TulipStar

Congratulations on your approval! i know the emotions you are going through. We all have a way of "beating up" on ourselves and talking down that you couldn't do it through traditional diet and exercise. Or that maybe you took the easy way out and you are defeated. Don't beat yourself up. Instead think of your decision and upcoming surgery as "SUCCESS!!!" Coming to this point in your life where you realize this is the best decision takes so much courage. It is not easy to admit this is the best way for you. You will do great! Through thick and thin this LBT board will be here for you!

I have the same question... what they heck are all those noises!! Now I know FOR SURE that today my stomach was growling. Some on here say no, that is just some other noise. But I know it was....undeniably stomach growling bc I was hungry! Already!!

I know the liquid diet is hard. BUT, Don't take diet pills!!! I was tempted to do the same, but you really shouldn't and here is why: Diet pills alter the way that your heart beats, raises your blood pressure & can stay in your system and alter the way you react to anesthesia. Being under for surgery next week, your heart is going to be struggling enough, why make it harder? Make sure you have a safe surgery and stay away from the diet pills! Don't do it!!

Congratulations on you big day!! I know exactly how you are feeling... I was feeling the same way before my surgery last week. I think it is a fear of change and not knowing what is on the "other side" of being banded. It's really not THAT much different, but it will take some getting used to. You'll like it - we all promise!

Just look at a lot of people on here.. plenty have lost 90%. You can do it with the lapband. Sometimes I think that they just push the bypass bc they make more money. My Dad did the bypass 6 years ago and he has gained most of it back and stretched out his stomach.

Hi, My dr is a very good dr. He has done over 500 lapbands and is a mentored by the top lapband dr in the world (some dr from australia, I forget his name). Anyway, i start on solid foods on day 15. week 1 post op is liquid week 2 post op is mushies week 3 post op is anything that is tolerated, full food. I know a lot of dr's are different, so it is just important for you to follow YOUR dr's instructions. Good luck!!

The new band has pockets where the saline goes instead of the band of saline The pockets help grip around the stomach so it is more even when you get fills and prevents slippage. I have seen a couple. Ask your dr to see one when you go to his office. Also, if you have lapband seminars in your area, they usually have a sample new band to pass around (if they have the new band).

I can't believe that you cooked ribs! You are a strong woman!! I just salivate watching my hubby eat a sandwich. A cold cut sandwich...who would have thought that would get me? I start mushies tomorrow! Yay! Also, for all of those wondering why I think my DH (dear husband) may be trying to sabotage me.... He has made several comments before the surgery that after I lost all the weight, I would leave him. I have no idea why he thinks that. We have been together for 12 years and been through so much. So, I just try to reinforce that I want to be w him no matter what size I am.

I also have this fear. Although I am far from goal right now, I have lost a lot of weight before and noticed the difference. The different way that people treat me or pay attention to me. It really is a shame. I like my fat and keep it around me as a protective barrier. It is scary to think of myself without my protection.

My Dr instructions said if you can't read through it, you can't drink it. I think all dr's are different though. My dr has lenient phases and I start on mushies on po day 8. Sorry you aren't feeling your best!

Hi Elizabeth, I am 5 dpo and I am hungry too!! Sometimes I can't tell if i's just head hunger vs. real hunger, but then my stomach starts to growl.... I just suck it up and make a Protein shake and that fills me up for a while. Hang in there!!

Today is day 5 for me post-op and this is the best day by far. I finally feel like I can move and have some flexibility back. I went to the grocery store and target (even though it took all the energy I had). It will get better! To everyone else.....re: why my dh is trying to sabotage me. I don't know. He says that he knows that I have always loved food and he is just trying to make me feel better the only way that he knows how: to feed me. I think I just need to have a sit down face to face with him and if he keeps it up, I will just ignore him!

I am only 5 days post-op. My DH has been trying to tempt me to eat pizza and banana bread. He tells me to chew it and then spit it out. I reminded him that digestion starts in the mouth. I won't do it. I would be mortified if I accidently swallowed and something got stuck in my band or I vomited! And....to top it off, I had a dream about chocolate chip cookies...that I ate one and was chewing it in my mouth (tasted so good) and then realized what I was doing and spit it out. Has anyone else experience their significant other not being supportive? He knows I am on liquids only!!:faint:

I ate even more than I usualy did before my pre-op diet. In my "old" life I was perpetually on a diet. I was a calorie counter and did well in the morning and then mid-afternoon was when I was would have my downfall. When I found out I got approved for the surgery it was a free-for-all for me. I would order a diet soda at a restaurant and say "on second thought, change that to regular soda" and I would eat stuff I would never eat before.. I usually try to eat healthy with grilled everything vs. fried. HOwever, after I got approved, I started eating fried everything. I do regret it because I did gain 20lbs in 2 months. Now I just have to lose it again. Plus, from what I read on these boards, most say you can eat what you did before, just smaller portions. Good luck!!:clap2:

I am going on Day 5 post-op. Today has been the best day by far. Yesterday I was able to shower by myself & dress myself. Last night was the first night back in my own bed!! IT is a really high bed so it was hell getting in. I have been sleeping in a recliner. My dr. didn't specify how much Water I should be drinking. I have been drinking between 40-60oz a day. I only took gas x twice (day 2 & 3) then I stopped taking it bc I was getting some weird rumbling in my stomach after I took it.

I guess I didn't register on the right board... TulipStar 9/10/07 Dr. Marsden, Dallas, TX

Hey Cindy, I didn't weigh myself until 2 days post-surgery and found that I only lost 1 lb. Now as I am farther out, more weight keeps coming off. Your body is just probably retaining Fluid. Make sure you drink your Water and walk around. I can tell that I am retaining fluid/gas in my stomach area as it is very poofy!

At first I was only going to tell my DH and no one else. Then I decided to tell my MIL and she said that she wanted to fly to TX to help out. I decided to let her and then it all went downhill from there. She then tried to convince me to tell other people in the family bc they were "worried" about me bc she was now coming to TX. So, I ended up having to tell my SIL and Grandmother, Dad, etc. Or else she said she was telling them. So, I decided that I would tell them so they would get my unbiased story. At work, only a couple people know. My boss & HR lady. I was lucky to be traveling right before my surgery this week so I didn't have anyone asking why I was off this week. HOwever, I have a feeling that once I go back on Monday people will be asking. I want to say I had surgery, but then I will get the questions. I hate to lie and say that it was gall bladder bc what if I end up with gall bladder later? I thought that I could say I just had a cyst removed (female stuff) bc I always have issues with that. The reasons I don't want people to know: -Don't judge me -Don't need to hear your opinion -I have made up my mind and only need support

If you have a good surgeon he/she can place it just right so that as you lose weight you don't see it. My surgeon told me he has a method for placement so his patients won't ever see the port. As far as the band goes...everyone is right. There is no way you can see that as it is wrapped around your internal organ.

I have a regular blender a hand held blender and a magic bullet. The magic bullet is by far the easiest to use and my favorite. Because you blend right in the cup, you dont' get another container dirty. You have multiple cups to use. I can make my shake and then take it with me on my ride to work. The stand is also portable, I can take it to work if I want to. Good luck!!

Mike, Let me tell you that I was so AGAINST any type of WLS bc my Dad almost died on the table 5 years ago. I was determined to lose the weight on my own and I did...I lost 110lbs but then within 4 years I gained 80 back. So, I started stubbornly thinking about lap band. Once I started to think about it, the life I have to live and all the things I want to be able to do like a normal person...I decided to go with it. I haven't looked back since. The only regret that I have is not doing it sooner. I know you will make the right decision. Keep researching and thinking about it. Good luck!!!!

I've only been banded for a few days so I don't have the luxury of eating grapes yet. However, I always have preferred my grapes peeled. I usually start at the top (where the grape is disconnected from the stem) and peel back like flowers on a petal. Yum yum!!!

My instruction said "no makeup" but I asked if I could wear nail polish and they said yes bc their machine can read through any nail polish. So the morning of surgery I went and got a mani/pedi to pass the time and de-stress! Even though I didn't have makeup, my nails and toenails looked good!!

I just had surgery on Monday and I am planning on returning to work this Monday. However, the recovery room nurse told me that I couldn't drive until the DR. cleared me (after my first post-op visit in 2-4 weeks! ). This can't be right (no driving for up to 4 weeks)....or is it? I tried to call the dr office today but they are closed.

Hi, I have a Protein shake that I really enjoy. I mix it with 8 oz skim milk and 3 ice cubes, put it in my magic bullet and voila.... tastes just like a chocolate milkshake with 27 grams of protein and only 210 calories and less than 5 carbs. It is called Essential Protein by Iron-Tek (100% pure whey). I use the chocolate.