Leepers

As far as pre-made shakes, I liked the Ensure High Protein Vanilla. I really liked those because they were larger, more to drink, during the preop phase. My fave though is the EAS Strawberry Cream. Tastes just like Strawberry Quik. Advice. Don't go crazy buying and trying stuff like I did and then find out your doc wants you to use a specific brand. Also, I bought too many and found out he wanted me to stop using them about two to three weeks after surgery. You'll have to find out about protein from your doc. Everyone is different. Mine doesn't have an amount. He just wants me to eat protein first.

I got my band on the 18th. It took me about a week to get over the gas pains but I had very little incision pain. After two week I feel pretty normal except that I can't eat very much. And that makes me happy!

Hi Everyone! Happy Healthy New Year! I know this is like my third profile pic. I had to change it because I thought the previous one made me look unfriendly. This one just makes me look like a nut case, which is more accurate. So, I was banded exactly two weeks ago. First week after was clear and full liquids. Second week was "blenderized" diet. I have been a really big wussy since surgery. I've had lots of gas issues, shoulder and intestinal. I've been really not interested in food that much and getting any calories down was a major effort. Nothing sounded good and I could eat 1/4 cup of cottage cheese with an applesauce cup and be totally full. I would read about other recently banded people who were eating entire Jimmy John subs and think, "Good Lord! How can they even think about eating that much?" But I totally understand everyone is different. Today was my day to advance to a soft diet. I went ahead and had something last night for dinner cause, what the hell, what difference does 12 hours make? One of the items they had listed as a suggested item for soft diet was Melba toast. Right out of the box those things could cut diamonds, but once you chew them, they break down really easy. So I came home last night and mixed a can of tuna with a chopped up hard boiled egg and a little mayo with some dill weed for flavor. I ate it with 8 pieces of Melba Snacks. And it was DEEEEELICIOUS! I was so freaking happy the whole time I was eating it. It was like I was eating at a five star restaurant. lol. I guess after cleansing my palate for three weeks of all the fatty sugary things I was used to, that anything tasted awesome. I was totally eating too fast and had a few episodes of feeling like I'd swallowed a baseball. I kept having to slow down and take smaller bites. But,oh boy! It has awakened the beast inside. After I ate it (all of it), all I could think of was what else was around here for me to stuff in my mouth? I really tried hard to decide, is it real hunger or head hunger? It was difficult to decide. (Yesterday was also my first day back to work and I have a physical job and used a lot of energy). I put my meal in MyFitnessPal and it was definitely the most calories I have eaten in a while. But that didn't bother me too much. I decided to ignore the beast for a bit and got on the computer for a while. (No New Year celebrations for me as I was on call). After a while I looked up and thought that I could definitely eat something else. I noticed it was 1030pm and decided no one needs to eat that late and I would ignore it and went to bed. I woke up really late today because I had to get up in the middle of the night to go pick my hubby and his friends up from their festivities. It was around 11am when I made myself the exact same thing I had to eat last night. And it was still GLOOOORIOUS and wonderful. Yummy. But, just like last night, as soon as I was done, I was like, I'M STILL HUNGRY!! FEED THE BEAST!! And here, a couple of hours later, I'm still fighting the "hunger." Is it real? It feels like it. Maybe. I don't know? I was one of those people that ate until I was miserable and that's how I knew I was full. I didn't give a crap about cake and Cookies and candy. I wanted a QuarterPounder with Cheese SuperSize Extra Value Meal. And, oh yeah, throw in a 6 piece McNuggets with Honey Sauce. And I'm pissed that it all sounds so good. And I hate the beast. And I haven't really lost much weight in the last week even though I've had barely anything to eat. And I am comforted when I read other people's posts on the forum and I know that I may not have much weight loss until I start getting fills. And I wonder, is this the beginning of bandster hell?

Former full smoker now occasional smoker here. I can't remember where I read it as I have been reading so much info online since the surgery, but I read where one doctor said he could almost guarantee that someone who resumed smoking after WLS would be in with stomach or ulcer issues. Here is a link to another site that addresses the issue. I copied and pasted the info below the link. http://www.advancedbariatriccare.com/?id=FQlapBand Can I go back to smoking after surgery? No. Not only does smoking lead to various diseases, but it also stimulate gastric juices, which can irritate the lining of the stomach and cause gastritis and ulcers in the stomach and small intestine. In figure, why take my chances, I already have a foreign object around my stomach. I also know, though, how hard it is to stop.

Hi countrysweet. I was banded two days before you. I also work in a hospital. I agree with you about the shakes and the protien bars for food emergencies. (Eating a meal every 4 to 5 hours is not a realistic expectation with my job. Sometimes ya gotta have something to hold you over). I'm gonna get on my treadmill, TODAY, darn it. I don't have any advice cause I'm a newbie too. But just wanted to say Hi! We are not alone!

Michpell, Congrats! and I love your profile pic!

I was recently banded and I'm just now getting to introduce some food foods into my diet. I had some tuna with Garlic Melba Snacks tonight. They were really good and cunchy but easy to chew down. They had some different flavors. found them in the cracker aisle. 4 pieces are 60 calories and you can't just destroy them like chips.

