SJB

Smoking increases your surgery risks and also causes you to produce more secretions (mucus) that can lead to post-op complications like pneumonia. The nicotine is a stimulant and causes an increase in both heart rate and blood pressure.

Ditto with the italian dressing marinade and grilled! I haven't tried them since being banded though......

Hey can I join this challenge even though I am an April 2007 bandit? I am going to go for the Gold! I am so impressed with your losses! Exercise sessions this month as of 6/5: 3

Hey Lee - are you eating enough protein? They told me to eat my meat first and then there isn't much room for veggies. I have found that the sugar free carnation instant breakfast goes down pretty easily in the mornings and has about 13 grams of fiber. I'm with you on the learning to eat slower -- thats something I'm having to learn the hard way! I bought pack of little plastic baby spoons in the baby department and thats what I've been using to eat stuff. It helps me to take smaller bites. My doc also told me to chew each bite 25-30 times and put my fork down between each bite. How is your weight loss going?

Genie - I am so amazed! You are doing great! I hope I do as well as you have! Mary and Lee it was good to hear how you are doing. I find myself alot like you Mary; I am more restricted in the morning than in the evening. I have been trying to limit my carbs as well. I have been walking 2 miles a day for at least 5 days a week. Its not so bad. Jen - I'm rather technologically challenged but I finally managed to get my ticker on here. Open up the userCP to edit your signature. Then minimize that window and go to tickerfactory.com to create your ticker. After you make your ticker, highlight it and press control-C (copy); maximize the userCP page (open it back up) and go back to your signature, then control-V (paste) and your ticker should appear on your signature. Be sure to save the changes toyour signature. Good luck and let me know if that works for you!

Sorry you're having such a tough time - hope things get better for you.

Listen to your doctor - he is the expert. The opinions of strangers on this board should never be substituted for advice from YOUR medical professional.

I was banded on Monday 4/30/07 so I am 2 days post op. I am really sore and have some gas pains. I had hoped to go back to work today, but NO WAY! I think I will take off until Monday--hopefully I will be feeling better by then. I have been doing the 30 minutes walking and getting the 64 oz water in but I haven't really wanted anything. I have to remind myself to eat some sf jello or a popsicle every so often. I think I consumed a total of 55 calories today. I know that won't last though! I'm just glad the surgery is over and I wish I was felling more normal.

I was just wondering if anyone out there has had the band for a long time and if you had any complications? Would you do it again if you had it to do over again?

I was banded Monday 4/30 and was discharged Tuesday evening. I wish I could have stayed another night or 2! It was much easier getting in and out of the hospital bed and they had pain meds there! Also, I am glad there was someone monitoring me the first night in case there were problems. Good luck!!

Jenn - I was just banded 4 days ago. I lost 14 on the preop liquid diet. The day after the surgery I had gained 10 lbs. As of this morning I had lost 20 lbs so I guess about 6 lbs in 4 days?

I was banded on Monday 4/30/07 so I am 4 days post op. I am really sore and have some gas pains. I had hoped to go back to work Wednesday, but NO WAY! I have now taken off until Monday--hopefully I will be feeling better by then. I have been doing the 30 minutes walking and getting the 64 oz water in but I haven't really wanted anything. I have to remind myself to eat some sf jello or a popsicle every so often. From the start of the preop diet until now, I have lost 19 pounds. I'm just glad the surgery is over and I wish I was feeling more normal.

Twinkletoe - My surgeon requires 2 weeks of clear liquids + 3 slimfast optimas per day prior to the surgery. It wasn't as bad as I feared but I was really hungry that 2nd week. I did figure out by accident that the slimfast were wonderful frozen. I accidentally left a cappucino delight slimfast in the freezer too long and it froze. I used a can opener to open the opposite end and ate it with a spoon. It was great and I felt like I had something in my tummy. I ate lots of sf jello and sf popsicles and drank lots of crystal lite. I hate broth but I did get some wonton soup (without the wontons) and that tasted great. Good luck!

I was banded on Monday 4/30/07 so I am4 days post op. I am really sore and have some gas pains. I have been doing the 30 minutes walking and getting the 64 oz water in but I haven't really wanted anything. I have to remind myself to eat some sf jello or a popsicle every so often. I have lost 19 pounds since starting the preop diet but I know that won't last though! I'm just glad the surgery is over and I wish I was feeling more normal. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Keep up the good work, Lee! You will have some wonderful results! (and I'm talking more than just weight loss & increased health---you are making memories with your kids!):clap2:

My surgery is scheduled for 2 weeks from today. I received a phone call from my PCP today and was told that I am diabetic and will be going for additional lab work and starting on insulin tomorrow. (apparently, I will be skipping over the oral meds and going directly to the insulin.) I am so upset that I have allowed myself to get to this point! Those of you out there who are diabetic - has the band (&resulting wt loss) helped you to get off of insulin or reverse the diabetes?

I worked in the OR and it won't matter if you are on your period or not. They will probably ask you to wear a pad, but you definitely won't be allowed to wear your panties. Just mention it to the nurse who prepares you for surgery - she (or he) will take care of you!

I went for my first Dr. visit today. I should have the surgery date in a few days - hopefully the end of April or first of May. I can't wait to get started!

My surgery date is April 30th. I start my preop liquid diet on April 16th. I hope I do as well as you, Deb!

Good luck Lee! I'll be thinking about you-I hope all goes well. Post when you get home and are feeling up to it so we know how you're doing. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Anyone out there used Dr. King in Oxford, MS? If so, I'd love to know about your experience.

I went for my first Dr. visit today. I should have the surgery date in a few days - hopefully the end of April or first of May. Tney went ahead and gave me a copy of my preop diet today to start 2 weeks prior to the surgery. Clear liquids and 3 slimfast optima drinks per day plus 10 glasses of water. I can do that for 2 weeks. Good luck with your liver shrinking phase!

Gayle - the fentanyl (duragesic) pain patches are only for use in opoid-tolerant patients because they are highly addictive - so that definitely wouldn't be an alternative.

My doctor does a 2 week clear liquid diet in order to lose fat around the liver and reduce the surgery risk. It also makes it easier to see what they are doing in there when they inflate the abdominal cavity and insert the trochars for the scopes and other instruments.

I know you are so excited Lee! I hope all goes well for you on 3/28. How is the "liver shrinking" phase going?