UntamedR

Mine was scheduled pretty quickly as well. Im also in Heads Up. Isnt it great?!?! I did my preadmitting last Wednesday & met with her then. We are going tI have to sync our appointments @ Pennington & dr B! Lol. My follow up with dr b is 1/9.
Having to drive out there, work, & keep up w my busy kids cut down on time I had free. But I did a lot of reading so have lil spoons, protien powders, liquid Vitamins & small "sippy" cups. I did order the bariatric chewable vitamins ti take after the liquid ones run out. I ordered them monday & they should be here today.
My kids are 21, 19, and I have 15yr old twins. Only the twins live @ home. They've been pretty helpful but both play basketball and have intensive practice during holiday break. You have children or othrr family besides the hubby?

I'm near Lake Charles but doing my LB in Gonzales (leaving in 3 hours for the trip!).

And my gallbladder site wasnt utilized at all. My longest lb scar is about 4inches to the left of my gb scar. Bikini? Never owned one & dont care to. I like the one pieces with the cutesy skirts and that wont change if i am a Size 20 or size 2 . Just not my thing.

And my gallbladder site wasnt utilized at all. My longest lb scar is about 4inches to the left of my gb scar. Bikini? Never owned one & dont care to. I like the one pieces with the cutesy skirts and that wont change if i am a Size 20 or size 2 . Just not my thing.

Ohh ohh. Me. Me! Finally a question I have experience in! I had laparoscopic gall bladder removal in 2007. Prior to that I had several ovarian cyst removals from lap. Surgery, 2 were lap. One open. In 2009 I had a total hyst that was supposed to be lap and had to be performed Open due to excessive scar tissue from all my laparoscopic procedures so I was CERTAIN he would have to convert to open for my band. I woke up in recovery pleased to discover they were able to do it laparoscopicly. I do have six incisions but I guess he was looking around for room to work. Hmm That could be why I had so much risidual gas pain! So there is a possibility that yours will go smoothly. If they could do mine, there is hope for everyone. I get excessive scar tissue and my belly looks like I was in a war.

Feel free to add me on your mfp.
Username: msronnell

I congratulate you on your success, however I have to be honest I don't agree with everything you wrote. Being forced onto a "perpetually mushy/liquid diet" is a sign of the band being too tight and is dangerous. In fact, more people have the band removed from being too tight and it leading to a slip than people who have it removed by choice. Burning (reflux) is another sign the band is too tight and not something that should be ignored with just popping antacids.
The band isn't supposed to physically stop you from eating anything. It's supposed to keep you satiated on less food for longer periods of time. Likewise, if someone is eating until they are full, they are eating too much. It's not the band's job to stop us from eating anything, it's our job to make good decisions. Here is an excellent link to better explain it: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html
It's true we can't use food as a crutch, however to say people who don't opt to have their bands so tight they're only able to eat mushy foods and risk a slip couldn't be more incorrect. There are plenty of us, myself included, who have been very successful with the band while able to eat whatever we want- just smaller portions.
I've lost 175 pounds in less than a year. I still have bread, I even have a slice of pizza once in awhile. I realize it's my job to make good food choices not the band's job. I listen to my band and stop eating when I'm no longer hungry and I don't eat until I'm full. I never eat more than a cup of food per meal. I use the band the way it's meant to be used, as a tool, not a magic fix for fat.
Again, to each their own. It's your body and it's awesome you lost so much weight. But we don't have to have bands too tight and risk slips to lose weight. If we do our part the band will do it's part- without putting our health at risk.

Glad you got the results you wanted after all of your hard work. You deserve it!

Black Bean Soup
I am only on day 8 post op & tired of regular liquids so I whipped this up & actually forgot I just had a lap band sewn in cause it tastes so good! (You can control the stage by adding more Water, blending or not blending).
2 26 oz cans Black Beans
12 oz chicken or Vegetable stock
1/2 scoop of unflavored Protein Powder
1 medium onion - chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
1 medium bell pepper - chopped
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp Garlic powder
1 tbs lemon juice
Additional Garlic powder to taste
1/4 c Low fat mild cheddar cheese (optional to garnish)
Combine Chicken stock (or vegetable stock), onion, garlic, and bell pepper in large pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add 2 cans of beans (do not drain), salt, cumin, garlic powder and lemon juice.
Cook for additional 7 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Puree in blender, food processor or with hand held blender.
Add 1/2 scoop of Protein Powder and continue blending until completely dissolved.
Return mixture to pot. Add extra garlic powder to taste.
Top with 1/4c cheddar to garnish and enjoy. Portion into stage-sized meals & Freeze extras for future use.
(I used organic Chicken broth ,Bushs Black Beans and GNC unflavored whey protien powder)

sorry, i forgot to mention, My fitnesspal calculated this:
Per Serving: Cal 130 Protein 10 carbs 26 fat 1 sugar 7
I ate this for lunch & For dinner I went to get my4oz & my teenagers were arguing over who gets seconds. Its that good!

Ok. Just got banded 12/19/12. I like this thread & these folks, esp Cintucky since i grew up in cincy. Im now in Louisiana. I know what to eat. I eat it & other stuff. I like good food. I like preparing it, sharing it, eating it. I like how food tastes, smells,feels and makes me feel... etc. Im learning to treat it right. Enjoy it. Walk away. Enjoy it next time. Indulge responsibly. Walk away. Try it a different way next time. Enjoy it. & visit it again later... (i am still talking about food right? Lol)
I can live life with this band. Looking forward to the redt of my life with "bandie". liquids? Sure, no prob. Mushies? Sounds like reg food you chew correctly (or mama bird it with a machine).
Lets see, about me. I'm a divorcee (sorry fellas - not dating at the moment) (sorry ladies , i like fellas). i have a high stress 8-5, teenage twins, a foster cat, about to get some foster teens, havent Exercised seriously since 04. Hate swimming. Looking for a big punching bag to put in my livingroom..
I have a bunch of secret recipes of my own. Im a lady that knows what she wants & can find it (I have my ways). i can spell but if i type too fast & dont correct it -well forgive me now, cause i prob wont go back. So, i was intrigued by your initial post & kept reading. now I want in this group & here I am. & oh great guru I am sure I can tap into your expertise soon. But for now I'm enjoying checking out your corner of the web.

Sounds good! I am going to try this!

Ah yes that sounds good. Ive spent a little time in Honduras. I'll have to try to remember some of the flavors I've had there. Next time I will add carrots to it! I have a feeling next time will be very soon!

Black Bean Soup
I am only on day 8 post op & tired of regular liquids so I whipped this up & actually forgot I just had a lap band sewn in cause it tastes so good! (You can control the stage by adding more Water, blending or not blending).
2 26 oz cans Black Beans
12 oz chicken or Vegetable stock
1/2 scoop of unflavored Protein Powder
1 medium onion - chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
1 medium bell pepper - chopped
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp Garlic powder
1 tbs lemon juice
Additional Garlic powder to taste
1/4 c Low fat mild cheddar cheese (optional to garnish)
Combine Chicken stock (or vegetable stock), onion, garlic, and bell pepper in large pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add 2 cans of beans (do not drain), salt, cumin, garlic powder and lemon juice.
Cook for additional 7 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Puree in blender, food processor or with hand held blender.
Add 1/2 scoop of Protein Powder and continue blending until completely dissolved.
Return mixture to pot. Add extra garlic powder to taste.
Top with 1/4c cheddar to garnish and enjoy. Portion into stage-sized meals & Freeze extras for future use.
(I used organic Chicken broth ,Bushs Black Beans and GNC unflavored whey protien powder)

Black Bean Soup
I am only on day 8 post op & tired of regular liquids so I whipped this up & actually forgot I just had a lap band sewn in cause it tastes so good! (You can control the stage by adding more Water, blending or not blending).
2 26 oz cans Black Beans
12 oz chicken or Vegetable stock
1/2 scoop of unflavored Protein Powder
1 medium onion - chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
1 medium bell pepper - chopped
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp Garlic powder
1 tbs lemon juice
Additional Garlic powder to taste
1/4 c Low fat mild cheddar cheese (optional to garnish)
Combine Chicken stock (or vegetable stock), onion, garlic, and bell pepper in large pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add 2 cans of beans (do not drain), salt, cumin, garlic powder and lemon juice.
Cook for additional 7 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Puree in blender, food processor or with hand held blender.
Add 1/2 scoop of Protein Powder and continue blending until completely dissolved.
Return mixture to pot. Add extra garlic powder to taste.
Top with 1/4c cheddar to garnish and enjoy. Portion into stage-sized meals & Freeze extras for future use.
(I used organic Chicken broth ,Bushs Black Beans and GNC unflavored whey protien powder)

You go girl! I forgot about that - robes not closing. At the hospital, I could wrap that presurgical gown around me three-four times, that never happens! They had to go get me a smaller one, lol. I am so looking forward to ditching the ugly brown (men's) xxxl robe i used to use & replacing it with my favorite black silk ones. Oh, i can't wait! Its been so long! I have my old Kimonos etc boxed away. I am so lookimg forward to having a stone massage & dropping my robe & walking to the table with confidence. Its been soooo long since I had a professional massage. ahhhh. Thanks for sharing your NSV & reminding me of those memories.

sorry, i forgot to mention, My fitnesspal calculated this:
Per Serving: Cal 130 Protein 10 carbs 26 fat 1 sugar 7
I ate this for lunch & For dinner I went to get my4oz & my teenagers were arguing over who gets seconds. Its that good!

sorry, i forgot to mention, My fitnesspal calculated this:
Per Serving: Cal 130 Protein 10 carbs 26 fat 1 sugar 7
I ate this for lunch & For dinner I went to get my4oz & my teenagers were arguing over who gets seconds. Its that good!

Black Bean Soup
I am only on day 8 post op & tired of regular liquids so I whipped this up & actually forgot I just had a lap band sewn in cause it tastes so good! (You can control the stage by adding more Water, blending or not blending).
2 26 oz cans Black Beans
12 oz chicken or Vegetable stock
1/2 scoop of unflavored Protein Powder
1 medium onion - chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
1 medium bell pepper - chopped
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp Garlic powder
1 tbs lemon juice
Additional Garlic powder to taste
1/4 c Low fat mild cheddar cheese (optional to garnish)
Combine Chicken stock (or vegetable stock), onion, garlic, and bell pepper in large pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add 2 cans of beans (do not drain), salt, cumin, garlic powder and lemon juice.
Cook for additional 7 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Puree in blender, food processor or with hand held blender.
Add 1/2 scoop of Protein Powder and continue blending until completely dissolved.
Return mixture to pot. Add extra garlic powder to taste.
Top with 1/4c cheddar to garnish and enjoy. Portion into stage-sized meals & Freeze extras for future use.
(I used organic Chicken broth ,Bushs Black Beans and GNC unflavored whey protien powder)

I went to the spa today and for the first time (have not been in a year) the robe closed all the WAY. Also went to Macy's today and was able to buy a pair of jeans from there, size 22. I think I wore that at BIRTH! I love my BAND!!!

Had my surgery 12-12-12. Today I went to Mexican restraint and had tortilla Soup. OMG was so good. I ate 1/2 bowl with some chips and salsa. I brought the rest home to eat tomorrow. Won't b eating again till then. I got a very small bowl too. So happy to b banded because normally that tiny bit of food would have been a joke. So glad I don't pig out anymore. Get my first fill in jan. finally all gas pains gone. Today is 2 weeks post op and went to bathroom now 2x. It's a start!!!

It's the holidays.... No doubt if you are a banded person in the losing stage... You have survived holiday office, neighborhood and family parties over the past few weeks by making good decisions and forgoing the sweets and booze. Or maybe you are on liquids, newly banded and struggled through sipping your meals out of a straw.
Either way You have continued to lose during this time and you should be very proud of yourself. But we are down to the wire and the cooking for Christmas is beginning and all you can do is think about everything you can't have when really you should think about everything you can have.
If you are on liquids during this time... I can relate. I was banded on dec 9 two years ago and wasn't allowed mushies until January 1.... So I found other things to do while people ate on christmas day and while I was feeling pretty sorry for myself I made the most out of it and kept telling myself it would be worth it in the end. I remember I took all the children outside while the adults were going for round two!
If you are on solids... You can eat just like everyone else. You can have the same things everyone else does...just smaller portions of it. Spend your time looking up calorie counts and smile to yourself knowing your meal cost you 300 calories... Your uncles pile of food cost him 1500!!!
My point it...the holidays are a time to Celebrate friends and family...being together and sharing time with loved ones. You are on a journey to increase your time on this earth...dont waste it on fretting over what you cannot have. Focus on what you do have...and that is will power and momentum to have a better you around for many more holidays to come.

Hey all...I'm wrapping up my pre-op diet and will be banded on 12/31. I stumbled across this forum when I was doing my research - thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences so I've got some idea of what I'm in for after surgery.

Im feeling pretty good this morning. Yesterday I had over 34oz fluids and some yummy organic butternut squash Soup (w/added Protein powder) for dinner. Supposed to be ob creamed Soups but since im lactose intolerant I modified my soups. I felt like i walked a few miles through my house yesterday as I tried to keep mov ing to help with that left shoulder gas. OH & guess who had a "movement" yesterday. This chick did! From what ive read im sure it will be days before that happens again. Looking forward to a good day today. Im t ft ying really hard not to hop in the car &drive somewhere (anywhere). Dr.'s Booklet said drive after 1 week. His post op instructions said 24hrs if not using pain meds. Im gonna try to stick w/1 week even thouhh not on meds.

But you should call your surgeon and see what they want you to do. You wilk hear it over & over. That "each surgeon is different".