Kristy29

So I'm one week post op and on full liquids. I am allowed 3 protein shakes a day, and they are supposed to be a max of 110 calories each. I do have one that is 120 calories though. So total calories I should be taking in is about 350 calories. I have been cheating a little with some soup, and yesterday I pulverized a cheese stick in my mouth and ate that, and still my calories were only 450. Today I woke up in the morning, but was tired and laid around on the computer for a couple of hours. Then I took a nap, and now that I am awake again I am still so tired. I don't like feeling this way, just the thought of going for a walk or going out is so daunting. Is it going to get better, or am I going to feel this way until I move on to mushies next Friday? Is there anything I can do to get more energy?

I am one week post op, and most of the pain is gone. When moving around there is still a slightly uncomfortable feeling, but not any pain. sleeping was hard at first, but that's because I usually sleep on my stomach. When I was laying on my back, the pain was manageable but then it was hard to sleep that way for me. Once I was asleep though I stayed asleep. I haven't taken pain meds in a couple of days, and was able to switch to just tylenol 3 days post op. I have been sleeping on my stomach again for the last 3 nights, and going from sitting to standing is not a huge project like it was just a few days ago. Hang in there, it does get better, even if you feel like it never will!

This is so true. I haven't even been banded for a week, but I am already having to relearn how to live life without food. For me, my trigger was boredom. Well, since I have been recovering from my surgery, I have been home. I am so bored, I am used to being busy every day. And I am on liquids, so I have to deal with it in ways that do not include food. It's so hard, but I will be proud of myself when I get through this period successfully.

I am 6 days post op and I just ate a string cheese. Eek!!! I was so hungry! I pulverized it so much in my mouth it was liquid going down.

I chose the band because bypass and the sleeve scared me too much. Yes, you are adding something to your body, but with the other two surgeries, you are permanently altering your body. I like that if for some reason I have complications with the band, it can be taken out and I am back to how I was before. Of course, I do plan on keeping it in there forever, but I like to keep my options open. I also liked that the death rates with the band were much lower than the bypass, and also lower than the sleeve. Another thing I didn't like about bypass and the sleeve was that you must take Vitamins for the rest of your life. Of course, as a bandster I should take my vitamins, and I will. But with bypass, you must. One of the reasons for getting the band for me was because I wanted to get off my diabetes meds, and I didn't want to just have to start taking different meds. Of course, gummy vitamins are much more fun to take than pills anyways, I look forward to it, lol. I hope that helps, it's a hard decision and I wish you luck.

I am sure once I am all healed they won't be painful, but everything is still sore in there. Oh well, live and learn, that's what this is all about, right?

Hm, I haven't been prescribed pepcid. I haven't had any trouble with heartburn either, and I don't have any history of reflux. I think it was because I ate too much, too fast. I was eating a Soup that was quite thin. I made a 1/2 cup, and I thought I ate it slow. About 10 minutes after I ate I started feeling really bad, and am just now starting to feel better. I got gas, hiccups and shoulder pains, and it was awful. Maybe I'll never eat again...

Ouch! That's all I have to say.

My problem with these programs is that they are all so religion based. I personally don't believe in god, but why shouldn't I get some support too? My husband was having trouble with alcohol awhile back, and I made him go to AA. He went once and never went back because all they talked about was god. I wish there was a way to get support for your issues without having to believe in god, I mean we are still humans even if we aren't christians.

I was released the same day. Surgery was around 7:30 and I was released a little after 3, with no barium swallow. I had to be drinking water and I had to pee. I can't imagine those of you who were discharged just a few hours after surgery, I was still sleeping then. I didn't get up until 1 pm.

I second the Smooth Move tea. I was banded on the 26th, and hadn't had a bm by Saturday, so I was told to take the milk of magnesia. Well, it was so gross I couldn't swallow it, so I tried the tea. It worked within a couple of hours.

Oh, no not eating food yet, lol. Just thinking ahead, I was hungry when I posted this and food was about all I could think about. Haha!

Yeah, the book does suck. And I admit, I am not listening to it. I mean, if other people can eat things it's not like I will get hurt if I eat them. So like I said, yesterday I had broth, and then this afternoon I had some strained cream of mushroom soup. I am still full from that, it feels so so so good. I went out today and bought some more soups and also some apple sauce. If I can eat these things in addition to the protein shakes, I will survive. It was so nice to eat something with a utensil, lol.

