slauren14

I would think she should be fine! I was up walking just a couple of hours after surgery! My doctor keeps all of his patients over night, but the day after I got out of the hospital I went "out to eat" with my family (I ate 2 oz of soup) and did fine! I was a little tired, so I went home and rested. But by the fourth day or so I was out and about and feeling great! If all she is doing is going to sit through a few classes, I think it will be fine! Just tell her to take it slow and try not to lift a lot (I know all those books get heavy!). But good luck to your daughter! Hope everything goes well! And just let her know it will all be worth it!

Hi all fellow Lap Banders! Hope everyone is doing well! I have a question for you! My family is taking a beach vacation next week... Just wondering if anyone knows how long post op should you wait before getting in the ocean? It will be a little over a month since my surgery when we go... I just don't want to get an infection, but then again I REALLY want to be able to get in the water!! Thanks for your help!

Guilty as well.... I weigh myself at least once a day (usually two or three times). I had my surgery three weeks ago and I'm suppose to just now be introducing solid foods, but I'm eating pretty much everything. Nothing has given me any problems (so far) and I feel like I am eating WAY to much!!! I know I'm not eating as much as I use to, but I thought lap band patients weren't suppose to be able to eat much, and I am! I never really FEEL hungry, but I never feel full either. Yesterday I ate a whole grilled cheese sandwich. And I know I shouldn't have ate the whole thing, but I actually felt full (and a little uncomfortable) but it still didn't make me sick or anything. Since surgery I have lost about 15 lbs and I am happy with that, but since I started eating "normal food" I haven't lost anything. I'm just feeling a little discouraged because I am able to eat so much.... I don't know. I go on July 22nd for my first fill. I guess I will just wait and see!!!

I did And I ate a bit of "not so healthy" foods too. My pre op diet ran through Easter, so my surgeon told me I could eat a "small" meal for Easter... Needless to say that "small meal" turned into like three "small meals". I also ate a couple of tortillas during that time (don't know why I chose that.... just happened). After my surgery my doc told me that my liver was perfect and I still lost about 5 lbs! So it worked out for me.. I wouldn't recommend cheating TOO much, but I don't think a nibble or two will kill you Good luck!

Ok... glad I'm not the only one! Haha! I just got banded yesterday morning, and yesterday I was fine. I thought I had lucked out on the gas pains, but it all hit me this morning!!! I've had gas ALL day.... and I've had family coming by all day to check on me and it was about to get pretty embarrassing! I'm just glad to know it wasn't just my body being weird or something.

I just had my surgery yesterday, so I know I'm definitely not an expert yet But so far, I haven't been hungry at all. I've been thirsty, so Water and the Protein liquid (and an occasional sugar-free popscicle) have been plenty for me. BUT I did have to do a full two week pre-op all liquid diet that consisted of Protein shakes, sugar-free Jello and broth. It was miserable.... to me anyway. It wasn't so much that I was HUNGRY, I think it was mainly psychological. Knowing that you are fully capable of eating but not being able to because of a diet it hard, but it is doable. Trust me, if I could make it through it anyone can! I have read others on here who say that they had no problems with the pre-op diet and several people didn't even have to do one! So it really depends on you... everyone is different. Like I said, I am only on day two post-op, but I have already lost 5 lbs in a day and a half. I'm sore as crap, but I'm SO glad I did this! Don't let a few weeks out of your whole life determine whether or not to have the surgery. Yes it will probably suck, but just think of the benefits of being banded and losing weight will give you! Good luck on your decision!

Hi guys! I was just banded yesterday morning and so far I'm feeling fairly good. I've been "sipping" on a little Protein drink which tastes pretty good (fruit punch flavored) but it leaves a pretty bad aftertaste. I just don't know how much protein I'm actually getting or how much I need to be getting right now. I'm only able to drink about 2-4 tbsp. every hour, is this good enough? I tried sipping on some chicken broth yesterday... it just didn't taste right to me though. I haven't felt like really "eating" anything so far... When did you guys get some of your appetite back? I did eat about a half of an orange sugar-free popscicle yesterday and that was pretty good My throat has been very sore from where they put that tube down it, so I feel like I could just chug a glass of Water (bad idea, I know). When will I be able to drink "normally" again? (I know it will always have to be small sips, just wondering when I won't have to watch my volume so strictly) Thanks for your answers and good luck to all fellow "banders"

Newest band member! Just had my band surgery this morning (May 3rd). I won't lie, it hurts. My stomach is really sore.... BUT they have been really good about giving me pain medicine when I ask and so far it has really been helping! When I arrived at the hospital (6am), the ladies at the check in were really nice and funny and really worked hard to put my jitters at ease. I only waited about ten minutes until they took me upstairs to the pre-op room. There my vitals were taken (blood pressure, pulse, blood sugar) and I gave a urine sample. After that, I changed into my WONDERFUL hospital gown (Haha!).Then, I spoke to the nurse that would be with me in the operating room. She also put my IV in. I don't really have many good veins, nurses always complain, so the nurse put the IV in on the underside of my right wrist. Needless to say, this wasn't going to work for me. I couldn't move my wrist at all and it was really sore, so I asked them to move it. After two other tries, they finally got a good IV started on the top of my right hand. I also got a blood thinner shot in my stomach and massaging cuffs on both lower calves (which feels really good, by the way!) My surgery was originally scheduled for 7:30 that morning, but due to some backup it was pushed back to 8:30. I said my "final goodbyes" to both my parents and my husband and at 8:15 I was set to go!!! When I got in the operating room, my nerves were definitely getting the better of me... I had about four people around me trying to make me as comfortable as possible. After receiving a tiny bit of anesthesia, the nurses began "tucking me in" by putting warm towels under my legs, arms, neck and back. By this time, I was completely relaxed and ready to go! The rest of the anesthesia was put into my IV and then it was lights out. My surgery lasted about 45 min. I woke up in the recovery room and to be honest, this was the worse part I hadn't received any pain meds or nausea meds yet and I was definitely hurting. The first thing I said was I was hurting and feeling nauseous. But they gave me plenty of meds right away! It took a few minutes for them to kick in, but when they did I was fairly comfortable. There, a different nurse retook all of my vitals (my blood sugar was 210! I am type II diabetic, but my sugar never gets that high, so this kind of worried me. But the nurse said it was fine and that they would recheck it in a little while). I eventually dozed back off to sleep and eventually was taken up to my room where my family was waiting on me Since being in my room, I have had nurses in and out about every 15-30 minutes. Everyone so far has been REALLY nice and understanding. They have been checking my blood pressure, heart rate and sugar (which went down to 102) and have been checking my IV fluids. So far I have been brought two meal trays with a cup of broth, a bowl of Jell-O, a bottle of Water with Crystal Light mix and a cup of water with Proti 15 (Protein powder) mixed in. So far, however, I have only been able to have about 2 oz. of liquid (the Proti 15) every hour. My throat is sore from the tube that was put down my throat, so it is pretty sore and I am THIRSTY! Haha! They told me that I will soon be able to drink a bit more though. Luckily, I am not at all hungry. I was a bit worried about this, but so far it hasn't been a problem. I did eat about 1/3 of a sugar free orange popsicle (which to me was the best thing EVER!!!) and hopefully will be getting another one pretty soon! Overall, my time as a Lap-Band patient so far has been very positive! I am already glad I went through with this surgery. I feel like I am in really good hands and I know that all the soreness and pain will be worth it very soon! So, my message is good luck to anyone about to embark in this journey! Yes, it will be a bit painful, like any surgery. But it is all worth it! Just stay strong and power through it!!!

Hello "band twin" Let me be the first to tell you you absolutely lucked out on not having a pre-op liquid diet! Because it is HORRIBLE! Haha! THEY (my nurses) told me that the point of doing a liquid diet was to shrink the liver (and the layer of fat around other organs). I'm not completely sure what the point of that is, but I figure they have a medical degree so I guess I will just go with it! (Personally I think its just to watch people suffer...) I have read where several people haven't had to do a pre-op diet, some only have to do like two days, some have to do liquids but they also get to have like one meal/day and I read where someone had to do like a whole month of solid liquids! ! ! (I wouldn't make it that long...) So I guess its just the doctor's preference.. I'm sure your doc knows what he/she's doing! I am also on anti-depressants (among several other things). They told me not to take any of my medications the morning of my surgery... But I'm taking mine to the hospital with me. So maybe take them with you and ask if you can take them when you wake up? Because I'm pretty sure the nurses won't want people crying all over them (I know I will be if I skip! Hehe!) As far as after surgery with the post-op diet, you should be able to take your pills normally. I was told I could take any medicines as long as they are smaller than an M&M. If they are bigger than that I am suppose to talk to the doc that prescribed them and see if there are any alternatives. This wasn't a problem for me though. I DID have to find a chewable multi-vitamin though, I went with Centrum chewables... You are definitely not alone on the nervous department though! I haven't been able to sleep at night from being nervous! I just keep telling myself that I am doing it to help ME! So that I will feel better, have better health and be happier So it IS worth it! Just TRY not to worry about it... I'm sure everything will turn out fine! And remember you are in good hands with your surgeons, they've done all of this before! But good luck! And best wishes!

Can you eat anything as long as you stay under 800 calories/day? All I can have on mine is two Optifast shakes, Jell-O and Water I'm suppose to drink this other stuff too, but it was GROSS!!!! But I have definitely struggled.... I think the pre-op diets are unrealistic too. BUT its only two weeks out of your whole life! Just stick with it, it sucks, but it will be over soon and you will be skinny! (That's what I keep telling myself)