make33

Four ounces is 1/2 a cup, which is about where we should be for an entire meal (between 1/4 cup and 3/4 cup). You should have your Protein first and then the rest of veggies or whatever. I can only do 1/4 cup oatmeal for Breakfast, 1/4 cup tuna for lunch, and then maybe 1/2 - 3/4 cup for dinner. I've had one fill and am headed for my second one on the 21st. Good luck to you...

I too think you should have been a writer--what a hoot!! BUT I must tell you that we ALL went through it (maybe not the same time as the monthly though, m'dear!) and came out unscathed. You and your diet coke must part the ways with no ifs ands or buts. Carbonation bad; flat drinks good. As was said, please hang tough... PS I was lucky enough to have my 18 day preop diet cut by 8 days when an opening came up--keep your fingers crossed!!!

Donna, first go to the Home page and decide which category your question fits into (Preop/Postop or General or Support) and click into that category. Then at the top left you will see a button for "New Thread" and that's all there is to it!

Dr. Alexander Barkan UPMC Horizon Greenville, Pa. 16125

Girl, you need protein-----and fast!! Get yourself a Slim Fast Lo Carb shake or an Atkins shake! Post-op while on liquids for the first week, I made sure I got at least 40 grams of protein a day. Once you are on soft food, you can begin to shoot for 60 grams (easy with 2 shakes a day). You CAN also buy whey protein isolate powder and mix the shakes up yourself (which taste better)--and they even taste good mixed with water! (Beware of whey protein concentrate, which must be blended in liquids and contains lactose as a filler). Just get your protein in NOW!

The girls in my office who were so dead set against me having surgery, ("You just didn't find the right diet for your metabolism!") were very supportive when I returned to work and I love them for it. However, now they have turned into the food police ("You CAN'T have pizza"!)--so this too will have to pass!! Friends I saw over Thanksgiving gave me "the look" and said so seriously, "How ARE you????" I have no clue what they expected me to say....How about "I feel more fantastic than I have in forty years!!!" Sometimes it just takes time for everyone to see the results, realize you DIDN'T die and AREN'T dying, and seeing that this wonderful tool helps us with our portion control!

What I would suggest is that you contact a Bariatric Center near you that specializes in Lap Band surgery. The first step is to attend a seminar where every one of your 1000 questions will be answered--by a professional--including the cost factor. I even suggest that you take your mother to this seminar--that way she can be totally 'in the know' about your potential future. Without the surgery, we all know what we face in the way of health issues: diabetes, heart disease, and kidney failure are just a few.

You're so right, Kristen! And I forgot to tell you, khoffman, to consider that you will need some extra time to adjust to the dietary restrictions and in getting to understand your new limitations. I'm rather anal, so I wrote down my entire daily eating / drinking schedule and had it on the refrigerator as a reminder for about four weeks! :rolleyes

My sister-in-law thought she was getting a "healthy" burger at Ruby Tuesdays by ordering the turkey burger--what a hoot! Wish they printed them on the menu for people--and they wonder WHY we are an obese society! :rolleyes

Bandster, you make me howl!!!!!!

You are the VOICE of REASON on these threads!! I always read your input on subject matter and find you to be quite intelligent and insightful! So it is with the utmost respect that I say "the heartiest of congratulations to you". I KNOW with the regimen you keep that future weight loss is a given! Congrats again... :clap2:

There's only one person I ever read in these threads who said (bragged) he went back to work the next day--I have always maintained he was a boss!! ("Doris, bring me my coffee and newspaper..." ) At six days I was getting dressed for the first time and having my staples removed--some docs use steri-strips, which are probably less painful. I have a great employer, with full pay for up to two months, so I took almost three weeks--but I would say at two weeks I could have easily gone back to my desk job. Good luck in your travels...

I'm pretty sure the abdominal cramping you experienced was simply internal gas from the surgery. Some of us experience it as a pain in the left shoulder area. Didn't they send you home with liquid pain medication? My liquid pain meds were so strong I immediately began cutting them in half and after two days gave them up altogether. It DOES get better, believe me--at two weeks and one day it was like someone drew a line in the sand I felt so terrific! (And at five weeks and one day I totally forgot I had surgery!!). Hang in there...

I see people on here talk about "10cc" bands and "4cc" bands--perhaps you have a 10cc band? When I had my first fill on November 16, all he put in was 1/2 cc and I feel pretty restricted (but I've never tested my restriction!). If it was me, I'd call the doctor and discuss your concerns, and perhaps schedule another fill.

Well, how about some refried Beans with shredded cheddar heated in the microwave--yummy! I also was allowed egg salad, tuna salad, and mashed potatoes. Sorry, thems the best I can come up with! :hungry:

Mine was almost the same as yours, Squishee: I had liquids for 1 1/2 weeks, and then soft foods for four weeks (which I advanced into gradually) and then when I had my first fill at 5 1/2 weeks, I began advancing gradually into solids. The "advancing slowly" is what really helped me make the adjustments. Even now I prefer softer foods to true solids.

In the seven months leading up to my surgery, I read every article I could lay my hands on about Lap Banding and my future life. Here's what I found that Womens Health (on the web) says: "Lap-Band patients are advised to consumer fifty to sixty grams of Protein daily to avoid protein deficiency. Protein deficiency causes hair loss, fatigue, edema, muscle weakness, and a delay in wound healing. A lack of adequate protein may also lead to depression, anxiety, irritability, apathy, and other mental health conditions, as well as cause a number of physical health issues from gallstones to colds, headaches, low blood pressure, anemia, irregular heart rates and in extreme cases, death." I took this article very seriously (I never listened in Health class, but thought now might be a good time to begin learning...)

Slim Fast Optima has way too many carbs, but Slim Fast does put out a Lo Carb with about 5g carb, and doesn't taste too bad--for a canned shake! I use whey Protein isolate only, which is purer than the whey protein concentrate (which uses lactose as a filler). It's on the unjury website mentioned and also I find it at Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, books, DVDs & more with free shipping! (In the drug stores, the containers never say WPI (isolate) or WPC, so I just assume they are the concentrate). I order them so I'm sure. I just love the chocolate malt and the belgian chocolate flavors and best of all, they taste even better in Water than they do milk! (Less carbs and fat)

Mine is an absolute minimum of 60 grams and I always shoot for at least 80 grams. It's not too tough with a Protein shake in the morning and one in the evening (at 20 grams+ for each)--plus if you buy unflavored protein, you can add it to foods like instant pudding or Jello. Plus the Welcome to the unjury Homepage website has a chicken broth flavor protein which isn't too bad. I only use whey protein isolate which is purer than the whey protein concentrate, which uses lactose as a filler and I'm lactose intolerant :nervous which I find at the above website and at Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, books, DVDs & more (with free shipping!) The consequences of insufficient protein intake (especially for the rest of our lives) are just not worth it!

All the "hoops" we have to go through are nothing when you think of the quality of life we're gaining!! It took me seven months too, but the time really did fly (March to October) and luckily you have all the holidays to help the time whiz by. Best of luck to you Brandy~

Cool, you slay me!!!!

Yep, John, I too had no "bowel prep" (but I do KNOW what you're talking about). The only thing I can think is that I was on a liquid diet for two weeks ahead of time--maybe those doctors that don't require that have to require what you had to go through?? Firebolt--the very best to you in your travels in Lap Band Land...

It's amazing to me--I always hated white meat (chicken and turkey) but I now find the dark meat stringy and hard to break down into miniscule pieces for the stoma. The white meat now is just so much easier to dissolve. Jacqui is right about nuts, beans, milk, and dairy products becoming a part of daily existence. (And I haven't tried beef yet, because I've never been a big beef eater--I'm just one week on solids myself). I do make sure I get two protein shakes / supplements in each day--because 60-80 grams of protein a day is hard to get in from the amount of food we can eat. (I'm still 1/2 - 3/4 cup for each meal...) :scared:

I had to do the six-month nutritionist thing, and began telling everyone about my upcoming surgery. I ended up being sorry that I did because of some of the responses I got--from coworkers who didn't want me to have it to family and friends who thought I should try yet another diet to people who felt I was "cheating" and "taking the easy way out". This is absolutely the most wonderful thing I have ever done for myself! :scared:

Hey Eclipse--you know what, tomorrow will come and the time will just FLY BY! Before you know it you'll be home and recuperating,--then suddenly it'll be time for your first fill, especially since the hectic holiday season is upon us. Faith will bring you through--and you'll be back on this board telling us ALL about your adventures in Lap Band Land, just like the rest of us!!!