TylerDurden

Wow, these ladies have some great suggestions for chocolate cravings. Any ideas on a substitute for beer? It's really the only thing I miss. Sweet, delicious beer... What could make anyone feel better than grabbing an ice cold bottle from an ice chest? So chilled that the ice clings to the smooth bottle. You pop that top, allowing some of the carbonation to escape and you can just smell all the aromas of the beer. Slowly pour it into a glass, allowing its golden tint to fill the cylinder with a nice white, foamy hat on your new friend. Watch it for a few moments as the tiny bubbles float to the creamy surface while the outside of the glass gets all sweaty cool. It can't wait to get in my belly. Finally, you raise it to your lips and enjoy a big, bubbly sip of goodness with a malty finish. My esophagus gets tingly just thinking about it.

My surgery was Tuesday (5/11). The doctor told all of us, nothing but clear liquids (Water, broth, Jell-O, and 3 Profect per day) the first two weeks. Then after that, we can drink 2 shakes and one meal consisting of a 1/4 cup. It seems strict but honestly, right now I could not eat anymore than I am. The Profect is ghastly so I pour it into 16 oz of water which makes it go down much easier. Funny, but the jell-o seems to stay with me and I'm not hungry at all. Maybe it's the healing process and next week I'll have a voracious appetite. All in all I cannot complain. So far, none of the post-op symptoms have affected me (pain, gas, nausea, etc.).

Wow, that's incredible. One of the nurses told me she knew of someone who lost 75 lbs in 3 months. I thought that was nearly impossible. Any tips to share that played a part in your terrific results?

If only it were that easy; at least it's not for me. Seems the last place you put fat on is the first place to thin down and vice versa. I wish I could focus the majority of weight loss on one particular area but unfortunately it never works that way. I can do all the sit ups and crunches I want but that's not the area that will be trim the soonest. I'm only strengthening those muscles. Weight (fat) loss isn't strategic so hang in there and excellent job so far!

I'm glad you were able to get your surgery done through Dr. Schwartz. My experience with his office was a nightmare. I must have given his staff everything at least twice. I'm sure glad I made copies of everything. In the end, his staff member who was in charge of calling the insurance company for approval, carelessly left my records locked in her desk while she went on vacation. Finally, I bid that office goodbye and switched to Dr. Stephen Burpee. His staff is terrific and the hospital where he performs the surgery is a "center of excellence", which my insurance now required. All the prelim stuff is the same but his office was much more competent than the Schwartz's.

I agree with Betsy about the measurements. In the class before the surgery, our nurse said to be sure and record measurements. She relayed a story about a patient who was very down about not losing much weight since her banding. The nurse referred her to her pre-op measurements and to re-take them. The patient had lost a total of 40 inches! Just remember, as Betsy said, that the scale does not always tell the whole story. I want to see numbers go down on the scale as well but it's really more important for me to be thinner and healthier than I am currently.

I was banded on Tuesday at Northwest Hospital in Tucson. My surgeon is Stephen Burpee. No pain or nausea experienced as yet but I did everything he told me to including the 2 week pre-op diet.

Wow, that puts it in perspective. I guess only experience can tell us when that is. I just had my surgery yesterday so I'm a rookie at it.

I can see how this might confuse you. The purpose of carefully chewing each bite is so that it may EVENTUALLY pass through the banded area, not so it will while you're eating. The banded area is a temporary storage that will hold the food before releasing it, making you feel full. From what I understand, if you don't chew carefully, the food will become lodged at the band site and cause problems digesting and your esophagus will then feel clogged and force you to regurgitate it My surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday so I'm speaking more from theory than practice. If I'm mistaken, I hope somebody corrects me.

I have the class scheduled for Friday. Thanks for letting me know what I'm in for. My doctor wouldn't say too much; guess he really wants me to attend. He said it's a requirement of the medical insurance. He gave me the binder last week when he told me to start the pre-op diet and said to bring it with me to class. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday the 11th. I'm pretty excited! Sure hope this class is closer to 2 hours than 4!

Did anyone else's surgeon recommend these medications? If so, did you find that they were beneficial? Mine said they were strongly suggested but not required. Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Maybe because it's so delicious.