New to the group

I just wanted to say hello, and tell you a little about myself.  I have been reading all of your postings for the past 6 weeks or so.  I had my surgery on Fri. June 1.  I had the Lap RNY.  I am really excited, but pretty sore.  I got to leave the hospital on Sunday and have been home a couple of days.  I read about the chapstick, and even though it was awful, i followed Dr. Gibbs advice and refrained.  I will posting some before and after photos when ever i figure out how to download pictures.  I got a new camera for my bday in april.    I have  been a little confused about advancing my diet, but i called Lauren and she helped clarify a few things.  I just cant imagine getting in a protein, veggie, and starch all in 1 oz.  Even though i haven't felt hungry, i am having a hard time not thinking about food, and what and when can i eat.  I have to keep my eye on the goal!!!!  Since i am going stir crazy, we are leaving town to Hot Springs for several days, so i will post again when we get back in town.   ellen

Just wanted to say welcome and congrats on your surgery. Tammie

HI Ellen, and welcome! I'm a patient of Dr Gibbs too! As of today I've lost 93 lbs (started out as a lightweight) after 81/2 months. Did you have a meeting with JoBeth before your surgery? She's going to be speaking at the support group meeting a week from tomorrow at Baptist. She's my "go to" person whenever I have a question about my diet. Dr Gibbs and Cary(his nurse) will always tell you to call her with your questions since it's her guidelines that Gibbs wants you to follow. You can e-mail her at:  jobethmcelhanon@baptist_health.org What was the scoop with the chapstick? I've never heard anything other that "make sure you take your chapstick"????  Curious! Again, welcome, and if you need anything, please feel free to ask.....that's why we're here!

Hi  and welcome to the board.  I'm also a Dr. Gibbs patient and am also curious about the chapstick??  Cathy (Mom of Many) brought me some while I was in the hospital and it really helped me keep my lips from cracking.  Anyway, congrats on your WLS, hope everything is going well for you.  I had the RNY so don't know much about Lap Band, but I'm still here for support.  I think we all go through the same things regardless of which surgery we had. Hope you had fun in Hot Springs!

I was the one to begin the chapstick debate :-)  I got fussed at royally while I was in the hospital because I used chapstick on that first day.  Several of you had posted to be sure and take it and I sure didn't there would be anything wrong with it.  But the nurse that saw it on my bedside table thought differently.  Well, I also had some spongy things that I had been using to wet my lips too.  I never swallowed (do I sound like Clinton?) but was wetting my lips so that they wouldn't crack so bad.  Anyway, she said that anything on the lips or in the mouth would stimulate gastric juices and that was not to happen until the next day - which is why you can't have ice chips until you are 24 hours post-op.  So now we all know that despite my calm demeanor - I'm a rebel at heart!