Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

I am 2 days out now and feeling pretty good. I woke about 5 this morning and felt awful. I took a couple of Advil (my doc said that was ok) and they did the trick. I had a shake about 11 with the peanut butter and instant coffee that you suggested Fenton and it was really tasty. By the way, those eggs you talked about made me salivate. mmmm. I still have soreness in the stomach area and tenderness in my neck from the gas. But walking definitely does help. Hope the other newly banded shamrocks are doing well also....Kathy

Can I ask when the post op bloating went away? I am 4 days post op and the area where most of my incisions are (a straight line across my abdomen just above my waist) is so swollen. I look like I have gainged weight since the surgery. I am going back to work on Monday and I look like I've been away at an all inclisive resort for the past week gorging on buffets of food instead of having bariatric surgery.

Christine

well, as for bloating feeling, I am 10 ndays post op and feel pretty good today, after 1 week I was still feeling pretty tight, "bloated". I guess like everything else that our DR's say, we find it is different for everyone.

Christine, I'm on Day 10 post op also and was noticing today that I'm not as bloated as I have been, but I think that's just happened today. I've also been pretty hungry today, so I can tell the swelling is gone down in my stomach also. I'm still behaving and have done better getting in my fluids today which is a good thing.

I'm ten days out as well (wow, where did that ten days go?)....my swelling has gone down considerably yesterday and today....right around the port incision is still a little puffy, but everything else is pretty flat...and just the regular belly bloat feels better today.

I had my post op check up today......doc said everything looks good and was very please with my EIGHTEEN POUND loss.....I was ecstatic! It was the first time, in a long time, that I didn't DREAD getting on the scales because I knew the number would be DOWN!

I have a stupid question. When you count out how many days post op you are, do you count surgery day as 1 or 0?

I have a stupid question. When you count out how many days post op you are, do you count surgery day as 1 or 0?

I count surgery day as one.......especially since I had my surgery at the buttcrack of dawn......

shoulder pain pretty much gone, lightheadedness gone most of the time, protein drinks gone forever i hope. now my next problem: I am eating soft foods now and they go down real easy and i really dont feel full so do i just quit eating when i know i have eaten 1/2 cup of food and be hungry till the next meal?

Hello fellow shamrocks...I am day four from surgery and boy do I feel so bloated and swollen. I look like I am 4-5 months prego!! I was glad to read others are experiencing this swelling...I guess I will be wearing sweats for the next few days!! no jeans here!

i think i looked prego too. I had measured my belly before surgery and then after surgery and i gained 1 inch. now i am down 2 inches at 10 days post op so give it a few more days

Hi all. Work has been a bear, so I haven't been posting. I just read the 15 pages I missed. So many new bander.

Fenton I got some of the Gorgonzola dolce . YUM

I saw my Dr on the 21st and he cleared me for solid food. I asked about the mushy phase and his reply " you're a smart person, chew until mush then swallow. Unless you want to puree your food" Ive been enjoying food again. Ive found that I really cant eat more then a cup of food. Im keeping the Protein up (60gm) carbs low & cals low(under 800) and taking 20-30 minutes to eat.

I still have to pulling sensation under my port, but Dr said that is muscle healing.

Im getting most of my Water in. Ive found if I drink 20 oz on the drive to and from work that really helps.

For those not liking the regular Protein drinks try the unjury unflavored mixed with your favorite beverage. It doesn't add anything to the taste and with 20gm of protein and 60 cals it is a great option.

I too got a letter from the insurance co. saying they were not going to cover the overnight stay. I called and was told I am not responsible for the added cost because they have an agreement with the hospital and would be working it out with them. Give your insurance a call and tell them you were following Dr orders staying over and you are not qualified to make the decision to go home.

Ok thats it. Night all.

Edited March 29, 200818 yr by ajoneen

still a bit sore, but defnintely bloating has improved... still a bit swollen, but just wearing sweats and nothing that fits tight.. so have no idea how anything other than that fits.

I like the idea of telling insurance "i was just following DR orders" If I were to sign out at 23 hours they would say i left AMA(against medical advice), then nothing would have been covered!!!!

The staff at the hospital are the ones who said, DR sys you have to stay... so I will fight with Dr. office to work on getting it covered, to.

(Kathy - I can't take credit for the banana/coffee thing!)

I think I was pretty bloated for about 5 or 6 days. I'm assuming it's all the gas they pump into the belly, but maybe it's just the guts slowing down a bit because they're stunned from the operation.

Harley! WTG, girl! That's really fantastic!

And Ajoneen, I'm going to take a page out of your book and

1. Try and lower my calorie intake

2. Slow down with the meals.

I think I've been running around 1500 cals a day; I weighed myself and am down 2 lbs since Monday, which is good, but I think I should be doing better. Although, in truth, I don't know what's appropriate. I'm a big boy, maybe I shouldn't try to take it down much below 1500. I certainly want to keep up my exercise.

The other thing is: I'm still wolfing my food down. I completely ignore Paul McKenna, and I sit and watch the news or something on TV while I eat - my life is so damned busy that I'm always multitasking. I'm going to have to get better about switching off the TV and focusing on what I'm eating for 20 minutes to half an hour...

Thanks for the great example, Ajoneen.

Hi all, I have been trying to focus on work so I have had to catch up on the boards. I am going to complain and get it off my chest...my shoulder pain is so bad it is causing headaches. I have walked so much in the past 2 days I should offically be in China! If this does not stop soon the next step is DRUGS!!! DH took me to Applebee's for dinner tonight, I had the tomato soup w/ a scoop of unflavored protein powder. It was about 6 oz and I ate the majority of it. I don't understand, I don't feel full but I don't feel hungry. I eat because I know I have to get in that protein. (Don't want to lose the hair)

I am 7 days post op and my incisions feel OK except for the port area. That sucker is sore, a little red and slightly warm. I am keeping an eye on it.

Thats it, I feel better and I am going to turn in for the evening. Hope everyone is feeling well!!

Rant: I am going crazy! I am soooo sick of Protein drinks and I still have a week and a half on them. I saw most of you have a much shorter liquid phase but my doc insists on 3 weeks. AHHHHH. Also my oral fixation has been horrible lately. I constantly find myself biting the tips of my fingers. I guess I am trying to get some meat to eat :teeth_smile:. I tried to chew gum but it gives me gas.

What have all of you been doing for your oral fixations during the liquid phase?