make33

We're all with you Lib!! We all know the sacrifices we now have to make with the Band. (And yes, I've had people say I should've tried another diet--maybe IT would have miraculously changed my metabolism, insinuating I was indeed taking the "easy way out". Our lives and celebrations have been built around food--guess I'd rather have that, though, than those families whose celebrations revolve around alcohol (we can be cured!) My husband's family reunion was the Saturday following my Tuesday surgery--I sipped on a Protein shake while the food looked so-o-o-o good! WE are definitely going to make it!

In educating and preparing myself for surgery, I read everything I could find out about foods (He-l-l-l-l-o-o-o, guess who didn't care about Health class in school?!!) At womenshealth.about.com, it says "Protein deficiency causes hair loss, fatigue, edema, muscle weakness, and a delay in wound healing. A lack of adequate protein may also lead to depression, anxiety, irritability, apathy, and other mental health conditions, as well as cause a number of physical health issues from gallstones to colds, headaches, low blood pressure, anemia, irregular heart rates, and in extreme cases, death" Anyway, that convinced me to care more about my protein intake! I know the above is for extreme cases, but we have to put something in our bodies, why not protein? (I'm not much of a meat eater, though, so mine generally comes in the form of fish, dairy, eggs, and whey protein isolate shakes.) I don't see where this will change once I'm on solid food, just may be able to decrease the supplements. Hope this helps, Jenny...:bounce:

Isn't that the truth?!! Sometimes I'm just so outrageously happy to be rid of that whole side of me!! The wildest thing said to me was by the brother, the Dr. of Pharmacy, who upon learning I lost 14 pounds on the pre-op liquid diet, said "Now you don't have to have the surgery! Just keep on with that!! It's so great that all of you know exactly where we are coming from--the outside world has absolutely NO IDEA what obesity really is:rolleyesl!

I didn't read anything about you taking in Protein via shakes... I would think if you take your chewable Vitamin daily, and drink all your fluids, which includes Protein Shakes you would be okay. Did you ask your obstetrician about what you need to take in for the baby?

Congratulations:clap2:! I know at this point in time, I was ready to jump out of my skin! Everything will go well, and best of all, it will go quickly. Just listen to the health care professionals--they will have your best interests at heart! Good luck to you!

All I'd say to both of you, Maria and Hungryforchange, is be careful of the meds you take before surgery. Make sure you tell the hospital staff EVERYTHING you have taken in the past week before surgery.

Mine discussed the surgery, placement of the band and looked over my test results. He also told me the band may enhance my acid reflux and said the option was still open for gastric bypass (said I would lose 100# in a year, whether I wanted to or not). At my age, I decided to play it safe rather than sorry, but it was a nice one-on-one session with him.

Jenny, I've been on soft foods over two weeks, with two more to go--my biggest saviour has been keeping up with the required 6-8 cups of liquid daily. Especially Protein drinks! I mix dry powder whey protein isolate (chocolate malt/belgian chocolate) with Water and it satiates me for a very lon-n-n-g-g-g-g time. Dave01 is right--the amount of protein you take in makes a huge difference in your energy level--not to mention not losing your hair!! Ice cream bad, Protein shake good.........!

Hey Chrissy--many of us have been advised to take Flintstones chewables daily (I actually do "Bugs Bunny" since it was on sale and the same %'s). I also chew two Tums-EX with Bugs to get in my Calcium requirements...

For my psych eval, I just talked with the P/A same subjects as everyone else. But I was bulimic for four years-early 90's-(thought it was another way to lose weight) and she said she was sorry, she'd have to "write it down". The female psychiatrist came in for about five minutes and that was it. But I was afraid I would be turned down because of my 'issue'. But all my worrying was for naught--I was still approved! Add another crazy to the group!! :boink:

Two weeks before surgery my surgeon suggested I switch to gastric bypass, telling me my acid reflux would be intensified by the band. He said I would lose 100 # with bypass without even wanting to! But at my age, I'm better safe than sorry. You are fortunate to be so young--a very good friend's son and daughter had bypass (Jan 2006 and Feb 2007) and both are doing very very well. His daughter has gone from 275 down to 147 (Jan 2006) and he says his son (Feb 2007) is looking very thin, but has stopped losing weight. BTW, many people have gone back to work within a week--I opted for longer and found that at 2 weeks and one day, I felt absolutely terrific and was 90% pain free. Good luck with your decision...

Have you attended an informational seminar yet? I would suggest that you do because they certainly don't leave anything out and you have the opportunity to ask questions of professionals. You are young and they've conquered the initial long-term problems with the gastric bypass they had with some of the original surgeries (failing livers). Lap Band isn't for everyone--it is a tool, but it has rules that each person MUST follow. And we will not reach our goal as quickly as bypass patients (3 years for us, one year for them). Mostly, I say read, read, read everything you can find on the Internet, in forums. It's great that you have four more months in which to come to your decision. We all had to make the decision ourselves...

