SHRINK'N VIOLETS

Hello all... I'm Tracy and I'm starting this thread because I just found out that I'm scheduled for Surgery on April 26, 2007.

fffffffffffffffffffast forward to April 30, 2007

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

We made it to the other side of bandland and now we are set to support one another while we shrink our booties and grow into our new smaller skins.

All are welcome to join in and post, but we are not a group that bickers..... please be supportive as we all have different paths to follow... but the journies to the more healthy self beckons....

Let the losing begin!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you please share with us the brand and mg you are using? And congratulations on your weight loss so far!!!! :clap2:

I am using Chromax Ultra Strength 500 mcg capsules. I bought these at a local pharmacy.

I finally found the list that I was looking for! I hope that this is helpful for others!

Breathe in breathe out. We're all gonna do great

Love you guys, Sheila

PREOPERATIVE SHOPPING LIST

This list contains items that some patients wish they had before their surgeries but didn't think of til later. It is compiled from suggestions by Mandy, Photonut, Archermom, NancySmiles and her LBSG support group (including Nancy, Del, Cindy, and Toni), Gadgetlady, and NancyRN.

Feel free to post your suggestions to add to our list. Hope these suggestions are helpful. List put together by NancyRN

FOOD

For fluid stage:

• Bottled water – plain or flavored, some like Propel or Fruit 2-0

• Popsicles (sugar-free as needed)

• Crystal Light

• Crystal Light “On the GO” in different flavors - add to bottled water

• Jello (sugar-free)

• Gatorade

• Bouillon or chicken/beef/veggie broths (low sodium as needed)*

• Ensure, Boost, Glucerna - or whatever protein drink the Dietitian asked you to drink based on your history*

• Protein powder for shakes*

• Frozen fruits for protein shakes

• Clear soups

• Decaf tea

• Hot cocoa mix (sugar-free)

For creamy stage:

• Cream of Wheat

• Creamy soups

• Applesauce

• Yogurt - Dannon Lite N' Fit

• "Imagine" Soups - in cartons (Potato Leek, Butternut, Squash, Corn, Creamy Tomato....and more. They are considerably lower in sodium than Campbell’s soups.)

• Soup-at-Hand soups

• Small pudding cups (sugar- and fat-free) - Take a spoonful to get meds to slide down easier

•Sugar-free gum (ask your doctor)

•Sugar-free breath mints (Ask your doctor)

*Make sure to taste each item before you buy them in bulk

DRUGSTORE

• Liquid medications

Tylenol (adult strength)

Pain medications

Gas-X or Phazyme

You will want these meds right away when you come home. It can be very difficult to find them in a liquid form. Check with the pharmacy beforehand to see if they stock them or how far in advance you will need to order them. At your preop visit (or earlier if needed), ask the doctor for prescriptions so that you will have them ready when you return home.

• Chewable vitamins

• Stool softener

• Antihistamine cream, if you tend to get irritated by tape or bandages

Do not put directly on incision.

• Heating pad

• Flexible ice pack

• Pill cutter

• Gauze pads 4x4

• Non-irritating tape, such as paper tape

• Kitchen timer – for 15 minute sip intervals for the first few days

• Blender

• Wet Wipes or “adult baby wipes” like Cottonelle

• Toilet tongs (long barbeque tongs) – Use if you are just too sore after the surgery to reach around and wipe your “behind”. Just wrap the wipes around the end to get an additional few inches so you don’t have to contort yourself.

OTHER THINGS TO MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE

• A few books or movies

• Comfy clothes, such as loose-waisted shorts

• Slip-on shoes

• Squishy pillow for car ride -to cushion seatbuilt

• For women, a sports bra – “doc said no underwire for a few days”

Don't forget to bring chap stick with you.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE SURGERY

• Prepare your advance health care directive form, so key people can carry out healthcare decisions important to you if you are unable to so. Discuss your decisions with these key people, including family and doctors. One excellent way is to fill out your “Five Wishes” booklet. Obtain several weeks in advance from “Aging With Dignity”, 1-888-5-WISHES (1-888-594-7437). You can obtain other formats from your hospital or online.

• Cook some chicken before surgery. Save the broth and freeze it in very small containers (ice cube trays work well). This broth has less sodium than store brands, if you have a salt problem.

• Check if your medications are “crushable” (able to be crushed without causing problem with effectiveness).

• Get rid of all the foods in the house you are not to eat, before you go to the hospital.

• Buy all the groceries you will need for at least 2 weeks after surgery.

• Catch up on your laundry and housecleaning.

• Make arrangements for someone else to prepare family meals – You may not feel like cooking for some time.

• Get a manicure or pedicure.

Wow I can't believe April is finally here. I am going to be banded on Wednesday. I am very excited, despite coping with my surgey nerves. Your prayers and thoughts are more than welcome. I have a one year old daughter so I am hoping for a speedy recovery. Well, besides some last minute nerves I am feeling great. I am all caught up on the housework, have all my post-surgery stuff ready, and the freezer is full of quick meals for DH. :girl_hug:

I am going to make one last stop at blockbuster to stock up on some movies. Anyone else have activity ideas during our down time / healing time?

I am so proud of myself......... I walked for 1.5 miles today at the park!!!!

it was a beautiful day, and I had hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill for my last solid supper for about 6 weeks.......... today was it folks.. tomorrow I am on EAS LC protein shakes, sf jello, sf popsicles, broth and maybe hb eggs and tuna (every other day) until 3 days pre-op........

I'm heading for the home stretch now..........

LET THE LOSING BEGIN!!!!!!

Hi all! My date is this Thursday, April 5th - WOW!!! Can't believe it's April!!! Time seemed to stand still and now it's just flying!

I have a hospital pre-op appt on Tuesday - meet the anesthesiologist, nurses, etc. Then the BIG day is Thursday! WOW!!!!

I have a TON of laundry to do between now and Wednesday so DH and find clothes for the kids! lol!

I know we're supposed to get gas-x or phasyme but does it come in liquid? I know it usually comes in small gelcaps. Can we swallow the gelcaps?

GOOD LUCK to all!!!!!

Take care and have a great week!

Bandedme (THIS WEEK!!!! 4/5/07!!!!)

262/250/150

good luck everyone

i will be thinkindg of you all

Good luck to all of us going in this week... I'll be praying for you!

Hi all! My date is this Thursday, April 5th - WOW!!! Can't believe it's April!!! Time seemed to stand still and now it's just flying!

I have a hospital pre-op appt on Tuesday - meet the anesthesiologist, nurses, etc. Then the BIG day is Thursday! WOW!!!!

I have a TON of laundry to do between now and Wednesday so DH and find clothes for the kids! lol!

I know we're supposed to get gas-x or phasyme but does it come in liquid? I know it usually comes in small gelcaps. Can we swallow the gelcaps?

GOOD LUCK to all!!!!!

Take care and have a great week!

Bandedme (THIS WEEK!!!! 4/5/07!!!!)

262/250/150

It comes in a strip form (you know, the lysterine strips, theraflu strips, etc....the ones that disolve on your tongue..).

That's what my mom got for us...

BandedMe - They actually have GasX strips that disolve on your tongue, kind of like the listerine strips. I found mine at Target. Good luck to you!

Panda -

THANK YOU!!!! I had no idea they came in dissolvable strips! I just told my DH and we'll be sure to get some! TY!!!!!

Bandedme

I finally found the list that I was looking for! I hope that this is helpful for others!

Breathe in breathe out. We're all gonna do great

Love you guys, Sheila

PREOPERATIVE SHOPPING LIST

This list contains items that some patients wish they had before their surgeries but didn't think of til later. It is compiled from suggestions by Mandy, Photonut, Archermom, NancySmiles and her LBSG support group (including Nancy, Del, Cindy, and Toni), Gadgetlady, and NancyRN.

Feel free to post your suggestions to add to our list. Hope these suggestions are helpful. List put together by NancyRN

FOOD

For fluid stage:

• Bottled water – plain or flavored, some like Propel or Fruit 2-0

• Popsicles (sugar-free as needed)

• Crystal Light

• Crystal Light “On the GO” in different flavors - add to bottled water

• Jello (sugar-free)

• Gatorade

• Bouillon or chicken/beef/veggie broths (low sodium as needed)*

• Ensure, Boost, Glucerna - or whatever protein drink the Dietitian asked you to drink based on your history*

• Protein powder for shakes*

• Frozen fruits for protein shakes

• Clear soups

• Decaf tea

• Hot cocoa mix (sugar-free)

For creamy stage:

• Cream of Wheat

• Creamy soups

• Applesauce

• Yogurt - Dannon Lite N' Fit

• "Imagine" Soups - in cartons (Potato Leek, Butternut, Squash, Corn, Creamy Tomato....and more. They are considerably lower in sodium than Campbell’s soups.)

• Soup-at-Hand soups

• Small pudding cups (sugar- and fat-free) - Take a spoonful to get meds to slide down easier

•Sugar-free gum (ask your doctor)

•Sugar-free breath mints (Ask your doctor)

*Make sure to taste each item before you buy them in bulk

DRUGSTORE

• Liquid medications

Tylenol (adult strength)

Pain medications

Gas-X or Phazyme

You will want these meds right away when you come home. It can be very difficult to find them in a liquid form. Check with the pharmacy beforehand to see if they stock them or how far in advance you will need to order them. At your preop visit (or earlier if needed), ask the doctor for prescriptions so that you will have them ready when you return home.

• Chewable vitamins

• Stool softener

• Antihistamine cream, if you tend to get irritated by tape or bandages

Do not put directly on incision.

• Heating pad

• Flexible ice pack

• Pill cutter

• Gauze pads 4x4

• Non-irritating tape, such as paper tape

• Kitchen timer – for 15 minute sip intervals for the first few days

• Blender

• Wet Wipes or “adult baby wipes” like Cottonelle

• Toilet tongs (long barbeque tongs) – Use if you are just too sore after the surgery to reach around and wipe your “behind”. Just wrap the wipes around the end to get an additional few inches so you don’t have to contort yourself.

OTHER THINGS TO MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE

• A few books or movies

• Comfy clothes, such as loose-waisted shorts

• Slip-on shoes

• Squishy pillow for car ride -to cushion seatbuilt

• For women, a sports bra – “doc said no underwire for a few days”

Don't forget to bring chap stick with you.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE SURGERY

• Prepare your advance health care directive form, so key people can carry out healthcare decisions important to you if you are unable to so. Discuss your decisions with these key people, including family and doctors. One excellent way is to fill out your “Five Wishes” booklet. Obtain several weeks in advance from “Aging With Dignity”, 1-888-5-WISHES (1-888-594-7437). You can obtain other formats from your hospital or online.

• Cook some chicken before surgery. Save the broth and freeze it in very small containers (ice cube trays work well). This broth has less sodium than store brands, if you have a salt problem.

• Check if your medications are “crushable” (able to be crushed without causing problem with effectiveness).

• Get rid of all the foods in the house you are not to eat, before you go to the hospital.

• Buy all the groceries you will need for at least 2 weeks after surgery.

• Catch up on your laundry and housecleaning.

• Make arrangements for someone else to prepare family meals – You may not feel like cooking for some time.

• Get a manicure or pedicure.

Earplugs for a good night's sleep in the hospital!

I am so proud of myself......... I walked for 1.5 miles today at the park!!!!

it was a beautiful day, and I had hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill for my last solid supper for about 6 weeks.......... today was it folks.. tomorrow I am on EAS LC protein shakes, sf jello, sf popsicles, broth and maybe hb eggs and tuna (every other day) until 3 days pre-op........

I'm heading for the home stretch now..........

LET THE LOSING BEGIN!!!!!!

Tracy Best Wishes to you! I have noticed how positive and supportive you always are with your comments. I remember when you were first told about your date not happening in March. I know how upset I would have been! You were very gracious even tho your heart must have been hurting!

I will be watching for your posts!

Gail

Checking my ticker!!!! This thing is giving me fits!!!!!!!! But, keeping me out of the frige!!!!!!!

Wishing you great success on tomorrow and the rest of your life. :clap2:

Last post...pre-op anyway! I have to be at the hospital at 5:30a.m. and now it's 11:40 p.m. Need to get to bed....but want to say GOOD LUCK AND HEALTH TO MY BAND BUDDIES!!! and to all those in the next week. I'll try to post tomorrow, if I can get up the stairs to my computer. Thoughts and prayers to all! And thank you for soooo much information and support!! Talk to you from the other-side ASAP!!!

Ok guys, I woke up just a few minutes ago and I just had to do one last post. From th emoment the alarm went off I was thinking about LBT.

Not really nervous yet....thankfully not sick to my stomache (i was sick yesterday --- ugh :girl_hug: )

Anyway, i'll be praying for you all, and please keep me in all your prayers.

Talk to everyone afterwards!!! :clap2:

-Panda-