KarenAR

Actually Steph.... Sorry I'm getting on your nerves. I didn't say american surgeons are stupid, I know quite a few and respect them but my comment was based on what they say to me rather than my opinion of them. it related to some not giving full details of what to eat rather than anything to do with their expertise as surgeons. As to the comments I made other than that. Sorry if my feeling well and enjoying my post banding diet annoys you somehow. I am expressing how happy I am to be doing so well and others need to see that some of us are. I had a dread of what it might be like before. I read similar comments on many of the other threads by people. I am only responding to those who are asking about the mushies stage...which since I am one of the only ones here who is on that stage I am trying to give help about..ok? I also gave websites and suggested someone talk to their surgeon. People have to do what they think best but if they ask a question they are clearly unsure. This isn't a competition...it's support and advice. If you think it's condescending to be open and to share, that is your interpretation and not my intention. If someone asks a question if I can help I shall while I am around. Some seem to have been given far less advice and help than others. If they weren't in need of information from others they wouldn't ask. You are clearly doing well on the advice your surgeon gave to you. My comment about what I was given when people left hospital was followed by a question not a judgement and I can't see how you interpretted it that way. If you read what you wrote you just said the UK surgeons I had were idiots for giving me a needle in case I got into problems ..presumably these needles are special ones and EMTs or similar may not have them to hand. Did it occur to you that I might be surprised to have been given one and wanted to know if others had been too? I have seen other postings asking whether the lapbands set off metal detectors at airports etc etc. This is a forum where we share what we know and have been told..isn't it? I'm sorry you feel the way you do. I can't help that but I will continue to help others. Feel free to ignore me but why ask others to agree with you? I still wish you very well and hope you do well.

Audree.. Surgeons are surgeons..lapbands are lapbands..humans are humans..doesn't matter where we live. The only thing I will add is that in the USA surgeons are paranoid about being sued by their patients so they may be more cautious. However I saw US site and I am going to include that here..but I wanted to share this because it suggests that the US prescribed after band diet is very much the same as the UK one.. "Let us go back to the beginning. Immediately after surgery you will feel restriction. The surgeon usually doesn’t put any Fluid in your band during the surgery. The restriction you feel is the swelling of your stomach and it’s adjustment to the band that has suddenly been wrapped around it. You won’t get your first fill until 4-6 weeks after surgery. You will be on Clear Liquids and they will fill you up quickly for the first few days. Then they will stop filling you up you will begin to feel hungry. About this time you will be allowed to eat mushy foods like mashed potatoes, creamy Soups, etc. You will find that you eat just a few bites and you are full. This is great! Who knew a ¼ can of soup would be enough? This is going to be a piece of cake. It isn’t going to last. Shortly this won’t satisfy and you will be moving on to solid food. That feeling of restriction comes back. A slice of turkey and you are stuffed! This doesn’t last either. At about 4 weeks, sometimes earlier, you will start to feel hunger again. You feel like you are eating everything. Your weight loss has slowed or stopped. You start to freak out. “Where is my restriction?!” you cry." OK so that is the exact eating programme I am on...so UK or USA doesn't make any difference. By the way, I'm a journalist so one of the things I do is a massive amount of research on anything..and medical research is a particular interest of mine. I read and read and then make up my mind..but you start to see consistencies and that guides you. Before I left hospital I was given an implant registration document...an implant card to carry around in case anything happens to me to inform doctors what I have had..what I can eat etc...and I was given a needle to carry around in case I need an emergency unfill. Did you all get that? At least with the guides we know what to do when things go wrong and not to panic and in particular I think our families need to know. I've given a copy of the information to my daughter because otherwise they wont know we might have problems and if so what to do when that occurs. I think it's so remote frankly but they do need to know. I chew and chew my food and I read at least 10 chews up to 24 with meat...so I do that. The site for you to also look at is: http://www.lapbandlifestyle.com/Pages/LapBandLifestyleRulesroad.shtml The other thing I do is go down the boards and look at those who had their bandings in June/July to see how they went..what problems they had etc etc. Interesting reading. Karen

