BabyGotBack

Hey, we have the same band date!!! I actually have no port pain. The port is right under the big incision. But, I have had a tummy tuck. The sharp pain at least with me and my tummy tuck, was a nerve that had been cut. It takes time to heal. It is no big deal. Nerves are just all over the body and easy to nick. It just takes time. Audree

I actually find myself drawn to overweight people because I know I relate to them and their emotions better. Even when I have been thinner, 145 pounds, my struggles and emotions are not that of a thin person. I see the inside of the person and like to encourage them to jump on the wagon with me. Audree

I had a cup of coffee this morning with soy milk and feel very tight and full. I have a cup of cream of chicken sitting here near me and I have had one small spoonful. I feel like I can't. I feel very restricted and tight. So, I know I am definitely not ready for any other food!!!! That darn head hunger!!!! I feel in my head I can eat, but with the first bite of cream soup, I know I can not. Well, at least I know, for at least today, that I am one of those that have restriction from the get go. But, I here things can change day to day. That is why I want to journal daily. Audree

Don't second guess yourself!!! I have lost weight on my own very successfully many times!!I am a professional dieter, expert on almost everyone and can drop weight once I set my mind. The thing I NEVER mastered, was keeping it off. I got a band because I KNEW I can NOT keep it off. I love food too much and when I am thin, I think I am like a thin person and my issues somehow vanished and I eat whenever and whatever I want. Thus, the weight packs on with a vengence!!!!!!! You made the right decision. What is the percentage of people that lose weight on a diet??? 95% regain it !!!! I am a living testimony of that. I have lost from 240 to 145 TIMES!!!!!! And I started regaining within a week and actually knew I was gaining when I blew the crotch out of my jeans because I was gaining so fast!!!! Audree

Congrats!!!!! This is really a great group of people! Very supportive!!!! Audree

I woke up at 6am and felt pretty good. I feel tight, but less swollen and less gassy. My dietician said i coulf have cream Soup today and yogurt. Has anyone used the Activa Yougurt? It is suppposed to help with digestion. I need to also get a walk in somewhere. My friend took me to the store last night and it felt good to get out and walk. I need to do it again! How are you all doing? Banded and pre banded? What is your status??? I am day 4 post op and feeling pretty good!!! Audree

Thanks Boo!! The Vitamin Water slushie sounds good! I like those and they are good for you! I will have to go get some! I am glad I did it and feel a lot better today. My nutrionist gave me the okay to eat watered down cream soup. I felt like I was going to pass out. I just went to bed early out of being so tired. But, I find I wake up at 6 am now!! Anyone else waking up ealier??? I never did that before. Audree

I have not even weighed in and don't know if I am. I would rather have a pleasant surprise than be disappointed. The fact is for the first time in my life, I know I WILL lose!!! I read you really shouldn't focus on the weight loss during this time before your fill. We can retain from surgury and all of those high sodium broths, therefore not really getting the true weight loss number anyway. I am also going to measure myself!!! Audree

Thanks!! I added my two cents!! I just said I may or may not use it, but it is all about choice. I just like having the option if I wanted to do it. I am a brat that way and don't like people telling me I don't have the right and I do! HEHE

Congrats on your banding!! Let me know if you have any questions, here, on the lower bmi thread or PM me. Let me know how you are doing. Once banded, I have learned more about myself. My body is not hungry or able to eat, yet my head wants to feel the textures of food and tastes. But, I know that I wouldn't even be able too. Not drinking enough water also has me thinking I am hungry when i am really thirsty. I never believed that one, that if you don't drink water you will feel it as hunger, but I am experiencing it now. Before, I'd just eat. Now, I am drinking more water and not feeling as hungry. What is chile guajillo? Can you give me the recipe to your caldo?? Thanks!:hungry:

I have really enjoyed the protein water. It is keeping me hydrated and I am getting the needed protein in. I like the lemon flaver a little better I think. And they are better cold. I am a bit week, but I think from the lower calories and not drinking enough water. Also, I am resting a little too much. I need to start getting out and doing some walking! I am being lazy!!!!! :notagree

We'd love to have you!! I think where ever you feel you are getting the support is where you should stay and if it is here, that is where you need to be!!!:clap2:

My doctor also gave me a card. I don't know if I will use it, but I just like to know I have the option to. Also, I think if you are going out to a buffett, you would get a lower price, if they wanted to honor the card. Buffets are like $14 or so in some places. For kids is a couple of dollars. A lot of really unscale restaurants have clam chowder and really delicious soups for about $4 and under for a nice size cup. All in all, I just want to have the option if I feel like doing it! Audree

I see this site as my support group. I also love to research the net and other threads to get good tips and like to post them on Lower Bmi thread so I have a place to refer to all I find more conveniently as well as share. My friend is having gastric bypass and had to take six months of classes to learn how to deal with the mental stuff. I see this group as doing the same thing for me. It really helps to know you are not going through things alone. Audree :biggrin1:

Blended soups Milk sugar-free blended yogurt Sugar-free hot cocoa Carnation instant Breakfast Sugar-free fudgesicle Sugar-free pudding C ooked Cereal (oatmeal, Grits, Cream of Wheat, Farina) Dry cereal with fat free milk-soggy Dannon Lite and Fit creamy yogurt (like a drinkable smothie on the go) Low-fat cottage cheese (small curd) chicken, Tuna, salmon, crab, Egg, salads made with (low-fat mayo) premade crab cakes Mashed potatoes Unsweetened applesauce Soft cooked/scrambled eggs Canned fruit in its own juice Sugar-free Jell-O Soft cooked vegetables Soups should be non-chunky. Low-fat cream soups or pureed low-fat soups like Healthy Choice. (I bought a little food processor at Wal Mart for $14 from Black and Decker. You can just add any delicious soup and puree it) Add tasteless Protein powder to boost protein in soups. canned fruit in their own juice (no pineapple) and baby fruit, V-8 juice. ****Avoid overeating/vomiting at all costs. Both may cause slippage of the band and send you back to the operating room. Eat slowly and chew foods until they are a mushy/thin consistency. Work your way slowly up to ¼-1/2 cup of food meals. Do not eat pieces of food that are too large and can block the stomach opening (avoid thick meats and soft breads, opening of the stoma is the size of a dime). Stop eating when satisfied and comfortable not when overly full. Overeating can cause the pouch to stretch prematurely and may cause vomiting. This may also cause a slip of the band and require surgery. Eat three meals a day and consume protein with each meal. Consume one Protein shake (ex: 1/2 cup a few times a day if needed for extra protein) Always read food labels for low fat, the sugar rule, and high Fiber. Make sure you journal so you can keep track of what you are eating so you can let your doctor know. Also, you don't want to exceed 1,000-1200 a day. Also, what was happening to me, was that I was not getting enough Water, cyrstal light so my body was really thirsty not hungry. When I upped the water intake, my hunger pangs went away. I hope this helps!!! Audree:clap2:

Welcome Sophie!!! I felt like crap binging before my surgery. But, I was just getting it out of my system. The thing is it is so much easier to have to gain than lose!! Go for it!!! I can't wait to see how my journey unfolds!! Audree

I know how you feel. I was supposed to be banded Dec. 18 but had to wait for my financing to come through and it did!!!!! From San Diego the driver picks you up and drives you to the hotel, then picks you up for surgery. Then drives you back to the hotel and back to the air port. I think you'd be okay to go alone. And we always meet people on these boards who are having the surgery the same day we are and meet up at the hotel. I met a really nice lady named Debi and now we call each other and will go get fills together. You may find someone to share a room when you find out your date and see if anyone else is traveling alone. Dr. Ortiz also has his own site lapbandforum.com and his patient coordinator tries to help patients match up for dates, surgeries, fills etc. Let me know if you have any questions!!! Audree

Me three!!!

It is so funny how different doctors have different post ops. Dr. Ortiz just changed his. It is now only 3 weeks of liquids (first four days clear, liquid yogurt on day 4, protein shakes day 5, cream soups day 7) and on day 22 you can start on solid foods. So for me, I need to stop being a baby because I can't have my cream soup until Friday!!!! I have been feeling sorry for myself!!! I only have 3 weeks to go till I can eat "normal". My nutrionist said divide the plate in 4 quadrants, 1st quadrant is protein (very finely chopped), 2nd quadrant is veggie, 3rd is fruit and 4th is healthy carb. The middle of the plate has to be some form of healthy fat. She also said no protein shakes. Better to have solids than liquids, for example the new Kelloggs Protein meal bars. For dinner I had broth, chamomile tea, crystal light and a sugar free pudding!! I felt a little better after that, but it still put my to about 600-700 calories today. I was feeling very week. Audree

I can't feel my band at all. I can feel my port kind of. I am aware my stomach is swollen and bloated, but that's it! Audree

Lucky you cuz I am starving!!!!!!! I think I am not having enough water. I think I will try sipping on crystal light! Audree

Thanks SkinnyMom! My thing is I don't really have a sweet tooth and I am soooooo burned out already on the juice, gatorade, ice pops, jello. I finally burped and it felt soooo good.I'd have this sensation that I wanted to burp and couldn't and it HURT!!!! It was a lot of pressure. Audree

I want some creamy soup so baaaaddd! I don't like sweets so i don' really want yogurt or protein shakes. I am about to have more broth for dinner. Dr. ORtiz has you on 4 weeks of liquids then to solid food, chewed well. I AM SO HUNGRY IT HURTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Audree

You should come by our lower bmi thread. We are all lower bmi. I was a bmi of 31. I just got banded on Friday. If you post this question there you will get a lot of feedback!!! Audree

Thanks!!!! I like to find intersting things to help my journey easier and want to help others along the way!:welldone: I am hungry and am thinking about taking my Quick Slim 30 because I am too darn hungry. This is what I have eaten today Breakfast: Better Than Boullion Beef broth Snack: Juice pop Protein Water Gatorade Frozen Juice box (100% juice) Audree