momcof3

Wow - how could they think anyone would appear "sane" after that many questions or that long of consult? I had to fill out a 3 page questionnaire at orientation and then I met for 45 minutes with the psychologist. I was really nervous. She asked me a bunch of questions and typed on the computer while we were talking. After she asked me the questions, she went into the computer back 10 years and looked at my medical record - I guess to see if I was lying. For example I answered no that I did not have any eating disorders - I just overeat. Well, some wiseacre doctor put notes in the computer about 5 years ago stating I have an eating disorder. Luckily the psychologist pulled out her medical book and looked up what the definition of an eating disorder was and we confirmed I just overeat - no eating disorder. I was sweating there for a few minutes. She was ok with me being on Prozac for anxiety and worry. But it doesn't seem right if you don't have any issues that you should have to pretend you do so they don't think you're lying.

I had my surgery August 28 and I just started pureed foods today - which is like baby food consistency they said. I am only to supposed to eat 1/4-1/2 cup food per meal. I too lost 11 lbs the first week and two the second week - but nothing the third week - I was down another pound on Monday but then today I was up 2 lbs - no way possible I really gained two pounds on about 700 calories of food. I have decided not to weigh every day as it is frustrating me. It sounds like maybe you ate a little too fast?

I feel for you. I just finished my 3 week full liquid diet yesterday and started my 2 week pureed diet today. Although I had one packet of oatmeal for breakfast and 1/4 cup canned chicken breast pureed with mayo for lunch, my stomach is growling fiercely. After the two week pureed phase I will be on the semi-soft phase for 5 weeks. egads. I have my first appt on Oct 6 but no guarantee I will get a fill - the nutritionist said not everyone does. Don't know why she was trying to ruin my day. :thumbup:

Welcome to the group - I have only been in the group for a month, but have learned so much already. Did you read the FAQ section? It is a good place to start.

I weighed 285 at orientation. When I saw the surgeon he told me he wanted me to lose 20 lbs. He had me lay down and looked and felt my upper torso. I thought I would have to lose 10%, but maybe it depends on where you carry your weight?

I was also told to give up caffeine prior to surgery. Well, I decided to wait and do it starting the day of my surgery. I had a super size diet coke the day before my surgery and then went cold turkey. I have not had any caffeine for the last 3 weeks and I am fine. I had some headaches the first few days, but I was taking my liquid pain meds anyway so it got rid of the headaches. By the time I stopped the liquid pain meds a week later, I was over the caffeine withdrawal. I used to say drinking caffeine did not affect my sleeping - but I have slept so much better since I being caffeine free. I drink decaf iced tea and have decided not to having any caffeine now as I don't want to have to go through withdrawal again.

I am right there with all of you. I am 3 weeks post op today. I received my call from my dietician yesterday telling me to go to pureed foods today and I will stay on them for two weeks before going on to semi-soft. She asked me the portion size I am eating - I am supposed to be eating 1/4 - 1/2 cup three times a day - but they want us to eat 1/4 cup. I told her between 1/4 and 1/2 and that I had been having a sugar free pudding cup as one of my meals - she said that is more than 1/2 a cup. I said oh well, I can't survive on less than 2 cups of food a day - I am hungry all the time. She seemed surprised I was hungry all the time - come on - how could I not be? I was on a 1200 calorie a day pre-op diet and lost 30 lbs - why should I have to be on about 400 calories a day now? I have lost 13 lbs since the surgery, but 10 of that was the first week. I have my first post op appt Oct 6, but not sure if I will get a fill - I will definitely ask for one.

All I remember about that is the gastric patients had to take the calcium citrate, but the band patients didn't (we were in a mixed group). I take a chocolate calcium chew that I bought at Costco - some people take the Viactiv calcium chews. My nutritionist said they were fine and I only need to chew one once a day - just has to be two hours from my multi-vitamin.

I had my surgery at Richmond Kaiser on 8/26/08. I went to the orientation/nutrition class on May 9, saw the surgeon on June 5, saw the psychologist second week of July, saw the case manager 3rd week of July, went to the pre-op class and post-op nutrition class on Aug 14 and then surgery Aug 26. I don't go back to the surgeon until Oct 6. I did not have to do a liquid diet pre-op - only had to stop eating by 6 pm the night before surgery. I was on clear liquids for 3 days after surgery, full liquids until today (almost 3 weeks) and now I will be on pureed for almost 2 weeks, then semi-soft until week 12. I could not get an appointment with my case manager until I had hit my goal weight that the surgeon set. But they used my weight from orientation as the starting weight.

Welcome to the group. I have only been reading the posts for about a month now and have found them to be very informative. Check out the FAQ section.

I too have my moments where I am bored or just want something to eat. I try to get up and do something - clean off the counter, take a walk, read a book - anything to temporarily get my mind off of wanting to eat something.

I had to stop my estrogen pill 3 weeks before surgery and my surgeon told me not to take it for a month after surgery. Something to do with danger of blood clots.

I originally took one week off, but ended up staying home a second week. I have a desk job, but sitting up all day would not have worked for me. Last week was my first week back and I was still sore and really tired.

I had my surgery on a Tuesday and was scheduled to go back to work the following Tuesday, but ended up staying home an extra 4 days from work. It just depends on the person. I have a desk job, but could not have sat up in that position all day. You are younger than me, but if you can take at least a few more days off, I would.

I was banded August 26 and have not had a fill yet - I think I am getting one on Oct 6 - I have lost 13 pounds since my surgery.

I haven't had any fill yet and I too have odd mucus in my throat and mouth all the time. I am just moving to pureed foods so it doesn't appear to be related to the food I have been eating. I also have this weird taste in my mouth, but I read somewhere that is from ketosis. I am going to ask my doctor about it at my first post op appt on Oct. 6.

I had my surgery on August 26 and my left side where my port is also still swollen - especially if I have been out shopping or running errands or even sitting straight up too long. I think everyone is different in that we are not all shaped the same. I wear a bra to work, but take it off as soon as I get home and just wear a baggy t-shirt on the weekends as my bra starts to irritate the incicison in the upper middle.

weight last week - 243.6 weight today - 242.3 so I am down 1 lb. I am still on full liquids until Monday - egads. Next Tuesday I will be 3 wks post op.

Welcome to the group. Where in California are you having your surgery?

Before my surgery, I told my parents, kids, and a few friends at work. I was out of the office for 2 weeks after the surgery and while I was gone I ran into someone from work at Home Depot and she was worried something was wrong with me as I hadn't been to work and she noticed I had lost weight. I ended up telling her and she inadvertently told someone else at work - so by the time I got back my whole unit knew. But actually them knowing took the pressure off of me. Since being back at work this week I have only had positive comments and I don't really care if someone doesn't approve - they can keep it to themselves. I have already had two people ask if I would talk to someone they know who is interested in lapband surgery. So if I can educate and share knowledge to help someone else I am all for it.

I am right there with you. I am supposed to get a call on Monday from the nutritionist to advance me to pureed foods and I too am dreaming about it. I can not eat one more bite of sugarfree jello and I am seriously getting sick of Cream of Wheat. Even sugar free popsicles are tasting weird to me. It seems everything I have been eating is either bland or chocolate flavored (pudding, protein drink). I will then go to semi-soft foods after pureed and then finally to regular food. Who would think we would get excited about mushie food? LOL.

I had the same thing happen. I am two weeks post op and still on full liquids which equal at the most 300 calories a day. When I got on the scale yesterday it showed I gained almost 2 lbs - how could that be when I am eating practically nothing. Today the 2 lbs were gone. So I have decided to not get on the scale daily.

I take one Flinstones Complete chewable vitamin in the morning and one calcium chew in the afternoon.

Most likely the trapped gas is causing this problem. Gas X etc will not get rid of the gas inside your body, only your GI tract. The best thing to do is walk and use your spirometer to get the gas moving. I also rocked in a rocking chair and that seemed to help. I have not burped at all since I had the surgery two weeks ago - some people burp, others don't.

I used to drink Diet Coke pretty much all day. It was either that or iced tea. I didn't actually stop drinking Diet Coke or caffeinated tea until my surgery date. I had a x-large Diet Coke the morning before my surgery. But since my surgery I have not had any soda at all and only decaffeinated iced tea. I had a few headaches the first week, but luckily that was the week I was taking my pain medication regularly so it took care of the headaches. I am fine now - I am two weeks post op today. I would have never thought I could give up soda and caffeine, but I don't miss it and would never risk damaging my stomach or band now. And as a byproduct, I am able to fall asleep much faster. Hang in there.