Ronnivee

It's tough and I am still struggling. But I kept reminding myself of why I came to the decision of a lap band in the first place. I try to remember how awful I felt AFTER I ate the food that wasnt good for me - how I'd end my evenings in carb-induced coma and so sluggish that I didn't want to do anything but sit around and sleep. How I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.
I made a list of all of the NSV's (non-scale victories I want to accomplish). Things I haven't been able to do in a long time - like get on an airplane without an extender belt, wear heels higher than 2 inches and going to six flags without stressing if I am going to fit on the rides or not.
I watched video after video on you tube - lap band success stories. I also researched recipes for healthier substitutes of the stuff I want to eat when I am cleared for regular food. I have recipes for a healthier option pizza, Mexican chicken, Chinese stir fry options, burgers - all of my favorite foods. I have been collecting recipes and will begin to make them them and modify them to suit my new lifestyle. I have healthy recipes for the next stage I will be on...
Journaling helps a whole lot too. It keeps your thoughts in order and provides a bit of a distraction.
Hang in there - this too shall pass. At least for a while lol...

Hello Everyone,
My name is Ronnivee and I am 43 years old. After several years of being on the fence about Lap-band surgery, I have finally done it! My surgery date was June 12th and went very well. I still have a bit of port pain (burning and pulling sensation around my port area when I transition positions), but according to my doctor this is normal and will subside in a few weeks.
Some of the things I learned and didn't expect:
1) Recovery time - I thought that since I only had to stay in the hospital 1 day, I would be fully recovered and life would resume to normal. I was very lucky, I didn't experience the horrible gas pains in the neck and shoulders that most people do. I had some discomfort in my stomach but it went away with mylanta gas and walking around. What bothered me most was the pain around my port area. It was not constant pain, but any transition that I made there was an intense burning and pulling - like something was going to rip. I was assured by my doctor that it was the muscle healing around the port.
2) Energy level - I feel like I am in limbo. Before surgery, my eating habits were HORRIBLE and usually ended up with me on the couch in a carb induced coma. Currently, I am still on low/no carb liquids which has certainly been a challenge itself. My brain is fully awake and ready to go, but my body is still recovering from surgery and I am tired. This is a very strange feeling for me.
3) Getting Hungry - pre-surgery, I was constantly eating. I never allowed my stomach to be hungry. Stuffing myself constantly was an everyday thing for me - so feeling hunger pangs is very odd. I'm learning to listen to my body and training myself to eat because I need to and not because I want to...
4) Buyers Remorse - around day 4 and 5 I didn't expect to feel so sorry for myself - sorry that I couldnt indulge in all the food that my family was eating. I got depressed that I couldn't just pick up the phone and order my normal take-out and binge myself into yet another carb-coma. I cursed myself for making this decision, thought about ways I could get this removed (only for 2 seconds) and thought to myself "Damn, what the heck did I do." a lot of self-talk, watching inspirational you-tube videos and journaling really helped me on these days. As they say, This too shall pass - and it did - at least for now...
Sorry I was so long winded, but I hope this helps those who were banded after me or those who are considering becoming banded. 2 weeks out and I would do it again... Especially since I am down 16lbs since surgery

Hello Everyone,
My name is Ronnivee and I am 43 years old. After several years of being on the fence about Lap-band surgery, I have finally done it! My surgery date was June 12th and went very well. I still have a bit of port pain (burning and pulling sensation around my port area when I transition positions), but according to my doctor this is normal and will subside in a few weeks.
Some of the things I learned and didn't expect:
1) Recovery time - I thought that since I only had to stay in the hospital 1 day, I would be fully recovered and life would resume to normal. I was very lucky, I didn't experience the horrible gas pains in the neck and shoulders that most people do. I had some discomfort in my stomach but it went away with mylanta gas and walking around. What bothered me most was the pain around my port area. It was not constant pain, but any transition that I made there was an intense burning and pulling - like something was going to rip. I was assured by my doctor that it was the muscle healing around the port.
2) Energy level - I feel like I am in limbo. Before surgery, my eating habits were HORRIBLE and usually ended up with me on the couch in a carb induced coma. Currently, I am still on low/no carb liquids which has certainly been a challenge itself. My brain is fully awake and ready to go, but my body is still recovering from surgery and I am tired. This is a very strange feeling for me.
3) Getting Hungry - pre-surgery, I was constantly eating. I never allowed my stomach to be hungry. Stuffing myself constantly was an everyday thing for me - so feeling hunger pangs is very odd. I'm learning to listen to my body and training myself to eat because I need to and not because I want to...
4) Buyers Remorse - around day 4 and 5 I didn't expect to feel so sorry for myself - sorry that I couldnt indulge in all the food that my family was eating. I got depressed that I couldn't just pick up the phone and order my normal take-out and binge myself into yet another carb-coma. I cursed myself for making this decision, thought about ways I could get this removed (only for 2 seconds) and thought to myself "Damn, what the heck did I do." a lot of self-talk, watching inspirational you-tube videos and journaling really helped me on these days. As they say, This too shall pass - and it did - at least for now...
Sorry I was so long winded, but I hope this helps those who were banded after me or those who are considering becoming banded. 2 weeks out and I would do it again... Especially since I am down 16lbs since surgery

Hello Everyone,
My name is Ronnivee and I am 43 years old. After several years of being on the fence about Lap-band surgery, I have finally done it! My surgery date was June 12th and went very well. I still have a bit of port pain (burning and pulling sensation around my port area when I transition positions), but according to my doctor this is normal and will subside in a few weeks.
Some of the things I learned and didn't expect:
1) Recovery time - I thought that since I only had to stay in the hospital 1 day, I would be fully recovered and life would resume to normal. I was very lucky, I didn't experience the horrible gas pains in the neck and shoulders that most people do. I had some discomfort in my stomach but it went away with mylanta gas and walking around. What bothered me most was the pain around my port area. It was not constant pain, but any transition that I made there was an intense burning and pulling - like something was going to rip. I was assured by my doctor that it was the muscle healing around the port.
2) Energy level - I feel like I am in limbo. Before surgery, my eating habits were HORRIBLE and usually ended up with me on the couch in a carb induced coma. Currently, I am still on low/no carb liquids which has certainly been a challenge itself. My brain is fully awake and ready to go, but my body is still recovering from surgery and I am tired. This is a very strange feeling for me.
3) Getting Hungry - pre-surgery, I was constantly eating. I never allowed my stomach to be hungry. Stuffing myself constantly was an everyday thing for me - so feeling hunger pangs is very odd. I'm learning to listen to my body and training myself to eat because I need to and not because I want to...
4) Buyers Remorse - around day 4 and 5 I didn't expect to feel so sorry for myself - sorry that I couldnt indulge in all the food that my family was eating. I got depressed that I couldn't just pick up the phone and order my normal take-out and binge myself into yet another carb-coma. I cursed myself for making this decision, thought about ways I could get this removed (only for 2 seconds) and thought to myself "Damn, what the heck did I do." a lot of self-talk, watching inspirational you-tube videos and journaling really helped me on these days. As they say, This too shall pass - and it did - at least for now...
Sorry I was so long winded, but I hope this helps those who were banded after me or those who are considering becoming banded. 2 weeks out and I would do it again... Especially since I am down 16lbs since surgery

Ronnie -
I too thought the surgery was a going to be a slam dunk. I was surprised by incision site pain because I expected i'd be up and at 'em right away. I didn't tell anyone about my surgery, even my kids, so I was able to hide my discomfort.
No gas pains either but my jaw killed because of way my head was tilted for intubation - I have small airway.
I got banded on 6/14/2012 so I think we'll be seeing alot of each other on the boards.

