hiddnstar

Im 7 days out and I felt hungry a lot during the last 7 days. But each day I felt better, especially a lot less discomfort getting in and out of bed or up from a chair. Just today I started the full liquid diet where I can add protein powder to food, etc. This has helped with my energy and out look. Hang in there. It's true what the other bandsters say -- it gets better. hiddn:wink2:

I am also one week out and just this afternoon started full liquids. I wonder if it would work to add protein powder to your protein drink? I really really dont know...Im just asking. I use Any Whey which does not have a flavor of it's own and can be used in baking and drinks. I have mixed it in soups and pudding with success on the pre-op diet. Hang in there! This is the time to heal. hiddn

I was banded July 7th. I was on full liquids for 4 days, clear liquids the day before surgery. And now on clear liquids for the 9 days between surgery and seeing my dr again. My dr said specifically no jello during this time. I eat chicken broth, clear misso soup, juice, water, hot tea, and popsicles I made from juice. When I made the decision to be banded, I was excited a lot of the time. It was when I was given a surgery date that nervousness also entered the picture. Trust in my dr was worth a million. When you get home from surgery, be sure to do the breathing exercise to get your lungs open and clear from surgery. Im still doing them. And walk, even if it is just 3 mins at a time at first -- and you dont want to! It may be your big accomplishment for the day some days :grouphug: Congratulations for getting this far. Youre saving your life! hiddn

Hi. Ive been having a hard time emotionally being on clear liquids. The nutritionist told 2 to 3 days clear liquids, then move to full. But the dr nixed that and said clear liquids until I see him -- which will not be until this Friday (10 days in all). Im in less pain each day, but am having such a hard time emotionally. Yesterday my body was "cleaning house" so to speak, cleansing the anesthetic and meds out of the system...so I had lots of practice getting up quickly and moving to the bathroom. I talked with my counselor on the phone and bless his heart, he let me cry and sob it out while we talked. Today I have awoken early, not in pain, just drained. I plan to take a shower, have broth and juice, and then take a walk. But to tell the truth, I feel like I just want to lay here until Friday. Im glad to hear you are feeling good and moving about, getting out taking walks. Did any emotions come up for you? I think I didnt realize I was holding in so much over the years, the impace on my life of being so large. This band is life-changing in so many ways that I didnt realize before hand. Even with all this going on, I know I made the right decision. I'll move forward at whatever pace I move, but there seems to be a part of the journey that is so private, intimate, and personal...a kind of deep loneliness that is being touched and illuminated, welcomed back into the world of others. Is anyone else going thru this? I think the restriction of clear liquids kind of brought this on, which is ok. I also think once I can have full liquids where I can add protein powder to foods I will bounce right back. In the meantime I have an opportunity to really see what I have been hiding. Thank you to everyone here who is sharing their journey together! What a ride! hiddn

Hi I would scratch the race. Youve come a long way to get this band -- just for you. You will need to focus on simply healing and resting/recovering. Please don't push yourself. The real work comes after the 6 week healing period and you will want to be geared up for that. There will be other 1/2 marathons to be in and by then you will be in great shape and will ENJOY it more I think. Im glad you asked about it here. hiddn

hi i was banded yesterday. im sore and tired -- really hoping that turns around soon. how many days did it take before you felt pretty good? hiddn

We're all right here for you! Have a grand day! A great day for new beginnings! hiddn:thumbup:

Hi there. My date with the band is July 7th. Im on a liquid diet until the 6th, then clear liquids. It hasnt been too bad. The heat isnt helping, though. I feel a little overwhelmed with getting things done like house cleaning and laundry, just to be ready. Psychologically Im very ready. You're exactly right about an "interesting summer"! hiddn:smile:

Hi everyone. I am getting banded on July 7th. I have a very specific question. 10 days after surgery, I will need to get into (and out of) the backseat of a small, two-door car. It is a Toyota Yaris and the front seat slides up to make more room to enter and exit. My question is, by ten days will I most likely be ok with the twisting/bending required to to do this? Thank you! ~hiddnstar:confused:

Hi! I'll be banded on July 7th. I hope things go smoothly for you :biggrin:

Hi I am not on the liquid diet, but I can say something that may help. The best advice my doctor gave me when I thought I wasnt losing enough on his prescribed 1200 a day diet, was "Eat the 1200 calories a day and dont worry about it". My weight had been stalled for 3 weeks at that time (with strict adherence to the diet!) and the very next day I saw a 4 pound loss. Since then I have just stuck to what my doctor said to do and I havent worried about it. (that's his job for now). Hope this helps. Sounds to me like you're doing great! hiddn:wink2:

Congratulations! Yahoo!! I, too, am faced with "last meal" thoughts. I had a whole list of what I wanted and where I wanted to get it. I am being banded July 7th. I suddenly had a revelation that I will just stick with my 1200 cal a day diet right up to surgery. That decision actually took some stress off me, made my situation so much more simple. I have found that even dipping my finger (several times) into a bowl of icing while I iced someone elses cake really impacted my sensation of hunger later. So, it was a big lesson for me to just stick with my own diet -- when I do that, I am not hungry. That lesson was a big part of my decision to not do "last meals". It is what works for me. Hope my sharing my experience was somewhat helpful. You'll find what works for you! We'll be July Bandsters together hiddn

Hi I can only speak from my own experience and that is I was weighed my first visit and then placed on a 1200 cal a day diet. Then I went thru a bunch of tests, had a nutritionist consult, and a psychological exam. At that point, my doctor sent in all my test results and info for insurance approval. I was told the insurance company would most likely require I be on a medically supervised diet for 6 months. In the meantime, I had to lose 20 pounds mostly to show my doctor my motivation and that I can follow and stick to a strict regimen. I dont know if losing 20 will take me below the BMI qualification or not, but I have already qualified with my original weight. By surgery date, I may not technically qualify but will still get the band because they go by my weight from my first visit. To anyone out there who is even remotely considering a LAP-BAND®, go to your family doctor NOW and be sure they weigh you and put it in your chart. Be sure to discuss diet and goals and that this goes in your chart. My insurance company used that as part of their decision and counted it as medically supervised diet! Even if your family doctor is not the one who will perform the LAP-BAND®, it is still documented supervision. (be sure to be open with your family doctor about what you are needing in terms of documentation. Most doctors are very helpful in that area!). After all my worry about how long I would have to wait, my insurance company approved it immediately and I am getting banded two weeks later -- not six months later! I hope this helps you. hiddn

I suppose each individual has their own, personal reasons for the way they respond to banding and what follows. I think often people respond with anger and finger-pointing when they are simply scared. Perhaps they are doubting their decision to have this very major life-changing procedure -- and it is such a drastic thing we are doing, as well. Once done, there is no going back. (though, of course the band is reversible which is another life-changing procedure in itself). For me, I am so excited and so committed to doing what I think will really work this time, that I suppose if after a few months I see no positive results for all my efforts the excitement and committment could turn to anger and finger-pointing ----but underneath it all would be the fear that I have "blown it" once again, made some bad decision that I am stuck with. Hope this gives you another view point. I, too, would rather not read posts that get real ugly, but for those who truly need to vent to other people who will understand what they are going thru, it is wonderful to have the opportunity. I can choose to read those posts when Im in a space to respond and not take it on.:devil_smile:

I only know that it can help with low energy and that the older we get, the less of it we absorb -- so people get deficient. I wonder if the body can absorb it more readily as a nose spray? I use a spray for under my tongue. Its great stuff!!

I'll be banded on July 7th, 2010! I'm excited and somewhat fearful as well. I'll be visiting here a lot more! There is a lot of wisdom here.

Hi everyone, I am on a 1200 cal. a day pre-op diet. My surgery date is not set. I had a hard time with the diet for 4 days. On the 5th day I awoke with no hunger, no cravings. This is the easiest dieting I have ever done--which is kind of bizarre to me. I have read here about people being hungry after surgery. Can those who are having problems with being hungry after surgery please say if you went thru this pre-op period of not being hungry? I am preparing to be successful and dont want to be unrealistic in my expectations. One thing I have learned is that, for me, sugar plays a huge role in feelings of hunger. As I said, after day 4 on the diet I had no hunger. However, after a few weeks I baked and iced a cake. I kept sticking my fingers in the icing...and voila, the next morning I woke up hungry!!! It took another two days of strict diet to go back to not being hungry. Thank you for any insights you may have or anything you care to share! This site is such a gift to us all! hiddn

Thank you for your reply Jalomum! Its good to get some feedback. Your words are inspiring to me hiddn

Hi. I am in the pre-op phase of supervised diet, waiting for insurance approval. Can people please post how long they have been banded and anything else they would like to say about it? (regrets, celebrations, complications, etc). I thought I was 99 percent sure of this decision, but have read about complications, lately, and the over-all rate seems high -- depending on where I read about it. So Im now a little bit hesitant. Thank you very much for sharing! ~hiddn

Thank you for such a beautiful reply, Astrasmom. I know this is a life-altering, life-saving decision I have made. (that we have ALL made). I will be getting my test results back on June 4th and either get the nod from my doctor, or not at that time. Then on to the insurance company! In the meantime, my body seems to have adjusted to the weight loss diet of 1200 cals a day. I feel so READY for this!! I think attitude, attention to detail, and willingness to ask for help will be key for me. I'll take my concerns to my doctor :laugh: I have heard such wonderful things about his skill as a surgeon; his bedside manner is somewhat "unique", but so far I have found him to be FUN--and thorough! Thank you again for your response. ~hiddn

Thank you for your welcome and encouragement, Gloria. I had some tests done last week and will finish the rest by this friday. I have the psych eval lined up and am also now on a 1200 cal a day diet. The insurance co is inconsistent with their requirement of supervised diet -- 3 to 6 months. They dont give a reason for the discrepancy. I just hope Im a 3-monther! Im doing ok on 1200 cals a day, but have lost 9 pounds in 5 days which I think is way too fast. And now Im not hungry, which is just weird. I see the nutritionist on friday and will talk with her about the whole thing. I love everyone's posts here. So very supportive of each other.

:smile2:Hi I am new here, too. I will meet my surgeon the day after tomorrow! Was anyone surprized at the list of tests or the amount of pre-surgery weightloss required ? I have heard different stories of what tests had to be done and how much weight had to be lost. I am aiming for being banded in August and hope I can accomplish everything in time!