JaxBandster

Chick, sounds like your head is in the right place! Hope my description wasn't too disturbing, but to be honest, it was disturbing. I could definitely see why a doctor would close up a patient when they saw the liver in that condition. This whole journey has been more effort than I initially thought it would be. I also initially thought that it was just a matter of eating less and that I could eat anything I wanted. I sure was mistaken! I still have to make good food choices, the only thing the band helps me with is portion control. But if I continuously feed it potatoes, rice, or ice cream, I'm not going to lose. I am now much more prepared to really dedicate myself to my band and this process. It won't be easy (because Lord knows I love my carbs!) but it's definitely going to be worth it!!! Best of luck to you! Sounds like you are going to do great!!!!

Are you on full liquids or Clear Liquids? If you are on full liquids I would just watch the sodium and carb content in some of them, they can be quite high. Atkins Advantage Carb Control Proteins shakes are pretty good and filling. Have those for your meals. Ask your doctor if they have a list of things you can have.

Robyn, my instructions were to follow a high protein/low carb diet, consuming no more than 30 gms of carbs a day excluding green leafy vegetables. I didn't have to count them. I have to say that gaining weight probably isn't good. From this point on I would suggest getting on some sort of weight loss plan and sticking to it. It is extremely important that your liver be shrunk before surgery to help prevent complications. If you need help with what kind of foods constitute as low carb go out and buy a paperback copy of the Atkins Diet. Also read labels! Do not go by net carbs, go by total carbs. All bread, rice, Pasta, and potatoes are out for now. You will feel like crap for a few days while you are going through carb withdrawal, but it's better to go through it now than after surgery. Once you go through carb withdrawal you will feel like a different person! You will also feel MUCH less hungry. During this time, your body will burn all the sugar that is being stored in the liver and it will shrink. If you aren't sure about which food plan to follow then call your doctor and demand clarification. You are paying a lot of money for this, you want to make sure you have it right. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for you to lose the weight. I know most people think that their lap band journey starts when they have the surgery but it really begins well before that. Time to buckle down and get serious about this girlfriend!!!! Good luck!!!!!

Shhhhhh, I'm just trying to get Jack to hang around more, he always has such great posts!

Congratulations Leather!!! Sounds like you made it through just fine and are well on your way!!!

Hey Becca! Yeah I'm not worried about the needle either, two years of injections for the Hep C cured me of that. I'm also wondering what the tightness will feel like. I think it is similar to what I experienced right after surgery when I could feel the Water sort of stop and then pass on through the stoma. I am able to eat quite a bit right now so I will have to adjust when I get my fill and really pay attention to my new full sensation.

You know, I'm thinking that may need to be the official Double V mantra!!! Just keep swimming!

Who knows Jack, If you hang around long enough you may catch some of us prancing around in our latest Victoria Secret purchases once we reach goal! LOL The way some of us are going that may not be too much longer!

I just discovered that International Coffee has light brands that are extremely low in carbs. I just got some and haven't had a chance to try them out yet (got vanilla) and will let you know how they are.

I have also heard stories of saline getting left in the band when they test it during production. There is also the possibility of obstruction like Peabody had. (She is doing fine now but look for her posts, the situation sounds somewhat familiar). It could also just be that you are still swollen. There are several possibilities. I am sorry you are having so much trouble right now. Try to hang in there until you can get in to see the doctor. Don't second guess your decision just yet. It's still quite early and there are sometimes minor setbacks like this (although I'm sure it doesn't seem so minor right now). You will get it taken care of and be back on the right track soon! Big Hug!!!

SS If you are just starting your high Protein low carb diet and are feeling nauseous (sp) that means you are doing good! LOL You are going through carb withdrawal. I had headaches and fatigue and a general feeling like crap sensation for about a week before my body suddenly realized that it didn't need carbs anymore. My suggestion is pound the protein. If your diet was like mine, I could have all the meat and veggies (non starchy) that I wanted. There is no reason to be hungry. I would also HIGHLY suggest tracking your food intake on a site like FitDay.com or other food tracking site. It really helps to keep track of calories and carbs. I was restricted to 30 gms of carbs a day excluding green leafy veggies (didn't have to count those but I usually did anyway). You will be amazed at what happens when you get through the carb withdrawal. You will all of a sudden not be hungry anymore. It was the most amazing thing to me. I sometimes had to remind myself to eat. Now don't get me wrong, there are times when I think of having a warm dinner roll and my mouth starts to water! LOL But, I just make sure I go eat some protein and that craving goes away quickly. It is very important that you stick to your diet. You need to shrink your liver before surgery to help prevent complications and you definitely don't want to be going through carb withdrawal while recovering from surgery! Good luck!

I would try going to the regional support groups (further down the main group page) and asking this question there. There may be more people there in Nebraska who are better able to answer your question.

Hi Shortgal!!! I think the point is this....... (and Nuff I hope you don't think I'm picking on you personally, I see comments like yours a lot on these boards so I am speaking in broad terms, but using your post as an example) ..... I don't think there is anything wrong with treating yourself to a "forbidden" food, i.e. one you wouldn't necessarily have on a regular basis, every now in then. In fact, my nutritionist says that there will be times when I WILL take detours along the way and that the important thing is to make sure to get back on track right away. My original point was that eating three rolls, two eclairs (and I forget the rest) to "Celebrate something" is not a good mindset and one that needs to change in order to be successful. That is precisely the kind of mindset that made us have to have surgery in the first place. Oh, I got a raise, let's go eat! I got engaged, let's go eat! Food related rewards are counter productive to the bandster way of life. Treating yourself to a new outfit, a massage, manicure, jewelry or other luxury is much more beneficial. Even if you are celebrating something like a birthday, anniversary or other occassion, order a dessert and split it, have a SMALL piece of cake (if you can eat it) or a quarter cup of ice cream, eat it slowly and savor it. But three rolls, two eclairs and everything else? That's a recipe for disaster. Even six months down the road, I hope I am able to make good choices even when I am celebrating.

