ELL1021

I have my surgery Monday. The first week of my two week pre-op I was able to drink the 5 Optifast shakes a day but had discomfort. The second week I have only been able to have the shakes a couple of days and then it was only 2 or 3 shakes on those days. They make me so sick, last night I thought I was having a heart attack. I was told I have a hiatal hernia that will be repaired with my band surgery Monday. I've done some serious research on the internet and see hiatal hernias cause the symptoms that I have. The hernia causes the body to not assimilate protein and minerals very well. Trying to force 70g of protein into a body that has a hernia sounds like it is setting the body up for more serious medical issues. Since I'm close to surgery date I stopped the shakes and I'm just loading myself up with fluids. Has anyone else had the problem with the shakes. I was seriously hurting last night. Lump in the throat, indigestion, gas, big time burping and a severe discomfort so bad I that I was dying. I was "this close" to calling 911 for a heart attack but knew it was from the shakes. I stopped the shakes and it subsided. I figure I'll have my surgery Monday and THEN should be able to do the post op shakes ok. Did anyone else have this severe a reaction to the shakes and have a hiatal hernia? It feels like the shakes made the hernia symptoms worse.

Thank you. That seems to be what I'm determining from reading the posts. I think I'm getting a little over anxious and trying to over analyze. Monday is my surgery, I just got home from my pre-op tests. I think I'm trying too hard to "plan" how to live with the band ... I best take it one day at a time and feel my way, like a new baby. Thank you so much for the advice..... you make me STOP and realize I need to slow down my brain. It's a simple process and I'm trying to make it way too complicated. Thanks for the grounding!

Gosh I wasn't rejecting it... I hate having to type stuff. Sometimes it comes out not the way it was intended. I was only replying with what I've been told to do. My keyboard locks up on me so I was trying to get the message typed before it screwed up on me and I sent it without reading through it. Sorry it appeared I was NOT taking your advice. Definitely wasn't the case!

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Help! Someone please tell me how you set up your weight loss tracker at the end of each of your posts. My surgery is the 26th and I'd like to have that little tracker on my messages too. Thanks for the input.. and I have to tell you, I joined several months ago when I was researching the lapband and this site has been a wealth of information. Everyone has provided all types of helpful tidbits. Thanks everyone!!

It seems I was having a mild anxiety attack... I'm finding if I relax I can think and come up with great ideas. I realized fish is served at all restaurants, so is salads, so is Soups. My doctor absolutely refuses to allow steak/hamburger as he says it's way too dry. No drinking what so ever.. you can do it but it won't allow you to fill up properly so you won't use the band the way it is meant to be used. Defeating the purpose. I can eat anything obviously but I won't lose weight if I don't adhere exactly. I've located a LOT of recipes on line for lapband using chicken and fish so I'll be able to enjoy cooking at home. They gave me great ideas to watch for out to eat also. To start if I go out to eat again... salads, broiled fish meals. This allows me to not worry about how tough chicken is. I just have to think. I worry too much!

This sounds odd but I'm to have my surgery in a week and I've seen nothing on the site that answers my question.... once you have the surgery and have lost weight and feel so much better about yourself, if you are fortunate enough to meet someone who wants to date you, how do you go about your first date? You can't eat steaks, you can't eat chinese food, you can't eat pizza, you can't eat italian foods so you have to be a bit selective when invited out. What has everyone else done in this situation? How do you "steer" the guy to what you can eat? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I'm getting frustrated. No where on the site can I find instructions on how to start a new thread. I've gone to FAQ, I've even searched in Google.... nothing. Can someone help me, please!!?!? Thanks!

This is my third day of my 2 week pre-op with optifast and I have to say I feel much better today than I did the first day. I'm not hungry any more and I've found some sneaky ways to enjoy the shakes. I added instant coffee to the vanilla and turned it into an iced coffee drink. The chocolate I heated up and made it hot cocoa. I'm finally getting the hang of it. Since I've got to do this 2 weeks pre-op and 2 weeks post-op I figured I better figure this out quick. I also found taking Lactaid tablets has also helped tremendously.

I hate to sound stupid but can anyone tell me how to set up more of my profile. I want to put a picture on it and see what else is available to set up. I joined and only read for months, this is only my second post. I need HELP with figuring out how to use the forum profile. Please and thanks!

Hi all. I'm reading everyone's posts.... finding them very informative and helpful. I'm two days into my pre-op. Got my insurance approval for surgery today. Surgeon started me on the two weeks of Optifast while waiting for the approval hoping it came in before the scheduled surgery date. I'm scheduled for Oct. 26. I was hoping for an Oct. 21 surgery date as it's my birthday and wanted to have a new "birthday". The surgeon only does this type of surgery on Mondays so I had to settle on the 26th. I'm nervous, anxious, excited, scared, and can come up with about 20 more descriptive words. I also started walking this morning. Most walking I've done in a while. Usually my walking is to the bathroom, mailbox, taking out the trash, and to the elevator at work. :thumbup: I finally kicked myself into gear and went out walking this morning before work ... did two laps around my street. I enjoyed it. I'm on an 800 calorie Optifast pre-op. 5 shakes a day, nothing else but clear beverages. Same regimen for two week post-op so this is goign to be quite a long shake hall. I know I won't drink the Optifast as post op. It's too artificial tasting. I have looked into Kellogg's new protein shake and heard the Carnation Instant is good. I really appreciate all your posts as they've been so informative as I worked through my 6 month program required by the insurance. I've learned so much from everyone... I don't think I'd have gotten this far if you all hadn't provided so much helpful information. I'd like to thank everyone!!!

Hi Indiogirl55. I can reply from the email message I got but when I go to the main LapBandTalk.com home page and sign in. From there where do I go? That's where I get confused. How do I find the 50s page? I hope the surgery is easier to navigate than this forum! Thanks so much for any additional help you can give me.