cduval04

Ya no nausea for me at all yet-(knock on wood but it'll come eventually....everything seems to hurt more than yesterday..but my incions itch which means they are healing(or it means I'm allergic to the dermabond or the purple ink that it is colored with lol)...they put one of those Patches behind my ear I think that has something to do w/ the abscence of the nausea It took me like 15 hrs to drink that 32oz...I didn't chug it all at once lol. Same with the Jello. 1.5 snck size cups over like 16 hrs..anyway I'm glad I'm peeing now. No gas yetn although I have gas pains I haven't even tooted once.....do they allow u to take gas-x?....does it actually work in our situation? Thanks for all the help guys!

Ive put out an additonal 1300ccs or so since my last post...I lost count at like 5 bags but an educated guess is that I'm probably on the 8th or 9th bag of lactated ringers since I got here...I think each bag is 1000ccs not sure though.....so I still have quite a bit of fluid ine.....but at least its coming out....I also probably havent taken enough oral fluids becuase I haven't "gotten to kno" my new stomach yet and I am afraid of hurling ive only had about 32oz by mouth plus about 1/2c jello and 1/4 cup of chicken broth since I got here yesterday....I am just petrfied of puking...I dont know if there's such thing as "vomit-aphobia" but if there I have it...last time I puked was summer of 1999! ya I remeber i becuase lets just say it was one of those memorable pukes...if you catch my drift....I'm sure I probably will at least once cuz I wll probably push my limits, but I hope not at least for a while...and if I do it in the hospital they said they were going to keep me another night...and I'm set for discharge in a few hours...so I wuld not want to blow that.....cant sleep in these hospitals..

thanks....ive lost track of my total but I've been on a 200cc drip every 1/2 hr for 10+ hrs + finally managed to get out a pathetic 150ccs......I could have probably been peeing hours ago if I had registered in my drugged out brain that the commode I had over the toilet was too small it was a standard sized commode like not for LB patients, (the bigger one was sitting off to the side in the shower lol...smart hospital....believe me if there was a faucet in the bathroom i would have turned it on a LONG time ago but there's just a shower - the faucet is outside the bathroom in my room) and therefore literally squeezing me "shut" (women, you might get what I'm saying a little better) I should start peeing my brains out soon now that I took the commode off and theres a space for it to exit God, the obvious things we miss on pain meds lol + the "inconveniences" of being a fatty lol.....not for long I'm on the other side now!!!

well can't say I can relate the last part of that lol :wink3: but it has now been 12 hours for me since I peed......I've had Water, chicken broth, and Jello......I've never experienced anything quite like it...it's like someone stuck a shield up there.....then again I have never had any kind of surgery to my abdomnial cavity

yeah thats exactly what it feels like....I lost my "pushing" muscles....I don't know how to explain it better than you did......so....now how to convince them I just need time, and not a catheter.......they said they cleaned my out bowels completely while they were in there so I'm not expecting a #2 for a while, but how long was it before u peed? my venodyne boots fit fine this morning and now they are popping off when they inflate...I am going to have to ask for a lg instead of a med if I dont start PEEING soon....uuggghhh sooooo annoying

Ya that's the one jess! I'm looking forward to trying it-havent found a bad review on this forum yet!!

I am very "picky" with the protein supplements too...I have hated a lot of them so I was really dissapointed to find out on here that the unflavored powders were not really "unflavored", but then I was looking through this forum and found this post on one of the threads: I found an awesome product at bariatriceating.com. today was my first day to use it so i was a bit nervous. but you go their site and click on shop and protein powders. it is called BE Pure Isolate Protein. IT HAS NO FLAVOR AND NO TEXTURE. No Fat no or low carbs (i dont have the package in front of me). It mixes with anything. I promise. i drank it with chicken broth for lunch today and it turned it a little milky but no bad taste or grit. I praised God for this. Cause i did not want to drink a RTD shake. they are too thick and too sweet. please give this site a try. they have other flavors also. But i know that i would not make it through this pre-op plan without it. Good luck ! this poster sounds pretty confident...plus on the website one of the testimonials reads: I ordered your PURE Unflavored Protein and I just have to tell you I am a big fan. So often people say that their unflavored Proteins are not truly unflavored and that they smell - your product is truly unflavored, top quality, no smell. I mix it with my decaf latte and get a Protein Drink that is heavenly. Thank you – Tammy Edwards I seriously think I might try this one, as soon as i get sick of milky/sweet shakes and Powerade zero and SF Jello and popsicles. This stuff really sounds iike it's legit and I am willing to risk my money on it. The site is www.bariatriceating.com and they also have some other really good looking shakes called "inspire" in like a million different unique flavors.

