FRANCIE

WOW I've lost a housecat!!

Hello; I'm day 13 post-op and I feel wonderful!! I am sitting here eating cheesy enchilada soup(no chunks) and life is good. I will admit this lifestyle isn't for everyone but you have to decide for yourself and be totally 100% committed to it. I am still in the liquid stage and it is amazing how many soups are out there. I have a great group of friends/supporters who welcomed me back to Texas with a big basket of gas strips and soups, so I am good! The best part about this journey is the change in attitude. I actually look forward to my future and I feel like everyday I am doing something positive and it has been a very long time since I felt that way. I have lost 11 lbs in 13 days. I have noticed that I am taking better care of myself with liquid vitamins and more fiber and more water. I have not noticed any bad side effects. I had the regular gas pains at first, no shoulder pains. The 21 day liquid phase is hard (due to certain habits) but I think this is something I can live with. A couple of times at night I kind of freaked out because something was INSIDE me, but I got over it. I am still in the healing stage but I look forward to working out (that NEVER happened before). Good luck!!

Hi Stormy: This is my second marriage and we will celebrate 19 years next month. My husband and I have been in and out of marriage counseling because we now recognize the signs and know when it is time to go. It always helps us get things straightened out and we are madly, deeply in love with each other. I don't know if you are a reader or not, but the best book I have ever found about marriage is called "Marriage On The Rock" by Jimmy Evans. This single book saved my marriage many times. We get in a rut and start taking advantage of each other and I drag the book out and read it again (and him) and we get back on track. If you want this book and can't find it in your local book store, please let me know and I will get it for you and send it to you. Good Luck and God Bless P.S. By the way, it's always his fault!

WOW that's a great idea about the wine. Glad to hear it. I think when I finally get to eat solids again, I will use your method. Thanks.

That sure sounds like low blood sugar. I've done that a few times myself. I was dizzy alot on the pre-op diet and everytime I would even lower my head, I would get dizzy. Review what you've eaten and make sure you get all your vitamins, proteins, etc. You know the drill!! Good Luck and take care. WE NEED YOU!!

Hi! Creamy soups start on day seven, you are correct. When were you banded? Are your incisions red or swollen? Do you have a fever? If they are hot I would suspect an infection. You probably should call the OCC> Good luck!

I flew in on a Sunday and had to call the OCC to come get me!! Make sure you get a good telephone number before you leave. I didn't meet anyone else at the airport who was getting banded but there were seven of us at the hotel and that is where we got to know each other. We all left our bags in the hotel room while we had surgery and returned the next day...no problem.

I'm scared of the PB episodes too!~!! I love the Papaya Enzymes idea. What is the best way to avoid the PB altogether? Anyone?

Well, son of a bitch!!!! You are too pretty to worry about that piece of (&**^%!!! Is he on board with the surgery? Do you think he's really fallen out of love or is he just worried that you will lose weight and want to get rid of him? That makes me so mad. I agree with the other girls, get your affairs in order and start hiding some $$$$. What kind of man tells you that before you're getting surgery? YOU DON'T NEED HIM!!! You should just proceed as if everything is fine, get the surgery, lose weight and find someone decent for you and your kids. Sorry to be so blunt, but SHAME ON HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, SO LET ME BE CLEAR. WENDY CHILI'S CAN BE EATEN DURING THE CREAMY SOUP PHASE?

AWESOME!!!

I am day 9 post-op and I have a horrible pain in my lower back. I think it's a kidney infection although I'm not sure. How does this happen if I am on a liquid diet? And by the way, I'm still hungry!! Does anyone know what I can take? What do I do about the pain? I'm drinking cranberry juice but I am freakin' miserable over here!~

HI CHINAMOM: WELCOME TO THE BOARD. I JUST HAD MY SURGERY IN TJ LAST MONDAY. MY HUSBAND WAS ABSOLUTELY GREAT ABOUT IT AFTER HE GOT ON THIS FORUM AND READ. I ALSO BOUGHT DR. ORTIZ BOOK AND WE BOTH READ IT. AS FAR AS TJ GOES, THAT WAS AWESOME. THE HOSPITAL IS EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN AND EVERYONE TAKES VERY VERY GOOD CARE OF YOU. MY SISTER HAD THE BAND SURGERY THREE YEARS AGO IN DALLAS. WHEN I ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD DO IT AGAIN, SHE SAID, ABSOLUTELY, EVEN IF I HAD TO FLIP BURGERS TO GET IT (BECAUSE OF THE COST). SHE HAS LOST 90 POUNDS. THAT IS WHAT MADE ME DECIDE TO GET IT. WHEN I TOLD HER I WAS GOING TO MEXICO, SHE FREAKED. SHE CALLED HER DR IN DALLAS AND WAS TOLD THAT HER DOCTOR WAS TAUGHT BY DR. ORTIZ AND HE WOULD DO MY FILLS. SHE STILL THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY, SO SHE WENT WITH ME. DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING BETTER THAN GETTING TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO...TO A SELF-RIGHTEOUS SISTER??? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.. SHE WAS AMAZED AND VERY HAPPY FOR ME. SHE EVEN HAD A FILL WHILE I WAS GETTING MY SURGERY. HAHA THIS IS NOT A LIFESTYLE FOR EVERYONE. THE POST-OP HAS BEEN HARD FOR ME HUNGERWISE. ITS HARD TO STAY WITH CREAMY SOUPS, ETC. BUT I HAVE WATCHED MY SISTER AND IF SHE CAN DO IT...I KNOW I CAN.

The main thing you have to remember is...it is an addiction. Just like smoking, etc. So you WILL have urges and cravings etc. The best thing I have found is to keep myself busy busy busy. You might also go online and simply research food addictions so that you will understand them better. I have been amazed since I am now post-op (only 7 days) at the AMOUNT of food I ate and the speed at which I ate. I honestly don't know how I ever tasted anything because I ate so fast. This is a very different lifestyle for me but one that I am ready to embrace and I actually wake up HAPPY.

CCKCSHARP: Yes, I have two kids (23 and 15) and once I think about it, I remember I experienced this with my first pregnancy too. I know this is totally normal and I actually work in the health care profession but like KittyCat says, I have to calm myself down!! I would relax alot more if I could have a slice of Pizza. HAHAHA

Hi Kim: Sorry. Didn't mean to freak you out. It's just the way I think. I have way more "happy" stories about my band than this panic I'm having right now. You will be fine. I would DEFINITELY do it again. It's only been 7 days for me. Write me when you're done and we will compare stories. You will love the OCC and the doctors there are fabulous. GOOD LUCK

Thanks KittyCat. It is the port that gives me more concern since I am still swollen and can feel it really well. I know it's stupid but I was just wondering if anyone else was feeling the same as me. I thought that's what this forum was for.....

I don't think I'm an anxious person, I think I am a normal person. All of those things you mention don't require surgery to be removed. I actually called Dr. O and he said this is normal and very common. Thanks anyway.

I was just banded August 18th and every night when I go to sleep I kind of "panic" about having something foreign in my body!! Is this normal? Will I get over it?

Vix, I can honestly say I didn't have any pain. Period. I was very very tired and still am, but no pain. I was banded August 18th and flew home (all day in airports watching people eat personal pan pizza's) to Texas. I took Phazyme and started taking it immediately after my surgery. By the time I got on the plane I didn't have any gas. Good Luck!

WOW Jeanette that's really good! 34 pounds is great. I was banded August 18th and the post op diet has been extremely hard. I know it's just for 21 days but how did you make it????

HELLO, just got banded Aug 18th on a Monday and flew home to Texas on Wednesday. I had to spend the next two days in bed because I was very very tired. I am now seven days post op and just starting to feel like myself. I for one think you will need to take more time off. Good Luck!

I haven't had to tell my gyno yet because I avoid him like the plague, but I told a "friend" today and she said "I'll just stick to diet and exercise". By the way, she's about 100 pounds overweight. WHATEVER

Thanks for the good news! Glad you are feeling some restriction. I am only post op day 5 and still hungry.

OMG yesterday I was so hungry!! I am only on day 5 post-op (feels good to say that) and I feel like I'm starving. I had surgery on Monday and the weekend before I left for TJ I went to a huge anniversary party, well my husband had some pictures from that party and once I looked at myself.....hunger gone!!!! I am soooo happy I had this surgery. I can withstand the hunger, I can deal with the emotions, I can do anything as long as I am making positive steps to lose this weight! After seeing those pictures I wonder how I let myself get so out of control. This is what they are talking about with the "baby steps" because this is a slow process but each step is FORWARD not BACKWARD. I had to come to this forum yesterday several times just to get a "boost" from ya'll. You are all angels to be so positive and helpful. One of these days, I will post the horrible pictures that got me through the day.