RestlessMonkey

You need to do exactly what your doctor tells you. Seems like all preop diets are different, but each surgeon has his/her reasons. Mine was 2-3 of a specific shake, and then 3-4 oz lean Protein (turkey fish or chicken) and 1 cup green veggies...that's IT. No broth no soup no stew. Water, 64 oz or more, but that's it. So do exactly what your doc says.

Catho...carbs don't make you go, fiber does. Fiber IS plant material so I can see how you'd get them confused...but check the fiber on the NI label. We need about 25-30 grams a day, just fyi!

I didn't but I can see how it would be helpful! Take it if you want; if it's contraindicated they can tell you. I just used a pillow. Good luck!

You may be right in your theory...for some! But for me I can truthfully say it honest-to-goodness helps me be full faster and stay full longer. When I am not hungry it is easier to not snack. (I'm an evening snacker, not a daytime/work/in the car/stressed/mad at partner/etc snacker LOL) AND when I get HUNGRY it's easy to pick filling foods. When hungry, now, I'd really rather have a hamburger patty or some chicken because....it fills me up (makes hunger go away) and LASTS! Personally my almost life long obsession with food (I was either dieting, cheating on a diet, or about to start a diet. And I worried, and I do mean WORRIED, about food all the time...what can I eat when where how much will I gain will it be good will I have enough yada yada yada) is losing it's stranglehold on me. There's no bread in my house right now and I don't care, for example. LOL So depending on what being truly hungry does to you, it can solve that if you follow the rules (no liquids with meals, chew chew, etc). I've been damned determined before (pardon me) Truly. Deeply. and lost steam from boredom or disappointment or, as I've said, the weight of the obsession of measuring and weighing and coordinating and the Oh my there is no reduced fat laughing cow cheese what will I do (think this in a tearful voice) I can't have "REAL" cheese (sob)... I don't diet any more. I never will again. And I'm losing. I LOVE it.

LOL you will breeze through! I KNOW it! It is rare...I was just the lucky one to be THE one in 10000 it happens to (or whatever statistic!) Keep in touch; let me know how it's going, ok? You'll get sick of that diet but if you're like me you'll drop weight so fast you think your scale is broken.

What PLAIN said. It's slow, it's work. I don't have problems, otherwise. I'm not constipated. I haven't vomited (yet). I don't slime. no indigestion, no gerd. No weird pains. No nothing. My hair fell out (as my surgeon said it would, no secret there) and I never needed a wig and now it's growing back. I had little pain post op, I LOVE my band. I was well read (3 books plus this site plus others plus quizzing the surgeon etc) on the band, I'd wanted it since 2002, and I have never regretted it and don't expect to. I know I will have to choose the food I eat, and when, and how much. ALL THE BAND DOES....when I follow the rules, and eat Protein first, then veggies, and follow the rules...(very important)....I do NOT get hungry again right away. Not being hungry makes it easier to not snack. And when I'm hungry again I eat, and it happens all over again. Head hunger? I deal with it. True hunger? The band takes that one. LOVE IT

LOL I have to laugh! I am wondering what Daniel did when his wife had gas? (Hope you don't think I'm being sacrilegious....I just feel your, and your husband's, pain!) It'll improve. Things like gas-x may help but it doesn't make you not "pass" gas, just makes it easier to pass gas.

Honestly it's not usually animal products that give you gas; its things like veggies and Fiber. The change in your diet is what has done it...not sure why you're avoiding animal products but you might want to reintroduce them and do the protein/veggie/fruit/THEN pasta/grains thing. Nuts are also a big offender. I don't know what "soy fruit" is but soy really makes me gassy. On the bright side if you keep on eating that way eventually your body will adapt to it, or so I've heard.

It's most likely your different diet, not necessarily the band. What are you eating?

I am glad I got my band; there's not a thing I would post to dissuade you. Are you just trying to get balanced information? Or do you WANT to be talked out of it?

Hi! I can share what MY surgeon had me do; I think it can be modified to fit your needs, none of it counteracts what your doc said to do.. I used EAS CarbControl AdvantEDGE shakes (NOT the mypolex ones). I could have 2-3 a day; you I guess get 1. I got 1 meal a day (lucky you to get 2!) and i was told to have no more than 3-4 oz of lean Protein (fish, chicken, or turkey...no beef, no pork) and 1 cup of green veggies. That's it. No butter, cheese, eggs, no fried, no ketchup, etc. I think that's a lite meal...3-4 oz of lean proten and 1 cup of veggies I bought some Gorton's fish filets (the ones that aren't breaded) and we ate those a lot...or I cooked chicken (roasted or baked) and ate it. Never did anything with the turkey THe upshot is, a portion is usually considered 3-4 oz of the "meat" (about the size of a deck of cards) and 1/2 cup of veggies... That should help you a little. You might want to try some smart ones or lean cuisine or south beach frozen meals...just keep an eye on the fat, carbs and salt! Good luck!

My shakes had fiber in them (fiber doesn't really count as carbs...I know on atkins you remove the fiber from the carb count) so it wasn't a problem.

I'm not counting calories or eating differently (as in diet foods, "low cal" stuff, etc), and am slowly losing. What I am NOT doing is snacking, and WHY I'm not is because now, with my (moderate, not at "The spot" yet) restriction, I get satisfied faster and stay that way longer. I used to get really hungry and would graze. Now I'm satiated and it's easier not to snack or eat junk. Without the band, I was hungry, and dealing with that, PLUS the grazing/snack habit, was very hard. Finally, I personally have successfully dieted about a billion times (LOL) but by about 45 pounds lost, I'd get so BORED and tired of weighing and counting and obsessing over every bite, I'd go off the deep end. Honestly, for me, diets mean full blown food obsession (can I have that? WHEN can I have that? What can I eat? will It hurt me? is it salty? will I be up on weigh in day? if I eat this extra serving will I gain weight for the week? Is this too much? Is this ENOUGH?...you get the drift) I don't do that now. Slowly, slowly, food is becoming less and less important to me. Choosing healthy is easier. Eating less is no problem because I don't get hungry as often, and I stay "full" (not stuffed, but ...un-hungry) for longer.

I gurgle and am NOT at my sweet spot. It's no big deal...noisy, but no big deal!

I had to have clear liquids for 1 week post op (and that meant NO protein shakes either) then 1 week full liquids. IS that what you have to do?

I had a similar problem years back when I had my gallbladder removed. I had to pay the anesthesiologist because he wasn't in my network...so insurance did pay SOME on him, but I was billed for more. As is usual, he accepted my offer of a reduced lump payment in lieu of me paying the bill off $10 at a time. If this were me, I'd start with the surgeon and ask him why he selected an assistant and anesthesiologist that weren't under your plan, and take it from there.

Call your doc and ask him when you should've "gone" and if you don't, what can you take? With the weekend coming up, you don't want to wait until Monday and not "go". He'll recommend a Fiber supplement or laxative if he things it could be problematic! :thumbs_up: You should have one, even if very minor. If you have an opiod pain killer it can be constipating...so do call the doc, ok? :thumbup:

There was a thread about this very thing yesterday or the day before.... Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending I guess !) I weighed enough that it wasn't an issue for me. However, you can bet that if I only needed to gain 10 pounds to "qualify" for the surgery, I'd have done that in a heartbeat. Many feel the same way; others do things like wearing weights, heavy clothes, quarters in their pockets, etc.

Mine hurt for a while post op, especially when I exerted myself and had to breathe more deeply. Have you noticed if it happens more, say, after you eat or maybe eat too much? I'm wondering if maybe somehow your band or port/tubing may be occasionally irritating your diaphragm? When it happens have you tried having someone rub your neck and shoulder (like getting a massage)?

If you're trying to decide between weight loss surgeries, I'd suggest going to a seminar (or two, or three!) and getting some info that way. It may just lead to more questions, but is a good start. They want you to exercise, to be healthy, WLS or no. That's not something unique to the lap band.

Yes you can lose 6 pounds of more of water weight. The first week I was on diuretics I lost more than that.

referring also to JMS and Annie's posts....forgot to click "multi" :thumbup: Looking back through her old posts, she's been around, although sparingly, for a few months and is an RN! In one post she chides people for not checking with their doctor about fills. I'm, uh, flummoxed. I do understand food issues, but she says she's a "medical professional"...had her surgery in Mexico...she should know better than to eat a hamburger 2 days out, even if her doc didn't give specific direction. Wonder if one of "Tripi's" kids or someone posted under the name as a prank? (And I assume Tripi is female but actually I have no idea). Anyway, don't cheat on your post op diet and if you do, check with your surgeon.

At least you didn't go through the surgery just to be told your liver was too thick and you couldn't get the band! I'm sorry this happened to you! but you're another good example of why we need to do what our doctors tell us.