RestlessMonkey

I had a 3 week long preop diet; I read over and over on here about people who didn't have to do one, or had one and cheated, so I figured I could too. NOT! I didn't get my band the first time because I hadn't followed the diet (I lost 15 pounds but not by following the diet my doc gave me) and my liver was too thick. I followed the diet precisely for 2 1/2 more weeks, lost 17 MORE pounds, and got the band. SO the take-home from this is to clarify with your doc and do exactly what s/he tells you to do. If you don't have to have one, good for you. If you do, follow it!

Ill effects DO happen (they do with any surgery...they do if you stay obese, too!) but they are rare. Slips are about 3%, erosions about 1%, 1 in 2000 die on the table (odds of slipping and dying in shower or bathtub are similar) I think the odds of bad outcome with the band are way less than the odds of developing heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, etc if you do nothing.

Your pre and post op diets depend largely on what your surgeon wants and what s/he includes in the diet; once you get your info from him, you can post for more help if you need it! But you don't want to get a bunch of stuff he may not let you have! :laugh:

It's up to you. I don't think it would hurt you to delay a little. I know the "official" lap band site says to stay on liquids for 2 weeks, but your doc SHOULD know what he's doing! I think if I were you and I had the fortitude to hold off a little, I would, just to make sure! :laugh:

If you can read something through it, it's clear. I was doubtful about coffee but I could read through it when i poured it into a glass! Of course some surgeons say no caffeine so it may be moot. :laugh: Good luck!

Try this tutorial: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

Congratulations!

Welcome and good luck! The preop and post op diets are tough but just hang in there with them! :laugh: You'll do great!

Don't use protein post op until your surgeon gives the ok. Mine was adamant about the first week...clear liquids ONLY no add ins, no protein powder, etc. Just follow your docs orders and you'll be fine! If he just says "clear liquid" and doesn't address protein, ASK him. It may or may not be ok for you! (I hope it is; the protein helps you feel better....but don't have it until you get the all clear!)

A clear liquid is just that...anything you can see through. That includes tea and coffee. Sprite is a no no on lap band post op because of the carbonation...which you probably know Jello (you can see through it! and while it isn't really liquid have you ever tried chewing it? LOL) and so on. Protein shakes aren't, creamed soups aren't, lemonade isn't, (unless you can see through it...mine is kind of murky so it's a no no)

As long as what you have works...I don't think it really matters in the vast scheme of things! :laugh:

The only 14 cc band (so far) is the lap band. Realize just comes in one size, like lap band used to! :laugh:

it was very hard. I "cheated" (did my own modified version) and lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks...but didn't shrink my liver. So right after the unsuccessful surgery I went back on it for another 2 1/2 weeks and it was still hard but you can bet I never cheated...not a drop, not a bite, nothing. And I did lose an amazing amount! :laugh: Plus that taught me not to "cheat" on any diet the doc gives me.

I think your surgeon, if he uses the Lap Band AP, will pick which size works best for you. That's the point of it; to pick the one that works best around each person's stomach opening. They may let you pick Lap Band or Realize band, but they shouldn't let you pick the size band if you go with the AP.

Here's a link to a "ticker tutor" that may help you: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/ And yes the first 6 weeks or so are for healing but let me ad a caveat: Many many MANY bandsters don't feel restriction with their first few fills. Without restriction it is as if you DO NOT have the band. I can't emphasize that enough. The band works by restricting your portions of certain foods. (some foods "slide" on through regardless and those are unfortunately often the calorie and fat-rich things that get us in trouble...things like cake and chips and Cookies and milkshakes and ice cream and dip...) Anyway...until you have restriction you can eat ALMOST as much as you used to. Some bandsters grimly diet during this time and using sheer willpower hang in there until the fill level is finally sufficient to provide some help, and some don't and just wait for the fill to do it's thing. It's your band and you'll do whatever you feel works for you. Just remember you aren't failing and it is a process. It is often a SLOW process.

Yes you can get the lap band after bypass. Here's a link to get you started on research etc: Bariatric Surgery Revision - LapBand After Gastric Bypass

Hang in there! You aren't cheating and that's good. It will be worth it; eventually you'll forget you felt this hungry!

Being alone will make it MUCH easier! You don't have to deal with the aromas and sights of foods that aren't necessarily healthy. You can have your first PB in private and learn "gadzooks don't wanna do that again" without someone hovering around. You can eat baked fish 4 days in a row if you want (food will eventually not be so important) without someone there to say "Baked fish AGAIN!!!" I don't know why you're questioning yourself but I'm sorry that you are down!

I lost 39 pounds in 5 1/2 weeks following my doc's liver shrink preop diet. Ask your doc for some tips.

I tell people...it's just my nature. I don't really care what people think usually anyway and no one has ever been negative or hateful to me about it. So...telling works for me.

That's assuming exercise is the reason she's not losing. I can't address the "negativity" you say she's encountered...most people here are fairly nice but some are harsh (tough love as it were) I really think this is something SHE needs to do...if not finding help here, then maybe the support group at her surgeon's office. She's the one who ultimately controls what she eats and what she does and in my experience it's what's going on between her two ears that is the vital part of weight loss. You honestly can't really impact it much. Maybe she should try again, posting and getting some help And actually she can send me a "pm" (Private message) and I'll help her if I can.

My husband is very supportive but doesn't post. I sincerely enjoy his help (as in eating what I eat) but I wouldn't want the food police. I think it's sweet you want to help your wife but can't she post? That would probably be of more help to her...she can get to the problems from her perspective and maybe get customized help!

As my dad would say, your only mistake was when you thought you made a mistake and didn't. YOU DID NOT MAKE ANY MISTAKES. Many people just cut back and lose. Seriously. you just have to not snack. AND...UNTIL you get enough "fills" that won't work because you can eat too much AND you don't have to write about every bite you put in your mouth unless you want to. IF you bought a new car and had no gas for it and it didn't run, what would be the problem? That you picked the wrong car? OR ... that you need gas! TAH DAH! You need fills. IF the doc's office blows you off be adamant that you need an appt asap. It took me FIVE fills to get restriction. It takes many people 3-4! So you are essentially stuck with a shiny new vehicle that can't get you where you want to go because it has no fuel. That's not your fault. Make the doc step up. You may certainly journal and calorie count if you want to. I personally find when I do that I obsess about food so much. I wanted freedom from it, not more obsession...but we can all use the marvelous band the way we see fit. Get some gas and get out on the road, woman. You'll love it!

Lots of thin people don't eat a lot! My BFF weighs what she did in high school (120 at 5'5") and always eats just "part" of her food. So not eating everything won't seem odd, I don't think. As to the other...that will depend on you. In my experience things have to progress a good bit along the intimacy road before you start explaining each and every scar and by then, it shouldn't matter that you had surgery. If you feel comfy enought with a person to get naked and do the deed, you'll probably feel comfy enough to talk about the band.

Congrats! The only thing I needed in the hospital (I didn't stay overnight!) that wasn't obvious was lip balm. They give you an anti-cholenergic in the OR to dry you up and it works. My lips were SO DRY! I always care "soft lips" around with me and I was so glad I had it! :rolleyes2: Good luck!