I had my LB surgery on the 4th of March (Wed.) and I am having a really tough time adjusting to this. My family is giving me allot of encouragement and they keep marveling at how "good and well" I'm doing but this really seems to be pushing me closer to the edge than I care to be. Anything from the incessant pain on the left upper side of my chest everytime I take a deep breath to seeing food commercials is making me want to burst into tears. I can't seem to find any kind of "face to face" support meetings in my area (except for the one that meets once a month) done by the surgeons office and that one is held toward the end of every month. As for the sipping of water and clear fluids, I am doing it exactly as I'm supposed to. I have no idea how much fluid I can take in a given 15 minute time period. I guess I just sip til I feel like stopping.

Anyway if there is anyone in the Memphis area that might feel like offering some expercience, strength and hope for me I would really welcome it.

I am not in the Memphis area, sorry about that, but I will tell you it gets better. As soon as you start full liquids you begin to feel a little more normal. I too wanted to scream on the clear liquid phase. Luckily it doesn't last long. When are you allowed to start full liquids?

As for the pain in your chest, they say walking helps the most to move the gas out quickly.

Thanks for the encouraging words. My binder says that after 2-3 days I can begin "full liquids". So I'm going into my 3rd day today. I haven't decided if I'll try it today or tomorrow. I have been doing some walking around. My sleeping has been thrown way out of wack. I feel pretty good one minute and then weak and tired the next. I'm just gonna hang in there and have hope it will get better.

Thanks again, and of course anyone is more than welcome to respond to this thread not just folks from Memphis.

Edited March 7, 200917 yr by patrickgd

I was also banded on the 4th. I have felt pretty good, I do have a lot of gas and thankfully it is coming out. I also have been trying to sip my drinks. Not sure how long it takes to drink anything. I'm afraid of drinking to fast and getting sick, but it seems to be going down ok. I don't have any hunger pains, but starting today I'm want to get has much protein as I can. Best of luck

I was also banded on the 4th..but not in the memphis area. I tired a protein shake yesterday but that did not go over well. I wasnt hungry and being full of air....I couldnt tell when i was full so it took me all day to get one down. Then to top it all off my gas is stuck in my chest area despite walking or gas x that plus the loose bowels its been hard. My doc says that can start on full liquids today so I'm going to try another yougurt as well as a fat free cream soup..hopefully that will help with the hunger pains...hang in there..I know once we make it to the 1 week mark we should feel much better

Well I just had my first meal of "Full Liquid" being a 1/2 cup of Strained Cream-o-chicken soup. It was actually delicious and seems to be staying down no problem :thumbup:. The sample menu consisted of a 1/2 cup strained cream soup, a 1/4 cup of milk or yogurt and 1/2 cup SF Dessert. It said stop when you feel full. I stopped after I finished the cream soup, I was'nt real sure if I "felt full" but I did feel somewhat full so I decided to stop. I'll chalk this up as a giant baby step. :laugh:

Congratulations on the restraint. I found that if I stopped after the recommended amount, I was actually satisfied. The cream of chicken soup is amazingly good. I mixed my with skim milk instead of water and added a little sage, pepper and garlic powder. Also if it is cold you can make yourself some homemade hot chocolate with skim milk, splenda and cocoa powder. SF dark chocolate pudding still saves me from over eating. I usually eat one each night around 9 to keep me from wanting to eat food late at night. Good luck, and remember, it keeps getting a little easier every day.