bethm

wow Jodi :thumbup: That's exactly what I said a few posts up. :eek:

Last thing i want is to get into some flame war which this seems to quickly become. (hi folks! it's the holidays! lighten up!) But my question is.. is there evidence to suggest that the reason there are higher slippage stats is because of adherence to a certain healing stage dietary plan? Because I believe this is not backed up by a study. It's a theory. It may be a good theory but it's not fact. So it might stand to reason to start out with "It is my opinion that..." instead of "it is because of ..." and that will avoid the flames.

Hi Lady :thumbup: Congrats on your decision and your date. I was banded on December 11th after a 10 day liquid preop. I can make a few suggestions :eek: Stick to the liquid diet.. the first three or four days are VERY hard but it gets easier. Make a mantra that you are doing this for yourself. Make an inspiration board. I did and it helps me so much. Mine is images of clothes I love and can't wait to fit in, kneehigh leather boots, (I even pasted my head on the outfits! lol), snowboarding, horsebackriding and some of my other motivations. Write a note requesting the pain meds in liquid form and anti-naseau medicine so you can get that filled pre-surgery or if you're staying the night have a friend or family member fill it so it's there when you get home. Expect the possibility of an emotional rollercoaster after surgery. I went through one bigtime. General Anesthesia can cause it as well as the fact it's an adjustment. It passes. I'm very happy now. Bring a pillow (like a throw pillow.. love mine from pier 1) to the hospital for the ride home and press it against your stomach when you're sitting up, etc. The support will comfort you. Some people have no pain. I was fine in the hospital with my morphine pump.. I did a lot of walking around the ward too. However when I got home it was painful. It was my first big surgery and that threw me for a loop. The pain on day 3 was the worse.. then day 4 on it got better. It was worth it. Be kind to yourself and follow the dietary rules of your doctor to help your body heal correctly. You can do it. Some people were hungry right after.. personally I still feel satisfied and full 11 days later and am not having that hard a time following my restrictive diet. Don't get too freaked out by the forums. I read way too much then I should have and every other post seemed to mention slippage, etc. But remember complications are very low in studies. This is basically a very safe and effective procedure and there are many many successful stories of people like you and I who get to their goal weight. And don't let anyone tell you it's the easy way out. It's not. But I am very proud of myself for having done it and being committed to it. I may make mistakes down the road but this great tool is always there.. you can always get back on track. Good luck! Hope some of this helps. Happy Holidays!

the heavier you are the quicker it comes off. I wouldn't worry. My doctor said I could gain during the first month while I heal

dear lord. if sucking on a straw can cause slippage then this is way to fragile a technology.

Lapband.com - After LAP-BAND® System Surgery - Recovery & First Few Weeks This might help. It's by the maker (of my) lapband. It says liquid diet 1-2 weeks pureed 3-4 weeks soft foods 5 weeks The site is worth reading. It's by a maker of lapband and they conducted the studies that resulted in a very low complication rating so there is merit to what they say. Also I have no interest in being a lab rat so it was important when i chose my doctor that he followed the basics of this website and their advice. I know people are landing on you like a ton of bricks. I believe they are out of concern so take it from that standpoint. I would recommend telling your doctor that you did eat solids early so they can monitor you or explain signs of slippage that can (rarely) occur 6-9 months into banding then reverting back to whatever diet your doctor recommended. It's nice you both are going through this together :smile: Wish I had a buddy that lived close by to do this with. Happy Holidays!

Can't you call your doctor? Mine's on call. He got a bunch-o-bucks for performing the surgery (and he's a genuine nice guy) and he is available for me whenever I need to ask something. I think asking if it's okay you move to mushies is reasonable. You really should do each stage of healing closely following your docs orders. It's only like 6 weeks.

She'll come around. Let her know general anesthesia is a central system depressant (hope that's the right term). I was told I could be out of sorts for the 2 weeks it takes to clear out of your system. Plus day 1-7 sucked for me and was an emotional rollercoaster. I am feeling much better now and very happy I had it done.

I'd go back to where you are supposed to be on your post op healing food stage becuase of the reasons mentioned here. You don't want to mess with your healing. I'm 11 days out and had my post op checkup today and my staples removed and was put on mushies (doc office calls them purees but I clarified that meant mashed tatos and all that jazz). I'm even paranoid to start them because I DEFINITELY do not want to go through surgery again to correct a slippage. Good luck! You can do it!

You're still doing good :smile: My doc expects some sort of weight gain in he first month or so while you heal. What motivates you? I made (and add to) a motivation board. I paste outfits I love with my head pasted on top lol. I have knee high boots I've always wanted but could never fit into. Pictures of snowboarding and horseback riding and bellydancing. All things I can't wait to start doing again. It might help you to work on something like that and keep it somewhere you can look at it and smile.

:biggrin: What they said.. plus there's a power room gone wild section of these forums that we do a lot of discussing of this exact thing.

There is nothing easy about this. It takes a lot of committment and willpower (that you don't know you have until you do this). It's a really wonderful thing to do for yourself to get yourself healthy and I wish I had done it 15 years ago when I was 25. This is an intensely personal decision. Just ask them to support you once you've made up your mind. I had to ask my family to stop their opinions and just be there for me. And I'm happy to say they have been since that day :biggrin:

We're with you Tony! It's difficult for everyone but best thing to do is reach for your protein drink when the hunger gets too much. You'll be on real food soon enough.. let your tummy rest up and get well so you can avoid problems now and down the road.

I was in and out of it. When I was awake I walked around.. then went back to bed and konked out. I was busy pressing the morphine button alot too lol

I don't get it. I admit I'm relatively new to this (10 days banded) But I thought just an unfilled lapband prevents you from pigging out? That you'll vomit or PB or whatever if you eat more then a cup or so. Is weight gain from eating ice creams and stuff that slips through the band? Or fast food? Or large meals? I'd love to understand more.

Yay it looks like a snowglobe outside. Anyone doing anything fun?

I'm feeling better! More then ready to start the mushies phase though. Only things that are still bugging me are the port site feeling like a little burn and all swollen and wishing I could sleep on my tummy. Other then that I have lots of energy!

I am absolutely interested in a local support group! Keep me updated if you can.

Congrats Jewel! Glad to hear you're doing well :tongue_smilie:

It helps alot dietpeach :tongue: I was banded Dec 11th. I've been allowed basically my preop diet from day 3 (basically Protein shakes, Water, broth, sf Jello, sf popsicles) and also allowed cream of wheat and oatmeal (skipping those. yech) and pureed Soups (had pureed french onion today and yesterday had pureed fish chowder). Sticking mostly to lots and lots of water which I seem able to chug.. well not chug but drink like I normally did.. I lost 17 preop and 12 post op so far. Emotionally I am still rollercoasting like crazy. I read all these negative stories on here and I need to stop. I know the stats for slippage, erosion, re-surgery to fix are relatively low. All I know is I really really don't want to go through surgery again for a very long long time if not never again. I'm a big baby and the port incision site is sore and looks like it sits on top of a bowling ball all swollen. I know that's normal but it's still a little disconcerting for me to see. I am proud of myself though for doing this. I know I needed to do something. I want to do what I can to avoid vomiting and PB and all the other things that I don't really want to accept as a normal every day occurance that it seems to be on these forums :tongue_smilie: I am happy and excited about my future as a thinner, healthier person. I deserve this.. it was my christmas present to myself. I want to be around for a long long time. Sorry if this is rambling. it's late and I'm tired *yawn* How are all the other Decembers doing?

You slipped 2 years out? That's not common is it? Somehow I was roomed with a woman who's band slipped and then her liver was knicked during surgery and she bled out 6 pints of blood while she was in the hospital so they had to repair that too. Crazy.. I think I'm all paranoid because of that now. Hope you feel better soon. We should keep in touch.. you're only a town away from me :tongue_smilie:

Hi All :tongue_smilie: I'm on my 10th day banded. Anyone in the Easton area? I'm nervous and excited. Really happy I have the band and I'm feeling better and never want surgery again if I can avoid it!

I have no real life experience yet with portion size but my doctor stresses no drinking 1 hour before and 2 hours after a meal to keep full. Not sure how that works in practice.

Day 8? I felt okay. Take a test drive the day before and make sure you're about a day off the perscrip pain meds.

My opinion on protein drinks. Honestly they all taste awful. So get the most protein per 8 ounce for your buck then gauge by caloric count. Hold your nose and drink. They do fill you up and take the edge off your hunger.