Nope, not temporary. That is supposed to be my diet until I reach goal, which who knows, could take 2 years or more.

Yeah, I used to use splenda also. But apparently it raises your blood sugar or something, I don't know. My doctor is super uber strict and has rules about everything. I feel like if I follow all his rules, I will be eating nothing for the rest of my life.

My doctor actually forbids splenda. I also think it is too soon for us to be having coffee, it can irritate the lining of the stomach. Instead of splenda they recommend Truvia or Sweet n Low.

Have you tried the chicken soup protein powder from unjury? To me it tastes like a cup-o-soup. I have been on clear liquids for 4 days and just moved to protein shakes today, and I am already tired of sweet things. I ordered a tub of the chicken soup and I can't wait for it to get here!

And how much have you lost? My doctor's diet protocol is 2 Protein shakes per day and 1 meal, no carbs at all. Lean protein (chicken, turkey, tofu, tuna and fish), and veggies for the one meal. Seems like that will get real old, real fast. I feel that I could have lost the weight on a diet like that without the trauma of surgery. It seems really harsh and not how I want to live my life. I feel that eating a healthy balanced diet, but in much smaller portions than I used to, and cutting out terrible things like fast food will get me to my goal. I have tried dieting, and it never worked. My husband thinks I need to follow this diet, and I feel like we are going to spend the next year fighting about it.

Nope, no Jello. They have a book, and it outlines exactly what you can have, and it says exactly what you can't have. It says in bold type no broth, but I had some yesterday. I know a lot of others are allowed to have it so I figure it wouldn't kill me. I wish I knew the reasons behind some of what they do, because they seem much stricter than most other doctors. I am having my first Protein shake today, but it's not really doing it for me. I realized yesterday that part of it is that I want to sit down and have a meal. I mean, normally I eat 3 meals a day, plus I am busy doing other things like working and doing errands. Now that I am home recovering, I am not doing anything, and with not eating either, my life is so empty. There is no buying food, preparing food, eating food. It's annoying and it makes me crazy, it's like my day is endless and has no separation in it, there is no difference between morning and night. I know it's only for 2 weeks, but right now that seems like a really really long time.

I have a PPO through Aetna. We called the insurance company ahead of time to find out, and it's really the only way to know. I had to pay 10% of the total cost, but we have a yearly cap of $1000, and since I had already paid some of that in co-pays and for some overage on testing, the max I will have to pay is $620.

I just had my surgery on Thursday, and there is no way I could have gone to work the next day. Also, usually after surgery your doctor won't allow you to go back right away. Mine told me I could go back after my first office visit, which will be this Tuesday. Friday I was very sore, my port site hurt whenever I moved, walked or anything, and I needed help just getting out of a chair. I also was still groggy from the anesthesia and slept a lot. You need to worry about you and not your students, not your boss, no one else is as important as you are.

Last time I had anything to eat was wednesday night. Since then I've had water and tea and that's it. Oh, and popsicles. I am freakin hungry! Tomorrow I am allowed to have protein shakes, and I was looking forward to that, but now I don't even want that. I just want food. I don't even need bad food, just any food. I have to be on protein shakes for 2 weeks, there is no way I will make it! And besides, I am supposed to go back to work before the 2 weeks is over, and I stand on my feet for 8 hours at a time. While I am on protein shakes I will be eating 300 calories a day, how will I ever have the energy to work? :thumbup:

Normally, I like to taste my meat. chicken on the bbq with little flavor, steak with no flavor, etc. I enjoy the taste of the actual meat. My husband is not like me and he douses everything in sauce, but I don't like my food that way. I am afraid when I start eating food again I am going to need to moisten my food more, and I'm not going to like it. So what do you use to moisten your food? My doctor recommends light mayo, light salad dressing, salsa, etc, but none of those sound good to me on chicken and steak.

Well, will you have someone at home to be with you overnight? My doctor made sure that not only would I have a ride home, but that I would have a responsible adult staying with me at home in case something went wrong. I am not sure if the hospital or your doctor will allow you to leave alone like that.

Welcome back! I am doing ok too, and like you I expected to feel much worse. Here's to our new lives!!