SElaine

Awesome, V.! Thanks for posting!

Rhonda, The liquid Protein diet I was on was a pre-op diet required by my surgeon prior to surgery. The goal is to get in a lot of protein and absolutely no sugar. During that two week period I was allowed to have: *Protein shakes made w/ Water or diet soy milk only (No slim-fast or anything like that; they have too many carbs. The best one I have found personally is unjury. You can buy on-line at unjury.com) *Water *Low sodium chicken, vegetable, or beef broth *sugar free popsicles *sugar free Jello That's it. I know it sounds really bad, and yes it was difficult. However, I found after a couple of days it became much easier. If I cheated and ate a tiny little bite of something then I just wanted to eat more so I quickly learned it's easier just to stick with the diet. I would check w/ your surgeon, though. Each surgeon tends to have different requirements.

Hi Rhonda, Welcome to LBT! I would get clarification. I don't know for sure about your particular insurance company but a lot of companies will require you to lose 10 percent of your EXCESS body weight. For example, if you are 100 pounds overweight you would need to lose 10 pounds. I think most of us have yo-yo dieted in the past. We get the weight off somehow, but end up putting it all back on. This scenario is a little different in that if you lose the weight and have surgery while you are at the insurance companies target goal, you will not gain the weight back and will continue to lose. I lost 15 pounds during my two week liquid Protein diet prior to surgery. There is no way I could have done that long term, but it got me to where I needed to be for surgery. Good luck to you!

You are so funny. Ok, let's gossipDr. DeBarros looked really good. He told me he was down 38 pounds, exactly the same amount I am down. (I was tempted to ask about his 7cc fill, but didn't.) Mike and I basically just went over the stuff that I missed on the post-op visit. Week four of the post-op diet. We talked about Protein intake, you know, fun stuff like that. I thanked him for helping me this last week with all of my issues Nope, didn't ask about Saturdays. Didn't even think of it at the time. At this point, I don't know when I will try another fill. It depends on how I feel and if the swelling goes down. Right now, I can't imagine ever getting one but I'm sure that will change. I'm leaving in about 10 days for vacation and will be gone two weeks, so at the earliest it will probably be about a month from now.

I think our bands hold 10cc.

Hey, V. I am so excited you got your laptop back! Yeah for you! Sorry to hear about the heartburn. That sucks. Hopefully, the prilosec will help. Does it come in a liquid or chewy form? I had cottage cheese for dinner. (Looks like we are on the same diet!) I measured half a cup. I nibbled on it for almost an hour and never finished all of it. I still feel a little tight (although no pain, thank goodness) and I don't want to overdo it. Since last week when all of my nonsense started, I have begun burping/hiccuping after every drink I take. Does anyone else get this? I asked Dr. DeBarros and he said that it is from being too tight and that it would go away. I have still had it very predictably all day. (It really makes me nervous I'm still too restricted.) Oh, forgot to mention I met with Mike today. I figured I paid for it and didn't see him last time so I might as well. He is always so helpful.

