Hey everyone going through Kaiser Richmond!!

Where are you in the process?

Thanks for the advice Rosey. Yes I will work on the fluids, I can only imagine that I may not be able to take in 64oz of water daily for a while scares me. I currently drink more than 100oz. I'm sooo ready for this.

Hi again Rosey! Hey Reggie, I was real worried about the Water too, but for some reason I had a really REALLY easy time drinking water, even right after surgery. I can chug-a-lug water now like crazy, and I could not before surgery. Probably has something to do with the hiatal hernia being repaired at same time as surgery . . anyways I was up to 40 +oz. a day the day after surgery, and back to 64+ within just a few days. I was really really thirsty! I still do lots of water, I want it more than the crystal light or other flavors, just crave water now. Weird, but great!

Hang in there, Christine. Getting down in the dumps is all a part of this crazy thing . . . when they put that band on, the dolf over a part of your stomach that contains certain hormones that you body is not longer getting as much of - controls hunger, but also mood. Now your body has to re-balance with less of some hormones, so tired and moody is a part of the process. I hope it balances out real soon! These are the days that I really need my support group - fortunately, I have a meeting at least twice a week :-):drool:

Christine I hear ya on tired of being tired. I feel like I am sleepy all the time still.........like a baby, baby food and having a take naps all the time!! LOL

I did talk to Robin today and told her that I feel like not exercising is part of my plateau. I told her I was walking around but it was not enough. She said go ahead and try the treadmill and see how it goes. If it hurts stop but she said it should be ok.................I used to lift weights before surgery and that is an out for now. But she said go ahead with the exercise. So I am going back to the gym tomorrow again. Slowly build back up.

ALso Robin said that the plateau thing was not a problem and that 10 pounds in two weeks was ok.

I am back up on the Water, eating pretty healthy and now this week there will be more protiens..............now if I can get the exercise back on track.

Christine I remember I was told that about two weeks out their might be some depression due to the anesthesia working its way out of your system..........I sorta have found that to be true on some days. For me not going to work everyday has me out of my regular schedule. Robin was saying that going back to work will probably help with my boredom...............not that I am volunteering to go back yet. I still have a week and a half of medical leave...............but i hear ya. I am sorta tired of being the "surgery patient"

Oh riley that is so interesting about the hormone thing. Makes sense and would explain this overwhelming tireness I get..............where did you get all this information I would love to read more about it!! Fascinating.

Reggie.............right after my pre op appointment I got a milkshake at Mc Donalds. I don't even like them much but I was so craving one that day...............sorta a last supper I guess!! Your normal..............

Also on the pre op day they only weigh you in the morning...........not before every appointment. So you can eat lunch.

For me I had pre op than appointments all day until 4pm...........than to the lab. I was there from 7:30 to 5pm and I did eat lunch at the hospital cafe...........no problem they only took the morning weight!!

Good luck will be thinking about you.

Candy and Reggie and Inside out will all be done before may is over..................

Insideout I am curious as to the recovery with RNY let us know.............

Hi ladies, So tina she said the gym was ok? Shetold me to keep taking it an easy cause i told her i was stressed about that too. I think ill keep doing what i am doing. I atleast get in a mile and half.

Tina what is ur menu like right now??

I heard from the lady u schedule with that its our bodys retaining water...

Candy and Reggie and Inside out will all be done before may is over..................

Insideout I am curious as to the recovery with RNY let us know.............

I will definitely let you know. I am soooo ready for this. I wish I could skip finals and just get this all over with!

Robin said I could use the treadmill. She said a fast walk and even maybe try jogging..........but she said if it hurts to stop. I don't have a treadmill at home so I have to go back to the gym. I am still wiped out tired most days so I know I won't last very long, but even 20 minutes of fast walking would be good.......

For me the port still hurts and today has been a bad day..........I KNOW I am retaining water becuase it is that time of the month, I am swollen everywhere and nothing is fitting me right now.......bra included. TMI I know, i know...........I have had really bad cramps and have been achy. This is like my worst one in months. I think the trauma of surgery has done something to my monthly time............I am also several days late which is not normal for me. Again I think surgery has my body out of wack right now..........

I had some mashed potatoes and some eggs today. In general I have been having broccoli and potato soup and lots of crystal light the last few days............liquid yogurt/lowfat........I ate some ricotta cheese with spaghetti sauce yesterday (Thanks Christine it was great)..........seriously not eating much or anything to exciting.

I do think I didn't get enough protien the last two weeks. NOt that I am on puree's I plan to focus on protien. I had eggs, eggs, eggs for dinner tonight.............that might give me some energy back.

I asked Robin about salad and she said after 12 weeks pre op!! So hmmm..............July 13. LOL.

Oh NIcole you are going 1 1/2 miles. Your doing quite a bit .................I think going around the mall 2-3 times has been my exercise. I don't know how far that really is but your doing more than me right now.....................I think Robin thought I could definetely up the amount of exercise I was getting............I don't think I can run without the port driving me crazy. So fast walking is what I am gonna try out......................and I would love to hit a mile and half!!