My Bariatric Center gave me these guidelines: Phase I (liquids for 1 - 2 weeks post op) approximates 300 calories per day. Phase II (soft food/pureed for 2 - 4 weeks post op) calls for 600 calories and 30+ grams of Protein. Phase III (Regular consistency at 4 - 6 weeks post op) 1,000 to 1,200 calories per day with 60+ grams of protein I'm surprised that your surgeon expects that...

Whaaahoo for you!! Now this is what I enjoy reading in these threads--the true beginning of a success story!! (Now I'm REALLY looking forward to my first fill!) Congratulations, girl!

At two weeks and one day post-op, I would say I was 90% back to my former self, pain-wise. I too had the pressure you are experiencing and feel it was a "fullness" feeling (or gas!!). To alleviate it, I just walked and walked around! Your surgeon should advise you when to proceed to soft/pureed foods--I was on liquids for one week post-op and then advanced to soft/pureed foods for one month (in that phase now). But again, each surgeon is different.

I haven't heard of your potential problem--but there may be other options than gastric bypass if your worst nightmares come true. My surgeon told me my band may enhance my acid reflux and if so, he may have to a narrowing of my stomach as one alternative. There are threads here regarding Lap Band Complications and Life after the Lap Band. Maybe reading those will give you some insight. My very best wishes to you...

There are tons of threads here regarding non-supportive and even combative family, friends and coworkers. You'll find your daughter's reaction is not surprising, but she may need some time to adjust to a mom who's not food-obsessive any longer--she's just misses her compatriot in eating.

I too am in the soft food stage until November 16, when I get my first fill. I've read in the threads that 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 weeks post-op you begin to be very hungry--and I hadn't been, so I thought I was doing great. But sure enough I've begun to think more and more about foods other than eggs, cottage cheese, refried Beans and yogurt!! Just like you justified your cheating, I thought "well, if I chew enough it would be LIKE soft foods". And then I remembered what my surgeon said, "If you have to chew, it's not soft food!" Hey, this is only one month out of our lives and for the sake of my band, I'm going to follow the band rules. We have forever to try solid foods, so let's suck it up together, girl!

I know right now you feel desperate for a solution and you won't like my answer: you MAY be able to get in quickly, but please please do NOT hurry this decision. Read, read, read everything you can on the Internet about the Lap Band and read all the forums. This is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in your life and you need time to make sure it's right for you. Please trust me--you do not want to rush into this...

Before I came home from the hospital, I developed severe nausea--until I remembered that I should have diluted the juice I was given in the hospital. Once I did, the nausea subsided. Then when I came home from the hospital, I took the prescribed amount of liquid pain medication and immediately thought I was going to heave--I mean IMMEDIATELY! So I cut the dosage in half and only took the medicine twice a day for about three days. It's really tough because that's the LAST thing you want to do now--take care...

I am on the post-op diet now and my husband watches my intake--and I really love him for it. Yes, I become aggravated when he will say "Slow down" or "How much food is that?", but he KNOWS I could go off the deep end and he loves me and wants me to succeed! Our husbands have been with us through all our efforts to lose weight over the years, and with mine, I'm just glad he's so willing to be involved with helping me reach my goal.

When I first started, I thought band placement was standard, but through reading the threads, I find that's definitely NOT the case. My surgeon told me the most convenient place (for him) would be between the breasts, but mine wouldn't be placed there because of the bra. So mine is in the midsection, right hand side. (Healing nicely now, but gave me issues with getting up and down...)

Kacee, I totally agree with you! I'm in that 30-day period of soft foods--and eating eggs, tuna salad, refried Beans, and anything else that is pureed! My surgeon said if I have to chew, it isn't soft food! So chicken definitely does NOT fit into that category. (And BTW, the bandster who got chicken stuck and slimed--8 days post-op no less--said it was "shredded chicken".) I don't even think I'll be eating shredded chicken when I'm back on regular food! I'm willing to go slow, be satisfied with soft foods for the next month--after all, we've got the rest of our lives to try regular foods!

Leena: Whoa!! I haven't had my first fill yet (Nov 16th) but that sounded dreadfully painful!! We happen to have a friend to owns a popular tattoo shop and so I thought this to be a terrific (and convenient) idea!

This may sound kooky, but I've actually given thought to the same thing-- I considered having the words "Lap Band" tattooed onto my stomach! Told you it sounded kooky, but it's going to be with me forever and that's much better than a bracelet or card. (I do wonder whether they would notice the port area immediately.)