It's tough and I am still struggling. But I kept reminding myself of why I came to the decision of a lap band in the first place. I try to remember how awful I felt AFTER I ate the food that wasnt good for me - how I'd end my evenings in carb-induced coma and so sluggish that I didn't want to do anything but sit around and sleep. How I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.
I made a list of all of the NSV's (non-scale victories I want to accomplish). Things I haven't been able to do in a long time - like get on an airplane without an extender belt, wear heels higher than 2 inches and going to six flags without stressing if I am going to fit on the rides or not.
I watched video after video on you tube - lap band success stories. I also researched recipes for healthier substitutes of the stuff I want to eat when I am cleared for regular food. I have recipes for a healthier option pizza, Mexican chicken, Chinese stir fry options, burgers - all of my favorite foods. I have been collecting recipes and will begin to make them them and modify them to suit my new lifestyle. I have healthy recipes for the next stage I will be on...
Journaling helps a whole lot too. It keeps your thoughts in order and provides a bit of a distraction.
Hang in there - this too shall pass. At least for a while lol...

why the scale plays mind tricks. our bodies change weight constantly and hard to make an accurate reading. drink a 20 oz soda and you gain. pee it out and you most likely lost. i went through that scale habit for alot of years. if i gained, my day was shot. if i lost, it was party time.
you are doing fabulous. just because the scale says you gained, did you? go by your clothes fitting looser and you feeling better.
YOU GOT this GF....only weigh once a week at same time. say sun morning at 9......

Hello Everyone,
My name is Ronnivee and I am 43 years old. After several years of being on the fence about Lap-band surgery, I have finally done it! My surgery date was June 12th and went very well. I still have a bit of port pain (burning and pulling sensation around my port area when I transition positions), but according to my doctor this is normal and will subside in a few weeks.
Some of the things I learned and didn't expect:
1) Recovery time - I thought that since I only had to stay in the hospital 1 day, I would be fully recovered and life would resume to normal. I was very lucky, I didn't experience the horrible gas pains in the neck and shoulders that most people do. I had some discomfort in my stomach but it went away with mylanta gas and walking around. What bothered me most was the pain around my port area. It was not constant pain, but any transition that I made there was an intense burning and pulling - like something was going to rip. I was assured by my doctor that it was the muscle healing around the port.
2) Energy level - I feel like I am in limbo. Before surgery, my eating habits were HORRIBLE and usually ended up with me on the couch in a carb induced coma. Currently, I am still on low/no carb liquids which has certainly been a challenge itself. My brain is fully awake and ready to go, but my body is still recovering from surgery and I am tired. This is a very strange feeling for me.
3) Getting Hungry - pre-surgery, I was constantly eating. I never allowed my stomach to be hungry. Stuffing myself constantly was an everyday thing for me - so feeling hunger pangs is very odd. I'm learning to listen to my body and training myself to eat because I need to and not because I want to...
4) Buyers Remorse - around day 4 and 5 I didn't expect to feel so sorry for myself - sorry that I couldnt indulge in all the food that my family was eating. I got depressed that I couldn't just pick up the phone and order my normal take-out and binge myself into yet another carb-coma. I cursed myself for making this decision, thought about ways I could get this removed (only for 2 seconds) and thought to myself "Damn, what the heck did I do." a lot of self-talk, watching inspirational you-tube videos and journaling really helped me on these days. As they say, This too shall pass - and it did - at least for now...
Sorry I was so long winded, but I hope this helps those who were banded after me or those who are considering becoming banded. 2 weeks out and I would do it again... Especially since I am down 16lbs since surgery

Hello Everyone,
My name is Ronnivee and I am 43 years old. After several years of being on the fence about Lap-band surgery, I have finally done it! My surgery date was June 12th and went very well. I still have a bit of port pain (burning and pulling sensation around my port area when I transition positions), but according to my doctor this is normal and will subside in a few weeks.
Some of the things I learned and didn't expect:
1) Recovery time - I thought that since I only had to stay in the hospital 1 day, I would be fully recovered and life would resume to normal. I was very lucky, I didn't experience the horrible gas pains in the neck and shoulders that most people do. I had some discomfort in my stomach but it went away with mylanta gas and walking around. What bothered me most was the pain around my port area. It was not constant pain, but any transition that I made there was an intense burning and pulling - like something was going to rip. I was assured by my doctor that it was the muscle healing around the port.
2) Energy level - I feel like I am in limbo. Before surgery, my eating habits were HORRIBLE and usually ended up with me on the couch in a carb induced coma. Currently, I am still on low/no carb liquids which has certainly been a challenge itself. My brain is fully awake and ready to go, but my body is still recovering from surgery and I am tired. This is a very strange feeling for me.
3) Getting Hungry - pre-surgery, I was constantly eating. I never allowed my stomach to be hungry. Stuffing myself constantly was an everyday thing for me - so feeling hunger pangs is very odd. I'm learning to listen to my body and training myself to eat because I need to and not because I want to...
4) Buyers Remorse - around day 4 and 5 I didn't expect to feel so sorry for myself - sorry that I couldnt indulge in all the food that my family was eating. I got depressed that I couldn't just pick up the phone and order my normal take-out and binge myself into yet another carb-coma. I cursed myself for making this decision, thought about ways I could get this removed (only for 2 seconds) and thought to myself "Damn, what the heck did I do." a lot of self-talk, watching inspirational you-tube videos and journaling really helped me on these days. As they say, This too shall pass - and it did - at least for now...
Sorry I was so long winded, but I hope this helps those who were banded after me or those who are considering becoming banded. 2 weeks out and I would do it again... Especially since I am down 16lbs since surgery

Thank you for your honesty. I feel encouraged that I can do this !! I think for me changing those food overload episodes will be the hardest also. Yoiu sound a lot like me, and if you can do it so can I. Keep us posted on your progress.

Hey everyone my surgery went well today it was at 8 am this morning it's taking a while for the anistisia to ware off but so far the pain killers are working. Can't drink anything untill tomorrow so I'm about to have a very interesting night ... Good luck everyone who had surgery today

...I am a woman of wealth and taste. Ok, not really.
However, I have been overweight for a long, long time. I am also not necessarily a Rolling Stones fan, but I do like that song.
Ah, so now that we have that out of the way, here is my intro:
I am married. I have 2 incredibly awesome (and freaking hilarious) kids (3 and 4 years old). I work full-time - sitting on my butt at a desk. I like to read. I like internet forums. I like to spend time with my friends and family. I am an extrovert - more so when I am consuming copious amounts of wine. I also like beer, but tend to avoid that because it makes me feel fatter than I already am. I love to cook and tend to cook healthy stuff. I love love love to entertain and have parties.
I am fat. My husband lies and says I am not, but we all know he is lying. It isn't that I don't know how to eat right or that I don't like to work out, I do both of those things. But...I don't do them enough or consistently.
I have battled the scale for too many years. Too many. I was in the 230s in high school. I was in the 140s/150s in college (at least for a couple of years). Then I was in the 180s. Then it was the 200s. Then the 230s. Then I got engaged and did crazy diets and got back to the 170s. I got married, I had lots of miscarriages and shot into the 250s. I had 2 kids and hovered. Then I weighed 270 at my doctor's office. It freaked me out a lot. I got denied for WLS a few times. Then I got really pissed off and started doing the right things. I lost about 30 pounds, but then the scale just freaking stalled.
Cue the phone ringing and my place asking if they could resubmit me. I said ok, but I will just get denied again. A few weeks later the phone rang again and I was notified that I was approved.
SOOOO...here I sit. I am approved. I meet with my doc in 13 days. I have surgery in 23 days (July 19)!!! I am so freaking excited.
I also started a bloggity blog. I plan to write about my WLS adventure, my kids, the weather, whatever strikes me at the moment. I suck at blogging, but I am hoping I can stick with it this time.
If you have read this far, you are a saint.

wonderful post Ronnivee very helpful for those of us that are preaapring to get to where you are thank you and I am glad you are doing so well if you work outside the home would you tell me how many days you took off? I'm hoping to only use 5DYS? how did you feel by dys 5? Were you able to sit for a long period? I work at a desk job and the summer is the hardest time to take extended time off.

Thanks for posting! I look forward to watching your journey! 16lbs in 2 weeks is awesome!

