Red

OK so I am day 13 since surgery (down 8 lbs.) and I have been a very good girl, obeying all the rules. But I am here to tell you that I CAN'T WAIT to chew on some REAL food!!! Next week Tuesday is going to be my day to go on to solids. Thank God! I am hoping for some feedback on foods that I would like to incorporate into my diet again, that are healthy, but may not go down. I understand that most people seem to avoid white foods such as pasta and bread and also stringy veggies such as artichokes, asparagus (both on my favorites list, darn it), etc., but there are variations of those things that maybe some of you have had experience with. Here are some of my favorites you can comment on... Ezekial Bread (actually has no flour in it, dense, low carb and great toasted) Whole wheat pasta (much healthier than regular pasta) Corn Whole Grain Crackers Salad (I love it all) Boiled eggs Watermelon, cantalope and other melons Cheese (low fat mozzarella sticks, smoked gouda, cream cheese) Grilled shrimp, crab, smoked salmon, oysters Corn tortillas Popcorn Wow, I have to stop because I'm getting really hungary thinking about these! :popcorm1: Red

Hi Chloe, I've been thinking about you all day! I hope it has all gone well and that you are recovering! Aren't the staff wonderful there? They will take good care of you and you just need to get through the next 1-2 weeks and all will be better and not so sore. Report back how it went when you are filling up to it! Red

Oh Chloe..I was so moved by your response to everyone! Sounds like you are going through with surgery on Tuesday. Just know that you will have all of us on the forum thinking about you on Tuesday and sending you positive and supportive thoughts. You sound like such wonderful person with a heart of gold. I sense that this is going to be such a life changing experience for you as it has been for so many others. Please let us know how you are doing after your surgery so we can help in any way we can. Thinking of you! Red

Chloe, Deep breath in.....deep breath out. I was recently banded at OCC. Today is day 12 for me. Down 7 pounds. I was a MESS the few days before surgery. I played every head game with myself I could think of. Every excuse came to mind. But I put my big girl panties on and just did it, because I KNEW I was going to have to change my eating habits. My relationship with food was every bit as addictive as a drug or alcohol user's habit to their drug. But you know what? The surgery was not a big deal. You will undoubtedly have to deal with some post-surgery pain, but nothing you can't handle. And today, I felt about as good as I've felt since the surgery. A lot of the abdomen pain has subsided, I had one bought of the infamous shoulder pain yesteray. That was no picnic, but it lasted 15 minutes, and it was gone. I have had company for 3 days and have been cooking a lot of my favorites for them, eating broth when we went out to lunch, BBQ'd a tri-tip for them, etc. and I got through that all. Did I want to eat all the snacks, cheese, junk food, etc.?? You bet, but it was all in my head and I had control for a change. Food wasn't in control of me, for once. You can change your mind. Nobody is going to force you to have this life changing surgery. But if you decide to do it, you will go through your adjustment period just like everyone else has done on this forum. And then, you will realize that you made the right decision. You just have to be stronger than your old habits. Dr. Ortiz is the first to say that the differenct between those that succeed with the band and those that don't is "attitude". Watch some of his videos. Watch some lap band success stories on YouTube. You will be inspired and less afraid. Deep breat in...deep breath out. Red

I wanted to add that I also, even 7 days later, I tire pretty quickly. So I will do an errand, like grocery shopping or laundry, but then I have to rest. It isn't a cake walk for everyone, I can attest! Red

I am one week banded and I can take my pills. I have to because I have hypothyroidism. Dr. Sol said that as long as they aren't large pills, it is ok to take them. Ice cream is not a liquid per say. I think liquid yogurt would probably accomplish the same thing, but when in doubt, you can always call or email the OCC and they will give you the best advice. Red

Like Jude, I didn't experience a lot of gas pain and no shoulder pain. But I honestly can say I had/have a lot of abdomen pain. I am not working right now, but I honestly don't think I could have gone back to work within 3 days like lots of people do, even to a desk job. I think our experiences, in terms of pain levels, is so unique to each individual, that it is really hard to make a suggestion. I am a week out as of yesterday, and today is the first day that I feel like the pain in my abdomen is starting to lessen. Red

Welcome to the site, Daniel. I too was just banded. I have lost 7 lbs as of yesterday, which was end of week 1. It was not an easy week for me, but no regrets. Since I'm not currently employed, I had the luxury of being able to rest and let myself heal. But about mid way through the week, I had a muscle spasm develop under my right should blade. That happened because while resting in bed, I had propped myself up to be more comfortable. I turned my head to the left to look at my cat one morning, and wow, the pain was so severe and stayed that way for a few days. Gosh was I ever miserable and could not walk or move without pain shooting through my shoulder. That doubled with the pain of my surgery, and being on a thin liquids diet made for a rough time. But now I am doing much better and the diet is much easier now that I can have liquid yogurt and cream soup. I wish you (and me!) much success with the band! Red

I would suggest going to the OCC site and filling out their contact form. A coordinator will call you, or email, and quote you a price. It varies. The coordinators are very nice and won't pressure you, just give you information. Here is the site: https://www.obesitycontrolcenter.com/cgi-bi...?section=public Red

Danielle, Welcome to the forum. I was banded same week as you (21st) so I know exactly what you are going through. I was starving until today, day 7, when I added the liquid yogurt. Man did that ever make a huge difference. It takes away that hunger. At least it did for me. Remember, the paperwork says you can start the yogurt any time after day 3. I asked Dr. Miranda why they gave us a range of dates and here is what she said: HI the range was offered usually because some patients get rid of the gases earlier than others, and some people get diarrhea and the yogurt helps, if you feel too bloated wait until day 8 for the yogurt, but some patients get rid of the gas quick and sometimes the yogurt (liquid of course) makes them feel actually better. So just play it by ear, do not force feed, and you will be fine as long as you are on pure liquids. Dr. Miranda So if you are starving, contact her, but I think she will ok you to start the liquid yogurt... Red

You know, when alcoholics go into rehab (my husband is a recovering alcoholic) and can't have the alcohol anymore, they go through a kind of mourning. Alcohol was their life, it was there best friend. As I approached my surgery date, I found myself thinking thoughts like, this will be the last time I can eat my supersized McDonalds meal, this is the last time I am going to be able to put down a couple of hot dogs and half a big bag of chips. This is the last time I am going to be able to hog on a giant bowl of spaghetti. It was a mourning for the relationship I had with food and I know that it is going to take time to undo the 51 year relationship I had with my best friend in good times and bad times, my comforter....food. But I have come to realize that I will not have to completely give up every food I ever loved, I am just going to be in control of the proportions that go in my mouth. It is going to be a win win situation and as the pounds come off, I believe that will be my motivation to keep working with my band. I just watched a good video of Dr. Ortiz discussing the band with a teen a couple of months ago, and he kind of puts it all into perspective: Red

Small world! Pilgrim Pines is up in Oak Glen, isn't it? I live about 5 minutes from there, up in the hills. The morning after surgery, your nurse will come in and run a syringe of pain medication through your IV. I'm sure that is why I felt really good. But you will have discomfort after you wake up from surgery and after you get home, like a heavy pressure on your abdomen. Today my abdomen feels quite a bit better and it has only been 5 days. I can even sleep on either side, which I'm relieved about because some people say they can't. I toss and turn all night, so I need to be able to switch sides. I am struggling with the liquid diet because I am hungry, hungry, hungry. But I know eventually I will be able to include the yogurt, protein shakes and creamy soups and I will be much better. I'm grateful I'm not working right now, because I can rest a lot more than some folks who go back to work 3 days post op. That must be so difficult.

Yeah, you aren't kidding it is COMPLETELY different in Canada. I knew a Canadian that the government paid for her sex change operation (female to male...how enlightened), yet they stick cancer patients in a 12 month or more long line for a doctor appointment. Hmmm. Go figure.

Rest your mind. Your experience at the OCC will be just as great as everyone elses. They will make you so comfortable. Being as you live here in So Cal, I would even suggest that you ask to have your preops and surgery the same day and then come home the day after surgery like I did. You will feel well enough to drive. I had about a 2 hour drive home and it was a breeze. I really didn't think it was neccessary to stay a third night. Some people flying in choose to stay because they want to shop. I didn't. Where is So Cal do you live?

Well, to me, being obese the rest of my life sounds even scarier! You know, so many people have the band now, and if they can do it Melissa, so can we. I think like anything, it is scary until you live it yourself and then you know what to expect. My first 5 days on the band have been no walk in the park. If I can get through the first 21 days of liquids, I can deal with the rest of it easily. When in doubt, go to the gallery on this forum and look at all the photos of people who have successfully lost the weight. It is inspirational! And they have all had to deal with all the things that seem scary to us. Are you getting banded soon? Red

I heard that Vitamin E oil works well so I emailed OCC to ask when I could begin applying it. Dr. Sol said I should wait 3 weeks. So I'm going to give that a try!

YEAH STORMY! Way to get back up on that horse! You were wonderfully graceful and you should never apologize to anyone for having fun on your pole! Red

...and I forgot to mention that I was told PBing stands for "Productive Burping"!

Hi there, I recently asked that same question and there was alot of good feedback. Here is the thread: http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?show...81&hl=stuck Good Luck!

Way to go, Jazzy!! Now that you see the "1", I have no doubt that it will inspire and motivate you and will make you even more determined to reach further goals. I can't wait to start losing weight. I'm still in the first days post surgery and my band and I are getting to know each other. I have no expectations that the scale will go down for a few weeks, but seeing the progress people like you and others on the forum make, gives me patience. Congrats on your achievement! Red

OMG, don't you let that B bring you down! If your boss comes to you (which I believe would be illegal) just show her this forum and all the prodding you got to post your video on YouTube. I can't believe how some people are. You didn't deserve that and I would bet she is just jealous. I don't know what you do for a living that would make her say you are held to a higher standard, but that is rediculous. Stormy, don't let these people take away your joy of life!!! You are better than them! Red