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I'm 2 weeks post-op and tummy bloating is getting better but still there. I've been wearing dresses to work. Today I wore pants but unbuttoned them and folded it in, luckily they stayed up with the zipper!

Feeling the same way. Tomorrow morning is VS day Feeling alone and scared. Do not want to leave my 7 year old without a mother Preparing to feel regret and then to get over it in a few weeks Found out today I have a hiatal hernia do they will take care of that too but warned me I may have GERD and offered to do gastric bypass instead Not what you want to hear 12 hours before

Good luck I am 6 weeks out I have my ups and downs but no regrets. Down 52 pounds and couldn't be happier.

I have four kids, and they are older, but I am still wondering what to say to them about my surgery: before/after/during. For the most part, they haven't asked a lot. I have 3 girls ages 17, 15 and 14 and a 12 year old boy. They are all in the healthy weight range. My 15 year old was with me during the initial seminar and my doctor's appointment and endoscopy, so she knows the most. The 14 year old has been at camp this last week and has some questions and concerns. I think she is a bit worried about me having a surgery. The other two haven't talked about it very much, but I expect more questions. So far, the talking has been about what I will eat and family meals -- will they need to eat like I do, for instance. Today, my 14-year-old was telling me that hospital food is bad, and she'd bring me some McDonald's when I was in there for my surgery. I had to explain that I couldn't eat McDonald's because my stomach would be healing. I didn't talk long term about no McDonald's. I figured baby steps for that discussion. Any advice from those that are doing this and/or have been there? Thanks!

Ok I am going to confess. I barley tracked what I ate this week, I went out to dinner 3 times, and I am eating carbs more. I normally weigh in on Fridays but I am ashamed and don't want to step on the scale tomorrow. I don't want to get discouraged if I gained... My first adjustment is May 12th. I feel like I am slowly converting to my old ways...

This is bandster hell that I heard of ... I was banded Mar 26/14... I'm from toronto so we have to wait 7 weeks from surgery date to get a fill (we get a small one at surgery - tiny!) ... I feel like I can eat ALOT of food still and am trying to consciously diet. I've got 2 weeks until I can request a fill... In the meantime willpower & dieting is a huge struggle.... Am I alone with this?

Hi @@nicktol can you tell me what you eat that adds up 600 calories? Im a week out, on clear liquid diet, and im worried that i dont eat any calories at all.. Sent from my SM-G900H using the BariatricPal App

I have a four year old granddaughter who is with us 4 days a week. My wife explained the whole procedure to her, how the doctor was going to do an operation to make Grandpa get skinny. The night before the surgery she told me, no more popsicles Yampa. You are going to get skinny so we can play soccer. She visited me in the hospital and the IV and monitors seemed to scare her a little bit, she wouldn't come and sit on the bed with me. My biggest problem is my wife, she has been losing weight steadily over the past year by diet and it down 75 pounds, but is afraid to eat in front of me. Now our kids are afraid she is going to become anorexic!

Read this site! Yes, there are stories where people have had problems but it would be a surprise if everyone sailed through. But look at the stories of people further down the track and the majority are leading lives that are healthier and happier than before. I had a bad reaction to the anaesthetic - but that was more than weeks ago and all the good stuff that has happened since far outweighs a few bad days to start with. Keep yourself informed using the site so u have answers to all the negative naysayers and to any concerns u may have yourself. Alternatively smile at them, make all of sorts of noises that sound as if u r listening but tune them out while all the time thinking that this is your life to be lived as you see fit and that the only point of view that matters when making the decision is yours. Good luck!!! X

It depends how frequently you experience heartburn. I never found I needed a PPI like Losec or Prilosec. I had my first bout of reflux today, 3 weeks post op. It felt like I was constantly hungry, took 3 tums and it killed the sensation. Tums are just calcium tabs so very safe. You could also try OTC Zantac or Pepcid for as need relief. PPIs need a couple of days to start working properly so they meant for folks with more chronic reflux concerns.

Everyone is different. My nurse put one on me and the next day my dr got upset bc he didn't want me to wear it. He said only for opens, not lap. In prior surgeries it was 4 weeks.

Of this week will be the slowest week of them all and Sunday will be the longest 24hrs of my life! I live in NC and you?

The hospital I was at the binder aka (girdle) basically a tummy holder inner type thing, was optional. I requested it because I felt my skin was tearing off and it held it up nicely. I used this for 1 week. Per choice

I agree with the other poster that they are way too high in sugar. Check with your dietician on what your doctor recommends. A large portion of that 180 calories is the sugar. Your 10 g protein are only 40 calories. I try to minimize fat, salt, and sugar. For Protein shakes, ready to drink type, I use Worldwide Protein Shakes. They come in 21 and 35g protein. Cheapest place to get them is Trader Joe's. Target has started carrying the 21g recently in 4 packs, around $6, in vanilla, chocolate, and Cookies n' Cream. Trader Joe sells both 21 and 35 in just Chocolate and Vanilla. The 21's are about $1.69 each and the 35's about $2.29. Vitamin Shoppe only carries the 35's but in all the flavors (Vanilla, Chocolate, strawberry, banana Cream an Cookies n' Cream). Individually they are $2.79 each but if you buy a 12 pack for $27.99 that works out to about $2.33 each, pretty close to Trader Joe's. I order them online at vitaminshoppe.com and they often have specials with free shipping or if you sign up for their rewards program you get coupons for money off orders. GNC carries 35's in Vanilla and Chocolate in the stores, all flavors online, but they are the most expensive, $2.99 a can. WW shakes only have 1g sugar in the 35's (I get them from Vitamin Shoppe), 1g fat, 0.5 sat fat, 10mg cholesterol, 2g carbs in the 160 cal flavors and 140 of those calories are protein. Some of the flavors are 170 cals and maybe have anothe g of sugar but I don't think any are more than 3. I am reading from the can of Vanilla that I drank today. If you are looking for a way to get in more protein, I would suggest the WW shakes, plus you are getting very little sugar and fat. Oh and the sodium on the can of Vanilla is 150mg and Potassium 240mg. I have trouble with low potassium so I am always looking for stuff that has more of that than sodium. I hope this helps, and good luck on your journey. Please feel free to share the above info with your dietician. I used them before and after surgery I still drink them at least 5 days a week. I bring them to work and have them first thing. You may find you are tighter in the morning after a few fills, and this works for me. I wait about an hour then have Breakfast, usually protein Cereal from kaysnaturals.com and/or yogurt (I mix my own--fat free Greek yogurt from Trader Joe--comes in 2 cup container--22 g protein per cup 0 fat, 6g sugar--I divide into four half cup servings--11 g protein 0 fat 3 sugar--for fruit I mix in Smuckers sugar free preserves 10 cal tbsp, plus some cinnamon) So with the shake (35), cereal (10) and yogurt (11) I manage 56g protein before lunch.

You have lots to be proud of this week! She is a doll! congrats!!!

Not using anything specifically for scar treatment but I did put neosporin on my scars two days last week to see if it would help them heal. Mine scabbed like normal but then the scabs came off one by one either because of water from the shower or when I dried myself afterwords. They have shrunk but not completely healed yet. Glue has also come off so they are now open on the surface and I can feel and see the stitches on two of them.

Yep, I just cut a little piece off and stuck it right over my scar. The tape stays well. I usually changed my tape once per week.

I will be having surgery in a few weeks and i don't planning on telling my kids until they are old enough to understand. They are 5,5, and 7.

I had some and it was fine, I didn't puree it though, I just chewed, and chewed, and chewed Sleeved 9/25 Starting Weight 261 Surgery Weight 241 3 Weeks postop 224

I am not sure whether I'm going to have to do a two week liquid diet before surgery. I think the results of the echo and gastroscopy of tomorrow will determine if I need to do a liquid diet or not... It's incredible how strong you are to actually face your problems and be able to work on them! I hope I'll manage to do that too, because I really want to change my lifestyle and not constantly let (bad) food control my life and to find ways around the sleeve. That's definitely not my intention, but I don't know if I'm still going to be that strong when I'm actually facing these problems, that's something future me is going to have to deal with. I can imagine the first week being one of the toughest, especially with complications... I always drink a lot with my meals too, so it's going to be quite the adjustment having to do that separately. Can you properly drink a bottle of water? Or do you get your water intake by slowly sipping throughout the entire day? And about how much water can you drink now, 8 weeks post-op, during the day? Do you feel like each day your intake is still improving?

Yes..I have to do one a day for a month! Been doing it for 2 weeks so far and they arent too bad. They dont hurt at all but do leave bruises sometimes. Good luck!

I'm just 2 weeks out, but I'm wondering if there are any good choices in Protein bars? I don't want to have to order them, just something from the local market. Also, do sugar alcohols cause dumping as well? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes, if you dont stop the stress eatting you will gain weight! I was given my date back in Feburary, and I told myself I was going to lose at least 30 pounds between Feb and June....then stress crept up and bit me in the butt! My 5th Graders getting Spring Fever, trying to get and keep them focused for their state assessments, I got frustrated and said to heck with the Protein shakes, eating right and stuff, and started up my old habit of going to Mickey D's in the morning.... Well I stepped on the scale on May 20th (I have surgery in 3 weeks) and I'd gained 20 pounds! I started my pre-op on that day! Now I'm day 5 into it...I am approaching the wall (I getting the urge to eat) but I'm trying to stay focused.... I am the captain of this body and I will control it!! One day at a time!!! Commit to taking back control....

Hello, My name is Tia. I am happy to share my success story with you. I was banded 9/15 and have lost 80 pounds. I started at 274 and 5'2and now am to 194. I feel so much better and more healthy. I exercise 5 days a week and lift weights. The band is so awesome. Its the best decion I have ever made? Have I had some issues, yes, but the benefits have totally outweighed those situations. Its all a journey and u live and learn. I have no problem with what i eat and i treat myself once in awhile to foods i love. If you follow the rules , follow the lifestyle, and exercise it will work for you. Not all are fast losers and that is ok. Its intended to provide steady weight loss 1-2 pounds a week. Read the boards they are so helpful and so is the chat. Good luck on your journey

I take a nexium before bed. Also recently started taking 1 tbsp of organic apple cider in a large glass of Water, first thing in the morning with all my meds and supplements. The organic apple cider (has to be organic with the "mother" little floaties in it) helps replenish the good flora and fauna in your gut. It's an old-fashioned remedy but it has definitely helped calm down my reflux issues. pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4; 12 weeks post-op 274; 4 month post-op 266.2