Hi guys! I thought I would stop by and give you an update. The past few days have been really rough for me. I started having extreme abdominal pain on Friday night that lasted through Saturday night. I almost went to the ER, but held out. At first I thought it might be the gas pains everyone talks about, but now I'm not sure. Luckily, most of that pain is gone. Ever since then, however, I have become more and more restricted every day. Since Satuday, I have had nothing but a liquid diet. I did call.... I was basically told the same thing as before.... I must have swelling that is causing me more restriction.... go on a liquid diet for a few days and the swelling should decrease. Yesterday I had a mini panic attack. When I woke up yesterday morning I couldn't get Water down. I called the office several times yesterday and had a difficult time getting answers or help. Here's how that went: I called the office at exactly 8:30 in the morning when they opened. I was told the computers were down and that somebody would call me back. I waited three hours and after nobody called me back, I called again. This time it took me several times to get through to anybody. Finally, I got the same receptionist (she's new.... I'll be gentle). She said "Oh, yeah. Didn't you call this morning?" Ummm, yup. And you said you were going to call me back! But, I didn't say anything. I told her my situation again. I told her I was having trouble getting water down and that I needed to come in for an unfill. She didn't know what that was. OK, no problem. I explained to her that I'm not able to drink water and that I needed to come in and have Fluid removed from my band. She said OK and looked up my record. Then she proceded to tell me that I already have an appt. set up for June 28. By this point, I was so frustrated I was in tears. I explained to her that I couldn't wait until next week that I was scared of becoming dehydrated. (For goodness sake, it's 111 outside!) She then proceeded to tell me that I can't have any fluid taken out because I haven't had a fill yet and I have to wait six weeks. What??? I explained about the AP band and already having a fill during surgery and she acted like I was stupid and crazy. I finally just mentioned to her that I had discussed some of this with Mike and she could clarify with him. She put me on hold and talked to Mike. (Apparently, both surgeons out of the office-- probably in surgery since it was a Tuesday morning.) She comes back to the phone and then says she will try to get a hold of a doctor and call me back. I waited all day. I was in tears and scared. I almost grabbed my kids and headed for the ER just to get an IV. I tried calling back several times and could never get anyone. I finally sent Mike an e-mail (a rather long, distraught one) and as soon as I did the receptionist called me back and made an appt. for first thing this morning. (Thank goodness for Mike. I have been able to count on him for everything.) Luckily, as the day went on my restriction started to subside and I was able to get some fluids in. I'm sure it wasn't enough, though. I had to take really really small sips or I couldn't get it down. It took me all day to get in 16 oz. of water and a few ounces of broth. I woke up this morning with the same restriction. I couldn't get more than a sip of water down. Luckily, I had my appt. The fill process (or unfill, in my case) wasn't bad. After you have your initial consultation in one of the numbered rooms they take you to the room with the ultrasound. The medical assistant ran the ultrasound to locate the port and marked it for the doctor. This did hurt a little bit; just the pressure of her pushing down on my port with the ultrasound. Then the shots. The needles were quite large in my opinion but the shots didn't hurt at all. Just think heparin shot or flu shot. The painful part was all of the pressure on the port. Dr. DeBarros (my favorite) had to grap the area with the port in one hand and inject with the other. Just having someone grap my port is what hurt the most. Then they had me sit up and drink water to make sure it was going down. I drank about 1/2 bottle of water and it went down fine. I had 2cc's in my band and he took half of it out. I now have 1cc. I immediately felt better. I even felt hungry! I sure hope this works and that I don't swell up even more. I just need this to go away. I had 1/2 cup of yogurt for lunch and got it down. Yeah! Anyway, I'm sticking to liquids and mushies for a couple of days and if I feel OK I will try solids again. Wish me luck. When I weighed in today I was down 38 pounds from where I started. I have lost about 12 pounds in the last week. I know that is not good or healthy. They told me I could expect to gain a few of those back as I begin eating again. Sorry for the long post, but thanks for the support.

Hey, guys! I'm here. Karen-- good luck w/ your diet. You are doing great. Just hang in there and think of the future and you will get through it. Laralynn-- Hi! Another zonie! Awesome! What part of town do you live in? We went to the yahoo banders lunch a couple of weeks ago. It was on a Saturday and it rotates every month, the second Saturday, I think. Anyway, not a single yahoo person showed up. It was just us on this board anyway, so I think we decided we should just have our own group and make the times when we want them. When is the best time for everyone?

Hi Lisa, Welcome to LBT! You should check with your surgeon and/or your nutiritonist to find out what your requirements are. The pre-op diet requirements vary from surgeon to surgeon and even from person to person. I had a liquid only, high Protein diet for two weeks prior to surgery. Basically I could have Protein shakes, low sodium broth, and Water. That was about it. I do think a lot of people are on similar diets, however, I have also read about people being on high protein, low carb diets, people who had to do liquids only for 24 hours prior to surgery, and those who had no pre-op requirement at all. Good luck!!!!!

Wow, that's really interesting. I hadn't heard many people on the May forum talk about the AP band. It's good to know I'm not alone. Now I am really interested to find out how much of a fill I have.

Yes, yes, yes! Of course you can join! It's great to know somebody else has the small AP band. I was shocked to find out I also had a slight fill during surgery. Welcome!

