Raven5683

The Last Straw(s): Having a physical and having my Labs come back poorly. My PCP told me I was "Pre-Diabetic" and my Cholesterol was High - and I was only 33! I had no energy and always made excuses to sleep the weekend away. I felt Horrible my in-laws could keep up with my 6 & 9 year old boys and I couldn't!!!!!!!(this past mother's day I out hiked my 6 year old! He was begging to go back to the car and I was still truckin' with No Problems! - this felt Awesome!:clap2:) Hate the "fat clothes"I could go on and on but I think that highlights the reasons...

You're Welcome! And Best Wishes with which ever way you choose to go! Don't over think it...just do it. You'll realize the hard work you've put in, it will come to you what you need to do. Remember it's just a TOOL! I know people keep saying that but it's the Truth!

Christel, Have you had a sleep study? You should have one done...if you happen to qualify for Cpap (sleeping breathing machine due to sleep apnia), then you would qualify because that would be your 2nd comorbidity...The second option would be to have all your labs done and see where you stand. Maybe your PCP would put you on a second med (if needed) to help get you qualified. Good luck Hang in there!

Do the liquid diet... I was required to do the liquid diet for two weeks prior to surgery and lost about 18 lbs. I was told by the nutrionist to take in at least 64g of protein a day to stay healthy. I did three shakes a day with GNC brand (they have like 25g of protein per serving). And then did cream based soups (I strained the the cream soups and stuck to complete liquids) or fat free pudding or jello for snacks inbetween. Nutrionist stated anything that turns to liquid at body temp, is considered a liquid. Good luck!

I can't help you with the second question...I've had mine since March 07. BUT...I've completely changed my way of eating! I'm to nervous to try anything "doughy". I won't try bread, donuts, cake...I don't want to get it stuck. I've read to many horrible "stuck" stories I just don't want to go there. My thoughts are, my stomach is Very small...I need to fill it with good things first. I make sure I get the protein I need first before adding any types of carbs. I'm watching the weight melt away...I've gone through all this hard work and I'm loosing weight I'm not going to do anything to compromose it! I have however changed my ways of thinking...I watch how people around me eat, and find it very disturbing! I have tried to change the way my family eats because I don't want my children to end up like ME! It really is a mind set and you have to be determined. If you are questioning yourself or concerned you will comprimise the band, you may want to consider the RNY as you Can NOT have sugar due to DUMPING syndrome.

I was told not to lift anything more than 15-20 lbs for 6 weeks. The concern is pulling the wounds apart in the beginning and then causing hernias to the wounds. You really DON'T want these complications! Contact your doctor and ask them. In the meantime I would plan now to have help with your son. Good Luck!

Thank you! But the 74 lbs has been since my highest weight last summer...I've lost 31 lbs since surgery in March. I had to loose a required 10 lbs pre surgery before I could even meet with the surgeon (I lost around 25lbs). Then the two week liquid diet pre surgery I lost around 16 lbs. I had to do the two week diet to help shrink the liver as well...The surgeon said if I didn't loose enough that could postpone the surgery! I stuck to it! I'm just explaining because I didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea...I don't know that a 74 lbs loss is possible in 10 weeks of being banded... But I feel I'm doing good just the same.:girl_hug:

I was required to go on a TWO WEEK LIQUID DIET! It was horrible. A normal size stomach with only liquids. I was ready to gnaw my arm off by the end of the first week! Then I had to contiunue the Liquid diet for another two weeks after surgery!!!!!!!!!!!! It was hell!!! BUT ALL WORTH IT!!!!!!

Nashua Nutrition - Hot Soups Check out this website...they have all types of high protein items but namely the soups are increased in protein, including chicken bouillon, beef bouillon, tomatoe soup, beef veggie, cream of broccoli, or mushroom, pea these all have at least 15gr of protein...Hope this helps! I totally feel your pain!! I was sooooo sick of Sweet flavors!

I got mine the day before surgery. I was in NO way canceling surgery over something like that...I mentioned it to the nurse and got to wear those lovely fish-net panties. Make sure you bring your own pad. They will NOT let you wear a tampon into surgery. And the hospital pads are those Huge diapers they give you after you give birth!!! ( I was happy I brought my own). After surgery...you're on pain meds...so it's not a problem to take care of business. Don't worry about it!!! Surgery is way more important!

I've found it easier to do mini goals...I'm shooting to get under 200lbs (6 lbs to go as of this a.m.). After I reach that goal I'll pick another mini goal. Ultimately I'm happy loosing weight! (My ticker reflects the higher end of the Healthy BMI). I'm going to go with what feels comfortable in the end, if I'm able to keep loosing to the ideal BMI great! But I'm just Really excited about being below the 200 mark for the first time in years!!!

The peanut butter is WAY to thick...there is still a lot of swelling and healing going on. You don't want the stomach to be digesting things churning and moving around right now while healing, this is why they are strick with the "liquid diet". Not to mention Peanut butter is HIGH in FAT... You may have partially clogged your opening. I would go to strickly LIQUIDs ( I couldn't even handle cream of wheat the first two weeks after surgery) and possibly try some warm liquids such as decaf Tea, warm broth. This will help relax things as well as disolve any peanut butter that may be left in there. Good luck. If you are not better in a day or two you may want to fess up to your doc!

First it's an incentive spirometer - this device is used after chest or abdomenal surgery. You are more likely to take short, shallow breaths. This device encourages you to take a deep breath and blow it out completely expanding and contracting the lungs... breathing exercise. Second the liquid diet is much easier than you would think. The important thing is getting in the required 60+ grams of protein daily and you should do just fine. You can do it with three protein shakes a day and a couple of drinks inbetween for snacks. You should receive breaks at work and you can do this all during your assigned breaks. As long as you get in enough protein you will have the energy to keep going. The reason: to hopefully loose some weight, and possibly decrease the size of some of your organs such as the stomach and liver. The liver sits right over the end of the esophagus right were the doc needs to work. Hope this helps!

Congrats! on your decision. What is important is that YOU are comfortable with your choice. People tend to be negative when they are uninformed and it is natural to be worried about the ones we care about especially when it comes to surgery. Make sure they are well informed, (and mention the fact that it's reversible - that usually quiets them right down). Everyone around me seem to be very supportive but then the last week to few days before surgery people started acting funny asking if I was sure about this. My mom even asked if I could be checked for different diseases such as crohn's because apparently she read about it in Readers Digest and people with Crohns have a difficult time loosing weight. She said she'd hate to see me go through this surgery and then not be able to loose weight. Well being an LPN I informed her that I was sure (without being tested) that I did NOT have any of the symptoms of Crohns. It's just because they are scared and worried about us. Don't let this person get you down! You know the decision you made is what you want and you need to focus on you right now. Tell them not to worry, because you're not and things are going to be Great! Best wishes!

Hi there, have your tried to measure your body. A lot of time people don't see it on the scale but can see or feel it in inches around the body. Whether it be by measuring or how your clothes feel... It's not uncommon to have this happen where you do Not see the numbers budge on the scale. Keep up the good work, plently of water and exercise. Not to mention it can take a while for you and your doc to get your thyroid under control. Stick with it, it's just a speed bump on your way to success!

1. Was your procedure outpatient or did you stay overnight? One over night stay - precaution I was one of the doctors first three lapband surgeries that day (he had been doing gastric bypass for years) 2. Did you have complications related to surgery? No Complications 3. What you were given for at home pain? How many days did you take it? Liquid Roxicet I took my last dose Sunday night, I was banded on a Thursday 4. Pain after surgery for how many days? 2-3 days to me there is a difference between pain and feeling sore. I felt sore. Luckily No gass pain! 5. Degree of pain...10 being your arm was cut off and 1 being a paper cut? Between a 2-4 depending on the day 6. Doctor and state where surgery was done? Dr. David Gould, Manchester, New Hampshire

I was told NO aerobic exercise and no lifting more than 20 lbs for the first 6 weeks after surgery. They were concerned about the twisting and bending motion (anything that puts strain on the abdomen). I was given the ok to walk. I've been walking several times a day on my treadmill and I noticed if I go to fast and start to "jiggle" then my port bothers me too. I just slow it down. You don't want to compromise the healing because it can Twist or the sutures could come undone and that would mean minor surgery to repair it back into place. Take it easy and don't over do it remember you are still Healing. The port is stitched in between the "fat" layer and your abdominal muscle wall. Ultimately it is going to be the scar tissue that holds it into place more so than the sutures. Hope this helps!

I've found a great source of Protein that works well...it's Quinoa. Quinoa, pronounced keen-wah, is not a true Cereal grain, but rather the botanical fruit of an herb plant. It is treated as a grain in cooking. The grains are small yellow flattened spheres, approximately 1.5 to 2 mm in diameter. Basic Cooking Instructions: Because some of the bitter saponin covering on the grain can still be present even though most quinoa is washed before being sold, you should thoroughly rinse the dry grain until the Water runs clear. Combine 1/2 cup quinoa with 1 cup water and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender. Quinoa salad Recipe 1 cup water 1 cup apple juice 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1 cup quinoa, well rinsed and drained 2 large red apples, diced (for those having problems with apples dry cooling them down first to soften.) 1 cup chopped celery (peel strings) 1/2 cup dried cranberries (such as Craisins) 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt Place water, apple juice, cinnamon and rinsed quinoa in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until all of the liquid is absorbed, approximately 15 minutes. Cool, transfer quinoa to a large mixing bowl and refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour. Add apples, celery, dried cranberries and walnuts to quinoa. Mix well. Fold in yogurt. Serve immediately. Serves 8. Per serving: 253 calories, 7 g fat, 2 mg cholesterol, 45 g carbohydrate, 4 g Fiber, 6 g protein, 2% Vitamin A, 6% Vitamin C, 9% Calcium, 15% Iron I'm planning to adjust the above one for a Breakfast idea...I'll probably avoid the celery and walnuts for now and maybe add peaches. I cooked it using chicken broth, and made a cold salad with it. I added cooked diced carrots, peeled diced tomatoes, chopped mushrooms, avocados, and peas. I tossed with a fat free creamy salad dressing (ranch, caesar, plain yogurt mixed with dill...what ever flavor you like). Very Yummy!:hungry: If you can tolerate oatmeal I think you should be ok with Quinoa. It's packed with Protein and other great stuff!

The Pre Op Diet is for multiple reasons...one is to get you ready for the upcoming adventure that you will be taking...smaller portions, small slow sips, that sort of thing. It also helps you to loose some weight, the idea is really to clean things out on the inside, maybe reduce some organs sizes that sort of thing. It helps to shrink back the stomach some and maybe even the liver as it sits right in the way. I would not worry terribly about it. As others have said there are docs out there that don't even require the Pre Op diet. I would start it ASAP and stick with it. It's going to help you get use to the future and maybe even shrink back the stomach a wee bit. Best Wishes!:clap2:

I just wanted to share...I'm 10 days post op (4/8/07) and still on Full Liquids. :hungry: We stopped to get something to eat and I thought I'd try ordering soup. I figured at worse I could sip out the broth. Well we went to T.G.I.FRIDAY'S. I ordered the French Onion soup and asked if they could blend it up for me and they happily did! It was Delicious!!! And I was able to eat with the Family!:clap2: I tolerated the soup well and lunch was a success!

I was checking out the lists where they sent you, and the one thing I did NOT see on there was PEPCID. Talk to your doctor about Pepcid, because it HELPED incredibly for me!

FYI: Goldfish are a Baked (usually cheese) flavored snack cracker in the shape of a little fish... http://www.pepperidgefarm.com/fun_snacks_goldfish.asp Make sure you are taking in your 10-12 cups of Water a day, commonly people mistake dehydration with hunger...Also High Protein foods are going to keep you satisfied longer. Another good idea is the Protein Water drinks such as Special K2O. I'm almost two weeks out (still on full liquids) and have felt hungry a couple times but not to bad. I need to keep up with my water and I'm making sure to get in my 60+grams of protein and I feel I'm doing well. I had to do the full liquid diet for two weeks pre op and lost 16 lbs. And since the procedure I've lost 18 lbs to date...

As for the whole energy thing... Make sure you get in the correct amount of PROTEIN in every day. This is very important or you have no energy feel lightheaded and woozy...I know this because the first few days after surgery I wasn't able to get in enough protein because the particular protein powder drinks I went with were way to THICK for ME. I've found a match for me and I feel like a new person.

I had the same problem. I was banded on 3/29. I lasted for about five days when finally I spoke to the surgical nurse regarding PEPCID. All my paperwork given to me suggested I take PEPCID and it WAS given to me in the Hospital. I inquired about it with the discharge doc, but he unfortunately was NOT well informed and said if I wasn't taking it before the surgery then not to worry about it. But then I got it straightened out and got on the PEPCID and that discomfort in the chest/esophagus went away and I feel GREAT!:clap2:

The 3M sticker is safe to take off. It is just one of the leads for the monitors. It's super sticky so beware. But go ahead and remove it. They forgot one on my side, the aid found it when helping me change in the hospital. Hope this helps