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Congrats smsm! You're doing really well and you have to lost weight to show for it. Yay! I ate some ice cream. Didn't help that we went to dinner at friend's house last night and guess what they had for dessert? Yep, ice cream. Wasn't too bad since I had been really good all day but it meant no weight loss for me today. Back in the saddle today, gonna try to make it all day on South Beach today. I need a jump start getting this worked out. I can already tell I'm gonna have problems since I don't have a simple, go to breakfast worked out yet. I just can't do eggs every day. I can have my yogurt, it's fat free with only 4 carbs but I usually have it with fruit. Guess I'll have to figure out how to eat it plain or something else to mix in it.

My surgery is set for the 17th!! Only 3 more days! I have been on liquids all day yesterday and today and so far so good. I think I wont have any problems making it 2 more days! Wish me luck tho, I know I could use it. Reading all the posts has been great and such a learning tool, just all the different opinions and useful ideas. I am so glad I found this site! I am a little confused between clear liquids and liquid diet. My paperwork says clear liquids but also lists protein shakes, yogurt and other "unclear" liquids. Anyone have any thoughts as to that? I have staying with clear except for my protein shake. That has been like my only "meal". I am wishing everyone the best results and look forward to reading up on everyone's progress! Merry Christmas to us.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones... only one day of clear liquids pre-op, and on solid food in week 3, but find myself preferring soups and yogurt still. My doc puts a fill in the band when he puts it in, so I don't think I've had quite the hell everyone describes. Stupidly, I don't know my band's capacity or how much he started with... will ask when I go see him in 3 more weeks. Congrats to all on your progress to date! What fun we will all have as we learn to live with our bands and watch the pounds peel off!

Swelling depends on the individual. Mine went away pretty quickly, but some people take weeks. I was able to start adding "real" food after one week of mushies and within two weeks was eating normally. How about yogurt, SF pudding, cottage cheese, runny mashed potatoes, SF popsicles? Spice up your foods? Well, huevos rancheros (eggs with salsa and cheese), go easy on the salsa and use the runny stuff rather than the chunky. Put a little cinnamon in your applesauce. Add some of that runny salsa to your refried beans. If you like spinach, cook a box of frozen spinach, puree it in the blender and add salt, pepper and a little lemon juice and top your fish with it. Hope that helps.

Tomorrow is my big day. I have to be at the hospital at 6am. I am so excited to start this next phase. I am sick of shakes, tomato soup, yogurt and pudding. I know I have at least another 2-3 weeks of that but at least I can add in applesauce and bananas in a week. :tongue2:

I haven't had chicken or bagels since I got banded. I read on the forum that those are trouble so I avoided them along with steak and burgers and bread rolls, I stick to pita bread and eat just a little bit... I eat carbs, my lunch is a square of lasagna the size of my palm, and I try to make the lasagna as healthy as possible. Or I have some sushi. Or if I stick to veggies for lunch I get a grilled cheese sandwich ( in pita bread) for dinner. Everything hurt last week except the mashed zucchini, yogurt and Cereal. From the first bite down to the last. 4 weeks after a fill! I exepected that this could happen if I get too tight for what I am willing to put up with. But this came out of the blue. Just as I was getting ready to get another fill! Being on a liquid diet again has helped and the medicine as well, today I was able to eat something non-solid so I am less freaked out. I have re planned my meals to cut down even more, which I am fine with, I just wanted to know if this is the band doing its job or if something is wrong. Because the pain was excruciating! is it supposed to hurt THAT bad? So I won't be able to have a single bite of the things I love? I was kinda hoping I could still nibble of a few things here and there

LOL Jane! I could not have told you her name---but I DO remember Romper Room. We did not get it at home, we were literally in the boonies---but I watched it at my Grandma's. And every now and then, she would say Hi to Kathy, and I remember telling her back, "They call me Kat"!!! I had not thought of that in years!! Last mention I made of Romper Room was to tell a manager at Yellowstone Nat'l. Park, his employees must have all been Romper Room Rejects!!! We had rented a cabin in the park and 3 different times they gave us keys to inhabited cabins. We opened the door---with the key---and there was other peoples things! We could have stolen them blind! So the 2nd time we knocked, sure enough a man answered the door.....when we explained, he too drove back to the office! So everytime we left the cabin we had to load EVERYTHING up because we didn't trust them not to give out OUR key!!! Rotten time!!! It snowed on us, and was the end of June, we took shorts!!! LOL Sitting here letting my hair dry----go to the Dr. this morning to find out about my itching. Woke up less sore this morning tho. Last night I could not even let Kinsey lay on my lap during the debate I was so fricken sore....this morning, with a night of being drugged, and no scratching (well much less) I am better. Eating a piece of peanut butter toast. I am where I want to be weight wise again, and finding it a bit difficult to NOT eat like I did for the week after being put back on food. Since I KNOW I can..... I know peanut butter toast is not the best for me, but it was cold, cereal or yogurt just sounded even colder!!! Terry the dog is a beauty!!! And I can vouch that human thyroid meds are cheap, so I assume dog is the same thing.....dosed accordingly. Mine is in the neighborhood of $3.00 a month. One of my friends on the New Jersey thread (Sherryboberry) has 2 goldens, and she loves them to pieces. They have an older one, then got a fairly young pup---she said the pup was a handful, but has now settled into her routine. She always includes them in her pictures---they are so pretty. Comet needs you!!! TracyKS---will be thinking of you while you are at your Dr. and I am at mine. Of course I might be thinking, I am sure glad I don't have to take my clothes off!!! LOL----good Luck girl!!! Pamela---you a failure? You who has everything going on at once??? When everything is going great, and you have nothing outside of your multiple JOBS to do----it would be difficult to get to your diss and get your chapters finished as quickly as you would like. Now when you add in a relationship, and friends, and lifes ups and downs----and it would seem impossible------but you are doing it! Maybe not as fast as you originally planned, but it IS getting done. Other than the fact we have to call you Dr........is much going to change if it takes a little longer than you hoped? You will still get there---and you won't have ignored yourself, your partner, or your family and friends to the point of alienation. Especially the VIOLETS!!!! LOL You will get there girl, you just have SOOOOO much life going on! You are NOT a failure! Michelle.....quiet? How will you ever take votes if you cannot talk my friend??? Hope you are speaking up soon!!! I get laryngitis like that, feel fine, just have no voice! I feel for ya!! Judy, Haydee, Jane, Suzanne, Laura, TracyK, Jenn, Gina, Denise--------I am thinking about you, but must get ready for the Dr. Kinsey is still sleeping so have to allow for time to deal with the grumpies from waking her up!!! Will check back when I get back home. Oh yeah, when it rains it pours---they screwed Ricks check up--so even if it had deposited it would have had to have been fixed. They paid him for a weeks vacation! For no reason, and we do not want to buy out a week! (deeeeeeeeeep sigh inserted here) hopefully it won't take long...... Kat

Janie- Perks of Being a Wallflower, is the book they compared it to. I am about halfway into the curious dog, I don't see the resemblance, but it's a good book too. Well my weirdo dream for last night.. one of my gay buddies from high school was visiting me with his friends that I didn't know. I was really tired, so I went to bed and told them to let themselves out. They were, and I saw them sneaking back in. So I went to look, they were raiding my clothes (which were in the kitchen some reason) and stealing a bunch of PINK SWEATERS. uh huh.. I don't think I own any pink sweaters! Then we got into a fight, and then instantly I was on a road trip with my family & Russell. Russell jumps out of the van at a gas station--while we're still moving, to go to the bathroom. I kept thinking, how is he going to get back up here? And we kept right along.. so I finally made my dad turn around so we could go get him (I was convinced Russell did not think that through). And there was a bridge with a lot of water.. something scary happened that made me wake up in the middle of the night (with really bad arm cramps, I slept on it wrong) freaked out.. but I don't remember what! Finally remembered to bring my yogurt for breakfast, so enjoying that right now. Hope everyone has a good Friday!! TGIF! Oh and I must be oblivious, I don't remember a green shirt boob lady..I did notice a lot of the B&A are named Laura, which I figured had to do with Cookies, they fill in the blank with whatever your name is.

Hi Kathy, Sorry about your banding being put off... bummer. What is d.e.m.? :Banane56: Curious... Is your Dr Oliak, and Dr Owens local to our area? I'm in Fallbrook and am totally disllusioned with being told my surgeon does lapband, then having to fight tooth & nail to have the surgery done... what he really does is roux en y. So... I've been fibbed to, strung along, told to wait, told to "lose another ten"... yadda yadda... oh - his dietician? She said 'there isn't anyone in SD Co doing lap... so "when" he starts to do them, he'll be the only one." WHA??!!! Any small amount of web searching comes up with all sorts of Docs in SD Co that already DO lap band. :angry I hope you are able to get your surgery done, in a timely fashion, by trustworthy docs that you have total faith in and don't have to feel upset and let down by. (sigh...) Of all the people we live with and deal with on a day to day basis... having to deal with our surgeons shouldn't be part of the equation. :cry Sorry to be such a downer... I'm gonna go make myself a soy-yogurt smoothie. FOOD always cheers me up. LOL :faint: Do you have someone to go to meetings, or to the hospital with you? I am totaly available if you need me. Let me know, OK? hugs, plumptuous <>< (if you wanna call, our number is _60-723-1554, just plz never before noon, as hubby works late nights)

What is special about greek yogurt?

Gerbera---3rd week berfore I get yogurt and milk products. Isn't it something how different the doctor's instructions are? (How long to wait before the next stage, etc?) Who would think that I'd ever dream about a noodle in my chicken broth? LOL I do appreciate your understanding! :biggrin1:

Nathalie-- When I spoke of "yummy" things.....I was talking about the food she's eating now. I've been allowed to eat drinking yogurt, ice cream, milky drinks, soups (not all clear) so long as they are thin and of consistency to pass through a straw. I know why I did it, in the first place. I was just trying to express that I'm having a hard time right now and need to talk about it. I thought it would help to talk to people.

Hey Marissa. I read in another post that sometimes if you get a pillow and basically be on all fours. Lower your front down on the pillow, you put your butt in the air while on your knees, it supposedly relieves the gas pain as gas rises. I don't know if it works, but another person who posted said it really worked for them. Oh by the way lizrbit, I was banded 2/8 and I am drinking protein shakes (since the hospital), dannon yogurt smoothies (light, I like the strawberry/bannana one), jello, fudgsicles (sugar free, make sure it dissoves to liquid before swallowing), popsicles, V8, and I can have cream or milk based soups (not chunks) that are thinned with water. I was not told any clear liquids after surgery. Doctor wants my energy up he said. He said just to listen to my body and sip. Hope that helps. Luv2blab, I did not have any band around me after surgery. I am starting to feel better today. If you look at some of my other posts I got really emotional. I am actually started to feel good now. I think it was what other people said, the anethesia and pain meds. I was banded on 2/8. I haven't taken pain meds since yesterday morning (day 3). I have tenderness at port area, which I don't know if it is the port or the fact the incision is bigger there than the other ones. I don't even feel the other incisions. Just that one on the side. I was thinking I would write out my experience from check in at the hospital to now to give people an idea of what to expect. I know I wanted to know everything.

