shortgal

Had 2nd fill this a.m. so I'm at 3ccs in a 10 cc band. I'm on full liquids for two days and then mushies. I didn't eat before the appt and when I got home I had one can of Atkins shake. I noticed I had to drink it slower than usual. I just now finished a small glass of V-8 juice and that went down slow and I had a lot of gurgling. I don't expect this restriction to last long, but I'll take even a week of it. Next Dr's appt is in 2 weeks. They said we'd evaluate my weight loss, my hunger and my ability and urge to overeat and decide if a fill is needed. Sounds good to me! Happy to be on the "fill" road.

I feel like I am in "this whole band thing is new and I need to know everything stage" so yes I'm on LBT a lot. Problem is my laptop sits right next to my comfy TV chair, which means when I'm online, I'm sitting and not moving, however, you can not eat while typing and reading posts keeps me out of the kitchen, so I guess it's a trade off. And I have learned a lot from this site. I think as I get closer to goal and further along in the process, my "newbie" interest will fade. We'll see!

Just like in the "real world" this forum has the "huggers", the ones that will say "oh, I know how it is, I did that, too" and then there are the "tough love" ones, that just give you a swift kick in the butt and say "what were you thinking?" In the end we probably need to hear both views. That's what makes the forum great! I'm one of the tough love type. While I understand the urge to cheat, I have a hard time understanding how the newbies aren't afraid of trying these foods and push their band and port and healing so quickly in the process. For me, I'm able to follow the Dr's instructions right now, I'm more worried about long term, when healing is done, fills are done and most of weight is gone and things are back to "normal". Just my 2 cents!

Why not say you are having the Dr. "fix" something so you can be healthier. Not sure he will actually nnotice much that you're not eating the same food, but you could tell him the Dr. wants you to drink the liquids because they help your tummy get better faster. All true statements and are probably easy for a 6 year old to understand.

Each Dr. has their own instructions. some Dr's require a liquid diet for one or two weeks before the surgery and some require a low calorie, low fat, low sugar diet before surgery. These are all meant to shrink the liver as it's in the area of the surgery. I believe the pre-op diets also gives us "desparate to lose weight quick, fatties", a quick head start on the weight loss. My Dr. NOW requires a liquid diet, but at the time of my intial consult did not and instead required the low calorie one, so I was told to follow my original instructions, which I did. Most Dr's require a clear diet a day or two before surgery, mine was two days. Some Dr's have different directions for patients that have a higher BMI. Just follow your Dr's instructions!

NONAD and LIZ 1531 I'm no expert at just past one month post op, but sounds like you both need a fill. At five weeks out, I'm going for my second fill tomorrow. Liz, Unless you have not updated your signature, you've only had two fills in almost four months time? Nonad, if you haven't been back to the Dr, then are you getting fills somewhere else?

I was told the port can be moved if necessary and that it was not complicated. I doubt the Dr. would want to do that this early into your band process. Ask the Dr at your next visit what options are available to you down the road.

I was told small sips about 1 to 2 oz every 10 to 15 mins. in the first few days. It does take a while, that's why you have this first week of recovery time. Your focus should be on healing and following the Dr's instructions. you'll gradually feel stronger and better and able to drink more naturally. Right now they want you to sip slowly, so your band/stomach can start to heal.

Lots of people post on the forum about their successes, so I'm not sure where you're reading or what you're concentrating on. Many people post while they are still in the first year of the process or some post because they have a problem they want answers/suugestions for. Many move on. They've lost their weight, they get on with their life. Pre op diets, surgery, post op diets, fills etc, no longer consume their days, so they lose interest. A few lapbanders that were banded a while ago remain on the site, to remind themselves to keep on track, or because they have found "friends" on the site, but I believe most move on with their life. A few post about their plastic surgery after succesful lapband weight loss. And a few, Ok, i have to be real honest here, are in my opinion, a little "off" you know crazy, again just my opinion. But this is a public forum and a cross section of all demographics will be found. You'll find all ages, all parts of the country etc. Ten people all with the same DR. could all have a different outcome. The person's mind set about the band, their ability to follow Dr's instructions etc will all vary. Educating yourself is no doubt important and this is just ONE place to get the education you need to decide if this process is right for you. Good Luck

If you didn;t stock your house with the liquids the Dr recommended, then have someone get to a GNC or Vitamin shoppe or health food store and get some: clear Protein drink ( various flavors) Some low sodium chicken broth in a can sugar free Jello "light" apple juice And sip, sip, sip and rest, rest, rest!

You should absolutely call your Dr. right away for post op instructions. Each Dr. has their own post op food Plan. I was on "clear" liquids for one week. They wanted us to have CLEAR Protein drinks such as Isopure CLEAR. sugar free Jello was ok, sugar free popsicles, clear broth. Thick Or "full" liquids such as shakes were allowed week two. Atkins protien shakes, tomato or cream of chicken soup, SF jello, clear broth. We were told to track our protein intake and to get at least 40 to 60 grams the first week and up to 60 to 80 the second week and to get lots of fluids in to prevent dehydration. "Light" apple juice or "light" cranberry juice was also OK. The Isopure CLEAR has 40 grams of protein in it. So one or two bottles a day and your protein is all done. The third week was pureed foods, you could "blend" food. No large chunks allowed. The fourth week was soft food. I progressed to ground turkey, mashed potatoes, sugar free pudding, and added some of the Atkins shakes and broth etc for protein. The important thing is not to progress more quickly than your surgeon advises. No matter how small the incisions look, they did do surgery inside and that must heal. Once your on to soft foods, you eat protein first, then veggies, then if you have room, a few carbs are ok. Avoid bread, rice, firm meat such as chicken and beef unless it's ground up once you're on that stage. Please cal your Dr. and get his/her post op food plan. I can't believe one wasn't given to you at some point in your office visits to the surgeon or the nutritionist. If they did give you one, dig it out.

I say the segment and I was very angry about the words the woman from people magazine used. If the segment/article etc they wanted to run was about Al Roker, Carnie Wilson, Star Jones, Randy Jackson etc. would they have made the same comment? No way. The segment and the article is out there, just like all the diet commercials, because ti is the time of year, that almost 100% of people diet and they are just trying to sell magazines. I applaud anyone that can lose weight however they do it. The two women featured were young and maybe just hadn't tried over and over to lose weight. They put it on and perhaps this was their first "real" attempt to take it off and they succeeded. Good for them! But for many WLS people, we've tried countless times without success and needed to take a different path. We should not be put down for it.

If you're looking for votes, I vote wait until you return. No sense taking any risk right before a great vacation. The fill will available to you when you get back.

All this talking about black eyed peas and cornbread and pecan pie! Are you all just dreaming of way ahead in the future or thinking this will be included in your diet within a short time? A reminder that Nuts are not encouraged in the first several months. Breads are carbs and are to be eaten only after Protein and veggies and can get stuck and well for the peas, well I don;t know anything about how black eyes peas are prepared, so I just can't comment. And fried potatoes, are fried and carbs. Please stick to the post op diet your Dr. gave you, as it's important for the healing and for the band to seat itself. If your just dreaming and not really serious about including these no-no foods right away, then dream away!!! Best Of luck to you, the first few weeks are difficult.

Go to the top of the web page and in the light blue tool bar you'll se the word "search: you can then type in any words like "Dr. Lopez" or "mexico" etc to find posts with those words in them.

I have seena few people post here that said they were able to eat more than they expected. some needed more fills, others said the Dr took all the Fluid out of the band and re-inserted it. Are you journaling your calories and Protein intake? Are you remembering NOT to drink right after eating. The best thing to do is go back to basic band rules, and write it all down, so you can show your DR.

:help:Please share the ways you add Protein powder into your diet. What foods do you mix it with? Do you add it to liquids like Crystal light? What brand Protein Powder do you like best? Do you buy unflavored or flavored?

Yes, I do believe we suffer from a dysmorphic body image. We think we look ok and then we see a photo of ourselves and can'te believe waht we see in the photo. I find it very interesting, in a sick kind of way. Kristin, I know it's been a long time, but my sympathy on the loss of your son. I'm sure it's something you never get over. Also, I want to thank you and your husband for the sacrifices you've made serving our country. We are both November bandsters. Great job on your weight loss. I'm losing kind of slow, but hey the scale went down. Next fill on Thurs and boy do I need it. When your husband is deployed again, the months away that he won't see you will be hard, but think of the dramatic change in you he'll see when he gets back. That will be so exciting.

IMHO, he comments do not infer that, nor did I take that from his comments. Just wanted to express that not everyone might feel the same way you did about his comments of support. Difference of opinion, is all!

