Marebeth1

If it bubbles, good chance it's carbonated. Sorry I've had so many posts - I'm only getting on here 1x a day now

Need2lose - you are on the same 2-2-2 plan I am on. I start on pureed foods on Wed or Thurs this week after my doctor's appt. Tomorrow is 2 weeks.

They are probably ok as long as there is NO carbonation like most sodas. Carbons will cause air and gas and probably not so good for that tiny little opening of the lap band.

Congrats on getting to the gym! The 1st of the month I'm going back to 24 hr fitness. Just not ready yet - I am walking to the park, go to sit down for a few minutes and rest - then head back to the house. I am in a 2 story and am trying to do more stairs every day. Are you planning on going to the gym every day?

Tan-ya - I can't believe your doctor said pain and nausea rarely occurs. Last pain meds I took was last Friday - 10 days after surgery. I am still have tolerable pain in the center of my tummy just to the right of the larger incision. But I had a hernia repair too so it could come from that (from what I read from others who had hernias). Surely if you are having pain in the hospital your doctor will send a RX to the hospital pharmacy for you before you are released. Nausea happens from the pain meds cause your stomach is empty. I would suggest going to Walmart and getting some Atkins Protein Drinks - ready made in box (4 pack) - the Vanilla is good. Put them in your fridge so their cold and ready to go. If you have a Sam's Club card they have Atkins in a 12 pack. It's worth having it when you feel bad and want something quick. Make some sugar free jello the night before surgery so it's ready for you too. I found this tiny little Dan-o-lino Dannon mini yogurts - about 2 oz sizes - all smooth. I mix crushed pills in them and follow with some water afterwards. Some of my meds taste really bad!! Be sure and buy something for constipation. I had Miralax from when I broke my back - it's a little pricier but it worked after 3 doses. You'll want to wait about a week after surgery if you don't go on your own. I have had to take it as long as I'm taking pain meds because they are constipating. I hope this helps?

LOL, Yes Dr. Mohamed Ali is his name. Not the boxer! HAHA. I only knew him as Dr. Ali all this time, not knowing his first name. He's a gem and I really like UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and they are a "teaching" hospital too. I go on Wednesday for my 2 week post-op appt and get my staples out! Day of surgery I weighed 252 and my goal is to be 239 and it looks like I will be below that on Wednesday. I started my lap band journey 4 years ago at 302 but never had the surgery. I have no regrets and plan to enjoy every eating stage even though I hate pureed or soft mashed foods - I am planning to find things I like that are healthy. Think I will still keep the Protein drinks in my diet to insure I get my protein counts.

It does encourage me so much to see all the people who have lost 100 lbs or more.....Congrats to you all and how much your journey has encouraged all those coming behind you!!!! Question....I started my weight loss journey 4 years ago - my first appt for lap band surgery. However I just got banded on Sept 13, 2011 - yes, 4 years later. I started out at 302, on day of surgery I weighed 252 and now I weigh 237. So do I count my weight loss from my original or day of surgery? To me, it is from the start cause it sure has been a work. I am SO HAPPY with the lap band decision i made to finish my journey. Still I have 100 more to go for my goal weight.

I too had a haital hernia repair with the lap band on Sept 13th, 2011. Like you all - NO REGRETS - If it wasn't for that, I would have the hernia repaired. I go back to my doctor on the 28th to take the staples out and weigh. That is 2 weeks post-op and my goal was to hit below 240 (252 on day of surgery) and right now I am at 237. I have had a couple of set backs because I have done too much. I have a history of asthma and in the hospital I couldn't breathe because of the horrible pain near my lungs. I read where people with just lap band seem to get better faster so I am thinking the pain must be coming from the hernia repair. Did any of you have difficulty coughing? That junk from the anesthesia settled in my lungs and I have now been sick for a few days strangling on coughing that junk up. It took me 8 days before I had a BM....2 days taking Miralax 3 times. It's because of the pain meds and your tummy was empty for surgery. I put almost a full cap of Miralax in my Protein drink. It doesn't taste or is nasty. Another thing I did was mix my Protein Drink with fat free milk. Since milk is a solid food in the stomach....it moves it all down!! I would like to know where to buy the unjury Protein Mixes??? Do you have a website or store? I'll have to say I have NO prob whatsoever with the Protein drinks and so glad to find some bandsters with the same. Best of Luck to all of you!!!

It's so of normal not to have a bm....mine was on day 8 after 3 doses of Miralax. Walking helps too when you take something to make your bm move. It's good to start because having your bowels move will definitely make you lose weight. I lost 4 lbs after my first I have no problems with protein drinks either....it is the plan and I'm committed to losing weight. I figure the way gastric bypass patients lose so much is drinking the protein drinks so just trying to stay focused. I've not heard of that protein drink but will look it up. I go on Wednesday to get staples out. I've had a set back of doing too much too soon. My walking is good but I get tired really fast.

At first I tried the pillow and even that hurt. I would try to cough and it was so weak then finally a pillow started helping. I got that breathing gizmo from the hospital and it helped. I think the liquid Protein for 4 weeks will give you a great start to losing weight and getting your tummy completely healed. I think my doctor must have put a FILL in my band at surgery because he does the 1st fill 2 months later and I have read some people on here that after a week or two they got their first fill. I have to keep strict food journals listing all the amounts, protein and calories and they said if I come to my first fill appt without them they won't do a fill. I like that because it makes me accountable to doing the food journal.

Need2lose........regular and fat free are full of sugars and calories. You can Google "How to read food labels" to learn how what you are getting in foods. Even if you are using 2% milk has much more carbs and calories than fat free milk. I used 2% 1 day this week and said never again - it had 28 Carbs and the calories were 100 extra over the fat free milk.

I have found a KISS sweet spot for me. Keep it Simple Sweetheart! I have a Blender Bottle for 20 oz. First thing in the morning I fill it to 16oz of Fat Free Milk and 2 scoops of Nectar Chocolate Truffle totaling 48grams of Protein. I sip it 1 oz every 15 minutes from 8am to Noon. Then I sip on a bottle of spring water 33oz in the afternoon. I don't care about finishing the water bottle - it's just my bottle I sip from the rest of the day. Because I took in 48g of protein I can afford to stop if I need to for a little while. Then late afternoon ore evening I drink a Vanilla Atkins Protein Drink - 15 grams of Protein 160 Calories 1 Carb. My total fluid intake has to be 48 to 64 oz and I can count the protein drinks and water combined. I just getting to 48 oz of fluids every day and I am working to increase that. Today was the 1st day I had hunger pains when I woke up....started on the protein drink and it went away. This LIQUID Protein diet has trained me to only sip an ounce over 15 minutes. It was tough at first but I got it down after 9 days now. On the Fudgesicle - counting the Proteins in junk found is not considered a high vale protein. In my nutrition class there are only certain high value foods with protein that we are allowed to count - they said do not count the others. I understand if it is sugar free fudgesicles but don't we need to change our bad habits of thinking about sweets so much and think healthy foods and portions. If the fudgesicles are not sugar free, you are not starting out too good at changing poor nutritional decisions that got us in this position of having to get lap band surgery.

Banded on 13th, I was only able to do shallow breathing because deeper breathing HURT SO BAD. Because of the anethesia and my history of asthma, the mucous junk settled in my chest. Just the last few days it has started to loosen and I'm coughing so much and it HURTS my stomach. I am now taking my inhaler every 4 hours and bought some Mucinex - I cannot afford to get sick with this junk in my lungs! My doctor has me on 2 weeks of Protein shakes only 60-80 grams per day - Then 2 weeks of pureed with protein shakes still. Then 2 weeks of soft very mashed foods. I am so glad with this plan because I am dropping weight with it and I don't want to missed this great window of opportunity to lose it right off the bat.

Question......I have this one area on my stomach about 3x3 inches that is totally numb - no feeling at all. Anyone else experience this?

Hi Steph, At the hospital they weighed me in at 252 before surgery, then after surgery when I got to the hospital room, they rolled the scale and I weighed at 258. My stomach grew then next day and seem to swell up really big. It was also hard and sore. That was 10 days ago. I still have swelling and my tummy is distorted with swelling around the longer incision for the port. I'm excited about my doctor's appt next Wednesday to get these staples out! I guess the doctor's offices don't tell us what to expect or we might not get the surgery. It amazes me that some people have lap band and don't even have pain.

I am 10 days post op and the swelling has started going down slowly. Went to my PCP for following my surgeon recommended and from the day of surgery to today - since10 days I've am 9+ lbs down!!!!!!!!!!!! I weighed 243 and my goal when I go next week on Wednesday - 12 weeks post op is to hit below 240. I think that might happen!!

Ahhh, it is the tomato soup....tomatoes are too much acid for your stomach. My doctor says no tomatoes or other high acid fruits and veggies.

Yes I have had some fullness a few times but it only happens when I drink my protein drinks TOO FAST. Are you eating this soon or did you mean drinking? I'm suppose to sip 1 oz over 15 minutes and I'm now on that rhythm pretty good and don't have any fullness at all. Another reason to sip slowly is I read that if drinking too fast - it can stretch the pouch out - I sure don't want that. I was banded on Sept 13th. I won't be on soft foods until week 5. Interesting how doctors let some people eat right after surgery.

I was at The Vitamin Shoppe this week and they have 2 brands - one is the Vitamin Shoppe brand and I can't remember the other - but they are on SALE for Buy One get one 50% off (hope I got this right). They had several flavors such as chocolate, French Vanilla, Banana Cream, Unflavored. I don't remember the price but it looked like they had 2 and 3 lb tubs. Now that we have a Protein Drink topic page, I will try to remember to get all the info. If you see any SALES please POST - try to get the info, like the sizes, brand names, price and deal

Nomrtz & Erika - In Re: Unjury and Dymatize ISO-100 - Where did you buy them? what size tub? and price? I know you said the Unjury was $22 and I haven't seen it that cheap unless it's a smaller tub. If you know of a good website to purchase protein powder please share! I know www.VitaLady.com will let you purchase samples to try before you buy.

As long as you keep losing its the main key. My dietitian said to keep the carbs as low as possible. I'm not doing Atkins, just have been on it several times and know it like the back of my hand. My doctor won't put me on pureed until after 2 weeks. Then 2 weeks of pureed, then 2 weeks of soft mashed and I get to go regular after that. Sounds like you are doing pretty awesome on your plan!

I too had laproscopic for gall bladder removal and I remember it hurting a LOT for the first few days. I remember they told me to WALK WALK WALK and the more I walked the faster the gas works itself out. Nothing like walking with pain and dizziness. I promise you will feel better in a couple of days. Take your pain meds and take some good naps and rest.. I hope you feel better real soon!

Trinate, That little breathing gizmo is for your oxygen level and lungs. I had to do it.....My pain was so bad I did shallow breathing and my oxygen level was 85-89 (poor) and they kept telling me to do that gizmo and it would increase. Deep breathing increases oxygen and oxygen will decrease the pain and dizziness, especially when you've been laying down and then get up and are dizzy. If you have ever had a problem with asthma or if you smoke they will make you breathe in that gizmo too. On that gizmo they want you to make the little ball go to 1000, so I was told in the hospital.

Hi Bromo, I think that should be tasty because it has 32 Carbs in one serving. In my Nutrition Class at my doctors they taught to stay away from sugars and carbs as much as possible and it will help loose weight faster.....especially during the first 6 weeks. Then if I want to add a banana only add 1/3 banana because they are one of the sweetest fruits. A low carb diet usually limits carbs to 20 per day. Just curious. I know you got banded on the 14th, do they already have you off liquids only and on pureed? I can start pureed until next Wednesday after my 2 week post op appt.

Can you tell us where you bought this Jay Robb Protein Powder plus the price and size of the tub? I like that one scoop is 32g