I am interested in finding out about my fellow August All-Stars! I'll start.

I am a stay at home mom to 5 awesome, rambunctious, talkative kids. My oldest is 9 and she is going into the 4th grade. My next daughter is 6. She was adopted from China at 10 months. She'll be in first grade this year. My only son is 4 and is starting preschool this fall:thumbup:. My next daughter is four also. She was adopted from China at 20 months of age. She's going to preschool too:thumbup:. My baby is 3 this year. While her brother and sister are at preschool, she is going to learn how to behave in public. At least that is the plan...don't tell her:eek:!

I used to teach 8th grade English. Now I take care of the kids. I love to read. I make and sell girls' hair bows for fun.

I am married to one awesome man (but don't tell him I said so:wink2:)

I decided to have this surgery because nothing else was working for me. My hubby and kids are all thin and fit and I just can't keep up with them anymore!! I want to see my kids grow up! My cholesterol is through the roof and I have a family history of heart disease.

Okay, who is next????

RM, that's wonderful!!! So glad it worked this time! I KNEW you could do it! Take care and rest!

That is great news RM....

So how is everyone doing with the clear liquid diet? I am getting frustrated...Think I am going to drink so chicken broth this hour...

This is what I am supposed to do...every 15 minutes I am to drink 1 oz of something clear...no more than that no less than that....what is everyone elses clear diet like?

I'm not on a clear liquid diet. Mine is shakes. UGH! Until the 7th (2 weeks total post-op plus another 10 day pre-op). The 8th, I'll start purees. I'm adding other liquids to the shakes though just for hydration and something different. The shakes are my nutrition.

this is what I dont get...there is no nutrition in my first week diet...they dont even want me disolving flintstone vitamins...lol

I am trying to use the special k protein waters for some kind of nutrition...apple juice and broth...but other than that there is nothing nutritious going into my body....that kinda scares me..

I'm a little worried....I CAN drink almost like regular. I don't chug, or hurry, but I can drink whole swallows without pain, discomfort, etc. And I burped at the hospital after my first few sips but after that nothing! I know the band is in place:...they did another Upper GI to make sure!

I thought I wouldn't not physically be able to drink more than a sip at a time, so I never thought to ask "What if I physically can drink more?" and of course his office is closed.

SO i'm just trying to limit to an ounce or so at a time then wait to make sure it has time to go through. What a silly thing to worry about; but it just never occurred to me that literally hours postop I'd be able to drink normally.

And you know what else? I'm hungry! I think my stomach likes it's new friend! It's going to be a LOOONG 2 weeks to mushie world, but I'll make it.

Restless, I am THRILLED that you were able to finish everything up so well. It's awesome that you feel great. They always say...good things come to those who wait! I know that it nearly drove you insane, but it'll be worth it.

I have learned that each program and doctor have different guidelines. I did the clear liquids the day of the surgery and the next two days. I did chicken broth, sugar free jello, water, and caffeine free iced tea with Splenda. I wasn't really hungry until last night (my last day of clear liquids). I got to move to full liquids today - I had thin cream of wheat = 1/4 c for breakfast, a sugar free chocolate pudding for lunch and I am going to have applesauce for dinner. I have to stay on the full liquid diet until Sept 15. I was told to start taking my Flinstones Vitamin and Calcium Chew the day after my surgery - I just have to chew them until they dissolve. So may that is what has given me energy.

I'm a little worried....I CAN drink almost like regular. I don't chug, or hurry, but I can drink whole swallows without pain, discomfort, etc. And I burped at the hospital after my first few sips but after that nothing! I know the band is in place:...they did another Upper GI to make sure!

I thought I wouldn't not physically be able to drink more than a sip at a time, so I never thought to ask "What if I physically can drink more?" and of course his office is closed.

SO i'm just trying to limit to an ounce or so at a time then wait to make sure it has time to go through. What a silly thing to worry about; but it just never occurred to me that literally hours postop I'd be able to drink normally.

And you know what else? I'm hungry! I think my stomach likes it's new friend! It's going to be a LOOONG 2 weeks to mushie world, but I'll make it.

RM, I was doing the same thing yesterday and it all of a sudden dawned on me that I wasn't sipping! Scared me too! I think the swelling finally went down and that's what we aren't feeling. If that makes any sense! My stomach growled a few times yesterday too! I'm looking forward to being able to add yogurt, puddings and purees in another week (the 8th). I think the sipping is going to come later as we get restriction. Just my theory at this point.

I haven't been burping much, they get stuck in my chest but I am passing gas. More yesterday than anything previous. I'm taking Gas-x strips every couple hours and that's helping some. I've also been walking about 15 minutes, very slowly, on the treadmill to help as well.

Sneezing and laughing hurt. My 2 year old is hilarious and it hurts!! LOL!!

Hang in there, I think you're doing great!

I am 38 married for 15 years, and have 2 children, my son 14 and 7 year old daughter, have battled with my weight most of my life, from the age of 11 actually up and down, i was banded on 19th august, and am looking forward, to my journey, i finally feel now that i can be the person that i always wanted to be. i live in sydney australia, and work as a nurse, part time.

Welcome Bindi! I realize that Australia is huge, but we have several folks on these boards that are from there. Nice to have such international flair! What kind of nursing do you do?

i don't live far from you. i live in Simsboro and was banded aug 20th in Texarkana. i kept trying in SHrevport but they kept saying they had there quota. hope you are doing ok. i am feeling pretty good now.

susan

i can't recall if i introduced myself yet. i read through all the post but i didn't see it so here goes.

i am 52 and had to retire 2 years ago due to back surgery that went bad.

i had to wait until i got on medicare to get my lap band. but i have it now since the 20th.

i am raising maltese puppies to breed some AKC puppies. and making pet beds and clothes for a pass time.

i worked for the state of LA at a University for 20 years, repairing computers and office machines. i have a wonderful husband of 34 yrs. i have 3 grown kids and 8 grandkids.

i have been overweight most of my life. i lose it and then gain it back plus some. so this is my last chance and hopefully it will help my back and leg pain. plus hopefully can get off the blood pressure meds.

so glad to have found this support site.

God Bless you all!

Susan

Hi,

My name is Chris. I am 38 and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oregon. I was banded on 8/27/08. I live in Portland with my two cats Max and Lulu. I drive a Honda named Griffith and have a GPS named Claudia. Haven't come up for a name for the band yet, but seriously, if it is going to be in me for life, I can't just call it "the band!"

I have a really wicked sense of humor...just ask the doctors when I painted my toenails bright green with Rhinestones before my surgery so that if I died, the guy at the Morgue could go home that night and say, "Stella! You are NEVER going to believe this! I toe tagged a girl with bright green toes today!" Okay...I did take a picture...it couldn't be helped and the opportunity arose.

I'm recovering well except that I am off of my antidepressants because they are too big to take and they are time released so I can't really open them and sprinkle them over my god awful protein drink! I am struggling emotionally kind of like post partumish...I am happy as hell that I got the band, but if I have one more break down I am seriously going to have to do something drastic like...like....make towers out of the 1 oz cups I stole from the hospital...I am a scrapbooker, artist, photographer...there is a reason for my debauchery.

I am glad that this board exists. I can't explain this to my friends and family although they are pleased as punch for me. I am glad there are folks who know exactly what trying to puree a cow for the required 75 grams of protein (YES I AM VERY VERY TALL). Seriously, do you KNOW how much protein that is???? UGH!

Thank for inviting me to introduce myself...sorry you asked now aren't you????

Chris

OMG your post was just what i needed tonight! i love your wicked sense of humor!! tonight was a bad night...super bad headache...stupid classes that run right after work into the late evening...no way to puree a cow at 9pm. thanks for posting!! i too agree that it's wonderful having a group of people that really understand what we're all going through. hope to see you around the board!

Hey Bindi, Congrats and welcome!!! I was banded on 27 AUG and live in Melbourne!