slim2be

My Dr. suggests around 1,000 calories a day.

Good luck to you on the liquid pre-op stage. I was nervous too about the thought of not having food that long (I had to be on it for 1 week pre-op and 1 1/2 weeks post-op) but your determination will get you through it. Just think of all you've been through with all your tests and appointments and you don't want to ruin everything if the sugeon goes in and your liver is too enlarged (the purpose of the diet pre-op is to shrink the liver). Another perk is that you'll lose a good amount of weight....I lost 13 lbs that first week! I NEVER did that before! It was a great feeling and a good jump start. Don't worry, you'll be fine...best of luck to you! Lisa

When I started my solid food I didn't have anything that would be too difficult or take too long to chew. I started using a cake plate, instead of my regular size dinner plate and the smaller cake fork. My kids asked me why I was using these and I said it just makes me feel like my plate is filled. It's all in the mind and I didn't want to feel that my food was such a small portion and got "lost" on my plate. Lisa :thumbup:

Hi Camille, I was banded on July 2 as well! Sorry to hear about your infection but glad you're doing well now. I'm doing good with my band. I'm excited that my first fill will be this Wed. Not sure how much they will fill me because I do already have some restriction. I find I can't eat nearly as much as I used to eat, not that I would anyway. I don't really understand that because I know the band is not supposed to have any saline in it from surgery, but I'm greatful that I can't eat too much. Good luck to you in your continued journey, and to everyone out there as well! Lisa

Wow, what an experience....glad you're doing well now. I know they say that the band doesn't have saline in it when it's first placed, that comes after a fill. I haven't had a fill yet....I'm getting my first this Wednesday, but I definately can't eat what I used to be able to eat. I must have some restriction because a much less amount of food satisfies me. I would like a little fill because it will give me that full sensation a bit longer than I have now.

When I went for my first check-up after beibg banded, the nurse gave me a card to carry in my wallet. It's made of plastic and it says that I have a 10cc Lapband and the Dr.'s name and # on it. She said it shouldn't affect anything at an airport but it was just in case. Ask your Dr. if he has a card like that for his patients.

arellady, Sorry this is off topic but I viewed your slide show and you look MAAARRVVELOUS! How inspirational....congrats to you! Lisa :thumbup:

I get my liquid vitamins at Costso. For a 1 month supply (1 bottle) it costs about $11.00. I think that's a good price.

I've had the Lapband since July 2 of this year and I'm doing very well with it. I've heard from a few people that with gastric bypass, the stomach can eventually stretch, causing an ability to eat more food and gain weight. I had a visiting nurse came to my home after my surgery because I had to self inject a blood clot preventitive for a week after surgery. She told me she had a patient who had a bypass and then eventually had the lapband placed because her stomach stretched so much. Gastric bypass is also permanent, totally internally altering, and a riskier surgery. I've not heard of anyone dying from Lapband surgery directly, but I have from gastric bypass. Good luck to you in whatever you decide! Lisa :tt2:

You'll probably be able to drive....my Dr. said not to drive for 5 days. You'll probably also be feeling better, the only thing is that you might be tired. I'm a side and tummy sleeper and wasn't able to do that until night 10 post-op. That's when I was able to finally get a good nights sleep again. Prior to that, I was tired because I hardly got any sleep. I know everybody's different and maybe you'll be able to sleep fine, but if not, just know it won't last forever. Good luck with your surgery and the recovery! Lisa :cry_smile:

Hi Cami, I was banded July2 and when I was on full liquids, my Dr. says we should have 6 meals a day (of liquids). This includes 3 or 4 of those being a protein shake and then either soup, yogurt, sf/ff pudding. It sounds like you might not be getting enough calories for the day. Try calling your nutritionist. And I know they say we should be drinking 64 oz of water a day but that almost seems impossible to me. I drank as often as I could....maybe it added up to 40 or 45 oz a day and I did fine with that. Good luck to you!

Sounds like your date went pretty well, but I've never heard of ahi. What is that?

Before I was banded I took an 81 mg aspirin daily that my general Doctor told me to take but a week prior to being banded I stopped. I've heard that aspirin is not good to take with the band so I haven't taken it since. I suggest you ask your regular doctor as well as your lap band surgeon their advice. Good luck to you and keep us posted! Lisa

I had a blood clot in 2003 and it's not something to take lightly. I thank God I'm here today....luckily I listened to my body and didn't ignore the symptoms. I was banded July 2, 2008 and had to self inject a blood clot peventitive for a week following surgery. With any kind of surgery people are at a risk of getting a clot but especially with abdominal surgery. As a previous person said, just watch out for shortness of breath in addition to swelling in you leg. When I had the clot, I had pain in my calf at first, then the pain went away and I had swelling, my calf was warm to the touch, and then I had some shortness of breath. Even if you don't have shortness of breath but have swelling with warmth in your leg, get it checked out. Good luck to you! Lisa :cursing:

I found Gas-x to be very helpful!

