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Like a few others, my doc has no restriction on drinking before meals. One thing I do at home occasionally, during and aftermeals, is lick or take one small bite of a popsicle. It helps to cool down my mouth if I've eaten something hot, and it takes away my urge to drink during. Another thing you might try is to swish a teeny tiny bit of water around in your mouth and spit out - make sure you don't swallow any. After time, you'll learn to go without. It's not really an issue for me now, at 10 months since surgery. I just make sure I get enough to drink beforehand. All the best, Karla

Congrats on the 10 pounds lost! That's great! Good luck with the surgery.

Hi Everyone ! My name is Mary, and I'm almost 3 weeks post-surgery. As of a week ago, I was down 24 lbs, but that included the weight I lost during the 10 pre-op diet period. I'm starting to feel pretty good, other than I get tired easily. That may be compounded by the fact that I have other chronic illnesses (hypo-thyroid, ulcerative colitis), but I'm glad to be getting into the pureed food stage ! Was anyone else bothered by the odd sensations of the gas exiting your body? It kind of made my left shoulder hurt a little....nothing major, just a discomfort. :thumbup:

Went to my first nutrition class on July 19. The dietitian made a suggestion since your not able to drink before during or after a meal, take some frozen grapes to suck on for moisture. Is there anymore ideas?

I am newby, for a year i've been wanting to this surgery. My doctor just tells me to loose weight on my own... I am 250lbs 5'4 and have been overweight 10+. How do you get your doctor to approve this surgery?