I haven’t much energy right now, but I wanted to touch base before too much time went by. My surgery was at 8:30am on the 15<SUP>th</SUP>, and I came home (to my parent’s house) at 4pm on the 16<SUP>th</SUP>. The procedure went well, and I felt really good yesterday except for some very strong pain at the actual port site. Bending over to do ‘anything’ is so painful at the port! I was up & walking around very well by 6:30pm. I even went to the Lap-Band support group that happened to meet last night at the hospital. I crawled into bed at 11pm feeling so encouraged, despite the port pain. This morning at 3am, however, I woke up to pee & felt flu-ish (as if every muscle ached). I could hardly move my legs & chalked it up to sleeping the hospital bed. By 7am, when the nurse woke me to check my vitals, I couldn’t even left my head off the pillow. :sick And I had a slight fever (100.6), too. But my surgeon checked me out & said that flu-like symptoms were often a side effect of anesthesia. I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mac truck, but so be it. I left the hospital with my hubby at 1pm, dropped of my Vicoden Rx, and browsed through a discount store next to the pharmacy while waiting on the prescription. After that we came back to my folks’, I hugged on my babies (who were none the worse for my absence :-P) and took a nap. Now I’m off for my dinner of a protein shake. That is my main diet for the next 2 weeks. My clinic recommends 16-24 oz daily of protein shake made with skim milk, supplemented by plenty of water, and broth, Jell-O, pudding & yogurt for the 1<SUP>st</SUP> 2 weeks. Such fun! Well, my shake is gonna separate if I don’t get to it soon, so... Good luck to all of you, too!

Okay, guess what The Nat had for dinner? EGGS! I friggin HATE eggs. But they were so friggin good. Here's what I did. (In case anyone wants the recipe.) I cooked some turkey sausage on the george foreman grill and then pressed the rest of the grease out of it with paper towels. I crumbled it in the bottom of the muffin tin. Then I added cheese crumbles. And onion/green pepper. And finally I poured some egg beaters in the cups and baked it for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. They are like little tiny quiches. Nummy num! Unfortunately I made 24 of them... and ate 3. They are the mini-muffin size, so I think that in total it's 3/4 of a cup. I'm estimating that 1 egg muffin is 1/4c. I'm pissed that I did it again. I see that i'm eating too fast, and not planning my meals before I start sucking it down. And I need to put it on a plate and sit the hell down instead of standing up eating in the kitchen. My belly is so damn bloated! I also whipped up the salmon tonight. I used about 3oz of plain yogurt, added lemon, dill, onion salt and lemon pepper. It was a little runny so next time I'll use 2oz FF cream cheese 2oz FF plain yogurt. It had a good taste, too. Oh, and I put a lil vinegar in it - I like a little tang to my dishes. BTW, I tried to post earlier but I lost my post. I said some really nice things to y'all... Shame I lost it. It's the thought that counts, right? Hang in there, ladies, and don't forget to FORGIVE yourselves. Do the best you can, and when you fall down, pick yourselves up, forgive yourselves and keep on doing the best that you can. Don't be harder on yourselves than you would be to any friend in your same situation. Just a lil loving advice from your friend Nat. Be good and I'll try to keep up with you tomorrow! We really need a list of all of us, and our surgery dates. I don't know everyone on the board anymore. I wish I did though. Stay Strong! Nathalie

Hi y'all...my surgery date is December 13th. Doing a pre-diet currently...V-8, Protien drinks, broth, yogurt, and sugar free jello/puding. Chattanooga, Tennessee @ Memorial Hospital with Dr. Land. Very nervous. Weight at start of pre-diet 240, 3 days in 235 (5' 5 1/2 " tall).

I had my first post-op appt today - I am 10 days post-op - I am having same pain as you and he said it is gas pain and I need to take Gas X or Milk of Magnesia - I did not know it was from gas but now I do - It is not killing me but is very uncomfortable - maybe what I am eating is wrong but I am basically living on soups, cream of wheat, oatmeal, yogurt and protein drinks. Should go away eventually he said. I also have a lower back pain which is also related to gas.

