HelenC

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!

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?

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!

Since I've been getting ravenously hungry every two hours, I was really looking forward to my first fill today. I went in and the fill nurse and I talked for quite awhile, and she was concerned with the number of times that I've PB'd and vomited in the past week. I explained to her that I'm starving when it's time to eat and that I keep having to fight the urge to eat quickly and with too large of a bite. She told me that she really didn't think I should have a fill yet, but she'd go ahead and give me one, if I promised to work on those issues. I promised, and she whipped out the hypodermic and gave me a 1.2cc fill. I went to take my drink of Water and it was quickly apparent that I was too tight. We went back to the room where she proceeded to poke me a second time, and removed .3cc. Back to the water fountain and this time when I took a drink, I felt like I was in huge trouble. The nurse gave me the option of having the fill removed, or going over to the surgery center and having an x-ray because she was beginning to feel like I had slipped, with all the PBs and vomiting. They got me into the xray room and gave me my barium, and said the band was fine - no slippage (hey, some good news), but the nurse once again came over with her handy dandy hypo and after poking me for the third time, took out the rest of my fill. She said that until I learn to get PBs and vomiting under control - no fills for me, but that I can try again in two weeks, if I have the issues under control. I am totally bummed. I could really use some encouraging words, because I'm feeling like such a failure today. :think

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!

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

*waves at Michele*

Yes, I make sure I eat my protein first.

Thanks Susan