ElizabethAnne

My surgeon asks patients to limit their calorie intake to no more than 1400 per day for at least two weeks prior to surgery. Patients are instructed to pick from the following: meal substitution (products such as Slim-Fast), established programs (Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, TOPS), diet books (Atkins, South Beach), or counting calories. I'm choosing to count calories.

That's great! And it encourages me. After my appendectomy, I didn't expect much pain. I'm not a medical professional, but it seemed like a fairly simple procedure to me. However, I needed regular doses of pain medication for four days after surgery. Each of those days, I was literally watching the clock, anticipating when I could have my next dose because it never seem to last the full 6 hours. After this experience, I've been a little concerned about what the pain will be like from the band surgery and how it will compare. I know I will get through it, but it's always nice to know what to expect. Thanks for sharing!

I don't follow sports much, but I LOVE his words of wisdom! I enjoyed reading your introduction---and your photo is beautiful!

Congratulations to you, too! You are doing well. Hope you're able to make it to 180 by your anniversary, but if you can't, focus on next year's anniversary instead. You WILL get there!

I'm glad to hear you're still feeling well. No pain meds? That is wonderful!

Hmmm...Thanks for the explanation! Can't say I am looking forward to that part. And I had planned to tell no one I am having surgery...at least at first.

I've never seen the Zoi brand before. Where do you buy it?

I bought a Chobani twelve-pack at costco, and it has peach, strawberry, and blueberry. I like them all, but always eat all of the peach containers first. I bought a couple of pineapple but haven't tried them yet. I did find a new Yoplait flavor (caramel) at Wal-mart, but I like the Chobani brand's texture and flavor much better.

Thanks---it can't go by fast enough! I am soooo ready!

Thanks! I called my surgeon's office and left messages five different days, trying to get rescheduled. I was out of patience and about to post a whining message here about no one returning my calls, and as I was typing it, the callback came. What a relief! Now, I am back on my diet, struggling but at least I am motivated to do what I am supposed to do. Congratulations on your weight loss! It's exciting to see how well all of you Springers who have already been banded are doing! Has your hunger decreased at all since surgery?

Keep trying on the liquids---that's the best we can do. I have been trying to train myself, too, and am struggling but am confident it will be worth it. My surgery is June 5. I was originally scheduled for April10, but I had to have an emergency appendectomy on April 2, which delayed my surgery. However, if it had to happen, I'm glad it's done and out of the way before my band surgery.

Happy to know it went well! Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

So happy to read you are approved!

Yay for you! Being under 200 is a great accomplishment that you have worked hard for so celebrate this success as you work toward 190. And please keep sharing your successes---it very encouraging to those of us still at the pre-surgery stage.

Are you comfortable enough with this therapist to share your true thoughts? If not, perhaps finding a different therapist would be beneficial. Given the circumstances, I understand why you weren't honest with this therapist, yet it's difficult for a therapist to be effective when a client isn't comfortable sharing his/her innermost thoughts and feelings. Pre-op is hard, but a good therapist who possesses the additional training needed for working with weight loss surgery patients will understand your struggles and should possess the skills to help you each step of the way. Best wishes!

It doesn't sound crazy to me. In my family and among my friends, food is almost always used for celebrations, for mourning, for comfort, for get-togethers, etc., so I completely understand why you feel like you do. Cooking and baking are two of my favorite activities, and I feel like I need to replace them after surgery with something that's not food-related. I want a fresh start, yet I'm reluctant to give up the activities I enjoy the most. I've decided I am going to wait until after surgery to see how it goes. Right now, I am always hungry and consequently have little-to-no willpower around food; I am hoping that will change after surgery. Others have mentioned that they no longer desire the foods they used to or only want a few bites; hopefully, we will have the similar experiences.

Okay, I have to know more. What type of noises? Gurgling, growling? Can others easily hear them? Are the noises lessening as you heal?

Congratulations to you! Keep busy and your days will pass by quickly.

It's great to read your surgery is behind you and that you're feeling good! And as you heal, the days ahead should be even better!

I have been walking a minimum of five miles daily for several years and find it relaxes me, helps me sleep, and takes away some of my desire to eat food I don't need. I walk two miles every day at lunch with a friend who is a faithful walker, so it's not difficult to get three more miles completed in the evening after work. And when I already have my exercise in for the day, walking is still the strategy I use most when I want to eat, primarily during the evening. I try to make myself walk at least a mile when I am tempted, and most times, I end up walking even more unless the weather is bad. My interests are cooking, baking, reading, knitting, and other sedentary activities, so a walk works best for me because it gets me out of the house and away from food. I've been seriously thinking about trying to replace my desire to bake and cook with sewing but don't know if I would have the patience for it. And I wish I could paint or do an artsy-type hobby, but I lack artistic talent.

Welcome to the group! Ask any questions you have---people here are great about sharing their experiences.

Best wishes to you! You are wise to take charge of your life right now.

Glad you're back, Deb! Soon it will be your turn for surgery, and the next time you go to an amusement park, "fitting" on a ride won't be a concern!

I wish I was with you all at the post-op stage, but it's great to read about how well you are doing! You have much to celebrate! Thanks for sharing your stories.

I am at the pre-op stage, so I can't offer any personal experiences with the band. However, I have been researching weight loss surgery for almost three years, primarily because of my insurance requirements. For me, I've determined the band is by far the best tool out there to help me manage my weight, and that the complications associated with it are significantly less risky than my obesity is. My surgeon believes the band will work for me (he performs other types of weight loss surgeries as well), and although I do completely trust him, I still question almost every single day whether I am doing the right thing. I have accepted that I will likely have doubts until the anesthetic takes effect on my surgery day, but I have reached the point now where I just want to get it done and behind me; I am hopeful that this procedure will truly be life-altering and that I will finally be able to maintain a healthy weight instead of repeatedly yo-yoing up and down.