PamJ4

Diane, I was banded on 6/27 by Dr. Erbella and Dr. Bunch also. They told us 1/2 cup per meal was the total "amount" you are supposed to eat. The first two weeks is liquid only, the next 2 weeks are mushy foods, and from there you gradualy progress back to solid foods. Check your post-op paperwork that they gave you. Plus, you can call Vicky - the dietician - and either speak with her or meet with her for free ANY time you need to! They really have been terrific at the hospital. Use Gas X chewables if you have trouble with hiccups, gas, etc. It might relieve some pressure. The next support group is July 26th and I plan on going. My mom had LB on 5/2 and she's doing great now! Eat smaller meals maybe 3-5 times a day, with at least 2 being high Protein (shakes or whatever). By the way, do you know what type of band you have? It's probably a VG band, but you should ask. Hang in there and good luck! Banded 6/27, VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL

My doc allowed 3 dairy servings a day that helped the liquid diet feel more normal, but check with your doc. The whole point of the liquid diet is to shrink the stores of glucagon in the liver, making the surgery safer and easier. But when you're having mostly liquids that pass right through, sometimes the churning stomach acid plus hunger pains makes you feel that weird nauseous feeling. Gaviscon is the one of the best antacids on the market for calming an upset stomach fast. Your body might also be adjusting to the change in what you eat, too. Good luck and hang in there.

kimmom, You hit the nail on the head. If I could have lost weight without the band I would already be there, right? It's not like most of us haven't tried virtually every diet program, gym, etc. out there without lasting results. This tool was a last resort for me (since I couldn't see having gastric bypass - too dangerous in my book) and I fought my insurance company 6 months to get approval and DID. Not that I didn't pay a sizeable chunk out of pocket but I'm hoping this will put me on the right track. Banded 6/27 - 18 lbs. lost since start of 10 day pre-op liquid diet. No sutures or staples - feel pretty good! I hope I can still say that months down the road! Be optimistic (but a little realism never hurt anyone).

I find I can usually burp once I stand up and get moving, but sitting down I can feel it coming only have it make a "u-turn"...does not feel good at all! I've been chewing Rolaids with antigas but I'm going to switch to the Gas X chewables. Does anyone else find they are burping a lot due to all the liquids (even with small sips of Water sometimes!)? Maybe it's just me. I also have a thrombosis on my left wrist that is taking its sweet time to go away. Just time to suck it up and wait it out until these things go away, right? Banded June 27th, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL - VG band.

Depends on what your doc used....I have the clear dermabond bandage with no sutures or staples, so I could shower 24 hours later. I did notice that one area had teeny tiny blood spots, so I put a Water block bandage over that area. Banded June 27, 2007, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Bradenton, Florida, VG band.:usa:

I just found out the other day that there are two types of bands. My mom got hers on 5/2/07 and she JUST found out she had the VG band. She just got her first fill 3 days ago and they added only 2 cc. My surgery is scheduled for 6/27 and I have no idea which band I'll get, nor do I care, but I do want the surgery to go well. Mom was feeling famished the last 2 weeks prior to her first fill and she's hoping this will help. The more weight comes off, the more motivating that is!

My surgery date is the 27th. I had to fight 6 months with my insurance company to get approval, but I am sooooo ready. :clap2: Although there is some nervousness, and I hope my liquid diet has done the job it was supposed to in shrinking my liver, I just want to get it done and be past the surgery part of this. This site has been invaluable and encouraging, so hang in there and keep reading!! :biggrin1:

In some ways I am afraid of losing weight... I am outgoing and social, enjoying making people smile or laugh. Sometimes I think about how will I respond to other people who pay me more attention. You know when you are fat, people either ignore you like you don't exist or they stare at you like you've done something seriously wrong (oh, you MUST be pigging out all the time to be that heavy!). I do want to get out there and do more things eventually that my body limited me from and that list is endless. Inside I feel I'm a strong person, and generally I don't care what other people think - but I am only human!

I am on day 8 of my liquid pre-op diet and it is frustrating. My mom had her lap band done on May 2nd and she lost 14 lbs. pre-op but so far I've only lost 5.5. I'm disgusted because the more I hear others preparing for surgery at the facility I'm going to, I think I'm doing something wrong! (And, no, I don't get cream soups either...) I'm sticking to their regimen as suggested, tough as it is, but I'm also staying active doing odd jobs, errands, and so forth... Has anyone else experienced trouble with this?:help: