julieburns

Hey David don't let anyone make you feel as if you are the only one who has gotten off track on the liquid phase....I am sure more have than will admit to it on this forum. You are strong and brave and yes you will be fine. Just stay on track now and hang in there. We all have been where you are or will be soon. Every day on liquids was a struggle for me. It was terribly difficult especially with a physical job and basically no nutrition to keep you going. I don't think it's a predictor of how you will do on the rest of your diet. I do remember Dr. Ortiz saying that the "most successful" patients are the ones who really stick to it in the first 3 months. This does not say the "only successful" ones so think about it. Now for the gas and reflux get phazyme, gas-x strips and tums and try them all, doubling the recommended doses. It won't hurt you and perhaps could help. Or even call your local doctor and get a RX for this so you won't have this problem to tease you into eating anything solid. Even just go for the milkshakes if you have to to help you through this. You'll be fine and I urge you to just keep on posting and we will help you through this. Good luck and keep in touch. :lb4:

I remember my excitement for my first fill trip and this post takes me back just a few weeks. Glad you found the info you needed. The only thing I do remember that I'd like to clarify for anyone just reading this thread is that you should have nothing cold to drink for at least an hour before the fill. Have a great trip. Remember only liquids for 3 days after the fill. I had to go even longer as it hurt to eat much of anything solid but this is not the case for many others. I probably took too big of bites and didn't chew well enough as I have now learned is an absolute must or you'll pay for it with pain and PBing.

You're right Julie. I don't drink all the 25gms at once. I have divided it into 2 servings or even just sipped it throughout the day. I need any help I can get to get the protein in. But I don't think these are for me, yet. As I said I've got 5 more flavors but if they all have the "mediciney" smell/taste I won't buy more. just a note I bought mine online. I just typed in the brand name and up popped several places to purchase them.

You know Kim I did the same thing until I had to get serious with the pre-op diet. Don't wait too long to at least give it a half A** attempt. I think 2 weeks is so stressful as I remember to lose the weight you need to. Give yourself another week so you don't stress out about it. Yes it's very hard to actually stat it but you will feel so much better the week before if you've already lost most of your weight. Take it from the voice of experience.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 4 years ago or so when I got really fat. Since my fill I am having real trouble with my blood sugars. Almost every single afternoon, late evenings and early mornings I have really low sugars for me 60-70's. I didn't realize what it was for a weak or so but finally got clued in to check my sugars as I hadn't been because I never really needed to because I was in pretty good control. Anyway when this happens at work I can't always immediately act on it. Yes I need to carry the little sugar things in my pocket as now I have since I almost passed out in a patients room. I feel so guilty about eating the sugar or drinking sugary juice though. It's been so hard getting in enough food I then have episodes where I crave sugar so bad and then I binge on ice cream!! I know that's not good either. So I need to call my Dr. and perhaps start taking less of my medication!!!! I just don't think I need what I am taking because of the frequent low sugars. I also think I need to go back to eating how I used to when I was first diagnosed and that is to have 3 small meals a day and then 2 or 3 low cal snack to keep my blood sugars at an even level. I also should call and talk to Dr. Miranda for nutritional helps. The ups and downs I have been having with the sugars are literally making me feel awful most of the time physically and mentally with no energy. Exercise what's that? I am so physically exhausted all I can do is work and then go home and sleep again until it's time to get ready to work again. Days off include almost 1 full day recuperating and then a few household chores and it's back to work. That's no life. Thanks for reading this rather long post. My point was to see if anyone else with Diabetes like this has had the same type of problems and what they have done to help. Thank for any input.

I never feel "full" like Cathy describes it. It's always in my chest and it's a feeling like a knot. Somehow as I remember it when I was full from thanksgiving dinner I felt much better than I do now. Perhaps it was alot of satisfaction in the head and now we don' get that piece of it. It is so weird.

Kim I did the same thin a few days ago with Mexican. Just as you I hate about 5-6 chips instead of 2-3 baskets and then my chicken tostado showed up and after the 2nd bite (yes it was the 2nd bite also) I could feel it in my chest and then I knew I was going to slime. I hurridly went to the restroom and yes mine too came up. Oh man I was really hungry though because I hadn't eaten but 1 protein shake and this was 7 pm. I packaged up my whole meal and it's till in the fridge. Yes old habits die hard.

I am betting on the green tea also. After my banding I tried to take one of my usual 1/2 caffeine pills I use instead of coffee or tea and OH MAN was I sick.. I then tried some 1/2 caff tea and felt less intensity but the same kind of nausea from the pill. Better try deleting it first and give it a few days and see how you feel. If you feel better you've nailed it first try. If not gradually stop each of the other things to figure it out. Good luck. I do believe strongly in the power of herbs as well. When I went to my chinese medicine Dr. she mixed up a terrible tasting concoction that I took daily and those were some of the healthiest days of my life. Need to get back to her.

This is such a weird phenomena with fills. Yes my fill finally after about 2 1/2 weeks is much better. At first for like almost 7-10 days all I could eat was liquid or perhaps a bite or two of something but it hurt so bad I just stuck to liquids. I think my fibromyalgia makes anything that swells hurt worse, at least for me. Anyway now that I can finally manage to eat it's really is only about 2-3 ounces of protein and then a few veggies and that's it!! I stay full for several hours. I am fighting the head hunger and sugar withdrawal though. So happy for all of us whose fills are working, and for those whose may not be, just wait!!! Also Kimmy I am glad you are over the illness. I bet you still feel weak though?

I went alone and when I got picked up at the airport there were 3 others who were going to be banded with me. We became "band buddies"easily and quickly. I then met a couple of gals who were sister-in-laws- and we hung out and had a meal or 2 together. I really had a good time being on my own actually and looked at it as a mini-vacaton all for just me!!! No worries

LauraLee :lb9: I'm glad you went ahead and are being banded besides what the Dr. said. Some of them just don't get it and are uninformed so they really are jus ignorant. Especially if he has a "clinic" program....more $$$$ in his pocket if you go that way. I'm excited for you impending journey. Try and just relax and enjoy your "mini-vacation". Hopefully you've read some of the the suggestions on what to take and what to expect, it sounds like you have. Don't forget you passport or birth certificate for coming back across the border. Have it in a handy spot to get to easily to save you time and trouble when crossing. Also you actually get out of the van, walk into the building to be checked with your luggage and then walk about 1/2-3/4 block back to get in the van. Pack lightly with 1 small carry on, no need to overpack. Have a safe and fun journey.

Well I got my "bombs". A variety of 8 flavors to try. So far I've had 3 of them. The do go down as there is only like 2.9 ounces total in them. My opinion is they taste just ok. They have sort of a weird smell and the taste is almost somewhat "mediciny" but in a weird way. Not terrible but they leave a weird after taste also. I don't think I'll buy anymore unless in the remaining 5 flavors I find one that covers this "weird" taste/smell up better. I guess I rate them about a 4 out of 10 for flavor and palatability.

You know just an added note, I too had bulimia/anorexia as a late teen early twenty something. How crazy were those days. I would starve myself for days drinking this terrible green liquid concoction that was the "popular" diet of the day called spirulina and then allow myself only 3, 4-6 ounce glasses of fruit juice a day. That was it. My sorority sisters and I who of course some were also on this crazy plan would skip out dinnertimes and go run our asses off, literally for 2 hours each night around the U of O campus. Finally after this craze became old I had starved myself for so long that I started overeating, in my book. One time I just threw up after a "binging" episode, which at the time was probably normal food intake and that started about a 2-3 year roller coaster with this miserable problem. I was lucky enough to find an eating disorder program when I was around 23 which got me back into control and normal eating. It sure never cured my food issues though. Anyway that's a long trip down memory lane for me. I do want to say that the times that I have slimed and/or PB'd I get flashbacks of the bulimic days and feel strange. I really don't like the feeling for sure but for me it's more than that. It reminds me of those times, which were not the best. I never even thought of or expected to have these flashbacks of those days but I do when I throw up since being banded. I have learned to do my best not to because it's so ingrained in me even from years ago that this is not a good thing. Just hope this may help anyone who has also suffered these terrible diseases. I never would have thought or new in the beginning of being banded that because of the PBing my mind would go back to those days of unhealthiness. It's kind of weird and yet another challenge to get my head around the whole issue again.

Not so sure about the chiropractor. Perhaps after the 3 month period, or if you tell them of your no abdominal exercises restriction they can "personalize" the adjustment to meet this need. Trina: I had a massage after about 6 weeks, before 1st fill and did fine. As long as you can lay comfortably on your stomach by now you'll do fine. I don't know about you but I NEVER have them do my abdominals or anywhere near that area so again it shouldnt be a problem. One time I went for a massage and this lady started working on my stomach area, I about jumped off the bed. Not because it hurt or was inappropriate really I was just so self-conscious about my fat belly I didn't want it touched by myself, let alone a stranger. The abs are so buried I found no point in this !!! I just had a vision that maybe someday after I get to goal I wouln't have this kind of reaction but maybe be proud of my tummy........no, I really didn't/wouldn't ever enjoy or be able to relax as someone massages my "abs"!!! Now maybe a guy with a 6 pack if he would let me massage his abs..... :good2: Volunteers????

I wondered the same thing, perhaps a night shirt worker? Or just "our wonder woman!!" What a great "real" fluoro pic. It is exactly what it looks like! Hugs and kisses to ya for your great finds!!! :kiss3:

:party: :party: :party: :party: :party: Happy dance for you. Hope the"lump" is gone as quick as it came back. Whatcha doing for vacation?

I think slurpees are fine in regards to not having any carbonation. Now are they cheating? It depends what stage you are in and your diet plan.. They are full of sugar... probably several hundred calories in one. If your on liquids still you'll be fine if you want to have a treat now and then. After you get back on solids though be careful for the reason as they are straight sugar. Hope this helps.

First of all welcome and it's great you found this forum. The big thing that sticks out to me is when you say it will be great to get rid of your food addiction. Wrong. That does not go away just because you are banded. You can eat many things that are not healthy choices..ice cream, cookies, chocolate, chips, and many things. You have to follow a very strict eating program which at times is nothing but willpower. At times yes the band will make you feel full but not right away. It takes at least 1,2 or up to 5 fills to get the right amount in to give you restriction. Many people for weeks after surgery have a tough time. Now don't get me wrong I don't want to sound negative, just realistic. I am very happy I got banded and would never change this but it takes alot more work than I ever imagined, even reading and learning all I could prior to banding. I even had a friend who had it done about 4 months before me so she was telling me everything. Anyway the answers to your questions are already within this forum. Just start reading all the posts and you'll find the answers. Spend some time doing this and then if you havn't come across the answer ask and we're glad to help. RE: Exercise....walking only for 3 weeks post-op. No abdominal exercises for 3 months. This is the OCC's instructions. :lb9:

:lb9: So glad you found this forum. It truly is full of people who care about each other and are supportive. We laugh together, cry together, scold each other(gently) and are simply there for one another. We all have eating issues and weight struggles or we wouldn't be here. We are all at different stages in our journey. The band is no magic fix and even I thought it would be easier than it actually is once banded. there's something about the anticipation that gets you all excited that this is it and then actually having to "work the band" is when it gets tough and the magic is gone. I am in no way wanting to sound negative just giving you a realistic expectation of what this is and the life changing habits that you must develop or it won't work. I just added another reply to this post that may be on page 2 by now. I share some of my eating issues and it may be helpful for anyone with histories of bulimia. So keep reading this thread to the end and you'll find it. Glad you're here and just start reading all you can on here.

It also looks like she is much taller as a thin women. Her face doesn't even look like the same women....pretty dramatic.

Even if it has caffeine in it at his early stage you can have anything that's liquid, coffee is considered a clear liquid so yes you may have it. Even after that because you are not to worry about losing weight during this healing time of the first 3 weeks. If coffee will make you happy try it, just take it slow because it can upset he stomach unless you are a daily drinker. Worry about the caffeine later when you are healed and need to watch what goes in to help lose weight. Certainly not to discount what Cathy said at all though, she is right.

Drink as much as you like as it just runs right through the band, no harm done for sure. Your old stomach gets full of liquid as you drink more and more so you naturally become "full" from the liquids in your stomach. This is also normal. Hang in there on those liquids!!

:lb24: :lb10: :party: :party: What a great feeling you have!! That's how this is supposed to work. Great job and I am glad about your self esteem. Your kids will thank you too in the long run. Kudo's to you Trudy!!

This is so funny. I had to change my email address as we changed our server people. anyway I did as instructed on the page and then I went to post a reply and it said I was not authorized to do this. I tried to reply again to something else and again it said I was not authorized to reply. I felt panic that I could not communicate with my friends, OMG I thought what to do? I emailed the administrator and in just a few seconds got a reply telling me I had to finish the steps taken by verifying I had entered the info. Whew... thank goodnes this worked or I might have had the big one. This showed me how hooked on this forum I really am, perhaps a new addiction? Thanks to the administrators for helping me so quickly. I love this forum!!

Not sure what the right sided pain is, perhaps gas like Cathy suggested. Don't feel like a loser, be a loser!! We are what we make ourselves. I too have had my struggles but every day I just start fresh and try to reach one small, small attainable goal. If you worry you've stretched your band I think it was Paula Bee who had the same concern. I remember she did a special diet recommended by Dr. Miranda I think for about 3 weeks or so. She said they could tell because on the fluoro they could see the pouch "cupcaking" up over the band. Call Dr. Miranda and talk to her. If it's not you Paula or if it is perhaps you can address this one better than I can with some of the tips you followed. I hope you don't mind Paula I just thought you wouldn't mind sharing your experience as you are always so helpful. Hang in there Tee we all have struggles and you just need to keep focused on your goals!!