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Yesssss!!!! I chalk it up to ketosis, and the faux sugar found in the carnation instant Breakfast, SF Jello, etc. I never did enjoy that sort of sweetener, so that part of this process is brutal for me. I have started brushing my tongue (along with my teeth, of course) just in case that helps! As far as Protein shakes, I am also too cheap to buy the pre-made drinks, and prefer to mix my own. I am finding the unjury powder really helpful when mixed with broth, the carnation shake, etc. A scoop of the vanilla flavor mixed in a big mug of decaf chai tea and a splash of milk doesn't taste half bad! I have also been adding benefiber to the mix, just for good measure. Good luck to all with recovery! I'm amazed at how much better I am feeling, when compared with a few days ago. It really does get better!!

My surgery was 02/03, in Portland, Maine, and I am relieved to find that things seem to be going well! Pain around the port and some gassy moments have been the worst of it so far, hooray! I'm actually eating a well-blended cocktail of tuna and cottage cheese, just to see how that goes.... congrats to all my fellow Fab Febs!

Hello, I was banded on the 3rd in Portland Maine. Port pain is definitely less than it was a few days ago, and I am able to get my fluids in over the course of a day. Didn't really have any nausea issues, thankfully. I have several flavors of unjury Protein powder (recommended by several folks in my support group) and mix that into broth, Water, Jello and tea. This morning I am drinking a decaf chai tea with vanilla Protein Powder and a scoop of Fibre sure (just to make sure things keep moving), and it doesn't taste half bad! The Unjury has 20 gr of protein per scoop, so it really helps me hit my target number. Later today I'm going to try some cream Soup and maybe even some applesauce. yum! Congratulations and good luck to all of you fellow bandsters!

Congratulations!!!!! you are probably going to be sore around the port area today, but just give it a few days and it will calm down. The first day home I basically drank just water and broth. I mixed some of the Unjury powder into both to get protein levels up. Second day the same, actually felt hungry at times, but drinking some water or tea took care of that. Yesterday I ate some sugar free jello (with protein powder added, of course!) and drank a couple protein shakes. I prefer to mix my own, and discovered that the carnation SF chocolate mixed with a scoop of vanilla protein powder is pretty good! So far I am able to get all my fluids in during the day. Today I'm going to try some cream soups and cottage cheese too see how that goes. Good luck with your recovery, and with getting those fluids down! It will get better as you heal, and as the swelling goes down. Looking forward to your next update! :cursing:

Thanks for that interesting link! Overall they seem to be quite similar, hmmm? as long as it works, I'll be happy! :confused:

Hello, I am three days out from getting banded with the AP band. My surgeon referred to it as the 'standard' band being used now. I never gave any thought to particular brands of bands, just went with what the bariatric center uses. So far, so good!

Good luck girl! I hope you have a speedy recovery! I was nervous about the anesthesia too, since I'd never had surgery before, but it wasn't that bad after all. Going home I was pretty 'out of it', and slept most of the way (about 15 minutes to the pharmacy, where I slept in the parking lot while DH went in and got my script filled, then 1 minute to home) oblivious to anything going on around me! If your recovery is like mine, you will probably be slightly sore the day after, worse the following day, and then back down a bit on the third day. This morning I am 3 days post-op and notice that the port pain is down slightly from yesterday. Coughing is still uncomfortable, but overall things are improving. Can't wait to hear your story when you feel up to typing it! smile! :thumbup:

Ha! I know just how you feel. I almost felt like I was walking through a dream while going through this whole process. Even now I have to stop and think that all of the 'build-up' is over, I have the band, and now a whole new process is beginning! Honestly the worst part so far has been pain around the port, which makes it difficult to move around quickly, or contract my abdomen without pain. On a happy note, I just did 20 minutes on the treadmill, and feel pretty good aside from that one thing. And I know that will fade in a few days, so it is bearable. You'll see for yourself quite soon, good luck!! :biggrin:

oh I hope it all went well for you!! don't be too discouraged if you are sore in a couple days- it will get better, really!! let us know how you are doing when you feel up to it! :tongue2:

Hello everyone, here is an update- While I seem to have escaped the dreaded gas pain, I have to admit that the area around my port is pretty sore. Since it seems to be a fairly common part of this surgery I am not freaking out, just waiting for it to pass. I'm able to drink my water and broth without any difficulty, and even sometimes feel hungry! Sitting upright is still uncomfortable, but leaning back a bit takes pressure off the port. I should probably take a shower today, but I'm afraid to try and climb into our claw-foot tub by myself! DH is off to work, so I'll wait for him to come home before giving that a try, just in case. So, that is the latest! Good luck to all of you with your surgeries and recoveries!! :bananalama:

hello everyone, well, it is DONE! I am now officially a bandster. Surgery went well, waking up was hard (I wanted to stay asleep!) but got better as the anesthesia wore off. Had a few small cups of water, got dressed, and went home. Went immediately to bed where I slept for hours before getting up to take some pain pills. Like many others, I do have pain around the port area (especially when I bend over or otherwise use those muscles). No gas pains, thankfully!! I am off work for the rest of the week and plan to just take it easy while I mend. This morning I am sitting here at the computer (not for much longer though, since it is a little uncomfortable!) drinking a cup of decaf green tea, and looking forward to my first cup of broth! My message to all of you 'Fab Febs' (that is the name I'm calling myself!) is to stay motivated, stay focused, and stay positive! Yes, this is really happening, and it is a good thing. take care of yourselves and get ready for this fabulous new chapter in your lives.

yes, I am excited, and nervous, and hoping that it all goes well. I am in the mmc program too, surgery to be done in Scarborough, by Dr. Wolff. Not sure if I will be up for posting tomorrow, but I should be able to do so before your turn on Friday! good luck! :thumbup:

Welcome Sara! I am in Maine too- getting banded tomorrow morning! :tongue: Which program are you in?

Hello to all my fellow Febs! Tuesday is my day....yikes! So right now I am making chicken stock, and have already frozen some stock and beef stew to have on hand over the next few weeks. Gotta get the popsicles and jello next. Today I had to buy some different protein shakes (ended up getting packets of SF Carnation Instant Breakfast) because I was having an allergic reaction to the EAS whey protein powder. I was getting itchy patches on the back of my hands, upper lip, and a rash under my wedding rings. Since that has never happened before, I had to blame the protein, and my nutritionist agrees. So, hopefully I can tolerate the Carnation without an problems.... Also got myself set up with a new water bottle and chewable vitamins, finally. Tomorrow going shopping with my best friend for household things, and will add some of your post-op supply suggestions to the list. I'm not expected to spend the night in the hospital, but will probably bring those extra panties too! Wow- it's hard to believe that the big day is almost here :thumbup: but at least I know I am not alone. Good luck to the Monday folks- please let us know how it all goes for you! And thanks to those who post about their experiences- it really does help us 'newbies'! :thumbup:

Hang in there Babe! Just get right back on track and don't spend any more time beating yourself up about this! Let's face it, these pre-op diets are tough to stick to, because they rely on depriving yourself of almost everything. Haven't there been studies done that prove deprivation is not a successful approach, for the very reason that people cannot tolerate it and end up losing control? Please focus positively on the next few days, do better with eating and maybe increase your physical activity a bit to offset the extra calories. I am a week into my pre-op diet, and sometimes I really struggle with it. Even though I am allowed to eat a limited amount of low-fat, low-sugar, low-carb foods, it is still a challenge to be as 'good' as I'd like to be. Yesterday I got my approval letter from the insurance company, hooray! Like so many of you other Feb 09 bandsters, I am now even more excited and scared. I know this is going to be a good thing, just have to get over these months of prep and recovery, then on to a lifetime of health. We can do this kids!!! :thumbup:

Welcome! As with everything else, there seem to be some differences in the pre surgery requirements that we are each going through. My pre-op testing took place last week, although blood work had been done weeks before. My abdominal ultrasound was done early last year when I originally started the authorization process. I got spooked shortly after doing the ultrasound, and took a few months to make sure I was ready for the lapband. Once I decided I was, the process picked up again. Anyway, at my pre-op appointment they took weight, blood pressure, did an EKG, and had me meet with the general nurse and anesthesia nurse too. Gave me final instructions about facility location, and surgery morning prep, and took the name of the person driving me home. (The facility I'm going to does banding on an outpatient basis, so I am not planning on spending the night) I don't have sleep apnea, so did not have to do a sleep study. Since I completed psych and nutritionist appointments months ago, as far as I know all preparations are DONE. I am now doing my best with the pre-op diet, waiting for the big day next week! Even so, I can totally relate to how Miss Scare and others are feeling about not daring to believe this is actually happening! I talk about it, prepare for it, and keep putting one foot in front of the other to stay on the path. Reading the posts of everyone who has gone down it before me, or who are walking with me now, has really been a tremendous help. I look forward to sharing your successes with you!! :confused:

