For the past 2 months, we've spent lots of time in the "pre-op" forum.... but we're all quickly moving into the post op category - YAY US!

Check in here and let everyone know how you are doing! :bored:

:tongue2::unsure:November 23rd was my surgery date. I am about 8 days out I guess. I started on the soft stuff already because I had an infection and they said to take the antibiotic with pudding. So, I did. My problem now is not the soarness or anything, it is all mental at this point. I am getting so depressed. I have no hobbies to fall back on. I am trying to figure out something I can do to keep my hands and mind working and not thinking about food. Food used to be a really good friend of mine and I have had to rethink things. I am struggling with this soemthing awful. I knew it would be like this, but I thought I was prepared.

Edited December 2, 200916 yr by JadaCamp

I had my band surgery on 11/25. Everything went fairly good...until the 4th night. I started getting so hungry, I opened a can of cream of chicken and had about 2 tbsp. I felt good after that. But now it seems like I am ALWAYS hungry. And I don't feel like I have any restriction. In fact, I could probably eat all the cream and the whole chicken at this point!!! But, after reading some of these posts, I now understand that I need to drink my protein shakes. I didn't know that...but I will start that for lunch. and maybe even dinner. Is anyone else feeling as hungry as me? I wonder if I made the wrong choice?!?!

OK Id like some advise. What the heck is going on? I was banded last Wednesday (a week today) and today for the forst time I have BAD port pain....what gives? Till now my only bad pain was the gas pain and now the port pain is insane???

I had my band surgery on 11/25. Everything went fairly good...until the 4th night. I started getting so hungry, I opened a can of cream of chicken and had about 2 tbsp. I felt good after that. But now it seems like I am ALWAYS hungry. And I don't feel like I have any restriction. In fact, I could probably eat all the cream and the whole chicken at this point!!! But, after reading some of these posts, I now understand that I need to drink my protein shakes. I didn't know that...but I will start that for lunch. and maybe even dinner. Is anyone else feeling as hungry as me? I wonder if I made the wrong choice?!?!

Hi,

Just to let you know that you are not the only one who is SOOO hungry, I too am extremely hungry. I have found that if I drink a protein drink, or sip on it, the hunger goes away. I am also finding that I can eat the sugar free puddings and the hunger will go away. I am eating approximately 6 times a day, but remember what I am drinking or eating is either protein or low fat or Sugarless. The port pain is another thing I am experienceing. I am back to work, but I don't lift anything. I sit at a desk. I find that using that muscle absolutely kills me. My surgeon says that is normal. Mentally, I am depressed and I asked myself the same question, "Did I do the right thing?" Believe me, WE did the right thing. We are still healing and trying to become accustomed to our foriegn body INSIDE our bodies. We can get through this. Take each day at a time, have patience with ourselves and let us heal before we look forward to bigger and better things. I have lost 22lbs since I started all this. I never thought that would be possible. But, I did. My friends and family have noticed a difference in my face and the way my jeans fit. Right now I am searching for people who are going through the same thing as me. I want to talk about how depressed I am and why I am that way. I want to look at the brighter side of this. I don't want to eat the same way I was eating but just in smaller portions. I want to get with someone who can help me with ideas on recipes. If anyone cares to be a pen pal my e-mail is jadacamp@gmail.com. I would love to speak with or write to anyone willing to listen. I am a good listener and I am usually a very positive person.

OK Id like some advise. What the heck is going on? I was banded last Wednesday (a week today) and today for the forst time I have BAD port pain....what gives? Till now my only bad pain was the gas pain and now the port pain is insane???

Yes, that is one of the biggest problems I have read about on here. The port pain. You will have that. I am not sure for how long, I just know what I have been told by my surgeon. Just becareful not to strain it too much. I had an infection at the incision where my port is. They flipped out when I told them about it. They had me rush in to the office so they could look at it and they put me on antibiotics right away. The nurse told me that basically that port is their only access to your band and it is the most important part of the whole thing. She assured me that everything would be ok. The surgeon let me know that the pain was common in banding and the pain would dwindell with time. So, I am just really careful when bending over. I don't pick anything up AT ALL. Congradulations on your banding!!!

I was banded 11/25 and am experiencing port pain like the rest of you. I expected it since I have been reading posts on this site for well over a month now, but it still sucks.

I started a liquid diet 9 days before my surgery, even though my surgeon only asked me to start 5 days prior, because I wanted to make sure to shrink my liver as well as possible. I will be on full liquids after this Friday (hopefully) when I see my nutritionist and surgeon. I don't expect solids for another 3 weeks or so.

I'm feel pretty down and lack any energy because I can't get a lot of liquid down. I know I need more protien (at least 60 grams) and I'm getting around 20 a day. I proabably have around 200 calories a day. I'm looking forward to mushies to say the least. :sad:

Check out my blog (by clicking on the link below) for more info on my pre and post surgery journey. :wub:

Well I took some meds this evening and the pain is better, I cant do the med during the day because it makes me sleepy and I cant handle that since I am not in the position to lay around groggy all day....but it will help me through the night.

Destin....are you having enough? I had a big 2 scoop Protein shake with milk this morning. It took me 2 hours to drink but it was also 300 calories and 50g protein. Tonight I had another shake that was 30g protein and 160 cal so 80 protein and 460 cal today....OH no more I had a glass of fresh OJ so maybe an extra 150 cal in that?? You dont want to faint due to lack of calories!

:unsure:November 23rd was my surgery date. I am about 8 days out I guess. I started on the soft stuff already because I had an infection and they said to take the antibiotic with pudding. So, I did. My problem now is not the soarness or anything, it is all mental at this point. I am getting so depressed. I have no hobbies to fall back on. I am trying to figure out something I can do to keep my hands and mind working and not thinking about food. Food used to be a really good friend of mine and I have had to rethink things. I am struggling with this soemthing awful. I knew it would be like this, but I thought I was prepared.

Try and not to get so down, I was there too. I was super depressed and sad. I thought I'd made a big horrible mistake. But that feeling is gone now that I'm on to mushies and realizing I can still eat those things, it will just be in smaller portions and not all that time. Just try and remind your self that this soft food diet is only temporary. :wub: And why not try reading a book? I found that when my husband was deployed and my thoughts would start to get the best of me, I'd run tot he book store and get stuck in someone elses life, lol. It really helped :sad:

OK Id like some advise. What the heck is going on? I was banded last Wednesday (a week today) and today for the forst time I have BAD port pain....what gives? Till now my only bad pain was the gas pain and now the port pain is insane???

I consider that I am pretty lucky since I have no port pain and am able to sleep on my stomach. But it does seem like this is a common problem. Did you get the Realize band or the Lap Band?

I have the lap band I believe. And this morning the pain is way better, I took some pain meds last night so maybe its still in my system.

Jada....Dont worry it will get better. Right after my surgery I have buyers remorse I paid $15,500 for this dam band what was I thinking? Then I got sick, a chest cold and strep throat (the day after surgery) got some antibiotics and then not soon after that got a yeast infection. What else could I get within a week???? It could all bum me out and I could be super depressed 7 days post op BUT I remember why I did this. To be healthier, to live longer. So I can be with my husband and son as long as I can .... I love my life and my family and want to be with them as long as I can.

Destin....are you having enough?...You dont want to faint due to lack of calories!

I'm defiitely not having enough, but I'm trying. I think a lot of it's in my head and I'm trying not to overindulge (ridiculous, right?), but I also have a problem drinking in general. Before getting banded I didn't drink much and would often get sick and dehydrated. I passed on at the beach on Labor Day because of it. My doctor knows all about my issue and I see my him and my nutritionist tomorrow. So, since I have never been a big drinker due to my lack of a thirsty sense, it's difficult to make myself drink now. I'm working on it big time today cause I feel like crap and have to go back to work next week.

