My Journey Starting With Pre Op Diet

[lbriteyes 10]

Sorry I haven't been updating. I have been so busy with moving. I had my 2nd fill on July 11th. I did feel more full, but not really restricted. My doctor had me come back in on the July 18th and asked me if I wanted another fill and I said you know it. So I got my third fill and now I have 5 1/2 cc in my band. This last fill has kicked my butt. I definitely feel restricted. My stomach is sore this time, I think it's from having a fill just a week after I already had one. It feels real tight and I can definitely can feel the band now. I have already had two episodes of everything coming back up. I think it's just happening when I eat meat. I'm trying to eat softer foods. It is very painful when everything is coming back up or wanting to come up, I feel like I can't breath, like vomiting, and like I'm having a heart attack because my chest hurts. I'm really not eating or drinking much now days. When I do eat I chew chew chew and eat real slow and it seems to help. I cannot drink Water fast anymore or a lot at a time. This fill has made me feel a big change. It's kinda a pain while moving, but glad I finally feel restriction. I will figure out the whole eating and drinking as I move forward in my journey.

Its like taking the good with the bad. I'm learning a lot about what to do, and not to do from you. lol Have you had weight loss post surgery yet? I need to get a ninja. I really hate vomiting in general, so if I need to do a liquid diet for awhile, that's fine. Do they give you guidlines and hints on what you should be doing? How soon after surgery did you resume exercise? I know you have to drink lots of Water. Is it difficult to get it all in throughout the day?

Linda

[lbriteyes 10]

I just read this thread from start to finish. I want to say thank you. I have been researching lap band for about 10 years so I have a lot of technical knowledge but that can only go so far. First hand accounts are so helpful and make the entire process much less frightening. I am 40 and have fertility issues due to my weight. My clock is damn near done ticking and lap band may be my last chance to be a Momma. Not just a Momma but a healthy, and good example for my hopefully future child/ren. I have a three week pre op diet and am getting banded on October 4th. I am a teacher in AZ and this will allow for fall break to recuperate. Usually during the school year I eat MC Donald's for Breakfast every morning. I plan to do a little pre pre op diet and replace my usual schooldays Breakfast with a Protein shake. Well anyhow, thank you for your awesome posts, all of you.

You did the same thing I did! Technical research makes it less scary... you get to know exactly what's going to happen, but first hand experience is invaluable. I read Tawnya's story from start to finish before I made a post, too. She's very well written and easy to read. She's kinda like a mentor to me.

I wish you well on your surgery. I know it isn't easy. Not an easy decision, nor easy to physically do. The fact that you have a specific goal in mind is going to make it easier. I hope it brings you everything you want. Having children is a blessing (and sometimes a curse!). My daughter is currently having problems about children, too. First she didn't want them, and neither did her fiance. Then it went to her feeling like it was ok. Then she found out she probably won't ever be able to have them, naturally or otherwise due to endometreosis, plus some other conditions she's medicated for. Having the knowledge of knowing you have the option of having children to being told you may never be able to is devastating.

I wish you well on your journey, and hope to read more about you.

Linda

[Aidalphung 7]

Its like taking the good with the bad. I'm learning a lot about what to do, and not to do from you. lol Have you had weight loss post surgery yet? I need to get a ninja. I really hate vomiting in general, so if I need to do a liquid diet for awhile, that's fine. Do they give you guidlines and hints on what you should be doing? How soon after surgery did you resume exercise? I know you have to drink lots of Water. Is it difficult to get it all in throughout the day?

Linda

1 month after surgery for exercise but you can start walking the same day little by little it helps with the gas. Water 64 oz a day I add cristal light to make it taste good

[Aidalphung 7]

On stage 3 muchies. Greek yougurt . Cottage cheese , apple sauce , bananas , oatmeal , grits , cream of wheat , papaya , baked fish , tuna , retried Beans , mashed potatoes , eggs boiled , milk , fruit juices. For the Greek yougurt and the cottage cheese with fruit the best is yoplait 100 calories.

[lbriteyes 10]

1 month after surgery for exercise but you can start walking the same day little by little it helps with the gas. Water 64 oz a day I add cristal light to make it taste good

Good to know. Thank you for the information. :-)

Linda

[lbriteyes 10]

On stage 3 muchies. Greek yougurt . Cottage cheese , apple sauce , bananas , oatmeal , grits , cream of wheat , papaya , baked fish , tuna , retried Beans , mashed potatoes , eggs boiled , milk , fruit juices. For the Greek yougurt and the cottage cheese with fruit the best is yoplait 100 calories.

Also good information. I'll write it in my journal. thanks.

Linda

[Tawnya777 106]

I just read this thread from start to finish. I want to say thank you. I have been researching lap band for about 10 years so I have a lot of technical knowledge but that can only go so far. First hand accounts are so helpful and make the entire process much less frightening. I am 40 and have fertility issues due to my weight. My clock is damn near done ticking and lap band may be my last chance to be a Momma. Not just a Momma but a healthy' date=' and good example for my hopefully future child/ren. I have a three week pre op diet and am getting banded on October 4th. I am a teacher in AZ and this will allow for fall break to recuperate. Usually during the school year I eat MC Donald's for breakfast every morning. I plan to do a little pre pre op diet and replace my usual schooldays breakfast with a Protein shake. Well anyhow, thank you for your awesome posts, all of you.[/quote']

Your welcome, so glad my thread can be helpful. Thank you for reading my journey. I think with the lap band and losing just 20-30 pounds can make a big difference in fertility. It has for so many people. I lost 20 pounds and was already off my diabetic meds. You can still have Mc Donald's sometimes just eat something like a parfait or a wrap. The banana lean shake from GNC is good. If you have any questions or just need support I'm here. I have been off for awhile since I have moved, but I will check in when I can and reply back. I wish you the best with your surgery and journey and please let's us know how it goes. Have faith you will be a mommy. I was told I couldn't have anymore kids and I have my precious son Angel.

[Tawnya777 106]

There's really nothing I can do about my step-daughter. Its kind of like a death I have to grieve. I've done all I can. I have to realize that I did a damn good job raising her - she's a responsible adult. She works and takes good care of her son. It isn't my fault her mother poisoned her. As for the husband' date=' he'll figure it out when she never calls him.

I know what its like to only have one car. Having to take the husband to work when you have appointments is a pain. Especially when you have to get up really early. Its so important to have your independence! I'm glad you finally got your car so you can do what you need (and want) to do. It makes mama a very happy camper!

Evaluation appointment is scheduled for Monday at 11:30 in the city. Its a long (about an hour) drive, but I know it'll be worth it.

Ack! Twenty-one hours is crazy to drive in one session! You're going to need sleep to rest up for what you need to do when you get there. Driving tired is awful. I hope you will be able to talk your husband into stopping. Please be careful.

Linda[/quote']

I read about your evaluation appt on your thread. I'm so happy for you that you finally got the ball rolling. Doesn't it seem so much more real now?

OMG my husband would not stop at a hotel for anything. We slept in the car for 1 hour one time since I was falling asleep and then again for another 1 hour another time. It took 29 hours to get there and I pretty much had a melt down from all the stress that went along with it. I wrote on your thread all about it. This whole move has been the hardest in the military so far. Next time my husband can keep driving and I will stay in a hotel with the kids. I was so many emotions once we finally got there and found out we have to wait until the 5th to move into our place and downgrade to a 3 bedroom from a 4 bedroom and still have to pay the same. I have no idea how I'm going to fit all my furniture in my now smaller place and my kids are not happy about sharing a room. I know that is going to be crazy to hear them fight all the time. They have not shared a room in several years. I feel so overwhelmed with everything going on. I wish I can just run away from it all and take a nice vacation, but no I have to stay and face reality and put together the pieces here. I really wish we had gone back to Washington instead.

[Tawnya777 106]

Its like taking the good with the bad. I'm learning a lot about what to do' date=' and not to do from you. lol Have you had weight loss post surgery yet? I need to get a ninja. I really hate vomiting in general, so if I need to do a liquid diet for awhile, that's fine. Do they give you guidlines and hints on what you should be doing? How soon after surgery did you resume exercise? I know you have to drink lots of Water. Is it difficult to get it all in throughout the day?

Linda[/quote']

That's good, take the good and run with it and leave all my bad mistakes behind. Last time I weighed in I was 240, so that's 17 pounds post op and 30 pounds all together. I'm pretty sure I lost more now since my 2 fills, but I have no scale at the hotel to weigh myself. It's not really vomit it's the food you ate and saliva, still gross and hurts worse. I did a liquid diet for 24 hours last fill like my doctor said, but I think I should have did longer. I still have problems with eating. I have to take it really slow and hard boiled eggs and meat I still have problems with sometimes, I don't know why, it's not every time and I do eat slow an chew a lot. I will have to ask my new doctor about that. I still can eat bread no problem and that fills me up. They will give you guidelines on the different stages of what to eat. It's all about what works for you and trying to stick with the Protein and veggies or fruit with every meal and to eat the Protein first, which is something I can't do or it comes back up. I had to wait 6 weeks to exercise more strenuous activity, but I was able to walk as much as I could from day one. Water at first is easy to get in until you get several fills then you can only take in a little water a time and you will feel full. I always have to carry water around with me to try to get enough Fluid in especially since I have already got dehydrated and have an on going bladder infection.

[Tawnya777 106]

On stage 3 muchies. Greek yougurt . Cottage cheese ' date=' apple sauce , bananas , oatmeal , grits , cream of wheat , papaya , baked fish , tuna , retried Beans , mashed potatoes , eggs boiled , milk , fruit juices. For the Greek yougurt and the cottage cheese with fruit the best is yoplait 100 calories.[/quote']

Yay!!! Congrats you finally made it to stage three. You have been so strong especially with working by a bakery. I haven't heard from you for awhile. How is your journey going? Mine is so much better with my third fill. Have you got your fill yet?

[lbriteyes 10]

I read about your evaluation appt on your thread. I'm so happy for you that you finally got the ball rolling. Doesn't it seem so much more real now?

OMG my husband would not stop at a hotel for anything. We slept in the car for 1 hour one time since I was falling asleep and then again for another 1 hour another time. It took 29 hours to get there and I pretty much had a melt down from all the stress that went along with it. I wrote on your thread all about it. This whole move has been the hardest in the military so far. Next time my husband can keep driving and I will stay in a hotel with the kids. I was so many emotions once we finally got there and found out we have to wait until the 5th to move into our place and downgrade to a 3 bedroom from a 4 bedroom and still have to pay the same. I have no idea how I'm going to fit all my furniture in my now smaller place and my kids are not happy about sharing a room. I know that is going to be crazy to hear them fight all the time. They have not shared a room in several years. I feel so overwhelmed with everything going on. I wish I can just run away from it all and take a nice vacation, but no I have to stay and face reality and put together the pieces here. I really wish we had gone back to Washington instead.

Men! I bet he wouldn't stop for directions either. I guess that's why they invented GPS. At least you got cat naps. I agree that you should next time stop and get real sleep. Does the base offer storage for the things that won't fit? How long will you have to stay there? Starting new with everything is such a pain. New utilities to have turned on, new deposits, new doctors, new banks. Ugh. I don't envy you.

Linda

[lbriteyes 10]

That's good, take the good and run with it and leave all my bad mistakes behind. Last time I weighed in I was 240, so that's 17 pounds post op and 30 pounds all together. I'm pretty sure I lost more now since my 2 fills, but I have no scale at the hotel to weigh myself. It's not really vomit it's the food you ate and saliva, still gross and hurts worse. I did a liquid diet for 24 hours last fill like my doctor said, but I think I should have did longer. I still have problems with eating. I have to take it really slow and hard boiled eggs and meat I still have problems with sometimes, I don't know why, it's not every time and I do eat slow an chew a lot. I will have to ask my new doctor about that. I still can eat bread no problem and that fills me up. They will give you guidelines on the different stages of what to eat. It's all about what works for you and trying to stick with the Protein and veggies or fruit with every meal and to eat the protein first, which is something I can't do or it comes back up. I had to wait 6 weeks to exercise more strenuous activity, but I was able to walk as much as I could from day one. Water at first is easy to get in until you get several fills then you can only take in a little water a time and you will feel full. I always have to carry water around with me to try to get enough Fluid in especially since I have already got dehydrated and have an on going bladder infection.

It sounds so complicated. If you drink all that water, when do you eat real food? I have this picture in my head of never eating solid food again. I know that's not right, I imagine that doing crunches right after surgery would hurt.

Linda

[dawalsh 919]

It sounds so complicated. If you drink all that water' date=' when do you eat real food? I have this picture in my head of never eating solid food again. I know that's not right, I imagine that doing crunches right after surgery would hurt.

Linda[/quote']

It's not just Water but other fluids such as teas, sugar free drinks like Crystal Light and sugar free Popsicles that incorporate our fluids. My total Fluid intake is about 64 oz more or less but I always keep water with me to take a few sips. My throat gets dry at night so I keep a 16 oz bottle of water at my bedside. Trust me, there is still room for food even with all the fluids I drink.i just eat a lot less than I did before surgery. Your body will adjust to itself. Good luck!

[lbriteyes 10]

It's not just Water but other fluids such as teas, sugar free drinks like Crystal Light and sugar free Popsicles that incorporate our fluids. My total Fluid intake is about 64 oz more or less but I always keep water with me to take a few sips. My throat gets dry at night so I keep a 16 oz bottle of water at my bedside. Trust me, there is still room for food even with all the fluids I drink.i just eat a lot less than I did before surgery. Your body will adjust to itself. Good luck!

Thanks! I'm sure I'll figure it all out eventually. I usually drink stuff all day, too.

Linda

[Aidalphung 7]

Yay!!! Congrats you finally made it to stage three. You have been so strong especially with working by a bakery. I haven't heard from you for awhile. How is your journey going? Mine is so much better with my third fill. Have you got your fill yet?

No fills yet waiting for the 9th next month. Everything going fine. Some days hungry some not . Still walking 1 hour a day. 3 miles lost after surgery 47 pounds 10 before for a total of 57 pounds uhu:) the smells of the bakery still call me but I ignore it. Eat a banana or my yougurt Water and it will go away