dave601

Red, I tell you that the preop diet is so important...maybe it will help you if I explained how I looked at the pre op diet. first off, I was on the diet for 22 days...nothing but Protein shakes...couldn't even have bars..i tried to stay busy took it one hour at a time. The outlook I had was that this was medically necessary for me to have a safe surgery. .in my mind, I wasn't going to do anything that would hinder the doc during surgery.. If something were to go wrong, it wasn't going to be my fault. I kept thinking and praying that I would keep my end of the bargain. It was hard no doubt...but so rewarding when the doc told my wife that because I was so strict and stuck to the diet that my liver shrunk and made the surgery a breeze for him. Not to mention that I lost 58 pounds during those 22 days! Granted I was very active...being a football coach and was doing spring training for two of those weeks...i was very weak alot...but kept thinking and praying I was gonna stay true to it. I hope this helps. Dave

Hello...this is my first post on this forum. I have done all prerequisites to the lap-band surgery and just started my liquid diet today. My surgery is scheduled for May 24. I weigh in at a staggering 618 lbs and my BMI is 75. There's not many people on this forum with these numbers and I was hoping for a little support as I'm kinda scared about the whole going under part of the surgery. I feel like I may be the biggest one on this forum, but I know if I don't do something, I won't live to see my children grow up--I have a beautiful almost 4 year old girl and a handsome 1 year old boy. My wife is extremely supportive of me, and I've been praying about this decision for a while--praying that I'm doing the right thing. Any words? Thanks in advance, Dave

Well, it's been a while since I posted, and my surgery is tomorrow May 24th @ 8:30. I am on the last day of my pre-op diet...it's been rough! Well, as I said before, I weighed 619 when I went in for my consult about a month ago. Because of the pre-op diet, I'm down to 561. I can't believe I dropped 58 lbs in 3 weeks!! Tomorrow morning is my surgery, so I would appreciate any of you saying a prayer for me. Thanks in advance! Dave I'll prolly post this on pre-op board too for the bigger exposure!!

Well, it's been a while since I posted (I've been posting on the weight specific boards), and my surgery is tomorrow May 24th @ 8:30. I am on the last day of my pre-op diet...it's been rough! Well, as I said before, I weighed 619 when I went in for my consult about a month ago. Because of the pre-op diet, I'm down to 561. I can't believe I dropped 58 lbs in 3 weeks!! Tomorrow morning is my surgery, so I would appreciate any of you saying a prayer for me. Thanks in advance! Dave

Rachel: yes, I'm feeling a lot better about the surgery, still nervous, but totally on board now, much thanks to DaveNW for all his posts. I'm on day six of the Protein shake marathon, and I'm just ready to put something hot in my mouth (no sexual implications there haha), but really I'm am really craving hot foods, no matter what it is!!!! Dave

Dave--thanks so much for taking the time to type all of that...it really means a lot that you'd do that. I guess a lot of it is trial and error, and I like what you said about you manage the lap band the band doesn't manage you. I guess alot of my concerns were that I would be a lifelong slave to the band and only be able to eat 4-8oz per meal--I was kinda looking at it like being in bondage, but your posts have been an inspiration to me. I'm on day 5 of the liquid preop diet, 17 more days until surgery..I'll go in for my chest xray, lab work, and ekg next week. It's crazy because I haven't been overly hungry during this preop diet--just crave to taste something good is what Im dealing with now. Thanks Dave

Thanks so much for the encouraging posts---it really is a day-to-day thing with me thinking this is the right thing to do or not. I guess it's normal to second guess myself; I know that this is the right thing to do. I prayed that God would give me peace about it, and that if it wasn't the right thing to do to close the door....well, every door is wide open. I'm just nervous I guess. I would really like to hear how you guys are eating every day, portions and such. Thanks, Dave

DaveNW--thanks so much for your words of encouragement. It's not really the fact that I think Im going to fail, it's just that it is such a change of lifestyle--which is exactly what I need....it's just our culture I guess---everything is about food..holidays, celebrations, etc. I just have to get a grasp on things...I told my wife tonight about my second thoughts and she broke down, and I know why she broke down, she wants me to be here with her and our family for a long time. I honestly don't know what to think--you said something about getting counseling--she said the same thing tonight--the fact is, I really don't buy into counseling; I know it works well for some, but with me...I undestand I have an addiction to food, and that I have to do something about it or I will die...it really is black and white with me...I guess just talking to people like you helps me so much you know..someone that's been there is there. DaveNW, if you could, could you describe how your recovery went, your timeline for Clear liquids, soft foods, solid foods, and basically a typical day for you know that things are rolling along for you? Thanks man, Dave

I'm really having second thoughts..I'm on day three of pre-op liquid diet, and it hasn't been that hard really. I thought I would be starving all the time. I'm just trying to grasp spending the rest of my life only being able to eat 4-8 oz of food in one setting...then vomitting, and if something gets stuck, my band slipping, not being able to drink with meals, not being able to gulp Water (which is bad, because I coach football and am constantly killing water)....just a lot of restrictions---I know what people will say and I say the same thing--the results are worth all of that--maybe I can do it without the band---I know what people will say and I say the same thing--it hasn't worked yet has it?? Just a lot of uncertainties right now...not feeling good about it Dave

Much appreciation to everyone's support and advice. I don't want people to think I'm naive about this situation; I've done extensive research, thought about it, prayed about it, talked about it, and have been perusing this site for a while now. I know the most important thing about the lap-band is that it's not a "fix all." I don't have the impression that once I get this surgery everything will be better; I know that this is an invaluable tool for me to use to get my life back from the addiction of overeating....it takes a total lifestyle change, but I do know that the lap-band will "force" me in the right direction. Really, this is my first major surgery and the first time that I will be "under." That is what really scares me...the anesthesia; I've been told by numerous people that it's like you are awake they tell you you're about to get sleepy, then the next thing you know is that you're waking up...just something about not being in control scares me...very anxious about that. Other questions I have are: How do you know if something is stuck...what's the feeling like? I've heard that some people have had their band slip...how do you know it slipped..what are the symptoms? Thanks so much--outside of my immediate family and boss, I haven't told anyone about the surgery...just like to keep things on the low, so this board even before my first post has been an asset to me and sure it will continue to be. Dave