SandyM

Really the diet is to use up the glycogen stores in the liver and make the liver lighter to reduce risk of liver tearing from some poor nurse whose having to stand on one side of you and hold the liver out of the way while the surgeon is on the other side of you doing your band. Liver lacerations are not uncommon.

For now, I remind myself what time I will eat again after each meal. Sometimes I'm a little hungry and sometimes not. But, if I wait too long between meals and actually do get hungry, it causes me problems with my eating pace. I get into a whirl at work and sometimes lunch falls off of the schedule.

Be sure and not miss any of your monthly pcp appts, even if you've met the requirements. At least not before checking with your insurance about it. I know a lady that had all of her appts done and took 2 months to decide if she really wanted to have the surgery afterall, didn't see her pcp for 1 of those months and did actually have to start all over.

You are experiencing a lot of swelling and gas. They are probably both contributing to the tightness. If it were me, I'd probably go back to the clears again for another day then advance. The dr usually pits some primer saline in the band so you should have some and depending on your surgeon you may have more than others. Mainly, for now, stay hydrated. Sip, sip and sip some more.

I'm glad to see you describe it as a "range". I think a lot of folks think there is one magic number. Before I had my last fill, I sorta felt ok with where I was but I let doctor do a tad more. Since it's settled in, might could use a tiny fill more and maybe not. But, I'm going to stay right where I am. I can still eat, but I stay satisfied for 4+ hours. Don't really crave and am losing steadily.

Hell yeah!!!

If you choose the plication consider the band as well

Yep, been there done that. Not at a restaurant, but at a family dinner. I find that its easier for this to happen if I'm really hungry. I try not to let myself get to that point.

Also, I'll just add, this is not typical with the band. Now, true, if you are carrying a lot of weight, you probably will have some loose skin, but not the unhealthy look. In fact, my skin is better than it was when I had all of the extra weight cuz circulation is improved.

I decided it was going to come if I screwed up or not. I opted to not screw up. I did enjoy a small amt sampling and I lost weight.

The band can work for everyone, but only if everyone is willing to do the work that it takes. Your doctors office was totally wrong to tell you they were going to take the Fluid out and be done with it. You can do this. Stick with the site, get the encouragement you need and get your chin up, your eyes back on prize and lets go.

I believe everyone of us has been where you are. I too had reservations and now I believe its the best thing I have ever done for myself. In the beginning, I told a total of 3 people and swore them to secrecy. My husband finally made me tell my 2 kids and they were very supportive and still are. As for your diabetes, most who have the band are able to get their blood sugars totally under control. You also sound very depressed and weight control will help you with that provided its not clinical. Its your decision. As for everyone who falls off the band=wagon and gains weight, that can happen with any of us. We still have to follow rules to maintain. This will never change. Its just much easier with the band. You have a "friend". Stay on the forum and keep reading. Your decision doesn't need to be made without a lot of thought and consideration. But, as for trying harder and losing the weight on your own, I'll bet you've tried that many times, right?

I think I lost about 11 lbs on the preop diet. As for the liver, it is to shrink it. They could do the surgery with the liver large, but it stands more of a change of being damaged during the process. Think of the poor nurse who has to stand on the other side of you and hold your liver over while the doctor does the surgery, lol. Do her a favor and stick with your preop diet. Plus, this is a good preparation cuz youll also have a post op diet and then have to stick to a pretty strick regimen after the surgery til the weight is gone.

I don't even call it head hunger anymore cuz it comes up right after I eat sometimes, especially if their is something in the panty I can't have but sounds good (like grand kids goodies). I try to drink through it and keep telling myself it's not hunger at all just boredom. If that doesn't work, I have myself a small sugar free or Protein snack. At least if I'm going to have something, I want it to be something that won't destroy me. If I have even one bad carb, it invites another to the party. My WW teacher use to advocate the bags of small candy bars and just having one when you get the craving.......well, you can figure how that went, lol. And, here I am.

I haven't tried steak since banding, I did have problems with pork chops but I believe it was my own fault. I eat chicken, ground beef and fish regularly. If you want to become a vegetarian that's fine, but just so you know, lots of people with the band eat meat. Some even eat steak. I also manage bread and fruits and veges fine. I don't do apple skins, but I do apples.

Filling so you can't eat isn't the objective. Filling the band to where the get the saity sensation sooner is the objective. Be patient and log your calories and try to get your 60 gms of Protein daily. Do yourself a favor and take measurements of your body. Sometimes you will be losing and not even know it but your body will be shrinking. By the way, you are already allow solid foods 8 days post op? My surgeon didn't allow that til nearly 3 weeks. But, all surgeons are different. Just keep up the good work and practice chewing and taking very small bites and for now, definitely practice everything your surgeon has told you do do.

Most of the times all of the surgeries work because we give it our all in the beginning. With all of the surgeries we eventually slip into whatever routine we are going to be in. That is what will tell the story in the end. Not which surgery, but what life style we chose to maintain with. Problems arise when we expect the surgery to be the magic pill and us not ever have to take any responsibilities of our own.

You'll do fine as long as you chew well and eat slowly. I had problem with a piece of pork chop and haven't tried it since. I believe it was my fault though, it was right after I started eating solids and I don't believe I chewed it up well. You will learn what to avoid and what you can eat. I personally haven't found much that I can't eat if I chew slowly and well. I have changed my bread to whole or multigrain and I usually toast it but not always. I also managed to eat flat bread without problems. If you ever get stuck you'll know what that term means and do your best to not let it happen again.

Just just another name for band with plication. My surgeon told me that a lot of surgeons refer to the plication as imbrication which is I guess where they come up with the I in iband.

Wow! If some people would read this maybe they would stop sending the message to brand new bandsters that all they have to do is get their band really tight and sit back and get skinny. This is such a great article. I'm glad I'm not alone in believing that the band is a "tool".

Everybody is different. I can eat chicken, but I have to be really careful with it. But, I also can eat bread and some cant

I did and I believe it has been a benefit. No bandster he'll. I prob could have lost most of my weight without fills but have had them which has made weight loss more effective. My doctor says slips less likely too

It's what banders experience before getting to the green zone where they can't seem to get satisfied. Constant hunger.

Actually the exercises I speak of are for toning and tightening to help with the gobble neck

The sticking and sliming are band restriction related only. If you don't have fills, the plication is doing all of the work and that's great. I have had fills and have had a few stuck and sliming episodes. But, my band isn't as tight as I hear some have. I still eat bread and meat. In fact, I retrospect, I don't think my stuck episodes are that at all, as much as eating more than I should, after all my stomach is smaller now. I've learned not to do that now. Plus, with plication, I didn't experience the bandster hell I've heard spoken of. Plus, once I lose I may have most of my Fluid removed and see if I can maintain with plication alone.