LindaD

I changed into a hospital gown, tied in back. I assume they pushed it up and out of the way to do my surgery. I did get to keep my socks on. :lol (With hospital booties over them.) No swimming for 2 weeks, no sex for 4 weeks - this is in my post-op package. I wish I would have discussed the pre-op diet with my surgeon at our last face to face appointment. It was really TOO restrictive and I didn't understand why. I think if I had talked to him, we may have come to an agreement that left me less frustrated.

Yes, that was me. My doctor ordered Clear liquids for 2 week - no calories (sugar free clear liquids) and no Protein shakes or anything. I wasn't able to follow it that first week because I was on a business trip in a country where receiving their hospitality was important. But I started on it last Friday, modifying it by adding a serving of protein in each evening at dinner. Until Monday - that was the last day I modified it. I followed it to the letter Tue-Wed-Thur. My weigh in at the surgery center was 20 pounds down in that 1 week period (I had weighed in there the Friday before when I went in to pre-register and meet with anesthesia). So 20 pounds down in one week. The surgery went fine - he was very pleased with everything. From the time they wheeled me into the operating room until I awoke from the anesthesia was 1 hour and 15 minutes - no problems or complications.

I was banded yesterday, and am still sore. But I did sleep in my bed - lots of pillows and not much moving around. I would stay on my right side for a few hours, then get up to go pee (IV fluids) and then get back into bed on my left with the pillows and stay in that position for a couple hours, etc. I've been doing the same thing in my cap-naps. (I'm soooo tired with bursts of energy in between. LOL) I have also been doing really easy walking on my treadmill... slow, but enough to get the blood circulating.

My pre-op diet was all Clear liquids. broth, popsicles (sugar free, of course), Water, Crystal Lite, diet soda, coffee or tea. That's it. So having other stuff too is actually a more lenient pre-op than some of us got. I had my band installed yesterday so I have another week of clear liquids. Then a week of full liquids. THEN I get yogurt and stuff like that. But I can have creamy Soups on full liquids.

I had my surgery today. I lost about 20 pounds on the pre-op diet, about 46-48 altogether over the past few months. So a good kick-start. Today has been OK. Abdominal pain, hard to get up and lay down and turn over, etc. It seems to get better. Really tired and woozy. Heading to bed here soon - I've slept a good portion of the day. Here I am this morning: Dr. Wagner was great!! Everything is going fine and let's raise our sugar free popsicles to continued healing!! I'm finally on the other side - I started this journey in April of 08, was denied by insurance once, switch surgeons, and FINALLY I'm here. I'm on the band wagon!!

You were just banded yesterday!!! Of course it will get better. (I was banded yesterday too.) I was told that the pain in the back or shoulders or whatever is from the gas. They use gas to bloat you up during the surgery and then some of it gets trapped. My people told me to lie on the side or part that hurts because to actually put that under you will force it to move. The goal is for it to be re-absorbed. Sore throat - I have it too. They intubated me during the surgery and even though the tube was removed before I woke up, the soreness it left behind is still there. I have been switching between warm/hot broths and cold sugar-free popsicles. Also, you can suck on sugar-free candies if that would help. Good luck!

I haven't had a band fill yet, but for needles in general, my strategy is just not to look. I look at the wall in the other direction, etc. When you can't see it, it's better. (For me anyway...)

Similar to others.. (and I was just banded yesterday), I'm on clear liquids for a week, then full liquids, then mushy/soft, and then starting with some foods. I'm going to be way more careful following post-op than I even was on pre-op. I don't want the band to slip, I don't want food to get caught and cause vomiting. It's only been 1 day so if I get caught up in desperation later, remind me of this, OK? LOL

Mine was placed yesterday morning so I'm still adjusting/healing. Going pretty good, though. I'm sore and woozy and fighting a headache off and on, but doing pretty well. I even walked - very slowly - on my treadmill. Clear liquids for now....just had some broth and am sipping Water. Maybe a SF popsicle for dessert. LOL

Thanks, I used liquid Tylenol this morning for a headache and it helped a lot. Yeah, I've been sleeping a lot - it's only 10:40AM and I've taken 3 little cat-naps already. LOL But I was up at 5:45 AM too. Oy. I had to drop my daughter off at the YMCA this morning and decided I won't be going back out to drive anytime soon. That was a bad idea... I was too woozy. I haven't used my Stadol (pain med) in 6 hours but I still think it was affecting me. So no driving. Which means I'll work from home next week... I actually did do some REALLY slow paced treadmill time yesterday and will do that again today. Have been doing the exercises my doc gave me to do. All is good!

Yep, mine was out-patient. Doing good today. I was fine yesterday too. I slept in my own bed, although had to get up to pee a lot (darn IV fluids! LOL). Using my Stadol inhaler for pain. I had chicken broth, Water, and popsicles yesterday and will stick with those today. I'm only on Clear liquids this first week, so no shakes. I'm not hungry, though. This is easier than following the clear liquids pre-op diet, given that I was so hungry then. I hope I can continue to not be hungry for the next few days while getting past clear liquids. I even did my 30 minutes on the treadmill yesterday! I walked at a very VERY slow pace, but I did it. I'm still very tired, off and on, so will continue napping and building up stamina.

My husband and I left at 6:30 this morning, got there at 7 (appointed time). We did paperwork and then they started the prep - IV and heparin and all that. They wheeled me into the operating room at 8:45. The next thing I recall was coming out of it in recovery at 10. They observed me for nearly 2 hours but we left before noon and were home in our own house shortly after. I have slept most of the afternoon. Some pain, and wooziness from the pain meds. But other than that, it's all going fine... no nausea, no gas pain (knock wood). I'm on the other side!!! I'm with the band!

I weigh myself daily when I'm "on track" and expecting to see good results. I don't get discouraged if it doesn't move every day, though, so it's not a bad obsession. What I find is that in the periods where I'm NOT stepping on the scale, it's because I know I'm off the wagon - I know that the numbers will go up and I'm sort of in denial about it. (Well, not really in denial, but not wanting to face it in terms of the realities of the numbers). I'm A-OK with weighing every morning.

I'm on the last day of it. My surgeon wanted a 2 week liquid plan. I had an issue in that I had a business trip in that first week. I didn't over-indulge by any chance, but I did eat some in that first week. I really started the plan 1 week before. For the first 4 days, I added about 3-4 ounces of protein around 5PM. I was just struggling too much. Still, a 4 ounce serving of protein is pretty darn little for a full day. These last 3 days, I've followed it perfectly - not a bite. No calorie liquids only. I've dropped almost 15 pounds in this week. But I feel sick, weak, tire, cold, and I have headaches. I can make it through, and I'm sure my liver is shopping in the Juniors department by now, but I can't imagine that this is good for my body at all. It's really pushing it.

My banding is tomorrow but my inclination is to tell you to relax. Get your restriction in place. Let yourself heal! Most of what I have read on the band indicates an expected loss of about 2 pounds a week. I also think our bodies have to occasionally stop and catch their breaths before letting more of the weight go. Honestly, I think you need to lower your expectations. I know how frustrating it can be to hope for faster results. (And when I'm here in a month frustrated by the same thing, remind me of what I said. LOL)

I had never heard of them before but they've just opened up in St. Louis so I look forward to trying them. In about 6 weeks, maybe. :lol

I've done about 2 1/2 months of Phentermine, which is responsible for about 30 pounds of my loss. I've stopped taking it as I approach surgery because it elevates blood pressure and heart rate so this past week or so, it's all me trying to follow the liquid diet. I'm on a very restrictive liquid pre-op diet and that's been responsible for the rest of it. I was down another 3 this morning - had to change my sig again. It seems crazy. My surgery is tomorrow so I might end up a couple more down, I guess. It would have been cool to lose 50 BEFORE surgery but I don't think that will happen. LOL I feel really weak, too, so I'm just looking to make it through today...