Geez, salad after 12 weeks? Boo, I miss salad. I know we could probably eat it but probably shouldn't, it's kind of a fibrous thing for out little tummies to digest.

How are you cooking your eggs? Are you pureeing them? Ick. Tonight I cooked cauliflower, then with my hand blender I blended it with 1/4 parm cheese, 1 tbsp cream cheese, 1/2 tsp crushed garlic and salt and pepper. It was REALLY good and a lot less carbs than the mashed potatoes that I've been eating. I recommend it!

Tina, be careful with the exercise...you'll feel fine for a while but if you do to much your body (port and insides by your tummy) will TOTALLY let you know! I felt all shaky and dizzy and REALLY sore last week after walking too much. Also, remember you don't have very many calories in your body these days and you don't have much to run off of.

That's weird about your period! Mine was on time for the first time in a year and really short and light...NOT how it normally is! I don't know if it's because of the surgery or because I've lost 56 lbs and my body is getting more normal. I hope it stays that way though!

Thanks Christine I have loved all your recipes so far........I have tried the cauliflower when I was doing weight watchers and liked it. But you add quite a few things in.....I am gonna try it!!

My goal this week is to stay away from carbs and start back on the proteins big time..........

I got this new greek yogurt at safeway that has 15 grams of protien and it is low fat if you get the vanilla flavor.

Reggie I am drinking about 60+ ounces of water with no problems. The first few days after surgery I didn't get enough liquids..........but not because I couldn't drink it ....because I was sleeping so much I just could'nt sip as much as they wanted me too...........since than I am getting enough liquids. I was also drinking 100+ before surgery and that I am not back to yet. I get side cramps if I drink to much or to fast.............warning to stop. Same with eathing I get a side cramp when I eat even is just a little.............still healing I am sure.

So excited for everyone getting banded this month!! It is totally survivable and that 10 pound weight drop in the fist week was a bonus!!!

Hey Ladies......

Reggie....Yay!!!! You are rockin!!!! Congrats!!!

Ok...so less than a week.....picked up my anti vomit pills for the night before and the morning off..... I can't lie I know you all have heard me say this before but I'm so scared.....and than excited...scared ...excited.....I'm going crazy.....Today I felt the fear of regret...what if I regret it....but how could I...see I'm crazy!!!! :drool:

All of you guys are doing so well....it really does help reading all of your posts!!!!

I'm really looking forward to Thurs I think its just what I need!!!!

I have been having a hard time sticking to the pre op diet all of the sudden too.....Tomorrows a new day...I just obviously cant afford to gain any weight...

I was scared the week before too Candy. But the day of I was fine..........things move so fast once you get in pre op that I didn't have time to get nervous............even driving over to Richmond I was calm and relaxed. I was just ready to get it done.

I had ICY as a nurse and I liked her alot!! She didn't 'give me time to get nervous.............Dr. Baggs and the anesthesia doctor were there and were great to.........lots of joking around and relaxed atmophere.

Don't worry about worrying it is normal. We all worried and were scared a bit.........still overall it was not bad at all and I had some complications and it still was not to bad!!

As to regret, you won't. But I know the feeling. THe first 2-3 days when I was sore and couldn't think of eating I started to regret it.....but now two weeks out............so, so glad I did it!!!

I feel blessed that I was able to get it done and blessed that I made it through the process. Thankful that I only had to pay 15 dollars when so many others were self pay. And so grateful to Richmond Kaiser for their program and that fact that I have lost 35 pounds in the last four months..................My highest weight lose to that point was 27 pounds...............so I already hit a weight loss goal..........

Candy for me this was the only thing that will work long term............I am so glad I did I did it!!

I will be thinking of you and praying for you come Monday!!! You will be fine!!!

Candy!

I am soo excited for you, BUT i sooooo remember the anxiety! I was nervous all the way up to the point of driving to san rafael the night before (i was actually thinking of saying turn around) then that night. I went to bed woke up and wasnt nervous more excited. Then got it done, and BOY i was not too happy lol. I was lucky mike got to join me in post op.. but i was the second case, and i was there for MUCH longer then they anticipate.

Icy was my nurse also, but they are all good! You are going to do great.

Id have to say i NEVER regreted, or second guessed my choice after i got it done. Now that i am like 4 weeks out and feel i could eat whatevermy eyes see, its kinda disapointing.. I feel i dont even have a band so then i push on my tummy to feel the port lol.. then im like hmmm wonder if it slipped.. I am excited for my fill so then maybe i can feel the thing around my tummy again:)

see everyone thurs:)

Yea I agree with you Nicole. I would like to be able to eat less and have a bit more of an obvious restriction........

I can still feel my port no doubt there. But sometimes I feel the same as if I had no band.

Reading through all the post it seems this is what they call bandster hell.......the time between surgery and finding your sweet spot!! Until than I think our pre op motivation and experience has to kick in.

Oh Nicole do you realize you are more than halfway to your goal now?? OMG that is great!! 38 pounds is gonna be gone before you know it.

I have 19 more pounds to be at my halfway goal and in onederland!! LOL.