PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

:clap2: well my surgery is finally booked for Feb 15, 2007. I'm scared to death about what happens after the surgery; where do i find the willpower to get through the pre and post surgery and how do i deal with the hunger. any suggestions, please :huggie:

anyone else smoke b4 surgery i have 5 days to go only cut back to 1-2 cigs..:help:

I had surgery in Oct.27, 2006. I sometimes eat and I can tell the food is not going down. It hurts at my heart so I get up and walk and then burp and I then feel ok. I had a scare Tuesday I ate chocolate kisses and had to be rushed to Emergency Room and spend the night with I thought a heart attack. It was not a heart attack just a surgar overload. No more candy for me. I need to know a place that has the diet I need to eat after LapBand Surgery. I received the initial diet but need to know what to eat and what not to eat now. Any website suggestions?

my birthday is thursday and my friends are having a party for me at a mexican restaurant. i was banded on dec 26 and i am doing great. i have lost 30lbs. i have not been to a restaurant since my surgery and i am kinda nervous about it. i don't know what i should even eat when i get to the party.

:help: What are some good recepies (liquids and mushy) for the first six weeks after the surgery? I am trying to do my best with the band, I am almost 3 week post op and having a hard time. Banded on Dec. 11ths. Somethings I would like to eat but I know I can't I would like some exciting food suggestions to take my mind off Captin D's Fish and Fried chicken. Please help:hungry: I am ready for a good meal:mad:

Just after your operation, did any of you go through intense emotions. Feeling of great love to great anger. One second I'd be just fine and the next I was a mean old witch. AND, PAIN! I'm so glad I had a friend tell me to expect pain when I woke up because if she had not, I think I would of had an anxiety attack. I've had my gall bladder removed but this is a deeper kind of ache. Or am I just being a baby?!? I was banded today! I know it's going to be awhile before my first fill but I know I'd still do the operation despite the emotional rollercoaster. When will my emotions level out?:angry

Hi all, very happy to have found you, and to be preparing for my procedure. a couple of questions around rice - has anyone been told that rice is a problem and what does that mean to eating sushi!!!??? ella

I know that many of the meds can be crushed or found in liquid. I was wondering if any of you just swallow them whole anyway without problems. My wife had gastric bypass last year and they have to take a whole handleful of vitamins everyday and they were told to do the same thing, crush or liquid. She finally gave up trying to get all of her meds switched and just started swallowing them whole without problems. She just gets a bit of a tummy ache if she does it on a empty stomach. Thanks

I had my banding on Friday (1/5). I have been feeling progressivley better, however, I keep getting a jabbing burning pain on my right side. Just under the largest incision. It seems to only happen when I stand up. I am fine sitting or laying, but when I try to stand for longer than a few minutes, it becomes excuciating. I called my Dr. and was told this is normal, but I haven't seen it mentioned here, and am wondering how long it lasted for other people. My medication takes the edge off but I am literally in tears by the end of a shower. This doesn't bode well for going back to work on Saturday. I keep hoping I will wake up and it will be all better. Sorry that I…

Is it worth it? With the long-term complications, like erosion and gastro-esophageal problems, is it worth it? I was all set to get a band, until I was reading about the long-term problems on the board. They seem pretty common for those who have been banded 2+ years. And I just got off Prilosec. Don't want to spend the rest of my life back on it. Is it worth it? I'm having second thoughts. Has anyone just gotten banded for under 2 years and then had the band removed once the weight goal was attained?. I'm at 41 BMI, about 100 lbs to lose, so it's not as if my life depends on it - yet. Am I better off doing it and getting it removed? Not doing it at all? I'm so conf…

Hi there. So I am new to this whole forum and I have to say that I am so glad I have found it. I had the surgery done in Seattle, Washington over christmas break and now I am back at school 5 hours away. There are no support groups here, there is no one who really understands what I am going through. I was banded January 2nd, 2007 about a week ago and ever since then I have been constantly week, feeling nauseated and have pains in my stomach. I threw up for the first time last night and missed my first day of classes because I was so nauseated. I dont see my doctor till next week for my check up, but already I am begining to regret this decision. I am just so tired of bei…

Hello everyone, ~ Well I guess mostly Ladies for this question Has anyone heard that you shouldn't be on the BC Pill before surgery? I just read on a post somewhere that suggested that and I had not heard that before. Anyone know why that would be? Hopefully I'm wrong since I have my band to be done in 5 day's. Thanks. Sara

Pureed Food :) :hungry: I had my surgery on Dec. 11, and I am having a horrible time with the food. I know the band is working, I have not had a fill yet but I am not hungry until around 1pm. So I know the band is working I am gagging on those pureed foods so what can I do? I eat only twice a day, I am not hungry but when I eat, I will eat ground beef, potatos and cheese. (chopped really good) Please :help: me because I do not want to dislodge my band. Any Suggestions?

