wildrose1966

In Ontario, Canada it is self pay, the government does not fund banding as it is considered cosmetic and reversible (I think it is all of Canada). So I would guess that it is up to the different surgeons as to who they are going to take and what their office guidelines are. I don't every recall seeing any rules for banding- all self pay.

I did clear liquids for 2 days, full liquids for 2 weeks and pureed/blenderized for 1 week and am now on soft foods, introducing ground meats, going from pureed meats to finely diced etc for the next 10 days then to maitenance. It sure is nice to chew.

Have you already done the full liquids, yogurt, Soup, pudding etc. I can't keep these phases straight, as my office didn't call it mushies. After the full liquids, I went to blenderized and pureed.........nothing to shake a stick at. Mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, chicken in a blender (consistancy of peanut butter) but I added a bit of cheese and gravy to moisten it and give it some flavor.

Yes totally normal. I even called my clinic around post op day 4, and they said don't worry about the protein and calories for the first week or so, just stay hydrated.

Can you tell I am getting closer to my maintenance eating plan - stage 4 tomorrow for 10 days, soft foods (add a banana, that is great), ground meats, crackers etc. I was wondering when it comes time that you can have a sandwich or a wrap do you just take a bit and chew, or do you cut up your sandwiches (burgers/wraps etc)........how do you eat them. (besides with your mouth and teeth for those smart a$$es out there ) I know crazy question, but I am sure others are wondering, as we are always told small portions and chew.

Believe me I am not going to try bread, but will try when appropriate, wraps, pita's toasted thins. thanks everyone.

If you google Optifast vlcd you can read more information online. It does suggest 3 optifast + 2 c veggies+ 2L of Water +1 tsp of oil per day.............for the intensive phase. After that phase you start adding food. Check with your dr.

What kind of optifast do you have. I would reconfirm with your dr..........

Pre op and immediatly post op you shouldn't be drinking caffine, make sure your tea and coffee are decafinated. Crystal Lite, Mio can be added to your water. Water with Lemon, water, water, water.

Every surgeon's instructions are different, just follow what your surgeon told you to do and you should be fine.

I had the optifast powder (optifast 900 it was called). 225 calories per serving. My instructions were 4 per day. Every dr does it differently.

You will know how you feel 3-4 days after surgery. I thought about packing a magic bullet but can't bring that with carry on. Optifast was my dr's pre surgery drink I had to do for 2 weeks. I couldn't find any other Protein drink I liked so stuck with that, it might only be available thru your surgeon. It comes with a shaker. I have not problems telling people I have had surgery and cannot lift and ask for help.

I was banded on Sept 17th and flew on Sept 24th and again on Oct 6th for work trips. I didn't have heavy luggage and as I am still in recovery, I brought optifast with me, ordered soups and cream of wheat and it wasn't a problem. I also have a pretty uneventful recovervy, no pain, no gas no issues. I still wouldn't lift a 40lb suitcase, but you can find something on any menu, or stock up at a grocery.

If you make your own soup, blenderize cottage cheese and add it to your soup, makes it a 'cream' soup and adds protein.

I was banded on Sept 17th and am so ready to get to the gym. My dr's office used the term 'pop a stitch' - that is enough to keep me walking for another 3 weeks!!!

I was told 900-1200.

Like the other have said, in overweight people the liver tends to be the most fatty organ and it is one of the most delicate, they have to move your liver to reach your stomach, so you want it in good shape. When you start losing weight, that where it apparantly comes off first.

I don't think there is a max amount to walk...........walk away!!!!

I was told 6 weeks before going back to the gym. Even though you probably feel good you are healing from the inside as well.

Yes totally normal. I am 3 weeks post op and still a bit bloated. Gas pains come and go, mostly if I have been sitting and still passing gas like mad.

I am 3 weeks out and am traveling for work this weekend. Nobody I am with knows of the surgery. I am on pureed and blenderized. Bfast, cream of wheat, was okay, lunch was fine. I have packed some Optifast so that is good. But dinner last night. Italian. My instructions do say that I can have thinned potatoes and Pasta. So..........I ended up ordering pumpkin ravioli. It was a purred pumpkin filled piece of heaven. However, I was really nervous about all that pasta, so I ended up cutting the edges off of every piece of ravioli just to get the middle part and the majority of the pumpkin filling, took pieces the size of my pinki nail and chewed like mad. In the end, I bet I had more ravioli edges left on my plate than what I ate (and I did feel too full afterwards...........bad move) and I am sure my coworkers felt like they were eating with a picky 5 yr old. Today is probaby and opti day as we are at a football game today and home tomorrow, thank goodness.

I was scheduled for my first fill before I had my surgery.............6 weeks post op. I would call them

Ever surgeon has different plans. I cannot have porridge (yes to cream of wheat) or Cereal or fresh fruit on week 3, everything I eat has to be blenderized or pureed. I have been eating lots of chicken, put in a blender, so it comes out like the consistancy of Peanut Butter but I add a bit of gravy from a jar to it to moisten it up and it is fine with some mashed potatoes. Everything has to be mushy (think baby food). Fruit has to be pureed. But that is my plan from my clinic, You should clarify with your dr's office.

That sounds right to be on fluids 2 weeks post op. What is your eating plan for week 3? All foods should be slowely introduced back into your diet, and you are still healing so you have to make choices that won't make your stomach work too hard. You should reconfirm this with your dr's office.

Every surgeon is different. I was given a big calendar, color coded so that I could track and follow for my food changes. Personally, after surgery I was on clear liquids day 1 and 2. Then full fluids (soups, yogurts, pudding, smoothings) for 2 weeks. I am now on pureed and blenderized for 7 days, followed by stage 2 of that, chopped, ground meats and adding a bunch more well cooked foods for 10 days. Then my maintenance plan for life.