It's_Christine

I have grown quite fond of my puree concoctions! I am all about taste so I use things like low fat salad dressing to moisten the tuna which gives it a great flavor. I had surgery on 5/28/2008 and can tell that after about a week liquids wash right through but the puree "sticks" for a while. I am very careful about waiting to drink after a meal and that helps also.

Seriously, that is a GREAT story. Thanks for sharing it.

Something similar happened to me with my supervised diet phase. My insurance was not as strict about the timing as they were about the fact that I had to lose at least 5% of my body weight and show that I could follow a 1200-1500 calorie eating plan. Good luck...the waiting is the worst part!

My surgeon decides which band to use according to which he feels fits better when he is "in there". I wound up with a Realize band on 5/28/2008. The post-op was gasey but not very painful. I am still only dealing with head hunger and am fine on 1/2 cup of puree three times a day. As long as I make sure I get the right amount of protein I feel great.

You can subtract the Protein from your puree meals from your daily requirement. I am on puree right now post-op and yesterday I got my required 60gms of protein from puree egg salad (2 eggs=14gm of protein), puree tuna (you can read the label but for me the can I used had 28gms of protein) and puree ricotta (12gms of protein per 1/2 cup). The food left me just a little short of my goal but I was not hungry so I used some liquid Protein to make up the difference. I am not trying to tell you what to eat but just giving you an example. Does this make sense?

For post-op protein I am using a product called ProStat. It's liquid with 15gm of protein in 1 ounce. You can find it on-line (I ordered mine from CVS) and it's reasonable. Check with your dietician or surgeon and see if you can add that. I took 1 ounce 4 times a day with my clears to keep me at >60gms of protein a day. Even now that I am on puree if I miss the mark I add some and make sure I get my 60gms of protein. The protein is really what makes me feel full and Gwen is right is is essential for healing.

I had to switch to decaf before surgery and my program recommends I stay off for at least one month after banding. Since I was on a 6 month supervised diet prior to surgery I used that time to slowly withdraw. For my coffee made at home I just replaced one scoop of "caffed" coffee Beans with a scoop of decaffed beans when I brewed and drank "1/2 caffs" outside the house. Once I was down to all decaf at home I switched to decaf outside the house too. I miss the kick but overall the withdrawal was manageable. I am thinking of staying decaf now as long as I have gone through this. What have you done so far?

I was banded on 5/28/2008 and was warned by several doctors about how my age and weight might cause complications. I am happy to report they were wrong. When I woke up after the surgery I had some wicked chest pain which resolved over the day as gas started to pass. No real pain, some aches which were relieved by Tylenol and the ever present gas which has been slow to resolve but is very tolerable. YAY for all of us

I was banded 5/28/2008 and when I woke up from surgery I had the feeling of chest pressure until I was able to belch and it has been all about gas since then! I know I have a lot of swelling because I cannot tolerate anything but clear lquids yet. Called the surgeon's office and they say this happens so just stick with it and to advance my diet as I can tolerate it. I have had almost NO pain and really feel generally better every day. I think this is just a part of the "individualized" nature of the banding experience. Need I add...this too shall pass? :-)

I am having the same issues after being banded on 5/28/2008. I have this "way to full" feeling when I sip anything but clear liquids. I called my surgeon's office and they said I could stay on clears until I felt better. They also mentioned the swelling issue. I will follow-up with them on Monday. So I am walking, sipping clears and planning on advancing my diet soon but for right now I don't care because I am not hungry at all.

tdpw4 I was banded on 5/28/2008 also and I am amazed you are taking such a great long term look when I am still trying to sip enough Water :-) When I made the decision to get the band I had already had the "aaahhhhaaaa" moment...the only way the band is going to work is if I work with it. Calories in versus calories burned is what makes the difference. OK, some calories like those from Protein can keep you feeling full longer but in the end it's still the number of calories ingested that count. So yes I am going to continue to count calories, I am going to eat my protein first (when I get there) because I know that will help me feel full longer, I am going to exercise because even normal weight persons need to exercise and I am going to follow all of the rules my surgeon and dietician set out for me. Let's face it I did not succeed following my rules :-) Good luck to all of us !

Thanks same to you! I am sure we will both do great

Well good for you since I am not feeling great with this laxative churning through me LOL. I have noticed here there is a wide variation on what is done from surgeon to surgeon. Did you have the 2 week clear liquid preop diet?

Daminl, I chugged a chilled bottle of mag citrate a couple of hours ago. What about you?

Thanks Bandfan1 I am sitting here sipping chicken broth before starting my bowel prep for surgery tomorrow...gotta love it. It's great to hear life will be back to my new normal in about a month.

I have lost >100 lbs three time since I have had the same job and needless to say have gained it and more back. Based on that and my need to just stay centered and make this all about ME I decided not to tell anyone at work except my boss and only a few members of my family. Would I like support, sure I would but the support with the band is no different than what I have needed in the past so I have decided to keep that part to myself. So if people ask why I am eating the way I am I will tell them I am working on my health and leave it at that. My point is I think we all need to know what it is that WE need succeed and protect that. This is our health and out future.

Becky, Sounds like a dream come true, confidence and control over my eating. Thanks for the glimpse of my future.

Thanks Becky. Maybe I am weird but I do not worry about the pain (like it is not painful to haul all of this weight around anyway) but I am concerned about the adjustment to a new relationship with food. It's so good to read the posts and see that the band can work if you work with it. I think because I have lost weight so many times and have not been successful in the weight loss maintenance department I am feeling cautious.

I am feeling the same way. So excited and yet so nervous. I think I am giong to be a basket case by the day before surgery. I am trying yoga and deep breathing but it's not cutting it for me. How about you?

I am set for 5/28/2008 YAY!

I am scheduled for my band on 5/28 also. Let's think good thoughts for each other!