Hello Everyone,
My name is Ronnivee and I am 43 years old. After several years of being on the fence about Lap-band surgery, I have finally done it! My surgery date was June 12th and went very well. I still have a bit of port pain (burning and pulling sensation around my port area when I transition positions), but according to my doctor this is normal and will subside in a few weeks.
Some of the things I learned and didn't expect:
1) Recovery time - I thought that since I only had to stay in the hospital 1 day, I would be fully recovered and life would resume to normal. I was very lucky, I didn't experience the horrible gas pains in the neck and shoulders that most people do. I had some discomfort in my stomach but it went away with mylanta gas and walking around. What bothered me most was the pain around my port area. It was not constant pain, but any transition that I made there was an intense burning and pulling - like something was going to rip. I was assured by my doctor that it was the muscle healing around the port.
2) Energy level - I feel like I am in limbo. Before surgery, my eating habits were HORRIBLE and usually ended up with me on the couch in a carb induced coma. Currently, I am still on low/no carb liquids which has certainly been a challenge itself. My brain is fully awake and ready to go, but my body is still recovering from surgery and I am tired. This is a very strange feeling for me.
3) Getting Hungry - pre-surgery, I was constantly eating. I never allowed my stomach to be hungry. Stuffing myself constantly was an everyday thing for me - so feeling hunger pangs is very odd. I'm learning to listen to my body and training myself to eat because I need to and not because I want to...
4) Buyers Remorse - around day 4 and 5 I didn't expect to feel so sorry for myself - sorry that I couldnt indulge in all the food that my family was eating. I got depressed that I couldn't just pick up the phone and order my normal take-out and binge myself into yet another carb-coma. I cursed myself for making this decision, thought about ways I could get this removed (only for 2 seconds) and thought to myself "Damn, what the heck did I do." a lot of self-talk, watching inspirational you-tube videos and journaling really helped me on these days. As they say, This too shall pass - and it did - at least for now...
Sorry I was so long winded, but I hope this helps those who were banded after me or those who are considering becoming banded. 2 weeks out and I would do it again... Especially since I am down 16lbs since surgery

I was Banded on June 16th and I had the same reservations/fears that you do.
1) regrets once you have the band in - I am sure you will have your days of regrets. Mine were days 4 and 5 post op. I thought to myself, what did I do. Lots of self-talk, journaling, reminding myself what brought me to this decision and reading others stories helped this feeling pass.
2) initial pain - I was fortunate enough to not have severe gas pain. But I did have pain/burning at my port site. Pain was managed through I'V medications at the hospital and liquid meds at home. By day 4 I didn't anything at all.
3) what if I fail - I think everyone feels this at one point in time. I think the beauty of the band is that it has it's own "restart" button. If at anytime you feel like you are "failing" you can go in for a fill. This allows you to examine your choices, figure out why you are gaining/not losing and modify your game plan. Remember, the band is not a quick fix, it is a tool to help you lose weight. If you use the tool correctly, you can't fail...
I wish you much luck!

Hello Everyone,
My name is Ronnivee and I am 43 years old. After several years of being on the fence about Lap-band surgery, I have finally done it! My surgery date was June 12th and went very well. I still have a bit of port pain (burning and pulling sensation around my port area when I transition positions), but according to my doctor this is normal and will subside in a few weeks.
Some of the things I learned and didn't expect:
1) Recovery time - I thought that since I only had to stay in the hospital 1 day, I would be fully recovered and life would resume to normal. I was very lucky, I didn't experience the horrible gas pains in the neck and shoulders that most people do. I had some discomfort in my stomach but it went away with mylanta gas and walking around. What bothered me most was the pain around my port area. It was not constant pain, but any transition that I made there was an intense burning and pulling - like something was going to rip. I was assured by my doctor that it was the muscle healing around the port.
2) Energy level - I feel like I am in limbo. Before surgery, my eating habits were HORRIBLE and usually ended up with me on the couch in a carb induced coma. Currently, I am still on low/no carb liquids which has certainly been a challenge itself. My brain is fully awake and ready to go, but my body is still recovering from surgery and I am tired. This is a very strange feeling for me.
3) Getting Hungry - pre-surgery, I was constantly eating. I never allowed my stomach to be hungry. Stuffing myself constantly was an everyday thing for me - so feeling hunger pangs is very odd. I'm learning to listen to my body and training myself to eat because I need to and not because I want to...
4) Buyers Remorse - around day 4 and 5 I didn't expect to feel so sorry for myself - sorry that I couldnt indulge in all the food that my family was eating. I got depressed that I couldn't just pick up the phone and order my normal take-out and binge myself into yet another carb-coma. I cursed myself for making this decision, thought about ways I could get this removed (only for 2 seconds) and thought to myself "Damn, what the heck did I do." a lot of self-talk, watching inspirational you-tube videos and journaling really helped me on these days. As they say, This too shall pass - and it did - at least for now...
Sorry I was so long winded, but I hope this helps those who were banded after me or those who are considering becoming banded. 2 weeks out and I would do it again... Especially since I am down 16lbs since surgery