Oh okay! I'll give it a try!!!! :biggrin2:

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LOL I can't watch the food network right now. Maybe later when I am at my sweet spot! LOL Everything just looks so good. I especially hate food commercials right now. That is one thing I have noticed too, about how food tastes now. It seems as though my sense of smell and taste have become much more sensitive. I don't know if that will change down the road but it's certainly that way now. I agree about scarfing down all that food in the past and never taking the time to really chew it and savor each bite. I wish I liked cottage cheese but I don't! You would think that I would. I like yogurt okay. I like bleu cheese and other kinds of cheese but cottage cheese doesn't do anything for me. Tonight at the grocery store I picked up some treats to try. First of all, frozen buffalo chicken wings, (not breaded) are amazingly low in carbs. Also, frozen omelets (I forget the brand) they are also low in carbs and the meat in them is already in very tiny bits so you don't have to chew very much. I also got an International coffee (vanilla flavored) that is extremely low in carbs and would be a nice treat other than regular coffee. I also got some of those marinated tuna and salmon in the air tight packages (on the aisle where the canned tuna is) and thought I would give them a try. Hopefully they are tasty, they would be a very good source of Protein and very easy to chew. As you can tell, my doctor is very big on keeping the carb count down (no more than 30 gms a day). I see a lot of people on the boards talk about having refried Beans, Soups, oatmeal, cream of wheat, mashed potatoes, etc. I can't have any of that. However, in my mushy stage I can have baked fish and chicken (not fried). I can also have canned vegetables or very overcooked fresh veggies (which I like that way anyway). I can have tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad, and regular green leaf salad. Next week I can have anything I want with the exception of white starchy foods, i.e. bread, potatoes, Cereal, rice, Pasta. I guess the next big challenge ahead is our first fill. I'm sure it will be an interesting experience!

Hey Becca!!! My doctor focuses more on carbs than fat so I am allowed real mayonnaise and I put relish in it as well. I am going to get a carton of eggs and have my husband make his fantastic egg salad tonight! I still have two bandages that I have to leave on until Thursday, my port and the one in my belly button. I will be glad to get them off. I think I am actually going to have to go out and buy a couple of 22's! I was standing in the kitchen today and my husband came up behind me and pulled my pants down while they were still zipped!!!!! After I smacked him I was thrilled that he could do that! :cheers2:

Same thing here, I had a large hernia and since it was repaired I have not had any heartburn, acid reflux, etc. Of course, I just started real food a few days ago and haven't eaten near the amounts I used to so that could have something to do with it as well. But my doctor said that I wouldn't have anymore GERD.

Nuff, It might be advisable to find other "non-food" ways of celebrating. This is the kind of mindset that ends up causing problems. Not to mention it doesn't help your weight loss at all. Just a suggestion.

I had to have a liver biopsy done about six years ago due to having Hep C. When they came back with the results, the only thing wrong with my liver was that it was fatty. (Fortunately) Consequently, when my doctor told me that I had to follow a low carb diet (30 gms a day) for at least three weeks prior and then clear liquids for two days prior, I made sure I followed it to the T. I am happy to say that I have a picture of my liver (have one of my band and my hiatal hernia as well) and it is text book looking. Nice, red and small!

It was very important for me that my liver was in perfect shape for my surgery. My doctor showed us pictures of the liver of a patient he had to close up. It wasn't pretty. It was bruised and bleeding just touching it. He said if he had lifted it, it would have torn into. That's all it took for me to stick to my diet to the letter!

Unfortunately I don't know much about the Swedish lap band, just the Allergan band. I have heard with the Allergan band that you can take out alll of the fill, wait for a couple of weeks and then start filling again. Supposedly, this results in a feeling of starting all over again with fills. Like I said, I have heard this about the Allergan band, not sure how it is with the band you are talking about. The only other thing I can suggest is the possibility of either getting another type of band or the sleeve? I'm sorry to hear that you are having such difficulty.

I think I appreciate what I eat more now. I am only ten days out and just started on things like mushies and very moist meats a few days ago, but everything I put in my mouth now is a sensation. My first food after liquids was tuna fish and you would have thought I was eating filet mignon. It was soooooooooooooo good! Last night I had a chicken filet with BBQ sauce on it. My taste buds were dancing! Before my band I would just shovel it in and then feel guilty afterward for eating so much. Now I savor each bite and take much more pleasure in eating. The funny thing is, that is what I thought I was doing before.

I'm very sorry that your surgery didn't go as planned. I know it is hard to recover from a surgery like that. "Buyers remorse" is normal for all of us. The combination of anesthesia and pain has a tendency to be depressive so that doesn't help. Just try to focus on recovering right now. The reasons why you got the band will come back to you as you see the scale moving downward.

Everyone is really different. I had my surgery on Thursday (also had a hernia repair). I went to a get together at a friend's house on Saturday night and while I just sat on the couch, I was done after a couple of hours and went home. If I had HAD to go back to work on Monday I could have but I would have still been quite tender and not real clear headed. Tuesday would have been better. Today I am ten days post op and almost completely back to normal. I am doing house and yard work, riding my motorcycle, playing with my dog, etc. I sometimes get a little soreness in my neck/shoulder if I overdo it (that's from the hernia repair) but otherwise I'm doing great!. Unfortunately, there is no way to know how you will react but it appears the average is about four to five days. Some can do it sooner, others later.