February 2006 bandsters unite!!

Congrats Julie!! Hang in there! I'm one week out & can't believe how much better I feel! I'm still on pain meds, mostly to save my husband from my complaining, lol. ;) Oh, and Gas-X... lots & lots of it!

Seriously Tammy, I'm with Rene... hope you're almost done with the killer phase, but you're gonna get... um... dehydrated? lol... or something! :)

I'm with ya'll about not obsessing. We threw our scale away (it didn't go high enough anyway, lol). So we're down to weighing every 2 weeks when we go to the doctor. It's a start! :)

Hey guys, so I went to work yesterday..and it wasn't that bad. I am 4 days post-op and am now eating mashed potatoes and oatmeal. It was good to have oatmeal this morning, but I can't say that I am completely full or anything...actually I feel like I could eat alot more. I have my first adjustment on March 14th, so maybe that will be my answer.

Congrats Julie on the band...just a suggestion don't lay around walk around alot!! I kept moving and I think that has helped alot. I am not very sore at all around the cuts just the gas passing through my chest hurts, but its tolerable. Good luck, and I am so happy for us and everyone else that has been or is getting banded this month!!!!

Good morning all,

Well last night I think I reached my breaking point, while making my family dinner I had had enough, so I cut up 2 small potatoes and boiled em. Added some silk milk, a little salt and butter and begin with very small bites. I was ok for the first 4 or 5 bites but then I got all sweaty and sick to my stomache, which scared the crap out of me so I stopped. I had the band on the 8th and have been on water and vitatmins every since. Yes the protein go straight through me in a bad way, almost uncontrolable!
Then to top off my night I developed a tooth ache, I dont even have a cavity! Nothing like taing your mind off food than a tooth ache.
I got up this morning feeling weak and a little dizzy. I have talk to my doctor and he said hang in there, if I eat now and vomit I am risking my band slippin....................ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I cant seem to win!!!!!
I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!!!!
Y'all please pray for me!

Hi all,

Everyone seems to be doing great.

I had my surgery on the 21st and today is my first day back at work-even though I am working from home today and tomorrow. I thought I would ease back into it.
The pain has been tolerable; I was very nauseus the first day and threw up a couple times, so hopefully I didnt ruin anything inside. I am taking the pain meds only to sleep and never a full dose, so I should be off of those soon.

So far I am not hungry, but I am on protein drinks, water and broth. I hope this lasts, although my instructions are "I can have anything I can drink from a straw- as long as I dont use a straw" --for the first 2 weeks post op. No mashed potatoes for me.

Well everyone keep up the great work!

hello!

I was banded on 2/14 by Dr. Artuso at the New Image Weight Loss Center in Dobbs Ferry NY and have lost 15lbs on my home scale. I have my first support group tonight at the hospital so I will see if the nurses will let me use the scale we used that day! ;)

Feb 2, 2006
Dr. Rumbaut Monterrey, Mexico
Start Weight: 209
Down 15 lbs

Hi my name is April from Goodwater, Alabama
I had the surgery on February 14th, with Dr. Schmitt (-21)

Welcome new Feb bandsters!! Good to see us still popping up! :)

How are the gas pains doing? They're still kicking my heinie!! The worst is that my hubby got his band 2 days prior to me... and is rocking it. Next to ZERO pain **sigh**. I try not to compare... lol ;)

I'm now officially sick of mashed potatoes. Can't wait for the next stage!!

Happy Friday everyone!!

Know what ya mean about the mashed potatoes...I loved them before surgery, but now I am getting so sick of them.

Gas pain is still hurting in my chest. Is that where it is hurting everyone else? It moves right across the center of my chest and sometimes i swear it feels like I am having a heart attack!! I slept in the bed for the first time last night comfortably. A good nights sleep was much needed! Happy Friday to everyone!

Good Morning all

I am feeling much better today. Wednesday night I had cooked some stew beef in the crock pot for dinner the following day, I added some potatoes and seasoning. I put about a half of cup of the juice in a bowl and started out very slowly. OMG was it good. Finally something other than water!!! I had tried the broth out of the cans but couldnt get them down due to the taste but the homemade style did the trick.
I wasnt dizzy this morning for the first time in a while. I actually feel like I am turning the corner. I still cant have solids for another 5 days but some boiled chicken broth is on the menu tonight.
For the first time in a while now I think I might actually make it!!!!
So for all you, like me, that are having trouble with the protein shakes, your crock pot is your friend. I have to cook for my family and now I am enjoying the meal as well.
Have a wonderful weekend all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Stacey,

I know what you mean about the gas pain in the chest area. I thought I was going to die. It is the worst. I have been using chewable gas x and that seems to help a bit. Today is really the first day it hasnt been too bad. I have actually been sleeping in my bed the whole time, but last night I must say was the best night so far. Although everytime I want to switch sides, its a big ordeal. Good thing my hubby sleeps through anything.

I think I was naive, when I went into the surgery. I know everyone is different but I truely thought this was going to be a bit easier. Although if it wasnt for the gas pain, it really wouldnt be that bad. There is no pleasing me sometimes.

Hope everyone is doing well! Remember Gas x is our friend!

Happy Friday!

Kayo
-9 pre op
-11 post op

Hi Everyone-
Just checking back in- Today is day 4 since surgery and I am still on clear liquids. Tomorrow and Saturday are full liquids and then it's mushies for 2 weeks. So far any urge to eat has been in my head but I am doing well sipping water and stuff.
I am still pretty sore but haven't had much gas pain. I am trying to get used to the strange sensation that I feel when I drink more than a sip. It's like I can feel my body telling me to stop or something. My surgeon said that is mainly from the swelling and the feeling will go away soon.

Hope everyone is doing well and recovering nicely.

Gosh Janet... I'm jealous.... sick of mashed potatoes!! I was banded the same day as you and my Dr. still has me on liquids/shakes etc. I won't hit the mashed potatoes or mushies until next week. I guess every Dr. has their own rules and I'll wait my turn, but it's getting harder every day. My appetite is starting to come back with a vengeance.

Anyway...good luck to everyone. FEB06 Bansters ROCK. We're doing great. And BTW... I'm now down 7.5 lbs woohoo!!

GasX is my new best friend.

Go Lou with the weight loss, woohoo!! :)

I gave up the mashed potatoes & went back to liquid yesterday, lol. It seems to help the gas pains somewhat. I can't keep taking 3 hours to moan & groan after eating / drinking, lol! I'll try again in a couple of days & maybe more of the gas will have cleared out. I wish there was a way to know that BEFORE I made myself hurt! :D

My lifeline: Nature's Best Isopure Zero Carb Ready-To-Drink clear protein drinks. 40g protein, 0g carb or fat... and CLEAR!! Ok, they taste like unsweetened Kool-Aid with an aftertaste like mud, lol, but they are helping me feel fuller. (Nope, they don't pay me for marketing, lol, but they should!!)

All in all I'm still glad I did it... can't wait to get over the swelling & gas & get filled & on the way! And aren't the scars incredible? Can't believe how fast they're healing!! (My 15-year-old scars don't look as good!)

(( Hugs!! )) to all those healing Febsters! We're gonna make it! (Yep, I'm taking it on faith! ;))

Hey Everyone, Haven't posted in a while. I was banded 2/13/06 and there is still a bit of pain in the area just below my left ribcage. I started back to work this past Tuesday and luckily for me my boss told me she didn't want to see me in there full days. That actually helped because let me tell ya that area was really sore after sitting at a desk for 5-6 hours. I worked a full day Friday and I could definately tell a difference. Much stiffer when I went home but, at least I can take it easy today. Other than occassional left shoulder pain I'm doing ok. I still think theres a bunch of gas in me that I haven't been able to get rid of though. GasX helped some but, this is going to have to take it's own course I guess.

Each doctor definately has his/her own food plan. I was on clear liquids for 1/2 a day on my last day in the hospital then told I could go to full liquids meaning soups, blended cottage cheese, yogurt no fruit type stuff. I'll be on this until 2 weeks (Until 3/1) then I'm suppose to be on mushies for 3 weeks then I can move to the regular stuff. They say you need this because the less your stomach has to work to digest food the more it will sit still so the stitches inside can heal. My doc used a method (not sure the name) where they use extra skin/fat (?) so that the band isn't just around your stomach. It hads like a cushion to the band which helps with prevention of erotion. Those stitches help hold the band in place so it's important that they heal up first before the tummy needs to do aerobics to digest your food :) I thought that was interesting and makes me want to stick to the diet he has me on.

I'm down 19 pounds since the start of this whole thing so that makes me happy. (Gained like 8 pounds with surgery...all that fluid they pump into you lol) I still feel like this is a dream and still afraid I could fail at this attempt to lose weight too. God help me!

Anyone else get hiccups more now that they are banded? I've noticed I have. They don't last long but, it's annoying :)

Hugs to all and I wish you the best with your bands!

Sherry