lisacaron

But this is how I feel about it!

Ok this would be mine

So my friend here was my schedule. When you are on the pre-op diet you don't need to just be on liquids. What I did was to make sure that I was having something all the time so I was never "hungry" for example: 7:00 AM coffee (or what ever time you start your day.) 8:00 AM Greek Yogurt (At the time for us Chobani had the highest Protein with lowest amount of sugar/fat/carbs check now that may have changed) 9:00 Water- Decaf Coffee or Tea 10:00 Protein shake 11:00 Water- Mio Sweet Tea is my favorite additive 12:00 Soup (Again at this time Healthy Choice had the lowest sodium and calorie count for us.) 1:00 Water 2:00 Jello/Sugar Free Fat Free pudding 3:00 Water 4:00 Protein Shake 5:00 Water 6:00 Soup/Small salad with little dressing 7:00 Water 8:00 Protein Shake Always having something will keep you full, if you feel your super hungry go for the vegies. A green salad won't hurt and most of the Soups are very filling try to have a couple of those through out the day. I loved the pistachio fat free sugar free pudding. They are only fat free and sugar free if you make them at home using Fat free milk in the store it's either or ready made. Before surgery you can eat so you don't have to worry about a thick hearty soup. After surgery when you are on liquids only...eventually Egg drop soup, and the creamy based soups with out chunks become your friend. If you like tomato soup that's great! (I'm no V8 tomato kinda gal so that didn't work for me.) The BEST mushy food I had after surgery was Wendy's chilli thrown in the single serving blender and it was HEAVEN!!!

You look great! Check out those gams!

Hmm...interesting that is the first time I am hearing about "self" stitching when it comes to the port. Mine was stitched by my surgeon and it hasn't moved though there are times when I bump it into things like my desk..ouch. It also can be in the way a bit with the seat belt. I'm short and have basically no torso but it has not moved much though what TMF said makes lots of sense. I have had one time when they had an issue getting the needle in the right spot, though not because the port moved but because of what I chalk up to bad aim

Definitely starting out one thing at a time makes it smoother. The hubby and I did that to "train" ourselves for the pre-op diet we though that would be the worst thing ever. It wasn't we were ready when the time came for us to do it because we prepared and started slowly and early. What I find helps me because I still want those sweets and salty...is that I try to substitute for them when I can. Sometimes that just doesn't' work but most times it does. I'll have a Protein bar when I'm craving some chocolate or chewy something, when the salty craving comes along I try to grab some salted pistachio nuts or something along that line so I steer clear of the potato chips

Very good question to ask! I think about that often, and I wonder what it was that flipped that switch in my mind and in my body to the on position? I wasn't a big kid, in fact I was a bony kid. I wasn't a heavy teen in fact I was healthy and fit. For me it was having kids that changed my body composition and nothing has changed since. The only thing I do know is that it was me who ate the food, and me who will change that. I have used food to self medicate. When you're young that's all you have, it's what you can "control" to some extent. From the stories I have been told from all my family, food has always been an issue for me. From the very young days of bottles, thru the toddler days I was force fed. They would sit me down and squeeze my cheeks for me to suck from the bottle. When I got older and wouldn't eat they would pinch my nose so I would open my mouth so they could shovel food in. As I was older still there would be hour long battles in the high chair I'm told to get me to finish a meal. Finally when I was three years old my mother gave birth to my brother, and I was left with my Aunt. Who told me I will NOT be feeding you. You will pick up the food and eat or you will be hungry. She had 2 older daughters, and not to be made fun of by them, for being a baby who had to be "fed" after a few minutes of not eating I picked up my fork and started eating my dinner. When I had enough and I was done no one forced me to eat more or finish my plate. My aunt took it away and that was that. We did that every day while I stayed with her until my mother and brother came home. My issues with food and control are very deeply rooted...and I'm trying to work them out now 43 years later.

Definitely let us know how that works for you! It might just motivate me to up my water in take. Some days I am really fighting with myself just to drink during the day. I am so busy sometimes that while I think it's crazy what that one person wrote about the Gov't and the bathrooms ...I really don't have time to take that break so I think I unconsciously just don't drink the water much when I'm at work. You know cause of course I am the one in the back of the conference room that has to get up and push out of the meeting cause I don't hold that water very well either

@@lifeguardmgr This is a big surgery. Major surgery in fact and everyone is different, give yourself some TLC and try not to stress about it your doing everything right. Use the heating pad under your back and put some ice on the port site when your resting. Try not to do too much and soon enough you will be tooting out some relief!

@@melanndoll have you ever had an issue with PCOS in the past? Not band related I was having horrible pain in my lower abdomen and no one could figure out why. It turned out to be an Uterine issue for me. If you don't hear anything back from the Dr. give your OB/GYN a call and check in on that side of things. I know being banded we always think about that first, and that's not a bad thing. Sometimes it turns out it's not related to the band though so don't give up till you find out why you have this pain. Keep us up to date on how your feeling!!

Ginger snaps is on track here. It's all about your insurance coverage and even people with the same insurance providers can have different levels of coverage and requirements to be met for surgery. Give your insurance company a call and you can ask them what their requirements are then you will know what you need to be approved. Best of luck to you and congrats on making your WLS choice.

I love the word "done" I use it for so many things including when I am done with eating a certain amount of food. When I am done I am done, and there is no room for wiggle. It's not a packed full feeling or even sometimes like you said that satisfied feeling, though in a way I suppose it's both of those things. When it's done, you just have had enough of it in a healthy way and you can move forward. Love it! Done!

As a fellow Crohn's sufferer I can tell you that the band really has helped me by slowing down my digestion through the band and since being banded I have not had a flare. There are a few things I will say, and that is the band is NOT going to stop you from eating sweets or crisps. It will help you to not "crave" them as much and perhaps help you to eat less of them but you really need to work on that before being banded. I gave up soda and certain foods prior to my surgery and I have not gone back since. Once you are on the path you will meet with a nutritionist and they can be a big help to figure out what is best for you to eat for optimal nutrition and to avoid flare ups. Also meeting with the psychologist will help with any issues you might have when it comes to emotional eating but as they say..the band does not go around your head, so your going to have to work on changing your mind set to make the band work for you. It's not an easy path, but no WLS surgery is, they all require commitment dedication and work to achieve your ultimate goals. Stopping by this site often with questions and comments is a big help as you get support from those who are going through similar experiences.

@@kaylz12 Lots of good questions and you got lots of great feedback. Please share the details of what type of WLS you are looking into as information can and does vary depending on the type of surgery your contemplating. There are a great many people here from all sides of the WLS journey and you are sure to get lots of feedback and great support as well.

Congrats! Check in when you can and let us know how your doing!! Remember to walk walk walk

I always try to pay attention to the sugar content for my hubby who is diabetic. With the lapband there really isn't a restriction on the sugar content otherwise. If you have a bypass or sleeve do you have a sugar restriction or amount per serving that you should stick to?

This was a good article to read. It's sad that this topic seemed to get poisoned. The intent of the question is very relevant and I'm sure there are many of us who have had WLS who find it difficult to get that water in. I know for me it's not because I can't it's because I just don't want to...I'm ashamed to say. I don't know why it is but I seem to never be thirsty, it's only been recently that I actually have had a feeling of thirst and seek out the water which I always flavor because I just don't want to drink plain water. Anyone else ever feel that way.? I know that when I am drinking enough water I do feel better, and I can tell that my system is working much better. When I'm not drinking enough I do feel sluggish and a bit "bound" up more so then when I am getting the water in. I try to drink what I feel I need not so much the amount anyone tells me to drink though and it varies daily.... How about you?

All you need is to want to get together. You can be as organized as you want to be or you can be as casual as you like. I met gowalking on this site when I joined after having my surgery she lives in NYC and I live about 50 miles away out on Long Island, but we made it work! We got together and we enjoyed each others company, we found that a larger group would need a little more structure then it does to have just a handful of people. We were lucky enough to be able to meet with Alex and help bring the idea to the masses of BP. For me being a part of these groups is a given. It's something that I believe is a necessity for success after WLS and there is no question about it for me. I am also an active advocate for research and treatment of obesity. It's not for lack of something to do in my personal or professional life, it's because it is something that touches my life in every aspect of my being. Being overweight impacts more then the chairs I sit in. It impacts me as a person and every person I interact with, so it is a breath of fresh air to meet with others who have walked down the same path and who can relate to each other. It is in sharing our stories and experiences that helps us to better understand ourselves and those around us and find the strength and courage that we need to make changes in our lives and the path we walk. So go for it, set up your meeting and greet and if you have one friend that comes to the meeting, you have your group started! The next month reach out again and maybe that friend will bring a friend and before you know it your in a prell commercial! (Only kidding) Sometimes all it takes is for someone to open the door, and throw out the welcome mat.

@@Ga Gurl pain is not something you should be experiencing this far out of surgery I would give your doctor a call if you are in any kind of pain. I would ask if you could describe the pain you are having? Is it sharp acute pain, a nagging sense of ache, Is it from the port area? or is it internal like maybe gas/constipation discomfort type of feeling? You said your struggling with your eating, have you been eating large portions and perhaps overeating eating too fast or too large of a bite and not giving food a chance to pass by the band? Either way it is always best to give your doctor a call and have them access what's going on with you rather then trying to guess at it. Let us know how your doing!!

So for me getting a full feels like getting a tune up. They feel for the port to be sure they have the right spot. It is usually under the largest incision. Then they clean the area, insert the odd looking needle apparatus into the port. There is a little pinch no more then giving blood would pinch. I don't get any numbing cream or any of that though some docs will put that if you request it. When the needle is in the port you can feel a little pressure. My doctor will draw some fluid up into the syringe to ensure it is in the port properly and then they will push that bit and more back in. After you will sit up and drink some water. With no issue your all done. Liquid diet for a few days then mushy-soft and back to regular food. It can take up to 2 weeks or more for the fill to settle in around the band so don't worry if you don't "feel" anything right away. Give it time follow the rules your doc gives you and that's a fill

Hi Lorac stay tuned we will have all out info posted by this weekend!! Looking forward to meeting you all soon. Hope everyone had a pleasant holiday week/weekend. The weather was brilliant my sinus is crying foul but I just take that allergy pill and tell it to pipe down and enjoy the sunshine!!!! I hope you all did as well.

@@verna2197 Hi Verna, Bandista is right it can take up to two weeks for a fill to fully settle into the band. I don't know the mechanics of why this is, but I can tell you from personal experience that it is true. After a few weeks you may start to feel a difference and you may not, if not then you need an additional fill when you see the Dr. again in the next month. My Dr. was conservative with the fills waiing month to month and accessing how we were doing. Sometimes I needed a fill and my hubby didn't and vs. verse. Everyone is different so take it slow and see how you do. We all want it to happen quickly and over night but you'll get there and you'll be glad you did it slowly so you know how you feel in each stage and where your true "green" zone is.

@@Laura70 I agree with all the advice you received above. Bandista could be right and there may be a bit of Fluid in your band from surgery. The doctor might remove that if there is to help you feel better and get your fluids in. You must must keep hydrated. If you can't drink try some frozen ice pops they help with the swelling inside and keep you hydrated as well. Try to get in to see your surgeon ASAP feeling as bad as you do 4 weeks out of surgery, and vomiting is not normal and can harm your band. If you were 4 days post op I would better understand your symptoms and even then I would still strongly suggest a call and/or visit to the surgeon's office for some anti nausea meds. Check back here and let us know how your doing once you have spoken and/or seen your doctor.

@@katesuccess I'm sorry, I had to chime in here with my 2 cents after reading both your posts. You are who you are, big or small should not matter, the point is that it matters to you but it is not the reason or an excuse for your husband to make you feel unloved and worse unappreciated. What I took away from what you wrote is that you do an awful lot in this relationship and you do not get a return on your investment in a way that makes you feel worthy and validated. This is both your fault and your husbands fault. It is his fault for taking you for-granted and your fault for allowing him to take you for-granted because you feel badly about yourself and feel unworthy. We teach people how to treat us, and if you are not loving yourself and appreciating yourself then you are showing your husband and everyone else around you that you don't require love and appreciation, and that you will do all you do anyway. So they take advantage because you basically have a sign up that says please make me feel badly I only feel worthy when you make me feel worthless. Kate, you are beautiful and you deserve to be happy and treated like the amazing person that you are. 30 years is nothing to sneeze at, and your hubby should have at least gotten you a card and made you feel special on that day as he did the day he married you. That's what an anniversary is about. It's great to take a trip at a later date, but it is that date, that moment that marks that special moment for the two of you as no one else can. Clear, honest and open communication is the key to a happy relationship. That is true for husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, daughters, sons, and most of all and more importantly with ourselves! Be honest with how you are feeling, take a deep breath, cry if you have to and then go and tell your husband how you feel and see if together you can do a little healing. Best of luck to you on your upcoming surgery!!

It's because your belly fills up with air from sucking on the straw if it's not filled with Fluid. Kind of like when a baby drinks a bottle a certain amount of air gets bound up in their tiny tummy and gives them gas. In the first few weeks when you have lots of swelling and enough gas then you want to deal with you don't want to add anymore discomfort and in later months they tell you the same so that you get your Protein in and don't fill your tummy up with air if you don't need to, especially if you still have a nice restriction going. Personally I drink from a straw when I am out, I don't like to put my mouth directly on the cups from restaurants especially if they are plastic or wax coated paper in those cases I will use the straw. I have not had an issue, but as rule if drinking my Water or coffee I don't use a straw