Greekie17

South Beach has a recipe for pureed cauliflower that is supposed to taste like mashed potatoes. Don't believe it for a second! Worst tasting slop ever! However, it does LOOK LIKE mashed potatoes......yuck! Good luck!

Just checking in 4 days post-op. Wish I could say that I was feeling greAT but that would be a lie. I stopped the narcotic painkiller last night so maybe that is why. Today was pretty bad, although I am staying awake more and sleeping less. I still am existing on cream of chicken soup since I can't tolerate the protein shakes, so am worried about losing muscle during this period. Tomorrow I will call the surgeon's office for some tips on what to do. Have been plagued by diarrhea since early this a.m. which also is leaving me weak and restless. Each day is getting better than the day before, though, so that is a hopeful step. Good luck to everyone else getting banded in Feb. By next month we will all be old pros at this. Marianna

Hi Heather, I am 3 days post op (surgery was Feb. 8th) and am doing a bit better today. This was much more of an ordeal than I expected (OMG yes!). I am on full liquids for 2 weeks then 2 weeks of mushies. Have had very little appetite so far. The pain from the incisions and the gas really knocks your socks off! I am keeping a chart of all the meds and the times I take them. It is too easy to OD on the vicodin/acetominaphen elixir. I am down to one morning nap and one p.m. nap as of today. I have had a couple of 2 hour periods of time PAIN FREE where I have been feeling almost normal, but then the pain comes on fast! So it is all about listening to your body and doing what it needs! I am taking off work until next Thursday- and if I feel that's too soon, will also take off Thurs. and Friday. I just will see how it goes. Today I had a half cup of 98% fat free cream of chicken soup and it was delicious. For dinner I might have the same or perhaps some Greek yogurt. It's a waiting game!

First report after the big day! I have to say, this was a bigger ordeal than I expected. I am home from the hospital since yesterday afternoon; surgery was around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday. I couldn't sleep at all the night before the surgery. Normally, I never have any trouble, but one of my colleagues said, "You won't sleep a wink the night before...." which came true. The power of suggestion, I guess. I did stay overnight at the hospital and am very glad I did, due to the constant monitoring and dosing of pain meds, heparin shots, etc. The worst thing was feeling a need to use the restroom constantly while needing a nurse to unhook iv, oxygen, leg massager thingies, etc. Then not being able to go once reaching the rr. All in all, a terrible night! The pain was more than expected. My belly is all black and blue from the heparin shots, incisions, etc. I am walking around as much as I can.day; daughter and son in law coming over later. Do not refuse help! It is very comforting!I have needed to take the pain meds during the night, although it is better during the day. My son stayed with me all day yesterday.

B- minus 11 hours......Yes, folks, I have 11 hours until I have to be at the hospital for my surgery! I have to be at Palms of Pasadena Hospital on St Pete Beach/ Gulfport tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. I am 4th in line for the surgery. I am so nervous I don't know what to do with myself. I haven't had my last supper yet, but I will soon. Have packed my little bag and am almost ready to roll. It takes an hour to get to the hospital so my son Tommy is going to sleep over and drive me down there in the morning. Alarm is set for 5:00 a.m. Marianna Wish me luck everyone!!!!!!!! !

B- minus 11 hours......Yes, folks, I have 11 hours until I have to be at the hospital for my surgery! I have to be at Palms of Pasadena Hospital on St Pete Beach/ Gulfport tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. I am 4th in line for the surgery. I am so nervous I don't know what to do with myself. I haven't had my last supper yet, but I will soon. Have packed my little bag and am almost ready to roll. It takes an hour to get to the hospital so my son Tommy is going to sleep over and drive me down there in the morning. Alarm is set for 5:00 a.m. Marianna Wish me luck everyone!!!!!!!! !

Thanks, Holly Dolly and Bert! It is nice of you to lend your support! Holly, you look WONDERFUL in your pics. Maybe this time next year I'll be closer to that..... Marianna

I went for my pre-op weigh in today- I had to lose 4 lbs and I lost 12! So happy! I was on the 2 shakes/1 small protein & veggies meal but the shakes gave me (sorry, this is gross) diarrhea, so I only had 1 per day, and substituted an egg white omelet w 1 slice ff cheese, 2 c. lettuce & 1 TBSP fat free dressing. They told me today I could go back on 1200 cals./day up till surgery. That's next Wednesday, Feb. 8th. Of course I am not planning to put any weight back on. But, I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. Today I had 4 oz NY strip, 1 c whole wheat angel hair pasta w sauteed mushrooms. I feel full and GREAT! The surgeon said I could! Yay!!!!!!!!

I went for my pre-op weigh in today- I had to lose 4 lbs and I lost 12! So happy! I was on the 2 shakes/1 small protein & veggies meal but the shakes gave me (sorry, this is gross) diarrhea, so I only had 1 per day, and substituted an egg white omelet w 1 slice ff cheese, 2 c. lettuce & 1 TBSP fat free dressing. They told me today I could go back on 1200 cals./day up till surgery. I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. Today I had 4 oz NY strip, 1 c whole wheat angel hair pasta w sauteed mushrooms. I feel full and GREAT! The surgeon said I could! Yay!!!!!!!!

I am really glad to read this. I am on my pre-op diet. My band surgery is scheduled for next Wed., Feb. 8th. Today I was thinking about my favorite (totally bad for you) foods ---fried chicken and chocolate and also buffalo wings- and wondering if I would ever be able to have them again. I mean, never? But your post reassured me that in moderation and with portion control, some of these old favorites can be part of one's new, healthier eating plan.

Protein shakes aren't much better. Yuck!

Will, My lap band surgery manual has a line in it that looks like this: NO LAST SUPPER BEFORE SURGERY!!!! So you decide! lol

Is anyone having stomach troubles with the protein shakes? I can only stomach one per day and its giving me (sorry this is gross....) loose stools, almost diarrhea. My son says protein will go right through you....which is what is happening. What can I do? I am losing weight steadily but I don't like having this problem continuously. Any suggestions ?

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I am using the ones that the surgeon's office makes us use, called Suncoast Bariatrics. They are made of whey protein, 22 grams per shake, and 111 calories. You mix them with water pre-op. After the operation, you can mix them with skim or low fat milk. I will call them on Monday to see what they recommend.

I started the pre-op diet of 2 protein shakes and one small meal of protein and green veggies yester. I'll be on it for 2 weeks. Post-op it's 2 weeks of full liquids which include items like sugar-free pudding, strained creamy broths, yogurt etc. I can't remember if grits and oatmeal are in this stage....but I think so.

My 2 week () pre op diet started today and it's awful. Two protein shakes made with water (yuck!) and a sensible meal of 4 oz. chicken, turkey, or fish, with unlimited green vegetables (there is a list....they are all green, lol) It took me 4 hrs. to drink the first shake, it tasted so bad. So I went back to an egg-white omelette and 2 cups of lettuce for lunch, and the "sensible mean " for dinner. My lunch was actually fewer calories than the protein shake, so I figure it was ok. I'm already 2 lbs. below where I must be for the surgery to occur. Big day is Feb. 8th, BTW.

Surgeon said they ABSOLUTELY will not perform the surgery if I am not down to 218 lbs. on Feb. 2nd. I have to lose 4 lbs by Feb. 2nd - my final weigh-in. But will my fatty liver have shrunk enough with those 4 lbs? It doesn't seem like it will. I know I can do it because I am already down 5.2 lbs and start the pre-op diet next Wed. the 25th. So hopefully I will be even lower weight than that by the 2nd. My pre-op diet is super-strict and I'm not looking forward to it. Two protein shakes made with water (122 cals. each), and a small meal of 4 oz. chicken, turkey, or fish and green vegetables- nothing else! Two weeks of that and I hope I'm not too grouchy!

I start my pre-op diet on Wednesday, Jan. 25th and I have to be on for 2 weeks....not exactly looking forward to it. Mine will be 2 daily made with water protein shakes (122 cal each) and a small meal of 4 oz turkey, chicken or fish, and green vegetables. Nothing else!!!! I hope I am not too grouchy while on it. I have been following 1200 cals per day since Jan. 9th which is going fine. I have to be down to 218 lbs. my Feb. 2nd- my pre-op visit...I'm already down to 216.8 so I hope the starvation diet will help me go even beyond that. Today my daughter is taking me out to lunch at my favorite Greek restaurant for the last time, which will probably set me back a little but it's the last time for a very long time. Good luck to all of you!

I will be using Dr. Tiffany Jessee for my surgery Feb. 8th, 2012. The staff is competent, caring, and really know their stuff. They do charge a program fee of $1,000 for insurance patients (this fee is NOT covered by insurance nor can you use a HSA account to pay for it- the only drawback )

Thank you all for your advice. I had initially selected the Realize band when asked, and I think I'll stay with it. I just hope I achieve my weight loss goals!!!!! Someday......

Every insurance co. is different. The surgeon's office told me that's because they ultimately hope you will not be able to complete all the steps and therefore they won't have to pay for the surgery! Pretty cynical, but probably true! I went for my meet the surgeon appt. last Monday, Jan 9th, and got my surgery date at that time. They gave me a list of required last minute (w/in 30 days of surgery) items that had to be completed prior to my pre-op visit on Feb. 2nd. These included bloodwork, letter of medical necessity, ekg, chest xray, etc. Almost done with all that. Oh, and the most important- how much weight I must lose by 2-2-12 or they won't do the surgery! (4 lbs- I'm almost there).

Wow, that is encouraging! You guys are doing fabulously! It is scary thinking about the things that could go wrong- like food getting stuck, regurg/reflux, etc. But most of you seem to be doing well without all these problems, which makes me worry a little less.

I am dreading the pre-op diet which for me starts Jan. 25th. My doctor requires it to lessen the fatty liver that we obese people can have which makes the surgery more difficult (at least that's what I was told). The protein shakes are from the surgeon's office, they have only 122 cals. when made with water (which is what we have to do pre-op; post -op is with skim milk) x 2, then a small meal of 4 oz. chicken, turkey or fish, and green vegetables- nothing else. Yikes- that will be maybe 600 cals. daily. I'm on 1200 cals daily since Monday and that is going pretty well- I've dropped 3.9 lbs already. Today I brought all my junk food over to my daughter's house- cookies, candy, graham crackers, brownies, etc. Better to have no temptations. It's the first time I have ever done this.....hope I can stick it out!

I actually was thinking of taking a picture of the scale and I am only down a few pounds and 3 week pre-op! I have to get down to 218 by Feb. 2nd for my pre-op appointment, and I'm down to 218.1 today! So I am thrilled! I think I'll be somewhat lower than that especially after the 2 weeks of liquid protein shakes/one small meal regimen which starts on 1-25-12. Not looking forward to that! But, all these steps get me closer to my weight loss goals!

Good for you! I am still pre-op, but in my recent nutrition class they said to avoid all carbonated drinks post-op.