jujuvee

Thanks Susanhol, it's been hard work but so worth it... I have spent too many years talking about how miserable I am, it's time to get off my couch and make a lifestyle change. Do your best to stay on track on the preop diet, not just for the shrinking of the liver but to get your body use to healthy foods, sugary,fried and large amounts will not be allowed while you are healing so prepare yourself now. After surgery you will be on a post op diet and once the swelling goes down you may have temptations...getting a head start never hurts. Good luck and feel free to write anytime, I look forward to your progress.

I can tell you that day 2 -14 I was on full liquids and it included scrambled eggs, re fried Beans which are yummy with salsa and sour cream, cream of wheat and oatmeal, now with that said before you take my or any others ideas please call your surgeon and get it approved because all docs are different and it only matters what yours want's you to do. Also you can add Protein powder to oatmeal,cream of wheat or pudding if you get tired of Protein drinks. Good luck.

I started my pre op diet at 373 and on surgery day March 24th, I was 344. I am now 317 and I was due for my first fill last week and my surgeon and I decided that I did not need a fill yet. I am eating small portions and staying satisfied up to 5hrs, I go in again in a month to re evaluate. So, it's just my opinion but I say go for it!!!!

My insurace has a limit of twenty thousand so anything after that I am considered self pay. So I just got all the bills in and I owe 10.000. But since day one after surgery I have felt like a new woman and that is priceless!!!!!!!!!!

By no means did I want you to feel ashamed and I am sorry if that's the way it sounded, but 2 weeks into this is pretty early to introduce chunky foods, but that's just my opinion and if your doc is ok with it then that's great. Something that really helped me was re-fried Beans with salsa and sour cream, also I took 2 chewable Centrums a day and did not skip the Protein shakes, the lack of protein is what causes fatigue.. keep us posted on what you find out and I hope you get to feeling better soon.

just because it goes down ok does not mean that it's ok to eat. There's a reason we are put on a specific diet. You just had surgery and the point of following the food phases is to allow for healing. If your stomach has to churn to digest you risk pulling stiches loose or even slipage. This is the hardest part off the process but talk to your dietition and get back on track. This is just my opinion but I know that getting approved for lapband took me 5 months and I can't imagine any setbacks because I didn't follow instructions this early into the process.

Oh I can soooo relate to this, I have only been banded 5 weeks but before being banded there were times that when I had to pee it hit me so quick that notthing I did was slowing it down so I could get to a bathroom, It as really getting frustrating because I could be anywhere when that went down. Now since being banded and loosing 50 pounds I have not had that problem.... So yes there's hope. And as far as skin I have alot, at one point in life I was 410 so I have yo-yo'd from that high weight all the way to 265 and back to my pre op weight 373, so this girl is not in denial that there will be skin... and lot's. I am going to have my doc document any skin conditions, rashes, back pain, you name it and if insurance cover it great but I will otherwise pay to get it removed. There's no way I will reach goal and continue to carry a skin apron around :thumbdown:

Awwwwww stop!!!! Your doc should have given you a list of food phases that you will go through for the next 4 weeks. Most start off on liquids, then pureed, mushies, than soft. This is so your band can heal and if your stomach is churning to digest too early you chance your band slipping. Please double check with your surgeon on what you should be eating. I know it's the weekend but they should have an on call number to help you.

I too was banded on March 24th. I lost 30 pre op and 20 post op. First fill scheduled for May 14 and I really need it as I am starting to eat more and more and the fact that I am loosing is sheer will power!!!

ok here it goes......drum roll......... I'm seeing parts of my body that I haven't seen in years (blush, blush) And I'm only one month in!

your insurance company will let you know what there requirements are, most steps probably could be done in advance except the pre op tests, that's done 1 or 2 weeks before surgery. But if you are required to follow a special diet or go see your physician for so many months you should start that as soon as you can. So get all the details in writing from your insurance company.

How exciting, I am not that far into it all but I will say that it was the best decision of my life! The surgery itself was cake, try to get up and walk a lot, that will really help with the pain and work out the gas they put into you, get a good protein shake and you are set... You will be very swollen in the beginning so don't even think about hopping on the scale that quickly, you might see a gain. Good luck and feel free to send me a messabe anytime.... Julie

If you are going through an insurance company then there might be special requirements that must be met before surgery is approved, some require 3,6 or even a 12 month supervised diet. Also there are psychological evaluations, pre op tests like Ekg, Ecg, Lab work, Barium swallow and mine even required me to go to 2 support groups.... If you are self pay then you probably would jump right to the pre op tests. Good luck

Awesome!!!!! sounds like you are on your way.....

I started having people at work ask me every week "how much did you lose this week" and I told them that I would only give updates once a month. All in all it's not about where I am now it's about where I will be 2 years, 5 years from now. Heck we have all lost weight.... But only to regain it plus more.

Well remember, it can always be your secret if you want it to. Personally I told everyone and there mother but I also have never been one to really care what anyone else thought.. But I will say that I have not had one negative opinion, the way I see it anyone that does not want to see me happy and healthier, more active and have a better outlook on life is not a true friend.. Good luck..:crying:

The hospital gave me a really cool ice pack, it was cloth, not like when you were a kid and your mom put ice in a ziplock and it was so cold you cried.... Anyway I used mine for 4 days and I put it right on the port location. Maybe this would help you as well.

Hi Erica. This is a great site for information and many experienced members to help answer your questions. Just jump right in!!!! Good luck.

I think the air bubbles move around, that's why they say walking helps. I too would go a couple days with feeling great then have an off day. The same went for my energy as well. Good luck.

Had my 2 week check up and could not wait to get on the scale to be weighed,(imagine that) New weight 331, that's 14 pounds lost since surgery and total 42 if you include pre op loss. Surgeon checked my incision and reminded me that my port had to be put in deeper then usual due to a thick abdomen, he says this had nothing to do with my weight some people just have thicker bellies. He is hoping that he can do my fills in his office if not I will have to have them done in the hospital under xray. Next stop the dietitian and she wanted to know what I had been eating and if I had stuck to full liquids for the first 14 days, yes I did! Now I am on mushies and am so happy to have canned chicken there is a variety of foods that I can have during this phase and I am looking forward to it. My fill is not until May 14 but that's ok because so far I have been able to go close to 5 hours without getting hungry and the 3 oz amount really fills me up! Now I know that I have the lapband and not the realize band and my band is empty so maybe it's mental or maybe just having the band around my stomach is doing something to help satisfy me....whatever it is I am digging it. I must say that this has been a great experience and I am glad I made this big decision to change!

Hello, on my list of mushies I can have all meats except for red meat, preferebly from a can because it's more moist but I don't have to pureed it before hand as long as it's mushy before I swallow it. Also what about eggs or potatoes? I'm suprised about the beans, would have thought they would be a staple everywhere. Hopefully others come by and give you better ideas.

Liquid Loratab as well and I only needed it for 3 days. Good luck........

I wrote one and my doc just added a few thing and sent it in along with my 6 month documented visit I included weight, family history, co-morbidities that were directly related to my weight, failed attempts at weight loss, including ww, atkins, over eaters annon, zone, I even added Richard Simmons programs. It mentioned that I had failed at physician supervised plans as well and that all this was not a lack of effort or non compliance because I was good at keeping journals of food eaten, I was good at keeping appointments and going to support groups but that I needed bariatric surgery intervention. And then it ended with my doc sating that he strongly recommends lapband, and that he felt that I have the knowledge to use this as a tool to achieve and maintain a health weight.... and that he believed that without sergical intervention I was at an increased risk for rapid progression of chronic illnesses associated with increased morbidities and mortality. of course you want your doc to copy it write it in the 3rd person, so it sounds like it's coming from him, not you! Hope this helps.

well I can't give you statistics but I can tell you that I have read many sucess stories on this board of lap banders that have lost well over 150. There is even a group on this board with a bmi of 60 and over. I have a lot to lose and I was not having bypass and my doctor had no problems with my choice. Bypass was just not for me. My thoughts is that lapband is just a tool so with my ambition and motivation and the lapband together I can achieve my goal! Good luck!