Thanks for the advice though. I'll try and continue sipping. :sad:

Okay, I'm totally confused. I was banded on 11/17/09 and I've been following everything to the letter. I walk for an hour everyday and I don't eat over 1100 calories a day (still in mushy stage) I was told not to go too low in calories cause it could stall weight loss. I haven't lost any weight since my surgery. I started at 316, then got down to 293 on the pre op liquid diet. For my first check up on 11/25 I weighed 300lbs!!! What the hell??? So I blamed it on my period (I usually gain about 4 lbs on my period). Cause I KNOW I wasn't eating too much while on the liquid post op diet. So I weighed myself today (even though I said I wasn't going to) and I now weigh 296lbs. I don't understand this at all. I keep a food journal and keep track of EVERYTHING I eat and record calories, protein, carbs, and fiber. I'm gonna stick to what I'm doing and if I haven't lost anything by my appointment on 12/14, I know something's amiss. I'm a bit discouraged right now. If you are losing weight please let me know what you've been doing. HELP!!! Going for my walk after work. Sigh

Okay, I'm totally confused. I was banded on 11/17/09 and I've been following everything to the letter. I walk for an hour everyday and I don't eat over 1100 calories a day (still in mushy stage) I was told not to go too low in calories cause it could stall weight loss. I haven't lost any weight since my surgery. I started at 316, then got down to 293 on the pre op liquid diet. For my first check up on 11/25 I weighed 300lbs!!! What the hell??? So I blamed it on my period (I usually gain about 4 lbs on my period). Cause I KNOW I wasn't eating too much while on the liquid post op diet. So I weighed myself today (even though I said I wasn't going to) and I now weigh 296lbs. I don't understand this at all. I keep a food journal and keep track of EVERYTHING I eat and record calories, protein, carbs, and fiber. I'm gonna stick to what I'm doing and if I haven't lost anything by my appointment on 12/14, I know something's amiss. I'm a bit discouraged right now. If you are losing weight please let me know what you've been doing. HELP!!! Going for my walk after work. Sigh

What did the doctor say on that first check up where you weighed more? Did he/she also think it was from your period? I wish I had some secrets to tell you to lose the weight. I was on the "full" liquids for the first 3 weeks and thought that might be why I did so well. I hope that on your next appointment in a couple of weeks you will now notice a big jump. Hang in there and don't be discouraged. It may be that you need to have a fill before it really kicks in. Good luck!

How much broth are you drinking? You know that stuff is loaded with salt and if I even drink a cup I will retain water and it will show on the scale the next day!

Okay, I'm totally confused. I was banded on 11/17/09 and I've been following everything to the letter. I walk for an hour everyday and I don't eat over 1100 calories a day (still in mushy stage) I was told not to go too low in calories cause it could stall weight loss. I haven't lost any weight since my surgery. I started at 316, then got down to 293 on the pre op liquid diet. For my first check up on 11/25 I weighed 300lbs!!! What the hell??? So I blamed it on my period (I usually gain about 4 lbs on my period). Cause I KNOW I wasn't eating too much while on the liquid post op diet. So I weighed myself today (even though I said I wasn't going to) and I now weigh 296lbs. I don't understand this at all. I keep a food journal and keep track of EVERYTHING I eat and record calories, protein, carbs, and fiber. I'm gonna stick to what I'm doing and if I haven't lost anything by my appointment on 12/14, I know something's amiss. I'm a bit discouraged right now. If you are losing weight please let me know what you've been doing. HELP!!! Going for my walk after work. Sigh

Another thought...Tell me what you are blending for your mushies, maybe its just actually higher in calories than you think???

Okay, I'm totally confused. I was banded on 11/17/09 and I've been following everything to the letter. I walk for an hour everyday and I don't eat over 1100 calories a day (still in mushy stage) I was told not to go too low in calories cause it could stall weight loss. I haven't lost any weight since my surgery. I started at 316, then got down to 293 on the pre op liquid diet. For my first check up on 11/25 I weighed 300lbs!!! What the hell??? So I blamed it on my period (I usually gain about 4 lbs on my period). Cause I KNOW I wasn't eating too much while on the liquid post op diet. So I weighed myself today (even though I said I wasn't going to) and I now weigh 296lbs. I don't understand this at all. I keep a food journal and keep track of EVERYTHING I eat and record calories, protein, carbs, and fiber. I'm gonna stick to what I'm doing and if I haven't lost anything by my appointment on 12/14, I know something's amiss. I'm a bit discouraged right now. If you are losing weight please let me know what you've been doing. HELP!!! Going for my walk after work. Sigh