CRACKED PEPPER: Sorry, but I have to respond. The thread poster expressed her fears of dying in surgery. Wayne ( and many others) responded on how HE got through it. Wayne did not say everyone else should believe as he believes and he definitely did NOT say everyone else was going to Hell. The forum is here for support and for people to get lots of responses because sometimes ONE person's answers is not good enough to connect with the person posting the thread. With many responses, there are bound to be one or two that really connect to the OP. You have the right to believe in any faith you want and to talk about it and so does Wayne!

You can drink at least one bottle a day of Ispoure CLEAR Protein drink and you'll get 40 gms of protein from that. I found it to be tolerable to drink depending on the flavor and found I liked it best over ice. Mostly I tolerated it to get my protein in. For Friday Surgery, I would NOT have been ready by Monday to go back to work, but you might be different.

I'm 5'0' also and at my very highest was 230. I lost 30 lbs several years ago. It took me 10 months of basically just avoiding almost any situation where I knew I might not be able to resist the temptation of food. Within 6 months I had gained 1/2 of it back. I knew I had to do something and began the lapband process last Feb. After a long struggle with ins. I decided to self pay and had the surgery one month ago. You need to ask the kid's school,principals, teachers, PTA, local church for names of people they would recommend that might be able to watch the kids for you. It won't be a long time you need them. If your ins and/or Dr. requires an overnight stay etc. There might be a nice, older grandma type person that can stay with your children and help you. Or maybe a local college student. What about a local nursing school student? If you have two children and one is 14, you are old enough to take a stand with your family. Tell them this is what you're doing and that you've arranged for outside help with the kids for a couple days. Do not change your plans, even if your family says they will now help. They need to know you are old enough to handle the surgery and the rest of the plans/arrangements on your own. I would tell your family, if they can't support your decision, then fine, but that you're going ahead with it and that you will not stay and listen to any more negative comments /remarks about your decision. If you are at their home and that type of conversation starts, then just politely say it's time for you to head home and say goodbye. Do not engage in the debate. If they are at your house, just abrubtly change the subject entirely. I had to use this tactic with my family, not on the subject of weight loss surgery, but another family type dispute. It took me years to figure out how to handle it. Once I had it in my head, everything changed. If I was there and the bickering started, I calmly stated that if it was going to continue then I would have to leave and it changed everything. I had to remind them of my "new rule" occassionally but everything calmed down, once I set the new direction and stopped letting them engage me into the debate. Just my two Cents from someone that's been there, done that! Good Luck, I wish you the best.

No real recipes I can share. I drank the Ispopure CLEAR Protein drink the first week and added SF Jello and I tried chicken broth, but found it was just not agreeing with me until about 12 days out. I stayed on the thick liquids a little longer than recommended because pureed food is just not appealing to me at all and I found the Atkins shakes agreeable and filling at that time. Later I progressed to adding scrambled eggs, applesauce and gradually tried turkey meatloaf, some mashed potatoes and still added a shake or two each day to get the protein in. A few of the lean cuisines, like meatloaf, or salisbury steak are soft for me now and yesterday I had some poached salmon and green Beans. A lot depends on your food preferences. There's a whole section on the forum dedicated to food questions and some recipes, so that's a good place to try. I want to try adding the Protein powder like I've read some people post on the forum, to try to add more protein in without adding on the calories. The problem is they come in huge cans and if I don;t like it, I'm stuck with it. I asked at GNC if they had any small sample packs, but they said no. you'd think manufacturers would have that.

For post op, I followed the Dr's instructions fairly carefully, I probably advanced to each new stage about one day earlier than the full week that was recommended. At one month out, I am still very carefull about the foods I try. I do find that after a month, I am not having trouble getting the things I try to go down. If I consume liquid shakes to get my Protein in, they go through the band easily and don't make me feel full very long and if I consume normal but softer foods, my calorie intake goes up and I start to not lose. So I am in that stage that lapbanders hate. My next fill is Thurs! I hope to get some added restriction from that, until that fill too becomes loose ( hopefully not for a couple weeks) and then I'll repeat the fill process. I've been fat for so long, but still always impatient to lose the weight in a hurry. I am away from home this weekend and away from my scale, which I am finding is really disturbing for me. I need the security of the scale to tell me if I am at least staying on track. Hopefully, there'll be no bad surprises when I get home and step on it. AND hopefully, there'll be a good surprise that it went down. I really wanted to get to 198 by Dec 31/Jan 1. Fingers crossed!

Ah, the old "Hershey Squirt". At least that is ONE problem I didn't have, so far! I'm sure your whole system will get back to normal soon! Don't you just love the stuff you can ask here? LOL