bonomofo

Gas X strips and WALK WALK WALK!!!

Hey Jackie! i'm Jessica, 29 as well, and live in NC (although I was raised in NJ). Your story is similar to mine... I have tried many diets and gyms.. but now as I'm getting older and watching the different problems my immediate family has such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol... I didn't want to be one of those people. I was banded on Oct 27 2010, and have already gone off medication I take for acid reflux, that alone has made the surgery worth it!! I'm feeling great and losing steadily.. and this has truly been the best decision I have made. If you have and questions please ask, and I will help you the best I can chica! Good luck on your journey!!

marisas did you decide to have the surgery??

Yes you will be able to eat most things but in smaller quantities. You shouldn't feel deprived because that is when the band comes into play. You might be hungry at first because you will be on liquids for awhile.. but it's important to stick with that as your stomach will be swollen and needs time to heal. Good luck!

Congrats!! I had a lot of upper back pain after my surgery.. I asked my DR this week if that is gas pain... he asked me if it was my upper back. I told him yes then he said it's not gas pain that I am actually feeling the band around my stomach. He said it will ease up each day... it has gone away but sometimes when I am very full from eating then I feel it in my upper back. Good luck with your recovery!!

Welcome to band camp Sha!! :rolleyes2:

I'm officially part of Band camp as of this past Wednesday!! The surgery went well and everyone was extremely nice and helpful at Franklin Regional Medical Center in NC. (have to give them props) As for the recovery I am in a lot of pain. I hurts so much to sit down, stand up, and walk where my port area is. As well as the gas pains... my back and stomach ache and are tight! I take gas x strips and taking hydrocodone for the pain. Question for the post bandsters: How long did you have intense pain sitting down and standing? how about the gas pains? Any tips for post up recovery? Also, I haven't had a "bowl movement " (sorry I know TMI) since before the surgery.. is this ok? Thank you all for your support and answering my previous post!!

Good luck with your surgery tomorrow shorty! I'm having surgery tomorrow as well at 10am. I can't believe they want you to go that long with no water!! I'm feeling nervous also but excited for losing the weight and new clothes! Sometimes when I start to get cold feet... I look at the before and after photos on here and that motivates me to keep going! Let us know how your surgery went!

Well my surgery is at 10am tomorrow morning (Oct 27)!! I'm starting to just now get nervous... mostly nervous about the anesthesia and the pain along with an hour long car ride home after the surgery. Thank you for fellow bandsters for your support and for answering my other posts! Good luck to everyone else that has a surgery this week!!

My Dr requires his patients to do a 2 week long liquid diet. His office gave me Optifast Protein Drinks. So everyday I would have 3 Protein Shakes and 1 chicken broth soup. (And some sf ice pops, and sf pudding, and crystal light) If you buy Protein drinks make sure you look at the ingredients.. you want as low as sugar and carbs that you can get and the more protein the better. The atkins protein shakes are a good example of that. Another tip is to keep drinking them along with the other sf items throughout the day... to keep you from getting a huge craving. I'm not going to lie... it's not the easiest thing to do, but it will make you healthier for the surgery. Good luck!! :huh2:

Good luck on your surgeries tomorrow ladies!! Get lots of rest!!

Thanks rockstar! I will be sure to check up the pre-op section!

Thanks for the ideas! I did the search like you said and found some ideas...the dr said I can add any sugar free flavorings, coffee, etc... so I'm going to have to experiment.

Hey guys! I am starting my pre-op diet of optifast shakes and soups this coming wednesday. I decided to taste the chocolate shake mix and it was so bland and I don't know how I will be able to drink so much of it everyday! Any advice for what to mix with the shakes to make them taste better?? I heard mixing with crystal lite.. what flavor? Thank you for your help!!!

Hey guys! I'm so glad to have found this forum, it's great to have this as a support group! Yesterday I met with my surgeon Dr Bovard in Raleigh NC.. I left with my surgery date scheduled, 2 bags full of Optifast diet stuff that they are requiring me to start on Wednesday and a bunch of nervousness! But I guess that goes along with any surgery! I am also doing this as cash pay as well. I just wanted to thank everyone for their advice and input on this forum and good luck to all that have a surgery date coming up!:biggrin: Has anyone tried the optifast shakes and Soups? What did you think?