Shmoopy

I took off one week. You know, some folks don't have any pain, but for some reason I was DYING on the left hand side. The doc said they cut through muscle there. So it was really hard for me to sit up straight for any length of time. I also have a desk job. Hilariously, after only a few days back, my department (without me!!!) and another one, got together to have a huge Potluck meal before the long weekend. My boss brought in the most hugest pan of Chicken Broccoli Ziti. I was miserable at my desk while everyone else ate and I was still on a liquid diet. But okay, back to my incisions...yeah, I was in pain. But I had the surgery on Monday the 22nd (of June) and went back the following week. I could've used a few more days. But it's a desk job. I sucked it up. When I hear that folks go back to work the next day I'm like Wha????:thumbdown:

I was specifically told not to submerge the incisions in water; bath or pool water. I even asked at my two week follow up if I can go swimming yet and she said no. To give it at least another couple of weeks for the wounds to heal. I only had glue on them. and one scab is gone already. a couple others have very big ugly scabs that just don't want to fall off. The incision below my bra line is so annoying...because my bra sometimes rubs up against it. It's the longest and looks funny to me. But I guess they are all healing okay.

I use Lean Body for Her by Labrada. They come in three flavors: Soft Ice Cream Chocolate, Soft Ice Cream Vanilla, and Soft Ice Cream Strawberry. I have both Chocolate and Vanilla. Now I don't confuse these for soft serve ice cream, but I dont find them gritty. AND they have 30 grams of Protein in each serving. So that would really help me get in my protein for the day. I also use it in my Magic Bullet and mix it with ice. So its more of a "frappe/milkshake" (again, its not fooling me). I highly recommend them.

Hope you don't mind if I nestle myself between all of you guys because i was just recently banded myself on the 22nd of June. I had a complete meltdown a few days after getting home from the hospital. I'm better now, but being on a liquid diet for two weeks has practically killed my spirit. After having cream soup once, I was all set. Cannot wait for some normalish type food. I'm going to see my nutritionist on Monday and hopefully she'll move me into the next stage. And hopefully can get the green light to do some exercises. I wish I could say that I had only been sore but nope. I had some intense pain. So that was a little eye opening! I was so happy to make it through my surgery and then after that wore off I was like "wait a second, this pain sucks. And this diet sucks!" But since my surgery I've lost 13 pounds (it's been about twelve days I think) ....sorry I dont know Kilos! I wish everyone the best! And guess what, I can't figure out this site either! I just wing it!! Keep talking. Ask for help. Share your stories. It's how we learn from one another! :smile2:

I was banded on the 22nd of June. I'm already down 11 pounds. NO idea how that happened and I honestly don't even care that much. I'm already SICK (literally makes me want to hurl) of cream Soups. So won't do that anymore. Thank God for Eggbeaters. It's warm and I can chew. Otherwise I would go crazy living on Protein shakes and Jello. Oh wait I have. (I hate yogurt and cottage cheese so those are out!) I know that everyone has different diet plans afterwards, and I'd like to stress that I've stuck to mine but am completely miserable. I feel like I'm starving. And yes, I'm drinking and yes I'm getting in my protein. I'm absoluetly dying for pizza and cannot stop thinking about it. I'm crying a lot and wondering what the hell did I do to myself. Can someone please confirm for me that at some point in the future I will be able to nibble on a piece of pizza without my band exploding? I'm so terrified of doing something wrong but while I knew I had to eat healthy (obviously when I'm at a later stage and not my liquid stage), I was sort of under the impression that I could eat almost anything but with the restriction I wouldn't be binging like I was before. Now I'm scared of even peeking at the next stage which is moist protein...3 oz of chicken?? Argh!!! :tongue2: Does anyone eat cake at a birthday party (obviously very must post-op)? Like literally I am wondering if everyone out there is an angel?????

