karebare4me

These are suggestions that my Surgeon offered and thought I would share for everyone to be aware..Since so many of us will be having surgery in the next several days.. Again always contact your Dr. with questions that you might have. Contact your surgeons office immediately if you experiance any of the following symptoms: - Bright Red Bleeding - Pain in your legs (sore and hot tothe touch) - Shortness of breath, difficulting breathing or painful breathing - Shoulder pain (severe) - Rapid pulse - Vomiting with every meal - Inability to keep anything down including Water - Fever over 100 or higher - Any unexplained pain If you do experiance difficulting breathing or profuse bleeding then call 911 and get to the nearest ER as soon as possible.

My Dr. gave me a great little book that has some great information that I thought would be helpful and thought I would share some of them. Don'ts to Drinking * Don't Drink Carbonated beverages (my dr says never, but ask your Dr.) * Don't Drink Alcohol. (First year, ask your Dr.) * Don't Drink coffee. (First Year ask your Dr.) * Don't Drink Caffeninated Beerages (first Year) * If on Iron Suppliment don't take with milk. * Don't Drink with meals (wait 30 mins before and after meals) * Don't Drink your Calories * Don't Drink Protein shakes like Ensure, Carnation Instant Breakfast unless your Dr. Tells you to do so. * Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink Water. by that time you have already lost two or more cups of your total body water. Do's * Do drink a minimum of 64 oz of water a day or more. * Do drink water as your beverage of choice * Do drink herbal teas * Do Sip frequently * Do drink diluted drinks such as crystal light on limited basis * Do drink chicken, beef and veggie broth * Do use splenda instead of other sweetners to sweeten beverages * Do increase your water intake on hot days and when exercising * Do increase your water intake if constipated Warning of Dehydration Mild - Thirst - Dry Lips - Slightly dry mouth membranes Moderate -Very dry mouth membranes - Sunken eyes -Skin does not baounce back quikley when pinched and released Severe -All signs of moderate -Rapid week pulse (more then 100) -Cold hands and feet -Rapid breathing -Blue lips -Confused, lethargy, difficult to arouse

Well, I am counting down the days to May 6th which is the day I get my band and I start this new journey. I had my pre-surgery Class ....I have been fighting Idiopathic Intercranial Hypertenstion for 4 years now and can't wait until I can wake up in the morning with out severe pain, hopfully improved vision and a body that will allow me to be the Mom/Wife I know I am.... Over the past several days my husband told my in-laws that I am having this surgery and there response was "oh the easy way out" or "so, she just couldnt eat smaller portions on her own?, why go to such extreams if all she has to do is just eat smaller portions" I am not just getting it from family, I have been getting it from friends... Because as soon as they find out that I am having this done next week, they say the same things.. and even today I had a friend say "Why havent you tried to loose weight on your own, this surgery thing just seems really out there" My deffensive response to him was..Well it was either this or Brain surgery.. which would you choose if that was your options? (see I am at the point that either I have the lap band or a shunt (brain surgery) to help with my Idiopathic Intercranial hypertention disorder) And to add to this my Dear Husband came home from talking to his family and asked me these questions with a sincerity that he was thinking the same thing. I was a bit taken back by his sincerity to the questions. At first I was hurt and got deffensive and said "Did you just seriously ask me that" If you don't understand why I/We are doing this surgery then maybe we need to sit down and have a long talk. Which we did... Have any of you expreianced these type of questions with non support from Family? As I have been preparing my self for next week, I have been reflecting back on the last 4 years and what I have lost out on, Watching my Son & Daughters Soccer Games, My Husbands Soccer Games, Family outings, Amusement Park rides, riding bikes on Sunday, being able to do regular Mother and Wife functions around the home. My health has been detiriating each month. And as I made this decision I relized that I may not be able to get those things back.. But I will be able to make new memories that can help over shadow those that have been lost. I know this is going to be the best thing for me and I know that I am going to ROCK my band with all my might, heart and strength. I know that I can do this, I have made the right decsision for me. And that I am doing this for My self and for my Family. I will be healthier, I will be the Wife and Mother I know I can be and want to be, I know that this is going to be the best thing that I could do for me at this point in my life. Thank you Bandsters on this group, I am looking forward to taking this journey together as May Bansters. I have prepared my self for this... You all have inspired me in so many ways and I can only hope to be a beacon to someone else like you all have been to me. See you in bandland May 6th 2009 Karianne

Ann, As long as your getting some protien and staying under 1000 calories then you should be fine.. It should be good for you to mix it up a bit. I'm surprised that your Dr. is making you only take just one thing all day long.. I feel for you. My Pre-Surgery Diet is following a High Protien low carb diet consuming no more then 1000 calories per day. Diet example is Protein shake for Breakfast and lunch and then a high protien dinner with small portion of meat and veggies. keeping all day calories under 1000. So, still do what your Dr. tells you but mixx it up a bit and mix your slim fast in with some ice and a bannana in the blender or add a little bit of Peanut Butter to your chocolate slim fast. Just think outside the box but still being with in your dr's rules. And then go for some walks or go take a swim. I have been walking, and doing some Water aerobics each day and I have lost 12 pounds so far. My surgery day is May 6th. You can do it..I beleive in you hang in there.

Welcome May 2009 Bandsters Well, I am new to the site and will be banded on May 6th. I also noticed that there are several that will be getting banded in the month of May to.. So, I thought it would be fun to have a thread for us May Bansters. I think it would be fun to see how we all progress as we each reach our surgery date and our experiances after. So I will start first.. I am counting down to my days, I have 4 days left. I am on the pre-diet and have lost 12 pounds. I am looking forward to having my band. So when is your date? tell us all. *Please post even if you are not a may 2009 bandster we would still love to hear from you and we post our experiances. See you in Band land soon.

I am not banded yet.. My Surgery Day is May 6th 2009 4 more days.. Yeah!! Anyway my doctor told me that protien shakes should be avoided. he does not want me to get into the habit of drinking my meals. I can have some through the liquid/mushie phase but after and during the regular meal phase they should avoided and the meals should be 2 oz (3 tbsp of Protein and 1 tbsp of Veggies) My Doctor Gave me a little book that give's me Do's and Don'ts Here is what he gave me for the eating.. Day 1 to day 7 after Surgery - Clear liquids Day 1: Water 64 oz per day sip, sip,sip,sip 1-2 oz every hour SF Jello, propel, crystal light, broth 2 oz per meal Day 2 & 3: Water 64 oz per day sip, sip,sip,sip 3-4 oz every hour SF Jello, propel, crysltal light, Broth 2 oz per meal Day 4 through 6: Full Liquids Water 64 oz per day sip, sip,sip,sip 4-6 oz every hour can add propel, crystal light, (low calories no sugars) Strained Soups: cream Soups ok with skim milk Cottage cheese, Light Yogart - all limited to 2 oz by volume not weight per meal. Day 7 through Week 4 Water 64 oz per day sip, sip,sip,sip 6 oz every hour can add propel, crystal light, (low calories no sugars) Soft Protein Foods 2 oz per meal = 3 tbps protein & 1 tbsp veggies Take 20 mins to eat your meals, chew chew chew chew Protein Ideas for this stage Deli meats * Canned turkey * eggs * Tofu * Canned chicken * Canned tuna * Cottage Cheese * Yogart * Cheese * String Cheese * Refried Beans Veggie Ideas for this stage (no raw all cooked) Tomatoes * Green Beans * Carrots * Peas * Yams * Beets * Squash * Tomato juice he also gives ideas for soups and condiments along with meal suggestions. So if you would like those I would be happy to post them.. Well, always keep in mind that you should do what your DR tells you to, every Dr is differant. But, I wish you the best.. You'll do great.. We will be banded in the same month so keep me posted as I will to. Have a great day..