I am not an everyday smoker, but was wondering if you guys have had any problems / complications related to having an occassional cig? I truly enjoy having an ultra ultra lite Cig (Capri) with my glass of wine in the evening.... I really need it now, that I am - 2 weeks pre-op. Help anyone ? THANKS! Email me directly if you like- Denver, Dr. Snyder, January 18th or so Colleensunshine@yahoo.com

Hi, My surgery is 6:30 am Monday and what can I say :faint: I am a little nervous. Does anyone know how long the surgery takes???

have a few cigs with my wine to calm the nervs down, before and after the banding?

what are most people eating 2 weeks post op? i am just wondering.

Several people that have had this type of surgery have complained about always being cold. Is this a problem? Why does it occur. Sandy

I was banded on the 26th of Dec. I just ate 1 oz of salmon chewed really well. The lit. from my doc. says soups but in the Band book from the doc it says when you start on your 3rd week you can have pureed (wrong spelling) fish and chicken. Did I mess up? I feel ok.:speechles

Hello Everyone! I have a quick question. How much do you eat per meal? As of tomorrow I am 1 month from banding. I am eating 3 meals a day, 1/2 cup per meal, all Protein. Is that about the right amount? I really don't feel any restriction yet but am being very careful to follow all of the rules my docs gave me. I've lost 28lbs since beginning liquids on 11/27. Does this sound normal to everyone? I have an appointment on Feb 8th where they may do my first fill. Just kind of wondering what others experiences are or have been.

yesterday i called my dr. about my appt. on the 23rd for my first fill. the nurse i spoke to informed me that i didnt have to come in for my first fill if i felt that i didnt need it. ok since ive just had this surgery on the 18th and havent had a fill before how do i really know if i need one, this is the question i posed to the nurse. she replied that i would just know. she also said that many patients dont come in for their first one for sometimes 3 or 4 months after surgery. im am not eating more, i am able to eat hard protein alittle better but still have difficulty at times. i have lost a total of 20lbs since the 18th, am i ready for my first fill? i would appreciat…

I just wanted to let everyone know, I have changed my site to allow everyone to download my Lapband book for free. It is at: http://www.vtmag.com Just register with the website and then go to the downloads menu on the left. You should then see the lap band book listed and just click on the link. It is in PDF format. Let me know what you think about the book. Thanks, Wade Beasley

does everybody recommend taking laxatives to get more "regular" before checking into the hospital? or do they give an enema after getting there? since being on a pre-op diet the last week, i need help in this department, ahem... if you get my drift. and it seems that post-op it takes awhile as well.

I had heard that banding can cure GERDS, but then I noticed a bunch of posts about stomach erosion, reflux, etc. How does the band affect GERD? Does the band help mask stomack symptoms until they get so bad, you have stomach erosion? Can they do an endo before they insert the band, to make sure everything's okay? I had a c-section last year, and have dealt with a lot of the same side effects I've been hearing about the banding - gas, no poop, gurgling tummy, not being able to swallow food, etc. All of which have lessened over time. And, as a bonus, the GERD seems to have vanished post-op. And I don't want it back. Except now my tummy's gurgling.

Hey everyone! I am one week to surgery. I can't tell you how scared I am. Every day I question whether this is too drastic, but I come to this sight and get my convistion back! So thanks to you all. Just a couple of questions... For the first 2 weeks of liquids, are you extremely hungry? Has anyone tried to take phentaramine (crushed up, of course) too help with hunger? I just started reading about the kidney stones. I've already had kidney stones 4 times in the last 10 years!!! Anyone out there in this situation - Any advice. I cringe every time I get a back pain, afraid it might be another stone! Anyone had surgery at the Cincinnati Weight loss center? …

How do they do fills, what does it feel like, does it hurt?

Just wondering what made you choose banding vs. bypass? I am researching weight loss surgery for myself, and I am leaning towards banding. Anyone viewing here who choose bypass? Laura

When is it safe to go and lay in a tanning bed post op. I'm a month post op as of today and I have a membership that I haven't used in a few months that I'm still paying for. Can anyone help me? Thank you!

Just a few questions about a hypothyroid... to anyone that can field one.....know anyone that has been denied because of thyroid? was overdosed on synthroid.. then went off meds... had blood work today.. wondering if this could get me denied... my bmi is 42.5 bcbs of ma anxious to re submit... my bmi went up over hoildays and should be in the zone...if stupid thyroid don't mess anything up.... just looking for re-assurance... thanks...donnaco myturnow

Well, my surgeon said that it would be 10-14 days before I would be eating semi-solid foods. Basically it boiled down, according to him, that it would be about 10 days before you would probably start feeling hungry enough to want to eat anything semi-solid, and at that point you could start adding in some more semi-solid foods. 14 was just the max before you probably should. I will start on the 10th day or a little sooner - Right now I'm 6 days post-op. I was fortunate to not have been sick by this surgery. I never vomited, never felt ill, etc. While I still have pain where the incisions were, overall I feel pretty decent. Anyway - What I'm wondering is - How lon…

I have been diagnosed with IBS. Nothing I have read said that this was an issue but Crohn's disease is always mentioned. THe two are similar in some ways. Any experience with IBS people having LapBand? I am excited about the surgery but very nervous so any insight to this topic or the surgery in general would be helpful. Thanks a lot.

I've read and read this site. Some have a preop diet some do not. Some have weeks on eating nothing but drinking Protein drinks, others do not. I understand what they are saying about shrinking the liver..but..it takes more than a week to shrink the liver. So my question is this: What Doctors have NO preop diet? I'm in DFW area. What lapbander had No preop diet and did you have problems/do wonderful...any advice? I have this week (the week between Christmas and NewYears to check out seminars/doctors/etc while I'm off work. I've read now for a year and finally gotten to the point of taking the first step in making an appointment. I am self-pay and have money in han…

hi i was baned on monday 18th in belgium i live in London, feeling ok at the moment but have really bad shoulder pain when i eat or move about, but i cant burp when it comes it hurts so much then just sort of fizzes away leaving me in pian for a while, any tips on what i can to to have a good burp and any tips for the shouder pain ive been told to walk if off but being still helps it,:help: oh the things we do to be slim:) mine xxxxxx ps very nice site i must say still have a lot to read but getting thought bit by bit

What does anyone who's been banded think about my putting some kind of mark on myself where my waistline (of clothing) is and where my bra hits me? I have heard a few people say that they are somewhat uncomfortable after surgery because incisions or port sites are being hit exactly where their clothes waistband is. Has anyone else had this? done this? talked about it with surgeon? Many thanks for your responses!

OK ..HAD MY SURGERY DEC 5TH EVERYTHING WAS GOING GOOD TILL I WENT TO MUSHIES...THAT'S WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. IT SEEMS THAT I CAN EAT AND EAT AND EAT AND NOT GET FULL. (WILLPOWER NOT WORKING) PLUS, I CAN'T FEEL MY PORT SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MY FAT STOMACH GROWING OR WHAT. I HAVE PEOPLE AT WORK ASKING ME IF I SHOULD BE EATING THAT. I DON'T GET MY FIRST FILL TILL JAN 10TH SO I'M HOPING THAT WILL HELP. IS THIS ALL WORTH IT?? PISSED OFF PERSON IN CALI

I totally had forgotten to ask my doctor about this. After this miserable week of gas pain, sex is that last thing on my mind, thats for sure. But my boyfriend asked my yesterday about that, and I guess I hadn't even thought about it. I know its going to be a long long long time for him because this is not on my friggin list right now. LOL! Does anyone know? Banded 12/20/06 Dr. Huacuz, Tijuana, Awesome doctor!

:cry I don’t understand what is going on. On December 11, I weighed 201lbs. That day I started to eat less in preparation for lap band surgery on December 19. December 20 the day I was discharged from the hospital, I weighed 207lbs. December 18 through today I have been on a clear diet. I’ve been eating only Jell-O, flat ginger ale soda and soup broth. Today, I weigh 198lbs. How can that be? I’ve been literally starving myself and have lost really only 3 lbs since December 11. How can that be? What is going on?

I was banded on Dec 14th. I was getting full and satisfied on small amounts of food around 1/2 cup, but now I seem to be able to eat larger portions. I dont want to stretch out my stomach.. I am able to eat 2oz of chicken, 1/2 cup of potatoes. Do you feel that Iam eating too much? I have called my doctor and they just told me to eat more Protein to help me to stay fuller longer. I lost 15lbs pre-op and only 3 since being banded. Iam starting to get worried.. Thanks:hungry:

Not sure if any of you have done this... I'm really fond of having a dinner setting 'set' for myself; whether I'm eating alone or the whole family. Now that my portions are going to be so tiny, and liquid for a while after my band (1/30), I have been searching for a very special 'place setting' for myself. I'm not looking at Lenox or anything, but just something that will help make my 'dinner' look beautiful in a gorgeous glass, or mug or even bowl. Any little pick me up like that; I think goes a long way.

I had my surgery yesterday morning, and I'm wondering how long it took for the steri-strips to fall off for you guys and gals. 2 weeks? A month? I'd assume they only fall off after the incisions are healed, right?

Did anyone else experience feeling majorly restricted in the very beginning? I'm 5 days out and still sipping away on the Clear liquids. Tomorrow I'm supposed to go to full liquids but honestly I'm not sure how I'm going to get anything worthwhile down. My surgeon did not put any fill in on surgery day, so maybe I am just really swollen? Warm liquids go down slightly better than cool, and I'm losing weight, but I'm pretty sure its Water weight since I'm having such a hard time with the liquids. Each sip just feels like it takes 10 minutes to go through and I feel lots of pressure in my chest if I take too big of a sip. Any thoughts??

I had surgery over 2 weeks ago, and am on a clear liquid diet plus Protein and a decent Vitamin regiment. I'll be on the liquid diet for 3 more weeks (it should be 2, but the doc is on vacation). Prior to surgery, I was on this stupid diet for over a month, and a low-food diet before that. So I'm dying here, and it's driving me nuts that other people with other surgeons can have liquified food after 2 weeks. It doesn't make sense to me that I can have Protein shakes with pureed ice, or Jello or strained Soup, or my gritty "vitamin soup," but I can't have pureed, just as liquidy, regular food. Oh yeah, and I got permission to add tabasco to my bland food right now as wel…

I don't fully understand how the band works....mainly doesn't the bottom part of your stomach (below the band) feel hungry all the time? I asked at a seminar how that works....Dr. responded that he didn't know, but that it works. Anyone know the answer to that? Thanks, Ann

I have already completed the psych, the two required support groups and gotten my insurnce approval. I have to go to Pulmunary and Cardio on the same day. Can anyone give me sme insight as to what happens at those appointments? They both said to expect to last about an hour. Sean P.S. I am a little concerned about the actual surgery.... anyone heard of anyone dying during the lap-band procedure?

OK, I am up and about shopping ect. Still can't wear a regular bra :party: but I was wondering does anyone have the hiccups? I am 6 days post op. Also, I want to burp but cant so I just exhale and it feels better. Does anyone else do this? Am I taking in to much? My diet today 3 oz p. shake 9:00 1/2 sf pudding cup 11:30 1 sf pudding cup 3:00 3oz p shake 5:00 1 c sf coco 7:00 I am suppose to fit in 3 p shakes a day but I can't!:paranoid

I am so excited about my banding!!!! I just had to say that. I try not to think about it to much. Can anyone think of something that they could not do by themselves right after the surgery?? When could you pick up lets say a 10 pound poodle?? Rene' PS Also how do you get the ticker to show up???? <a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wVsWHHb/"> <img border="0" src="<A href="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wVsWHHb/weight.png"></a">http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wVsWHHb/weight.png"></a>

i had my surgery on monday the 18th and i am doing ok but i have had a few problems. feeling real hungry on tuesday, this was totally confusing to me since i was sipping my liquids. then the next minute i was feeling so sick i thought i was going to vomit. needless to say i was glad when that day was over. today was better i drank my isopure and had some cream of chicken soup,what was weird today was the couple of hiccups i had also the feeling i wanted to hiccup but couldnt. i wish someone would have told me about this it makes me alittle worried about what eles i might not know to expect. if anyone can help with what i might expect for the next week or so it would be gr…

I am supposed to start a clear liquid diet 7 days prior to my surgery. It's scheduled for 1/10/07. I know the doctor recommends between 30 and 50 grams of protein per day. I bought some IsoPure drinks that have 40 grams of protein. What happens if I consume more than 50 grams of protein? Is that bad? Will I gain weight?

Does everyone experience band slippage and who has gone years without the slippage? Please provide me with your observation of the band slippage and does the doctors know what causes the slippage and erosion information. Just concerned:confused:

Hello all- since banding I am taking my meds crushed up and they are AWFUL! Any suggestions as to how to make the meds go down easier? I have tried to mix with apple sauce and jello, but it doesnt help. I would greatly appreciate any feedback...Suzy