Elisabethsew

Hi Jennifer, I am 5 weeks post-op and only had to follow a full fluid diet for one week prior to surgery. The purpose of the pre-op diet is to "shrink" the liver. During the surgery, one of the small incisions they make is so that an instrument (retractor) can be inserted to move the liver out of the way so the surgeon can visualize the stomach. Eat as few fats as possible and try and lay off the fast-food and processed foods (cookies, cakes, etc.). If you sit in a chair and bend over down to the floor and feel a pain in the upper right side of your belly, THAT's you're enlarged liver. That pain will decrease as you take in less and less fat. After surgery, you'll feel sore and tired but not incapacitated. Most people go back to work after a week but it might be a good idea to get household jobs (heavy cleaning, etc.) out of the way prior to your surgery. You'll need a full 6 weeks before the abdominal muscles and incisions are fully healed. At that time, you can begin an exercise program that involves abdominal work outs if you desire. Post-op, I did not feel like eating for the first 4 days and had to force myself to get in the required nutrients (you need 60 grams of protein a day for healing). By day 5, my appetite was back so I had to make a conscious effort to stick to the eating plan. Some MDs will do a first fill at 4 weeks, most wait 6 weeks and my MD waits 8 weeks. So, I have another 3 weeks before a fill. The "waiting time" for the fill is challenging but it's the best time to learn how to gauge true hunger from emotional hunger. The answer to whether or not you can "do this" really rests with you. The operation is not a miracle or cure and you likely won't "feel" the band until you get one or more fills. Part of the pre-op process involves talking to a psychologist. Be honest with this person as well as with your surgeon. The lapband is one of many weight loss surgeries and you want to make sure you choose the best one for YOU. I am sick of life passing me by and sick of all the sacrifices that I make in my life due to the fact that I am obese. The time was right for me to opt for weight loss surgery and the lapband was the right choice for ME. I accept that I have a chronic disease and will always battle my weight. I know that band is only a tool and that I will have to eat healthy for life to achieve and stay at a healthy weight. Everyone needs to look insides themselves to determine where they are now, where they want to be, and of they're willing to do the work of achieving their goal. Don't let anyone talk you into anything. Do research, ask questions, and make an informed decision that works for YOU. Good luck!

I am officially 5 weeks post-op and moved from soft foods to solid foods... FINALLY! It was perfect timing because I was invited to a luncheon with a group of friends and they decided on a place called Legal Seafood. I don't eat beef or pork so I was happy with the seafood focus but a bit leary of eating solids. I skipped the roll and butter and appetizer and decided on scallops (cooked over a wood fire) and snow peas. :hungry: The portions were not large and I ate slowly and felt satisfied, but not stuffed, after I was finished. Afterwards, I did some shopping and walking and did not feel hungry until 7:15 PM. :clap2: Since I won't have a first fill for another 3 full weeks and have not felt restriction since post-op day five, I am taking it one day at a time and learning to determine physical from emotional hunger. The dietician told me to shoot for a 6 on a hunger scale of 1-10 with 10 being stuffed. Since I'm used to eating until I am 10+ on a hunger scale , this is proving quite a challenge. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the first fill gives me at least SOME restriction. Thanks to everyone here for their wonderful support.

Hi Susan, Your comment truly made me laugh. After 5 weeks post-op and one week pre-op of modified diets, it did feel great to eat some solid food. To be honest, I craved veggies and salads more than anything else. Because I have no restriction and no fill as yet, I think it's VERY easy to "go wild" and really sink your teeth into REAL food. LOL. I started the day with my usual 4 oz of lite ricotta cheese and then had scallops and snow peas for lunch. I figured the firmness of the snowpeas and the softness of the scallops were a good match for a first solid meal. I really wasn't too hungry for dinner so I settled on a 240 calorie Lean Cuisine meal. About 45 minutes ago a had a REAL salad with sliced carrots, mixed lettuces, a 3 oz can of tuna fish, a few raisins and some fat free salad dressing. I ate it very slowly and so far, so good. I have lots of things I want to eat after 6 weeks of no solids but have to control myself and treat myself to varied meals instead of binging. I did 2 weeks of full fluids post-op and then 3 weeks of soft. Since you can have fish on the soft diet, I did well and didn't feel deprived... just limited in my food selections. Hang in there... solids ARE coming your way soon.

Thank you! I stick to the guidelines and haven't had any problems. I'm looking forward to the first fill on 5/25.

As others have stated, I'm more afraid of failure than I am of being thin or a healthy weight. Unlike other obese people, I have always been fat... as a child, a teen, and an adult. Despite being obese, I forged ahead and became successful in my career. I am now finishing my PhD but the ONE thing I have ALWAYS failed at is weight loss. I was banded 5 weeks ago with the hope that a surgical intervention would provide with the tool necessary to FINALLY be successful. I am confident in the person that I am. I just want that person to be healthy and that means losing until I reach my goal weight.

Now that I am eating so much less, I am more aware of the flavors of food but I don't find myself craving anything new. In fact, I have few cravings now.

Cheri: A PICC in a peripherally inserted central catheter that is placed for people who need long term (> 10 days) IV antibiotic or other IV medication administration. Vinesqueen: I'll say a prayer that all goes well with your tests and that life gets easier for you. I'm very sorry to hear about your Mom's cancer.

The MOST important thing you need to do on the 8 hour ride home is get up a MINIMUM of every hour and walk. Pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lung) is a major post-op surgery concern and lack of movement can increase the chances of having it. Tell your surgeon about the long trip. He/she may want to give you an injection of heparin/lovenox (blood thinner) the AM before you get on the plane. If you can afford it, fly first class on the way home.

My surgeon's post-op diet plan calls for 60 grams of protein a day so you're limitation of 50 grams is not too bad. Part of the pre-op process involves meeting with a dietician and this is the person who can structure the post-op diet to your needs. As the person above stated, weight loss can improve your kidney function so I hope you get the "OK" to move forward with your surgery plans.

When did you have your surgery? How did you "over do it" today? As long as your more than 6 weeks post-op and don't have any pain now, it would seem that you either had a muscle spasm or strained the abdominal muscles a little. Give it a day or two and if you're not better, see your MD.

Grab the headboard and roll your body onto the side. Release the headboard and use your elbow to lift your upper body up as you slide your legs over the bed and then use both arms to get into a sitting position. Splint your abdomen with a pillow and slowly get up to your feet.

I choose not to drink. It appears most MDs give the OK to have alcohol but mine is one of the few who say no.

As long as your MD monitors your renal function and everything is OK, you should be fine to have the surgery. Have you seen an MD who specializes in kidney disease? If not, you might want to consult one before the surgery. I am assuming that the 1.5 value is your creatinine level... since that's normal and has not increased since your last pregnancy, I can't see that your kindeys would be a contra-indication to surgery.

I don't know about THAT gym in particular but I can tell you that I was scared to death to walk into a gym just knowing I would be the largest person there. Well, I was right. I was the largest person in the place but did not receive any negative comments. In fact, most people went out of their way to assist me with unfamiliar machines. Go for it!

I love cereal for breakfast but find it does not keep me satisfied for very long. I've been eating 4 oz of lite ricotta cheese (140 cals) and find the high protein does the trick in satisfying my hunger.

As the muscle that the port is adhered to heals, you can expect to feel discomfort. Any activity beyond the "usual" will strain the muscle a little and cause some discomfort. My surgeon told me this is a normal event but to not limit my activity beyond the first 6 weeks post-op. He said it's good to walk, bend, exercise, etc. to strengthen the abdominal muscles and lessen the chances of developing adhesions. I planted flowers the past 3 days for hours and my entire body is SORE.

The nursing assistant is ignorant and when you ARE in a 10-12, she'll eat her words. What's really impressive is that, despite all the negatives going on in your life right now, you are NOT comforting yourself with food. BRAVO!!!

UGH! You have to work after that incident? I will certainly be VERY suspicious of paper in the toilet before I decide to flush and go about my business before it refills. LOL. I hope the rest of the week goes better for you.

I also had a BMI of >60 but was not considered higher risk than someone with a lesser BMI. Surgeons and anesthesiologists are concerned about smoking history, type of birth control used (the "pill" is associated with a higher risk of pulmonary embolism), previous surgeries, age, prior experiences with anesthesia, sleep apnea, etc. BMI alone means little, it's the total medical/surgical history and physical assessment HAVE to be considered.

Most surgeon's will tell you that it takes 6 weeks to heal. Since you had a fill at 4 weeks, it might be that this is a normal reaction. Eat a full fluid diet for a day or so and then move to a soft diet. GRADUALLY work up to solids and contact the MD if you feel worse or no improvement at any stage along the way.

It's great to hear that you had such a good time at your reunion. I was banded on 3/30/06 by Dr. Geiss and live on Long Island also. You're doing wonderfully. Congratulations.

I'll have my first fill on 5/25... exactly 8 weeks post-op. That's the earliest he'll do it. Like you, I have NO restriction.

Congratulations! You're one of the lucky few who achieve restriction from the band alone and you're weight loss is testimony to the fact that it's working for you. You might also still have a little bit of swelling as you're just about 6 weeks post-op so give the port (and you) a rest, see how it goes, and re-evaluate the need for a fill in a few weeks. I hope you feel better.

You'll have general anesthesia which involves inserting a tube down your throat and into your trachea once you're asleep in the operating room. The tube will come out when the operation is over and you're throat will feel very sore and very dry. The first thing you'll get is an ice chip that slowly melts in your mouth and feels WONDERFUL!

If dieting worked, nobody would be fat. Obesity is a chronic disease with many components to it (genetic, familial, psychological, emotional, etc.). Scientific research is defining "fat" genes and hormones and slowly advancing treatment options. If someone you loved had a terminal disease that could only be cured by a $20,000.00 cash payment, wouldn't you do everything in your power to get that money? Well, obesity is a disease and, eventually, the complications associated with this disease will cause death... a premature death. We are all someone and we all matter. We have a right to be healthy. We have a right to treatment. Obese people are notorious for always GIVING to others. Well, now it's time to give to ourselves, to help ourselves become healthy and happy because WE DO MATTER and WE DO DESERVE TREATMENT.