voiceomt2002

Thanks Peanutband and CJMTexas. Those numbers give me some idea, anyway. I probably make the minimal numbers anyway. I'll try to keep track of this as well.

Lena

Hey all

I am offically banded. It happend Jan 8th. Recovering at home and doing ok. Glad to be on this journey and wishing all the rest of you all the best as you go in for surgery. It will all be a distant memory soon.

Holler anyone if you need some support. I was scared but it was all smooth...

Welcome back, KelsieJoy! Glad everything went well for you.

Lena

Just a bit of a tip from my aunt who is a nurse - make sure you get plenty of protien even in the first two weeks - this will help prevent any hair loss.

Good for you! Just one question: What is "plenty"? I've never heard a real number. Not that I've had any problems, but I'd like to know.

Lena

My first post-op visit with my doctor is this Thursday. I'm thinking that's when they'll remove the stitches? Have any of you had your stitcxhes removed yet?

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

Lena, I'm glad you're back. Thanks for sharing about the port area pain. I was in such pain last night on the inside - a new pain. I was worried! I took the pain med that I had stopped 2 days ago and went to sleep. This morning it's not better but not worse. Then I read your note! Now I know what the problem is and I can calm down a little. Thank you so much for sharing your time with us!

**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

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

This is my pre op diet:

Recommended Menu:

(snipped)

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

I am so glad everyone so far is going great. I am getting my band in the morning. I am very scared and excited. I just hope things goes very well for me in the morning. Keep me in my prayers. And I will for everyone else.

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

This is Glenda Reporting in after surgery yesterday morning. I took a long time in recovery because of my nausea problem. I get real bad sick. Got a lot of sleep last night and this morning. I'm slowly puttering around today. I have been praying for Chrissy and Stephanie. Hope you ladies are doing well. I will be much more interesting tomorrow...

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 on the liquid diet?! :thumbup:

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.

ok no coke!! im 2 days off. I did find a awesome drink we can have. its a Protein drink from Bolthouse and its Chai Tea. Its yummy and taste like the chai tea from starbucks. i go for my 2 test tomorrow, ughhh upper GI sounds not fun. im getting more excited everyday. Good luck to everyone and keep us posted.

thanks for the support

nikki

Smart girl. I like Chai myself.

Lena

(Snipped for Brevity) Anyone else feel depressed thinking about what they cant have after? my big thing is coke and its going to be hard not having it. But im sure i will get over it. I hope every one keeps posting after their surgery. OH iM Nikki from the Atlanta area. My Dr. is Dr. Hart

xoxo

Nikki!

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

I just got my date. January 27. I am so excited. I understand about the extra anesthesia. I probably with have some extra also.

Carolina Mom

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

Glad things went well and you are doing ok! I go in for surgery next monday, 1/12, and appreciate reading your post! Hope things become less gassy for you, and hope to read continued updatdes from you!

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

Good luck to all of you who are getting ready for surgery this week. Please keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer that I get my date on Monday.

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

Lena

WOW! I am so glad that it went fine for you. I will be banded on the 8th and I am excited and scared too. Keep us posted on your progress!

(Saluting) Yes, ma'am! LOL! I wish I could burp! I never learned how to do it voluntarily, and I'm not about to drink any sort of carbonated beverage in hopes of doing so.

I do recommend the sippy cup another bandster told us about. By golly, it's great! I gulped from a regular mug ONCE and learned an important lesson.

Oh, and keep the tummy pillow handy. I have a minor cough and pressing the pillow firmly against my stomach helps.

Tomorrow will be my first legal MR shake. I'm measuring one ounce at a time and sipping very, very slowly. The change of pace will be very nice.

Lena

Lena,

thanks for the tip on Gas-x. How has your recovery been? It's been only 2 days? I would really like to hear how you are doing and what you are going through. I have 2 days left b4 mine and am reading all I can about the process just so I can know everything. Thanks for taking the time.

My first answer to this was destroyed by attempting to use the spellchecker, so y'all will have to bear up with my mistakes. LOL!

Recovery has been very smooth, so far. I can't even complain about the pain, because I can control it with liquid Tylenol. I still have some gas pain in my left shoulder, but it's to be expected as well. Gas-X or a walk definitely helps.

I will remain forever grateful to the bandster who recommended the sippy cups. I did find the one resembling the travel coffee mug and took out that plastic insert. Just once I used another mug and gulped, not sipped. That taught me with a straight quickness to sip carefully and slowly. OUCH.

Do obey that pre-op diet! I'm proud of the pictures my doc took of my liver during the surgery. It wasn't pretty and perfect, but it was liver shaped and reasonably healthy.

Tomorrow, I have permission to go back to the Liquid Meal Replacements, and I'm looking forward to doing so. I may not be hungry, but I'm tired of the same old flavors of broth, Jell-o, and Popsicles. A little variety would definitely be welcome. One thing is for sure -- I'm measuring an ounce or so at a time of the shakes. If that gulp I mentioned was any warning, I'm taking the new addition to my intake very slowly. The ache of "too much" is not worth it. Trust me on this.

Lena

You're most welcome. Hope you got the info you needed.

Lena

Hey LowFatButStill2Sweet, How are you doing. I know you had your surgery last Friday and I was praying for you and everyone else. I am getting my band on Thursday and just wonder how it went . Tell us please! :thumbup:

LFBS2S came through just fine. LOL! We met up in the hospital in the surgical prep area. What a coincidence, huh? You know, she's even prettier than than her avatar picture.

I"m not LFBS2S, but I can answer questions if you wish.

Lena

Okay, it's worth it. I can say that now. After an overnight stay and enough gas to light a fireplace, I'm a happy bandster.

I'm still on liquids, and after one experience tasting a Protein Shake, I won't cheat again. That, I promise you. The discomfort is not worth it. Trust me on that one.

I'm not hungry at all. Not one bit. My tummy rumbles frequently, but I think that's gas. I still putt around, if you get my drift.

Surprisingly, I have very little pain. liquid Tylenol takes care of it very well. Okay, I'm ready for another nap. Back to bed. LOL!

Lena:thumbup:

Hello, fellow Floridian! I had a hysterectomy first, then got banded, but the experience has been very similar for me so far. There is a site similar to this one for those getting a hysterectomy called HysterSisters.com. You might also ask there as well.

Lena

This is my first post. I'm having a vena cava filter inserted on 1/9, then banding on 1/12. I'm more scared of the filter than the banding. Anyone had to have this? It's to prevent a pulmonary embolism (I developed DVTs after knee surgery 2 years ago and have permanent vein damage, making me at-risk for additional blood clots).

I'm almost half-way through my pre-op diet: 4 200-calorie Protein shakes a day, coffee, tea, Water, Crystal Light, sugar-free Jello.

It's been SO tough... I'm so hungry! But I'm committed to doing this and being ready on the 12th. My husband is so supportive, and has taken over food shopping and preparation. Whew!

The vena cava filter isn't as bad as you think Teri. I'm a previous DVT patient as well. <HUG> You'll do fine. Yes, that pre-op diet is a royal pain, but bear up as best you can. Believe me, I walked into the hospital starving and walked out in wonderment. Yes, food still smells good and I remember the tastes, but I'm not hungry. Not a bit. I helped prepare dinner for my DH and roomie last night, and didn't care that I wouldn't have any. A tiny lick off my thumb from a splash of sauce was more than enough. Amazing!

Lena