voiceomt2002

Hey Nikki! I'm doing great! I checked in at 7am, was in surgery about 9 and was on my way home at 12:30! I have been sleeping a lot and creeping around the house. I am a little sore, but just feel like I did 5,000 crunches at the gym...plus the percocet helps LOL:cool2:

Are you eating at all? I haven't had an appetite all day, but I forced myself to drink some Water since my throat is so dry and I ate 2 SF popsicles, but that's it...

Hey, KC! Welcome home.

Lena

Heres the kicker! As soon as i got into nothing but that gown, i see what looks lilke smoke coming out of the air vents!! Then comes all these cut firemen. I wasnt happy about everyone being able to see my in my gown and compression socks! Those things looked like grany hose!!! Anyway it wasnt smoke the A/C vent froze up. Too much drama for me...lool....I think the little but of pain im feeling is where my Dr. repaired my HHernia. Just wanted to check in. I'll update tomorrow....Hope my girls did ok today!!!

Nikki

OMG! You poor darling! Hope you're doing okay tonight.

Lena

I was given this recipe ages ago when I was seriously low carbing and the resulting roll is like a slightly eggy substantial meringue. It is great for sandwiches and I love it with chicken salad. It is an updated version of a recipe in the first Atkins diet revolution book. Anyway, I googled it and found the same recipe online:

Wow, and to think I've been just rolling my chicken or tuna salad in a romaine lettuce leaf.

Thanks!

Lena

I can hardly wait until caffeine is OK again, what I wouldn't give for a fresh brewed UNSWEETENED iced tea!!!

You can have Decaf and herb tea, right? I've been making iced tea with decaf bags for awhile now.

Lena

Thanks, Peanut. <HUG>

So, how about an update, y'all? Doing better?

Lena

Congratulations! Your original reason was morbid, but you were smart. I found a few treasures in the back of my closet. I'm wearing one now!

I'd already weeded out the Goodwill pile, but now I have a pile of "mend and tailor" things, plus a pile of "I havent got the courage to see if I fit yet." (giggle) I'll be forced into it soon, though. Everything I normally wear is falling off!

Right. Everyone's doc has their own rules. Mine says I can have any liquid as long as I don't exceed 30g of carbs a day. I can even have carbonated diet drinks, but I know my own body and I won't even start that. For me, a diet soda is the road to perdition.

I suggest calling your doctor's office. Mine has a nutritionist on staff I can call or email to ask these sort of questions. Yours might too.

Lena

Okay, here's my take. YMMV (Your mileage may vary.) A great deal of identifying what the pain is directly related to where the pain is. Bear with me, here.

1. Belly rumbles below the level of the stomach. You can safely ignore those. They're your lower intestine doing its thing. The noise will cease later.

2. Pain around the port site. That's just plain old healing. Take your pain meds.

3. Discomfort in the lower chest-- hunger OR you ate something that can't pass the stoma easily.

Disclaimer: This is how I interpret my own body. Yours may be different.

Lena, 32 lbs is wonderful! I am so happy to hear that. I don't understand why you get to eat regular foods and I'm on this liquid diet for 4 weeks after surgery:mad2:

Mine has a progressive program over several weeks. I was on soft foods ("mushies") until today, but he said everyone's tolerance will be different. This has proven to be very true. While I can get many veggies past the stoma, very few meats pass. Theoretically, I've been allowed chicken and ground beef for a week, but unless the chicken is chopped fine, it didn't pass. I tried Spam the other day, chopped up fine. It didn't pass. Yarked it up in less than thirty minutes. You'd think Spam would be softer than chicken. Nope! At least I have sense enough to try an ounce of a new food at a time so I'm not yarking violently. I haven't had the nerve to try beef or other porks than Spam up until now.

Every couple of days, I'll try a meat on the approved list to see if things have improved. Last night I managed chicken in itty bitty chunks for the first time. So, for me meats are a challenge. To supplement the eggs, chicken, and fish I can get past the stoma, I'll have a Protein Shake to make sure I'm getting plenty of Protein. Have to admit, I'm getting sick of tuna and salmon. I never thought I'd say that.

Take your time, Glenda. Follow your doctor's rules. It'll be worth it. You'll probably lose more weight than I, right?

Lena

Lena,37lbs how great is that:thumbup:I hope i do half as well ,you go girl.Also how do you make turnip fries? Kerry

Easy!!

Use a V-slicer to cut a peeled turnip into "fries." Throw them in a tablespoon of hot olive oil and cook until soft and a little golden.

Turnip fries turn a bit sweet, but with a peppery afterbite. Be prepared, and cook them well.

Lena

Fresno, CA here!:wink: My date is for the 21st, less than a week now! How are you doing now, feeling sore still, or all better?? Good luck:thumbup:

I doubt you mean me, but I'm going answer. It's going so well, it's scary. I still can't eat most meats, and even chicken doesn't go down well. That's okay with me. I'm happy with just seafood and eggs most days. The veggies are going down like treats, even my favorite turnip fries, long as I cook them well.

I stepped on my home scale this morning, and had to have my DH read it to verify it really said 254! That's 32 pounds gone since I started! I'll fix my ticker later.

Lena

IM suppose to have surgery on Jan 16th and today,,,,jan 14th my financing may be falling apart,,,,,I do want to be banded,,,,,,,I really do

Oh dear! I'm sorry, hon. Good luck!

