One day post op and veterans, I could use some advice :)

[Beachy_Babs 5]

Hey everyone, I am now six days post op and I can still hardly eat anything! I am not taking in enough Protein from the shakes because I can barely finish 1/2 cup without either feeling too full or sick of it. I'm starting to have a tough time with this liquid stage because I'm a person with love for food texture. So being on this liquid phase has been a tough ride, but I'm hanging in there. I'm still having gas, but not so bad. I'm so glad to be uP and about now. I would like to exercise, but will wait til I go to my two week check up to get the okay to go to the gym just to walk.

As for food... I need some ideas for yummy and healthy liquids!!

[Jack 855]

Don't worry too soon about the Protein and total calorie intake; your appetite and ability to nibble/sip will return soon enough.

Re: 'tightness of Band' my own 4cc band was so tight I didn't need a fill until 6 MONTHS post op.....and those months were the period I lost the most weight along with learning the most about my old eating habits.

The early phase of liquids introduced to me a whole new world of actually appreciating as well as learning to *like* Soup as a choice.

One of the early weight losses not often recognized, is not just 'Water weight' but also the contents of the colon. Depending on the individual, 5-15# of old fecal material can be eliminated. As we repopulate our lower digestive track with mushies and gradually more normal solids we can re-gain a few pounds without realizing the transient nature of that part of our scale reading.

food textures is important to many. No Bandster has ever died from thinking they were too hungry though. After 15 years on insulin shots twice a day, learning how to moderate then finally leave off my insulin WITH THE HELP and blessing of my internist, recognizing what was and what wasn't 'hunger' became ever more easy to discern. As my elevated blood sugar/insulin levels normalized, my panic attacks and anxiety disorder dwindled too.

10 years on CPAP and sleep apnea.....a blessing to no longer suffer that within 10 months postBand.

Be sure to photograph/tape measure for your journal. Save some article of clothing to use for show-and-tell later as you will not believe how much your body changes.

[Lynster54 0]

the whey Protein Drink at CVS is good, 25 gm Protein per drink. it comes in a bag, choc/vanilla. i just bought the whey Protein Powder from Walmart, 15.00 i think, 56 gm of protein per shake. And I use 1 % milk. drink plenty of Water too.. Congrats to all Bandster. i was also banded April 12th and still on mushie food, i get my first fill May 11th, hopefully to get on reg food then. And Im walking 2 miles a day.

[dawn of dibley 6]

I am on like my 5th day post op ( i think. i have been sleeping so much, the days just run together )

i am doing my very best to get all 64oz of my fluids in. i have been writing everything down and i can tell that each day i am able to drink a little more than the first day. i am even starting to get some actual hunger, which sucks because i still have 5 more days of liquids until mushies...but my question is, will i always have this PAIN in my chest every time i take a drink of something? i will drink a table spoon or two of whatever it is, then i have this huge pain, have to wait for it to pass before i can take another sip. it has been very, very irritating.

i feels like i am having a heart attack every time i sip something. i feel at this point that i could drink more if it weren't for that stupid pain in my chest. please tell me that it is just swelling and that it will disappear eventually. pretty, pretty please...i hope it's not always going to be like this.

[Rachael 4]

Hey! I was banded yesterday 05/02/11 and aside from occasional pain, I feel great to know that I am finally banded! I chose to get the Realize band.

So far, I have been having gas pains and haven't eaten much of anything. My husband made me 1/8 cup of clear chicken broth and I can barely get

down 1 - 3 tsps. Is that okay that I don't eat as much? I will be on this liquid diet for the next 4 days until I can graduate to full liquids.

I was hoping if you guys could give me some input. I have been sleeping and walking whenever I can..just from yesterday, I have lost 4 pounds!!

I know it's all Water weight, but DANG...never had that happen to me before!

I'm loving my band and looking forward to this amazing journey

Just don't get dehydrated. I couldn't drink much either after surgery. Just drink your Water and try to walk as much as you feel able to do.

HUGS

[carlie9475 0]

Hi everyone I was banded may 4, I came home the next day. I am feeling pretty good except for two issues. First is I feel like every time I get up from sitting it feels like my port is pulling, is something wrong? And second question, I think I'm having some issues with no sugar.....like I get the shakes. I had some applesauce and the shakes went away.

[Beachy_Babs 5]

Hi everyone I was banded may 4, I came home the next day. I am feeling pretty good except for two issues. First is I feel like every time I get up from sitting it feels like my port is pulling, is something wrong? And second question, I think I'm having some issues with no sugar.....like I get the shakes. I had some applesauce and the shakes went away.

I felt that with my port too, but after calling the doctor's office, his assistant said that it's okay to feel it. Once the swelling goes down, you won't be able to feel it anymore. And she's right because I don't feel it as much anymore and it has only been a week post op. As for sugar....I can't help you there. I'm not getting enough Water and my urine is disgustingly yellow when it's usually clear. i try my best to get in enough Water, but the sipping is still a struggle for me.

I used to gulp my water like a savage and now I have to sip like a lady...oh boy

[Beachy_Babs 5]

I am on like my 5th day post op ( i think. i have been sleeping so much, the days just run together )

i am doing my very best to get all 64oz of my fluids in. i have been writing everything down and i can tell that each day i am able to drink a little more than the first day. i am even starting to get some actual hunger, which sucks because i still have 5 more days of liquids until mushies...but my question is, will i always have this PAIN in my chest every time i take a drink of something? i will drink a table spoon or two of whatever it is, then i have this huge pain, have to wait for it to pass before i can take another sip. it has been very, very irritating.

i feels like i am having a heart attack every time i sip something. i feel at this point that i could drink more if it weren't for that stupid pain in my chest. please tell me that it is just swelling and that it will disappear eventually. pretty, pretty please...i hope it's not always going to be like this.

What kind of chest pains are you having? A few days ago, every time I would inhale, it would hurt. I was afraid of possible blood clots or whatever, but it slowly went away. Just the other day, I had my first burp and it was glorious! For the longest time, I wasn't able to burp and it caused a sharp pain in my throat and chest.

I think you should call your doctor about the chest pain. I don't want to scare you, but your health is vital and we can't sit here and assume it's something else when it could be an issue. Someone may know about this! Please help!

[Beachy_Babs 5]

the whey Protein drink at CVS is good, 25 gm Protein per drink. it comes in a bag, choc/vanilla. i just bought the whey Protein Powder from Walmart, 15.00 i think, 56 gm of protein per shake. And I use 1 % milk. drink plenty of Water too.. Congrats to all Bandster. i was also banded April 12th and still on mushie food, i get my first fill May 11th, hopefully to get on reg food then. And Im walking 2 miles a day.

Way to go on the 2 miles per day!!!!! That's amazing!

[dawn of dibley 6]

the pains are directly in the center of my chest. i assume it's because my esophagus is so close to my incision. usually, the pain passes fairly quickly and most of the time it happens when i take a sip of something. it seems to be a bit better today than yesterday. every day i can see that i am getting better at consuming my liquids and better at drinking my Protein Shakes. usually a burp or just a deep breath makes the pain in my chest go away, so hopefully it is gas. i am seeing the doctor on wednesday for my 7 day post op visit. i will address it then to see if something is wrong. hopefully they will tell me that it is just swelling and that everything is A-OK. fingers crossed.