tracy226

Im 3.5 weeks post op and not allowed real food yet. Still doing shakes and bullets along with soup, superskim milk, eggs, the soft stuff. Cant wait till next week for another phase!

Im not sure how much after week one but at 3.5 weeks Ive lost 23 pounds. :thumbup:

From what I understand we are not soposed to get caught up in numbers but I am. Not so much numbers but watching that scale drop keeps me focused so I guess its different for everybody. Do what works for you!!

I know it hasnt been very long for me yet but I was banded 3.5 weeks ago, I havent had a fill yet of course and I have yet to fill hunger. Im doing great! Ive lost 23 pounds. At first I guess I had restriction from the swelling from the surgery but Im still not getting hungry going on 4 weeks. In fact I have a hard time getting my 64 oz's of fluid and 70 grams of protein in. By the time I eat what Im soposed to in order to stay healthy (protein and water) I have a hard time eating anything else. The water fills me up and the protein is very filling too. I am doing the unjury shakes with super skim milk and cream soups (tomato and cream of chicken) with the milk all of which have protein. I also drink the bullets to get my protein. I have the sugar free pudding, fudge cycles, pop cycles or jello and I eat apple sauce and bananas (baby food stage 1) for my snacks. Notice I said OR you cant eat slider foods all day long and lose weight. Ive now moved on to cream of wheat, oatmill, soft cooked veggies ect. But as some of you pointed out the band is just a tool and research explains that. Even with bypass, you may lose it fast, (along with malabsorbtion and hanging skin) food may make you sick right now, but if you slowly eat more and more, eat like you do now, you will streach your stomach back out and regain the weight. No matter what weight loss method we choose we have to change our eating habits! So far I love my band!!

I was banded on 9-21-09 and Im doing great so far. I was on a full liquid diet for 2 weeks. I had my protein shakes made with super skim milk, protein bullets, water, flavored water, jello, baby food stage 1 (bananas and apple sauce only for me =))), sugar free jello, pudding, pop cycles and fudge cycles and cream soups made with super skim milk. I never got hungry or tired of the choices. I never had a problem getting my protein in. Now today I get to add phase 3 to that. I do have a question though. They tell you to drink/sip 2-4 oz at a time but what about eating? Like now I can start eating cream of wheat, oatmill, grits, over cooked veggies, soups with veggies, eggs, blenderized meats (not me) ect. Are we soposed to keep the food intake to 2- 4 oz's at a time as well? OR where its soft enough or liquid enough to go on through do we just make sure we dont over eat....I didnt really think about it. Dont know if I should measure or just stop when satisfied.

Was anyone soposed to wear the surgical support hose after surgery? And did you? My release papers had instructions on them for me to wear the support hose for two weeks after surgery. I will have had my surgery 2 weeks ago this coming Monday. These hose are killing me. I am so ready to trash them!

I guess I can survive for 2 more days...

I was also banded on 9-21-09 and I havent felt the first hunger pain. I didn't do too good with the 2 week pre-surgery diet. I only lost 7 lbs but total I have lost 16 pounds. I was only on the phase 1 "clear liquids" the day of surgery. Day two My Dr moves to phase 2 "full liquids. I am soposed to get 64 ozs of fluids per day and 70 grams of protein. I friend told me about protein bullets and I love being able to get my protein in with 3 or 4 drinks! They are only 2.9 oz. I also do the unjury with superskim milk which get 29 grams protein together and I also drink water. I eat Sugar free pudding sometimes. Baby food bananas and applesauce. Sugarfree jello, popcycles and fudgecycles. I eat (drink) cream of tomato soup and cream of chicken soup both made with superskim milk which gives me like 21.5 oz of fluids and 16-17 grams of protein and are very filling. Protein fills you up and seems to stick with you. Im not having a hunger problem at all! I WOULD like to go to our fav restruant and eat mexican tho =) I move to phase 3, soft foods, monday and I cant wait for something new top eat!

Hi!!! I did the same thing. April 07 I was schedualed to have surgery and I called the night before telling them I would not be there. I just didn't feel good about it. Today.. same surgeon, same hospital I am banded. It will be 2 weeks Monday and I am so glad I did! Good Luck!

Hi everyone!! I dont know if anyone remembers me or not. I was here 2 years ago, had a lot of doubts and was scared. Backed out of surgery the night before. Here I am now banded one week and so far loving it. Thinking where would I be today if I had just went thru with it the first time. I just Pray that I have no complications because just one week out, still on full liquids and I love my band!!!

Hey everyone! Just got my band 9-21-09. So here I am in September =)) Doing great so far!! Just checking everything out around here and getting to know the site again.

I was banded on 9-21-09. Had to be at the hospital at 6:30 am and was home by about 2:30 pm and I live 2 hours from the hospital. It was pretty uneventful. They gave me my lovely gown to wear, the anesthesiologist, nurse, and dr took turns talking to me, took my vitals, started my iv, gave me the lovenox shot in my belly, and rolled me into the OR. I remember the mask and someone saying goodnight lol. Next thing I knew it was over and I was sucking ice chips and sipping water. I did have something for pain and nausea which both put me back to sleep. I walked, went to the bathroom, given instructions and let go. I am reading where a lot of people had to drink the barium. I did not have to do this! Is everyone soposed to do this? Kind of concerns me that I didn't!! Anyway, slept all the way home, the rest of the day and night LOL All of those meds just knocked me out. Ive never taken anything for pain since I left the hospital. Surgery day was just that, so I had some pain. Tuesday and Wednesday were not bad but uncomfortable and I had to be easy. Ive had the gas. Thursday and Friday were much better. Saturday I took a 3 hour trip to visit my daughter in college, went to the mall, checked in the motel, walked forever to a very crowded college ballgame and then back to the car when it was over. By Saturday I had no pain what so ever! I have restriction because I am having trouble getting my 64 oz of fluids in daily and Im not hungry at all. Have not had one hunger pain since surgery. Not craving anything because I feel full all of the time. I Pray I have no problems with my band because so far I love it!!!

Thanks for that tip, your right and I just measured everything!

Im back after two years. Two years ago I backed out of lap band surgery the night before my operation. I decided I would do it on my own. Well needless to say it didn't happen. I have just went through the entire process again and Im just waiting on my insurance approval. I am very excited but scared too. My biggest thing, same as before, am I making the right decision? Everytime I know without a doubt that the lap band is for me, someone comes along and tells me why the bypass is so much better and tells me horror stories of band problems that WILL happen because they ALWAYS do. Help!!

No, its ok, your not harsh and I need straight out facts anyway. Its not that I dont want to have surgery, I need to get to get this weight off!!! I want to get it off. I only need to lose between 100--115 lbs but Im only 5' tall so for me thats way too heavy. Im on bp meds and I now have asthma, my mothers a diabetic so Im trying to avoid that. My hospital is a center of excellance and the Drs have done A LOT of surgeries so Ive done my research there and Ive researched the different procedures for so long that I feel like an expert (a couple of years before I backed out in 07) and Im still researching. Due to slower weight loss and working out to try and not have as much loose skin, less risk involved, less side effects, no malabsorbtion I choose the lapband. My Dr. performs both and is not pushing me to have bypass but because carbs are my problem and can still be eaten with the band he thinks bypass is the answer for 'my' success but will do whatever I want. I know people who have had both and they all think their choice was the "right" one. I think my thing is I hear SO MUCH about band slippage and problems. Its like does anyone not have problems?? Im on asprine and hear the slipage can cause bleeding? I have to travel 2 hrs to get to a hospital that could help. I am willing to do what it takes and work at it but some people, even on here, make it sound like a constant problem. Im so glad you are happy with yours!!

My surgery is Monday, I have not done well on my pre op diet at all and I'm getting very scared. Wondering if I'm doing the right thing and considering canceling. :think

I'm schedualed for tomorrow too. VERY nervous

Thanks for sharing! Thats my thoughts too, the reason I need the band is because I have no will power to stick to a diet. I was just majorly concerned about the surgery since I didn't stick to the diet so its great to hear from people who didn't do the pre op!

My surgery is tomorrow and I have failed my pre op diet :think

Congradulations to all your successes, I love hearing your stories, and thank you for all of your support!!!! Please keep em coming lol I have one more day to get through. After reading off and on all day (ive been very busy LOL) I'm not feeling too bad or scared about the pre op diet now and I'm feeling much better about the surgery. Ive been back and forth with my decision. One day Im ready to go and the next Im freaking out! I have a history of health problems most of which started when I turned 38 and it makes me a big worry wart (scaredy cat) I want this weight off # 1 for health reasons!!! I obviousley can't do it on my own as much as I'd like to or I would have during the last 13 years. My baby just turned 14 yrs old and I was never able to lose after my last child. I need this tool to help me. I know theres health risk with being over weight, which Im trying to get rid of my high BP and avoid diabetes and other things, but the surgery scares me too. I think Im back on track! This place is wonderful! I love all of the people and stories and support! I have to wonder why some people are in terrible pain and others are ready to go back to work on day 2??? What is the average down time? Its scary after reading some things I feel like Ill be in the bed in pain for a week or two

I think my 2 biggest concerns are # 1 the fact that i haven't followed the pre op diet. I havent binged or gained weight or anything, just haven't been able to follow and # 2 health/complications ect

Thanks guys so much for your replies!! Keep the prayers coming and any thoughts you may have! Everything helps! My son is leaving for the beach so I'll be back on in a bit.

I'm loving and hating this thread. My Dr requires a high protein, cut out the carbs and sugars pre op diet. But I have completely failed. Theres a lot of different sories and arguments here..... I have NOT eaten from daylight to dark because Im getting ready to have surgery, nor have I gained weight, I just haven't been able to stick with it at all. It has me VERY concerned!! I've told the Drs office and they said just do the best you can. I'm not so worried about the post op diet because the bands there and I want NO problems.

I wonder why some people have the gas pains and some don't. I've read about people being in pain from 1 week to a few weeks and some people go home the same day and have NO pain or problems!? What could be making the difference?

well here it is a few days before my surgery and im still not doing good with the pre op thing :cry Its like mvr said, if I could stick to a diet I wouldn't need surgery. Between knowing that its time to diet, time for surgery and certain foods will be taken off of the menu, and the kids and BUSY life style, and no restriction to keep down hunger, I haven't stuck to it at all! I'm not soposed to be on a liquid diet, just low carbs and sugars, lots of protiens, just the lose and shrink liver thing. I called and talked to them to make sure I wouldn't have to reschedual and they said no but said I was going to have to stick with it and from here on out...that was wednesday....am I going to be able to do this? Makes me wonder about having the surgery :cry