binab

Super cute! ...and Happy Anniversary!

I had the same experience. It also made me realize how many conversations at work center around food. Everyday, all day long. Only three days to go, you got this!

My husband is also the only person that knows. I feel a little guilty about not telling my bff, but she made it clear shortly before my surgery that she was against it. We know several others who have done it and been successful, and I guess she's noticed me asking them questions, so she asked me if I was doing it. I told her I had looked into it a few times over the years. She promptly told me that everyone she knows has trouble with it, throwing up and stuff. Then showed me a picture of one of her cousins who recently lost a lot "and she did it all on her own". My friend has seen me lose to goal on several occasions, and also seen me gain back and then some every time, yet I knew from that conversation that she wouldn't understand. It makes me sad not to be able to share my experience with her. (I actually wish she would do it for herself...)

I had my first fill yesterday. My surgeon does a group info session with the first fill. All fills in my office are done under flouroscope, and we had to drink a small amount of barium. The fill amount was determined by how quickly they saw the barium go through the band. In our group the fill amount ranged from 1cc to 3cc...mine was 3cc.

I second the fleet recommendation. Like you, I had taken MoM for several days, then added Miramax. When it was finally ready, it was impossible to pass without extreme straining and I wasn't going to do that no matter what. I was one step from going to the ER for impaction about 6 days post OP when I learned about the Fleet Liquid Glycerine. I used two actually and found relief within 15 minutes. I went to four stores to find it (it's not the same as the stuff in the big box). The box is about 3 inches tall; finally found it at Walgreen's. Would definitely recommend if you get to that level of desperation make your family leave the house before you do it. I never had to do anything like that before, it was awful. I must have been making a lot of noise during that 15 minutes; the dog and the cat were both sitting at the doorway to the bathroom with very concerned looks when I came out. But I didn't care, I was a new woman and thankfully haven't had an issue since. I know that's all TMI, but learning about that product was a lifesaver at that moment!

I went back on day 9 post OP. I was fine, but not completely back to myself. I wish I had taken more time but only cause I never take off work and another week at home would have been nice.

My Dr's office said three weeks but assured me at that time we could 'get as freaky as we wanted to.' (Their words, not mine...)

How soon after you eat something do you know your stuck? I'm like OP and have felt the tightness, really felt it the other night after a few tiny bites of filet mignon (and immediately stopped eating the steak.) I am terrified of getting stuck... Getting first fill on Friday and very nervous as I have been making mostly good choices but eating just about anything I want (just in teeny tiny quantities).

None of my incisions were bruised at all until nearly 2 wks out. Then the one directly above my belly button started looking bruised and is still that way (21 days post op). Seemed odd being so far out. I might be worried if the incision there didn't look like it was healing nicely otherwise. Would mention it to your surgeon if it persists, but at 10 days out, you're still early in the healing process.

Pasta is actually on my Dr's soft food list, big types though, no spaghetti or thin stringy pastas. That said, I've been too scared to try...

So glad it wasn't a blood clot! I hope that it stops or that they can get to the bottom of it...

Made me nauseous too, and taste worse than cough syrup. (I'm a lifetime asthmatic; I have tasted some nasty meds, but the Lortab was extra bleech!)

Praying that all is well for you...

Stupid phone. Have you had the egd yet as part of your testing? I had increasing chest pain which I now believe was caused by my hiatal hernia. Mine was not the common sliding hernia though, it was a large paraesophageal hernia where part of your stomach is sitting up next to and pressing on your esophagus. The movement of food through the narrowing area of the esophagus was sometimes quite painful and being where it's located often felt like it might be heart related... Might be nothing of the sort, but thought I'd ask. If you did have an egd, this would have been found. If not, it might be worth looking into. (I had very little if any reflux.) Anyway, really hope you can get to the bottom of it.

Have you had an egd

You could also try the Isopure protein fruit drinks. They are 20oz, 0 carb, 40g protein. I've tried the grape, blue raspberry, and green apple. Grape was the best I thought, think weak grape KoolAid. I found them at GNC, they weren't cheap, but they have been a great alternative when I didn't think I could stomach another shake.

You can eat the tofu as a filler snack.

You can get it at several places in the Dallas area for less than 10k. If you have hiatal hernia also, you can get insurance to pick up a portion of the surgery, so my actual self pay cost was $7500. I have seen other posters say it was less than that when they also had hiatal hernia repair. Something to possibly look into. Good luck!

Oh and we actually scheduled my egd and surgery on the day of my consult. It was 7 weeks from consult to surgery for me. Had I not wanted the egd first, it would have been 3 weeks. (For me the longest part of the wait was just getting in for the consult... Scheduled that in early June but couldn't be seen until mid July.)

I was also self pay. I did egd (only because we suspected hiatal hernia), and then blood work and EKG the week before surgery. Good luck!

Are you expecting to be outpatient or staying overnight? I was outpatient and literally took nothing to the hosp with me. I only wish I had taken a small pillow for the car ride home...

I ate a variety of soups - some canned from the grocery store, some homemade, and some from regular restaurants. I just made sure I only ate broth based soups. (My coworkers love to eat mexican food, so whenever I did go out for lunch, I usually had chicken tortilla type soup.) You can have chili also, but I don't really do chili. DH was a sweetheart and made me homemade chicken and taco soup too. Yumm!! I lost 9 lbs on preop and had surgery last Monday (27th). When Dr. Smith came out and talked to DH, he told him my liver was "skinny". I was very proud of that. Group is on Tuesday night, we'd love for you to join us!

Dr. Smith is my Doc also. You're allowed to have the soup at anytime during the day. For me, I pretty much HAD to have it at lunch in order to feel pretty satisfied through the day. Also, you're allowed to add fruit and yogurt to your shakes - anything was allowed, except oatmeal. Use those recipes that came in your pre-op folder or make up your own. My personal favorite creations were the chocolate shake with a banana and about 6 cubes of ice, blenderized to a liquid. (I only allowed myself bananas every other day or two because of the high natural sugar content.) My second favorite was the vanilla shake with a Blueberry Chobani and some fresh blueberries and ice. That makes them a little tastier and more satisfying. When I wasn't drinking a shake, I was drinking SOMETHING. Water, tea, V8, etc. Most days I was very content. I also got a calendar out and marked off each passing day. Just helped to have the visual for how far I'd come - I looked forward to my daily ritual of putting a big X across another day. Good luck! If you have any other ?? let me know. It's been a great experience with his office!

Thanks for the help! I'll add ya back now!

Done. Thanks!