BK I don't know. Do you have an eating plan? I couldn't function without mine to guide me. I think it's not so much what you list is how much of that you are eating. I mentioned a website earlier...one of the two given to me by my surgeon. I went to look it up. It's brilliant and covers everything you need to know. I printed it out and put it in my surgery pack with my other stuff. It gives you a diet from banding onwards. It tells you how much to eat and what not to eat, as well as what portions and consistency. It tells you foods to avoid because the band cannot cope with them. It tells you what to do when or if you get food stuck in the stoma. It's brilliant. With the stuff my surgeon gave me and that I feel completely supported and not out on a limb. More importantly I don't feel hungry or deprived or faint. My energy levels and recovery are 100%. The link to the site for you and anyone else that wants it [for those of you who seem to have been told to do liquids and then mushies without any guide as to what and when] this is going to save you from worrying: http://www.bospa.org/Information.aspx?Page=20 Hugs.... You're all terrific people... Karen

BK I am on day 12 now and this is what I am allowed today and every day up to week 3 when I get a different schedule: Breakfast: 200 ml of fruit juice 1 slice of bread with spread or 4 tablespoon of cornflakes with milk Snack: soft fruit, e.g. strawberries, melon OR egg custard Lunch: 1 egg omelette or 1/2 jacket potato [no skin] mashed with cheese, tuna, etc Evening Meal: 3-4 tablespoons puree meat casserole with 1 tablespoon soft mashed potato [i find the potato a bit much so I mush up peas instead right now] In between that I drink water, tea, cappuccino [skinny] etc. I read up on many of the boards and most drink up to meal times and then not until 40 or so minutes after. I wait an hour. It's all easy and working well for me and I do not feel hungry. Hope that helps.

Hi Kathy Didn't you see a dietician before your surgery, or at least get an eating plan from your surgeon? I find it odd we are all on such differing programmes post lapbanding. My surgeon's done 700 lap bands and I saw his nurse and his dietician before my operation to discuss everything I needed to know. I'm on mushies and have been since 36 hours post op. I am probably eating less calories than being on the Protein shakes and feel less hungry, bored and feeling deprived. You should call your surgeon's office to ask what you are meant to be eating, but for example on weeks 3 and 4 for me I am allowed 3 to 4 crackers or crisp breads with soft cheese for lunch. That's something anyone can take to work. If you don't get any help from your surgeon, there are sites for lapbanding that give a post lapband diet, such as the British Association of Weigh or Obesity Surgery [google for that]. If all else fails I am happy to share my schedule if you need one. Hope that helps. Karen

Incidentally Sweet...do you want other diet sheets? I've got the 4 weeks post op plan until first fill..which then repeats. I think you might agree...mine's rather nice! Karen

Christmas evening here in the UK.....well I managed: turkey - 1 slice small amount of stuffing 3 small mashed roast potatoes small amount of peas and soft carrots [i bought a load of tinned rather than frozen or fresh] I also had a little bit of christmas pudding and cream....:hungry: I ate what I could ..mashed things and chewed and chewed before swallowing and it was just fine... I decided to drink a little with the meal though because turkey is tougher than chicken and I didn't want to have to mince this meat I even had a chocolate a little later!!!:clap2: The great thing is you really cannot over eat at this point..or I can't. I am still sufficiently swollen inside to stop that; which is the healing part. It was so nice to be able to eat the same as everyone else even if it was just a tiny amount, though I did better than I thought. Incidentally...apart from my immediate family I told everyone at work and other friends I had a hiatal hernia so ..that is what they think I have had repaired and the reason why I can't eat much...so much less complicated that any other explanation given I had to be off work to have it done. My surgeon has signed me off for 3 weeks to fully get over the surgery and he says that I will be feeling somewhat weak from the reduction in calories. If any of you want or need a reason for your surgery or lack of ability to eat normally go research hiatal hernia online and you'll see it has the same sort of restrictions and surgery implications so you can fudge it! I don't like lying but I figure this is very personal and my surgeon agrees.. he just put abdominal surgery on my medical note for work. At 10 days post surgery I feel great no pain...my port site is comfortable though my scars are itchy especially the port scar. I am rubbing arnica gel into them, brilliant stuff.... hope you are all feeling good too. I'm not allowed to work out for 2 weeks post surgery so that's a bit frustrating but next week I am going to start walking and I might get back on my treadmill, we'll see. Anyone else resuming exercise and if so what? I hope you all had great Christmas days and that Santa brought you whatever you desired. My dog's trying to get used to his new bed which looks like a very large slipper.... I've got a Bichon Frise...gorgeous dog. Going to bed now....:notagree Bye for now folks Karen

Oh and one more thing...if you don't already have one..get a body pillow. I have a feather one and it's been wonderful..I roll on to that at night and put a pillow under my head and one behind my neck...and I have slept well since day 1. It stops any pressure on the tummy. I must admit my port site is tender but even so I can now sleep on that side. It's the scar itself that is sore. The other ones are so small they look like I've had an insect bite.

Hi fellow December bandsters...and HAPPY CHRISTMAS from the UK!! It's now my 10th day post banding..... So...just to let you know I'm doing fine. I've been on mushies since day 3 after the operation. I am now on week 2 of the diet given to me by his dietician and that means I can have toast and cornflakes for Breakfast but I am still mushing up my meat and veggies. Today though I had shepherds pie and petite pois and I didn't even bother to mush them up. What I like about not being on a liquid diet as so many appear to be is that I already know what it feels like to be full after a short while; I get the tight feeling and I recognise when it's time to stop. When I get my first fill mid - January it wont be something I need to learn. I feel reasonably restricted at this point and it's not started to ease off yet which I like. I am sure it will but I now know the size of food portions that it requires of me so I have mentally started adjusting my intake for when I can physically eat more. My scars are tiny, about the size of something a crochet hook would make, apart from the port site which is about 3 cms [1 1/2"] and healing nicely, though I have a massive bruise. I am going to take a picture soon....I hope you will all too so we can compare scars!! I can sleep in any position I like and I have no major gas problems. I feel fit and healthy and I am not stiff or tired [i dug another rose in today..the frost having lifted]. I have specifically decided not to weigh myself at this point. I shall leave it until I see my surgeon mid January to find out what I am then...up down or the same. What I refuse to do is beat myself up over what I am eating, given I am not eating that much in any case and I am mainly eating Protein and vegetables and not potatoes because I find they clog my stoma up. I did a tally of my calories yesterday which is average for what I am able to eat...and I have not consumed more than about 700 calories on my mushy/semi solid diet and I feel satisfied and as though I am eating more normally and really starting to understand working with my band which is what we are all going to have to learn to lose weight long term. I have no idea what the stuff about only drinking liquids so the bands don't slip is all about....my band has been sewn to the stomach wall so there is no way it's going to slip..and that's what my surgeon said was the reason they sew it to the stomach; that's if all surgeons do that...maybe they don't but I haven't a clue. The fact that he mentioned it to me may mean that some surgeons don't. When I told my surgeon so many others on here seem to be on liquid diets he shook his head and showed me a ring about 2" in diameter and said that was the size hole they leave us with pre-filling. He also said I could basically go home and eat shepherds pie with no problems, other than the fact that with swelling it would be hard to eat much of anything and I'd probably be sick which is why he wanted me to do 2 days on clear fluids first. I've read so many posts here by others who are fatigued and unable to function because they are on liquids so long....I thank goodness I am not on that. I found someone in Australia who has lost all her weight and looks great. She had the exact same dietary advice as I have had..that is she advanced to the mushies stage after a few days. She has lost a ton of weight and has now had a tummy tuck. So don't worry about going on to mushies [as so many of you seem to be] it's more natural and they lose weight as fast, if not faster! Those Protein shakes are all very well but it must be like a small form of torture. It's Christmas and I am going to try a little of everything in very small amounts .. I don't believe in punishing myself ..I want to enjoy eating once more. So you guys who are fretting over what you are drinking and concerned about going on to the mushy eating stage..relax it's easy. It's part of the learning curve..one thing I know from reading the postings on so many of the different boards here is that all lose weight and 12 to 18 months later look like new people....so when I have my bucks fizz tomorrow I shall raise a glass to you all .....congratulations for taking this step...and congratulations to me too...we took a hard look at ourselves and decided to get slim and stop fretting over food....we'll do it!! I look forward to going through the next year or so with you all and supporting and being supported. You're a great bunch....have a great Christmas...and eat something!!! I'm going to be busy cooking turkey, brussel sprouts, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, sage and onion stuffing, mini sausages wrapped in bacon.....followed by christmas pudding and brandy cream. I am going to nibble at everything...I know now I wont be able to eat much even if I was tempted to...thank you my band goddess! [Anyone named theirs?] HAPPY CHRISTMAS ONCE MORE!:clap2: Karen

Hi there fellow Brit! I had my banding done in the UK in Surrey on 15th December. Before I had it done I had a full work up and saw my surgeon's dietician. I have a full programme for eating if you want or need it ..just email me on KarenRmd@aol.com and I will scan and send it to you. Also there is a British Association for obesity surgery and they have a post op. diet too ..it goes very much like mine. Clear liquids for 2 days after surgery and then onto mushies..it gives you the amounts etc. If you need support..given you had your surgery in Belgium and wont have the same aftercare let me know and I am glad to share with you. I had one of the top UK obesity/gastric surgeons and I had great pre-op treatment and a one year aftercare all included package. I had no gas pain..my surgeon must have removed 99.9% of it. I was up and about that evening after a horrible 4 hours post-op but that's to be expected after any surgery..pain and anaesthesia are tough to get over that fast. The following day I was home..I just had a few problems getting up off the sofa or bed for a few days but other than that I dug some roses in my garden on 3 days later [well someone had to do it!]. Welcome to this space..the people here are very friendly and I read somewhere that those with support do much better than those without!! Karen

Hi....do you mind me asking why you were open banded? My port site is sore too and the bruisng looks like a squished plum on my lower left side. Does everyone have their port on the left just above their waist? Karen

:clap2: VA hey buddy .... I had a piece of toast for Breakfast today ...wow that was the nicest and slowest eaten piece of toast ever! I haven't eaten since but just to wet your appetite...I am going to have a feast this evening Heinz baked Beans and mini sausages. The beans I mush up and the sausages are almost the sort that melt in your mouth so it will go down well. Just the very tiny tin. I never thought that would be the main meal of any day ..just shows you that even at this stage, pre any fill, it has an affect. In fact I am surprised at how tight things get when you eat. I still have the plaster over my port wound and it seems to want to stick on there so I am leaving it. All the others are off and they are TINY...bless my surgeons [i had two because I was the first at this new clinic locally]. I am sooooooooooooo glad I found all you December bandsters...we truly need the support here. I am divorced, have been for 6 years and have a 19 year old. She's very supportive. I don't miss food....I miss a glass of Californian Merlot or Cab. sauvignon. Anyone know of any post bandsters who actually drink alcohol ever again..I see no mention of that in my blurb from the surgeon? You know the hardest thing I find? Not drinking when I eat. I realise now that drinking when we eat helps us to eat more. Often when I was feeling stuffed, sipping some diet coke cleared the way for more! This is the most difficult time of the year to be banded...and also I think the most sensible for us... we are avoiding the pounds piling on .. I'm glad of that and I am glad of all your company. I may sneak a chocolate on Christmas day!! Hugs folks...going off to heat up my baked beans!!:hungry: Karen

Steph ... Hi there. The milk diet was semi-skimmed milk. I was also allowed a packet of sugar free jelly [or jello as you call it] and a drink of Bovril, which is like a beef stock cube. And treat of treat 3 sticks of sugar free gum. Actually I was allowed up to 4 pints of milk a day. I was also allowed a further 2 pints of other non-sweetened low fat liquids. The total calorie content of that was 1200. It was lower fat and low carb. Actually it was very filling and removed the thought of food for which I was grateful. I, like many here, became paranoid about losing food when I got my operation date and started to lust after everything I felt I would no longer be able to eat. Anyone else do that before the liquids only pre-op diet? I am on week 2 as of today and can now eat toast for breakfast as well as cornflakes if I wish. Such progress!! I took off my plasters last night [well they were peeling off] and I can't believe how tiny the cuts are. They're super glued together by the looks of it and are hardly going to be noticeable. The port site looks like a dark plum mass. I choose not to sleep on that side at night but I can lay on that side if I want. I can actually feel it now since the swelling seems to be going down fast. Unlike many here my surgeon seemed to have removed most of the gas from the laparoscopy and so I have had very little pain and discomfort in that respect. I must admit I went to bed with a smile on my face last night when I realised my scars were tiny and being vain I am not going to look like a crash wreck!

Hi I'm in the UK and had my lapband done on 15th December. The 5 days before I was put on a milk diet to shrink my liver - apparently it can get in the way. I was told they can tell if you do follow that diet because they X-ray before to show the size of your liver. I think it also tells them if you have any discipline. I'm not in too much pain but the port site is sore and very bruised. It's a week and that's flown by. I had to be on fluids for the 2 days after surgery and then I started on the mushy food stage. I have to say that I find an evening meal too much even though it's mushed up veggies and meat. I prefer yoghurts and drinks. I'm not missing food and I'm not lusting after a fat juicy steak, well not yet!! Unlike many I've read here who were on fluids for a month after the banding I am allowed to move to toast and mashed fruit and more solid food from tomorrow onwards. As to whether I can cope with that I have no idea. I get a very tight, full feeling after very little going in and very little hunger at this point. So all of you who are at or about my stage, how are you doing? How are you all planning on coping with Christmas day?? I have to cook for my daughter and a friend of hers. I was told by the dietician that by Christmas day I'd be able to manage mashed up roast potato and veggies and a flaked slice of turkey in gravy. Karen

Hi there... well I've had my appointment and I am due to have the band privately in early December. I have yet to see the dietician for my details but he mentioned a 2 week pre operative milk diet. I have checked the internet and I can't find anything to tell me what that is. Anyone care to share? Someone, anyone give me a clue what it's like post operatively and how long you needed to be off work. My surgeon mentioned 2-3 weeks and I was a bit surprised but I have read in a few places of those who were feeling weak and gassy for quite some weeks after. I'm 51 and have been dieting for 40 years of my life.... I managed to exercise and keep slim during my late teens through my 20s and 30s and then I had a baby! I put on weight in my early 40s and then went on the 'divorce' diet....[i left my ex]. Unfortunately my daughter who was 10 became very ill and my freedom disappeared and my half a day swimming and working out went out the window! I divorced and concentrated on my daughter's needs and forgot myself. The years have rolled on and I have struggled and sort of maintained a relative shape due to running and eating sensibly [whatever that is!]. I tore my hamstring..couldn't run....went back to work full time...have next to no 'me' time..etc etc I am possibly one of the smaller ladies here, being about 200 lbs but for me that is incredibly heavy given I used to be 130 lbs. I am sick and tired of my battle with food and my genes. The nice thing is my surgeon admitted that 'we know genes are a massive reason why so many have this issue with weight all their lives'. Well, hurrah but this is a rather dramatic way of dealing with it. However I can't date while I feel this way and I would like to find someone special one day...I imagine all the singles are the same here too. I also feel my health is going to suffer if I carry on putting on weight. I was ill last Christmas for months and that followed a year or so of watching my Dad die of cancer...you an imagine it's not been a wonderful few years and my GP said 'it's time to do something for you'. This is my something for me finally!! So...... that's me. I am based in Surrey, 36 miles from London...anyone who wants to chat/support/be supported..please feel free to get iin touch. As yet banding is not as massive as it is in the USA....so we need to 'band together' UK folk. Let me hear from you.... I read the stats and those with support do better and lose more weight post band than those without. All the best.... more power to us for doing this for ourselves!! :clap2: Karen

:help: Hi Magical, I've just joined today!! I live in Surrey so that's 36 miles from you. I've only just seen my surgeon and am going to have the surgery in December so I'm currently excited but a bit nervous too. I haven't a clue what the 'milk diet' is because I have yet to see his dietician. Can anyone fill me in on what the 2 week's pre banding milk diet is?