Kellysue

I as banded on 10/28 and am having a hard time drinking. Not that it's physically hard, but I am not thirsty. I don't think I realized how much I depended on food to make me thirsty and drink. Now that I am only eating soups and protein shakes, I can't drink much. I try to force myself, but it's so hard. I have it around all the time, but I don't think about it because I am not thirsty. I know thirst is when you are already dehydrated and that's not what I want, but I have always just depended on food to make me want to drink.

Nope they didn't do one until after they took the breathing tube out and I couldn't breath lol. That's where they saw the partial collaspe. I had, had a cold for a couple of weeks.

It went pretty well. I had some complications with my part of my left lung collapsing, but I take responsbility for it. I had a cough and I didn't tell them. I didn't want them to cancel the surgery. That was dumb. I am ok now, just recuperating trying not to eat solid foods

Did you get close? I would think if you lost some, they would see that you tried. I don't get the mandatory weight loss that some doctors require. I am not talking about the pre-op stuff, just the stuff to see if you will lose. If you could do it on your own, you wouldn't be getting lap band in the first place.

I know the pre op diet is hard, but they give it to you for a reason. You have to stick to it. It's horrible I know. But it will help you long term.

I was banded the same day. I tried walking, I tried gas strips and NOTHING helped. The only thing that helped me was bending over slightly in a hot shower and it helped me pass the gas. I still hurt though. It sucks.

What I don't get and hopefully I am not hijacking here, but people not losing when they are only eating below 1500 calories a day. Most banders that I have been reading about are eating around a 1000. How do they not lose weight? I don't know anyone's BMR that is at 1000 making them not lose weight. I don't get it.

I got my band. In all it was a very easy process. The only problem I am having is my left lung partially collapsed at the bottom due to a cough I had they said. Its very hard to breath so they are having me stay overnight to watch my oxygen. It's around 89 until I they have me take deep breaths. The surgery was a cake walk. It's my breathing that is really hard. They are concerned it could turn into pneumonia.

My breathing is getting better. Thanks for the prayers. I bet this surgery would have been a piece of cake had I not have the lung problems. I feel like I want to eat, but just clear liquids for me.

I know dumb question right? Well I thought I knew what they were until my nutritionist mentioned things like tea and jello in the list. I don't get what clear liquids are. She said I would be on it for 4 days. Does she mean anything liquid? I am ask for sure Friday after my surgery, but just curious now.

I am so aggravated right now and am scared my surgery is going to be cancelled. I emailed the program coordinator nurse 2 days ago and told her what a hard time I was having with the pre-op diet. I was throwing up, week and really feeling bad. I even posted on here. I told her I was having a hard time following the exact outline of the diet. Now by me saying exact, I mean't that I wasn't able to eat in the morning at all because I threw up and I was so sick from that, that I didn't eat lunch until closer to dinner and then I ate dinner. I haven't eaten anything (ok one thing) that was not on the list. I have followed the measurements. I have done it by the rules, I just can't do some of the foods like cottage cheese and eggs. They make me throw up. I can't eat them no matter what. I've always had an egg aversion. Oh and the one bad thing I did have was a tablespoon of Peanut Butter which is still low card btw, but it was the day that I couldn't keep anything down and I thought I was going to pass out. I measured it out and felt so much better for the rest of the day. I've tracked all my calories and stay at or below 800 and lost 10 lbs this week. So then the nutritionist sent me an email right before she left for the night today and said, "we are really concerned that you aren't following the pre-op diet" bla bla bla. seriously? I have done the absolute best I can and eaten everything on the list in the portions you said. I just haven't been able to eat Breakfast. What am I supposed to do? I've lost weight. No carbs, no sweets, low fat, no fruit NOTHING. I have stuck to her list!!!! Now I think they are going to cancel my surgery.

I am! I've read for weeks now that people get nervous before and I kept saying that I wouldn't be nervous. But here I am, terrified!! My biggest fear is my stupid liver! They keep telling me that my liver may not shrink enough and that they will sew me up and try again in two weeks. I don't think I could go through this again. Why are they scaring me!?