Our American culture is so funny- we often avoid stating the most obvious things! This is not true in other cultures, I'm thinking specifically of America's Deaf culture (think of a culture whose many norms are based on what is seen with the eyes) where it would be considered extremely rude or worrisome if people didn't comment on a noticeable physical change! I'm thinking of the previous post that described the experience of direct comments at the Chinese restaurant, and wonder if that culture has a similar norm. I am being banded in just over a week, and everyone in my small office of 8 knows about it. They have been extremely supportive, and many of them are dealing with their own weight or dietary issues. My best friend is very engaged in this process, since she is overweight herself and curious about the LapBand. Her older sister, a very overweight bully who has never really liked me, knows about what I'm doing and has stated that she is going to do it 'the right way' by eating less and exercising. She views the band in a negative light, and I have to confess that I am really looking forward to showing her just how wrong she is! So many of us already know that losing it is one thing, but keeping it off is another thing altogether. Even my surgeon has confirmed that the physiological component of a body like mine (that makes very efficient use of every single calorie, eager to turn as many as possible to fat) is tough to beat without the additional support of a tool like the LapBand. I have already considered how to respond to the 'how much?' question- I do not plan to give an actual number. For me, that is the painful part, as I hate to acknowledge that I had so much to lose! I am tall enough to hide a fair amount of weight, so my number could elicit the sort of shocked response that I don't want to hear from just anyone. Breezy answers such as 'almost enough!', or 'enough to feel great/need new clothes!' are vague but affirmative enough, when delivered with the right attitude. For people who press, a simple 'why do you want to know/does it really matter to you?' may be required to end that line of questioning. As for folks who may declare that I have 'taken the easy way' (even though that we all know that the LapBand is not exactly that) my response is going to be, 'what is so wrong with that?'. Who wouldn't elect to go an easy route, instead of a hard one? Ever heard of the 'path of least resistance' theory? As far as I'm concerned, I've outgrown the need to suffer and will take whatever ease comes my way. It doesn't mean I'm lazy, it means I am practical! My guess is that I am bound to encounter a variety of caring and cruel remarks along this journey of mine. My in-laws know nothing of what I am doing, and I have no intention of telling them. My DH has promised to keep this secret with me. My FIL always calls me 'skinny', which is far from accurate, and my MIL is always talking about the tiny sizes that she can now fit into as she ages and shrinks. I find that exposure to these comments is toxic, so I avoid it. DH knows, and because they live several hours from us it is easy to keep our distance. I am already practicing my response to their comments when we see them this summer- I don't plan to mention the band at all, but will refer to doing 'lots more walking and careful eating', which will be true! Only those people who I consider truly supportive and considerate will be allowed access to pertinent details, and hopefully this will help alleviate my own embarrassment about my weight gain as I strive to make it a thing of the past. Sorry for the long post, but this thread topic is actually quite thought-provoking for me! thanks to all of you for your posts, and the support that reading them gives me.

Here is the pre-op diet I am required to follow for two weeks before surgery: With prepared meal: three milk-based high Protein, low sugar beverages 4 oz lean meat 12 cup or 1 oz starch 1 cup cooked vegetable AND unlimited raw 1 medium piece of fruit 4 oz low fat milk 1 tsp regular or 1 Tbs light fat (butter, oil, mayo) If I choose to use frozen meals instead of prepared (home made) the diet looks like this: frozen meal (Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, Smart Ones) 2 oz lean meat 1 cup cooked and unlimited raw 1 medium piece of fruit 4 oz low fat milk 1 tsp regular or 1 Tbs light fat (butter, marg, mayo) Both plans include a daily Multivitamin, and of course drinking tons (64 oz per day) of non-carbonated liquid. I am still drinking coffee, which is a great way to use my 4 oz of low fat milk! I haven't been a soda drinker for years, so that isn't something I'm missing. The hardest part of this diet is, of course, being hungry almost all the time! But, at my pre-op test appointment today I was down 6 pounds from last Friday. I have been good about using my treadmill since starting this diet, and that is certainly helping too. I keep telling myself that these two weeks are a great way to transition to a more deliberate way of eating, and the real bonus will be that with the band in place I won't be so hungry!

