I did a web search for a lap band forum and found this one, I have browsed through a few posts and it looks like it could be a really good resource for me. I had my surgery on 10/17/2007 in Paducah, KY. They have a great Weight Wellness Center at Lourdes Hospital there and it is only about 60 miles from my home in Northwest Tennessee. I started going up there back in March 2007. He does a lot of testing before surgery and, of course, there is the wait for insurance approval. He started me on a liver shinkage diet back in July, the 23rd to be exact. It is a no salt, no sugar, no fat and no caffine diet that does jump start weight loss. My surgery went fine and I have had no problems with nausea or pain so far. This past week they moved me up to blended soft foods and that has gone pretty well, mostly cream soups, sugar free pudding and yogurt to this point. I have experimented with some protein shake recipes they gave me and am still sipping water most of the time. Seems like one of the most important things in getting enough protein so I am concentrating on that. I will appreciate any advice I can get from some of you who have already been down this long road. I am 60 years old and have low thyroid, high blood pressure and Diabeties Type II. I am already off my diabeties meds and they have cut the dosage on my Synthroid in half. They are watching my blood pressure to make adjustments in the dosage as my needs change. I made the decision to have the surgery as I have spinal arthritis with severe spinal stenois and will probably require surgery for it in the near furture. The spinal specialist I see in Memphis, TN says it would be dangerous to do the surgery until I lose weight so after years of yoyo dieting I knew I had to make a permanent decison. My decison was for LBS and I pray it was the right choice for me.