Hello Everyone,
My name is Ronnivee and I am 43 years old. After several years of being on the fence about Lap-band surgery, I have finally done it! My surgery date was June 12th and went very well. I still have a bit of port pain (burning and pulling sensation around my port area when I transition positions), but according to my doctor this is normal and will subside in a few weeks.
Some of the things I learned and didn't expect:
1) Recovery time - I thought that since I only had to stay in the hospital 1 day, I would be fully recovered and life would resume to normal. I was very lucky, I didn't experience the horrible gas pains in the neck and shoulders that most people do. I had some discomfort in my stomach but it went away with mylanta gas and walking around. What bothered me most was the pain around my port area. It was not constant pain, but any transition that I made there was an intense burning and pulling - like something was going to rip. I was assured by my doctor that it was the muscle healing around the port.
2) Energy level - I feel like I am in limbo. Before surgery, my eating habits were HORRIBLE and usually ended up with me on the couch in a carb induced coma. Currently, I am still on low/no carb liquids which has certainly been a challenge itself. My brain is fully awake and ready to go, but my body is still recovering from surgery and I am tired. This is a very strange feeling for me.
3) Getting Hungry - pre-surgery, I was constantly eating. I never allowed my stomach to be hungry. Stuffing myself constantly was an everyday thing for me - so feeling hunger pangs is very odd. I'm learning to listen to my body and training myself to eat because I need to and not because I want to...
4) Buyers Remorse - around day 4 and 5 I didn't expect to feel so sorry for myself - sorry that I couldnt indulge in all the food that my family was eating. I got depressed that I couldn't just pick up the phone and order my normal take-out and binge myself into yet another carb-coma. I cursed myself for making this decision, thought about ways I could get this removed (only for 2 seconds) and thought to myself "Damn, what the heck did I do." a lot of self-talk, watching inspirational you-tube videos and journaling really helped me on these days. As they say, This too shall pass - and it did - at least for now...
Sorry I was so long winded, but I hope this helps those who were banded after me or those who are considering becoming banded. 2 weeks out and I would do it again... Especially since I am down 16lbs since surgery

The liquid diet is a common feature of the bariatric surgery landscape, as widespread and despised as kudzu in the South. Since there’s no way around it, you might as well make the best of it by learning the reasons for it and trying the practical tips I’m going to give you.


WHY A liquid DIET?
Bariatric clinics use differing protocols for their patients’ pre-op and post-op diets. Why? When you finish explaining that, perhaps you could also explain the meaning of life? If you asked your surgeon or dietitian, the answer would probably go something like this: “We have adapted these procedures to suit the needs of the patients in our individual practice, based on our experience of what produces the best outcome and the fewest complications.” In the case of adjustable gastric band patients like us, you might expect the band manufacturers to dictate what are called “best practices” in patient education and care, but the fact is that if Allergan and Ethicon-Endo were to employ armies of band police to supervise every bariatric surgeon in the world, no one would be able to afford a gastric band.
However those clinics’ protocols may vary, the liquid diet is extremely common part of bariatric patients’ pre-op and post-op instructions. Contrary to popular belief, the liquid diet is not intended to torture the patient. The main purpose of a pre-op diet is to reduce the size and improve the texture of the liver (any weight loss is a plus). The liver is a big organ whose left lateral segment lies on top of the part of the stomach where the band is placed. The pre-op diet uses up the glycogen stored in the liver, shrinking it and making it sturdier, less slippery, and easier to maneuver with laparoscopic instruments. This not only makes the surgeon’s job easier and quicker, it also reduces the risk of complications for you. If your surgeon doesn’t require a pre-op diet of any type, I would have to conclude that he or she is mighty confident in their surgical abilities, but I would also want to ask them how often they have to abort a surgery or convert from a laparoscopic to an open incision technique because of problems handling the patient’s liver.
The purpose of the post-op diet is to keep you nourished while you and your upper GI tract recover from surgery. Although AGB surgery is usually minimally invasive (when done laparoscopically), it does require incisions and some internal dissection, as well as manipulation of your internal organs. All this can cause swelling. One day your stomach was fat, dumb and happy. Now it's got a collar around its neck. In order for it to digest food in any form, your stomach muscles must expand and contract to break the food down and move it along to your lower GI tract. Expecting your stomach to do that comfortably and safely while wearing its brand-new collar just isn’t wise.
So to allow everything to heal properly, and the band to seat itself against your stomach in the correct position, most surgeons require patients to follow a staged post-op diet, starting with liquids. What happens if you don’t follow your post-op recovery diet?
Food can get stuck in the stoma or esophagus and cause an obstruction and/or vomiting.
Vomiting can disturb the position of the band, which can cause the band to slip.
Peristalsis (the muscular action of moving food through the digestive system) can disturb the position of the band, and that can cause the band to slip.

So don't do it!
"But I already cheated!" you say? It's not the end of the world, but don't do it again!
"But I'm starving!" you say? That's too bad, but that isn't the end of the world, either. Not, it's not fun, but hunger is not a good excuse for cheating your health in such a major way. I'd guess that seven of ten bandsters starve their way through the liquid diet phase. If you absolutely cannot bear the liquid diet for another second, or you think you might be genuinely allergic to your Protein Shakes (which could be lactose intolerance rearing its ugly head), call your surgeon or nutritionist before you put something in your mouth that isn't on the approved list. And by the way, the same advice applies to following a liquid diet after each fill you get, so you might as well perfect your liquids survival technique now because you’re going to need it over and over again in the future.
SOME PRACTICAL TIPS FOR SURVIVING YOUR LIQUID DIET
Don't worry about how many calories you're consuming, but stay away from milkshakes, ice cream, frappes and fancy coffee drinks.< br> Drink Protein Drinks (protein will keep you going longer than sugary stuff like fruit juice).
If you don't like the smell or taste of Protein Powder, try putting the drink in the freezer long enough for it to get slushy, and/or put it in a covered beverage container. Sometimes it's the smell, not the taste, that's bothersome.
If you don't care for sweet tastes, try unflavored Protein powder (from various sources including Unjury®) or Unjury® chicken Soup flavor protein powder (www.unjury.com).
Add Unjury® chicken soup flavor protein powder to blended creamy Soups (follow the Unjury® heating instructions or it will clump up and refuse to dissolve).
Add fat free half-and-half or milk to prepared chicken bouillon or broth for a creamy drink.
Add unflavored or fruit-flavored protein powder when making sugar-free Gelatin. Check out the recipes at the Unjury website. Be aware that “unflavored” doesn’t mean the protein has no flavor, so the end product isn’t going to taste exactly like the original.
Buy your favorite soup from a local restaurant, strain out the solids, and drink the broth (Chinese hot and sour soup is wonderful this way).
Buy or make bean soups, puree and thin them with broth, Water, or milk. The pureed soup must be thin enough to pass through a drinking straw.
Add powdered non-fat milk to soups and shakes to boost the protein.
Crunch on sugar-free popsicles, slushies, Italian ice, or ice chips.< br> Don't hang around people who are eating real food.
Experiment with the temperature of your liquids - cold may feel or taste better than hot, or the other way around.
To prevent boredom, experiment with recipes for protein shakes (you'll find at least a million recipes online).
Keep busy! This is a good time to address holiday cards. Who cares if it’s the middle of June?

AND IN THE TMI DEPARTMENT…
A few final words about your liquid diet. Don’t panic if consuming liquids sends you running to the bathroom more often than you’d like. LIQUIDS IN = LIQUIDS OUT. If that happens to you, ask your doctor to suggest a safe, effective OTC anti-diarrheal medication.
And remember: This too shall pass. In more ways than one.

excellent post. thanks for sharing. i can so relate.