RestlessMonkey

Good morning, Hickman! I think it's a really good idea to have your husband go with you to the seminar. I did the same thing; mine is a nurse and working in a GI lab, saw many many bypass patients with ulcers and other issues, so he was pretty much against me getting ANY type of surgery. The seminar helped convince him that the band is an entirely different animal. I knew I'd need him on board with this; we have been married 25 years and are a pretty good team. I needed him in my court! I got my band 8/29 and am feeling pretty darned good. I'm anxious to be through the liquid phase of my post op diet (what they call bandster hell....because you are hungry but really must follow surgeon's directions so you can heal) but I know it will pass soon. I love my band already!

MarinaBleu... Each doc has his or her own post op diet. The best advice is to follow your doc's orders. I have a post op diet similar to yours but I don't get soft meats and foods until week 5. There are some who are on liquids for 4 weeks. You ARE healing right now; so do what your doc says. I don't know about being able to "handle" sugar right now. but you will be able to (GBS patients are prone to dumping syndrome; we aren't) so hang in there. Can't you use artificially sweetened yogurt? It will get better for you

Sorry I can't help you; I was banded 8/29 and am on liquids for 2 weeks. I'm fairly new but have learned that each surgeon is different in his/her post-op dietary requirements; you should check with your doctor's office to make sure you are complying with their rules! Good luck!

AND frankly if you are nervous or scared, it's best to just wait. What harm will a few weeks do? Until you are comfortable with the new surgeon and so on.

Just to help you lay it out...why would getting your first fill stop you from healing? Usually the first fill doesn't do much anyway. What does your surgeon say?

I know I'm a little larger than the average "bandster". I asked my surgeon about a low profile port and he was VERY nice but the upshot is, he said it would be a challenge to find the larger port while I'm this large but as I lose it will get easier and when I get small enough that my port sticks out he'll fix it. So I'm braced for them to have a little trouble! It will be worth it though.

Mine quit after about 2 weeks. I never took pain killers for it though...mine wasn't that bad apparently. It's "referred" pain from your diaphragm...and mine would happen after I exercised and breathed hard. It would go away after about 10-15 min

Indiogirl55...I just wanted to thank you for this wonderful thread. You are a voice of reason in a sea of chaos! I am enjoying this site but some of the info is, frankly, bleak and frightening. (and I've read 2 books, am a nursing student, and a grown up) You are frank, forthcoming, and honest. I truly appreciate your viewpoint and guidance. I am so glad I have my band, and know it will help me (notice I said help ME) achieve a freedom that I have never had in my whole life. I will be healthier and happier for having it. Your posts have helped me "keep the faith". I don't know if you realize how much a difference you make here, so although I'm sure you've heard it before, thank you thank you thank you!

I'm interested in this too....I'm a ways away from my first fill, but still very excited about it...

I'm a nursing student. I can give shots, start IV's, etc, but still can't bear to watch them do it to me. So that not looking is good advice! :thumbup:

I was banded 8/29 and have had no problems whatsoever. However I am not going to bypass my surgeon's directions (been there done that preop it's how I woke up in recovery w/out the band) I want my band to heal properly! SO I'm starving but hanging in there. I can do anything for a little while (that attitude is getting me through nursing school LOL) So sorry you've had a fright already!

I agree...just take a xanax and have someone drive you to and from. Fills will get less and less frequent as we go along so don't give up. They should've given you a xanax right at the start.

Shastalou...Medicare in the USA and Medicare in Australia is different. I'm glad you got the surgery you need!

Wow thanks for the info. I just have a fatty liver so I guess mine was caught at stage 1. Anyway, it's not so fatty now! :thumbup: Nice to be getting healthier already, isn't it?

That's awesome! you are really working the band!

Hayleyfunky2 not all of us get protein the 1st week. I'm not supposed to have it until week 2 and there is a local doc (not mine thank goodness) who says no protein for 2 weeks. She needs to do what her doc says.....

How do you know you had a fatty liver? They didn't tell me...I guess I just assumed that at 405 pounds they "knew" it. I didn't realize how important it was so you are WAY ahead of the game! I KNOW you will do marvelously!

I suppose the bottom line is, why we were overate (ie what our eating patterns were) will have some bearing on how best we use the band to achieve health. After 10 months of behavioral therapy for my overeating, I have learned a great deal about how, when, and why I overeat. We are all different; and our issues are different. Fortunately I think the band is versatile enough that it can provide some needed aid to each of us. In other words, we can kind of "personalize" it to work for us. If I were prone to binge on chips, I'd avoid them. I don't, fortunately. I won't be having a milkshake each day, because that's just insane. I probably won't have a milkshake for a year or more but then I don't have them often anyway. I'm glad we can all find what we need in that little medical device; but we all need to remember that our way isn't the only way. What works for me won't necessarily work for the next person. I plan to follow my doc's advice to start, and since he is the one who said "eventually you will be able to eat anything", I'll stick with that. Eventually, I will.

Well put, Thinknhealthy! That pretty much sums up how I feel, and what I hope to achieve with my new band! Thanks for phrasing it so succinctly!

Sydney Australia? If so, I'm in S. Central Texas and can't help you.

When's your first fill? Our doc does the first one at 6 weeks. I've heard it may take 3-4 fills (or more) to hit your personal "sweet spot" so you'll just have to hang tough and be patient! IT will happen! :thumbup:

I'm going to find out for sure what my doc wants on weds. I think preop I was just so oriented to following that diet, shrinking my liver, and getting the band (finally) that I didn't sweat post op. I figured it would be in my manual. NOT! THanks for your help though; I now have some jello "chillin". It's not food, but it's better than nothing!

I'm so sorry. I hope you find some support, and a doc who can give you some guidance!

Oh don't worry I'm going to ask about a million questions on Weds. For one thing, in the handy manual they gave us, one place says we can have yogurt and eggs and beans starting week 2, but another place it says not till week 3. (Am I the only one who READS this stuff? LOL) but until then, I'm hanging. I got some jello; I'll make it

I don't know about the soup since we can only have broth our first 2 weeks but yes if you think about it you are fine. The band is there but it isn't inflated. You are drinking something that is just liquid. So it goes on through easily. It's the same reason we aren't supposed to drink when we eat (once we're on solids)...the liquid will wash stuff on through. So I'd say you are just fine! I can drink anything (well, that's on my approved list) with no problems. Some have some problems, and some people have some swelling or inflammation that restricts, but you and I apparently don't have that. It's normal! We're fine!