I am a very logical person so I don't know where all this freaking out is coming from!!!

I've lost 10 pounds so far, so I think I am doing it right. The dietician told me she's seen people lose weight and their liver still wasn't shrunk enough. I am not worired about anything other than the stupid liver!

What kinds have you tried? I got the unjury and that is supposed to be awesome. When I did really low carb several years back, I got some powder from Costco that was AMAZING. It was vanilla. Every morning after my work out I would mix that with some peanutbutter and a little heavy cream (it's lower in carbs) and some water. It was like dessert. I seriously thought it was better than any shake from any restaurant.

They told me I would be on a liquid diet for 4 days then soft foods like mashed potatoes, pudding etc...I love homemade greek yogurt, so that will be easy for me during the mushy stage, but no eggs for me. Just making them for my family this morning almost made me vomit.

I am on this stupid pre-op and I don't get it. It's basically low carb/low fat. Can I just do my own thing as long as I lose weight? I see lots of people doing just low card. Can't I just do that? I am not trying to be difficult, but it's hard with the VERY boring menu choices. I ended up making egg drop soup this morning for breakfast instead of the fruit and protein.

I am feeling a lot better now both physically and mentally. I've lost 11 pounds so far, so I must be doing good. I think I overate at dinner, but it was all allowed foods. I am just having a hard time with eating in the morning so I usually skip breakfast. I know I don't need to do that, but it makes me sick. I really think I was throwing up and nauseous from coming off sugar. I don't know how drug addicts do it.

OK I know this may be a dumb question, but I start my liver shrinking diet on Sunday and am so scared my liver won't shrink. My doctor said if he gets in there and it's not, he will sew me up and send me home! That's my biggest fear!

Fortunately she works on Saturdays and I asked her in my email to call me asap. I told her I felt like everything I've done wasn't worth a lot since they thought I wasn't following the plan. She apologized after what I told yall. She said I was doing good and to keep it up. I am still so scared that I'm not doing enough to make my liver shrink, but I am working the plan.

I am a BIG cooker (no pun intended.) I think I am going to get major bored with this pre-op diet. Any ideas to spice it up, but not add cards or fats? It's pretty strict, but I can add spices and such. I am also at a loss for Breakfast. I hate eggs so I don't know what do to.

I thought I knew everything I was getting into until I came to this site (no offense.) I didn't think that after surgery, having a band would be so much "work." What I mean by that is all the dieting. I don't get why anyone here ever got a band unless I don't understand. Most of what everyone says is they still watch what they eat, exercise, etc. Why get the band at all? Why not just diet like normal? What's the point of the band. I've been through my 6 months waiting with monthly visits to the physical therapist, nutritionist and program coordinator and they haven't prepared me for what I've read here. My surgery is in less than two weeks and now I am scared. I knew I would need to change my life, but honestly I just thought that mean't less eating. Isnt' that the point of the band? If the band doesn't help you from overeating, what's the purpose of this over just doing say Atkins or Weight Watchers? I know it's a tool. Maybe I am just freaking out. I think I was expecting to eat whatever I wanted (with exception of things that will get stuck) but just eating like a 1/4 of what I used to. My problem has always been overeating. I thought the band would help with that. I'm freaking out now.

I talked to the program coordinator and the nutritionist this morning. They both feel like I am freaking out because I feel so bad. That may be what it is. I definitely don't feel like myself and I can't even think straight. This pre-op diet is killing me. I know most of you really answered my questions. I think I'm just having a hard time reconcilng the difference between dieting on my own and with the band. I think I understand now what's going on. I feel much more prepared. I still have no idea what's going to happen. Everything is in theory now!

Do you learn to "work" the band after you have it? I feel like everything is in theory right now. This is all really great info. Thanks!

Thank you Shirley, this helps a lot. I am a major food addict, but I can't live like this anymore. I seriously just broke down in my kitchen. I know if I don't get this done, there is no hope for me to ever lose weight. I have two children that need to learn portion control from me. They are young now and won't remember how much mommy ate. I need the change now.