jingleboob

I'm getting a little nervous here... not going to lie! Band came out on 11/24- I'm just able to pick up my 2 year old in the past couple of days... Christmas and then BAM, surgery.

So today begins my 1 week pre-op diet. My surgeon has us on liquids, Protein shakes and small healthy Snacks like greek yogurt or sugar free Jello and 1 modest meal (small portion of Protein, very plain, and veggies). So not the worst. At least it allows some wiggle room for having a little Christmas dinner... my FIL's beef wellington is amazing!

Had Nutrition class last week, and I stocked up on Vitamins and a new pretty Water bottle (it helps). One of the things they mentioned is how tired you are after bypass... so, how long was everyone out of work? I've got a very easy job, I can literally sit in a recliner for my shift. How long until you were up to doing a load of laundry? Or going shopping? Driving? Sex? Housework?

Other than the expected pain from surgery.... I feel awesome! Band came out 2 days ago. I've had ZERO heartburn since. I ate mashed potatoes and gravy and a few bites of very tender turkey. I didn't throw up. Holy crap I freaking hated that band! Now to heal and get ready for bypass on 12/29.

What's the pre-op diet like for bypass? liquid for how long?

I had my band put in back in 2010 and had great success. I went from 310 to 210 in about 2 years. Got pregnant in 2013 , had band unfilled. A lot of morning sickness and vomiting and I was so tight I couldn't swallow Water. I gained a lot of weight. I was back at 300 when DD was born. And 2 years later I am at 290. I've had my band re-filled, and unfilled a couple of times. I'm just so tight all of the time. It's completely empty and it sucks. I throw up in my sleep. So... It's comin out on 11/24 with bypass on 12/29. We met our deductible so I was hoping to get both done this year while they're fully covered. I just got my dates yesterday. I'm a bit nervous about recovery with a 2 year old at home. Bummed to miss thanksgiving (I know....). And excited as hell to drop this fu$&?!g weight and be able to play on the floor with my little girl!

If you've had the removal... What was recovery like? I sit and talk in a microphone for work so hoping to be back ASAP.

My band has made my stomach very sensitive to irritants... acidic drinks, coffee, alcohol etc irritate my band area and make it hard to eat or drink at all (I learned this after a weekend of lemonade). I'd be hesitant to drink something potentially harsh before that band is fully healed! And... Happy Band day today! Hope the surgery went well!

I've been banded a little more than 2 years and usually it's great. However, sometimes I get really tight for no apparent reason (I do get tight during TOM as well). No excess heartburn or anything, just will have a couple of days where drinking is a chore, and then all is well and normal again for weeks. I thought it had to do with the citric acid in a lot of the sugar free drink mixes I was using so I went all Water and tea and I'm still having these episodes. Anyone else deal with terribly tight days that dont make sense?

if in a few days you still can only sip Water and Protein Drinks then you are too tight. Liquids only for 1-2 days after a fill and them mushy food for 1-2 days... so when you get to "real" food you'll know. You should be able to eat. You should be able to drink enough. If you can't then you are too tight. But there's always swelling when you're filled so as long as you can drink then give it a couple of days to let the swelling go down, then you'll know where you are.

I've always hung onto my big clothes in the past because I've always gained it back PLUS some.

Not this time.

They're being tossed as soon as they're too big... weeding out the closet is fun!

YES! I'm still figuring the band out most of the time, but I know I get tighter when:

TOM is here

I haven't had enough to drink

too much salt

if I'm really stressed

I had my gallbladder out in 2006, band last year. Only issue I have since the gallbladder is trouble with really really fatty foods... instant diarrhea. But I guess it's a good thing... If I don't take immodium BEFORE eating something like pizza or ice cream or anything fried it's an issue. So it's easier to avoid those foods... better for me!

I've got a crazy work/sleep schedule and getting enough meals in is a challenge some days. I have a chocolate Protein shake every morning on my way to work (4am)... mixed with skim and instant coffee so it's my morning iced mocha and I love it! Breakfast before I leave work (around 9)... and then I go home to sleep from 1-6pm, so often I don't get lunch in. It doesn't matter the time of day, I'm tight when I wake up so it's a couple of hours before I can do dinner. dinner is usually around 8 or 9pm for me, then a smoothie around 10:30, bed around midnight... up at 3:30am... start over. My surgeon doesn't have a problem with my daily Protein Shake and is usually glad to hear I'm getting plenty of Protein in.

It's my only liquid calories, and even with it I'm under 1100/day.

Plus, I actually really enjoy my shake in the morning...

I started having gallbladder trouble after losing about 50 pounds on Nutrisystem several years ago... that was PAIN! When I had it taken out the surgeon told me I was a prime candidate for gallstones... I had recently lost a significant amount of weight... birth controll pills... being a woman... and family history of gb disease. If it hurts, get it out. I had many episodes laying in pain on the floor thinking I had just overdone it on the abs at the gym before I knew what was really going on.

if you're worried about the chunks in the cream Soups just strain them out... I really enjoyed strained cream of potato and cream of broccoli after surgery... I could sip on about half of a coffee mug full.

do not use corn starch!!! If it is a yeast then corn starch will only be a food source for the fungus. Gold Bond usually is good... but make sure it's zinc based and not corn starch. I get the same problem under my breasts, and very occasionally under my belly skin too... When the powder doesn't do the trick I use monistat! Doctor prescribed an antifungal for it a couple of years ago that's just a stronger version of monistat... so I just buy the generic monistat and put it in those couple of areas after I shower (not so much in winter, powder is OK then, but as it gets warmer and there's more sweating I use the cream almost daily and it prevents the problem...)

I don't believe my personality has changed, but how people see me (and not just physically) has. food is no longer my main focus... I'm not excited to go out to eat, go out for ice cream, go to the chineese buffet, meet for coffee and a treat etc. MOST of my social interactions revolved around food, and getting friends and family to understand that I have to change that has been difficult. It's not that I can't go out, but it's not fun anymore when people spend the whole meal asking "aren't you going to eat anything else? surely you can't be full on just that, here have some of this...". I don't need or want other people to make a big deal about my change in eating, the shocked attention to it is not productive for me so I do avoid these situations when I can. Some people take that as a personality change... some people think I'm flaunting it in their faces and trying to make them feel guilty for eating. It's not my problem, I know, it's theirs. But it's easier to avoid when I can at this point.

I'm sorry you've been having such a hard time! Have you discussed all of this with your fill doctor or surgeon?

feeling the correct restriction isn't something you will understand until you get it! Very frustrating... it took me 8 months to finally get there. Until my last fill, when I felt the band working for the first time, I also used Water to push food through the band because it was uncomfortable just sitting there. It was also a combination of me eating too fast and not chewing enough... I thought I was chewing well, but not even close. Now there's no way I could handle a sip of Water when eating, it would all come back up.

I also stuck with slider foods for too long because it was easier. A lot of Soups and chili, oatmeal... and shamefully the occasional Frosty at Wendy's. It's hard to understand or describe the feeling that is "full" now. It's even harder to know you're there BEFORE you take a next bite. I haven't finished a meal in ages, but I've had a bite too many very often... that's when I get that uncomfortable feeling that makes me wish I could drink it down.

I would also suggest a Protein shake in the morning to wake your stomach up and get your metabolism going. I drink one on the way to work every day, and I can't imagine ever stopping... I make a chocolate shake with skim milk and instant coffee... it's my morning mocha! Also delish with vanilla Protein for a vanilla coffee shake. I'm pretty tight in the morning and can't really eat for a few hours after waking up.

Everyone's band is different for them... some can eat Pasta and breads, some can't. I don't do well with Pasta, am OK with toasted crunchy breads, but anything doughy is a no. I also have trouble with eggs and any meat that's not really moist.

Hope some of this helps... chew twice as much as you think you should, eat twice as slow as you think you should... no drinking during meals! Protein shakes in the AM to get you started for the day. it's not easy learning how to eat all over again! But you can do it.

no problems with pickles here... although they are rather high in sodium, so drink extra Water and don't go all Snooki pickle crazy!

I work in Radio and about 2 months before my surgery was offered an endorsement of a new diet pill... it would have been good money and potential weight loss, but my surgeon said NO. I left it at that. I'd ask your surgeon about it, if they're ok with pills they'll either prescribe them for you or suggest one they have seen results with.

I make a pita bread pizza when I'm craving it! Just slice a whole wheat pita in half, spread a little Tomato sauce on it, and then I rip up a light mozzerella cheese stick... add a little oregano and sometimes a sprinkle of ff parmesean cheese... pretty low in calories and it hits the spot.

I'm also a fan of pizzafree.com GREAT no fat, no cholesterol high Protein pizzas!

I love that one too... chocolate though!

I just started using EAS chocolate Protein (they make the muscle milk too I think) because I can get a 5 lb bag at the warehouse store for about the same price as the 2 lb container at Walmart. and I love it. I was afraid to try the new brand because I loved the body fortress, and so many people had complained about various shakes so I was thrilled to love one... now I love 2!

Still doing well... I have a fill appointment on Friday, but I think I'm still OK and not ready for a fill. It's TOM this week and I'm super tight, forgot about it last night and couldn't eat dinner... Protein shakes it is!

I'm down almost 20 lbs since that last fill and me finally understanding the band! Less than 100 to go!

Shelley- When I get stuck, if it's at the begining of a meal I do wait a few minutes, if it moves down in 5 minutes or so I'll try another couple of bites, but very often if I get truly stuck it causes a little swelling and I will have trouble eating at all for a few hours, so I will opt for a Protein shake at that point. There's a difference between "stuck" and slowly draining from the pouch... Again, something I've learned about my band over the past 9 months... best of luck to you!!!

camping would be a no so soon...

I walked around Walmart with mom for about an hour the day after surgery and regretted it! I wouldn't even think of camping until you're able to lift again... I wasn't allowed to lift more than a gallon of milk for about 4 weeks...

40 lbs is 40 lbs!!! Be thrilled with that.

I know it's frustrating when others are losing faster, but slow and steady is the best way to do it.

I also know that until recently I told myself that since I could eat it it must be ok... but that's not the right way to think. The band is only a tool... if we don't make healthy food choices it's not going to work well...

But as soon as they invent the band that lets me lose weight on pizza and ice cream I'm IN!!! :-)

you'll know if it's too big!! it won't go down.

But most pills are fine... I have no issues taking tylenol or my prescriptions... I can't swallow a multi-Vitamin so I keep using the children's chewables.< /p>

I have chronic low back pain and my doc recently put my on celebrex for it... it's fantastic. she told me it's usually easier on the stomach than advil and isn't known for ulcers...

it's totally normal to go a few days without a BM after surgery... the anesthesia has that effect on your digestive system. It may even take a few days to pass gas... if it goes for more than a week or you start having pain and pressure because of it call your doc. Because of the nature of our surgery you can't just eat some fig newtons or prunes (both have helped me after past surgeries), you could sip some prune juice (ick) or you could just wait it out. Not sure how much fiber your doc wants you having during this part of your recovery... check with him/her before starting fiber if you weren't on it before surgery!