barbara465

I didn't take anything, not even Tylenol. You might not need it. THe pain wasn't there for me. If you do need something to take the edge off, most find that Tylenol does it. Get som Tylenol PM and it will help make you sleep. Good luck to you and hope your experience is painless.

Karen, Thank you for the wonderful post. I am just starting this journey. The road is new for me having been obsese all my life. You are a treasure and your sharing means a lot to many of us. Have a wonderful bandanniversary and please let us know how you are doing. You know what you must do to protect Trink. Hopefully, you will be successful with that and she will go on protecting you from the food demons.

Glad to hear its going well. Think of it as a vacation. I've heard of several that have gone shopping while there.

We went on the Dawn Princess out of Seattle for 7 days. We just did the Inside passage, no extra land tours. I only wanted to be gone a week and wanted it to be easy. There are lots of cruises of the passage with additional land tours to Denali, etc. Well worth it. It was wonderful.

Way to go. Welcome to bandland. I am 8 days in and have lost 10 lbs this week. No preop diet so its all afterwards.

Let's see if this works. Hubby and me on recent Alaskan cruise.

Congradulations Poodles. It was a good decision for you and your family. Its sad to leave behind friends, but you must look forward now. New control on your diet, new job, and soon a new house. WOW, life is good.

Good luck to you. I hear they treat you well there in Mexico. How exciting that you will have a few people to share the experience. Give us a shout and let us know everything went OK.

Thanks NaNa for your post. It was very informative to read and to remind us of what we are to do. I agree with most that only those seeking information, still on the journey, or having problems, are the most likely to remain on the board. Everynow and then a old timer comes on and tells their story of success and no problems. We must live the bandster rules and hope for the best. Its got to be better than the alternatives. Good luck in your decision.

Congratulations! I am just 1 week post op and feel great. I have a little tightness in one area, but other than that fine. I have occasional gas and use the heating pad to ease that away. Walking and movement seem to help. I must say though I have been hungry from the get go. I had little swelling so I was able to sip my broth, drink my Protein drinks, and juice. This week I'm on thicker liquids and had a can of tomato Soup last night. That really filled me up and was so much better. Combination of a little thicker and warm felt good. Good luck to you.

Your post wasn't arrogant. I thought it interesting. I think I would consult with a nutrionist or lap band doctor when the time comes. They would be the best to advice you. That is such a wonderful goal and I know you will be able to do it when the time is right.

My doctor wants all pills crushed no matter their size. I put them in a little bit of boost or ensure and drink them down in the morning. I take 6 pills. I stopped taking my aciphex. lap doctor said i shouldn't have to take it anymore. So far he's right. no problems. I have also put the crushed pills in a little bit of coffee. However, the heat may affect some type of pills so I don't do that as often anymore.

Hi to the newbies. Glad some of you are doing well. Sorry to hear of your complications denverbrodie. That was my big fear as I have chronic fatigue and fibromalgia (immune diseases). I was so afraid that my body would reject the band. I'm on my 8th day and so far so good. Still feeling good. Back to work at the office on Monday and put in two long days. Glad I could have thicker soup tonight. Its more satisfying than broth. Let us know those that had surgery today how you are doing.

I'm on clear liquids first week, thicker liquids 2nd week, mushies 3rd week, and 4th soft foods. I have been stomach hungry from the beginning. I finally when I got close to the end of the 1st week took a thicker soup and thinned it out with skim milk. It was a little more filling than just the broth. I also had won ton soup without the won tons and strained. The broth was real good. Last night was the end of my clear liquids and I had a can of cream of tomato soup. I felt so full and good and got a good nights sleep. I also have to drink 1-3 Protein drinks a day. I have been able to drink 2-3 day. My doctor doesn't want any powdered protein so I can't use the unjury I bought for the purpose of adding to my foods. Good luck.

I have been hungry from day one. I must not have any swelling. However, my doctor wants liquids 1 wk, thicker liquids 2nd wk, mushies 3rd week, and 4th wk real food. I can drink 3 Protein drinks a day. I had a WW strawberry and banana smoothie last night and that did fill me up. I also made some potato soup with leeks and carrots and then blended it and strained it. It was very satisfying. Hang in there.

I'm a certified IT Project Manager with 20+ years experience. I am a contractor for a chemical company.

I don[t have port pain either. My port is in a strange place, like up from waist but more in middle of stomach. I can sleep on either side. I do have a catch on my right side and had it right from waking up from surgery. That is the only place I've had pain. There is nothing there but one incisision way down low. They told me that's where the camera was inserted. I'm not complaining either! You shouldn't have any restrictions drinking. There is nothing to stop anything as the pouch is unfilled and probably not swollen. I have been able to drink well from the start. We will be the ones that have to have wil power until the first fill as we will probably be able to eat more than we should with no problem. Liquids are so the stomach doesn't work too hard and pull stitches. Continued good luck.