Oh, Michelle, you are NOT alone. I was banded May 21. My doctor gave a pretty lenient post-op diet from what I have read. First week liquid, second week puree's, third week soft foods, and back to regular diet gradually the 4th week. (21 days post op) Everything was fine week 1, 2, and 3. The first two days of week 4 on solid food was great. I could eat just about anything. Then on the third day of regular diet, I was eating some tuna and mayo (1/2 c. measured) and a few minutes later I had this awful, awful pain in my chest and I could tell that something had happened or that I ate too much. I walked around and the pain lastest several hours, but thankfully subsided. But, every time I tried to eat "real" food after that, I got the same horrible stabbing pain. I have yet to PB or vomit, thank goodness, but I couldn't imagine taking another bite. A few days later I had the worst abdominal pain I have ever experienced in my life. It was on my left side under my rib cage. Of course, it was Friday night through Saturday morning and I was home with the kids. I almost woke everyone up to go to the ER. Luckily, the pain started to subside by Saturday. It has been 6 days and I still can't eat solid food. I spoke with the doctor on the phone. He said that what most likely happenend was that I had eaten too much and/or the wrong thing when I started solid food and that it irritated the band and probably caused a lot of swelling as well. (My doc also said it did not sound like a slippage.) So, he gave me the option of waiting a few days and going back on liquids to see if the swelling goes down (like after a fill) or come in for an unfill. (Explanation: I have the new AP band that hasn't been introduced widestream in the US yet. I found out during this conversation w/ my doctor that the new band has the ability to be filled during surgery and that I already had a slight fill.) So far, I'm waiting it out because I am no longer in pain. But, I am scared to death to try something "solid". For the most part, I have been on liquids, but I did try some mashed potatoes and gravy yesterday for Father's Day and that went down OK and today I had 1/2 jar of babyfood. I think if I don't feel better by Wednesday morning I will go in for that unfill until I am back to normal. Please, keep me posted on your progress.

7thAngel, Lol. I agree. This whole process could certainly be a lesson in patience.

Hi 7thAngel, Welcome to the club! I was banded four weeks ago by Dr. DeBarros at the WLIAZ in Tempe. I live in Gilbert. There is a sight under U.S. LapBand support for those of us in AZ to provide local support for one another, so please be sure to stop by from time to time. It would be great to have another member in our small little group. I think we are planning on having a get-together once a month to meet up for friendship and support. Good luck and be sure to update us with your date. Shauna

I was banded on 5-21-07. I have been lucky enough thus far to not have experienced the "gas pains" everyone has refered to. Since yesterday morning, I have had a stabbing pain under my left rib cage. It's awful. It hurts to breathe. When I take a deep breath, the pain shoots all over and I also have a dull achy sensation in my back. Does anyone know what this could be? Is this gas pain? Would it show up almost 4 weeks post-op with no prior symptoms? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Erica, It's encouraging news to hear your hubby is doing better. Yeah! OK, here's my daily update: I felt much better yesterday. I still felt a lot of restriction, but no pain. I could eat solid food again if I ate really slowly and chewed well. I measured everything I ate to be sure not to eat too much and I was full after 1/2 cup. I'm sure this restriction will go away, though, as my swelling does. But, it's a nice taste of what's to come. On another note, I went to the park yesterday afternoon with hubby and the kids. This is nothing new; we do it several times a week. Anyway, the usual plan goes something like this: Waddle over to the park and sit down on the bench in the shade and watch the kids play. So, yesterday we go the park and took the soccer ball with us. When we got home I realized I had actually been running around and kicking the soccer ball for nearly an hour. Wow. What a good feeling. Now I'm even more encouraged. If 27 pounds feels this good, how good will 27 more feel? I was down another pound this morning for a total of 28 lost.

Update: I feel a little better this morning, not so much pain, but still a lot of restriction. I talked to Mike, who talked to Dr. DeBarros. He said that moving on to solid food probably caused some swelling. He said with the new AP band that we have, they have the ability to fill during surgery and so I do have a fill already! Did anyone know this? I didn't! Anyway, he said I could come in to get an immediate unfill or wait a couple of days and see if the swelling goes down. Since I can still drink OK and I'm able to get nutrition in, I think I'm going to wait and hope some of the swelling goes down on it's own. Yikes!

