Ok it has been 8 days since my surgery and I have many questions. I am hoping some of you out there can help.

#1. I have to take my hormone which is a pill, very tiny pill about the size of a baby aspirin. Do I have to crush it forever? And what about Tylenol can we take it? Do we have to crush it?

#2. Water, how do you get all the water we are supose to drink in one day in when we can't drink 30 to 40 min before and after eating? And then I seen a post that said not to drink or eat 3 hours before you lay down. Ok is any one else not finding enough hours in the day for all of these rules? Any suggestions?

#3. Food, I am now on week 2 creamy foods. I had oatmeal this morning. I only had a few bites and I felt a very thick feeling in my chest area. What does this mean? I thought I was full. Is this posible? Any familar experiences or advise?

Help, Help, Help,

:D :D

Kathy

Dr. Lopez

May 21, 2004

Hi Kathy -

1. Many people have no problems with small pills. Once you are on solid foods, and prior to your first fill, you should have no problems taking whole pills. Once you start getting fills, you will have to see what works best for you. I personally crush everything, because I don't want to get stuck, and I want to make sure that the Vitamins go through and don't sit above the band. I take liquid Tylenol.

Before crushing prescription medicine, always check with your doc first.

2. You can drink up to 15 minutes before eating. If Water runs right through, you can drink up until you start eating. To get all your water in, you just have to remember to drink during your windows of opportunity. I drink a quart of water on the way in to work, before I eat Breakfast. I try to drink a quart of water after lunch, and then another quart on the way home. I'd like to drink a final quart when I get home, but that hasn't been happening lately. My after lunch quart hasn't been happening lately, either. I imagine that once you get into the routine you'll find it easier to get your water in.

3. That very thick feeling is the step before the "golfball" feeling, which is equal to the "stuck" feeling. If you had kept eating, you would have felt some real discomfort. It's good to stop before that happens. It means that you're eating faster than the food is going through the banded area. Again, you are still healing, so in another week or so, you won't get that feeling on runny oatmeal, most likely. Once you start getting fills, that feeling will return for certain foods - usually bread, rice, Pasta and dry meats.

During this time you will feel lots of strange things, and it's easy to be kind of freaked out, since all of this is new. Unless you are in severe pain, or cannot tolerate liquids, chances are everything you are feeling is perfectly normal. With time you won't notice most of these things anymore.

Welcome to bandlandia!

During this time you will feel lots of strange things, and it's easy to be kind of freaked out, since all of this is new. Unless you are in severe pain, or cannot tolerate liquids, chances are everything you are feeling is perfectly normal. With time you won't notice most of these things anymore.

What she said. Exactly.

Hi Kathy

I take the liquid Adult Strength Tylenol, I found it at Wal-Mart. Its just easier then trying to crush the tylenol . As far as getting all of my Water in. I drink 24 oz in the morning, after breakfast about an hour later I drink another 24oz then after lunch about an hour later I drink another 24 oz, during the afternoon I have another 24 oz and then after dinner about an hour later I drink my last 24oz bottle. I use a 24 oz sports bottle so I know exactly how much I'm getting in. Some days dont go as well as other days. When I was on my mushy food stage I took very small bites and waited 1-2 minutes between bites that helped me alot to not get that stuck feeling in my chest. It did go away after the swelling in my stomach went away each week it got easier and easier to get food down.