Pradice73

I eat my 3 one cup meals and sometimes crave a snack, to include something sweet. I have done the apples with a tad of caramel or Peanut Butter. tried the veggie pieces but i am BORED... help... what do you guys have for small Snacks that may help me out. I am going to the grocery store tomorrow and would like to pick up some new things to keep on hand. patty

I am officially one year out from my surgery and have taken off 71 lbs. Dr. Dietrick and his staff are great, very friendly and were available to answer any questions I had. I am ALWAYS full of questions. Dr. D does things a bit differently than some of the other doctors I researched like not just having clear broth or Clear liquids the first week after surgery. I got to have actual Protein shakes which helped keep my energy up so I could get up and walk around right away. If you have any questions please feel free to email me.

OK, so I may not even be in the right place but I am very happy to say that one year post-op (9/29/2008) I am down a total of 71 lbs. I visited my doctor and nutritionist yesterday and they are happy with my progress. I of course was hoping to loose 100 lbs they tell me that is how most people feel but it can vary. I did talk with the nutritionist and she gave me some other ideas to keep things fresh. I posted some new pics that are as current as this past saturday to show how i've changed over the last year. I am looking forward to the coming year and seeing further changes. My best wishes to all Patty

OK, thanks for the information. I do take a chewable vitamin with iron per my doctor but had seen a number of posts regarding this calcium stuff. I also prefer to get my nutrients through food as well. I am a milk drinker so I add some low fat milk to my diet as well as cheese.

My doctor never mentioned taking these but I see that others do. What is the purpose of these vitamins?

Did they just fax medical records over or did you actually have a 6 month supervised diet plan with a physician that is documented in notes? I had to have the 6 consecutive months documented and those had to be sent with the request for surgery.

Yes, I have to say that I like his straightforwardness. I know not everyone is comfortable with that but I prefer someone that puts it out there. At this point in my life I do not wanna be coddled. I told myself I would be honest about my eating habits and I do not expect to not make mistakes but I plan on being honest with myself about them.

I also am on soft foods now. I can pretty much have anything except sitting down to a hunk of meat. Which to be honest I am ok with at this point. I do not feel like I am missing anything.

Wow, we just be in the same boat. I immediately got a pain in the left side of my rib cage closer to the breast bone and the pain radiated into my left shoulder. If it had been closer to the surgery time i would have thought it was gas. However, I called my doctor and they wanted me to go to the ER. They did blood work, chest x-ray and ct scan. What a waste of time, grrrrrr. I say that now after nothing wrong was found but I guess I would be singing a different tune if something was wrong. I did not get a whole lot of feedback regarding my tests or the ct scan. I simply had some 'kid' walk in and said they are gonna release me. Very ineffective procedure

OMG, I thought this was just me. I have since about a week after surgery had the urge to cough pretty much everytime I lay down. I get up and try to sleep on the couch, take a walk at 11 pm to think it will help. Once I prop myself on pillows or lay on the couch I seem to do ok and out like a light. I do not even have a fill yet and I feel no restriction when i eat. Granted even though I do not feel restriction I am not pushing myself to eat more than the dr told me as I do NOT want to ever get that feeling. blah

12 pounds myself

YES, just call and let them know that you received our explanation of benefits from the insurance company and what your portion to be paid is. That you overpaid and want to find out about getting a refund.

I had heparin in the hospital and then had to do lovenox for 7 days at home. I had to shoot myself in the belly. It did not hurt much and I think that I built it up to more than I needed too. some people get bruising but that was minimal for me.

I also had the same thing and it seems to be normal. It is you healing from the inside out. today is one week and a day from my surgery and that bruising is now gone. It should not last forever.

I also was banded the 29th and felt a bit better today. I took one trip out of the house and was pooped. I stopped taking my pain meds 2 days ago as I didnt think that I needed them any longer. Although tonight it may not be a bad idea since I already cant sleep and go back to work tommorrow. I still have the gas pains in my shoulder and it is getting on my last nerve. I am hoping that by being up and around and also sitting up straight in a chair it'll help

Oh I really agree. yea with the chicken salad they said I can use the stuff in the can just like the tuna. I was also debating, due to money straints, if I could just baked some chicken.. shred it with a knife and then throw it into my blender if that wouldnt be just the same and at least I know what I am eating. I can then add mayo to it.

I see that we have approximately the same amount of weight to loose also. I just finished my tablespoon of pudding and just taking time to listen to my body and see how it sounds. So far nothing different than when I drink a Protein shake so I am taking that as a good sign. Just thinking how tuesday will be when i can start eating chicken salad and applesauce.

I had my surgery on the 29th of september. I had called the nutritionist to find out if SF pudding was in mushies or my full liquids stage. She said they dont normally recommend it till the mushies but it would not hurt me if I feel that I am hungry. Well at that point I put it off another 2 days and today I thought I would give it a try. I am not sure how I feel about this. I just took my baby spook and dipped it in the end of the chocolate SF pudding like 4 times. I do not feel like I am cheating or anything but maybe the fear of eating the wrong thing and getting sick. I am sitting here now seeing how that does with my stomach before I continue. Is it normal to feel like this? the fear of the unknown?

I would follow what your doctor says. Mine is a little more lenient than most I see on here but I am going by him and not others. I only have to do a week of full liquids and then a week of mushies, which includes the taters u mentioned. I am not sure what happens then since I meet with him again for my 2 weeks apt a week from this tue and I will get more info then

I too am having the gas pains. Have been doing the walking and today got the gas-x strips. I was banded on the 29th and did not even get the pains until today (sat) at 3am. I knew that moment I needed to walk so I threw on my shoes and walked the neighborhood. Didnt even care that i was in my pj's.

I am from Tampa Florida and recently banded as of the 29th of September by Dr. Dietrick at UCH. I am still in my first week of full liquids and doing quite well. Other than being uncomfortable at some of the incision sites, like the port I am diong well.

my doctor said one week. you have to be able to turn your head around to look behind you, which requires stomach muscles.

thanks. I made it home around 10am today and was doing fine till i took a nap. I laid down until i got up at 3pm and holy lordy. i ached all over but mostly in my belly and diaphram. As sad as it sounds i am just dying to let out one big fart.. my poor brother. i have tried laying on my side to help facilitate that but so far it isnt comfortable that way.