mom2cjpx4

Thanks Cathy. I hadn't seen anyone report on the constipation and was embarrassed to bring it up but as this is all new to me I figured I'd better ask! My NUT has me on an every hour consumption - 4-6 ounces - but I can't finish what I'm supposed to yet before the hour is up I'm STARVING. At noon I get soup and at 5 yogurt, 6 broth, and 7 a protein drink. Other than that it is just water, milk, or gatorade. I thought the goal was to be fuller longer between meals but it feels like I'm training my body to be hungry every hour.

My longest incision is on my right side mid between breast and belly button. Where it hurts is the incision to the right of that, way over on the right hand side but kind of in between the two so maybe my port is in between and that is why it hurts. Yesterday and today I had tomato soup with my protein powder and 4 ounces was enough to gag me but didn't fill me up for long. I'm going to try something different tomorrow. I hate this hungry feeling. Oh and now constipation has set in. Is this normal? Each day brings a new problem!

I wondered about the sugar free jello, too, because I was on it pre-op and does melt in your mouth - it is kind of like a liquid. They said it gets stuck and causes blockage but I thought if I took small bites and let it melt it would be fine. I bought baby spoons to eat with so I could learn to eat smaller portions. Right now I'm supposed to be doing something every hour but I don't feel like it and if I don't, then I'm starving come evening time so today I will follow the every hour plan and see if that makes a difference. I feel dumb because I don't know where my port is. Is that the pain in my lower right side that hurts? I thought the port was going to be higher. I feel a little better today. I'm glad I took the time off of work because I couldn't imagine having to go to work full time and heal and adjust from this. Thanks for your input and advice. It is greatly appreciated.

I have heard and read repeatedly that results vary and not to expect as much weight loss from the band as the bypass but I can't get a definate answer from anyone about their loss. I have seen results that "so and so" lost 110 pounds after a year and a half, but can someone definitively tell me approximately how much a week or a month or within six months what they lost? I am just trying to be realistic. I have surgery this Friday, the 11th. Also, how long before you were able to eat "real foods" not continue on broths, shakes, etc. I have friends that ate baby food for a few weeks. Thanks for any input!

OMG, Jacqui, we live the same life! This is me and my dh NOW - a week before surgery. I can just see this is how it is going to be afterwards. The only problem is I can see us having major problems afterwards if it continues and we will grow apart. He does not like to exercise and will not even go for a walk if I ask him to. Scary how similar our experiences are...

Thanks for everyone's input. I used to lose weight very quickly but the past year or so it has not been easy to do. All the yo-yo dieting has caught up with me. Finally realized I could not keep doing this and figured I needed some help - that is why I'm being banded. I have always been impatient - LOL - and am just anxious to move on with this next chapter of my life!

My husband and I have been married 14 years. He went with me to the informational session in March 2009 and decided he would like to have the procedure as well. I am scheduled for this Friday the 11th and he is scheduled for the 15th. We would have had it the same day but we have small children at home and couldn't both be away at the same time. It is nice to have someone to go through this with who understands what you are going through and as your whole lifestyle is changing in regards to food and social occasions, it will be so much easier for us to be "on the same page." I have lost lots of weight throughout the years but always gained it back because my husband would continue to cook and eat the same - which is fine, it was his choice - and I felt like the outcast. There was lots of tension between us, I won't lie. But now that he has come on board with my way of healthy eating, portion control, better choices, etc., we have really come to a whole new place in our relationship and I am so glad he made this decision with me!

I'm new here but thought I'd just jump right in. I'm on day four of my nine day pre-op diet. My surgeon prescribes the HMR shakes. They are expensive - almost $40 a box and I need two boxes - but they taste really good! They also gave a list of recipes to make different flavors so I got a box of vanilla and chocolate and I can make pumpkin pie, chocolate raspberry, strawberry vanilla, pistacchio, etc. I can also freeze them and they are like an ice milk or "frosty" type treat so that makes a nice change. I eat the frozen one for my last of the day (I have to have four.) My diet is four of these shakes a day, 1/2 cup of cottage cheese OR yogurt, 2 cups of fruit juice or vegetable juice and as much sugar free jello, drinks, water, and broth as I like. I'll admit that it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I have to catch myself by not automatically trying to take a bite off the kids plate when I'm clearing the table. Bad habits die hard. But so far I've been good. My surgery is this Friday and I'm just anxious for it to be over with and get on with the next stage of my life. I feel like this pre-op diet is training for the marathon of after surgery.