Try to walk some. You might have to do it in small increments. Moving around gets the gas out and that causes most of the pain. Try the heating pad. Although I have realtively little pain I still get that pulling feeling in my left shoulder. I sit with a heating pad, then walk around, then out comes the gas. Relief. Hang in there. It definitely gets better. Keep the fluids in because that gives you energy. If you can't get your Protein shakes in you need to call your doctor. Good luck

Hello to a rainy, rainy, Monday morning in Houston. All my careful plans on returning to work were scraped. I had to take the bus which makes me walk about 6 blks. Lucky we have a tunnel system in Houston. I then had to go up a flight of stairs. I was carrying my briefcase, my liquids, and a umbrella. I made it here without much pain so now hopefully I will be able to return home tonight. I go to doctor tomorrow for my 1 week check. I'm still on liquids getting ready to move into thicker liquids. I made some watered down potato Soup yesterday and it was sure good. I puree the potatoes, leeks, and carrorts, and used non fat milk instead of cream to thicken. It was good and I was glad to get a little something in me that was substanial. One more week of liquids before mushies. I must say I really have had it easy. A little left shoulder discomfort that the heating pad takes care of. A little hard to turn over in bed. Other than that. Nothing. I am so thankful. Hope all of you have speedy recoveries. Sorry to hear about the Wendy's chili. I think I'll stay away from that.

Cashley, You have hit on the point I've been trying to make. This is now big business and I think there are lots of doctors out there that will push the limits. If the patient is self-pay who do they have to justify the surgery to? I am worried that this is now seen as the next best thing to slice bread. Here in Houston they air so many lapband ads that everyone is very much aware of what it is. They are glamourizing it. To me it is the last step in changing a unhealthy lifestyle. I can't seem to do it on my own. Maybe I feel like a failure in that I had to have the surgery and sheer willpower wasn't cutting it for me. I don't know. I just know that if there is a dime to be made, there are plenty out there willing to rake it in.

Please read my post again. I did not condemn the woman who needed to lose 68 lbs. I said I didn't know her story. Looking at her it didn't appear that she had weight to lose. I was only wondering about the choice. Did she do everything before taking such a drastic step, or did she do the surgery as a first attempt? I worry that this surgery is getting so popular that we will be having it for not the right reasons. I have been fat all my life and have suffered with every weight gain, every diet, every lb gained. I am not judgemental about those that have less to lose than I or haven't experienced all the gains and losses. What I was trying to express is that this is a major decision. It shouldn't be taken lightly. I don't think we should put teens through this until other avenues have been tried. To that end, the insurance guidelines are helping, in some cases. There will always be those that can afford it on their on and not need the insurance. There are those that need this surgery to live a healthy life. I can't judge anyone, nor do I want to.

As I look at 5 puncture wounds in my tummy the enormity of the act of getting a lapband has hit me. This surgery should never be taken lightly or for frivioulous reasons. This is a life altering, major surgery type of solution. I for one, believe the guidelines are there for a reason. On the day of my surgery I saw a woman who was getting a lapband. I turned to my DH and said why? I thought she must be having hers replaced. It surely couldn't be because she was fat. Later, my DH told me while talking to her husband, that she was 68 lbs overweight. She had a tiny frame and wanted the extra weight gone. I don't know this woman's background, but I would have questioned did she try everything else? Our insurance system is not the greatest. It is all we have until we collectively get changes past. In the meantime, we should live by the "laws" we are given and help make. Without the guidelines I'm afraid of who will want the surgery to achieve perfection. This surgery should not be taken lightly.

I was really surprised when I got the preop diet. My doctor doesn't want us to use any powder drinks. Period. Says they clog the band. I can only have liquid drinks. I have been having 2 a day, but will try to get 3 in tomorrow. I go back to work on Monday, office job, and need my energy. DH went to my favorite chinese restaurant and got me some won ton soup. He took out the won tons and the chicken flakes. Boy was that broth good. I can't wait to get on thicker soups come Tuesday. I don't understand why we can't have thicker soups when the protein drinks are so thick. My doctor has me on liquids 2 full weeks and week 3 on mushies. On the 4th week food, but must give up the protein drinks except for breakfast. I am still amazed at how easy this was. I like my naps, but my energy is pretty good. I was worried with fibrolmalgia, but my muscles haven't hurt much. Hope everyone else continues to do well. Good luck to those having it done next week. You will be so glad when you are on this side of the band.

Welcome. I live in Atascocita (Humble) so not so far. I have been banded just 3 days. So far so good. There are lots of good threads to read and get caught up on all you want to know. Welcome

Day 3 and everything is going OK. Had my first bowel movement so really feel better now!! (I know TMI, but it was a major accomplishment). I gotta say that I'm hungry. Not sure I could eat if I tried, of which I won't, but I didn't expect this. I am to stay on clear liquids and protein shakes for 5 more days. I think I would be happy if I could just have some thicker soup. Hope everyone else is doing well.