HelenC

The preop diet is to get some fat off your stomach and liver, because they have to lift the liver to get to the stomach to put the band on. It helps prevent any injuries to your liver. I encourage you to stay as close to your doctor's instructions at all times as you can. The preop diet is one of the worst aspects of being banded, but you can (and will) survive it

Um....a...er...friend tried at a couple of days after surgery, but ya know..it just didn't seem to be effective. About a week was right.

About 5pm last night, I really screwed up. I had ordered stromboli for my hubby and daughter, and I just wanted one bite. I chewed it up well and swallowed, and about 10 minutes later, my world fell apart. I started gagging, vomiting, foaming, and having the most excrutiating pain, and it was non-stop for hours. I finally got to a place where I could doze off, and then about 15 minutes later, it started again. I was finally able to get my pain meds down which forced me to sleep for several hours. I woke up a few minutes ago, and if I even take the smallest sip of Water, the pain starts all over again. I am dying of thirst, and oh so regretful that I did this! The pain feels like it could be severe gas, but a Gas-X strip didn't take it away. It's also hurting in my back a bit. What have I done to myself? Do I need to call my doctor, or will this pass? Surely I can't be the only idiot who has done this!

Some of you may remember my first fill misery post the other day, where they put in 1.2cc, removed .3cc, and then removed it all. Since that happened, I have not PBd one time. I'm eating about 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup per meal, and yet I've lost 2.5 lbs. since Thursday. I don't feel as tight (obviously) as I did before the fill, and I'm not having the ravenous hunger I was having before either. The PA who did the fill told me that they did (despite my being told otherwise) give me a .5cc fill when they installed the band. She said it was necessary to do in order to install the band. Am I completely insane, or is it possible that the .5cc they initially put in was too much?

Angel hair pasta, cooked very well, and cut into little bitty pieces

Welcome Alexis! The pre-op diet (if you're given one) is probably the hardest part of the surgery process, but you'll make it through and it will become a distant memory, as the weight comes off Read through the threads here, and don't be afraid to ask questions. There are lots of "experts" on here, and even a couple of lapband surgeons who will answer your questions. You're on your way!

When I had the fill/unfill, they had scheduled me for April 18 for my next attempt, but told me I could come in at 2 wks if I needed to. I think I'll just see how the loss goes over the next couple of weeks, and evaluate it then. You may have a point, Kat, about the swelling, and I know I had some swelling after the fill/unfill, so maybe that's doing it. All I know is that it's sure nice not doing that PB thing all the time! In fact, I had spaghetti for dinner last night, and it was wonderful to eat it. I was careful to take small bites and chew really well, but I think I wouldn't have been able to tackle it before!

It's going to depend on your insurance, and your doctor's preference. I was in at 6:45 and home by noon...and I live an hour from the surgery center!

I had started my lapband process a year ago this month. My insurance company required the 6 months of physician supervised diet, so I had to do that first. Fortunately, my doctor just had me come in and weigh once a month, and the first two months, he had me bring in a food journal, which he told me just to make up. I actually gained 5 lbs during that 6 months...but the insurance company approved the surgery and even paid at 100%. It may feel like a step back if you have to do that, but just remember that the band is for the rest of your life, so 6 months is nothing.

I had bought a baby spoon and fork a few weeks ago, and tonight, used the fork for the first time - no PB! Other than the PB at the fill center, I haven't PBd ONCE today! As far as the cold Water, I just started doing that yesterday, so I'm thinking its not related.

Chrissy, I was told just today that you can sip Water while you eat, just don't drink any. A sip here and there more than likely will not wash your food through. That said, there are definitely two schools of thought about it. I'm glad I saw this thread. I have a thread around here somewhere, where these very issues prevented me from getting my first fill today. Now I don't feel so bad!!

On the other hand, I have a desk job (with some running around the office) and took 12 days (including weekends) off. I wish I could have taken 2 more, but I couldn't. It wasn't fun when I returned to work, but I survived it.

Thanks all, for the support. I'm trying not to stay too down, but it's hard. How frigging hard is it to look at a bit of food and say "no, this is too big"?? The good news though is that I did manage to keep my lunch (tuna salad) down with no problems, and have managed to drink a whole bottle of Water...which I suddenly prefer COLD, instead of the room temp I've drank it at for years. Weird! Tomorrow is another day though!

I had mine done at a surgical center...went in at 6:30, home by noon! Fortunately, DH stayed home with me that day.

Hi Morgan and welcome I'm sorry you don't have much support at home, but this is a good place to find it! I'm 51, and was 96 lbs overweight, so am a low BMIer like you. I can't make any promises, of course, but I've dropped 25 lbs since 2/1 and it sure is motivating! It's slowed down the past couple of weeks as I moved back into eating regular food, but I get my first fill on Thursday, so hopefully it'll kick in again! Are you already banded?

Hang in there Faith...it'll happen!

Every diet program I've ever used (and Lord knows, there were many) told me that under 1000 calories a day, your body moves into starvation mode and holds weight. We're still supposed to be eating 1000 calories a day, even though we're banded, so any less than that....your body is going to fight you! :eek:

Is that the Mercado on 20 near Matlock, Carlene?

I quit smoking from 11/1/06 to 12/25/06, fell off the wagon during the holidays when I was surrounded by smokers. I stressed very hard about this, because the rumor was, my doctor wouldn't operate if you were actively smoking. He asked me during pre-op and I confessed (it's not like a non-smoker can't smell it on you!), and he operated anyway. The infamous "they" say that not smoking promotes healing, but I don't think that my healing has been prolonged by my smoking. I still intend to quit again, in fact, my quit day is right around the corner, but I'm doing it for me, not for impending surgery.

At the top of the page, just above "Introductions", you'll see a spot that says User CP. Click that, then click Edit Signature, and paste it in there. Be sure to use the code for BBCode.

Hi Dina...I'm outside of Dallas If you get gas...walk walk walk! In fact, if you don't get gas, walk walk walk! Seriously, the walking is good for you and helps move that gas along. I was fortunate, and didn't get any at all. There's a ton of information on the site to help you along. Welcome!

Try upping your calories to about 1000-1200, heavy on Protein, and see if it doesn't wake up your metabolism I'll not lose for 3 or 4 days, do this, and drop 2 lbs overnight.

It took me a full 3 weeks to start feeling myself again. The swelling was gone, the port pain has chilled considerably (although just one wk ago, I was in another thread, asking if the pain was normal), and my energy level is almost 100% again. Hang in there! It does get better!

I know you all have got to be tired of these fill questions, but I'm just not sure. I was banded 2/14, and I'm still losing at a fairly good rate. I still have PBs from time to time, but I've discovered they're mostly my fault - eating too fast is probably the #1 cause, followed by not chewing well enough. I had one last night trying to eat an egg roll (insides, not the wrapper) and orange chicken. After I thought about it, I took much smaller bites, and chewed chewed chewed and everything was fine. For the most part, I'm still on mushies, but occasionally, as noted above, I do throw some real food, just trying to find out what I can and cannot eat. In the morning, I'm eating a full package of Instant oatmeal. I'm drinking full cans of Soup at Hand. I can eat a full package of chicken salad and stonewheat crackers with no trouble at all. I guess I'm eating about 1/2 cup of food at a sitting...every two hours. At that 2nd hour point, I'm simply ravenous and my stomach is growling loudly. I'm currently scheduled for my first fill on 3/15. Should I keep it, or postpone it? Is this kind of hunger every two hours normal? Edit: I forgot to mention that the other night, I was able to eat tortilla chips and guacamole with no difficulty at all. :cry

Woohoo!! Congrats!! We're staying side by side!! 24.5 as of this morning!