Lee

CoCo, take care of yourself. It's a virus that's going around. I started with a sore throat pre-op that lasted 10 days. I haven't been sick like that in decades. My work assistant called me at 7am with the same sore throat. It seems like everyone has it. The best you can do is rest and get plenty of fluids. When I called Kaiser at the beginning of it, they told me rest and drink. Stay away from other people as it's highly contagious. ps... your weight loss looks phenomenal to me!

Thanks Barbara. I'll look forward to your analysis!

Happy Birthday Heather!! I near about cried while reading about how people celebrated you! Clearly, you have a lot of people who care about you. Pat, I hope the headache is better today. You are so rockin that Band and doing so well. I don't want anything to bring your spirits down. *Go headache Go AWAY* Ali, you've done so great on your pre-op diet. Way to go! Tina, I'm glad you're finding other solutions so that you can feel calm around your choices. Tamra, why don't you write down what you plan to eat and drink and the group will hold you accountable. For me that's the easiest way because I never want to come back and say that I didn't follow through with my promises to myself. It's so easy for us to let go of taking care of ourselves, as evidenced by becomming obese in the first place. Write your plan then come back and write it again with what you actually did. I'm doing ok. Slept 4 hours, up two hours, slept three hours before my work phone started going off at 7am. I'm hoping for a productive work day. Runs still at bay. My internal swelling must be going down because I'm starting to feel everything inside. It feels a little like someone was driving a truck around in there. Last night I looked at the pictures that Dr. Baggs gave my friend who was in the waiting room during surgery. She showed me my new sleeve. It looks just like a big earth worm for right now. Have a happy day everyone!

Nikki, We're all here to support you in any way that we can. What about trying the 5 day pouch test? I know that stress can lead to gain or stall. Maybe it's time to take the focus off the weightloss for a little while and find joy in other areas. I can only imagine how frightening it must be to see the scale go up. Hang in there. I bet your body isn't done losing!

I had 5 scars from my gallbladder removal in November. They were not able to use any of those scar sites. I have five scars. One below my bra line in the center. One a little to the right and below it, another to the left and further down. I have one scar on each side of my bellybutton. The one on the left is about an inch wide, the one on the right is two inches and is where they must have crammed the tubes in because that one is very sore. That area inside feels a lot more pain as well. It's tough with the waistline incisions because my fat rolls over them when I'm sitting so they don't get the same amount of breathing space. TMI? Sorry.

CAJUN!!!! I am so happy to wake up to read this!! ONEDERLAND ONEDERLAND ONEDERLAND YAY YAY YAY!!!! You have been so patient.

Hi Everyone, Just a quick check in before bed. I had a great day. Runs just left me today and I got to eat three meals. B. 1/4 Fage L. 1/2 cup organic tomato soup D. 1/2 cup organic tomato soup. I worked for around 6 hours and got a lot done, then went down to the treadmill for 20 minutes. I feel like now that the runs have quit chasing me, I've got some energy and color in my cheeks. A friend came over tonight to watch a movie. All in all, 8 days out and this was my best day. I feel like I was actually very productive at my job today. It's great to read about everyone doing so well. I love it! Sweet dreams!

Loser and PNW, I'm so sorry you're both feeling poorly. It sounds like quite a humbling experience. PNW, I'm also 8 days out. I don't get to advance to mashed potatoes or potato soup for at least another week when I get to pureed foods. I'll be on full liquids until then. Maybe back it up a little and do more fluids and see if you feel better?

Great to know about the Almond Breeze. I've used it in the past but forgot about it. I've been using unsweetened soy milk with 3 carbs and 7 protein per 8 oz. I'll pick up some Almond Breeze.

Awww, never late PNW! Thanks for dropping by!

Congrats on your date!! I packed a bag to take to the hospital and never opened it except to get out my rich and creamy Nivea lip stuff. I had my iPod, never used it. Robe and slippers, never left the bag. I was only in 28 hours so never got around to anything. The one thing that I would have liked would have been pre-moistened face wipes. I wasn't offered a washrag or anything and it would have been so nice to wipe my face a few times. I just wore my comfy clothes back home. Make sure you have shoes that are easy to slip on to go home.

Hiya everyone, I'm only on day 8 so I can't comment on food, but I can comment on fluids. I can drink about 4 oz in one or two minutes. I can drink pretty much as I did pre-op. Sometimes I have to remember to burp. I can down 8 oz in just a few minutes. I'm easily getting in 64 oz by afternoon. In the morning I'm drinking 32 oz of hot herbal tea in less than 2 hours. We're all so different. Maybe my 40f bougie has something to do with it. Dunno. It certainly hasn't stopped my weight loss of 10.4 pounds in 8 days. I haven't experienced a moments hunger except when a neighbor was grilling a steak and that was definitely head not stomach hunger.