Lena

The gas was very annoying the first 4-5 days but now it's gone! Is anyone having cotton mouth or bad breath in the mornings? Every morning my mouth is coated with white gunk. Any ideas? (Sorry this post is so gross.)

I didn't have it this time, but last time I had "metal mouth" and a coating. It was the result of the anesthesia. It did go away.

Also, eat yogurt Glenda. It helps. I found out all that belly noise I've been having is perfectly normal! LOL! Good to know, because my tummy was more talkative than my ADHD daughter. (Something I thought impossible. The girl's tongue is hinged in the middle so both sides can flap.)

Lena

I should have done this years ago.... oh well, this is my year! And ours! God be with you ladies, I will be praying for your speedy recovery.

Wow, congratulations Glenda!

Lena

I am one day post op and have not had a bm. I also have not passed any gas. I have been walking as much as possible around the house, but I am getting concerned. Normally really gassy.

I agree with Peanutband. Sure, I tooted pretty quickly, but the real "putt-putt" started after I got home and relaxed. I'm still getting rid of the last of it, and I've been home well over a week. Relax. It'll happen when it needs to.

As far as BM's are concerned, remember you didn't have a whole lot in your digestive tract if you had a pre-op liquid diet. It may be a few days before there's enough solid matter available to evacuate.

My doc did warn me that because of what I'm eating, Constipation can be a minor issue. I've found that to be somewhat true, but a cup or two of a certain herbal tea seems to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

I don't really get it. Frankly, I'm finding well-cooked vegetables much easier to get down than chicken and other soft meats. eggs, Spam and tuna go down well, but not most other meats. Veggies I can cook to death and they pass. meat...not so much.

Lena

I just need to buy my chewable Vitamins and those gas strips everyone's talking about. anything else that I have to get? I can't believe it's finally here!

I recommend a bottle of liquid Tylenol and a sippy cup. There are sippy cups that don't look too childish. I found one that looks like a small purple travel coffee mug.

You can leave the Tylenol at home, but take the sippy cup if you stay overnight. If not, leave it for when you get home. It helps you control how much liquid you swallow at first. It's much too easy to take an adult-sized mouthful of liquid and find out it causes you discomfort.

You won't need the sippy cup for long, but it sure is nice while you do need it.

Lena

I understand about not believing the weight loss. I'm not driving across town to be weighed once a week, but my clothes say I'm dropping pounds. Not that I'm complaining, mind you!

**Lena gathers up her baggy pants and wanders off**

i wonder how much your liver actually shrinks during pre-op diet....

No clue, to tell you the truth, but I'd be willing to bet it's a very individualized thing.

You can start right now. I started months before I needed to do so, as soon as a bandster friend warned me. She told me to go on a very low-carb diet and stay there.

I did, and once I made the adjustments to my recipes and got into the habit of reading all the labels of all the food I shopped for, it got a lot easier. I actually enjoy the low-carb life now, and had no trouble when the doc told me to diet and keep below 30g of carbs total a day. It wasn't until I started tracking calories as well that I actually lost a lot of weight, but by then the extra care wasn't that difficult.

You can do this. Really. A little privitation now means the possibility of a lifetime of rewards later.

Lena

Wow, Bella! What a terrible hospital. <HUG>

Lena

Hi! Yep! I'm banded and dropping the pounds.

Lena, dragging my droopy drawers already!

Yep! You should have seen the first picture of my liver. It was a disgusting pile of goo. Only reason I saw it is because it happened to be in a picture they took of my insides for a hysterectomy.

My LapBand surgeon, Dr. Baptista, made me go on a strict diet. I won't lie and tell you it was easy. It wasn't. Was it worth it? You betcha! Dr. Baptista took a picture of my healthy much-reduced liver to give me a pat on the head after my surgery for being such a good patient. What a difference!

Yeah, it was worth it.

Lena

I have finally received insurance approval and will be banded on 1/16/09! It is a day later than it was supposed to be but I am still happy about it! I can't wait!!!! Good luck to everyone else that is being banded this month!

Hooray!! Congratulations, BlueeyesinCA95! :laugh:

Lena

Well here is my report after seeing my doctor follow up appointment. I get to move on to week number 2 foods. Oh My! pudding and cream soaps. I just made some banana cream pudding add a scoop of vanilla Protein and oh I am in heaven......And here is some good news he told me. I am now down 18 lbs. So I will be changing my tracker very soon. Just thought you all would like to hear some good news today. I go back in 5 weeks for my first fill which is on my birthday also. This is the nices christmas present I have given to myself. I am so happy right now.

I'm very happy for you, Peanutband!

Lena

Congrats on everyone who's been banded so far. You are all reassuring me and making me feel a little easier. I get banded tomorrow. My only real worry right now is that my husband has to work a 12 hour shift the day I am released. I'll be in the care of my grandmother and her sister. I think I"m ready for the aches and pains of surgery since I just had my gallbladder removed this summer (by the same doctor). I think I'm all set.

Fair Winds and Following Seas today, Jen414. My DH had school the day got out, so my roomie took me home. Perhaps that was a good thing. DH would have fussed and made me go to bed. I was happily ensconced in my recliner with my embroidery and a DVD instead. Much better than boredom in a bed, IMHO.

Lena