angelface

I'm feeling good one week out but am so sick of shakes. When do your drs. start to allow mushies?

CoolCrystal, I was thinking the same thing about liquids 5 weeks out. Is that normal??? We're going on a vacation when I'm 7 weeks out and I plan on eating regular meals, just smaller. Will I still be on liquids or mushies????? Help!!!

okpunkinpie, I was banded on April 28 also. I'm not real, real hungry but I am completely bored with drinking shakes. I'm so sick of the taste of sweet shakes. I'm on just shakes and clear liquids until this Sunday, Mother's Day. Then I get to celebrate with some kind of flaky fish and mashed potatoes. I'm counting the days. I'm so tempted to start a little early. Are you on any kinds of soups or just shakes?

Jessica, Glad to hear you're doing so well. I had surgery one week ago- April 28 and like you, feel incredibly good. I never even took any pain medication (and I'm a wimp when it comes to pain). I have one week to go of protein shakes and clear liquids. I see that a lot of people progressed after the first week to soft foods. I'm going to call the dr. today to see if I could have some too. I'm sick of sweet shakes! Continue to feel good.

Txbbwstrwbry, What is the name of the physician or group in Beverly Hills that will take it out for $6,000?

Does anyone know if many people get their lapband removed just because they don't like it, not because there's a problem? i'm only reading about removal because of problems.

I was allowed to have coffee right away. I had to use non fat milk or fat free half and half though. Do you know if we can use a tiny bit of half and half once we're feeling better?

dbowers, I was banded 4/28 and have been wearing a binder also for one week. They told me it was to help keep the port from flipping but I think I've been wearing it too loosly though. It was causing a lot of redness last week so I took an old towel, cut it up and put it around the edge on the top. That seemed to help a lot. As far as a rash, I'd call your dr. How long do you have to wear it?

Audrician, I just ran across your posts from last Sept. on the low BMI boards. Has your husband accepted your lapband surgery? From the lasts posts that I read, it seems like he was.

Mammato3, How long did the whole thing last and do you think it happened because you didn't chew enough?

I did not have to eat any kind of a pre-op diet. Just stopped eating after 3:00 the day before my surgery. Now I"m on shakes (slim fast )and clear liquids for 2 weeks. i'm difinately not as hungry as I would have been pre-band just eating shakes, but I'm looking really forward to the next stage. The dr. said I could have mushies on Mother's Day-Woo Hoo.

Hi Tara Bell. I live in South OC and was just banded (4/28) by Dr. Oliak in Orange. i was very happy with the care I received. If you want a second opinion, try Dr. Oliak. The surgery was a breeze, much easier than I ever imagined. Now, if I could just get off these shakes and have some real foods, I'll be really happy.

I'm sorry for your experience. Do you think you just ate too big of bites or did'nt chew enough? Or are hard boiled eggs and string cheese just hard to get down?

For me, it wasn't even a question. I had no intention of re-routing my intestines. The recovery has been a breeze for me with lap band. (I'm 6 days out and never taken any pain meds except for the day in the hospital.) I figured if I really don't like it, I'll have it taken out. The only down side is the slower weight loss but that's OK. The pros of Lapband far outweigh the bypass for me personally. Good luck with your decision.

Northern lady, Your post made me hungry. I'm on full liquids and am so sick of shakes. If I could just have soups, or refried beans or anything tasting like real food, I'd be much happier.

I was just wondering if you ever have to unfil your band for some reason, like pregnancy or a sickness, and you start eating a lot, can you stretch out your pouch like gastric bypass patients and then start gaining lots of weight again? Or do you just get a fill after you're feeling better and start loosing weight again?

SeattleSweetie, I felt just like you last weekend but for different reasons. i was banded last Monday, April 28. I got approved really quickly and everything moved so fast. I kept thinking to myself, "is this really the right thing to do." I've lost weight so many times only to regain it back but the thought of PBing, slime, getting stuck really had me scared, not the surgery. I'm still alittle scared about eating out, maybe never having steak again, etc. but I know this was the right choice and only way I could get control of my weight. I'm almost one week out now and feel really good. I took a little pain medicine the day of the surgery but none after that (and I'm a wimp). The whole thing has been easy. Let us know how everything goes and good luck.

Oh. I never thought of that-having to wait an hour after eating spicy foods. I may have the break that rule now and then.

Let us know how your jorney goes.

Melissa, I was banded on April 28 by Dr. Oliak and things are going incredibly well except right now I'm really hungry and can only have shakes for another week. I'm feeling good though. I wanted to tell you that I go to a primary dr. who has many drs. in the office. When I had my first appointment with my Primary dr., I was fortunate that I got a dr. who was sympathetic to my cause. The other drs. that I've seen there just kept telling me to eat less and move more. It's just that simple. (Thank you doctor, I never would have thought of that). I wanted to let you know that if your first dr. doesn't refer you to a surgeon, probably another dr. will. I have Blue Cross HMO and it was all very easy. I went to my primary dr. last Dec., and was approved for surgery by the end of January. I then was scared about the whole thing and waited for several months to schedule surgery. Good luck and let us know how everything goes.

I'm five days out and I'm allowed to drink coffee. I'm just wondering if I could have a little 1/2 and 1/2. In the hospital they gave me fat free 1/2 and 1/2. I guess I'll go out and get some today.

Audrician. Thank you for sharing with me your experience with spicy food. Can anyone else tolerate spicy foods?

I love Mexican food. Can I have fat free refried beans with spicy salsa when I'm ready for soft foods? I'm still on full liquids and am so sick of shakes and dreaming about real food.

Heavyjay, I feel the same way. I was banded on the 28th. I called my dr's office today to see if I can begin a little soft foods and they said "no". I have to be on full liquids (shakes) for 2 weeks. I am so sick of shakes. I want anything that's not sweet like mashed potatoes, refried beans, soup, etc. I see that there's a lot of people who go to soft foods after one week but I'll try to follow the dr's orders. He said Mother's day, I could start having really soft foods. I don't know if I could wait that long.

Does anyone know the cost of lapband removal in a larger US city, not Mexico?