I had surgery 1/25/17. I arrived at the hospital earlier than originally planned. They originally scheduled me for a late surgery - 4pm. Four days before surgery, I got a call saying someone canceled and they were moving me up to 1pm. This of course changed my plans up tremendously and made prepping for surgery harder. I did the liquid diet for several days before surgery, and I became slightly unpleasant to deal with- especially the second day. But as the day before approached I did everything I was supposed to, remained on liquids, bathed with the special soap, drank as much as I could, threw away all my straws, no aspirin even though I had severe headaches, and went and had the urinalysis done. The day of surgery I arrived and was quickly asked to give another urine sample before I went to pre-op. I was then taken back, shown my bed and asked to get into the lovely gown and slipper set. After that they put on the leg squeezy things (to avoid blood clots in your legs because you will be stationary), put an Iv into my hand (ouuuuuuuch) and took my blood sugar and vitals. Then they left me with my one allowed visitor ( the nurse was actually very nice and allowed my grandma and boyfriend in for a while because I was so nervous). The anesthesiologist came to see me, asked me several family history questions and whether or not I smoke, exc. Finally the doctor came and saw me, I knew he was doing about 6 surgeries that day and they were running behind. He assured me everything would be fine and they wheeled me out. Entering the or is always terrifying to me. Here they are counting out surgical tools and I am beginning to panic. The nurses notice and call anesthesiologist to come and give me something to calm me down while they move me. I try to move to help them but they insist I remain still. They "hover" me to the operating table (they inflated my bed and literally hovered me over it was cool in hindsight). The nurse was very sweet complimenting my eyes but I jumped whenever they touched me. Finally they put the mask on, and either turned something on, or injected something because the last thing I heard was "goodnight....." I could hear voices long before I opened my eyes. I remember struggling with nurses, somewhere trying to tell them i had to pee. I didn't want to have an accident. I began to physically struggle and heard someone say, it's okay, let it go, you'll be fine. I guess I did but passed out shortly after. My grandma and boyfriend were right there with me whenever I was released to a room. I was unaware at the time but they had placed a catheter inside me (thank God they did this while I was out). I eventually opened my eyes. My throat was so dry, it didn't hurt but I remember looking at the clock and thinking, "it's time...for ice!" How wrong I was the nurse told me I couldn't have anything until tomorrow morning!!! It was only 6pm. I moaned and whimpered, I think from desperation, thirst, pain, exhaustion. I passed out again and woke up to my grandma leaving for the night. Sometime around midnight, the nurse came. She made me get up even with my protests, she forced me to walk around with the catheter in! I was hurting, and sullen. I just wanted to lay down. But she was insistent I had to get up and do laps. The next day I woke up and all I could think about was water! I was receiving fluids and antibiotics via my Iv but it wasn't enough. As soon as I could have it, I let it sit in my mouth forever, just embracing the feeling. Then I was told I had to be picked up for x-rays. They wheeled me around for what seemed like forever. Finally I had to sit in the waiting room for again what seemed like forever. Finally they take me in and make me drink these....god awful things...one is barium, and the other I don't know. But the purpose is to see if my stomach is leaking. Hooray! I pass the test and back out into the waiting room I go. Finally I get to go back to my room..but they won't let me lay down. They tell me I must sit up the majority of the day! I become grouchy, and about that time they come and take out the catheter. I sit there, hooked up to fluids and realize- I have to pee. I struggle with boyfriend's help to the toilet and try to sit down, even though it's...uncomfortable. not hugely painful but I mean I do have 6 holes in my stomach- one connected to a drain they have to empty every 6-10 hours. (Blood all kinds of crap) I am also coughing a lot of mucus, which hurts. A lot. Nurse gives me Breathing apparatus and tells me to practice breathing deep. (I do not do this- it hurts.) Finally I am allowed in my bed after I complete the correct number of laps around the nursing station. I sleep most of the day, but they bring me Jello and broth- I eat neither out of spite. That night I practice getting up and going to bathroom on my own. The night goes without incident except I can't sleep comfortably. I'm used to sleeping on my side and can't. Just as I fall asleep at 3am, a vampire nurse appears and stabs me with a needle to "take my blood- is time" I whimper, waking up boyfriend with my frustration. He wakes up frustrated as well because he is going back to work that morning. My third and final morning is full of frustration. Boyfriend is gone, grandma is late, dog has an accident that must be cleaned up. They kick me out of my bed early and force the regulation Laos down my throat. They do give me ice Water with crystal light and my last meds. The doctor comes in and clears me to go home. That is at 11am. We b don't actually get transport to leave until almost 3pm! Home: staying with grandma while I recover and take time from work. First day I sleep, but I do get up to walk 20 minutes two times a day, terrified of not following the routine. I sip the water but it is unpleasant. Day 2 complete and utter meltdown. Don't regret the surgery but do miss solid food a ridiculous amount. Not sure if strong enough to do this. Grandma consoles me in time of need. Only want water and sugar free applesauce. Sugar free pudding is too sweet, and I'm sick of jello, and lookin at broth makes me nauseous. Push through till day 7, have another meltdown over not food related issues. Continue eating applesauce (1/2 of a 4 Oz cup). Day 9: follow up with doctor, discover I am allergic to the adhesives in the bandages and sterile strips- causing me to itch and have redness. Doctor removes them and clears me for mushies! I'm so excited I come home and want 2 eggs!! ( turns out...one was enough, eyes bigger than stomach- must get that under control) Pre- surgery - 365 Doctor check in after 9 days-339 9 day loss- 26.5 according to nurse Excited, and full, and is about time for a nap! Sent from my SM-G930T using the BariatricPal App

Can you eat tuna? A can of tuna in Water is 100 calories. I eat them for a snack between meals when I am really hungry. Try this: Breakfast: 1 fried egg 92 cal. 1 piece of bacon 43 cal. 1 whole wheat bagel thin (on the bread isle) 110 cal. Snack: Greek yogurt 140 cal. Lunch: 1 can of tuna 100 cal 1 TBSP Miracle whip free 13 cal. 1/2 TBSP Pickle relish 10 cal. 8 snack crackers 121 cal. Snack: Apple 81 cal. Dinner: 4 oz baked whitefish 132 cal. 3 oz baked potato 79 cal. 1 TBS butter 36 cal. 1/2 cup steamed broccoli 27 cal. I hope this helps give you some fresh ideas. These things keep me full the longest. :sad:

I'm located in Northern California. I have Kaiser and Kaiser insurance (mom works there) 3 of my doctors request this I was just told 3 weeks ago. SURGERY WILL BE DONE IN ... SAN FRANCISCO !!!! I have class on the 10th. After Class I have to call my doctor. He will contact San Francisco For my appointment (: We tried do all this 2 weeks. I guess lol. I will have to go to the class first . And sounds like just one class. ANY ONE UP HERE PLEASE TELL ME YOUR STORY (: how fast did you get your call (my doctor said within 10 days they have to call you)

I hope you get some good news soon. I called after two weeks and ended up finding out I was approved. I cried. I can't tell you how long it took to get approved and how many hoops I had to jump through. It can be so frustrating. I have a friend who had been trying for almost 10 years to get the surgery so I'm thankful it took about 9 months. Keep at it and don't give up!

Well I have been home from the hospital for 5 days this time around. I am feeling SO much better. I went in, the DR came in, said we were going to get this fixed. He said he would go in, look for the hernia, and fix it. He said I might have some scar tissue that would need to be freed. He said if he gets in there and finds nothing, he will numb it up and I will have to try to deal with it. I wasnt happy in hearing this, but could understand. I just want to express to everyone the pain I was experiencing was very serious to me. By the end of the 3 weeks of dealing with this, the pain had me suicidual. I was hurting so badly, that I told my family that if this surgery didnt work, I had a plan to end it for myself because I COULD NOT live like this. I explained to the DR that my pain was at a 10 plus, and that was alot for me. I have have a baby naturally before and that took 33 hours. This pain topped that. So, just wanted to let you all know where I stood with this pain. It was very real to me. I went into the OR, they prepped me. Everyone was very nice. I fell alseep. I woke up to my very sweet Nurse, Kay. I asked ifthe DR was coming in. She told me no, that he was out speaking to my family since I was still a little out of it with the meds. I reached down and felt my stomach. I did find some discomfort there. I asked Kay if they fixed the hernia. Kay told me that they didnt find a hernia. I immediatly started bawling. Thoughts of previous plans came rushing into my head. I was determined not to live like this. I asked Kay for some pain meds, then fell asleep for a little bit. I asked for my family to be let in. They came in. I asked what the DR said and expressed to them how saddened I was by the fact there wasnt a hernia. I was told that the DR came to talk with them. The DR found a mass in my abdomen wall the size of a baseball. He said that when they cut open the mass, it had a grainy, sandy substance in it. Dr Helbling had removed the mass and alot of scar tissue from the area. He didnt have an explaination for the mass and didnt know what it was. It was sent to pathology, but he believed this is what was causing my pain. He was surprised that this didnt show up on the CT scan. So, there was something there. Something very real causing my pain. Now that it has been 5 days since surgery, I am feeling alot better. I have no pain expect some occasional incision pain, which is no biggie for me. I go back to work tomorrow. I am very thankful that DR Helbling listened to me when I came into his office and decided even though there wasnt a huge problem showing on my tests, he took the time to find out what was wrong and fixed it. He has improved the quailty of life. I am happy to report that my depression from this pain has ceased and I no longer feel suicidual. Happy Holidays everyone!

I did have my surgery on 10-14-08 and have lost 52 pounds! I now have a problem with horrible gas and constipation. My surgeon told me to take a laxative to start off with and then take a daily stool softener. The problem with that is I can no longer swallow pills and have to grind up my BP meds and have gotten most of my vitamins in either liquid or chewable. There are no chewable stool softeners that I can find. I tried Pedialax stool softener that is supposed to be fruit punch flavored. You mix it with juice so I tried mixing 8 oz of diet V8 splash and that did not help the taste nor did adding 8 more oz of splash. I took 3 sips and was on the verge of throwing up and poured the rest of the bottle as well as the juice mixture down the drain. Now I have so much gas and don't go to the BR unless I chew up some ex-lax. I am seeing the bariatric md where I live at Tuesday and am going to see what he says. Is anyone out there having these types of problems? What if anything can you recommend that will help? I am desperate as I fear that strainining will lead to a surgery of a different kind.

Hi my name is Dawn. I have been struggling with my weight since my early 20's when I became pregnant with my first child. After that my weight just kept getting heavier and heavier. I tried every diet you could imagine. Sure it worked for a few months and then I would spiral out of control and gain all of my weight back and then some. In 2001 I had open heart surgery for an Aortic Aneurysm. They also replaced my valve. At the time I had a pigs valve which only lasts for about 10 years. I chose this because I really didn't want to take blood thinner for the rest of my life because I was only 34. So soon I will need another open heart surgery. So my cardiologist told me that if I didn't lose the weight, I could wind up dieing on the table. That was my wake up call. I was not going to leave my 2 children (even though they are grown now), one of them having Down Syndrome. In April of 2009 I decided to attend a seminar. Then in May was the start of my 6 month journey before I had my lapband surgery. I then found out that I was borderline everything (diabetes, fatty liver, cholesterol, Sleep Apnea..etc.) On October 23, 2009 I had my surgery and it was the best thing that I could have done for myself. The only thing that I regret is not getting it done sooner. I am no longer borderline anything. And today I was told that I no longer have sleep Apnea and can get rid of my CPAP machine. I AM SO HAPPY!!! You know it's the small things in life that amaze me. Things that you miss when you are heavy. Like being able to cross your legs, tie your shoes, pick up things off the floor, being able to walk without having to stop over and over again. And most of all having people including your family come up to you and say, "I didn't recognize you. You look so good!" If I had to do this all over again I would do it in a heart beat. I went from 304 to 217. I have 34lbs to go until goal. I went from a size 26 to a 14. And I haven't been this size since 1989. My self esteem is back and I feel very good about myself.

Well tomorrow is my day I really don't know what I am walking into but I know my god has my hand and I will be fine. I have to be there for 10:30 and cut time is 12pm

I don't like the way I feel after I eat. I'm 10 weeks pot op. Does it get better over time?

Hi everyone, I've been lurking in here for some time... I've got my op date for 27th feb, and an now counting down the days!! I'm excited and very scared... I've got to pay for the op this week, so no backing out once I've done that! I'm 5'3 and am 229 at the mo, need to do a 10 day pre op so I'm already trying to get ready for that. Any advice or tips greatly appreciated :-)

Ok....going nuts here. I had lapband surgery last December and have lost a total of 60lbs. (which I have been at for a couple of months now.) I am not complaining.... but I am having a very difficult time finding my spot. I have had a total of 3 fills. I believe there is 4cc's in my 10 cc band. Anyhow... for a couple of days in a row, I feel like the band is doing its job. I can only eat small, infrequent meals...etc. Then I go for a cycle where it seems I can eat (and fit) whatever I want for about two or three days. Then back to the tightened feeling again... It keeps changing on me all the time. Anyone have idea why it would change day to day like this??? I am definitly doing bad on those days when i "can" eat!!!:thumbup:

1) i would say i'm probably more sensitive at times hence more irritable. You know how an infant can become over stimulated from being passed around, etc. I feel that way sometimes, like i just need absolute quiet and less activity around me. keep in mind i'm an only child. 2) normal my sleep is good. This last month i had some issues with waking up very very early and not being able to go back to sleep. but that is the first time i can remember that happening. 3) my sex drive is pretty low but has been for a long long time. so really there has been no change there in the past 6 years or so. 4) i would say i'm fairly financially responsible. We have no credit cards so that helps. I do know i can't manage credit which is why i don't have it. We pay our bills, and we live with in our means. There are times when shopping is indeed a high though. I love to shop! i think i love to shop more than i like to eat, lol!! I have to tell you i had an appointment with a new therapist last night. i was crying about 10 minutes into the appointment and she talked more than i did. But wow, I love her. We primarly dealt with my parental issues but she said things that clicked in my head. I felt so much better when i left. I really think she is going to be able to make a difference. I'm already looking forward to my next appointment. and she said what you've said too, what difference does the bipolar II lable make? i'm very optimistic that i can make things better. oh she was just marvelous! thanks to you guys too!! it really helps to be able to talk about all of this!!

I also suggest edamame pasta. High in protein... Amazingly, being Italian, I do not want or crave pasta products. I'll take it as a gift. I've eaten my share of pasta in my previous life... It was cheap and I was kinda poor. It worked to fill me up...to the tune of 249 lbs! I am thankful to not have issues with my band For almost 9 years.. It scares me a bit when I read of all the complications here. I read in studies 1/2 the banders no longer have their band after 10 years. I am hopeful by keeping it a bit under inflated and not challenging it that I can go on with my healthy life????

Bi-polar is more catchy than "manic deppressive" Diagnosed bi-polar about 10 years ago and was taking Wellbutrin and Lamactil up until 2 years ago when I moved and stopped taking all medication. Needless to say it wasn't a bright idea as far as my health goes. I am back on all health related meds and Wellbutrin but haven't seen a shrink so I never restarted the Lamactil. So far so good as far as being edgy of moody. The Lamactil is not an antidepressant. It is a mood stabilizer supposedly to keep you somewhere between manic and depressed. It worked wonders for me in traffic but I think I just grew out of going mad in traffic and learned to accept it. I can't help you with the PMS. Never been there, never will. :smile2:

I am so confused and discouraged this evening. I did my BMR and found out that I should eat 1426 calories a day to MAINTAIN my weight! In order to lose 1 lb a week, I would have to cut it back 500 calories a day which is 926 and to lose 2 lbs a week, I would have to eat a mere 426 calories a day! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? I haven't loss more then a few lbs in the last 6 weeks or more and I am frustrated. I tally my calories and average about 1200 a day and now I find out that it has to be so much lower and I already think I am barely eating,,well not barely but nonetheless truly eating light in comparision. I can't imagine cutting back this much is healthy but can this be true?? It says you have to cut back 500 calories a day (3500) a week to lose l lb. Well this is crazy! I am 15 lbs from goal weight and not budging and I don't know what to do! I know I don't exercise like I should but this is very confusing. Some sites say at least 1200 calories a day to be healthy and then the BMR site says this??? Any input please!!! Since 11-10 I have lost 6 lbs none of which were in the last 5-6 weeks. HELP! Thanks to all Susan :whoo:

I am 2 pounds from goal and that hasn't budged in weeks. I know I have to up my exercise as much as I don't want to admit it. But it is a fact. I will not lose weight unless I exercise hard. You are only 10-15 pound from goal, your body needs to have something mixed up. Sad but true. lol

Hey you guys! My name is Salina! I am 28 and I have done months worth of research (books, websites, forums, blogs and YouTube) and I am SO ready to get sleeved. I have been over weight my whole life and have had two babies. I am 5' 10" and almost 300lbs. I have my seminar and consultation January 27th and 28th but I have to wait to schedule the surgery because I am trying to figure out how we (my husband and I) are going to pay for it because insurance doesn't cover the surgery. I just can't wait! I am praying that we are able to figure out how to pay for this surgery!!!!

QUIT BEATING YOURSELF UP!!! A lot of us did the same thing you are doing and that's exactly why we all had the VSG! You CAN'T fix your problems on your own and that's why your getting the VSG. My opinion is...why try to fix things in the 11th hour? It makes no sense. Now, if your doc says you MUST lose weight and you MUST go on a certain diet before your operation then you absolutely should. My doc didn't mandate a certain diet until 3 days prior to surgery so trust me, I at everything I could get my hands on! So, what if I gained 10 lbs before my surgery?! The weight didn't come on overnight and it won't all come off overnight either. In other words, the weight is going to come off after your VSG so just don't sweat it for now. It would be much better for you going in to surgery with a healthy positive mind then stressed, negative and disappointed (once again) in yourself. Again, as long as you are otherwise healthy and your doc doesn't tell you that you must go on a diet or lose weight prior to surgery. Good luck!