binab

Ah, love him and his staff. Fyi, you can have the soup anytime during the day. I work ft and had a hard time giving up my lunches with friends, so I would typically go out at lunch and that's when I had my soup (broth based). Also, you can add fruit and yogurt and such to the Protein shakes to make more interesting and filling smoothies (was told just no oatmeal). Dr Smith told my hubby that my liver was 'skinny'. It's a start. Group is every Tuesday and its been helpful just to be in a room full of people that have been there, done that. You learn a lot.

Sounds like my pre OP and it was doable. After a few days I got a calendar out and marked off each passing day. When I got a little discouraged, it helped to see how far I'd come and to keep my eye on the prize. You can do it!

Please keep us posted...

I don't know, but I would call the Dr if only for peace of mind. If its just pain and tightness, its likely normal (ESP if you had hernia repair), if there is any wheezing, I'd for sure call.

Did they give you a spirometer and are you using it? I have a much diminished lung capacity right now (banded Monday), and have the phlegm, but I can tell that my lungs are clear. (Asthmatic my whole life...) If you really feel like your lungs are not clear, call your Dr. Post OP pneumonia is not something to mess with.

Be aware that if you have a hiatal hernia, your US cash price may be significantly lower. Mine was partial self pay and partial insurance due to a hiatal hernia. It made my cash portion $7500, $2400 less than the regular cash price. I've seen others here post much lower prices with hernia. My Dr said that about 80% of overweight people have some kind of hiatal hernia... Something to look into or ask about. I paid the cash part from my HSA account. It took me about three yrs to save enough in my HSA account to feel comfortable going ahead. (I wanted to have at least 150% in my account as I didn't want to completely deplete it when I had surgery...) Took me a while, but I am finally banded and looking to a healthier future... Good luck!

This has definitely been a journey... Was feeling great this afternoon, but tonight I'm feverish and nauseous again. Nothing alarming just hoping things stabilize by Tuesday. On the bright side were already almost to day 4 post OP! Yay!

One of the tricks I read here was to get on all fours on the bed and lean down on your arms so your butt is higher up than the rest of you. It didn't get rid of it, but it did relieve it for a while. Just don't do it right after you've eaten or drank something cause it may also cause you to burp. I did this a few times yesterday and had hardly any gas pain today. Day 3 post op for me and this has helped.

We are home, sore, parched, little nauseas, very sleepy. I go night night now. Hope everyone else is doing well.

At the hospital, waiting to be called back. Very nervous...

Still have a very slight cough, but its only brought on now by laughing. I will have to commandeer one of my daughters pillow pets just in case... I am nervous though and wishing I were tired enough to go to bed already. I will be watching for your posts tomorrow. We're going to be on the other side soon.

How's the cough? Been worried about you.... Hope everything goes well tomorrow, band twin!

GNC that is...

You still need to try and get your protein in. Try the Isopure fruit drinks. I got mine at BBC and am hoping they help me survive post OP.

I've been enjoying the Premier Protein shakes, you can get them at Sam's or costco. For Vitamins I have a wide combination of things. I have the EcoDrinks as well as some similar drink mixes from Celebrate. Also got some chewable vitamins from Celebrate. I got a sheet from my nutritionist with the recommended dosage of things post OP, the drinks and celebrate items are all almost exactly half of everything on the list. Btw, Celebrate has a sample pack on their site, its $3 (free shipping on the sample pack if bought alone) but comes with a $3 coupon code. It had probably twenty samples in it!

I recommend getting the Mucinex liquid and taking it every 4 hours without missing a dose. My friend swore by this, so I did it and I seem to be over my "crud" just in time for surgery on Monday. Hope you feel better!

They are Premier Protein. Anyone tried the strawberry? My Costco only carries chocolate and vanilla. I'd like another option, just not sure I want to spend the shipping cost to order direct from Premier.

I'm on day 8, and drinking something almost constantly... Protein shake, water, water with mio, v8, etc. I'm allowed soup once a day, which I usually do at lunch, the days where I have 'saved' it for dinner have been the hardest. Good luck, keep your eye on the prize, we will get to eat again (eventually).

Curious about this too. I started my biotin a week ago and will be banded on the 27th. Hoping to maybe avoid this side effect. My hair is thin enough as it is...

Sounds yummy, I'm totally jealous of the tilapia! I'm on day 6, 2 shakes and a Soup... It's been easy until today, being at home is so much more challenging for me, just need to keep busy. Good luck with the rest of pre op!

Hey bandtwin! Everyone around me has had bronchitis and I have had the bad, productive cough. I went to the Dr. a week ago and was told it wasn't in my lungs, so they didn't give me anything for it. I was hoping for a zpack too, just in case. I told them of my surgery. But no go, so I've been fighting it OTC ever since. The cough is better, but its not completely gone. I go for an xray and ekg on Monday, so I HOPE it's even better by then. I do not want to postpone this... (Mainly cause I've been 6 days on the preop diet and I will be mad if that has to be extended or repeated!) Hope you get better!!

Definitely check with your Doctor. The only thing I was told I could not add was oatmeal, however since I have seen that many Dr's do restrict the 'naners, I have limited it to once every other day.

So I went to Costco and ended up buying the EcoDrink multivitamins. It's a sugar free crystal lite type thing - I looked at the gummys but was worried about getting them down (esp in the beginning). These were also the closest match to the minimum nutritional guidelines that my Dr's office gave me (at two drinks per day). I liked that it would be added to my water which I will already be drinking. I haven't tried it yet - they only had two flavors (berry and orange), so I only bought enough to get me through pre-op just in case I don't like them. Anyone else tried or is using these?

I love this thread and all the advice given on it. I have gone back and forth with the decision myself (for 4 yrs) but ultimately I think I need the tool to help me keep the weight off. If you haven't had the opportunity to attend a support group, I would encourage you to do so. Even though I am not banded yet, I think it's been helpful to be in a room full of real people that are living the banded lifestyle. It's not a magic fix, there will be struggles, but there will also be triumph if you follow the banded lifestyle. The one thing I keep hearing at group is that in spite of the occassional struggle, people love their bands... I hope to say the same thing soon.

Thanks for the tip - was hoping for a chewable vitamin and I happen to be going to Costco today anyway. I may need to pick up some more Premier Protein while I'm there. I hate plain vanilla, but I've been using it as a base for smoothies. This morning I mixed it with a non-fat Chobani blueberry yogurt, some fresh blueberries and ice. It is my favorite one so far. So flavorful - yum! I wouldn't be surviving preop if I couldn't add to these shakes. Hope everyone is doing well!