Hi Everyone! Gosh, I cannot believe two days have gone by. Monday was my surgery. Everything went great. My mother went to the hospital with me. I told her that they scheduled the OR for two hours for me. (which is what hte nurse told me). Meanwhile, the operation only took 35 minutes and when the surgeon went in to see my mother, she thought the worst!! Ha! But seriously,, everything went fine. I'm not going to lie and say I havent had pain. I've had pain in one spot, on my left side and that's because they cut through a muscle. The first time I got up to walk, I was dizzy and felt a little sick. But I never threw up. The nurses and doctors were all about my peeing. It was kinda annoying. So everytime I had to pee (which wasn't much) it was a big deal. I stayed over night. And by yesterday morning I was able to walk around by myself (well with my IV bag) I got home yesterday around noon and slept a lot. I tried keeping hydrated (this is going to be tough. since small sips and then feeling sick doesn't do much for feeling better!) but I'm trying. I just woke up a short time ago, and I **think** I feel a tad better, but I'm not going to push it. The meds they gave me were Dilluadid. That's pretty much what is putting me to sleep. Oh this annoyed me...so I'm supposed to get my code for the Realize Band website, and when I asked for it, everyone just kind of looked at me like "what are you talking about?" That made me mad. And sad. I mean, I just went through all of that and I just want my code!!! If anyone has any specific questions, just ask. I'm sure I left out a ton. But I'm still trying to get back to feeling like myself. It surely was not as bad as I thought. But the pain kinda burns. :thumbup:

Yes! It helps! Thank you so much!! To hear you would do it again in a second really makes me feel at ease. Hearing these extremely positive stories is helping me relax and feel more excited about getting the surgery. I have a lot of faith in my surgeon and the staff at the hospital. So while I was fearing how I was going to feel when I woke up, I'm starting to worry way less about that. I hope I have a super successful time! I'll let you all know. Thank you again Shrinking Shadow. I wish you all the best. and thanks for being an inspiration right now.

Wow Linda... thank you so much!! Hearing your story has made me feel so much better. I don't think I can fully express how grateful I am that you took the time to write that. I know that everyone is different and I was focusing on the negative post-op stories I've heard, and haven't focused enough on the ones like yours...where it wasn't horrible at all! Once I'm out of the hospital and back home (Tuesday if all goes well and by the book) I'll give an update. Wish me luck!!

Thank you. and Thank you!! Gosh I need all the luck I can get. I'm nervous. Tomorrow is the big day. I'm not even afraid of dying or anything. ha. I'm mostly afraid of a lot of pain. And/or throwing up. I'm not good with those two things. I'm kind of a baby. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes okay. I'm due to stay overnight becuse of my sleep apnea. Man, I cannot believe it's here. Granted I've thought about not doing it. But honestly, time goes by SO fast and before I know it, it'll be June 2010 and I would probably say to myself "Jen you should've done that surgery last year. you'd already have a year and X amount of pounds behind you." So that's my drive....think about what I might possibly weigh a year from now. Get healthy. But...again, still nervous. So I apologize if I'm babbling or not making much sense.

My surgery is on Monday, the 22nd (only a few days away) and yes I'm extremely scared/nervous/etc. I think it's normal. I'm anxious to "get it all over with" and to start my new life. I'm come to the conclusion that things are going to suck for the next few weeks but I'm ready. Boy am I ready!!!

Awesome! Glad to see some other Mass folks here! Obviously this is a personal question, but just wondering, where are you guys having the surgery? I'm at New England Medical! Breanne, since we are so close in surgery dates I look forward to watching our progress. NOT comparing, mind you. Everyone is different! I'm so excited for this journey. Thanks to everyone who posts on here - you are all inspirational!

Yesterday I finally got my surgery date - June 22nd. Five weeks from yesterday in fact. I'm so ready. I'm glad that I found this site because it has been so helpful to read so many stories, advice, opinions etc. The surgeon told me that the band will help you lose 40% of the weight you need to lose. So in my case I need to lose 100lbs, so I should expect to lose 40lbs. No offense, but I'm not going through all of this to *just* (and I say that kiddingly) lose 40lbs. Was anyone else told this, and then blew past their 40%?? If anyone else is from Boston, please say hello!! :redface: