sprinkles

I was banded on 7/29/10 and was unable to keep anything down for 5 days and stayed in the hospital until 8/2 when they figured out I had 4 cc's of Fluid in my band that should never have been there. So....I guess I am a little behind in the healing process anyway. But...how long before the swelling goes down and I can eat something other than liquids? My post-op diet says after 3-5 days add Optima Slim Fast as tolerated and after day 7, I can add mushies, such as mashed potatoes, or scrambled eggs. Also, what time do you stop drinking/eating at night? Thanks!

I am from MS as well. I was banded on July 29th and as of September 14th had lost 42 pounds. I don't weigh myself at home and won't go back to the doctor until November 9th, so I am anxious to see if I have lost any additional weight. :w00t: I definitely know I have lost inches, so I am happy with that! Hopefully you will be approved quickly. I don't regret this surgery at all; the best thing I ever did for myself!! It is good to see someone else from MS!

My husband and I were in the grocery store the other night and we got separated. He couldn't find me.......he said he didn't recognize me because I look slender now!!:w00t: Still have a LONG way to go, but this was a huge NSV for me!

You all are awesome! I was banded on July 29th and as of 9/14, had lost 42 pounds with no fill. I do not own a scale and don't plan on buying one, although I am tempted! I am trying to weigh only when I go to the doctor, which won't be again until 11/9. I am sure when I go in November, I will get a fill. I am just now beginning to feel a little hungry between meals now. I have gone down 3 pants sizes and couldn't be happier with my band!! Keep up the good work everyone!!:puke:

I use Protein Rite shakes from Protein Rite High Protein chocolate Drink (7 Servings/Box) To me, they are really good. Just mix with 8 oz. cold Water and I add ice and shake it up! They don't have that Vitamin taste or smell and they have 15 grams of protein per drink. The hot chocolate ones are good too for cold weather!:thumbup:

Just returned from my surgeon's office today and I am thrilled to report that I am down 42 pounds since my surgery on July 29th!:thumbup: I am also down 26.75 inches all over!! I finally feel like the weight I am losing will never return. The lap-band is a fabulous tool! Still no fill.....Doc says I am "smoking it" so no need to mess with the band!

Congrats to you as well! You are doing super. I don't weigh myself, so I don't know if I have lost anymore and I don't go back to the doc until 11/9. I may have to invest in a scale!:smile2: I am sure some of my weight loss is through sheer willpower, but I will never know how much is the band or me. I know before I had the surgery, I made my mind up that this is it, so I will not jeopardize my efforts at all. And surprisingly, I don't miss any of those pre-band foods. Sweets used to be my weakness and now I have no desire to eat them. I agree about the hunger pains! They are almost nonexistent, unlike before the band. It is finally cooler here, so I am beginning to walk at lunch time and that makes it easier to get the exercise in! Good luck to you!

I certainly disagree that my surgeon is a moron! And yes, I do have restriction. I eat only about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup per meal and I am full and stay that way. As soon as I feel full, I stop eating no matter what is left on my plate. Pre-band, I would have been able to stuff it in, but no longer. Throughout this whole process I have never had the hunger that other banders talk about. I know that I will need a fill eventually and he told me if I start to get hungry between meals to call and schedule an appointment for a fill. Natalieg, I am exercising about 3x per week and have the goal of increasing this to 5x per week. I have a Protein shake around 6:15 or 6:30 in the morning and only snack on days that I teach/attend class to avoid getting that hungry feeling. My Snacks are usually 2% string cheese or reduced fat Peanut Butter and fat free crackers. For lunch I usually eat chilli, deli turkey, or chicken salad with 5 fat free saltines and if I am not stuffed on that, I will eat some fruit, such as a sliced fresh peach. For dinner, I usually eat some sort of sea food and a green vegetable. In between times, I either drink Water or crystal light. I stick to the list of acceptable foods that was given at the Doctor's office. Good luck to everyone! I am so glad that I had this surgery!

It does get better when you start on mushies! I am 4 weeks post-op and just this week, feel like I am getting most of my energy back. Hang in there and good luck!!

Mine was my senior year of high school when I wasn't really that heavy! Silly awards are always given to seniors by the junior class where I went to school and I was given the "Pothole Award" because I had enough fat to fill all the potholes in the parking lot!! I will never forget that!

I was banded on 7/29 and discharged from the hospital on 8/2 and was told not to drive until I had my follow-up appointment on 8/11! I am about to go stir-crazy!!

The same thing happened to me, except I had 4 cc's left in. I was miserable and in the hospital for 5 days because of it. I couldn't keep anything down. As soon as he withdrew the Fluid, things have been 100% better! I am still afraid to eat too much though. Good luck!

I was banded on Thursday, July 29th and finally got to come home today, Monday, August 2nd! I had terrible nausea and couldn't keep anything down, so the doctor would not let me go home because of dehydration. Today, he came in and wanted to try something with my port and low and behold he drew out 4 ccs of Fluid from my band that never should have been left in!!! I had immediate relief. He brought me a cup of Water and asked me to take a sip and it felt wonderful!! So I am finally at home learning to live with my band one sip at a time! Thank the good Lord for conscientious doctors and their persistence. Looking forward to the rest of this journey finally....

Congrats!! I go in on Thursday, 7/29 for mine....ready for a new beginning!

Congrats! I am from MS too....my surgery date is 7/29/10! Good Luck:thumbup:

I just came from my pre-admission appointment at the hospital (surgery date 7/29/10) and after 1 week of the pre-op diet, I have lost 19 pounds!!!:biggrin: 1 week to go, now on full liquids for 5 days and clear liquids for 2. I can do this! Thanks to everyone for all the information that is posted on this forum....it truly helps make this journey a lot easier, knowing there are others going through the same things.

The doctor had me on 1 protein shake in the morning, for lunch and dinner 3-4 oz. lean protein (chicken, fish, turkey) and 1 serving veggies (from a list). I chose broccoli and carrots because I am very picky! Lots of water, sugar free jello, sugar free popsicles. It actually has not been unbearable.:biggrin:

I started my pre-op diet last Thursday for surgery on 7/29/10. For week 1, I am having 1 Protein shake for Breakfast (from a list of approved shakes), and 3-4 oz. chicken, fish, or turkey and 1 serving of vegetables for lunch and dinner. Of course...lots of Water and I can have sugar free popsicles and Jello. On Thursday, I move to 4 Protein shakes a day for 5 days and then Clear liquids for 2 days before surgery. I am drinking Slim-Fast Low Carb, which was on the list. It has 20 grams of protein, and about 190 calories; not too bad. Surprisingly....I have not cheated once! I guess it is because I know what the outcome will be this time. I am excited! Good luck with everything!

Hey to everyone! I just started my 2-week pre-op diet on 7/15 and so far not so bad. However, I went to the dentist on Thursday and she extracted 2 teeth so that helps with not being hungry! I certainly didn't expect to have teeth taken out and have stitches in my mouth, but I have decided it is time for me to be healthy all the way around! My surgery is scheduled for 7/29 and I am excited and nervous at the same time. I am so ready to do this and can't wait to have a new me in the coming months and years! Hopefully, I will be able to decrease my diabetic meds and my high blood pressure meds; that would be AWESOME!:cool: I am so glad I found this site; everyone is wonderful and I will continue to post progress as it comes. Good luck to everyone who has made this life-changing decision!

I began this process on July 1 receiving a letter from my insurance that I had been selected to participate in our state's pilot program for weight loss surgery. I called the surgeon on July 2 and had an appointment for July 7. I went to that appointment and now have surgery scheduled for July 29!! Whew..... Never in a million years did I believe this would ever be possible....I am both nervous and excited, and also amazed at how quickly and smoothly this has gone. I now have to make an appointment for the psych eval, which they told me just has to be done before the surgery date. I will start the pre-op diet on July 15th of 1 Protein shake for Breakfast, and for lunch and dinner 3-4 oz. of lean protein and 1 serving of approved veggies. On July 22, I will start drinking 4 Protein shakes a day, and 2 days prior to surgery, I will start a clear liquid diet. I am looking forward to finally having some control over what I eat and why I eat. I will be 40 in December and look at this opportunity as a fabulous "Happy Birthday to Me!!":thumbup: