i wish i didn't do this. what was i thinking?

So I've been having a bout with depression cues i can't take my "pills" unless I break them open. So I'm hyper sensitive right now. I have been super hungry. Tomorrow Tuesday will be a week out of the lap band. I call the doctors office 1'st thing this morning. And leave a message for the nurse we play phone tag a few times and finally i get a hold of her. She had already left a snappy message for me on my voice mail about "No it says two weeks you can't change to puree!" Where did you read that?!" I talk to her tell her my problems she tells me I need to take the vitemens. Well they make me gag and dry heave. HELLO something your not allowed to do on the band. She tells me I NEED to take them so break them up and do it that way. Then She makes it sound like ive been ******g up. No protien only clear liquids right now. What are you doing don't listen to the chat boards! God well I told her I'm falling into a hole and sleeping all day cuse i just can't deal. I didn't sign up to get treated like a dumb ass! Well guess I'll just sleep my life away till my next doctors apt. which thank god I have to make for next week. I can't wait to talk to my Dr.

Hi Sara, Take a deep breath. You have been through major surgery. Like any major surgery, your hormones may be going a bit haywire. Add on to that surgical discomfort, hunger...no wonder you are on edge. You are not f-ing up. Breathe deeply and start thinking about how to approach this logically. Believe it or not, the nurse is probably concerned for you. Her delivery of her concern was flawed, from what you write, but maybe she just got off a horrendous phone call. Maybe she is having a lousy day. Maybe her dog died - who knows? Yes, she shouldn't take it out on you, but try to wade through the BS to her message. Vitamins. Yes, you do need to take them, and *right away.* But the regular vits make you sick. You are right - no sense heaving and chance prolapsing your band. So I recommend a liquid vitamin. Drinkwell is wonderful, 1 ounce, and it is tasty. But you may want to visit the Vitamin Shoppe or GNC locally to get something ASAP. Yes, you do need to be on clear liquids only these first two weeks. SF Jello, broths, SF popsicles, herb (decaffeinated) teas. Sip, sip, sip, no gulping. But sip so much that you feel a sense of satiety. It won't satisfy hunger like eating per se, but it will take the edge off to make this second week more tolerable. Don't accent the negative, even though it's tempting because you probably feel like crap. Instead, celebrate what you had to do to get to this moment. You are almost a week out of surgery! Remember, if WLS were easy, everyone would do it. Call your doc who has prescribed your depression med ASAP (as in tonight). Psychotropic medications are NOT designed to be quit "cold turkey." No wonder you feel so on edge. And some meds are time-release, so breaking them open or chewing them can cause an overdose. So, unless you were told not to swallow them, call your psych doc (or whomever prescribed them) NOW to discuss next steps. I was on a low dose of Lexapro, and I am at the end of a 4-week weaning schedule. I was told if I quit Lexapro cold turkey that I could experience what feels like electric shocks in my brain. Doesn't sound too pleasant. So please please, call now because no one deserves to feel like you do now. As far as the nurse goes, call tomorrow and give her a second opportunity to speak with you appropriately. If she either cannot or will not, then your next step should be to speak with the office manager. Don't wait for next week's appointment. You need help and deserve it now, in a mutually respectful manner. Hang in there. Remember that each day gets better, and is SO worth it. HTH, Kristen

Kristen: I've just had a nasty thought....what am I doing for food after the revision???? Liquids again for 2 weeks??????? Here's what I'm hoping...he'll access the port, nail it down, remove all saline to see how much there is, refill it and add 3cc more or something to that effect. My vanguard band holds a total of 10cc so far as I can fathom...there's only 4cc in it now - and - I have very little restriction. what's the deal? I have no new pre-op info and my surgery is May 14th. I'm hoping to get in as early as possible as I have to arrange transportation and babysitter for the day. I'm hoping to hear from Jennifer tomorrow as to what time I need to be there and hopefully that I can get through early - I need to do meds and cannot on an empty stomach as I presume nothing by mouth after midnight. Belana

Hi Shelley, Would you like to attend the Lap-Band nutrition class again? Jennifer can easily arrange that for you. Also, if you need to speak with Ann (nutritionist), I can have her call you. My *guess* is that, since your Lap-Band has healed in place (and it is only your port that we are re-stitching in place), you will have your normal diet. BUT that it just my non-medical guess. Call 407-303-4504 and ask to speak with Sharon, Dr. Kim's nurse. She'll find out so we can put all those fears to rest. I am not at work today, otherwise I'd check the schedule for you. Hang in there!! Take care, Kristen

As a suggestion, see if you can get some protein in your clear liquids .. Here's things I did: sugar-free popsicles, egg drop soup, chicken soup, broths, fat-free sugar-free jello, crystal light (freeze some to make italian-ices), v-8 diet splash, fruit juices, Isopure protein drinks, hot tea, cold tea, good coffee .. and water! we mixed the jello using the Isopure to increase the protein intake, mixed the Isopure with Crystal Light since the Isopure was kinda thick .. For me, protein really works to curb the hunger.. drink drink drink! Anyway to get your meds in liquid form? Or mix them in liquids? hang in there! it really does get better .. Lovin life at 70 pounds lighter now ...

Hang in there sara!!! It will get better I promise!!! But like the others have posted the more protein the better you will feel(not so hungry)...As for your depression maybe you could call and talk to your Dr....I was without my lexapro at first for about 2 weeks..I did do ok but I don't think my family would agree to that..Heheheee.....Just hang in there........Love sherry

your not ****** up.. you have all the normal feelings of a new post op... the first few weeks suck... she is right... the clear liquids are needed... try a liquid vitiman... centrum liquid isnt that bad... kristen had good advice... she normally does... you will be fine... keep ya head up... ! alexa

thank you all for your input. tonight i had a meltdown i had to just had to take my xanax or i felt like i was gonna go over the edge. I'm not a big fan of taking these as cleaning my medicine cabnit tonight proved lol. Most of you are saying protine the nurse said no protine shakes or drinks till the solid liquid stage week 3 and 4 . I'm going to call my primary care doctor in the am and talk about my meds. I need to get back on my effexor ASAP. I'm going NUTS. Not to mention to you lady's out their I had my cycle the week before i went in and i got it again 2 days after I had my band. So hormone overload. As far as the vitamins the nurse said i need to take the vitemens they prescribed period. I'm going to call again and see what she has to say. thank you all for your great advise. I don't know where I'd be without this board.

Hi Sara, Yes, all surgeon's have their preferred protocols post surgery, but sometimes we really need to be flexible to take the patient's mind, body and spirit into the proper perspective. Can you ask the nurse about protein bullets? You know the clear, 2.7 fluid ounce, 25-46 gram protein supplements. My sister-in-law had to go off Effexor and she felt so out of control. Please call your PCP. Everyone's hormones go kazoo after surgery. And every woman I have ever known who has gone through surgery (and capable of having their period) has had their flow in the hospital or very shortly therafter. Blame those pesky little hormones! As far as your vitamins go, you were banded so there's no malabsorption issue. Any liquid vitamin should be fine - but check with your surgeon. A medical professional would understand that a liquid vitamin in your Lap-Band case is better than no vitamins at all. It sounds like you are feeling better and that you have a plan of action. Hang in there and keep us posted. Take care, Kristen