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well on your pre-op diet and preparations....!!!! I am on day three of the pre-op diet, and it is a little difficult to keep myself from being hungry! The three protein shakes help, and of course I get one meal (the components of which I can spread over the course of the day, thank goodness) that is basically low-carb and low-fat. Last night I attended one of the post-op support groups that I had joined before (attendance at one session is required before meeting with the surgeon) and it was very helpful to share my nervousness with others, and to hear their reassurances and encouragement! Good luck to everyone who is on this journey with me! Is anyone else excited about being able to wear shorts this summer, instead of capris?????!!!!!! go fab febs!!

You're right- it has been quite a process!! And it was delayed a few months due to my own dithering about going through with this or not.... I started the process and then put it on hold while I had second thoughts. More research led me to decide it was worth going through, and so I have, almost. My bmi is between 41 and 42, and high blood pressure came on about two years ago. Other than that I am in pretty good health, but not that fit. The Bariatric Center in my town really does place an emphasis on learning to live with the band. They want to be confident in my ability to manage that successfully before moving me forward. That seems reasonable to me, especially when I read posts by folks who are struggling because they don't have a good resource for ongoing education and support in place. My center offers both pre and post surgery groups, specific to either bypass or lapband. Attendance at one pre session is mandatory before moving onto surgery; I believe all the rest are highly recommended, but people cannot be forced to attend. I've only been to the one required session, and it was helpful to hear from folks who were preparing themselves for the band, and those who had weeks and months of living with it. Support people (husbands, friends, family) are also allowed to ask questions along with the patients, and all are relieved to have an understanding audience who are sharing a common experience. Now I'm officially on day one of the pre-op diet, and the surgeon's office just called to give me a pre-op testing appointment. This afternoon I cleaned out the fridge and went food shopping. Got two different Protein shake options to try, one pre-mixed and one powder, and lots of lean meats and veggies. Not too different from everyday food shopping, really. Just no sweets or treats! :thumbup:

Hello MMM, I think if you learn one thing from reading these posts, it will be that there are a variety of approaches associated with this surgery. In my area (New England) we must complete many steps before meeting with the surgeon. Going to the general information session was required to start the process; I think I went over a year ago! Since then I have completed the ultrasound of my abdomen, had several sessions with the social worker, met with the nutritionist, and attended a mandatory support group meeting. Last week I met with the surgeon, and am now on my two-week pre op diet before surgery on 02/03. I don't have some of the other medical issues that require sleep studies, mandatory overnight stay, stress test, etc. My BMI is 41.?, and I do have high blood pressure. I have not been required to lose weight before surgery (just the pre-op diet to shrink the liver), and expect no problems with my insurance. After surgery there will be follow-up appointments with both the surgeon and the Bariatric Center- to include support groups, fills and check in with the nutritionist. I do feel reassured by the amount of ongoing support that is available to me, because I believe that is likely to be a contributing factor in my success. I'm actually looking forward to going to tomorrow night's group meeting, because I am nervous about the surgery and can work through that with the help of those who have already gone through it. That might not be helpful for everyone, but it will be for me!! I hope you find this information helpful- Good luck with your journey!! :wink2:

I don't have a set amount to lose prior to surgery- the instructions I have indicate the need to shrink the liver, in order to improve access to all the critical bits. The food plan I'm on includes one meal per day (carefully measured, of course) and three Protein shakes. Five shakes on the day before surgery. Fun! This past weekend was my 'last supper' weekend, and the only crazy I managed to work in was ice cream. That is something I (finally, after a struggle) cut out of my diet last fall, and it had been several months since I'd eaten my fill direct out of the container. That was fun, but not as satisfying as I expected it to be. Big snow storm kept us home and off the roads instead of driving around looking for fast-food, and now the weekend is gone and I have to start the pre-op diet tomorrow. I've stocked up on beading supplies to keep my mind and hands too busy to think about snacking, and will just do the best I can with this next step. At the moment I am still amazed at the fact that I am finally at this point, after at least a year of going through all the steps and soul-searching. My original date with the surgeon was at the end of this March, so I was in the mind-set of an April band date. A few weeks ago I was offered a January appointment (last week) and now I am two weeks out, instead of three months! I'm still in the process of wrapping my mind around that concept, but feeling excited about the big change I'm going through. Fortunately, this website is a terrific help! Lots of useful information and great stories to read. Thanks! :scared2:

I'm on for February 3rd, provided the insurance approval goes through in time. Both the surgeon and scheduler expect that to happen quickly; guess they've worked with this company often enough to feel confident that this will happen, but I am not so sure! I'm so afraid that there will be a delay, just when I am gearing up and feel ready for the changes ahead of me. In the meantime I am finding this website very helpful- sure is nice to know I'm not alone in this 'world'!