take care Kizzie

Hi Greatlyblessed. I hurt a lot too after the surgery. It also surprised me. I was on morphine when I woke up and 1000mg of paracetamol after that regularly. I woke up every hour during my first night in hospital in quite a bit of pain. Mainly when I moved. Almost two weeks later I still have quite considerable pain in my port area (but that is because it is located so high up next to my bra)... but other than that the other sites are almost pain free.. Everyone reacts differently to this surgery. That much I have found from reading all the different messages. If you are in pain, take a painkiller.. that is what they are there for.. you will be ok!.. just make sure you don't have a fever, redness or swelling at your incision sites, or heat. Take care and rest up.. Kizzie

I have been going crazy trying to make different flavoured soups/broths as I have 2 weeks on clears. I made these two this week.. maybe they will help others too. I just strained them and ate the broth. I am sure on the mushie stage you could blend them... here goes French Onion 5 onions roughly chopped 1 tsp Olive Oil (or pam spray to sautee onions) 4 1/2 cups of hot beef broth 1 tablespoon Worcestshire Sauce 1 tsp fresh or dried thyme 1 glove garlic left whole Salt and pepper to taste 1 teaspoon sugar (or 1 package splenda/sweetener) *optional grated Fontina/Mozarella or another good melting cheese.. a few teaspoons per bowl 1. Take a frying pan and heat the oil. Sautee the onion until golden brown. (heat shouldn't be too high or the onions will burn). Add sugar here.. but NOT splenda 2. Add clove of garlic and coat with the oil and onions allow 2 mins to permeate flavour 3. Put hot beef broth into Soup pan and add the onions, garlic and rest of the ingredients.(include splenda at this point) 4. Cook on medium heat for 30 mins or until onions are soft but not disintergrating. 5. serve into bowls. *add cheese if not on clear stage!!.. lucky you!... YUM Chinese chicken Soup vegetables and chicken should be chunky to get best flavour from them and easier to strain for the broth 2 chicken legs and thighs 2 tsp olive oil or spray oil (1tsp to brown chicken, 1 tsp to brown vegetables) 2 scallions chopped (including green tops.) 4 cups of hot Water (seasoned) 1 cup of sliced mushrooms (shitake are best but any will do) 1/2 large red bell pepper sliced thickly 2inches of sliced ginger. Slice quite thickly do not dice or chop too small. 1 clove garlic sliced 1 teaspoon sesame oil Soy sauce or salt to taste. Pepper 1. brown the chicken legs in the oil on both sides until golden brown and leaving a light crust on the bottom of the soup pan. 2. add the water and garlic 3. Cover and bring to a simmer. Until the chicken meat is falling from the bone. 4. Remove the chicken from the stock pot. using two forks shred the meat from the bones and discard the bones. Add the chicken back to the pan. 5. In a frying pan sautee the scallions in 1tsp oil, add ginger,bell pepper and mushrooms. Sautee until vegetables are soft. Add one teaspoon of sesame oil and mix. this is for flavouring NOT cooking. Put all vegetables in the pan with the chicken and water. Cook for 30 mins on simmer. Check for taste. Add salt/ soy sauce and pepper... and drizzle with a little more sesame oil before straining. *a few tablespoons of sherry is also a nice touch..but not necessary. DELICIOUS..and a change from regular chicken broth! My friends ate the chicken and the vegetables with some of the broth I left..they LOVED IT.. this would also be nice with red chili added for some heat at the sautee stage. ENJOY

Maren Thanks for your support. I have been trying to find out what is involved in moving the port. I have heard that they need to cut it out from its present location rather than opening the scar tissue from the LAP BAND surgery.. Anyway, not too much I can do until I speak with the surgeon again on Wednesday. I hope he understands my situation and doesn't try to talk me into keeping it where it is. Thanks again for your kind words of support.. and yes you are right!!. he has done this heaps of times..and it is only my first.. I shouldn't beat my self up so much about not asking about the port location in the first place!.. Kizzie

Thanks for the advice guys. I am feeling a bit better about the port but that maybe because I have taped a wad of gauze on top of it to stop my bra from rubbing. Maren, it sounds like yours is in a similar place to mine. Mine is about 1-2cm below my bra line. My heavy boobs aggravate it. It was interesting to hear about the tummy tuck though. I didn't know that. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. How I WISH I had brought up the port position. It was very WRONG of my surgeon not to tell me where it would be. I see him on Wednesday and I am not sure how to approach it. As i am self pay it is kind of like "business done'.. so I will be arguing they move it at no expense to myself. I have no idea HOW they move the port?? and if I need Lap surgery again. ok.. thank you again. I will be taking these comments with me. Kizzie..

Congratulations on your banding!... I am half way through week two... still on Clear Liquids.. I have had 3 BM's since 18th June. Very small ones. I was losing almost 2lbs a day until two days ago. (total of 14 pounds in a week)... and since then I haven't had a BM and feel like I really need one.. quite constipated. Have appointment with my surgeon on Wednesday so will ask him about it. I have rested on my stomach but not for too long. My port site is still terribly sore (rubbing against my bra).. and the incision on my sternum is very sore too... I wasn't hungry at all until 8 days out. now I am sick of clear Fluid.. at one point i had 5 drinks lined up .. just had a few mouthfuls and was sick of them.. have stopped taking broth now.. I have made many different flavours over the last week.. the nicest was Chinese chicken with ginger and mushrooms.. (if anyone wants the recipe IM me!)... and of course had to leave all those lovely ingredients to my friends and colleagues whilst I ate DRANK the broth.. I do get quite nauseous in the morning after taking my liquid Vitamins. I am also still getting very exhausted after a day at work. I need 'nanna naps' everyday!.. anyway.. KEEP GOING!!.. you are doing great. I was only on my pain meds at night for about 4 nights..

You are not 49 aubrie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!........ Dear lord i have just noticed your age on your signature..crikey you certainly don't even look 39 !!!!!!

WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT! ha..lack of nutrition must have warped my brain!!... thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..will do that NOW!!!

Hi.. no am not allowed Jello unfortunately.. (and can't get sugar free anywhere here)....I could do popsicles but again no sugar free!.. You are so lucky you are in the US!!!!..

Thanks Mrs Sabre and Delo I know I CAN do it.. and I know I WILL do it.. I just have to get through it.. I am so sick of soup!!!.. I must have made a different one for lunch and dinner each night but in the end clear Soup is clear soup!.. and just monotonous.. so no matter how hungry I am I just can't finish a bowl, I get so sick of it.. Still supping on Crystal Light.. that has been my saving grace.. I brought it with me from the US. These Spanish people don't seem to do sugar free in anything!!... Sometimes I am on fresh fruit juice, but everything is just so sweet right now.. anyway!.. I have done the Ramen noodles!..(liquids anyway).. Last night I made a chinese chicken and ginger soup.. that was nice liquid..but I kept staring at the vegetables and chicken in the pot.. had to move away quickly!!!... Just planning my first day's menu of puree's!!.. that is helping me with something to look forward to!.. Am planning a puree version of shepherds pie!.. so that should just be heaven on a plate right there!!.. Although knowing my Doctors.I am probably only moving onto full liquids for four weeks THEN puree!!... I think I remember them saying something like that.. One day at a time!... it will be worth it in the end!!.. Thanks again for your support. I have no idea what I would do without this site!!

Hi all Jazzy Junes!.. This month has passed by soo quickly!.. Good Luck to those of you being 'banded' today and Monday.. and I hope everyone else is healing really well!. I am doing great except for extreme hunger now. I was banded 18th June and have lost 14 pounds since that date. I am STILL on clears.. (must be a reason for these Spanish doctors to want to put me through hell.. Not allowed Protein shakes either, which confuses me as everyone else is on them so quickly!).. and have another 5 days to go until I can move to full liquids and very light purees. I AM SO HUNGRY!. But aside from that, my wounds are healing with NO pain. slight itching but nothing that a change of dressings and 'betadine' won't cure.. Port is still in quite a bit of pain (under boob area next to wire). but I hope that will go away quite quickly.. I have a lot of gauze padding there so that has helped a lot. As for my restriction. I don't feel ANY now.. I can gulp my drinks with no problem.. so my swelling must have gone down quite a bit. Due for a fill on 9th July. So will be happy when I get the restriction going. Have been back at work for two days. I do get light headed (lack of nutrition probably!).. and extremely tired at the end of a full teaching day.. but other than that.. I am a very happy lady. I don't think I have EVER lost 14 pounds before.. and in 8 days!! Looking forward to the 'new Jazzy Junes thread' so we can all keep in contact!. (also looking forward to puree's ha!!.. food FOOD FOOD!!.. surrounding me everywhere and not a bite to eat!.. hey ho.. have to keep busy!!) regards to all !!!. what a great month 302 of us!!.. what a team!!..

Soo hungry today!.. This is so not good. Another five days to go before i can move onto full liquids.. Good lord i feel like i could eat an entire cow right now!