RestlessMonkey

My doc said if my port started sticking out he'd give me a low profile one so I'd check with your doc. I'm very obese so he said for me it would be a while. However, he put my port smack in the middle of my abdomen...not sure how that's going to work (I feel like one of those inflatable doll women LOL) I'll be interested to see if anyone has had their port moved....

I'm day 2 post op (WOW i have a lap band yay!) and am going into what's affectionately called "bandster hell"...that period where we can only have Clear liquids. Mine will last 2 weeks. I'm just hoping to grit my teeth and get through it which isn't much of a tip! LOL I "cheated" by doing my own preop diet instead of the one the surgeon gave me and although I lost 15 pounds in that 3 weeks, it didn't shrink my liver and on 8/11 he could not place the band. (he could've opened me up but I am so thankful he didn't!) So 2 1/2 weeks of his diet, (not mine this time) and another 17 pounds and my liver was down enought for him to do the surgery. So I guess my advice is do what your surgeon says. You'll find lots of conflicting pre op diets, post op diets, when you can have mushie foods, when you can have solids, if you can chew gum or use straws or not... do what your surgeon tells you. He knows what works for his practice and style of surgery. That said, this board has tons of info that's useful, just don't go against your docs orders...especially here at the start and until you're banded and healed well! Good luck to you and wish me luck..13 more days till i get mushie food!

And Rodriguezequal I was on a similar diet (3 eas carbadvantEDGE shakes a day, 3 oz lean protein, green veggies that's it) for 5 weeks. You DO feel shakey and weird until your body adapts. It is hard to lose 10 pounds in a week but hang in there. Your surgeon has his reasons for doing this to you. I "cheated" the first few weeks and he couldn't place my band (even though I lost 15 pounds) SO hang in there and it will be over with before you know it! I had to do it so long because I cheated at first. Wish I'd just done what he told me to the first time; I'd have been into the mushies stage by now! LOL

WW is great if you like support groups, have a long time to lose it (because it is slower weight loss...1-2 pounds a week) and want to eat fairly "normally" (their flex plan is great) Atkins is great if you are a loner-type, can be tough and cut out most carbs and processed foods, or need to lose really fast. Both work, both have their place. Choose which you want to commit to and then go go go!

Welcome! I'm one day post op. I have tricare standard and my surgery approval took only 2 days (but I have a BMI of over 60) What ins. do you have? I hope your approval is quick and easy!

I know that today, 1 day post op, I can drink easily (no sipping) and don't have to burp, etc. no pain. And I'm not using any straws. So I think since my surgeon said no I'll just keep it this way. I do swallow air when I use straws (I know because I'm a big straw user) so since I feel good now, don't want to upset that apple cart.

Welcome Bri82! It's nice to see another larger lady around here (I started at 405)!!! We'll be at it a little longer than our fellow bandsters who have less to lose than we do (well, at the weight loss portion of banding anyway)....hope to see you "around"

OH and I put the EAS shakes over ice. That helped a lot.

There are 5 flavors of the EAS shakes...I found I only like the chocolate ones. Have you tried all five? If you can find another shake with similar nutritional info, then switch. GNC Isopure, i think, is low carb and low fat. Just make sure the calories carbs fat and Protein are similar. Too many diet shakes are low cal but wonky in the other stuff. AND do what your surgeon says. I didn't and he couldn't do my surgery the first time.

Does anyone know where (if anywhere) saltine crackers figure in post op? Are they "mushies" or solid food? I've looked in m "Lap Band Manual" I got from my surgeon, and through the 2 books I bought on the lap band, and can't find crackers. Not that I'll be having them for a while anyway, just planning ahead..... Thanks if anyone knows! :biggrin:

I'm an aging hippie-era type who does not and never did smoke pot. Well I did once, and it made me feel like my jaw was going to fall off, so that was more fun than I ever wanted to have again. BUT I do believe in live and let live, to each his own, etc etc. I like to drink beer and it, carbonated, is a big no no. I will not drink beer until I am healed. Farther out I'll probably try it to see how I do. But for now, no. I won't substitue with wine or hard liquor until doc says I can, (I think it's 3 months but i'll find out for sure) because I want my band to heal properly. I already learned, with my fatty liver and 1st unsuccessful band attempt, that the surgeon with his over 1000 patients and education probably knows more about it than I do. So since we aren't supposed to smoke, I'd say wait. It may impair your healing. Once your a few months post op and grooving along, go for it if you want to. It's your life; you have to live it.

Just FYI with cobra? People who say it's expensive? If you are on cobra law requires that you can ONLY be charged what your employer was paying for the coverage, plus a (very minimal) 2% for handling/processing etc. So if you are paying a lot, your employer was paying a lot for you to have that benefit. (former HR person here)

are you sure they are going to offer you cobra? If you do, it will be the exact same coverage you had through your employer so yes you will still be covered. Make sure you make your cobra payments on time, though! and make sure they will offer you cobra; depending on why you were fired you may not qualify. Not trying to scare you; just giving you a head's up so you can find out.

I was told no straws because of the air issues. I have gum disease and have always used a straw (keeps cold away from my trouble spots) but for now am going strawless. When you use a straw you swallow, each time, the liquid in the straw AND THE AIR in it too. I figured while I'm healing I should really watch it closely and comply, but once I'm healed and going along well, I'll try and see how I personally do with it. For now, anything that cuts down on gas (I'm one day post op) is what I want to do.

Laurinda...you mean when you are on liquids only, you can crumble crackers in the broth? (Imagine me with that startled deer look) Really?

NinaWoo I sent you a PM so we wouldn't take over the thread! :smile:

I know I didn't start this thread but with my mushie time coming up in 13 days I am sure getting some good tips!

I didn't want to waste time with the seminar either but my doc required it too. AND it was actually informative. My husband went with me and he learned a lot that he didn't know, it helped get him on board with the whole thing (He's a nurse and saw some bad stuff with GBS) So welcome, and hope your seminar is useful!

My cons about gastric bypass are 1. it isn't really reversible 2. you have malabsorption so you are likely to never ever eat things with refined sugar, for example 3. the pouch they form that provides restriction often stretches so that it's easier to gain it back. 4. There are more GI issues with GBS than with the band I know of several Roux-en-Y patients who are now getting the band for that restriction. I like the band because, although there are some people who are restricted, except for popcorn, carbonation and chewing gum, I will, once I've lost weight, be able to eat ANYTHING I want but in smaller portions. Some can't eat bread etc...but you won't now until you try. My Doc's NP told me that most of their patients can eat essentially everything. As to why this over dieting alone? I plan to use it as a tool with my preferred diet plan. I too was successful on many many diets but would get bored or hungry or "treat myself" for doing so well and BAMMO back to my old wicked ways. The band will prevent that.

Welcome! I'm just a fresh "bander" ...got mine today but feeling great tonight! I think i'm going to love it.

I also bought a diet book that is for WLS patients. It is neat; it has what to eat when for GBS, duodenal switch (I think) AND the lap band. Some of them, like Fall Harvest Pumpkin soup (mushies) sound so good I was almost drooling. (Yes how dumb is it to read cookbooks when you are on a preop diet or liquid?)

Not from Indiana, but welcome anyway!

I don't know how much you weigh now but I honestly think 600 cal isn't really enough food to live on. Sounds like you're young and pretty active...you should get at least 1000 cal! Did you get to meet with a nutritionist as part of your surgery package? That's what they told us....since I'm heavier I'm supposed to get even more. If you don't get ENOUGH food you won't lose as well either. Your body needs fuel to burn....if you keep it too hungry it will start freaking out and start holding on to every little morsel. It's no wonder you're hungry! Just try to stay to 1000-1200 until you go to your Doc. Don't feel guilty! See what they tell you, ok? until then be nice to yourself.

Welcome Grateful Heart. Sounds like we're in similar boats; my internist in July told me to act NOW or I'd be a full blown diabetic by Christmas. I got my band today and I think I am going to love it! I have a large ventral hernia my doc didn't fix because he said it would just reoccur until I lost weight....but I think they do fix most hiatal hernias! You'll learn more as you meet your surgeon etc.

Welcome fellow Texan !! Where is Gilmer? I ALMOST know! Sorry you have to do 6 months but it will fly by!