Hey all! I have had a rough couple of days. It started on Sunday. I did chores around the house most of the day and overdid it. I was in a lot of pain Sunday evening into Monday. Yesterday something funny happened to me after lunch. I got this awful, painful, tight feeling in my chest and I thought I had eaten too much. Maybe I did. Who knows. Anyway, the pain lasted for three to four hours and luckily subsided. But, when dinner time came around there was no way I could get down solid food. So, Protein drink for dinner. This morning, same thing. One bite of oatmeal (which I've had almost every morning for the last two weeks) and I just knew it wouldn't go down. So, another shake for Breakfast. For lunch I had a boiled egg chopped up really fine w/ mayo. (Back to mushies). It took me 45 minutes to eat my one egg, but it went down. But, I could tell I had to be careful. Anyway, it feels like I have this restriction that I didn't have before. Isn't that odd? I can't figure out what it is or why. Has anyone else experienced this? I wonder if I did something wrong. If anyone has heard of anything similar, please comment. On that, I will stop complaining. The good news: I gained 1.5 pounds in the last few days since starting back to a regular diet. Today, I was down 1.5 again so I'm back to where I was at my low. Now, if I can just maintain, I'll be happy. I had a great time meeting w/ Virginia and Jaye on Saturday. I like Virginia's idea of starting our own support group. I think I could use all the help I can get. Is Jaye going to join us on this sight? Take care, all.

Hi soulsis, I think it is normal for the port incision to be significantly larger than the other incisions. 4 inches does seem like a large incision, but if your doctors don't seem concerned, I wouldn't be. They probably just needed the extra room and I'm sure some if it also depends on what type of port you have. I have an AP band and small profile port. My port incision is about 2.5 inches long and my other incisions are about a half an inch to an inch. But since you brought it up, it would be interesting to hear about the port incision size of others. Shauna

Hey DBAGuy! Congratulations and welcome to LBT! I was also banded on 5-21-07. We are bandmates!

Hey LilMonkey, Thanks for the update. I hope he is getting better and on the road to recovery.

Virginia, Thanks for the recomendation. I need to get that book! SheSheGirl, Welcome! It's great to talk to others in the same boat.

Hi Jen, Welcome to LBT! I think you will find a lot of help and support here. I have. To answer your questions: No, you won't have to give up your favorites. Once you have recovered from the surgery and have proper restriction, you should be able to eat normally. The difference is, you will be eating much less than you did before and will be feeling full, so you won't want to eat. The only exception to this I have found is carbonated beverages. While I have read some people will still drink them, I have been told to cut them out completely. Right after surgery you will go through the process of allowing your stomach to heal from surgery and will most likely be instructed to re-introduce foods slowly. Most people go on a liquid only diet for a period of time, then on to pureed foods, soft foods and eventually your regular diet. Depending on your surgeons requirements, this can take anywhere from 1-8 weeks, but I think on average it is usually about 4-6. It's not as bad as it sounds. Right after surgery your stomach will be swollen. You will be instructed (most likely) to sip very small amounts throughout the day. You will not be hungry. My appetite and desire to eat came back around 2 weeks after surgery. Everybody is different, though. Nothing "bad" will happen if you drink with your meal, but your band will not work as efficiently. The idea is to keep your stomach full. The easiest and most productive way to do this is with solid food because it takes the longest to break down and stays in your new pouch the longest. When you drink while eating or soon after eating, you are washing the food down with your beverage. It defeats the purpose of having the band. (Why go through the trouble of having surgery if it's not going to work? Know what I mean?) I hope this helps. If you think of any more questions, please post them. Also, there is a thread for people being banded in June. I would consider finding that thread and getting involved. You will find a lot of people with the same questions, fears, etc. that are going to be going through this with you at the same time. It's a great support. You will also hear the stories of those that just got banded, so you will know better what to expect. Good luck to you!

I have the small AP band. I think-- but am not positive-- that it is a 10cc band. Have a good night. Drive home safely.

What? He's cheating already? 7cc? What the.....? He told me we may never need fills with our new AP bands. Goober. Yes, I knew Becky was his wife. She's cute, isn't she? Their two boys are the same ages as mine. Your new scale sounds cool! What does it say as far as calories? That would be interesting to see. You are so close to one-der-land. I can't believe it. I havn't seen the 100's since I was 21 years old. I still have a LONG way to go, if I ever get there. Goodness, if I got to 200 I'd be thrilled! I'm off to find an evening snack. You know what's yummy? Put a scoop of SF ice-cream or frozen yogurt in with your Protein mix and it makes a really yummy thick shake you can eat with a spoon! Just 80 extra calories plus a little extra Calcium and protein. Anyway, that's how I justify it.