OMG I am so getting nervous now......I called for my surgery time yesterday and it is at 7:30 am they said I have to arrive at 5:45am. The hospital I am going to is almost 40miles away takes a lil' over an hour with no traffic, so we are going to have to leave at like 4:30 and doctors orders were to wash abdomen with hibiclens right before coming to hospital so I am going to have to wake up at like 3-3:30am.....I really don't care though I would rather that than 3pm. my surgery will be over b4 9am.....kind of like when I woke up for black friday except the "purchase" is a new lap band lol Good luck to EVERYONE I should go to bed now b/c god knows I probably won't get any sleep tomorrow night!!

wow that was a big help....does the flaxseed oil really taste good? I guess if an 8 year old would take it, i could. Cuz I spent a lot of time looking around at Omega 3 gummies/softchews, and they all just sounded gross and even if I found one I liked I would probably end up trying A LOT before finding one that was tolerable and that is a lot of wasted $ I don't have lol. I ended up buying this stuff called coromega-its like a little ketchup packet that is citrus flavored, the guy an viatmin shoppe said all his customers like it and it does have a tart citrus taste but no fish taste, you can suck it out plain or add it to a smoothie etc. its has 350 of epa and 250 of dha. Although I could not try it cuz my surgery is monday and no-omega 3's allowed pre-op I had my bro and his GF try it and they didnt find it very good, but they can be overdramatic sometimes . If that doesn't work. I'm going to ask my nutritionist if omega 3 "mini" gels are ok. I don't know if you've heard of them but as far as I know 3 companies make them, one is made by a company called prothera, one is made by is NOW foods, and the other is made by puritans pride, (all easily located with a google search) and they all claim to be less than 1/2 the size of the regular fish pills, and prothera's site was the only one with a picture of the pill and not just the bottle, but I can't really tell from the pic the exact size, nor do I know which one is "actually" the smallest of the 3. Being an herbalist, have you seen any of the mini softgels? are they "mini" enough for us LB patients? Also some people on this board say they were told not to take anything bigger than a tic tac, and other posts I have read said they were told they could take standard sized capsules, so I'm a bit confused about that. I am confused as to the message are they saying "take them if you can tolerate them without gagging/throwing", or "even if you can tolerate them they are still not good for your band"? I think the other stuff wont be too too hard to find, its just I am really sensitive to gross tasting stuff and that is the last thing I was after LB surgery lol. So if the coromega and the mini softgels both don't work out, nice to know I have the flaxseed oil idea. One other question though. I have been reading up on omega 3's and found this article blip while researching Not all omega-3s are the same. The three main forms are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). EPA and DHA are considered long-chain forms of omega-3 and are found in fish, fish oil supplements, and algae extract. ALA, the short-chain form, is found in plant sources like walnuts, flax seed, canola and soybean oil, and, to a lesser degree, green leafy vegetables. The body needs to convert the short-chain version to a long-chain version in order to make use of it—but this conversion doesn't happen very rapidly, says Willett. So knowing this, are there any forms of flaxssed oil that provide EPA and DHA instead of just ALA? I've never delved into the flaxssed linseed oil business b/c I am not vegetarian, so that is new for me. thanks for the help!

ok I only take like 3 precription meds and they are all tiny, but a lot of the supplements I take are capsules with "contents in them" or super big horse pill Vitamins. The multivite, thats easy I can get a chewable. I also take an acidophilus probiotic for my tummy and to help prevent yeast infections, I think thatt wont be too hard to find a chewable. but other questons..... I take a fish oil supplement, and it comes in a BIG softgel. (I get the omega-3 ones from puritans pride, my whole family takes them they are a mix of like sardine, anchovy and mackeral oil) I will no longer take fish oil if I have to take it by the spoonful or in any other way as a liquid. SO does anyone know if you can buy "tiny" or small fish oil softgels? I dont mind if I have to take 4 or 5 of them, I just don't want to choke. ok now here is the tricky one. I take this amino acid called n-acetyl cysteine. I take it to help with OCD symptoms, mainly compulsive skin picking. It is currently being used in several clinical trials around the country for obsessive habits such as hair pulling, nail biting, and skin picking with promising results. It also is said to help prevent insulin resistance and diabetes. The thing is, it STINKS and when I say stink, I mean smell the bottle, make you gag stink. It's main odor is rotten eggs because it's primary component is sulfur. I would not take it if it were not in a capsule, the thought of opening the capsule and putting it in ANYTHING makes me want to puke. I may take it if it were in pill form. And then I take other things that are in capsules, like ginger for nausea, and valerian root for sleep. pre-surgery I am like the pill taking queen. I could put 20 pills in my mouth and swallow them down all at once with no issues. I don't know about post-op however what were your restrictions about standard sized capsules?? can you take them at all? please help I am mainly worried about the fish oil but any of these if you can help with suggestions, I would appreciate it. thanks!

ok, so in my little handbook/guide thingie it says that the best absorbed protein are the isolates, milk and soy. I get that, but a lot of the shakes like myoplex, muscle milk and pure protein (to name a few) consist of a "protein blend" which usually consists of milk protein concentrate, Caseinates/Casein and maybe a soy product thrown in there. So my question is does this really matter. Or should you at least get some isolates in (like isolates from 1/2 your daily protein) and then you can have some of the other kinds. I know all protein is not created equal, I just don't know how equal, so if you would please share how much of your diet these drinks are made up of.... sorry if I'm getting a little neurotic, but I just really don't want my hair to start falling out etc. b/c I am not absorbing my protein. Plus this is a whole new routine and there is so much to learn and so many rules to retain. Did your doctors specify type of protein? or just amount you should be having? thanks!

yup....its standard for EVERYONE at my hospital who's getting lap band to stay overnight...young or old, healthy or not healthy...sleep apnea or no sleep apnea.....but at least its just overnight...I can deal with one night...any more and I get a little crazy lol...the biggest frusteration I have is getting my normal meds that I take at home ON TIME!!! it seems like no matter how good the hospital is I NEVER get my meds on time...and it really throws my body off...so I have learned now to bring them and just slip them down when theyre not looking....and if they see me and say that I'm not supposed to have those...I say "look, I'm really sorry, but if you guys brought them anywhere NEAR on time I wouldnt have to bring them" even after I ask for them...it takes 1+ hours to finally get them....I am so obsessive with my meds at home....I just cant have that...throws my whole body off....other than that...I dont mind the hospital....esp. since the hospital I am going to isnt unionized so you can actually understand the nurses because they are not all foriegn...

mine is still a green light too.....phew!!!...she was a little dissapointed that I had only lost 3 lbs on the hmr....but I think 3 lbs in less than 3 weeks since I last weighed in is just fine...esp since I have a screwed up thyroid....its getting really close....I'm getting really nervous...good luck with everything...I will be thinking of you!!!!

Hey julie I am a dec 20th bandster too and right now I am on my way to dr. For final pre-op checkup....I am also VERY nervous that they will find a reason not to do it. I was scheduled for back in august, but at the time I was having some pretty bad depression/ anxiety and they pushed it back to dec 20th, so nothing is set in stone in my mind until I'm on the OR table! I have not told any friends except for a couple really close ones b/c I feel like I would be jinxing myself....my worst fear now is that I will get sick within the next week....that would be SO bad...as I sit here on public transportation, am trying to wash my hands A LOT and I even took a couple airborne tabs but don't want to take too many cuz they are chock full of Vitamins and I'm not supposed to be taking any vitamins/ supplements.....anyway don't want to jinx u but I WILL BE THINKING OF U ON THE 20th and everyone else that has surgery on the 20th. I much like a lot of people on here have been tossing this decision around in my mind for well over a year...and part of me still wants out, but I'm doing it no question. Its funny cuz exactly 3 yrs ago on the 20th I had 6 hour experimental brain surgery (5 hrs of which I was wide awake for) to help with the hoRible symptoms of my tourette syndrome....they put electrodes in my brain and wired them to battery packs in my chest, although they told me nothing was a given I was basically a guinea pig, the surgery has been incredibly sucessfull. Anyway, what I was trying to get at is this scares me much more than that did, cuz weight is something I've battled with since age 6, I was on so many meds when I was young to try to control my tics and none of them were helpful for my weight....I lost 80 lbs back in 2006 but then have gained back 110 since...I know so many people who are "up and down" people for their whole lives, and I just can't be that-it has to come off and stay off!!!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

uuuuggggghhhhhhhh........is it just me that feels like someone stripped me of my willpower? I have totally gone off the 500 cal/day diet (5 HMR shakes) yesterday and today. my last preop checkup b4 surgery on the 20th is on monday and if I dont lose at least a couple pounds (last weigh in was 11/23) they are going to know I havent been doing the HMR strictly.....its just sooooooooo hard to even sit up consuming a mere 500 cals a day (I have missed two days of classes cuz my energy is so low), and those HMR shakes really get tiring/sickining after awhile..... good for you guys for not giving in to your hunger pangs....I don't know what the hell is wrong with me...hopefuly I can get down to business for the next 5 days cuz when I stick to it, the weight does come off.....I am such a strong person, but when it comes to food, I am easily defeated.....and when I get defeated...I have trouble not beating myself up about it......

hey all I started my pre-op diet sunday which consists of 5 HMR shakes/day at 100 cals each. and it is not going well. A) I am VERY weak, tired and can't do anything and, I am not tolerating the shakes well, they give me gas, stomach upset (I think I might me a tad lastose intolerant), and its gotten to the point where I will have 2 or 3 and then I'd rather have nothing at all than drink another one. any suggestions? my surgery is on the 20th. does anyone else find that with this little calorie intake (which out bodies are not exactly used to quite yet, or at least mine isn't), your energy goes out the window? are any of you on HMR? I'm young 24yo and I just think on my 330lb almost 6ft frame, with 500 cals, no wonder I have no energy. I know the point of it to get us to lose as much weight as possible b4 surgery, but like I said, I am finding it very dificult to find the energy to exist, let alone exercise 30min/day 5x week (I am also on a lot of meds that lower my BP significantly and I have POTS (Postural Orthostatic Hypotension Syndrome) so 900mg sodium or whatever 5 shakes is something like that is just not cutting it for me...I'm used to much more)

hey I'm dec 20th too! I know...us crazy people that get it done at the time of year where most people indulge haha. YES missgissel I feel the same way as I think do a lot of people, esp since thanksgiving WAS my last meal, and for christmas dinner and new years when we usually get chinese takeout I will be drinking crystal lite and eating jello, but I try to think its not going away, I'll still be able to eat those things after I heal, just in MUCH smaller portions and hopefully just a taste is all I'll want cuz I'll be full after that.

hello all, I am scheduled for my banding on 12/20 (knock on wood I have one more checkup/weigh-in on the 13th-I say knock on wood cuz I was supposed to have it in aug. but I had some depression/other pshyc issues going on and it got postponed, and then I had it scheduled a couple years ago and decided I wasn't ready so I actually wont believe it until I'm in the OR lol) and I seem to have been having a lot of trouble finding a Protein supplement I like. I guess I am very sensitive to highly concentrated protein and it all tastes yucky to me.... my requirements post op are 60grams protein per day, preferably in 3 scoops of powder with 20g each, or my RD said 1 1/2 bottles of Isopure sport are ok to cuz they have 40g per bottle. well news, i tried the isopure sport grape flavor bottle and it was gross-def not tolerable. if not tolerable b4 surgery, def not tolerable after lol. my rd said to buy and try b4 surgery so you can start as soon as you get home from the hosp. I havent tried a ton but I havent liked any of them except the one by worldwide sport protein they sell them everywhere http://www.sportnutr...s/products.aspx but those aren't on the "approved" list so I'd have to ask my RD and they can get expensive at $2 a pop on the "approved" list in my surgery paperwork are Isopure sport powder or premixed (premixed is out, dont know if the powder is any better) any unjury product SmartForme products smartfome.com pro energy (product of energy first) GNC pro performance whey isolate spring valley it also says alternative supplements may be used, but should be evaluated and approved by the dietician before use. (dont know what they "evaluate" besides protein and calories/carbs, if I did, maybe I could search around a little more) has anyone tried any/all of these, or is there anyone out there that has a very "picky" palate for Protein drinks? which one is most likeable? or do you know of any other ones that are kind of "universally" approved in the lap band community? please I need to find at least one that I like before my surgery....maybe one that tastes kind of like nesquick or yoohoo? (haha yeah right dream on...lol) thanks!

the canned pure Protein is the ONLY supplement that I have found palatable so far, I need to find something else I am being banded on the 20th

hey all I have a surgery date for aug 16th...I'm having it done at lahey clinic in burlington ma. I love the place and would put my life in their hands any day....but sometimes I just have to ask myself WHY? the NP said I didnt need a sleep study cuz I tested 0 on their stupid like 4 question OSA screen, which basicall asked if you wake up in middle of the night gasping for breath and if your neck circumfrence was >16inches and I don't snore (which I've only been told at sleepovers cuz I am single and have my own room and usually sleep with the door shut....I even asked for one b/c several of my other doctors mentioned it...and she said take it up with your primary..... first of all, I think they are a little narrow minded...I also think it should be a required test pre-op...wouldnt they want to spend a few thousand $ just to rule it out b4 they spend tens of thousands slicing you 9 ways to sunday and banding your stomach. according to wikipedia..."Regardless of type, the individual with sleep apnea is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening" it also says "Even the loudest snoring does not mean that an individual has sleep apnea syndrome. The sign that is most suggestive of sleep apneas occurs when snoring stops." I also had major brain surgery 3 years ago and they put electrodes in my brain wired to battery packs in my chest (DBS) to control a movement disorder....and I also have a neurological history....its like no one even addresses central SA or mixed SA....it's like if ur fat...its OSA..no questions so I finally had my neurologist order a sleep study which I am going for tommorow....my insomnia has gotten REALLY out of control...I use my inhaler multiple times a day now (I was prescribed it 2 years ago for allergies and used it MAYBE 2x a month)....my metabolism has slowed to a absolute CRAWL (I have a gowear fit and the burn on it today was 200 100 cals LOWER than my BMR (how is that even possible)....and during the day I mine as well be a piece of furniture b/c I am useless for anything due to fatigue....I sit here now with a stiff neck...sore back...and my chest feels like a child is sitting on it..really tight....and yet all my doctors say I am the picture of health and are ready to cut me open in 6 weeks...... I have very bittersweet feelings about a dx of SA....I do not WANT to have it by any means...but if I do I can say that I will definitly be relieved that there is a REASON that I have developed all these health issues and gained 110lbs in the last 2 years....the last year or so has been sheer hell.... has anyone that "doesn't fit the typical SA profile" actually ended up testing pos.? does anyone out there actually have central and not obstructive? I would like to know what you think...despite having a 15 inch neck...I am 327lbs 5'10.5" and have a 54 inch waist so dont be fooled...I'm weird....my neck is small I only have one chin and my 7 inch wrists should be bigger at 330lbs lol

No she didn't say anything cept I was sleeping very Well I probably don't have it every test I have comes back neg one of my other drs said they will only wake u up and give u cpap if u have it really bad we will see in 2-3wks

hey I finally got through it....I took 75mg benadryl, 2.5mg of klonipin and 9mg melatonin woke up at 2 am she said she needed 2 more hours from me so I took 50 more of bdryl 1 more mg of klonipin and 3 more mg of melatonin......I know that sounds like abuse but I know my body and there was just no way I was getting to sleep. Plus I have a tolerance. I had told the tech that my normal bed time at home is no earlier than 1:30am so she kept asking "do u usually sleep like this? I said "I guess I just got lucky. What was I supposed to say I drugged myself. It's 7am tho and I def have a mild hangover. I have to stay at the hospital cuz I live far and have another appointment at 11:30 then another one at 1. I just wish there was somwhere that I could lay down I am not usually able to sleep in a chair even when I am extremely exhausted. in 2-3 weeks I will know if I have sleep apnea. Thanks for all your tips!

Wow that's weird I'm 24 too and I began to gain weight around 21 that is also when I got the inhaler the thing with me is I've never really known if I have hypertension b/c I have been on clonidine ever since I was 6 to help with my tourettes syndrome but its more common use is as an antihypertensive....I bet off if it i def would tho. I have pretty bad tachycardia though worst upon waking & I am on a beta blocker for that which lowers my bp even more.....I just hope I can find a way to sleep tommorow night.....I can't even sleep in my own bed on my $2000 latex mattress without being wired up like the unibomber lol.......do they help u if u absolutely can't sleep like do they give u something? Thanks for ur response!

this thread has been inactive for awhile...i hope I can bring it back to life lol I am being banded @ lahey too. (they did life changing brain surgery on me, that had never been done before and they did an awesome job, all my care is now @ lahey) I have that all day bit with the NP, the dietician, and the pshycologist. can anyone answer a few questions for me? 1)is this the day you actually begin the preop diet, or is it more just telling you what it is going to entail? 2)do they run any actual tests on this day (blood, ekg etc.) or is that after you see the surgeon? aka, should I fast just in case they do a glucose or anything? (I am not diabetic I just dont want ppl to think I am, so I usually fast whenever they do a BG) 3)How long after this day do you get a date with the surgeon? 4)do they tell you how long till surgery day or at least give you an idea? or again, is this something the surgeon will tell you? 5)and basically what does the day entail? I mean u r there for almost 4 hrs, so they have to do something lol...I would just like to know what the day is going to be like.....I have always been like that...can't go see a movie without reading the plot summary first type of person lol anyone who has been banded at lahey, if you could share your experiences, I would really appreciate it! thanks!

I am going for a consult on april 13th, and apparantly their average time to a sugery date is 3 months, if you have a BMI on the lower end of the spectrum and you dont smoke, are in better health, the surgeon said it would be possible to be on the table as early as 1 month after initial consultation...so good news for me....my BMI is 45...but I am 23 and no diabetes...no hypertension...REALLY good cholesterol...(surprisingly)...healthy heart..lungs etc... my question is I was reading all the literature and their Protein requirment for BOTH lapband and RNY patients is 60 grams...that is lower than every one else that I have read on this board...I read people saying they need to get 80, 90 even 100 grams a day after surgery...great for me...but should I ask about this?? I am going to an extremely well respected hospital (Lahey clinic) where people have traveled from accross the world to get treament and they gave me life saving brain surgery, which was an incredible success....they average about 400 WLS per year and have a 0% death rate. that said, based on reading these forums, 60grams seems a little low? did anyone else go home with a protein requirement of 60 grams. Is this a enough for someone who is banded? thanks? I was asking becuase 60 grams I could easily get from a variety of things, for instance, I could take 4-2mg soy/whey protein pills, drink one of those worldwide Protein shakes (23g) the only one I have found that I like, maybe put a scoop of unflavored powder in food or something, and get the rest from food. Does anyone else mix it up like this, rather than, "gulping" down their requirement, and then not having to think about it for the rest of the day?? thanks!