voiceomt2002

Doc said to let the bandages and steri-strips fall off naturally on me. I kind of assumed there are stitches, but maybe there aren't any. He checked a few things, but I don't see him again until my very first fill appointment on the 5th. I've been reassured several times that fills aren't painful, but I'm such a baby about needles. (nervous smile) Lena

**HUGS** Yeah, the port pain goes away, thank goodness. Now my biggest issue seems to be over-confidence. LOL! Once in awhile, I forget to chew slowly, sip instead of drink, and be aware that I'm still healing. I tried a new dressing on my tuna today, and started to wolf it down because it was so good! Ow! Ow! I didn't put down my fork and chew-chew-chew! (whimper) Here's the recipe: 2 oz tuna 1 T olive oil mayonnaise 2 T lime juice 1/4 tsp minced garlic (I buy those jars in the produce section) black pepper to taste 82 calories, 1g carb. I deserved that pain for my greed, but I don't recommend it. Lena

Wow, it's only 8 AM on a Monday, and I'm already experiencing the effects of being banded. First, I awakened on my stomach. As a tummy sleeper, finding myself comfortable in that position was a huge relief. I stretched until I felt my back do the Rice Krispie "snap, crackle, pop!" Whew! I've needed to do that for a long time. I was also incredibly thirsty. I think I may already be less in need of my CPAP machine. Perhaps I'd better make an appointment with the specialist for more than a little finger stick this time. I'd love to get rid of the CPAP. It's been a friend who kept my marriage and heart from failing, but I'd really like to not be Darth Vader at night. Shower time! I'm normally a "quickie" bather. Get in, get out. But today, I looked down and wondered if I might be able to reach my toes without using a stool to prop my feet on. So, I bend down, soap laden scrubbie in hand, and washed my feet! I did a toe touch! Then I almost palmed the shower floor! Holy moley! It's been two years since I could do that! :tounge_smile: I'm growing my hair out. You'd never know from the picture I display here, but for the past couple of years, my hair has been close-cropped to my head. With all the hospital time and medications, the shoulder-length hair I prefer was a serious problem. So, I chopped it off. A cap of curls was much cooler and easier. Now, I'm growing my hair again. It feels so weird to actually comb wet hair and wonder if I'll sport bangs today or get it out of my face. I gave away almost all my clips, clamps, and ponytail bands. All I have left is one brown clamp and one black leather rose ponytail band. Guess I'd better build up the collection. Later, after I've written a bit on my latest book, I think I'll take a break and go through all my sewing patterns. My roomie Dante is a part-time tailor, and he's about to lose his mind in his eagerness to dress me up like a life-sized Barbie doll. (sigh) The big nut case dragged me out to the sewing area yesterday and presented his grand scheme for my complete new wardrobe. I almost ran screaming. LOL! Guess I'd better get used to it.

Hi y'all! Sorry I disappeared on you. I felt so great, I returned to work and was buried. LOL! Anyway, what Peanutband had is normal. I had a sensation of "back wash" and discomfort when laying horizontal. Fortunately for me, I had a bed wedge left from a previous medical condition. Now I sleep normally, and this morning awakened to find myself on my stomach! That's happy. I'm a tummy sleeper, and missed it. Doc warned me I might experience some pain around the port area when I visited him Thursday, one week after surgery. He was dead on. I'd been feeling some new pain, and over the next two days I was back on the liquid Tylenol. It did go away, and by Sunday morning was forgotten. Now the big problem has been constipation after I started consuming soft foods. (Ahem!) I tried a certain herb tea, and while it did the job, it was sloooow. In desperation, I'm trying Metamucil because it's psyllium. Only problem is, it really fills up the stomach pouch. I have some mild discomfort, but a cup of hot liquid like coffee pushes it past the stoma where it can go to work. Off to blog and answer a private note! Lena

OMG, more weight has fallen off me like I’m a melting snowman or something. For the first time in at least two years, when I stepped on my bathroom scale I didn’t have to do the math: “Hmm…Okay, when it passes the zero, that’s 260…so add what the scale says to 260…” Okay, so the scale says I weigh 257 lbs as of this morning. That’s still a significant loss since my banding. Call me vain, but I’m most concerned about my clothes. I’m still swollen enough to need my “fat clothes” yet they hang off me like a clown suit anywhere but up front. Perhaps I’d better take a bit more time choosing my outfit today, since I have a visit with Dr. Baptista and a weigh-in. I’d love to wear a certain suit I’ve not put on my body in two years, but I’m scared of being disappointed and humiliated again. Last time I tried to don this beloved denim suit, I couldn’t slide the pants past my thunder thighs, and the duster couldn’t get around the granny flab in my upper arms. Can we say "humiliation?" Yeah, I know. We all can. (sigh) Maybe I’d better resign myself to a personal fashion show with three piles: 1) Too big, 2) Too Small, and 3) What do you mean it fits?

Thanks, Dimyvette. It's sooo weird. Lena

I'm laughing at myself this morning. Last summer I made a pair of lounging pants, only to discover I'd gained more weight and couldn't fit into my new creation, with the lovely pale blue and sparkly stars. Disappointed and disheartened, I folded the pants and put them on the "after surgery" pile. :confused: Today, I looked at my five remaining soft loose pants that are bagging off me and sighed. I'm so sick of those pants. A glint of pale blue and stars caught my eye. Hope shot through me. Dare I? I looked around like a kid stealing cookies. Why not? With trembling hands, I pulled out the lounging pants. They were loose! OMG! They look like clown pants on me! :thumbup: Later, after I've worked a bit, I may just pull down that whole "after surgery" pile to see what other treasures await me. Some still won't fit. I've got sizes in there from 18-24, reflecting all my years of yo-yo dieting. Maybe...just maybe... Lena

OMG, more weight has fallen off me like I’m a melting snowman or something. For the first time in at least two years, when I stepped on my bathroom scale I didn’t have to do the math: “Hmm…Okay, when it passes the zero, that’s 260…so add what the scale says to 260…” Okay, so the scale says I weigh 257 lbs as of this morning. That’s still a significant loss since my banding. Call me vain, but I’m most concerned about my clothes. I’m still swollen enough to need my “fat clothes” yet they hang off me like a clown suit anywhere but up front. Perhaps I’d better take a bit more time choosing my outfit today, since I have a visit with Dr. Baptista and a weigh-in. I’d love to wear a certain suit I’ve not put on my body in two years, but I’m scared of being disappointed and humiliated again. Last time I tried to don this beloved denim suit, I couldn’t slide the pants past my thunder thighs, and the duster couldn’t get around the granny flab in my upper arms. Can we say "humiliation?" Yeah, I know. We all can. (sigh) Maybe I’d better resign myself to a personal fashion show with three piles: 1) Too big, 2) Too Small, and 3) What do you mean it fits?

My goodness. I wasn't allowed hardly any carbs. Okay, I call less than thirty grams of total carbs "hardly any." Can't complain about it, though. It's a fairly easy diet to live with, and doc prefers his patients stay below thirty grams per day for the rest of their lives, if possible. Should be relatively easy, since many high-carb foods would clog our stoma. Having had one experience with a minor obstruction, I never want to do that again! Lena

You know we're rooting for you, Peanutband! :thumbup:

Hooray for Glenda! Yes, we can wait until Chrissy and Stephanie check in. They may still be sleeping. I did a lot of that. LOL! Lena

Another little trick that's helping me through my Liquid Phase is to make homemade broth. I'm getting a much more satisfying flavor and a bit more appetite suppression when I make my own. Yesterday, for instance, we had a Crock Pot Beef Roast. Of course I couldn't enjoy the vegetables and beef, but I certainly could ladle out a bit of the broth and wait for the fat to congeal so I could remove it. An hour or so in the refrigerator, and I had a savory broth to reheat and sip upon. Tonight, I'm serving Vegetable Soup to my family. An hour before dinner, I'll strain a bit of broth for myself and again put it in the fridge to get rid of any excess fat. This won't work every day of course, but it certainly helps. I'll be glad to rise Saturday and try soft foods. Lena

A month of liquid only? EEEK! Lena

IF you're allowed Jell-o, this helps. Basic Bavarian 1 3-oz pkg SF Jello Gelatin, any flavor 1/4 cup Splenda 1 cup boiling Water 3/4 cup cold water 1-1/2 cups Cool Whip Free Dissolve the Jello and Splenda in the boiling water and stir for two minutes, no less. Add cold water. Chill until slightly thickened about one hour and 15 minutes. Stir in the Cool Whip until blended. Pour into a mold if desired, but a bowl works just as well. Chill at least 3 hours. Makes 6-8 1/2 cup servings. Calories and carbs depend on flavors of gelatin, but is affordable on most low-carb diets, even Phase One. If you're within the first week of post-op, eat 1/4 cup slowly to see if you can "take it" yet.

Smart girl. I like Chai myself. Lena

I'm laughing at myself this morning. Last summer I made a pair of lounging pants, only to discover I'd gained more weight and couldn't fit into my new creation, with the lovely pale blue and sparkly stars. Disappointed and disheartened, I folded the pants and put them on the "after surgery" pile. :confused: Today, I looked at my five remaining soft loose pants that are bagging off me and sighed. I'm so sick of those pants. A glint of pale blue and stars caught my eye. Hope shot through me. Dare I? I looked around like a kid stealing cookies. Why not? With trembling hands, I pulled out the lounging pants. They were loose! OMG! They look like clown pants on me! :grouphug: Later, after I've worked a bit, I may just pull down that whole "after surgery" pile to see what other treasures await me. Some still won't fit. I've got sizes in there from 18-24, reflecting all my years of yo-yo dieting. Maybe...just maybe... Lena

Hi Nikki! I'm not depressed per se, but I admit to a certain nostalgia for some foods that are permanently off the list like rice. However, I found several substitutes that work just as well for me, like Cauliflower Rice and Turnip Fries for when I get a craving for the now-forbidden potatoes. I love my v-slicer! :thumbup: I served Parsnip Fries to my pickiest grandson yesterday, and he scarfed 'em down, declaring "Grandma makes better fries than MacDonald's, Mommy!" Best kind of accolade I can get from a seven-year-old, hmm? I was once a serious cokeaholic, so I have a lot of sympathy for you. However, as a new bandster who already screwed up once, I'm warning you to get off the carbonated drinks ASAP. You don't want pain like that. Trust me. :wink_smile: I'll be glad when I can have solids again, but I'm willing to take it slow and easy. A little patience now is worth the rest of my life. Grin and bear it. It's worth it. Lena

Hooray!! I'm so happy for you! Lena

Y'all are cracking me up. You're better than some of the comedy routines on TV. Lena

The gas went away in one night! Just as I was getting ready for bed last night, I was surprised with the intense need to run to the bathroom. Whew! Let's just call it an explosive moment. LOL! My dog looked at me like I'd just turned purple or something. "Whoa, did that come out of you, Mommy?" (giggle!) This morning I awakened with little to no shoulder pain at all, and much more freedom of movement. Occasionally, I still need to burp, but it's no longer quite so uncomfortable. In fact, as long as I'm slow and careful, I'm moving with much more freedom today. Today was my first cup of coffee, and I'm savoring the taste after way too many broths, Jell-o, and Popsicles. LOL! Later, I may cautiously try an ounce or two of Meal Replacement shake. The coffee is enough of a pleasure, for now. Lena

Today is a milestone day on my little lap band journey. I'm now allowed regular liquids including meal replacement shakes instead of only clear liquids like broths. That's a biggie for me. I made the mistake of gulping a slug of my hot tea on Saturday evening, and paid in discomfort for a half hour thereafter, so I'm starting slowly with a cup of coffee in a Sippy cup. Yes, I typed "a Sippy cup." You see, learning to eat in very tiny amounts requires some re-education. Besides learning not to take big mouthfuls of hot tea (or coffee, for that matter), I have to learn to sip delicately like a lady. Go ahead and laugh. I did. Me? Okay, so pain can teach an old dog new tricks. However the Sippy cup resembles a sparkly purple travel coffee mug, I know what it is. My adult dignity is slightly offended by this ten-ounce cure to greedy gulping. I took out the plastic insert, but it still gives me some much-needed control over what flows into my mouth. I need it, but I want something that doesn't offend my dignity quite so much. So, I rummaged in my china hutches until I found my great-grandmother's tiny delicate bowls and plates. Just using these bone china items gives me the willies and inspires caution. You definitely don't gouge out a scoop of even Jell-o from that fragile bowl. Since my new stomach pouch will hold less than three ounces, I'm definitely going to learn portion control in a hurry. I don't want to waste food, but I think 1/2 cup of oatmeal will fill that teeny bowl to the brim and be much more than I can eat at a sitting. Amazing. I'm now looking at food completely differently now. It's more "You want me to eat THAT MUCH? Uh, no!" than "Yuk! That looks disgusting." Pizza, burgers, and sweets still look and smell appetizing. I just know better than to think about having more than a taste. That's it. Less than a mouthful, thanks, or I'll be in agony later when that bread, rice, or potato plugs up my stomach like a cork in a bottle and sends me to the ER. How about I settle for a slice of pepperoni to nibble on, thanks. You have the rest with my blessing. Please feel free. I certainly feel free. I'm not limited except by good sense and my own free will. I chose this path. I like the way I will live for the rest of my life. I don't need breads, cakes, pastas, nuts, and rice to be happy. I'll roll up my ham slice in a piece of romaine lettuce and have an excellent "sandwich" on a picnic this summer. Next year at Thanksgiving, I'll enjoy a bit of turkey, veggies, and maybe a spoonful of the pumpkin pie filling. (I'll give my crust to my grateful dog, who is joyously happy to clean my plate of scraps.) I'll smile in triumph while DH and Dante make pigs of themselves on the stuffing, gravy, and dinner rolls because I made those things for them to enjoy. I get more satisfaction out of watching them enjoy than I do being fat.

Today is a milestone day on my little lap band journey. I'm now allowed regular liquids including meal replacement shakes instead of only clear liquids like broths. That's a biggie for me. I made the mistake of gulping a slug of my hot tea on Saturday evening, and paid in discomfort for a half hour thereafter, so I'm starting slowly with a cup of coffee in a Sippy cup. Yes, I typed "a Sippy cup." You see, learning to eat in very tiny amounts requires some re-education. Besides learning not to take big mouthfuls of hot tea (or coffee, for that matter), I have to learn to sip delicately like a lady. Go ahead and laugh. I did. Me? Okay, so pain can teach an old dog new tricks. However the Sippy cup resembles a sparkly purple travel coffee mug, I know what it is. My adult dignity is slightly offended by this ten-ounce cure to greedy gulping. I took out the plastic insert, but it still gives me some much-needed control over what flows into my mouth. I need it, but I want something that doesn't offend my dignity quite so much. So, I rummaged in my china hutches until I found my great-grandmother's tiny delicate bowls and plates. Just using these bone china items gives me the willies and inspires caution. You definitely don't gouge out a scoop of even Jell-o from that fragile bowl. Since my new stomach pouch will hold less than three ounces, I'm definitely going to learn portion control in a hurry. I don't want to waste food, but I think 1/2 cup of oatmeal will fill that teeny bowl to the brim and be much more than I can eat at a sitting. Amazing. I'm now looking at food completely differently now. It's more "You want me to eat THAT MUCH? Uh, no!" than "Yuk! That looks disgusting." Pizza, burgers, and sweets still look and smell appetizing. I just know better than to think about having more than a taste. That's it. Less than a mouthful, thanks, or I'll be in agony later when that bread, rice, or potato plugs up my stomach like a cork in a bottle and sends me to the ER. How about I settle for a slice of pepperoni to nibble on, thanks. You have the rest with my blessing. Please feel free. I certainly feel free. I'm not limited except by good sense and my own free will. I chose this path. I like the way I will live for the rest of my life. I don't need breads, cakes, pastas, nuts, and rice to be happy. I'll roll up my ham slice in a piece of romaine lettuce and have an excellent "sandwich" on a picnic this summer. Next year at Thanksgiving, I'll enjoy a bit of turkey, veggies, and maybe a spoonful of the pumpkin pie filling. (I'll give my crust to my grateful dog, who is joyously happy to clean my plate of scraps.) I'll smile in triumph while DH and Dante make pigs of themselves on the stuffing, gravy, and dinner rolls because I made those things for them to enjoy. I get more satisfaction out of watching them enjoy than I do being fat.

Not yet, Flowla. I see the doc on the 8th, and we probably schedule the fill then. I do know he wants to wait until the swelling goes down. Thanks for asking! I'll keep blogging. Lena

Well, here I am, back in my own little home office. Things didn't go quite as I envisioned them, but I'm pleased to say I'm very happy with the results. I went in hungry and darn near whimpering with a growling belly. I came out with no wish to eat at all. None. Zip. Nada. I have to force myself to look at bouillion, Jello, and popsicles. :thumbup: They kind of turn me off. Whether that's from eating them for nearly a week, or lack of appetite, I can't say. Conversely, food still smells great. My roomie Dante cooked one of my chicken recipes last night, and I supervised (more or less). I got a splash of the sauce on my thumb, licked it out of habit, and that was enough. I didn't want any more, just that taste. He did a decent job. I wandered out in the living room with another cup of tea, totally disinterested while my two men acted like starving wolves over a carcass. :thumbdown: Admittedly, I tire easily. This is to be expected. I did just have abdominal surgery, after all. Long as I take my Gas-X to get rid of the lingering gas pains, I'll be fine. I feel a bit jet-propelled already, but my shoulder still hurts now and then. Best to stay on top of it. Other than that, I need only Liquid Tylenol. Not bad at all. I'll keep you informed as I can. Lena

I'll pray all you like, CarolinaMom! Crossing my fingers and toes for you, just for extra measure. Lena