cat lady

I am 10 days post op and also am sick of the sweetness of Protein Drinks. I have tried Carnation Istant BF and they are a bit milder in taste. Actually can tolerate them pretty well. I mix powder with 1 cup of FF milk and it totals 15 g. protein. Put ice in blender and tastes kind of like a milkshake....not too sweet. Hope this helps. CAT

I was very nervous also. Actually didn't tell anyone till right before in case I changed my mind. I think once I went for my pre op tests I really took hold of the situation and got more positive about it. No more reading the negatives.....only positives at this stage of the game. Went for my surgery on 7/25 and did really well. Not at all as bad as I thought. A little uncomfortable.....but nothing to dwell on. Pain medication helps for anything you might feel. Took just tylenol when I got home. The liquid diet is a challange but nothing you cant cope with. The liquid soups really help me. I usually have that for dinner. The protein shakes help throughout the day. Stay positive and once you make the choice to change your life stay confident that you can do this. If I can you can! Good Luck & God Bless you with your surgery. CAT

What wonderful news! Congratulations. God sure does work in strange ways. Losing weight is important but nothing compared to the miracle of birth. Enjoy your new journey. My friend just had twins after being banded and did just find. They unfilled her band for her pregnancy and she did fine. Now 6 months after giving birth....they gave her a fill. Notihing is impossible.....just keep the faith. CAT

Last night I had that pain in my breatbone......right above where the band was placed. I took liquid tylenol and that helped alot. Went to sleep and it was gone. Can you sleep on 3 pillows in bed.....kind of sitting up position. That is what I do and I'm pretty comfortable. Can't sleep much though.....getting about 6 hours.....then have to get up and move. CAT

Tennis lover: I am i week post op and still on liquid diet. Seeing doc on Monday....hope to go to mushies then. I did stay in hospital overnight. My doc requires this from everyone. It was good for me bcause I got the needed rest. Was walking the halls 6 hrs post surgery. Doing well now.....no real pain to mention. Liquid diet it rough. CAT

Sorry Amy: Just hang in there. The antibiotics will surely help clear it up. Stay positive as you have been. CAT

Agree totally Laurence: Had my surgery last Monday 7/25 and am so happy I did it. Was really hesitant b'cause of my age but I did really well so far. Surgery not bad at all. Looking forward to being healthier from the weight loss. CAT

Hi: Happy you made the decision to do this. I also was very hesitant to make a decision to get banded. Researched for too long! I was banded last Monday 7/25 and am so happy I did this. So far its been really easy for me. Surgery not bad at all. Liquid diet is kind of getting to me but I can deal with it. Agree that the driving 100 miles would be a problem down the road. Good Luck with journey and keep us posted.CAT

Hope you are feeling better. My doc said not to take off the steri strips on my own. Everyone is different though so listen to your doc. CAT

Hi Scott: Yes I do feel some sort of pain at the base of my sternum. It's about 2 inches above where the band was placed. (I can tell by the incision there) I took some gas X or tums and its seems to help. Also had some cream of wheat when I felt it and it seemed to pass. Hope this helps. CAT

Hi Scott: Yes I do feel some sort of pain at the base of my sternum. It's about 2 inches above where the band was placed. (I can tell by the incision there) I took some gas X or tums and its seems to help. Also had some cream of wheat when I felt it and it seemed to pass. Hope this helps. CAT

Totally agree. One week out and I am so tired of the liquid diet. Really getting hard to stick to this. Only consuming maybe 400 - 500 calories a day and really not losing too much. Getting discouraged......after all I am on this starvation diet!!!! What will happen when I start eating.CAT

Hi: I am 6 days post op and also feel the pain in my breastbone at times. I am quite hungry as the Protein drinks are not doing it for me now. Did your doc say its okay to do the tuna now?? Just wondering. I would love to try it but I'm scared it will hurt something if I start on mushies after only 1 week. CAT

I too cannot seems to get in all the liquids required. Get nausea after too many protein drinks. I had surgery Monday so I'm 5 days out. Cant wait for mushies.....seeing dr. on 8/8 and I think he will tell me then to move to mushie stage. If I can hold out!!!CAT

Hi Wintergreen: I am 63 yrs old and was banded on Monday. I too was concerned about the age. I researched this for a long time and finally decided to do it. I'm so glad i did it. The surgery was not bad at all. Minimal pain. Up and walking four hours after surgery. I at first was denied by insurance last summer......so I put it on the back burner. After the new year I appealed and got approved. Now I really had to decide since the ins. only gave me till August to do this. I made the right decision for me. Good Luck and if you have any questions pls contact me. CAT

Hi all: Well I did it!!! Was banded on Monday and really did well. Dr. said I was a classic case....whatever that means. Not too much pain at all....was walking by 1 pm and the surgery was done at 7 am. Went home the next day by noon. Only took Tylenol for a little discomfort the first night. This full liquid diet is hard....but I really cant say I am hungry. Guess I'm still swollen. To all those not banded yet....go for it. As everyone told me do this for yourself! Its our time to shine. Just asking -- does anyone take Tylenol PM or a sleep aid? I can't sleep without taking something so I'm wondering if this is okay to do with the band in place. God Bless all of us making this choice to improve our lives. CAT

Good Luck to all those being banded this weekend. That is the end of our July bandsters list. See you all on the post op side. May God Bless all our July bandsters. CAT

Hi Mary: Hope all is well with you today. The Nut. at the hospital said I could start full liquids after 48 hrs. That meant I could have soups blended and even cream of wheat (farina). Getting hard to stick to the liquids at this point -- day 4 post op. Can you believe we finally got to this point. So happy to be past the surgery part. Pain has really subsided -- just one area pinching a bit. Only had to take tylenol when I got home. Took a walk around the block on Wednesday and it felt good to get outside. Today going to attempt to drive to my daughters house.Watching my grandaughter (14 yrs old so not a baby) for the weekend. Looking forward to the change of scenery. Going to see Dr. G on the 8th of aug. When is your post op appt? I am taking tylenol pm or just benedryl to sleep at night.....I hope this is okay with the band????? Thinking of you. May God Bless and stay well. Chris (CAT)

I also cannot eat without drinking something.....get hiccups and indigestion right away. This happened prior to getting banded. I'm not a big drinker but just cannot eat without it. When I told my Dr. he said to do what I have to do to be successful......so I'll see what I can tolerate. Just banded Monday...cat

Hang in there.....it does get easier especially after surgery. I was banded on Monday and really am not too hungry at all....which helps me stick to the liquid diet. I can have soups blended....frozen yogurt....cream of wheat...and of course the dreaded protein shakes. I have to agree with you that you do get sick and nauseous with too many of them. I can tolerate Carnation Inst. BF the best. After the surgery you will get pumped up to move to the mushie stage which I am waiting for now. That seems much easier. Good Luck

Hi to all my senior bandsters: Finally got banded on Monday. All went well thank God. No complications with the surgery. Not too much pain. A little easier than I thought. The liquid diet is rough. Its hard trying to get in all the protein required. After a while the protein drinks get me nauseas. Trying to be creative.......hope it works. CAT

Good Luck and may God bless all our July bandsters.....CAT

Good Luck and may God bless all our July bandsters.....CAT

Good Luck today Erica: We all stress out before surgery....its normal. As far as the anesthesia goes...its the best thing man ever invented. You don't know a thing. You just wake up to full attention by the nurses in recovery and they help you with all your needs. you will do fine.Keep us posted. CAT

Thanks for the info Lizzy.....I will try to pick some up today. Does it have a bad taste? Where do you get it? Any name brand? CAT