RestlessMonkey

OH I forgot! Good luck on your surgery! My date is 8/29!

Doesn't your surgeon tell you which to drink? If not, you are LUCKY

We are supposed to have EAS Carb Advant EDGE or Isopure from GNC, and one other one that is at a store on the other side of town so I don't remember it.

IMHO they all taste kind of icky. When I'm HUNGRY I want food, not sweet icky stuff. I haven't tried the isopure tho....it's just for post op.

Have you called your doc's office? It really shouldn't still be bothering you, and shouldn't have traveled like that. Better safe than sorry!

Sounds like maybe an esophageal spasm. Were the liquids hot and cold? If so, try something room temp...a little sip (don't drink it , sip it) and see how that does....

No but I just read about it in the book I bought on another bandster's recommendation....said you should be ok (you can vomit with the band) as long as it's only a day or so. You don't want to get dehydrated. If you are worried, call your surgeon and see what they recommend!

Everyone is different. That probably didn't blow it but don't let it escalate between now and the 25th. Get right back on the preop program your surgeon has you on. I followed my own modified preop program and lost 15 pounds but didn't do as my surgeon asked (he didn't know that, of course!) and when he "went in" he couldn't place my band because my liver was too fatty. Let me tell you, no food is worth the misery of waking up and realizing you didn't get the band! Now I'm on his program to a T and am trying again on 8/29.

So no, you probably did NOT blow it. But don't relax, get back with it!

What I did...google Lap Band and read up on it (there is a website)

I went to a seminar

I read several local surgeon's web pages

I am reading the book "Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band"

I've thought about it since 2001 when the band hit the market

I tried all other avenues I could think of, including a behavioral therapist for 10 months.

It's a HUGE decision...

Things I've bought that ins didn't cover....lots of Protein Shakes for my preop diet (and baked fish and chicken)...but that cost way less per week than I was spending on groceries. I'll buy my surgeon's chewable vitamins and Protein Powder (probably about $100 for 3 months if I remember right)....and I splurged $40 on a mini food processor for when I'm doing mushies. Will save me dragging out the big one, and it was pink and too cute to pass up! LOL

Otherwise, nothing. Is that what you meant? My ins has covered everything else, subject to it's deductible, copay etc.

LOL DH and I are moving west in a couple of years. I don't know if we'll make it as far north as Montana, but we will do love it up there!

And you're right; time will fly.

Kat I'm glad you brought up the allergy to antibiotic ointments...my sister is allergic to neosporin and has a dreadful scar where she broke her foot several years ago and used neosporin on the site (per her doc)

SO...if you are using an antibiotic and it doesn't help, try a different one!

So sorry you guys had to deal with all that!

Joanna, follow your surgeon's directions on when you can return to work. The literature I've read says up to 6 weeks; your doctor knows you and your health status way better than anyone here! AND if you are still oozing blood check with his office about an antibiotic to apply; I wouldn't use lotion to prevent scars unless/until he tells you it's ok!

Sorry you had to have open surgery but once you heal, you'll be ready to roll!

Do what your surgeon tells you, that's what's best! Seriously; everyone and every surgeon is different; you need to follow his/her advice!

The shakes are always sweet! And while I rarely turned away a piece of cake w/buttercream icing, when I'm hungry I want food not candy!

I wish they could make them taste like real food!

Hollie, for one thing, you're young and young people heal faster. Once a person hits 30, things start to slow down. So you were lucky! I've learned to follow my surgeon's orders but then I'm 53 and don't recover from things like I did when i was your age!

It's funny how different each surgeon is, isn't it? Mine has a schedule of 2-weeks post op liquid, 2-weeks mushies, then on to "regular" food, and 1st fill at 6 weeks. They are all a little different....

If it's any consolation, I'm on a mostly liquid diet preop..and have been since 7/25. I didn't follow it properly for my 1st 8/11 surgery (although I DID lose 15 pounds) and had to go right back on it pending another try on 8/29. THEN I'll have 2 more weeks of liquids to face before I finally get (woohoo) mushies. So I truly feel your pain. All I can tell you that gets me through is that I did what I thought best the first few weeks and learned the VERY hard way that I DO NOT KNOW BEST for myself in this venue. I need to trust my surgeon. So, I'm doing what he told me.

You are healing and it is so important to get off to a good start now!

You've come so far, just hang in there. Mushie time will be before you know it!

Thanks Crystal!

Don't worry about me knowing how to eat .... I've had nutrition classes as well as years of experience and brutal lectures from docs etc...

And the 1st time he put me on this diet, I just "kind of" followed it. This time I'm doing it. I can do liquids for a while (shoot I did a Liquid Protein diet when I was 20 and lost 45 pounds) ... and I AM hungry but it won't kill me! The FAT could kill me. I keep telling myself that, anyway. I just want my liver to shrink, the darn thing. Then I can start on a high protien low fat modified carb diet and drop some weight! I've been (on my own) through 10 months of behavioral therapy, as well. My head's in the right place, especially once I got the wake up call of "listen to your surgeon and his capable staff"

You are very sweet to worry about it!

Thanks for your quick answer. I'd almost be willing to postpone, just to get to live in Montana! LOL Come on down here to Texas; mine was approved 8/5 and surgery scheduled for 8/11!

Carly, it's none of my business....but I am a curious Monkey...

why so long till your surgery?

Thanks Jodi! I'm sure I started out much larger than you...I think a lot of people who weigh 405 go for gastric bypass or some other type of surgery, if they go the surgery route. So I'm sure that's why my losses are so large! But hey I'm still glad it's gone!

Thanks for the info. I'm worried about not chewing well, myself, although I'm not a fast eater. I also appreciate that you are pulling for me!

OH and to the other poster (sorry forgot your screen name!) you can search for sliming (it's mentioned a lot) I kind of know what it is, but not well enough to explain it, just recognize it! LOL

JWRN...eat something fatty and disgustingly unhealthy for me, ok?

Good luck. Those turkeys!

It's Aug 29. I'm under the gun because I'm a nursing student and have classes that I truly can't miss. State law requires that we attend a certain amt etc...

I've lost 27 pounds since 7/25....over half that since 8/12 LOL So maybe it's my liver shrinking and not my brain! :thumbup:

I know some/most of it is Water, but still glad I'm not carrying it around any more!

I see you were banded 5/30. How is it, 3 months (almost) out? How many fills have you had? Have you "slimed" or "PB'd" much? Is it hard to adjust? I can hardly wait until I'm through all this and doing the "work" part of it.

Jodi you're right! BUT the surgery wasn't cancelled...I went under, was on the table, and he couldn't get my liver out of the way without lacerating it. He's very skilled so I'm sure it was too big. I'm glad he DIDN'T lacerate it! SO this better work or I am in trouble.

Coolcrystal, I honestly HOPE the diet works since I've already been through surgery once and my liver was too large. If it isn't shrinking, I'll just be going under again for nothing. I do well and bounce back quickly but it isn't anything I want to do "for fun". I hope I can eat bread if I want it, or anything for that matter. The NP gave me that hope.

i don't know, I liked the old way better too!