Coco6399

I took three weeks off just to be on the safe side, however I will go back to work in two weeks because I feel great.

The band was the best thing I have done for myself. I do not look at it as giving up something such as sodas or bread, but I look at it as gaing a new life for myself. The only things I am giving up are diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. period. I have lost twenty pounds since I started my pre-op diet until now and all I can say is wow. My clothes do not fit me tight anymore, I can walk two or three miles without huffing and puffing. I am very happy with my band.

Hello Mink, I took glucerna for my pre-op diet because I am a diabetic and I had to be careful with the other protein drinks. I believe the glucerna drinks are primarily for diabetics because it helps stabilize our blood sugar. They are pretty good when cold also.

I am almost two weeks post op and I have the same pain where your is, right below my left breast and over my rib cage. I thought it was a gas bubble because I will take a deep and painful breath to move it but it does not go away. I only have it when I am standing up or sitting up. Sometimes I have to lean over to relieve the pain. I am scheduled to see my surgeon so I am surely going to bring this up to him.

I have been on a clear liquid diet for 13 days now and I have one more to go. My doctor told me the only protein I could have was those new whey protein drinks and if I used the protein powder to make sure it was not too thick. I have one more day of clear liquids and I can go on cream soups, sf pudding, applesauce and pureed mushies. I have not cheated even once. It has been a real experience. As far as the chicken broth goes, I gag when I think of it. After seven days of chicken broth, the smell makes me nauseous. I am sure that if we can get through the liquid diet phase of this band, we can do great with this band.

Hunzi, When I was on my pre-op diet to shrink my liver, I would eat one of those tuna pouches every day also. It takes the hunger away and I did o.k. You sound like you are doing great. I also had the protein drinks to keep me from being so hungry. Good luck.

Eeyore, I am going to sound like a broken record here, but I am so sorry for your hurt and pain. I have been on the receiving end of being dumped by my first husband after eight years of marriage. He was a truck driver and he called me at home one night to tell me that he had met another female truck driver and they wanted to give their relationship a try. WTF??? I had no idea he was even seeing anyone. Anyway, I could not even think about food or anything for about two weeks. I know what my state of mind was so I would say you need to talk to someone before you make the decision to go ahead with the surgery. Get counseling from your doctor or another professional who can help you. Once you have the surgery, you can focus on getting healthier and loosing the weight. Believe me, he will come around again and then you can be strong enough to tell him "step off". I wish you the best and please keep us informed of how you are doing. I am sending lots of hugs to you.

I cannot wait until I can enjoy a glass of wine also. My doctor said it would be ok to have an occasional drink or a glass of wine without it affecting my weight loss. I am going to wait another two weeks until I am on solids before I attempt to drink wine though. I have three more days of liquids, then mushies for two weeks. I'll enjoy my wine then. June 28th is almost a month away, so you should be fine. Good luck.

Jodi, congratulations for staying with the diet. I know it was a struggle to not eat. Believe me, I had to endure this past Memorial day on my post op liquid diet and I had to avoid all the food being served. My husband had previously decided not to cook anything for the holiday, but I told him that he should not let me be the reason he didn't have a good meal. He grilled ribs, steak and mushrooms. I could not bear to smell the food, so I went to another room until he had finished. I have six more days than I can go on mushies. Anyway you are a true dedicated person to sit there as everyone else ate. You will do fine with this band. Good luck to you.

Hello, Another May 20th bandster here. Glad to hear everyone is doing good. I am doing great today also. This forum really helped me to know what to do after surgery with the gas and port pains. Believe me, I have read it here a thousand times, and it does get better each and every day. congratulations on your band.

Angelsoul, I was banded on May 20th also and I am doing good too. I am just struggling with this 2 week liquid diet, however I am staying the course and I know it will be over soon. I am glad that you are doing o.k. and let us know how you continue to improve. Congratulations.

Southern Missy, you are absolutely correct in positive thinking of just taking it one day at a time. I have talked myself into just taking it one day at a time too. The liquids I spoke of in my earlier post is the only thing I can have until the mussie stage. There are no full liquids with my diet. In another 8 days I can look forward to running mashed potatoes(can't wait!!!!),apple sauce, soups(cream,egg drop), sugar free puddings, sugar free yogurt, milk, baby food and purreed fish, tuna, chicken, protein shakes, etc as long as it is pureed. I am so proud of myself because I have not cheated not even once. I am committed to this band because I chose it and I researched the process of loosing this weight and the ups and downs of it. Thanks for the encouragement and this too shall pass and one day I will be on this forum and I can help someone who is going through the same thing I am right now. You guys keep up the good work and lets do this!!!! Hugs to all:)

Help me, please. I am on day 4 of a two week (14 day) post op liquid diet. I did great the first couple of days, however today I am crawling out of my skin. My stomach is growling and I am feeling a little weak. I did great after my surgery and I am happy to say that I am almost gas free. almost. Anyway, I am required to be on a two week liquid diet that consist of sugar free juices diluted with water, beef or chicken broth, crystal light, bouillon, gatorade, sugar free popsicles, sugar free jello, decaf tea or coffee and water. That is it for the next 10 days. I would like to know if anyone had to follow a liquid post op diet for two weeks and how did you handle it without going out of your mind. I am afraid that if I think on it too much, I will be a basket case. I am drinking the crystal light to stay hydrated and I am willing myself to read, sleep or whatever to keep my mind off of food or this diet. I am determined to stick to it and not cheat, but boy what a hard task I am taking on. I have been walking also to keep my mind occupied and this helps a little until I come home and it's time to eat and I am sitting here eating jello and my husband who is trying to be considerate is eating something that is microwavable so the house does not smell like food. Anyone have any suggestions on how I can get through these next 10 days with my sanity intact?:rolleyes2:

ppnj, thanks for the reply. I really feel better that I have vented. I was told by the nutritionist at the hospital not to drink my optifast protein drinks until I finish this two week liquid diet. I don't know if I am allowed protein shots or unflavored protein mix. It would sure help. I guess I will have to call the doctor's office to find out. I weighted myself this morning and there is no weight loss at all.(sigh). I have terrible diareahia(sp) however I am committed. I started this journey back in October 07 and it has been a long and stressful journey. I know that these next 10 days will be over before I know it. I just heated up some chicken broth and put it in one of my big coffee mugs and drank it as I imagined I was enjoying a cappucino or a regular cup of coffee with cream. My husband also just left under to pretense of getting gas for the mower, but I know he is headed out to enjoy a meal of some type. He told me that he had planned on grilling steaks and ribs this memorial day but he will not because I cannot have it. (He is the best). Congratulations on your weight loss and keep up the positive attitude.

I just wanted to share my banding experience with everyone too. I was banded on Tuesday morning. I got up at 5 a.m because I could not sleep. I arrived at the hosptial at 6:30 and the nurse greeted me in a cheerful voice and told me to go use the bathroom then have a seat in the lobby area. My husband accompanied me and we sat for about 20 minutes before we were called to a room. Once I was in the room, I was given the stockings and a gown to put on. One of the nurses came in and started my iv. she was very nice and chatted about how busy the shortstay was as compared to the emergency room. She really made me feel relaxed. Approximately 10 minutes later, I was taken to a room and one of the nurses gave me a "party hat" to put on. He told me that I could not go to the party without it. He was so funny. I met the guy who was going to administer my anethesia(sp) and he told me no worries. O.K. I can go with that. I was then rolled to the operating room and told to move over onto another bed. One of the nurses told me that she was going to put a oxygen mask on my face and I comment "Good night". I already knew it was going to be lights out. I awoke in a cold room and someone was calling my name. I answered and he told me that it took me a long time to wake up and I remember telling him "I was dreaming and you woke me up". He laughed and asked me if I was ready to be taken to my room. I told him yes. He asked me if I wanted anything for pain and I said yes. I was not in pain, but if he was offering.... I arrived in my room and the nurses were so nice. I had minimal pain except for the gas that insisted on running through my upper chest area. I got up and walked it down to the lower part of my stomach I guess. I had anticipated a lot of gas in my shoulders and back. But I did not have that. I still have gas pains in my stomach but they are not as bad as I had thought. I did get up to walk one time during the night and I thought I was going to throw up but the nurse hurried me back to bed. This experience was not as bad as I had read on some posts. I am now back at home after spending the night in the hospital(I recommend it). I feel fine except for the soreness where my port is, but as long as I am not twisting or turning too much, it is fine. I think my challenge is going to be the two weeks on the liquid diet phase. I hope those of you who are scheduled to be banded, will have as good of an experience as I did.

I just got the realize band yesterday. I feel good so far.

I am in Georgia. I was banded by Dr. Sergio Mehias in Athens.

This is just my two cents worth, but I would be highly upset if someone told my medical information to my friends or family without my consent. I guess the facts of your surgery would have come out eventually when you began to loose the weight, however it's your decision to tell how you are loosing it not hers or anyone elses. I think you should call the office manager and set up an appointment to discuss this with them. If the facts come to light that the woman in your church gave out this information, she should be fired. I don't see what you will gain by suing the doctor's office because of a big mouth employee. I'm sure they train everyone on the HIPPA laws. Calm down and take it one step at a time. just remember you are doing this for your health and don't let this stop your from pushing on to your goal of being banded. Good luck to you.

Ellen, good luck on your journey to getting the lap band. I have not been banded yet, but I am so happy to read the comments that are posted by those that have been. When they say that they wished they had done it years before, I feel more than confident that I am making the right decision. This lapband forum is awesome and the experiences shared are a good support system.

Hi Erica, I just want to add my two cents worth. What you are going through is normal. I have asked my husband the same question (Do I need to have this surgery?) and he gives me the supporting husband look and says to me "whatever you want to do is fine with me, but I think you should go ahead and do it". He is very supportive about me having the surgery. I am working tonight and I will be thinking about you. I hope you get a good night's rest and tommorow just think about all the good things thats about to happen to you. I am scheduled for the 20th and I am excited, worried, doubtful and everything, but I am going to have the surgery. We are here for you. Let us know how it goes and congratulations! Lots of hugs to you.

Thanks. I am more motivated to stay true to the pre-diet now that I see what the liver looks like. Good post.

all I can say is "wow." I am sorry for your loss and I know that having any surgeries carries risks. I don't want to sound insensitive here, but why post on our support forum? Everyone here is supporting each other's journey and I have been having all these feelings of "Am I doing the right thing here?" Everytime I have these doubts, I can come to this forum and put my mind at ease. Sorry you felt the need to tell us your story because it sounds like there were other things going on here. God bless you.

I will have to stay over night also. I don't mind because if I have any problems or questions what better pace to be? I am becoming nervous as the time grows near and this is one worry I won't have to be concerned with.

congratulations! Keep us posted on your progress after the surgery.

I too am being banded on May 20th. Yes! Can't wait.