Welcome! Good luck to you both! Lisa :biggrin:

Same thing just happened to me 3 days ago....the scale showed a gain of 3 pounds and I haven't been eating any more that usual AND I started exercising. I know it must be the water weight from my monthly cycle. I know it's disappointing to see the numbers on the scale go up but it's temporary.

Hi Nikole, Congrats on your banding! I had to be on clear liquids for 2 days and then full liquids after that (which includes tomato soup). Be patient, your soreness will go away in a few days. Good luck to you!

Hi Charles, The idea of the LapBand was first introduced to me by a co-worker. She happened to mention to me that she was having it done in October of 2007 and I wished her luck with it. As time went on, I was seeing the great results she was having and then one day I saw a commercial for the LapBand. THAT is what really opened my mind and I started to do some research about it. I first went to my co-worker and asked her the "real deal". I knew she wouldn't "sugar-coat" anything and tell me if it was a horrible thing to do. Well, all she could say to me was great things about the LapBand and how she wished she did it sooner. I was then on a mission to see if this was for me. I then went to a seminar given by the surgeon...the same one my co-worker highly recommended. It was THEN that I decided that this was for me. It was so inspirational to see the people get up and speak of their succeses and there was a woman there who lost 235 pounds and you'd never know she had a weight problem in her life. I left there that night with hope for the first time in my life that I can finally lose this weight and keep it off. I'm 45 years old and proud to say that I'm not on any kind of meds, but I know that if I don't lost the weight, I eventually will be. The simple thing is, I just want to look in the mirror and feel good about myself....I want to smile when I see my reflection. Yes, I was starting to get some aches and pains in my knees and feet and I know that would only progress with time. I had my surgery on July 2 (almost a month ago) and I've lost 29 pounds. This includes my weight for the 1 week pre-op diet (I lost 13 pounds that first week). I feel so good mentally just knowing I'm on the road to a healthier me. This is why I decided to have LapBand surgery. Good luck to you in whatever you decide! Lisa :thumbup:

Hi Flyaway, I have the same problem. My surgery was July2 and was doing great up until a week ago. Now, when my stomach is empty(can't figure that one out...you'd think it would happen when I'm full) I get a terrible shooting pain in the exact area you described when I burp. It was getting progressively worse as the week has been going on and I spoke with the Dr. this morning. He said it does sound like gas but he wants to check it out and see me Monday morning and told me to go back to the liquid phase for this weekend. He also said to take Gas-x 4x a day. I'll keep you posted...hope you feel better! Lisa :tt2:

Hi! I'm 3 weeks post-op and didn't have any trouble getting my protein. I HIGHLY recommend the protein drink from Unjury (order on-line at www.unjury.com). It's a powder and they taste really great. I discovered it on this site and was very pleased with them. I was supposed to have a total of 4 shakes post-op for 2 weeks but my nutritionist said that I only needed 3 of the Unjury shakes because the protein content was so high (20 grams per serving). Keep hydrated as much as possible...I know it's not easy squeezing the water in with stopping 15 minutes before "a meal" and not drinking 1 hour post-meal by you'll get used to juggling it. Good luck! Lisa :thumbup:

Hi MissMaryAnn, Don't blame yourself, this IS a disease and you probably need help. It can be scarry to think of how your eating will change but try to think of how you whole life will change when you lose the weight! I'm 3 weeks post-op and including the 1 week liquid diet before surgery, I'm down 26 pounds! Getting on the scale this morning and seeing that is such a wonderful feeling. I'm another very happy person with the lapband....look at all of us on this site. We're telling you the truth in saying that this does work and you'll be so happy after it's done and you start seeing the results. Good luck to you on your weight loss journey! Lisa :thumbup:

Hi Grammywoz, No, I didn't get any dry heaves.....sorry you are experiencing that. How are you feeling now? I started feeling myself when I was able to get a good nights sleep again....that happened at night 10 post-op. Hope you're doing well!

I had my surgery July 2nd and I can now say that I'm very happy with my decision. I have to admit that for the first week and a half I asked myself, "What the hell did I do"? But as of night 10 post-op, I was finally able to get some sleep (was able to sleep on my sides and tummy). When you are getting your correct amount of sleep, you can think clearer. I've been on the liquid diet for 1 week pre-op and still 2 weeks post-op and that can make you a bit nuts but I just keep on thinking that it's not forever and real food is just a few days away. The nice thing also is to see those numbers go down on the scale. Since I started the 1 week liquid pre=op diiet, I've lost 21 pounds (that's in 2 1/2 weeks). THAT is what it's all about and I'm so happy I have my Lapband! Lisa :smile2: