soccermonster31

I am currently 3 weeks post op and I am having the HARDEST time not drinking while eating. I thought I might have a problem giving up the soda, but that has been a breeze. But I can not give up all liquid at meal time! I think it is mostly because that is when I would typically take in most of my liquids. I've never been very good at getting enough fluids throughout the day, so I would always make up for it at meal time. I will say that I have "gotten better." I am down to half a glass of water/tea with my meal instead of 2-3 glasses. Anyone have any tips/tricks they use?

I was banded on 10/26. So we should be on about the same schedule! I would love to be a buddy. Add me as a friend How have you been doing post op? What stage of foods are you on? I'm supposed to be doing mushies for a few more days, but have progressed to real food. I don't seem to have any problem chewing things to get them to go down. Just a hard time getting all my liquids in durring the day. Have you lost any weight post surgery? I really haven't, just a few pounds. I figured that's normal since I was moving off of pure liquids to solid food with very little exercise. But I'm really excited about this journey!

Thank you everyone for the helpful information! This is why I LOVE this site!!

Glad this was posted! I was trying to get certified the week before being banded. But the liquid diet hit me too hard and I just didn't think it would be safe to finish the class. So even though I won't be certified by the time we go to New Zealand at the end of the year, I still plan on finishing the course so I can dive with my husband in the future.

I was exactly the same way! But everyday got better. I had severe pain in my upper chest with burping after surgery. It went away around Day 8. I think it was still the Gas in me. Also, I lived on sugar free jello preop, but post op couldn't stand it! 3 days post op I also had an episode while drinking my soup broth, to the point I thought I was dying and had to call the surgeon. Haven't had a problem since though. From what I've heard, every day is different when it comes to food. The band has a mind of its own! I would say that at day 7 I really started to feel NORMAL again. I just had to keep telling myself that it will be worth it in the end. Also, I looked at all of the before and after pics on this site when I was having a particualrly rough day. That really helps!

This to shall pass. I had all the same feelings up to about a day ago and I am 9 days out of surgery. Everyday you should see things get a little better.

Great Start! I am a little over a week out and had my 1 week follow up this morning. My incision site looked good and I'm down 23 pounds! I also get to start full liquids, and am ready for this week to fly by so I can get my hands on some real food. Even if it is all mushie! I still feel like someone punched me in the stomach, but every day it gets better. I've finally gotten rid of all the gas pain, and just have a lingering cough that I can't wait to be gone!

Hey Stacie, I'm in STL as well, GO CARDS! I use unjury, and like everyone has said, buy the sample packets and try it out first. I like it better then some of the others I've tried, but everyone is different.

I'm 7 days post op and know how you feel! Yesterday I just tasted a tiny bit of potato salad and tiny piece of turkey lunch meat and that got me through the day. I wasn't really hungry, I just needed a "taste" of real food. But everyone is right, the diet put in place by the Doc is there for a reason, and you will be amazed how the time flies if you concentrate on your weight loss instead of food!

Congrats and good luck on your surgery! I have found this site to be a wonderful place for information and support

I was banded on Wednesday. Wow, what an experience. The day started off pretty bad for me. My veins like to "hide" so it took 3 people several tries and finally a ultrasound to get my IV in. Coming out of anesthesia I was in terrible pain, coughing and then threw up several times. It took them several minutes to get me to calm down. Once in my room, things got a little better. The pain meds made me pretty tired, but they had me up and walking about 6 hours after surgery. Walking around made me feel a little better. I did spend one night at the hospital, got very little sleep and was uncomfortable most of the time. I'm home now. I'm trying to not take much pain medicine. I am still sore and my bellly button where my single incision is. I also have been coughing up mucus regularly. I keep getting a sharp pain in my upper chest, almost like I need to burp. Oh and my stomach hasn't stopped growling at me, which hurts as well. So far it has been a rough couple of days. I just keep telling myself that it will be worth it in the long run.

I like the unjury shakes as well. Definately the best I had tried. I am just so ready for tomorrow and for week two when I get to start mushie food. I am sooo tired of liquids!

I am using the best surgeon in STL who also does the one incesion surgery. He required a $200 program fee at our first meeting. I told them I wasn't comfortable paying that until we had decided to go forward with surgery and I needed to know exactly what the $200 was for. They gave me a generic description that they use it for general office overhead, um hello, all dr offices have overhead. But I did agree to pay it once we set up a date for surgery and I knew is office would be working with me. But I was kind of shocked at the $200. No way would I pay $1000. Is your insurance covering you 100%? Some offices will take the program fee out of the final payment that you have to make. I would ask them! Also check around with other good surgeons in your area and use it as leverage if they charge less. These surgeon offices are usually pretty competitive for patients and may work with you. It never hurts to ask!

Ignore them! I'm on day 7 of my preop diet. All I could have was clear liquids, no protein shakes. And I lost 15 pounds and dropped a pant size! Tomorrow I will be banded and on my way to a healthier happier new me. And how I feel about myself matters way more then what any one person could say.

I'm excited and nervous too. I thought I had to do the 6 months of monitored weightloss and would have surgery in Feb of 2012. But a month ago (I was 2 months in) they called and said I didn't have to do the monitored weightloss. So I've had to rush prepare myself for tomorrow. I think that is what is making me the most nervous. I keep having to reassure myself that I am doing the right thing. Do you know about when you will be having surgery? If you have any questions about preop or need any kind of support just let me know I know I wouldn't have made it through this last week of Clear liquids without a good support system of personal friends and friends on this forum.

Hey Breeze I am in STL and getting banded tomorrow! I had similar issues as you at 27! So I know what you mean when you say you need to lose the weight to save your life! Which surgeon are you using?

Hope everything went well this morning! I go in tomorrow morning for my surgery.

I think you look great! Seeing your weightloss really inspires me, and encourages me that getting banded this week is the right thing to do. I think that you should do what you want to do! If you are being healthy and working out, then keep on losing! What ever makes you feel good Great job so far and thats for being an inspiration!