I'm feeling very torn right now. I live in Louisville, KY and if you know anything about college basketball, you know that the state of Kentucky lives and dies for college basketball. Today is the greatest rivalry game of the year. University of Louisville v. University of Kentucky. The city has lost it's mind today. My hubby is an avid UK fan. He is going up to a bar to watch the game with his buddies and many, many of our friends (male and female). Even my two step-sisters are going to be there. He really wants me to go. The problem is, I'm just not sure that I want to go for so many reasons. I want to go to make him happy. I want to go because I know I should be more social. Everyone is going to ask where I am.(No one knows I've had the surgery). It's just that whithin the last couple of years with my weight getting so out of control, it has kept me from doing things, from being the social person that I used to be. I hate the way I look. I hate my clothes. I hate my hair. I don't want to see anyone I know from high school. I just had my lapband put in 10 days ago. I'm feeling pretty good. I'm down 16 pounds since preop diet. But I'm still on the blenderized diet part of the program. There is nothing that I can eat at that bar if I were to be hungry. I could have a glass of wine or two, and it wouldn't kill me, but I don't want the extra calories right now. Also, I tend to want a cigarette if I have a drink, and I want to stay away from that too. So I decided I wasn't going to go. But I feel so gulity. I told myself I was going to start saying yes to doing more and going out more. But I just still feel so self concious and I don't want the temptation even though I think I would be O.K. I know that everyone will support me and say I need to do what I need to do. I just wanted to be able to tell someone how I am feeling because I don't know anyone else to talk to who would know what I am going through. And that's part of what this forum is for, right? Ya'll know what it's like to be held back by your weight. I'm just so sad that I'm missing out. But very happy that I made the choice to get the band.

I've started reading a bandster's blog elsewhere on the internet. She was banded a few years ago and has had great success. I noticed while reading some old posts that she really seemed to test the limits of the band. She didn't do a lot of actual vomiting but definitely PB'ed A LOT. My question is: Is PBing as bad for the band as vomiting? And for those that have been banded a while, how often do you PB?

I was banded on the 18th. I'm going back to work in the morning. I'm ready to go back but I definitely do not feel that my digestive system is back to normal. I figure it will come with time.

I used the number from my first office visit. It's higher and it makes me feel better. lol. I started making small changes to my diet after that, so I consider it all part of the program.

I lost seven pounds preop and everything was fine. Best wishes!

LadyJ, I felt the EXACT same way for about a week. It was very uncomfortable. I kept thinking that somehow the band had changed the pressure in my esophagus and I was worried I would feel like that all the time. Plus, every time I would swallow my own saliva I felt like I was swallowing air and it made me more uncomfortable. I am 11 days postop and 99% of those feelings have disappeared. It did keep me from eating much. I still don't feel like I can eat much and I don't try to push it.

There's a tab near the top of the page where you can do surgeon search. I found mine doing a Google search. Good luck!

There were a couple of nurses where I work who had the band and both were still heavy. I did talk to both of them before making my decision. I felt that neither one would really come out and say that they didn't do what they were supposed to do. I knew in my heart that I have what it takes to be successful with the band. One of them is a real negative Nancy. I plan on staying away from her. A good friend would support you even if they were not successful. You may need to reexamine your relationship or possibly have a conversation with her confronting her lack of support for you. This is YOUR life. Do not let anyone stand in the way of your health!

Thanks everyone. I didn't go to the festivities. Instead I spent my time grocery shopping. My hubby is trying to eat better too and I did alot of cruising down the aisles, reading labels. Then I came home and reorganized the fridge and freezer. Put the healthy stuff where he could see it. Then I made myself a mushies recipe I had seen on here. It was refried beans mixed with low fat ricotta cheese. Heated and topped with low fat mozzarella and a dollop of fat free sour cream. It was divine! Best thing I've had in weeks! Much better than hanging with drunk people!

A pair of awesome size 14 jeans I bought 10 years ago when I lost a bunch of weight. They're still in perfect condition. Just sittin on the top shelf of the closet, waiting for me...

"That sleeve isn't going to jump out of your stomach and slap that **** out of your hand." That may be the funniest and truest statement I've ever read on this forum. Lol. Love it. I may have to use that in the future. I will try to credit you. Lol.

Download the My Fitness Pal app to your phone and use it every day. It will open your eyes to what you are really putting in your body. Yes, I know that we get the band to not diet, but until you're in the green zone, sometimes it helps to be aware of what we're eating. I am still fresh from surgery but on my blenderized diet they suggest things like mashed potatoes and macncheese. I ate some yesterday and put it in the app. Wow! They have a lot of calories. I'm going to try to eat something healthier in the future. Hang in there! Don't lose focus!

Awesome!

I didn't tell my primary care doc only because I didn't really have any reason to contact her. The surgeon's office may have contacted her for info or files. I'm pretty sure she would've been supportive, I just hadn't seen her.

Good question. There's always that fear that you may get a doctor who doesn't agree with the procedure. And they do exist. I say, don't let anyone keep you from your goal. I haven't even told my primary care doc that I've had LBS. The way I arrived to this point was that I did a Google search for Lap Band and my city. I found a Bariatric program at one of the local hospitals. I watched their seminar online and then filled out contact info. They contacted me and it just went from there. it was easy. I'm not sure how your insurance works but I would find out if you need a referral first. But otherwise, I would research surgeons in your area and contact their office for aadvice. They'll tell you what to do.

If you have a sedentary job, some docs will send you back after about 5 days or so.I'm a nurse and do a lot of pushing and pulling so I got 2 weeks. I'm glad of it, as I have had what seems to be a little more pain/discomfort than most people. Swimming would likely be off the list for a bit, I would think. These are all questions you'll have to ask your surgeon. They all have such different directions. Just remember to follow his orders and you will be s success!

A department store like Macy's usually has knowledgeable staff.

Just curious, why can't they just reposition and secure the one you already have?