Greetings to all!

Here is a place for us to meet up after our surgeries for more specific post-op discussions. Hope to see everyone here!

Congrats Shauna!! Welcome to all those who got banded this last week!! I go in for my first fill tomorrow....I will let you guys know how it goes. I have been really hungry this week with TOM creeping up on me, the cravings have been awful. Hopefully the fill will help with some of that and a little more will power will help with the rest. I haven't gained any weight since I got back on regular food but I haven't lost any either...*long sigh* I worry about not paying attention to my soft signs when something tastes really good and I don't want to stop eating. I should probably be more careful about measuring. Well we shall see how we progress after the fill, onward and downward (in the weight department at least )

CAT:

Do you have any unflavored protein powder? I added it to all sorts of things: broth, tea, coffee, juice--it helped me keep my protein levels up post-surgery.

Amy: Any suggestions for getting all the protein in on the liquid phase of the post op diet. I really can't get more than 2 protein drinks in....getting me borderline nausea. I don't have any appetite yet and trying to get the soup in for dinner. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, I hate yougurt. Only 2 days post op and already wishing for mushies. CAT

I'm doing Premier Protein. Get pre-packaged at sams club. 18 dollars for 12 shakes. 30 grams protein, 160 cals, 400 calcium, 1 g sugar. Tastes pretty good. My kids constantly bug me for sips. When I'm feeling a little bored, I throw in blender w ice.

I'm probably not the one to ask about protein! LOL I had very little protein (well, um, virtually none) for the first week. I don't like the shakes. I preferred nothing over a shake. Just ate Jello, drank Juicy Juice and somehow I made it. Applesauce was wonderful!! Try to get the no sugar added kind. I got flavored applesauce in a big jug at Walmart. I also took plain applesauce and added crystal light to it....pretty dang good. My only advice is to stay hydrated. If you can get even one protein drink in, you're doing better than I dd!

Amy

Amy: Any suggestions for getting all the protein in on the liquid phase of the post op diet. I really can't get more than 2 protein drinks in....getting me borderline nausea. I don't have any appetite yet and trying to get the soup in for dinner. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, I hate yougurt. Only 2 days post op and already wishing for mushies. CAT

I'm anxious to hear from you how the fill goes. I've heard it hardly hurts because of all of the layers of fat. Hope all goes well!

Amy

Congrats Shauna!! Welcome to all those who got banded this last week!! I go in for my first fill tomorrow....I will let you guys know how it goes. I have been really hungry this week with TOM creeping up on me, the cravings have been awful. Hopefully the fill will help with some of that and a little more will power will help with the rest. I haven't gained any weight since I got back on regular food but I haven't lost any either...*long sigh* I worry about not paying attention to my soft signs when something tastes really good and I don't want to stop eating. I should probably be more careful about measuring. Well we shall see how we progress after the fill, onward and downward (in the weight department at least )

Ugh! I am SO frustrated!!! The post off week and all the meds have stuffed up my BC pills and now I have a faux TTOM that has made me bloated, given me the munchies AND has TOTALLY stalled my weigt loss!!! It's been almost 10 days since I've had a loss... despite eating 1000 calories a day and walking regularly!

CAT:

Do you have any unflavored protein powder? I added it to all sorts of things: broth, tea, coffee, juice--it helped me keep my protein levels up post-surgery.

Thanks for the info Lizzy.....I will try to pick some up today. Does it have a bad taste? Where do you get it? Any name brand?

CAT

Day 6 post-op for me, which means full fluids! I never thought I could be this excited for fat-free yougurt. I have lost 4lbs since the surgery and hope it dosen't stall as I begin to add more calories. I feel suprisingly good; no more gas pains, and minimal tenderness in the incision sites. Yup. Today feels like a good day!

Has anyone tried eating red meat during mushies? I was considering it, but am terrified of what it will do to me, and not sure if i should grind it before cooking or after.

any ideas?

Thanks!!

I love reading everyone's posts. I haven't posted for a few days because I feel like I am going to die!!! I was banded on 7/21 and am on day one of mushies!!! Yay. I am having the worst gas pain in my shoulders and tightness in my chest. I go back to work Monday from my maternity leave and hope that I can handle it. My surgeon said that most people can have the surgery on Thursday and return to work on Monday. My incisions don't even bother me, they are a bit tender but I am and have been sleeping on my sides and stomach for the past 4 days. It is just this horrible pain in my shoulder, I feel like crap. Any remedies?

Banded on the 19th and just had my first post-op doctor's appointment. I'm down 22 lbs! (10 from pre-op diet, 12 since surgery) Yay!! I don't feel like I look ANY different, but I'll take the declining numbers as motivation. My doctor has me on each stage of diet for a full week - so I'm still only on "full" liquids right now - but told me I could "cheat" and start mushies this weekend if I feel up to it. I definitely feel like I could eat anything right now, but so far have been too scared to even try - which I guess is a good thing. I did schedule my first fill for the 22nd, so I'm pretty excited for that. I was warned that I will probably not lose or even gain a few pounds once I start eating which I don't like... It only makes sense; you can't go from liquids only to sold food and not expect such an outcome - but I still don't like it! LOL...

Thanks for everyone's posts. They have definitely helped me to stay sane = I know what I'm going through isn't totally crazy. I'm definitely having trouble getting all my protein in, and the suggestions here have helped. (Ended up with a migrane on Tuesday = NOT fun!!) I did discover a local ice cream/yogurt shop that has saved me. They have a sugar-free vanilla yogurt that you can mix with fruit and a shot of protein powder = makes an awesome smoothie. I'm going to try and replicate it at home with my Magic Bullet. But it's nice to have the shop when I'm in a hurry...

Hugs & good vibes going out to my fellow July bandits!!

Kell

I was just banded yesterday on the 27th. I haven't had any protein drinks yet but I am going to try for one this evening. The shoulder pain was really uncomfortable last night buy subsided after I took my pain meds. I have one incision today, I think near the port, that is kind of burning and pulling. The pain med takes the edge off. I am up 4lbs. from pre surgery weight and I know its from the swelling and the IV fluids that I had yesterday.

I am on fluids until next Wed. then I can go to soft/mushy foods for two weeks after that, then on to solids. I will be out of town when I am to receive my first fill in September so I'm really not expecting a lot of weight loss until after that. I just need to remember to take one day at a time and to try to not be so hard on myself. Good luck to everyone:)

Stephanie

I was just banded yesterday on the 27th. I haven't had any protein drinks yet but I am going to try for one this evening. The shoulder pain was really uncomfortable last night buy subsided after I took my pain meds. I have one incision today, I think near the port, that is kind of burning and pulling. The pain med takes the edge off. I am up 4lbs. from pre surgery weight and I know its from the swelling and the IV fluids that I had yesterday.

I am on fluids until next Wed. then I can go to soft/mushy foods for two weeks after that, then on to solids. I will be out of town when I am to receive my first fill in September so I'm really not expecting a lot of weight loss until after that. I just need to remember to take one day at a time and to try to not be so hard on myself. Good luck to everyone:)

Stephanie

Good to hear it. I'm 4 days post op the gas pains are not painful, but very annoying. I can't wait for the full liquid stage. A smoothy sounds delicious right now.

Day 6 post-op for me, which means full fluids! I never thought I could be this excited for fat-free yougurt. I have lost 4lbs since the surgery and hope it dosen't stall as I begin to add more calories. I feel suprisingly good; no more gas pains, and minimal tenderness in the incision sites. Yup. Today feels like a good day!

I've had red meat during mushy stage. I get it cooked medium rare, cut into tiny pieces, and chew carefully. I'm actually enjoying food more because I eat less and really taste the food rather than craving the full feeling in my tummy.

I'm doing ham as well. I chop up spiral cut ham and throw in with my mashed potatoes. Yum!