Shylady, I'm sorry you had a scare. It sounds like you're doing much better now. You'll feel a little stronger each day. I can't wait to read your reports!

Good Morning! It's not raining here either. I'm planning a walk later today, at least a short one. I haven't been out of the house since last Sunday when I walked to the corner and back. I need fresh air!! If I don't make it outside, I'll open the doors in the gym and get on the treadmill. That feels a little safer because it doesn't leave me out there alone if I get weak. I'm still not holding food in. I'll get concerned if it doesn't change soon. I'm working from home today so will check in. What's everyone up to today?

Cajun, waiting for the poop to come sounds fabulous to me. I haven't been able to stop since Monday. I'm getting very wore out from the process. In, out, in out. There's no nutrition staying inside me. This morning I woke up down another 2.8 pounds. I couldn't believe it. I'll never be in the 200's again! That is so exciting to me. For years my set weight was 222 and I would diet and lose, always to come back to that weight, until I surpassed it in 2007 and went up to 249. I'm glad those numbers are now in the rear view mirror! 199 is going to be such a celebration for you when it happens Cajun. We'll have to hold a big party, a testament to your patience.

I have to say that I LOVE ground beef/turkey. I hope I can live on it when I get to that stage. A touch of sour cream and salsa and I would be in heaven. That's what I was eating pre-op to get my weight down. I'm looking forward to that more than anything else. :wink: Tamra, the thing about carbs for us is that it just sets us up to crave more. I'm so glad that you're recognizing that early out. Hey Jes, I wish I was going to Kaiser on the 10th, bu my appt is on the 12th. John, napping is good and healing. Anytime we sleep, our body gets to heal. I worked several hours today and now see why people take off work for awhile!

Carol, we're the same age. I will turn 60 in October. I too started out wanting the Lapband but it never felt right so I continued researching and found my way here. Welcome to VST. There's so much great info here!

Thanks Trippsmommy! This is an incredible journey.

Hi Carol, You're just starting out. Keep asking questions. My response was geared towards Determined who's been asking about bougie size. Determined, I'm so happy that Tiffy's response finally hit a chord with you! YAY!

Thanks Deedee and Ishary! I love that we all share this journey together!

Hiya Cricket! I found this forum in November and had my Sleeve last week. I'm so happy I found this forum so that I didn't have the Band put in. YAY. You've come to the right place for encouragment and information. Welcome!

Determined: My plan does not use any Protein powders or supplements. I'm 1 week out having 1/4 cup of nutrition, three times a day. I can have up to 1/2 cup when I'm ready for it. I count every calorie and carb that I ingest. My calories are more like 200 right now. I asked my doctor about the bougie size, he said that Kaiser has researched it and deemed that the 40 gives the best results in the long run. I trust him. If I doubted him, I would have self-payed to Mexico but then I would never have known. Maybe I would have had severe nausea or other complications. To think about this as failsafe won't work. No doctor can guarantee that you'll keep your weight off, regardless of the bougie size because we determine how to use it. I think that if you keep asking, you'll keep getting the same responses from all of us. Now it's time for you to decide what makes sense in your life. Here are the Cornell recommendations: Weeks 0-2: Total Cal: 400-600 Total Carbs: <40 Total Protein: 70 Weeks 3 - 3 months (Soft Foods): Total Cal: 600-800 Total Carbs: <40 Total Protein: 70 - 90 3 - 12 months (Regular Food): Tota Cal: <800 Total Carbs: <40 Total Protein: 70 - 90 After Reaching Goal (Regular Food): Tota Cal: 1000 - 1200 Total Carbs: 40 - 60 Total Protein: 70 - 90 I think that what matters is: 1. Amount of weight to lose 2. Exercise 3. Calories and Carbs I really don't think that bougie size has anything to do with it. How we work our tool has everything to do with it.

That's a great suggestion Tiffy. For today, my meals will be Fage yogurt to try to up my good bacteria. I'm sure that being on antibiotics pre-op didn't help keep good flora growing. I think I just need to wait it out but I've decided to eat the yogurt instead of going back to clear fluids again. I'm starting to get a little hungry today. I wonder if that's because I had 1/4 cup yogurt this morning.

Thanks Barbara and Dybarra!!

Mo, glad to hear that you did ok yesterday. I'm glad the funeral is over for you. John, I've only eaten 1/2 cup of cream soup in three days. Fat free chicken broth did it to me the other night. Today I tried 1/4 cup of Fage for breakfast. Still same results. I just leave my Kindle in the bathroom since i'm spending so much time in there. *sigh* At least it's not just me so I know nothing is wrong. Someone is cooking some mighty fine smelling beef. It's coming in through the forced air heat. They may cause my first signs of hunger for the week! GRRRRRRR....