amjcal

I had a last Mexican dinner, steak dinner, several margarita's, fish and chips, pizza anything I could think of that I was no longer going to be able to eat for a while. I am glad I did it, because I needed to do it. Maybe like a closure like a break up or death. I am almost a month after being banded, and I really don't miss those foods at all, in fact I went into a gas station this afternoon and they sold fried foods and I instantly got nauseated. It is almost like I got brain surgery, I don't crave most foods and for once in my life even PMSing I did not get overly hungry, or crave anything. I feel if you need to indulge before the surgery, you should. If you don't need that closure for your relationship with food then don't waste your time. Good Luck!!

I personally don't think it should be a problem, we are military too and he said the lap band has been around in a lot more countries before it was introduced to the Unites States. I had the same concern as well. We haven't moved overseas yet, but it will be in the near future. If there is a large military medical facility on base and there is a surgeon, they should have no problem doing it. You would think since so many military people are getting the lap band since tricare is covering it that they know they have to offer the service. I am not sure, but I think (according to my husband) that the type of medical services that can cause a problem is children with special needs like CP etc. . I wish you the best luck and let me know what you find out, because I would love to know.

Thank you all so much I feel a lot better about what to expect. Do you really have to wait an hour to drink water after you eat to be successful?

I am really glad that this thread got started, I thought I was the only person having problems. My surgeon is an excellent surgeon, but my post-op appointment was a nightmare. He did not sit down and talk to me . He looked at my incision and when I told him my concerns he said " you are a worrier and you need to go live your life". SO my concern was at ease. But then he walked out of the room and here I am chasing him out the door, to finish asking my questions. I waited until I got out of the office and lost it. There is a free nutritionist at the hospital, but not one in the office... The staff is great for the most part, but for such a great guy ( first impression) and the great job he did, his bed side manner is not okay with me. I was offended that he did not even take the time to sit down and talk to me. I go for my first fill on 8/16 under flouro and plan on telling him my feelings. Hopefully he will take it to heart and maybe help someone else in the future have a better experience. I will probably not change doctors, because since we are a military family I will have to find many fill doctors for my journey. If you have a bad vibe, go somewhere else. We all deserve the best care. We are making life time changes and our experience will make all the difference. I wish you the best of luck.

There is a cool web site :http://www.lap-band-surgery-site.com that has so much information on it !! I was thrilled when I found it! This is the list I used and am using. Scrambled eggs and poached eggs Fat free or lowfat cottage cheese Fat free or lowfat ricotta cheese Lowfat cheese Egg salad made with lowfat mayonnaise or plain yogurt Canned tuna, salmon, or chicken mixed with lowfat mayonnaise or plain yogurt Tofu Fat free or lowfat refried Beans pureed beef, poultry, pork or fish (blend when dry and add broth to desired consistency) Fruits and Vegetables Applesauce Mashed bananas Pureed fruit Stage 1 baby food fruits and vegetables Cooked and mashed vegetables Starches/Grains/Cereals Cream of wheat Mashed potatoes Hummus Fats and Oils (use sparingly) Lowfat mayonnaise Lowfat salad dressing Extra virgin olive oil Canola Oil Guacamole Hope this helps.. It helped me. I think my favorite was refried beans with guacamole and little bit of cheese. All I can eat is 1/2C, but it is tasty. Also tuna salad with low fat mayo of course. Cream Soups are good, but get old quick.

I have an excellent surgeon( not a support system), but when into my post-op appointment, he was very short with me and I had to chase him out of the room to finish answering my questions.. I thought he is busy then I realized he was talking in the room about brochures to his staff. It really upset me. Can you change surgeons once you have surgery to a more supportive office staff? It probably depends on your insurance, but has anyone ever done that and regretted it?

There are so many posts on here where individuals are saying, my band can handle eggs, or bread or whatever it may be. The next person says I can't or haven't ever been able to handle whatever the food may be. I don't understand how you figure out, or what happens to you and the band if something doesn't agree. Is it vomiting? Stuck? I have not gotten my fill my first fill, and so far I have been handling mushies really well. But will the mushies I am on now be a problem when I start getting fills? I am just really confused... I want to be prepared as I can. Thanks in advance.

I think you are doing a great job... This is a learning experience, for all of us. In order to learn we have to make mistakes. This has been a hard week for me too. I have a friend staying with me, so there are five kids in the house ( which means someone is always hungry). My girls are asking me everyday when can you eat sugar again, as she runs an Oreo cookie in front of my nose. My parents health is going down the drain. Plus I haven't seen my husband since March, so I can't go make a grilled cheese sandwich(my fav comfort food) and actually enjoy something when life seems to throw some curve balls. I can not use food anymore to help me cope. I am trying to find things to do, places to go ways to get over feeling hungry because of emotional pain. And having a slight problem not being super grouchy to everyone I see. I have held my tongue more times in the last 3 weeks then ever before. This is what I do: I write positive affirmations on note cards and put them on my bathroom mirror, read them over and over and it helps me get through the day, night whatever. Then I jump on the once dreaded scale and say okay Lost (x) amount of weight I can do this. Then by this time I have lost the hunger feeling. I move on with my day. I do find it hard to see my family enjoy such a hearty meal, while I eat mine on a saucer (usually fish of some sort) and its a few bites. By the way can you eat too much fish? Girl we are on our way to a healthier life. We can all do this!! Don;t feel guilty, from previous diets when I felt guilty I just ate more.. "nothing tastes as good as thin feels" Good Luck !!

At Wal-mart there is "Better than Bullion" it is a paste, that you mix with Water and my surgeon suggested it. It took me a while to find it, it is in a small round glass jar yellow label, I found mine on the top shelf. When I was first banded I prepared it and got 5 teaspoons down and was full. My 5 year old daughter loved it, and slurped it right up and asked to make it ever since!! Hope this helps!

I had my surgery on 7/1, I am eating about 1/2 -3/4 of food a day. Plus getting between 60 and 80 grams of Protein per day. Here is what I usually eat. 1 greek yogurt/ 1/2 cream of cream of wheat 1 glass of V8 lunch egg drop Soup dinner 3oz of grilled grouper (mushy) 1 tomato slice (no skin just the center ( chewed until mushy consistency) pinch of feta cheese Last night I was starving so I had about 1/2 c of refried Beans with a pinch of cheese, 1 t of guacamole. My calories range between 600-800 per day. There is a list of mushy foods that really helped me at the grocery store. What I am worried about am I eating too much.. I feel no restriction at all, I am finally feeling what a lot of people on here are feeling. I eat when I am satisfied and not to full. I was so worried about everything and my doctor told me " stop worrying and live you life" So that is what I have been doing. I have stopped the Protein drinks (I know a bad idea, but I am still getting the protein I need daily.) My question is do you think I should be doing anything different? Or is there any suggestions? I still have had no bread, Pasta, crackers anything crunchy, no sweets, and no potatoes. Like I am not a schedule person. So like it is 5pm and I have eaten cream of wheat and a cheese stick. Of course Water. I have been only been eating when hungry. Thanks in advance!!

I added banana 1 stage baby food to chocolate peanut butter protein shake. I also unflavored protein powder that I can add anything like crystal light.

So far so good, except a little sore. However, when I get done eating or drinking i have these massive burps. Loud dry heaving burps. No vomiting or slime (have not experienced this yet ) . I am in mushy stage, I am so unclear on the water consumption. Is it at the solid stage I start waiting after I eat to drink? Or does that begin right away? Also how do you manage to sip water after a good work out? I mowed the lawn today and was so hot, I came in a guzzled (very natural) then realized crap I need to take small drinks... How do you train yourself to do this ? I have no burping after the water. It is food, and V8. Thanks in advance.

I agree mushy stage comes along and I am lost. I am getting down about 500-700 calories a day with a struggle. I got on this website which has really helped me a lot. http://www.lap-band-surgery-site.com/lapband-diet-first-mushy-foods.html This website helped me with my mushy grocery list and also has a lapband food pyramid. Plus I also use myfitnesspal.com.

I asked my surgeon about this one, because I like to have a drink every once in a while. He said " you have to live " I agree. He also said it is "not good to drink empty calories. So one my eighth day out of surgery, I had 1/4 of a skinny margarita!! It was so good and well deserved. I was a little afraid to drink the entire thing. Then I had a Bloody Mary, 125 calories plus I am getting V8 which as plenty of nutrients. It was so good I then got a second virgin (V8). My burps were not pleasant, but I didn't feel as guilty for consuming alcohol. Did I feel tipsy? After the 1/4 of margarita and bloody mary that was in a small plastic cup.. I felt like I drank the equivalent to 3-4 beers.. So live life. Be aware. Have Fun.

I think you are doing and going to do wonderful on this journey!! I was just banded, but I think the hardest for me is cravings, so I take a bite of (cheese) my fav chew it up and spit out. I think about what I am doing and it really grosses me out and for the most part makes me nausea. I take a sip of soup set my spoon down look at my kids, what I have prepared for dinner and then take another bite. This has worked for me. Someone told me that I need to enjoy what is around me as a focus point instead of on the food. So that is what I am sticking to. This may sound odd, but I am feeding and cooking for my kids what I am hungry for. I am not really tempted to eat it, but it makes me happy they can still enjoy the food we all enjoy. I think the biggest mental adjustment was the pre op, or it hasn't hit me yet. You are not a failure and you never will be. Try affirmations !

JC Penny's have wonderful staff, they measure you, help you find "the right bra", and if you watch for their sales you can't go wrong!! I got name brand bra's for 2.99 and 3.99 that are the best bra's I have ever had and have lasted the longest! Have fun and don't spend a lot of money, because once you loose more weight you will need another bra shortly, so wait to buy a nice expensive bra when you have reached goal!! Good Luck!!

My hunger is really kicking in finally. I feel that is I drank 3/4 of a Protein drink (chocolate Peanut Butter flavor with banana baby food) in the morning I have a more productive day! Yesterday I was only able to eat 1/8 of creamy chicken, 7 bites if spinach dip ( well chewed) my post op instructions say anything that can through a straw, so my friend tested the spinach dip through the straw LOL!! Anyways I drabk 1/4 of a skinny margarita and 1 small Bloody Mary (yummy!) I had no problems, of course I drank tons of Water too. So my response to this post is I am able to get more down, day by day. The other night I got down a 3/4 can of cream of broccoli mixed with skim milk no problem and I was a little worried too! I am 9 days out and finally feeling better. So I think it is all part of our life changing journey!

I am 6 days post op and it takes me an hour to get down 4oz of a protein drink. I feel hungry, then slow sips and then when I am satisfied I stop and save the rest for later. I try not to eat until I am full, because after feeling satisfied about 30 minutes later I feel very full, I have been on liquids and blended cream soups, still have no desire for food, even when I am cooking for my kids. But I can only get down 4oz at the most at a time. Is this normal?

I have no desire for food at all. I have had a little sugar free Jello which seems to work for me. The broth 5 teaspoons and that ended up a run to the bathroom. I am not vomiting, just spitting up the saliva before you vomit and then I am okay? Is anyone else having this problem? I drank 4 oz or so of a protein drink and that went down okay, The dr suggested tomato juice, because of the high protein and that ended up to another run to the restroom. Ice chips and small very small drinks of water are all I can handle. Is what I am experiencing normal, or should I call the doctor?

Had my surgery on Friday. The hospital experience was great. As for the pain not so good, been having problems sleeping even after the pain meds. It hurts the worst getting in and out of bed. I have been sipping on water and ice chips, until this morning I had a couple of small bites of Jello. I took pain meds last night with a few sips of skim milk, because the nausea is terrible. In fact I fell like vomiting several times, I can't vomit just the saliva built up in your mouth before you vomit is coming up and then I feel okay. I have suppositories for nausea that are really helping as well. Along with the liquid loratab, Ice on stomach has really helped with the pain, and today it only hurts to get up and down. I tried chicken broth last night (better than bullion) which is very good! I had 5 teaspoons and that was all I could get down. The gas hurts only when laying down in bed. Yesterday which was day 2 I went to the Walmart and walked around to get the gas out which helped a lot. Walking and doing everything very slowly is the key for me. During pre op stage I was so mentally hungry, after surgery I am no longer mentally hungry or really even hungry at all, I can not feel my port which is weird and my stomach is supper swollen and numb around the largert incision, I am so happy I made this decision, just wish the recovery was a little bit more on my side.

I was banded yesterday, and I can't feel my port. Is this b/c my tummy is so swollen? Also the nurse in pre op said she was going to give me heparin to prevent clotting, however my friend and I don't remember me getting it. Should I be concerned? Also around my biggest incision it is numb? Is this normal? Thanks

I was banded yesterday, and I can't feel my port. Is this b/c my tummy is so swollen? Also the nurse in pre op said she was going to give me heparin to prevent clotting, however my friend and I don't remember me getting it. Should I be concerned? Also around my biggest incision it is numb? Is this normal? Thanks

I was sent several papers in the mail, all questionnaires, I was asked to bring them to appointment ( I think one had like 300+ questions). He took the papers when I arrived, then we talked. He wanted to know what I knew about the lap band, what I expected, why i wanted, and when did I get to the point did I decided I want to do proceed. Then we talked about being successful and the people who aren't and why, then he told me about support groups and I was on my merry way. There was my visit in a nutshell. Good Luck!

I love the charm idea as well and I like the ones at Kay Jewler's, Just thgught I would share. Getting closer to surgery I have a couple of days left!!

What are you terrified about? I think I know what it might be, because I am an Army wife myself. If you need to talk let me know