newbie/ caution I'm very wordy
Hello All,
I'm new, congrats to all that hace achieved success and goodluck to those starting their journeys. I just had the Lap Band 12/1/06. I will not be going for a postop appt until 12/8/06. All I have to go by is a photocopied book and loose sheets of papers with some conflicting info. I stared this process over a year ago, but due to (cr****) insurance, I was denied several times. I sort of gave up, changed jobs & insurances, asked MD office to resubmit my info for the heck of it and got approved in less than 1 week. Surgery was scheduled soon after. So I litereally didn't have much time to relearn everything. I am almost 1 week postop and I think (sketchy scale) I lost 5 pounds. I started at 233lbs and now I read (?) 228lbs. My problem is I am always slightly nauseated, not fully sickened to really be on the road to throwing up but still there in the way back of my throat. I can not tolerate more than 4-6 0z of any protein drink. The taste is fine ( Glucerna chocolate goodness, 10 G protein, 220 calories, this was recommended by the hospital dietician due to lactose intolerance) I just doesn't feel like its food, it feels to much like junk and I can't choke them down. i've been living on sugar free jello, crystal light iced tea, sugar free popsickles and for past 2 days 1/4-1/2 cup cream of chix soup, 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes very smooth. I know this is not ideal but i'm stuck. I still feel hungry but it is completely managable, I can drink and put it at bay. But i'm never just not hungry, I'm still sore and gassy. I could use some advice. Also FYI i just found a protein water drink that I got at my local Stop & Shop called Kellog's Special K20 protein water (50 calories, carbs 8 G and protein 5G) tastes good comes in tropical blend, lemon, & kiwi strawberry. Is this any good? better sources of protein than this? Also while in hospital a CNA *****cently had the same surgery told me that if food ever gets stuck to chew Papaya enzyme it dissolves the ffod and pain within 1-3 mins. Ever hear about this? Take care everyone, next entry won't be nearly as wordy.
Hi there, Jane! I'm not a physician, but I was banded one day before you, and we're in about the same time frame with the band. First off, check out the nutrition guidelines for the band here:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/cmsID,8014/mode,content/a,cms/
It's a shame that your MD didn't give you more information, but since you know you are not fully informed, you have to take the initiative to research, research, reasearch about your procedure, now. So that is a link to the band manufacturer's diet instructions. Also, read the lap band forum -- there is an unbelievable wealth of information here. My advice: If you can, read everything nancy degenmeister and Sandy post, because they are really well informed. 
Frances is a great resource, as well.
So we're both at about the same place -- you just came off a week of clear liquids, right? I think that if you are still having nausea, you should probably take it easy physically on yourself, maybe get some more time resting, and stick to clear liquids until you have a full day of no nausea. Then start adding very thin (that you can get through a straw) liquids. The gassiness is normal -- I've been told by several people, including my general surgeon husband, that full liquid diets tend to give people gas, because the lactose is kind of hard on the system. It's normal. Get gasX strips, if you can. Those help, supposedly.
Soreness is normal, but it should be ending. I only have a twinge or two when I overdo. If you're still very sore, go relax for a few hours -- it sounds to me like you're doing too much.
Not being hungry is not abnormal. I was unbelievably stuffed the first few days after surgery, and had trouble getting my water in, but then it passed, and I got ravenous. (Lucky me.) A few really lucky people get good restriction after surgery, and don't need a fill to start losing weight. You could be one of those!
What you want to make sure you do is get a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day, and at least the minimum number of protein grams. It should be in your post-op instructions, but for most of us, the bottom of the range is somewhere around 60 grams.
What I did notice is that your protein sources don't seem to be adequate. Consider picking up some unflavored Unjury, if you don't have a sweet tooth (100 or so calories for 20 grams of protein, and it mixes with everything, and goes perfectly in broth), or some Hanks chocolate (20 or so grams of protein, 100 or so calories, tastes amazing) drink, if you do have a sweet tooth. Either way, the protein sources you are describing are kind of high on the calorie end, and low on the protein end. Try upgrading.
I hope some of that is helpful. To me it sounds like you are having a normal recovery, but that you could stand to spend a few days coddling yourself, resting, drinking clears and protein, and recovering, in order to get back to top form.
If you have any questions, definitely post. People much more informed than me will be happy to help you. There really is an amazing amount of info here.
best wishes,
Donna B
Frances is a great resource, as well.
So we're both at about the same place -- you just came off a week of clear liquids, right? I think that if you are still having nausea, you should probably take it easy physically on yourself, maybe get some more time resting, and stick to clear liquids until you have a full day of no nausea. Then start adding very thin (that you can get through a straw) liquids. The gassiness is normal -- I've been told by several people, including my general surgeon husband, that full liquid diets tend to give people gas, because the lactose is kind of hard on the system. It's normal. Get gasX strips, if you can. Those help, supposedly.
Soreness is normal, but it should be ending. I only have a twinge or two when I overdo. If you're still very sore, go relax for a few hours -- it sounds to me like you're doing too much.
Not being hungry is not abnormal. I was unbelievably stuffed the first few days after surgery, and had trouble getting my water in, but then it passed, and I got ravenous. (Lucky me.) A few really lucky people get good restriction after surgery, and don't need a fill to start losing weight. You could be one of those!
What you want to make sure you do is get a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day, and at least the minimum number of protein grams. It should be in your post-op instructions, but for most of us, the bottom of the range is somewhere around 60 grams.
What I did notice is that your protein sources don't seem to be adequate. Consider picking up some unflavored Unjury, if you don't have a sweet tooth (100 or so calories for 20 grams of protein, and it mixes with everything, and goes perfectly in broth), or some Hanks chocolate (20 or so grams of protein, 100 or so calories, tastes amazing) drink, if you do have a sweet tooth. Either way, the protein sources you are describing are kind of high on the calorie end, and low on the protein end. Try upgrading.
I hope some of that is helpful. To me it sounds like you are having a normal recovery, but that you could stand to spend a few days coddling yourself, resting, drinking clears and protein, and recovering, in order to get back to top form.
If you have any questions, definitely post. People much more informed than me will be happy to help you. There really is an amazing amount of info here.
best wishes,
Donna B Most Active
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