I was banded the same day as you were...Oct. 26th...and I was only on liquids for two days after...then on sunday I was switched to a "creamed diet"...like puddings and yogurt and creamed soups and vegetable juices like Clamato juice. I blend up anything and everything to the stage of creamy and since we eat so little, they said the calories at this point are not an issue. My problem is I am not sure what "full" feels like. I never eat more than like a half cup or so of anything at a time. And I always am content so I must be at the right amount for now. Hang in there julestwu....or maybe call and see if you can not have something in the "creamed category". I was told anything that could be sucked through a straw.. (but don't use a straw)...well, little did they know ... I could suck spagetti through a straw if I put my mind to it. *ha* I feel great...and have been back to work all week. Hope everyone out there is doing great too! :clap2:

My Dr requires 3 days after surgery total clear liquid diet. Day 3 until day 22 total liquid with the exception of 4 oz or pureed fruit and some yogurt. Day 23 until day 60 soft puree diet. Does this program appear to be consistent with what others are doing? I am having a difficult time with the liquid diet and find that I am actually very irritable and not real pleasant to be around right now. I know there are some major life style changes to go through and I am trying my best. Why do they require such restrictions for so long ?

Hello all, had a question. I'm needing some ideas for my pre surgery diet. I'm looking at the protein drinks, and bought some fat free yogurt and small 2% cottage cheese servings for snacks. I start this tomorrow and I'm trying to get a handle on everything. Thanks!:confused2:

Hello theres, my prettiess.... hehe glad this site is back, i need it! well i was banded on the 26th by Dr. Ortiz, what a doll he is! i feel ok, a little gassy still and sore, my cuts are a little itchy... cant get the glue off, and I am scarred to touch it. I have been so hungry since the first day out of surgery, so i have no idea how they can say I wouldn't be hungry for a week. My tummy has been gurgling, rumbling, and growling non stop! i do notice that I stay full much longer now, and its a little uncomfortable. I have not yet pbed or slimed, thank god, maybe that only happens after a fill? My question is- Yes, i lost about 15 pounds so far, but as I start adding cream soups, yogurts and more food to my diet..... how does my body keep from gaining it all back? And also just wanted to say gratz to all you October Bandsters! I cant believe we did it! ~Raynie!

Sweethot- My Doc said FOUR (ug!) weeks of the liquid/protein diet and then soft foods on week five. Soft- oatmeal, yogurt, thicker soups, cottage cheese,... I've got a guy who has a really good result rate on all levels so I am heeding his precautions. It's hard enough to go through this once, I can't imagine how aweful it would be to have to get it repeated or to have it removed after all this. After two weeks of soft foods, I can move to more chewable options beginning with fish, then some white meats and red meats are dead last. In addition, he said no milk (has milk-sugar) or sugar- ever. And to stay away from "white" foods: popcorn, pasta, potatoes,... as these are not going to help with wieght loss. Lastly, no carbonation, chewing gum because they expand the stomach and to watch foods like cream of wheat or rice that might not have absorbed all their liquids yet. They can expand the stomach, too. That's about it for my food plan. It's a matter of timing, planning and careful thought. Today I made more jello. (Yippee) I'll have the strongest nails on the block! I'll bring a red and green combo jello over for Christmas dinner so I can have dessert, too. I told my family I was off sugar, but not that I'm being banded in two days. Merry Christmas!

i found individual greek yogurt cups at sams today. i am so excited. just thought i would share.

are you talking about while you are recovering from the surgery? Or going forward? I would think that yogurt, cottage cheese, shakes etc. are not going to be stopped by the band. If you can eat stuff like that and not be real hungry by lunch, then go for it.

Hi Silry, My stomach was gnawing and rumbling and so I went ahead and incorporated the sippable yogurt yesterday. Dr. Miranda said that this could be started as early as day 4. I did start feeling hungry again yesterday, but with three sips of the yogurt I felt full - AMAZING! Tomorrow will be the start of when I can do the Protein Shake and I am thankful for it! :biggrin1: