Banded_Kris

My weight started to slow down when I hit the mushy phase and picked back up once I got my first fill. For the mushy phase I drank alot of smoothies and ate a lot of chicken and tuna salad. Also I would eat refried beans mixed with cheese and light sour cream. I ate lasagna but chewed it really well before swallowing. Mixing fruit with your protein shakes is also a good idea. That way you get all of your protein in. Good luck.

I only had mild sleep apnea and I was approved. Though my BMI was over 40. Good luck!!

I have found that I can eat a tortilla if I put something on it, like cheese or salsa or something. Otherwise it gets stuck. I do not eat bread. I may have a tiny bite of a roll at a resturant but I can't eat the whole thing. I have found that I can eat one small piece of a thin crust pizza but if I over do it, it will get stuck. As far as the celery, I make chicken salad with it all the time. But cute into small pieces.

Good luck to you guys. I was banded on May 31st, 2011. I have to agree, the band was the best decision I ever made. I started my journey at 294 and I am down 60lbs in 3 1/2 months. I feel amazing and can't wait to meet my goal. I know that I am not the typical senario but I want you to know that the Lap band really truely works if you follow the rules. I also believe in having a blog of some sort. I recomment watching youtube videos. They are truely inspiring and really helped me through my journey thus far. Good luck to you both!!

I had never had any surgery or anything either. I was nervous about that too. But it was quick and easy. It's like I never even went to sleep. The anesthesia Dr. came into preop and gave me meds through my IV to relax me. I don't even remember going to the OR. I just remember waking up in the recovery area. It wasn't bad at all.

I also had to be on 2 weeks pre-op liquids followed by 2 weeks post op liquids. My Dr. had me drink the bariatric advantage shakes before surgery and then after I could drink which ever shakes I wanted. I found that the EAS brand shakes are not bad. You can get those from walmart or target. Both the premixed and the powder taste ok. I could also have clear liquids during my 4 week liquid diet. Stuff like sugar free jello, popsickes, broth. It was definately hard but you'll get use to it. It's all worth it in the end. Gool Luck to you guys!!

Some of the things I ate to change it up were different Soups, refried Beans mixed with ground beef cheese and light sour cream, chili, blended lasagna and spagetti, egg omelets. I hope this is helpful! Good luck!!

Donna, I am having he same problem. I was banded on May 31st and that has been my only problem since. The constipation that is. I have found Benefiber mix-ins for your water. It is a flavorless powder that you mix in any liquid. I mix it in my water with a crystal light mix-in and drink one a day. I find that it does help. Good luck!

I am 3 weeks post op as well and am on pureed food too. I've done pretty well I guess. I've been eating a lot of soups. Like broccoli cheese and potato. I have also been eating mashed potatos and baked potatos. To get in my protein I've been eating chili, refried beans with ground beef and cheese with a touch of light sour cream. Also Smoothie King has a smoothie called the Gladiator and it has 45g of protein in a small. It tastes really good and is only like 300 calories. I'm also eating alot of eggs and oatmeal. Trying to change it up so I don't get bored. Hope this is helpful! Good luck.

Sounds like alot of us had a similar experience. I had my surgery on May 31st and I had an unexpected hernia repair as well. The first week I was really sore. Had to keep taking my pain meds around the clock and that made it tolerable for me to get up and move around. I found that the more I did get up and move the better I felt. I too couldn't sleep for a few days. I found that sleeping on my back with pillows all around me really helped. I also held a pillow over my stomach for support. That was very helpful. It was real hard to get up and down out of bed and in chairs for about 3-5 days. The port area was very sore. I just had my 2 week follow up appointment this week and told them that my port area is still very tender. My dr. said that was normal because they had to sew the port into the muscle. Also because I had a hernia, he had to sew some mesh in there and he said that will cause it to be very sore as well. It's now 15 days post op and I feel like a human again. I do still notice the soreness from time to time but mostly it's because I over do it from time to time. Lifting and bending and such. As far as eating. I too couldn't eat very much for a few days. I lived on sugar free popsicles and Jello. And crystal light is a lot easier to get down than Water. I just had to eat and drink real slow. I also could drink my Protein shakes but it would take like 30 minutes to get 1/2 a cup down. Now I'm on softs and doing great. Good luck to you. It does get better I promise.

Dr. David Kim in Colleyville TX did mine. I did not know I had a hernia until surgery but when I came out he said I did and that he fixed it. He's AWESOME. He's done thousands of lapbands and gastric surgeries. He had even done famous people like Dallas Cowboy Nate Newton. I even know they work wity you on finances. Good luck to you!!