cattoy71

Bikini, I totally understand how you feel with the Vitamins. I've found Trader Joe's calcium citrate with Vitamin D vitamins are really easy to swallow. You take them 3x/day with meals and they are pretty cheap too :w00t: I like the slice of life multi vitamins...they are chewable gummy vitamins that taste like real gummy bears :w00t: BariatricEating.com - BE, Inc. The number one bariatric website for Protein, vitamins, and success. has a great supply of liquid vitamins that are actually pretty good tasting too. Good luck and let us know what you end up choosing.

Hey Jen, Ahhh try to hang in there....it's likely you won't even have your first fill until around 6 or more weeks after surgery. I am somewhat hungry, and had the surgery maybe a week or so before you. My diet right after my surgery was pretty limited...here's a sample: -Sugar free jello and pudding -Sugar free popsicles and skinny cow fudge pops -Worldwide pre-made protein shakes -Instant grits / instant polenta -tons of crystal light -pre-made refrigerated mashed potatoes -noodle soups I had a few "mushy" cheats here and there too, but I've really been trying to stick to the doctor's orders. It's hard, but please try to stick it out....it will be worth it in the end. If the huger gets too unmanageable, call your surgeon's office and see what they might recommend.

So I was talking to my mom (on the phone long distance) the other day and she and my dad both agree that I sound like my old self. Weird to think that this little surgery can make that much of a difference in my mood. It's like, before surgery, not so happy, but after surgery, apparently happy enough that others notice through the phone. Anyone else have this experience?

Woot, go go girl! I loooooove my band and actually love my surgeon more I hope you have nothing but the best experience with your surgery. Be strong and get excited to meet your new self.

I totally agree with you (original poster), and wondered how the heck I was going to survive taking those chalky chewables for the rest of my life. My current combination is slice of life multi Vitamins and b12 with Vitamin d (these are expensive, but sooooooooooooo yummy)..you eat 2 of them a day, and I swear they are as good as gummy bears. For calcium citrate I found some that you swallow 3x day from Trader Joe's. They are kind of large, but totally manageable, and hecka cheap. It's so much trial and error until you find a combination that works. You can also check out the vitamin selection from BariatricEating.com - BE, Inc. The number one bariatric website for Protein, vitamins, and success. for other liquid varieties.

Hi Heather! I was just banded 2 weeks ago and I totally feel your pain. Instead of 2 weeks on just liquids, I only did 7 full days, and my surgery went off without a hitch and I was able to lose 5 pounds. The pre-op is difficult and I often wondered how so many people can handle work in addition to house stuff prior to the surgery. I spent a lot of time reading and preparing for the surgery in addition to taking many cat naps. You might be able to get by with 48 hours of pure liquid, but should get that ok'd by your surgeon first. I've read stories of people who proceed as scheduled with surgery, go under, only to be re-schedueled due to a fatty liver.....believe me, after going under, I would have never ever returned for a future surgery...I was so nauseus it was unbelievable. Keep your head up, and know that you are in great company with so many of us who could barely get through the pre-op diet.

Hi everyone, I live in the south bay and loooove my surgeon, Dr. John Feng! Has anyone been to any of his monthly support groups? I was banded 2 weeks ago and I think I missed the last south bay 08 group, but will likely drive to the Peninsula for the Nov and Dec 08 groups.

I paid out of pocket and couldn't believe how much the hospital fees were! They totalled $9500 and then my surgeon's fees for 5 years came to $7500. I decided to pay the surgeon's fees up front, and then finance the hospital part....I got a great APR of 3.99% through capital one. I honestly think of it as a way of investing in my future and my husband was very supportive once my mind was made up. On another quick note, I had my first post op today and have lost 13 pounds since 10/6/08, and have absolutely zero regrets. Good luck with your decision.

Hi Mark, Congrats on the surgery! My absolute favorite place to online shop for supplies is BariatricEating.com - BE, Inc. The number one bariatric website for Protein, Vitamins, and success.. The woman had bariatric surgery years ago, is a self-proclaimed foodie, wrote a book, and now only sells the absolute best tasting food for people who have had or going to have bariatric surgery. It's a great site and there is also a support chat site right online. Good luck!

Protein shakes are awful, no doubt about it. Bariatric Advantage is supposed to be good for you, but the taste is pretty gross. My favorite right now is Worldwide frosty chocolate pre-made shakes that come in a 11oz can at Trader Joe's or Vitamin Shoppe. :tt2:One of the bestest resources is BariatricEating.com - BE, Inc. The number one bariatric website for protein, Vitamins, and success. ! This site was made and is kept by a foodie who had bariatric surgery years ago, and looooves great tasting food. She has tried all of the shakes and only stocks good tasting ones. I just placed an order for some from achieveone and labrada. I wish I had found these before I spent almost $200 on bariatric advantage :thumbup: Good luck!

First, I am so sorry to hear the difficulty you are having with your family. It is not completely uncommon....many people resist change and are used to us the way we have become. I can totally relate in some ways.....I was always the largest of my 3 sisters and that is when I was 5'4 and 125 pounds! Over the years, I put on almost 100 (gasp) pounds and dreaded any kind of family gatherings even though my mom has been sick for several years. I always felt different and putting on all that weight made things so much more worse. My middle sister is a mom of 3, around 5' and under 90 pounds, and my oldest sister is about 5'3 and 120 pounds. If you click on my icon and look at my pictures, you can kinda see that I actually don't look all that big and was somewhat unsure about getting the surgery. I am sooooo happy I decided to do it!!! I lost my closest friend recently and was soooo unsure about doing the surgery without his support, but I know that I will be much more sociable when I lose some weight and can more easily get around. You definately need support to go through with this, and it's entireably possible that the rest of your family will get on board once you've made your final decision. Good luck, and I'm around if you want to chat.

Hi there, My surgery was scheduled for 1 hour 45 minutes and I'm pretty sure that it can normally can take anywhere to 45 minutes to 2 hours. I got to the hospital around 5:30am, was scheduled for 7:15am, and was in recovery around 9am. I then spent a few hours in recovery and then was discharged around 1pm. I'd recommend that whoever brings you brings a book or a electronic gadget to keep them company :thumbup: Here's info on my surgeon whom I loooove...try checking out the same info on your doctor. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+John+Feng+jjm.html

Wow, I love this place! It's so great and insipiring to read people's posts and to get so much support I'm really proud of everyone who has struggled but has soldiered on with their weight loss battles. Keep up the great work, and isn't it fun being a loser :thumbup:

Hi all, Got banded October 13 and I'm feeling great!!!!! I'd love to find a mentor and/or buddy who is in the same general area. Hope to talk to you soon!

Hi Jorja, I totally understand what you mean about being a hermit after gaining weight:sad: I feel almost completely recovered from surgery and have my first post-op sugery appointment on Monday morning. Personally, I am finding the band really easy to live with so far (I'm sure that can all change with fills), and I'm doing well with the limited diet. For me, a few sugar free necessities have made a huge difference: (sugar free) frozen popsicle skinny cow frozen fudge pops individual yogurts and Jello instant grits / instant polenta chrystal light green tea and raspberry Water mixes I've had a few meals out, and everything has gone really well :thumbup:

Congrats on the operation! I was really restlessness and uncomfortable for a good week, but then that all changed on the 7th day. My port pain incision finally stopped itching and I'm back to feeling the way I did before the operation (only better, because I don't have that pre-op liquid diet hunger!) Vitamins I would recommend are the slice of life Vitamin line including the multi vitamin and the b12 vitamin. They are really good, but just be sure to chew them well....it's really easy because they are soft and taste great! I also picked up the Calcium citrate/vitamin d vitamin from Trader Joe's. You take 3 of the pills through out the day. The pills are large, but are totally easily swallowed. Good luck with your recovery.

Welcome to the forum Debbie! I'm just outside San Francisco and the cost is very similiar (17k) and I also paid out of pocket. I was banded on the 13th and had about 1 week of total restlessness just after the operation. I was gassy and uncomfortable and was tired, but had a hard time sleeping for more then a few hours at a time. Then the most amazing thing happened.....one week after the surgery, the pain and uncomfortable feeling subsided and now there are times I even forget I have had the procedure done! I think that it's great that you are here already and getting familiar with the different support services :wink_smile:. Let me know if you ever want to chat. And I'm happy to report that, for the first time in years, I weigh under 200. The scale said 199.8 but still, I'm excited.

Holy Crap that's amazing!! Thank you so much for posting and giving this newbie real motivation....you rock :sad_smile:

Regular foods is kinda a misnomer I guess. I've been on straight liquids for several days and only deviated from that for some grits/polenta. Other then that its been pudding, yogurt, frozen popsicles (yummy!!), jello, and protein drinks. You sound like you have about the same driving restriction as me. I have a lot of books, but I'm still feeling very restless.

I think it was restless monkey who commented on the variability of each surgeon! Each one seems to have their own style and directions when it comes to just about everything (water/food procession/excercise/driving/etc.) and it can be enough to make my head spin :tongue2: ~~ For people who have questions about medications life effexor and wellbutrin, I am on both and have been takiing them fine with no complications. I thought I might have a hard time with my 200mg wellbutrin tablets because they are kinda large. ~~ For people who had questions about SPANX Welcome to Spanx by Sara Blakely: Official Site products. I have a lot of unopened size C power panties. If you are on the fence and want to try them out free of charge (I have no idea how much shipping is but I'm sure it's cheap), hit me up and I can send them on to you. I think I have both black and nude colors and again they are unopened power panties. I actually may have some other unopened things but I'd have to taker looksee....just send me a private message or respond to this thread. ~~ For anyone worried about their first meal out of the home....I went to a vietnamese restaurant with my hubby yesterday and was able to enjoy about a 1/4 of a big bowl of chicken pho noodle soup with absolutely no problems....I felt so good after we walked and I had a taste-try of capucinno chip gelato and it was the perfect amount!

Thanks for the responses :tongue2: Aww suemagoo, thanks for the props on the picture....it totally summed up the way I felt when I reached over 200 pounds, hah..

Hey everyone, I tried searching for a thread on post surgery driving restriction but didn't find one that looked appropriate :tongue2: My doctor has me on 14 day driving restriction and hanging out has home is making me craaaazy. I get the healing process, but 2 weeks is loooong. Anyway, if anyone wants a texting buddy, let me know!

Renita, omg lmao!!!!! I know you meant to write turn red instead of turd red, but that seriously made me laugh out loud:biggrin: My incesisions are pretty red and raw too....I actually found that sleeping on my belly and putting some pressure on them can temporarily relieve the itching feeling. Let me know how it goes on Monday.

Anne, Best of luck to you! I'm wishing you the best and you totally will become best friends with your blender:eek:

Omg I love this thread:thumbup: I will not miss always running hot and excessive sweating for no apparent reason. I simply can not wait until my internal thermometer is on par with everyone else. Oh no I was no ordinary sweater....My scalp would sweat anytime the temp got above like 70, and the flop-sweat......oooh my it's just soooo disgusting. That will be my "i got it" moment when I can function during the day without being so uncomfortable.