DeesDiary

Wow that is a strict pre-op. I am on day 5, south beach phase 1. Guess I am lucky........I would not make it with just liquids. The blender ball is shaker cup with a stainless steel open ball for blending shakes when your away from home or don't have a blender. It's great.

Judy That's one of the greatest thing about this forum "support" I have gained so much insight into pre-op post-op diets and the procedure itself. My surgery is this coming Friday and I feel well prepared because of the enormous information and support from here. D

Yesterday was weigh in for Day 1 of the Pre-op diet 235 Guess the week of "Final Meals" didn't hurt. Today is day two of SouthBeach Phase 1..I was so busy yesterday that all I had was my protien shake (slim fast low carb) and 1/2 cups of mixed nuts...which lasted me all day. Not really how I thought it would go...Chicken fajita meat and 2 cups of greenbeans was supper but not untill 9:30. Hope I do better today. The one thing I did notice was that I wasn't hungry throughout the day. I expected to be starving by noon. I guess it's a mindset, I know I have to stay on this diet until next Friday when my surgery is scheduled. I cannot imagine going in and having Dr. Fox say "NOPE, your liver is in the way, try again!!" I am getting nervous, and anxious. I'm a nurse so I know it is the right thing to do but I also know the risks of surgery and general anesthesia. I have never had a major surgery before so to do an elective procedure is hard for me. Moving forward to a better, healthier life D

caramelqueen slow and easy I think is the key. Congrats on your successful procedure. corianna WOW well done YOU, 42lbs in 7 weeks AMAZING. D

Congrats mykidz36 keep us posted on your recovery. I started my pre-op diet today, surgery is next Friday the 9th. I am all to excited and nervous.

I am getting more excited with each passing day. My pre-op starts tomorrow so I think Roadhouse is on the list for dinner!!! I stocked up on shakes and veggies, protien over the weekend so I had something to eat. I have been trying the different flavors (only because I have a friend who had bypass and is sending me samples) of the Gold Standard Whey......so far it's not bad. I don't have a time yet but that is the least of my conerns. Do you know what time your surgery throughthelookingglass? D

The 9th for me at Richardson as well. We should exchange emails or chat on yahoo or messenger.

My doc said the same thing NO carbonated drinks after banding. The carbonation actually expands the stomach and produces gas. I know some people say you can drink flat coke but YUK, it's the carbonation that we crave not the "coke" really. I will have the most problem with giving up my diet coke so I have started weaning myself off and when my stock of 2 liters is gone in the pantry I'm done. MAN I hope they last until the 8th LOL Tootles D

Sunflowerlover My surgeon requires Phase one of the South Beach diet as pre-op. I start mine Wednesday. Protein and veggies really. He feels only liquids has a higher incidence of non compliance............ummmmmmmmmm YA...I need to chew something. D

For the pre-op he has you on the South Beach Diet Phase 1. Basically no carbs, no sugar, no starches. Protein and Veggies really. I have to travel to Austin Thurs night and be in meetings all day friday........not looking forward to the pressure of staying with my diet while away in a hotel.

I am having my banding done on the 9th at True Results in Richardson.........are you using Dr. Fox? D

Congrats on 3yrs. How's it been long term? D

My sx is march 9th too my pre-op diet starts thus Wednesday, how about you? I will be on the South Beach Diet Phase 1. I am excited and nervous at the same time.

My surgery is on the 9th as well. I have a hiatal hernia and my doc is fixing it during my banding. So as far as anyone at work knows I am having hernia surgery. More-op diet begins on 2-29, South Beach phase one. We see the surgeon Tues. for the pre-op visit. I am so excited and nervous all at the same time! Being a nurse is not always an advantage! Keep in touch! Tootles D

The pre-op diets are to shrink the liver making the stomach easier to visualize. However, clear liquids for that long is difficult even for someone who is sick! I feel for you, I would be starving for a little something creamy for sure. While my surgery isn't until 3-9 my pre-op diet begins on the 29th. South Beach Phase One is my surgeons’ preference. I d/l the kindle version of the book The South Beach Diet Supercharged today, haven't looked at it but it is supposed to have some good recipes in it. You can do this, WE can do this. Keep your eye on the big picture........a healthier, happier YOU. D

XTA Keep me posted on your progress....funny, as a nurse I know my recovery will take time but as the director of a nursing program I know I need to be visible for the students. Afine line either way. D

The best thing about this site so far is the individualization of each post and the support from members. I applaud you DeeDeeGirl for your ability to identify the reason and to say "it's my fault" I am going into this with the mindset that the band is a "tool" not a fix for my weight problems. It has helped me so much to read posts about success and backslides. It just reinforces that I have to take responsibility for the process. My surgery is a little less than a month away but I have gotten so much information here and my surgeon encourages the use of this site. Keep up the good work, everyone here is behind you. D

What a week at work, lots of student issues to deal with and little time for actual work. I did speak with my patient advocate Debra, from the surgeon’s office for the first time on Tues (maybe Wednesday). She will follow me through the procedure. After making my pre-op appointment we had a 45 minute conversation. Wow, what an inspiration and a positive mind set. She has been banded for 12 years I think she said. She had so many positive suggestions and recommendations, protein drinks, ways to decrease my "soda" and still feel like I am getting the "fizz" and so much more. She also had a list of "dos and don'ts." I can't wait to meet her. Dr. Fox uses the South Beach diet phase 1 for his pre-op, according to Debra he feels a "liquid" only diet is too restrictive and has a greater chance for failure. A good thing for me, I need to "chew" at least something during the day. I am instructed to get a copy of the South Beach Diet Supercharged which according to Debra will be my "Bible", and a journal to help me keep track of why I am doing this. A picture of me now, for the first page and on the inside cover, my breaking point, what finally made me decide to take this step. She said when she gets discouraged or thinks she is being denied something, she opens hers and sees how she was compared to how she is. OH, I forgot to tell you, my surgery date has been moved back a week because the surgeon will be at an advanced training seminar. So pre-op appointment is Feb. 21st, pre-op diet starts the 29th and surgery is on March 9th. Surgery is on Friday and I originally thought I would go back to work Monday. While I lecture M-T all day I figured I could come up with in class activities and maybe come up with something creative to decrease my need to stand and move about the room. However; I am having my hiatal hernia repaired at the same time and Debra doubts I will be up to moving about and lecturing by Monday. So I will find someone to cover my classes for those two days and take a little longer to recover. W-F will be in my office doing administrative things and advising so it should be ok. Tootles D

Hello to all I hope to use this blog as a way to journal my way through the lapband experience not only to give insight to those considering it but for myself as a reminder of what was and what will be. As a RN I know full well the risks of being obese but it's much like the respiratory therapist who smokes, what we know and what we do sometimes conflict! I've been overweight for as long as I can remember. My mother says the Dr. had me on a diet at 2. My earliest memory of diet was as a sophomore in high school. I've tried slimfast, dexatrim, calorie counts, and weight watchers all without serious weight loss. At 54 I am at my heaviest weight ever, 235 I never imagined I would be this heavy, how does this happen, how could I let myself get this heavy? It's a lifetime of poor habits obviously and genetics play some role. I swear I have the metabolism of a slug. We (my fiance and I) went to a seminar on Jan. 28th and had done a lot of research before hand. The staff at the seminar were great and answered everyone's questions without hesitation. From the moment we met Dr. Fox I knew he was the surgeon I wanted. I scheduled my consult a few days before the seminar, I knew this was the surgery I wanted, needed, to help me lose the weight and be healthier. I had my blood work, pulmonary function test, and my EKG the Thursday following the seminar. Yesterday, Feb 6th I had an EGD to see if I had a Hiatal Hernia. My INS. has a total ban on any bariatric surgery but will pay for hernia repair. No surprise, I have one , should I be happy. The good thing is that while fixing the hernia I get the lapband. Even if I hadn't had the EGD, Dr. Fox would have fixed the hernia during banding. So now I save 5k because the INS. pays for the hernia. The only step left is to meet one on one with Dr. Fox for physical, and instructions on pre-op diet. He uses phase one of the South Beach diet preoperatively. My surgery is scheduled for March 2nd so I have a few weeks. The biggest thing I will have to give up is Diet Coke and carbs. I, like most overweight people am a carbaholic. I could eat pasta 7 nights week. I have tried to taper off the diet coke slowly but am not ready to say no more just yet. I have a few favorite foods I must eat before the pre-op diet begins simply because they will be off limits afterwards. As the surgery gets closer I get more excited about what's to come. One day at a time, one pound at a time is my new motto. D

My surgery is scheduled for March 2nd so I have a while before the pre-op diet begins. How is that going? Which diet does your Dr. have you on? I will be on phase 1 of the southbeach diet as my pre-op. D

Hello My name is Sandi but I go by D. I just joined LPT today. We attended a seminar last Saturday but had already done lots of research and were sure this was the right surgery. I had my pre-op screening, EKG, Pulmonary function test, and lab work this week. I am having an EGD on Monday to see if I have a Hiatal Herina, if so my insurance will pay for that surgery and my band will be half price. My insurance BCBS of OK, has an all out ban on any bariatric surgery Foolish really, as the long-term benefits are so positive. We attended a seminar last Saturday but had already done lots of research and were sure this was the right surgery. My surgery is scheduled for March 2nd and I am so excited. I look forward to sharing my progress and learning about others, good and bad. It is clear by reading the posts that there is no clear expectation of "typical" weight loss. That just reinforces the fact that this is a "process" not a "procedure"! My biggest issue will be giving up Diet Coke, breads, and pasta. D