dlm94

Congrats, that's great! I too, just hit my halfway point. Though realistically, I will be satisfied if I lose even half of what's left. Funny that I found your post today. I had sworn off this forum, shortly after I was banded. I popped on today - just to see if there was someone out there like me....losing a little slowly, but isn't necessarily unhappy, optimistic. You were banded a month after me and we seem to be very close, I have lost 50lbs. I wish you the best with the rest of your journey!

These are not allowed on MY list until day 12 to 19 post op, which is the start of the pureeing phase also known as mushies (?). Tommorow is day 12 for me and I am starving!!!!! I've never liked hot cereal, but right now...it sounds GREAT. I may give them another shot. Enjoy!

I agree - either lactose, sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. Do you eat any other "sugar free" foods? Do you have bad reactions with them? I do not do well with any of those, so avoid them all (incld Splenda). I am using a protein powder called About Time. You have to order it online and it isn't cheap. It is naturally sweetened and is 100% whey protein isolate. I haven't had any problems with it all. Good luck!

This IS a disturbing thread, but beneficial. I did not know that statistic and it is bothersome. Were there time frames given? Such as – 10% removed in the first year? Did it break down the 25% by reason for failure? Equipment failure vs body rejection vs non-compliance? I think this is relevant because if you lurk around in the forum “Lap-Band Complications,” (also a disturbing pre-op activity) the bander’s behavior really does cause many of the problems. This is not “blaming the victim,” it’s observable from the population that posts. Several posts will include statements like “I knew I was pushing it…” OR “I know I wasn’t following the rules….” I have read posts where bander’s went to Mexico and came home with NO post-op care arranged and no idea of the recovery process. Others are days from surgery and do not know what kind of shake to buy or are asking the forum for definitions of the most basic terms, imperative to their health! There are those people whose bodies will just reject the band (I’m so afraid I will be one of these), but I suspect that the majority of failures are linked to the bander’s preparation, education and compliance.

For all of my fellow pre-op's that are on all liquids: how much fun is this? I'm going to be banded on 12/29 and by that time, I will have sat through 4 holiday dinners and 2 huge carry-ins at work. All of which, I cooked something for. It has been tough...on everyone really. Apparently, everyone else really enjoyed watching ME enjoy food and they miss it. It hasn't been THAT bad though because I have found a little trick. At all the sit down dinners, I have heated a can of low-sodium broth and "enjoyed" that with everyone else. It is amazing how fast people eat! At all 4 events - I was the last one done! Just the action of dipping the spoon and eating helped me feel connected to the group. Much more than if I had drank a shake. Give it a try, if you're struggling too. Merry Christmas to all!

If all goes well and I am banded on 12/29 as planned - it took 2 months. I have BCBS of MA and had a BMI of 43

I feel exactly the same and have the same surgery date! I researched high & low to find a protein meal replacement & multi-vit, without artificial sweeteners. I am using "About Time" protein shake. Web Vitamins seems to have the best price. It is sweetened with stevia. The dietician was very receptive to my objections over artificial sweeteners. I have used agave nectar in the past, but she nixed that due to the calories and fructose, or something. Luckily, I'm not crazy about sweet stuff (take my coffee & tea black, scrape frosting off cake, ect). For the "popsicles," dietician approved a half water/half natural fruit juice mixture and I froze that in an ice cube tray. To be honest, I haven't even touched those. I am having such a hard time drinking 5-6 shakes a day and they are sweet enough. More on the shakes: About Time is a protein shake mix, but not a meal replacement. To make it so, the dietician has me using skim milk and adding 2 tsp of Benefiber (tasteless) to each shake. The strawb & choc are "good", cake batter flavor - not my favorite. These are very thin, more like choc milk. It doesn't thicken at all. To do this, I froze skim milk in ice cube trays and use this to blend. Works great. I have always avoided artificial sweeteners, for various reasons, but mainly because they upset my stomach big time. I wonder if some of the gas pains & distress I have read about on this board, are not due to similar reactions??? Especially, if those people weren’t use to eating sugar free products pre-surg??? Sorry if this is long or incoherent. On day 7 of this liquid diet crap and can barely think straight! :thumbup: Oh yea- forget finding a multi-vit that is chewable and NOT artificially sweetened...impossible! Good Luck!!

I am on day 4 of a 2 week liquid diet: 5 shakes a day. I feel awful. I am very tired, have headaches and am a little disoriented. I am very worried about how I will continue to function on my job! Surgery is 12/29.

My insurance company, BCBS of MA, will not acknowledge receipt of the REQUEST for surgery! My surgeon has this uber-organized, insurance wiz, that has put together all the appropriate paperwork and has faxed it 4 times over last 2 weeks. This is so frustrating! I had really hoped to have this surgery in Dec, because our family has met our ins deductible (first time ever). Now, figuring in a 2 week pre-op diet and that doctor's office closes for 2 weeks for holidays, I'm sunk. I wish I had some sort of faxing bot that would crank off continual faxes to all departments, all day, until they admitted having it? Just a little revenge fantasy.:tongue2: I have logged every phone call, asking if they've received it, and confirmed the fax number each time. Any other advice?