adagray

It really depends on your surgeon and also how much you have to lose. If you are borderline to be approved (meaning not much to lose), you may not be required to lose anything before surgery. I was not required to lose anything before surgery (actually gained, not that I wanted to, but that was my MO). My advice is to just clarify what your own surgeon's requirements are and go from there. I was also not required to do any pre-op diet except to 'eat light' a few days before surgery and then only soup for lunch the day before and bowel prep the afternoon before. Every surgeon is different, though, so you gotta ask.

I would just do whatever your normal maintenance is as for shaving. They don't need you shaved like w/some other abdominal surgeries so you don't have to worry that they will shave you if you didn't come in shaved. For my c-sections, I shaved myself completely clean before each one because I knew that if I didn't do it, they would do it the morning of the surgery and I don't really want someone else doing it. I feel like I do a better job myself. The nurses are also grateful if you've done the work for them. LOL But, its not an issue for lapband surgery so, like I said, just do whatever you normally do. As for a catheter, I don't remember getting one, but I might have had one and just wouldn't know since I was completely out. When I awoke from surgery, I felt really nauseous. I told the recovery nurse and she put something in my IV that took the nausea away. Other than that, my time in recovery is all very hazy, but nothing to worry about.

I think it is probably an individual thing. I know I've tried to not use a straw in general. But, if I'm out and am served my drink w/a straw, I tend to forget and just start drinking out of the straw. So far, I haven't noticed any difference.

Oh so many possible culprits here... Generally speaking, I'm tighter when I travel. I think its because I'm not as good about getting all my water in and dehydration causes my band to feel tighter. But, rushing a meal or even just feeling stressed while eating can do it to me too. In any case, I wouldn't worry about it. Everyone gets stuck and sick once in awhile. Its part of the learning process.

I also was not required to be on a pre-op diet and no mention/scare was made about needing to shrink the liver. My surgery was also performed by a Center of Excellence. Honestly, I believe that if you go to a surgeon who has more experience w/laproscopic surgery, this should not be an issue.

This is off subject, but I just wanted to mention 'Stomaphyx' because this is a new procedure that can shrink the pouch back down after RNY (when it has been stretched out). I heard about it on 'The Doctors' TV show, but if you google it, you can find out a lot more info. I'm not recommending it or anything, but just wanted to make you aware of it since I had never heard of it before seeing it on 'The Doctors'.

I would recommend joining Weight Watchers. I know none of us wants to do that after having surgery, but it sounds like you need more structure around the foods you are eating and more guidance as far as how to deal w/emotional eating. Weight Watchers can help w/all of that. I have done WW a lot and although it was not the answer for me to keep the weight off, I learned a lot that helps me make better use of my band now. The difference w/doing WW w/the band, though, is you won't feel so hungry all the time. If you do, then go get an adjustment to your band as well. Best of luck to you!

Its all a learning process. Don't feel bad. Another thing that may have made you tighter is the alcohol. It dehydrates and my band tends to be tighter when I'm dehydrated. So, as much as possible drink cold water. The other poster that says warm/hot liquids can worsen the swelling is right. I got too tight after a fill and drank warm broth thinking it would help and it pretty much closed me entirely up for a few hours. My doctor told me afterwards to only drink cold liquids if I ever feel that tight again.

My experience has been that you just have to try on a bunch until you find one that fits right and does its job. I've already changed sizes twice, but both times it was the band size going down, not the cup. Are you sure you have really gone that much down in the cup? I would recommend playing around w/going up in the cup and down in the band to see if you can get a better fit. Your bra should be really snug underneath your boobs and come down low in the back (so as not to create 'back fat'). I don't recommend getting fitted unless you know the person doing the fitting is really experienced. I have gotten horrible fitting advice at Victoria Secret before, but the fitter looked like she was barely out of high school.

No real surprises here. I was very well informed from my doctor, my mom (also banded), and info on here. One thing my mom told me before getting banded is that there's no 'going off your diet' once you have the band. The band is always there whether you want it or not. Even though I understood this going in, that is the one thing that has taken some getting used to. I was always one that would be 'good' or 'bad' w/my 'diet' depending on how I felt about it in the moment. And, always found reasons to splurge or treat myself. Well, I just went to Hawaii for a week (typically would be a splurge time), but my band kept me from over-indulging. Of course, I'm delighted that I came back from the trip without gaining a bunch of weight (like I would have pre-band), but there were many moments while there when I was a little bummed that I could not splurge and eat as much as I want.

I was a Diet Coke addict, gave it up a couple weeks before surgery and haven't looked back. I also gave up artificial sweeteners. Really, its the best thing for you. Your body wants Water, just plain water. All those chemicals and artificial sweeteners deaden your tastebuds to the good taste of real food and make you crave more sugar and stronger tasting (highly processed) foods. My chronic high bp came down so fast after surgery. I've lost a lot more weight before and my bp never came down. Sometimes I wonder if there is any connection between all those chemicals in the Diet Coke and my high bp. I actually developed high bp around the same time that I started drinking a lot of Diet Coke. Anyway, there's no way I'll ever know if there is a connection unless someone does a real medical study on this. But, it does seem possible since high bp can be caused (or made worse) by inflamation in the body and our bodies do have an inflamation response to chemicals and highly processed foods.

I use the ones here: BODYCHOICE NUTRITION - Goji juice made from Goji berries, Hoodia Weight Loss, liquid Protein dietary supplements The taste doesn't really bother me. No, it is not something I savor and enjoy the taste of, but I don't dislike it either. For me, its just the fastest and lowest calorie way to get 25g of protein when you need to supplement. And, the packaging is very convenient (easy to travel with or keep a couple in your purse or gym bag). I don't use them daily because I love to eat! LOL But, I do use them when I know I'm not going to be able to eat right after an intense workout. Or, if I don't have time for Breakfast sometimes. Also, if I'm out and don't have time to get something for lunch, it will satiate my hunger for another hour or two until I can get home and get something healthy. Of course, they are also great right after a fill. My doctor only allows Clear liquids for 72 hours after a fill (so even regular protein powders are out), but she does allow the bullets. Also, I LOVE them for travel. Last time I went to Vegas, I got so tight I could barely eat. I was so glad I brought a bunch of protein shots with me. I hadn't anticipated getting so tight, but I had brought them just so that I wouldn't have to worry about my food choices adding up to enough protein. Oh, one other thing I would add is I prefer them at room temp (not refrigerated). When they are refrigerated, they seem thicker and the taste seems even more concentrated. Much much better at room temp.

For many of us, weightloss is not steady w/the band. The weight seems to come off in spurts. Don't freak out if you haven't lost weight for a week or two weeks or even a month. Just focus on what you can do to improve your weightloss, especially exercise and cutting out empty calories.