Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

Joiful-I think that is probably your port on the left side that is hurting. I only got banded on the 24th but the Dr. and nurses said I might have extra soreness around the port area! You seem to be doing ok. You aren't throwing up or having really bad heart burn, are you?

No I have not had heartburn nor am I really all that naseus. I do have some but not enough to cause any problems. The port is right above my belly button. The pain is completely on my left side.

I don't think I have been doing things right. The office that i went to for my 1 week follow up said soft foods that you can use a fork to smush it. It said also chicken cubes, so I thought if I cut up chicken that is fine. Now I don't know. Planning on having a cheese burger (90% lean cooked on George Foreman) with sweet potato fries (baked). Is that soft foods? It is not hard or crunchy. I have been so confused on the food part. I have tried though. I will be 4 weeks on Friday and they say you can have normal foods. I know for one thing that I don't eat as much as take out as I used to.

I have a cramp on my left side does any one else? Now I am worried that my band is slipping.

I was told by my doc's office no meats at all except flaky fish for the first 4 weeks; especially avoid beef.

I thought it was just steaks because it is grissley. I am 4 weeks on Friday. On my sheet of paper it said you can have meats just no beef with grisel. I hope I have not messed this up and then have to do something else. I was self pay. I am going to call the doctor tomorrow and hopefully can get in or get some answers. Thanks for helping.

I thought it was just steaks because it is grissley. I am 4 weeks on Friday. On my sheet of paper it said you can have meats just no beef with grisel. I hope I have not messed this up and then have to do something else. I was self pay. I am going to call the doctor tomorrow and hopefully can get in or get some answers. Thanks for helping.

I definitely think call your doctor. While we can offer what we have been told, every doc is different and you need to follow your docs rules.

Good luck!

Hey everyone! I am on my way out to go have surgery I am so excited!! LEt you all know how its going when i get home.

Hi my fellow Butterflies! Haven't really posted or even read for awhile. Banded on 7/14 and that first week was a blur of morphine and exhaustion. Went back to work on the 21st and its been crazy there.

I was on liquids until the 24th, and honestly, I could still be. I was fine with it and really didn't have a desire to eat and I still don't. Transitioned to pureed foods but that was a pain in the butt so I'm pretty much eating regular food (4 tablespoons of it!) and just chewing it really well. When I look at my plate now I wonder how I'll get it all in and its crazy. My husband laughs hysterically at it. It has to be literally 1/10th of the food I would normally consume at a meal.

I lost about 10 pounds prior to surgery but its just falling off me since that date. I have to stop weighing myself every day because its slowing down now and I don't want to get discouraged. But it was very exciting stepping on the scale every morning and weighing a pound less than the day before!

Tried to start working out this weekend but my energy was spent 15 minutes into it and my stomach HURT. I had a large hiatal hernia repair as well so I think that's contributing.

My only real issue is that I am having reflux, I think. Its just a continual mild sore throat that is bad in the morning. I'm taking Prevacid but it doesn't seem to help. I've never had reflux in my life so its a strange thing. Tonite I'm going to take some Maalox or something right before bed and try to sleep a bit upright.

I had a big work event this week and 4 or 5 people told me I looked thinner. That was nice! If people ask me what I'm doing I tell them the truth. Everyone has been supportive and I'm fine with them knowing that I needed help to break away from my abusive friend--food!

My incisions are all healed and don't look bad at all. I only had some mild port pain but that is gone. It is on my left abdomen just below my ribcage and I do kind of feel it when I try to sleep on my left side.

I am struggling to eat my chewable vitamins. I do it, but I dread it. They just taste funky to me now. I'm using the Bariatric Advantage chewables for bandsters in watermelon. I need to try another flavor but I've got $30 worth of them so it will be awhile.

I also struggle a bit with the protein drinks. The only one I like is Myoplex Lite. I bought 3 big containers of Unjury in unflavored, vanilla, and chocolate but the only one I can stand is the unflavored which I try to sneak into stuff. I found this yummy stuff at Whole Foods the other day and its got 17 grams of protein and its delicious so I'm thinking about making this one of my meals.

The only thing I've eaten that's given me trouble is a Yoplait Whips! yogurt. I guess it has gas or air in it. I ate half the container and got really sick.

Well, that's all for me. Hope everyone else is doing great!

Puterlady,

I use Daily Plate to track my food intake. Love it, its free and easy.

Tina

Edited July 31, 200818 yr by just1more
forgot a few things

Gosh I can not imagine eating soft liquids for 3 weeks!

I have to do it for 4 weeks. Its going to be a very long 4 weeks! My Dr says that 4 weeks will give my stomic time to form a scar under my band which will help keep it from sliping. Sounds good to me.

Tina

Hi July Bandsters - Our last day on the first month of our new lives!

PDXBandster: My doc has the same schedule, I've been on fluids since 7/21. I can start mushies on Sat for 2 weeks, then soft foods. It's not been too bad, but like you I'm ready to move on.

Joiful: You can probably check-in with your doc about the schedule. Ground burger is not on my list until soft foods. Also, I'm not feeling any pain. My port is on the right side.

Hang in there everyone. This is going to be a great ride!

Kathy

Orea, where are you? Let us know how you're doing, please.

Hey everyone! I am on my way out to go have surgery I am so excited!! LEt you all know how its going when i get home.

Good luck and check back in with us just as soon as you can. I'm missing Orea...

I am still on vacation with my family in Florida. I could stand it any longer so I wen to Taget and bought a set of scales. I am at 181!!! I weighed 184 the day we left for Florida. Never in my life have I lost weight on vacation. My skinny kids and skinny grandchildren are very supportive and know exactly what I should be eating - there are spies everywhere! That helps.

I weghted 199.6 at my first surgeon's appointment May 29, 196 the day of surgery: July 16th, I am 2 weeks post op at 181!! 18 pounds is great for me! I am a slow loser.

My first fil is scheduled for Sept 2. I could really use some restriction.

Congratulations lynlynkr! Isn't is great to know we can do this now, even if we are on vacation. What a blessing we have been given.

Has anyone heard from Orea?

I am too looking forward to restriction. I go in the second week of August. The only time that is a problem is at night but I am not overeating. Just want the feeling of being full for awhile. I had that after a week of surgery and I thought I was going to have restriction but I don't now.

My side is better today. I read some other posts and maybe got a clue to what it is. I think it is constipation which seems to be pretty common. Just thought I would share, I know it is not pretty. We are going through a lot trying to figure things out.