Headaches. Can't seem to sleep the night. Tossing and turning. Cold all the time - my feet are FROZEN even with socks on. I started my stupid period a week early. (That NEVER happens). Good lord, 3 more days... get me through it. I have not been perfect on the preop diet. I've had about 4 ounces of Protein each day around 5PM. Still, the weight is just falling off, which is good. I'm glad I'm near surgery... I'll still have all the time to pass AFTER surgery before I can have solid food again. Each day is a day closer.

Mine is the following day - Friday. I'm doing OK on the pre-op diet, losing weight like crazy and sticking pretty close to it. In fact, I have to go change my signature again because I was down 2 more pounds this morning. LOL I've stocked up on Soups and have a list of mushy foods to keep on hand for when I'm ready to move on. I need to send my husband out for some sugar free popsicles but that's about it. Other than that, just hopeing for smooth sailing on Friday and beyond. Good luck to you!

47 hours and 20 minutes for me. :thumbup: I can't wait... It's been over a year since I set this all in motion. A long time coming.... Good luck!

Looking forward to being on top. Looking forward to going to a concert without feeling self-conscious about the seats being too small. Looking forward to traveling up to my NYC office where people haven't seen me since February and having them go :mad5:. Looking forward to having someone flirt with me. Looking forward to cleaning out my damn closet. I no longer want to keep sizes 18 through 24. :lol I'll get rid of all the stuff as I pass out of that size and buy new stuff iun 16, 14, 12... and eventually I'll only have 1 size in there.

I'm doing clear liquids (not broth or anything with calories) and I've added about 4 ounces of Protein at around 5PM. That is getting me through. And I did talk to the nurse on this topic. I don't give 100% blind trust to anyone. Yes, I know I'm letting him operate on me. I have done my homework and verified his background, track record, etc. I have met him multiple times and assessed my "gut" feeling on him as someone who can take care of me. But I do and will continue to question the medical professionals I engage directly as well as to seek information from other sources. Here, I was merely trying to collect input from multiple people. I wasn't going to accept or reject anything just because it did or didn't agree with me. I wanted a sampling of opinions, simple as that.

I hesitate to post this, but I need to hear, so I will. Please be honest with me - I'm not looking to be coddled or agreed with here. I need to hear the straight truth. I'm scheduled for surgery the 29th. My surgeon has a pre-surgery diet that is 14 days of Clear liquids, no calories. Water, diet soda, coffee, tea, SF Jello, SF popsicles, flavored water with no calories, etc. No Protein shakes, no soups/broths. Basically, 2 weeks of NO nutrition. I understand the fatty liver concern. I could not possibly be more serious about wanting to succeed here, both before and after surgery. I have thus far dropped 32 pounds. I'm on the verge of dropping into the next bracket of BMI (a few more pounds, and I'll be in the 39.XX range). I am exercising every day, nearly - averaging 5-6 hours per week. I am not doing so well following the "all clear liquids" order. I already talked to the nurse at the surgeon's office about it and she was sympathetic. I need to function. I have a job, five kids, a house, 2 dogs, a husband, a life. I have to DRIVE my kids around and make decisions at work. I know it's a short amount of time, but this restriction seems SO dire. So while I do want to take my surgeon's instructions very seriously, here I sit second guessing them. So many other surgeons seem to do Protein shakes, or low-carb, or a very restricted number of calories per day. Those things seem to be effective at shrinking the liver, right? Some surgeons don't put any restrictions on at all. If thousands are having surgery without such dire restrictions, then are they THAT necessary? Doesn't my 32 pounds and my committment to daily exercise count in my favor here? I have been allowing myself 1 small meal a day - low carb. Am I making a horrible decision? What I am leaning toward is continuing this approach for a couple more days - small meal tomorrow evening, small meal Monday evening. And THEN going all-clear-liquids for Tuesday-Friday. I'd like to hear opinions and input. I keep thinking that I surely have shrunk my liver considerably with all the recent work over the past few months. Am I being irresponsible? I may be taking 500 calories in a day.

I think, in general, when you're truly hungry, food smells and tastes better than other times.