make33

I totally agree with kacee--I worked out four days a week right up until the day before surgery and could NOT have gone back to work after even four days (seems to be the normal time in the posts). Grant you, I'm older but I do have a desk job. (I DID have actual staples too, which I think made a big difference over steri strips) Crazy8, I responded to your thread about what my pre-op diet was, as directed by my Bariatric Center. I forgot to say that my directions specifically said do not buy Slim Fast, Ensure, or Boost. However, that was probably before Slim Fast Low Carb (5 gr carb), which I occasionally use now (still on soft foods). But you probably bought Slim Fast Optima, which has mucho carbs--stay away from carbs!! Best of luck to you, ansherwo...

It's a shame your Bariatric Center didn't provide you with this. My pre-op diet called for: 1. 2 or less servings daily - juice, gatorade, Powerade, or fruit 2. 3 or less servings daily - Jello, popsicles, sugar-free fudgsicles 3. 3 or less servings daily - 1 cup skim milk or 8 oz yogurt (Dannon light, Yoplait light or Colombo light) or 1/2 cup cottage cheese 4. 1 - 2 a day - Atkins or Carb Solutions shakes 5. Any amount of these daily: sugar free beverages such as Crystal Light, Wylers Light, Sugar free Koolaid or Tang, diet Snapple, Fruit2O, Propel, or coffee or tea with sugar substitutes or water--broths (all varieties) and sugar free popsicles and sugar free jello. As you can see, the idea is to reduce your glycogen stores and make our livers smaller, to make surgery easier. So STAY AWAY FROM SUGAR! It's tough the first couple of days, but after that it gets easier--then next thing you know, it's time for surgery! Good luck to you...

The only thing that got me through the pre-op liquid diet phase was being able to have yogurt and cottage cheese (not post-op though). My surgeon required everything sugar-free pre-op to reduce the glycogen stores and reduce the size of my liver. The first couple of days was tough, but by the day before surgery, my system was used to it. Just be sure to get in your protein--with (sugar free/low carb) Protein shakes. Good luck to you next Thursday--it'll be here and over in a heartbeat, trust me!

BTW, I also use a "chicken broth" whey Protein isolate which really tastes like chicken broth (20 gram per scoop) and an unflavored isolate for adding to instant s/f pudding and jello--and anything else you want to put it in! Both are sold at unjury.com--which was recommended to me by a doctor.

Both of the chocolate whey Protein isolates I use contain sucralose. The unjury (unflavored) whey protein isolate has 1 gram of carb but doesn't list it in the ingredients. Hope this helps...

BabyCat, I lost 6# prior to surgery (from the liquid diet time) and have lost 16 pounds since. I cannot tell you how absolutely marvelous it is to have my weight continue to drop, without that "increase of 3-5 pounds" tomorrow! I am praying that those days are behind me and with this tool, I can control my own destiny! Good luck on Wednesday--once there, the time will go quickly, I assure you!

I have been reading your various posts and have agreed with you on the issues... But none so much as I do now! Wow--you have floored me! Your email to everyone was concise and intuitive, with education on the subject mixed in! Color me truly impressed! I just wish I hadn't told almost everyone (and just revealed to the hub's family this week)--this was a smart simplistic way of announcement!

What you are feeling, ladybug, is perfectly normal at this juncture!! I was ready to jump out of my skin the last week. But of course, you KNOW that the answer is NOT to wait until after the holidays--because there's ALWAYS going to be something coming up in the next week or month! I'm so glad you are taking this step so you can see your children grow and your grandchildren also! Without this tool, we are condemned to facing diabetes, kidney failure, and you already know some of the heart issues. Take Longhorn's suggestions--they all sound terrific!! I have just "come out" to my husband's family within the last week and luckily they are supportive. Tell me, how could anyone NOT support our need for better quality of life?!!! The very best to you, ladybug...

Dave01 is absolutely right--"mushies" is soft food, so that we don't have slippage of the band. Every surgeon is different, but at one week post-op, my surgeon told me to stay on soft food for one month. And he said "If you have to chew, it's not soft food!" My Bariatric Center supplied me with a complete listing of the Phase II foods, and quesadillas and Boston Market was not included!! Be sure to get in 60 grams of Protein a day--that's the most important rule to follow--via Protein shakes, (I use whey protein isolate) and one site even has chicken broth and unflavored whey protein isolate (to add to s/f puddings and Jello, etc). All I know is I'm following the rules--it's only for one month out of our lives and I want to be 100% sure my band remains safe.

Congratulations and the best of wishes to you!

Two weeks and one day after surgery I felt absolutely terrific--most of the swelling had gone down--and I just felt great! As for the surgeon, I'm from Northwestern Pa...

Sharon's right--make sure you get plenty of protein!! Lack of protein has an enormous amount to do with your energy level. My fav is whey protein isolate powder in Chocolate Malt and Belgian Chocolate flavors. (amazon.com=free shipping!) Also another site has terrific chicken broth protein and unflavored (which you can add to jello and s/f instant puddings) is unjury.com. I'm four weeks out and just went back to Curves this week--unbelievable how being away for four weeks will weaken you! Am not going back to the YMCA for three more weeks. Just take your time--your strength will come back!

Just wanted to remind everyone that a lack of protein plays an important role in the amount of energy you have. Just be sure to continue with the protein shakes (whey protein isolate is my fav, especially Chocolate Malt or Belgian Chocolate flavor)!!!

Thanks for the info, Candle--you've alleviated my fears somewhat! Hey Ms NYC, I sure hope I feel like you after the fill--it sure seems like yours was a successful one! :bounce:

Actually, what I understand they want to determine is whether your body WILL LOSE weight from whatever diet the nutritionist (or doctor) subjects you to. (My thinking is that if they find that you can lose a lot of weight normally in six months, surgery won't be necessary). I once read that an obese person cannot lose more than 20% of their body weight normally through dieting, due to the fact that our fat cells have fat cells! I'm sure you've gone through the weight loss/gain syndromes many times. As far as BMI is concerned, I began with a BMI of 41 and too was worried, but ended up with 39 and still got surgery. I had to go through all the testing (pulmonary, cardiology, gallbladder, scope, psychiatric) AND I had to have my Primary Care Physician write a letter stating they recommended me for surgery. After the six visits to the Nutritionist (which is only FIVE months when you think about it, jilly) my Bariatric Center had to request an approval from the insurance company and I was afraid I'd be turned down--but two weeks later I was approved! Then I had to see the surgeon and schedule surgery, which took about a month. From March's seminar, it was seven months until surgery October 9th--but honestly, it flew by!! Trust me...

Yes, when I attended the seminar in March, 2007 the first thing I was told was that UPMC insurance required 6 visits with a nutritionist. So I complied--which we HAVE to do! It worked out to be a blessing in disguise, jilly, because my tests took up two months of the time anyway and it really gave me time to read everything I could find about the surgery and what my life would be afterwards. That's what I advise you to do also--this is a major decision in our lives and we need to adjust to the Band's "rules". Please learn everything you can... (BTW--my Nutritionist was worthless--she had me log my food intake for five visits, concentrating on calories and Protein intake and each month said "okay, cut back 100 calories". And she knew NOTHING when I questioned her about the supplements we must take after surgery--so I just went through the motions with her to make my insurer happy)

Hey you two that just got your fills: I get mine a week from Friday. Please tell me, was there any pain? I've read where they numb the port area first, but then I've also read where they just shoot the needle in. O-o-o-o-o, I'm getting sick and scared already! I KNOW I have to do it, but the first time is super scary! How did you two do??

Well, here I am almost one month post-op and I suddenly began getting headaches in the late afternoon. Then I realized I've been waking up with neck pain and it's been cracking a lot. What this usually means for me is that it is time to see the Chiropractor for an adjustment. Has anyone gone this soon? Has it affected anything with the Band?? I made an appointment for Wednesday afternoon but could cancel if it's not wise...

This is, of course, totally your decision, m'dear. Have you read everything you can find about each surgery? Yes, the Lap Band will take three years to lose the weight you would lose in one with the bypass (somehow that seems more natural to me though). My surgeon tried to talk me into bypass one week before surgery, saying my acid reflux could become worse with the Lap Band. He said "You'll lose 100# in a year, even if you don't want to." But I decided to stick with the much less invasive Lap Band--I'm older, though, and tend to be cautious. Somehow bypass seems so radical. You know if you need this surgery--for your health and well-being. Yes, it's scary when the time finally comes--but we've all gone through it and you certainly can too. My best wishes to you in your decision...

Thanks everyone, so much! Now I feel more confident about going and I will keep that appointment! After I posted this thread, I DID call my Bariatric Center and they said to make sure the chiropractor was aware of the Band, but they are perfectly okay with me going. Thanks again (and no, I've never heard of the "Rack" before either--whoa!!)

Thanks Patty--I'm a big proponent of whey Protein isolate shakes, which are totally lactose free (chocolate malt and belgian chocolate are my favorites). And I do find that mixing it with Water actually tastes better than with skim milk! Think what you got, Felicia, was whey protein concentrate--which requires a blender and is not as pure. I've been buying my isolate at Amazon.com because that way I'm sure I'm getting the isolate and also (best of all)--free shipping!! Glad you're doing well, Patty--and good luck Felicia...

Wow, this is a really neat question! Mainly because I have been FREEZING since I had surgery! I was having hot flashes right into September and now I sit at my desk and have a heater going underneath it! I figured it was because in Pennsylvania we've just begun to slide into fall/winter. But no-one else in the house (or at work) is exceptionally cold. I've been telling my husband that I am now out of the big "M" and over to the TB (Thin Blood) era!! It's NOT just you...

Hubby and I have started grocery shopping every few weeks and he picks out what he wants: a two-pack of pork chops, hamburgers, tv dinners, tater tots, and then he cooks for himself every day! (Ooops, forgot to say, I work and he's disabled). He is so kind about not eating around me (especially this last week with Halloween and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!), even though it doesn't bother me anymore, because I'm not hungry!!! YAY! :clap2:

Glad you both are doing so well! And it only gets better! At 2 weeks and one day post-op, it was like someone drew a line in the sand and suddenly, I felt terrific!! Congrats to both of you in the new life you've chosen...

My best wishes to you, Jill--this is the best decision you could ever make in your lifetime!:clap2: