RestlessMonkey

Actually you only eat soups and so on for a limited time. Then they are pretty much things you should avoid because they are too easy to eat. Your body hasn't finished growing yet. Whether you are mature or not isn't the only issue. You still need nutrition to finish off bone growth and organ formation.

Nieves, he couldn't tell. The ultrasound and chest x-ray show where my liver is but not how thick. It was too thick to him to move without lacerating it, or "opening me up" (glad he didnt do that!) I had lost 15 pounds but NOT by following his preop diet so I'm doing what he said this time and have lost another 15. He said I was the only patient he ever had in over 1000 what he couldn't get the liver moved. (wonderful, huh? LOL) He did say it looked healthy, just thick. There's a poster on a WW bulletin board I frequent who had the same thing happen to her but I do believe it's rare!

She didn't say she couldn't STICK to a diet. She said she couldn't LOSE on a diet. She did one for 3 weeks and didn't lose a pound. How will the band help that? And she is VERY young; waiting a couple years for her organs and body systems to mature isn't a bad idea.

Our doc, in our seminar, said everyone will lose their hair 3-6 months post op. He said supplements don't seem to help, it all grows back, and not one of his over 1000 patients have needed a wig. So he said just brace for it and get through it.

if you enter "slime" or slimeing in the search bar, you'll get hundreds of results!

ME TOO! My surgery is Friday 8/29 and I'm HOPING to be outpatient. It will depend on how I'm doing, of course. My surgeon usually keeps everyone overnight but after seeing how well I did 8/11 on his first attempt to place the band, he said he "might" let me go home Friday evening. :w00t:

And hype is just that....hype...buzz. This is your life. Give yourself a chance first. Another 3 more years won't hurt you! Go to your family doc and see what s/he says.

I've lost 30 pounds since July 25 just doing the doc's preop diet he has me on.

Honestly at 53 years old *(when people say they "can't" lose any more) I can lose just find. I can't keep it off. So since all the band does is restrict what you can eat....if you can't lose by lowering your calories (like WW or the vegetarian diet) then the band won't help you anyway! I probably sound judgmental and I'm not; what I am is worried.

I totally second what gdf14 says. One poster was over 40 when she went to Mexico; and more power to her. But you are VERY young. You are still growing. Do you realize if you continue to eat teen food like shakes, fries, chips that you will still gain or remain obese? May I suggest WW or some other weight loss program first and give it a real dedicated try. You MAY find that at your age you lose quickly, become more active as you get thinner, and do not need this surgery. There IS a reason they don't perform the surgery here on young people. Please, hang in there. You won't be able to eat many of the things you probably love (no diet coke...no mountain dew...whatever type pop you like) Give yourself a chance to grow up a little more and mature a little more. Give your body a chance to finish maturing. Then in 3-4 years if WW or some other program (Jenny Craig?) doesn't work for you, look into the band. At your age, on WW, you'll drop weight fairly quickly. I think you'll be happier. Really really really think this over and research it. Talk to your family doctor.

I am quite impressed with Dr. Cavazos. Aside from the fact that the nurses all like him (that's a good indicator!) he just seems to have his act together. I saw him for the seminar, once in his office, once before my 1st surgery (that couldn't be finished because of my liver) and will meet with him again this Thurs before my surgery on Friday. I think it's fairly standard; they don't need to see you a lot. He had me do thorough preop tests etc but still expedited my surgery and is gracious enough to perform this repeat surgery to accommodate MY schedule. I think he's the bee's knees!

Call your doc NOW PLease! It could be nothing; it could be something, it could be something that needs immediate attention! You shouldn't be swelling like that!

I had a 3-week preop diet of water, 2-3 110cal protein shakes, and 3oz lean protein and some veggies. I did my own modified diet and lost 15 pounds. When the doc got going on the surgery my liver was too fatty to move and so he couldn't place the band. I am back on HIS preop diet now *(not mine!) lost another 15 and am rescheduled for 8/29. Do what your surgeon says, that's the best tip I can give.

After recovery from surgery, you should be able to go right back on the pill.

Docs have us discontinue birth control pills because they contribute/put patients at greater risk for blood clots.

I have a tanita HD 351 scale I love. I (and many on the WW boards!) have had trouble with the WW scales and the conair, but they can't all be lemons. Tanita is the brand WW centers use and the brand my surgeon uses, so it's good enough for me. Amazon carries a wide range of tanita scales (with different weight limits)

If the doc didn't put you on a preop diet or tell you not to gain, then I assume it doesn't matter.

I think distinguising real hunger from "head" hunger (as they call it) is a big challenge for a bunch of us. I'm not sure how I'll do it but I plan to stop, ask myself WHY I'm hungry, drink a glass of water, wait and see if that takes care of it. This is down the road of course, right now I'm still on the preop diet and I'm starving and it isn't in my head LOL it's a knack a bunch of us will have to try to learn.

Insurance. But I would've paid if I'd had to.

I thought the band was contraindicated when you had Crohn's! (not a doc but I read it in 2 books on banding by docs...or I guess they really were) but sleeve gastrectomy is ok for people with crohns. You might want to ask your surgeon and your prescribing doc about your meds, if you're scheduled for the band.

I was under the impression, from his implication, that we Americans tend to "eat around the band" and not exercie. Don't know if that's it or not... unless it's something in your water? LOL Supposedly ya'll are just better at following docs orders and so seeing good results. SO I want to be like you!

Good then! It's nice to know that you can get cavalier with it over time! That's kind of good news in an odd way! LOL

See...you think it's funny and for you I'm sure you're 100% right. I've just seen too much jealousy to ever find it cute. And my DH does dishes and cooks and would die for me. He just knows I'm with him because I love him, not because I can't do better!

Dionna, that's awful. My surgeon requires the same psych, nutrition, hospital tests etc for self pay as for insured. I researched on the 'net and knew what to expect and wouldn't have gone forward if they'd tried to shoo me through. You're lucky it all worked out for you. I'd have refused to have the surgery if my situation had been like yours.

From what I've read (no fills yet) I'd put it off! Not because of the flying, at all, but because 2 days isn't really enough to adapt. What if this one gives you too much restriction? What if you have issues and need an unfill? Even if your 1st 2 have been easy breezy this one may take some education before you can eat well with it. I'd postpone until I got back, or postpone the trip. Bottom line, though, I'd ask my doc.