StarbuxQueen

Sassy, I felt like weight loss surgery was my only option. Even with that said a lot went into my decision. I researched gastric bypass and lapband and my husband and I prayed over the decision. I felt a real peace about having the surgery. I did go into the surgery a little ignorant as to how much it was going to require my discipline. All along I read that it is only a tool. My dr. told me, friends told me, the support group told me but I think I still thought it would be easy. It is a tool!!!!!! As an earlier poster said, you can drink calories, eat cake, Cookies and ice cream goes down easy! I really am on an eating plan. I have to choose high Protein, low fat foods. I have to stop eating when I am full and I have to exercise. The good news is I get full and I can stop eating. The more I lose the easier it is to take a walk. I, thankfully, have had no complications. I had gas after surgery but now I am going on 4 weeks post op and down close to 30 lbs. I agree the pre op diet was difficult but I wasn't hungry. I JUST WANTED TO EAT! I realized that as soon as I am done eating I am excited about my next meal. I am grateful I started dealing with that issue before surgery and not after when I was trying to heal and deal with the pain of surgery. I hope that you make an informed decision and good luck to you!

I lost 5 lbs easily on my pre op diet. I lost close to 15 lbs in 10 days. A lot of people on this site use protein shakes from walmart. My protein shakes have 160 calories and 14 grams of protein. Do you have a herbalife dealer near you? They have good protein shakes and soups. If you follow a liquid diet like so many of us had to you should reach your weight goal without a problem. It is a tough 10 days, but I wasn't hungry. I just wanted to eat!!!!

GREAT TIP! I will give it a try when I go down my first size.

My pre op diet was opti fast which I got from my dr. It consisted of 4 high protein shakes, and two high protein soups a day. Weight came off easily. Good luck. YOU CAN DO IT!

Yes, I did. Then I started with the bathroom. I contacted my Dr. and he introduced some fiber. So if it continues call your Dr. You can get through it. It's worth it.

Every company is different. My surgeon has a nutritionist on staff. She had all the details for my insurance plan. She kept track of everything I needed to do. I went to my insurance companies website and did a search for lap band and it was all laid out in an article. I had to have nutritionists visits, follow a low cal diet (but my friends insurance required a high Protein diet), & note behavior changes.

What flavors does it come in? I went to the web site and only found french vanilla. Do you pick it up at a distributer?

thanks! I will check it out.

That is so great that you are still being strong! I am weakening by the day! I get so hungry. I can't wait for my fill. Dee

DIDDO!!!! I WAS HOPING I COULD KEEP GOING WITH THE SMALL APPETITE AND THE SCALE WOULD KEEP GOING DOWN. Its not happening. I can't wait for my fill. I am just hanging on and trying to go over board on the calories.

Your Dr. should have given you instructions. My Dr. required 2 weeks of liquid (any). And then two weeks of mushy or fork smashed. I started having meat then. Fork smashed chicken salad, tuna and even some beef. Just check with your Dr. before you change your diet. Good luck.

David, That sounds so horrific! For me lap band was a huge decision. My husband and I had been researching gastric bypass. We never felt comfortable with gastric bypass . We then had a friend have lap band surgery. We watched her recovery and weight loss and started our own research. With much time and prayer we made the decision. Then of course, there was the time that my insurance co and dr. required. For me and many others it is a very scarey and serious decision. I appreciate your post because I have met people while I was in my process that decided to have lap band and within a month or so-HAD IT! Some of them with many problems. It really is a life changing decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. I pray that I never have any serious problems but I did understand the risks. I just pray that you will recover quickly and fully! The very best of luck to you. DEE

This is a great idea, Harley. You seem to lead an exciting life! Hello, my name is Denise. I was raised in NYC and now live in East Windsor, CT. I am married 18 years and have to amazing children (14, 9). My husband and I own a locksmith company here in CT and I work for Starbucks. Nice to read about all of you. Dee:thumbup:

Hi, my name is Denise. I live in CT and was banded on 3/25. I thought for sure I would feel normal by now but I still have pain at my port site. Sometimes a lot! My scale also stopped moving. I would really love to see it move again. I have my first fill on 5/1 and I am excited about that. This is great having others that were banded on the same day. Dee

someone else was telling me about the herbalife. i used it for a little while in HS and like it. I will have to find a dealer around here. How many grams of protein in the shakes?

I am going on 4wks post op and still struggling with the same thing, but my friend is a year out and still occasionally has pain at her port site. Hopefully, someone with more experience can help you out.

Mine was really nothing. Blood work, weight, blood pressure. I hope yours went well!

Congratulations and stay in touch. This site really got me through the first post op week. Dee

I was really scared too. I have a husband and two children and going under made me nervous. I can tell you that it has been worth it. I am close to a 30lb loss and feel so much better already! Stay on this site and post when you need a little uplift. It really got me through that first post op week. Will your dr. have you on a pre op diet? I was on liquids for 2 wks before surgery. Congratulations! Dee

Congratulations, Brian! The surgery will come quick. Once I was approved I barely had time to prepare for surgery. I was banded on 3/25 and am close to 30 lbs. I already can feel the differences in my body. Small changes. Better sleep, things like that. Welcome and keep reading. I have learned so much from here not to mention how helpful it was right after surgery. Dee

I was banded on 3/25 and I can really feel my port as well. It actually is still tender and red all around the site. At times, like after work, it is quite painful. I am not sure if this is all normal, but just letting you know I have the same problem.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME. MY DR DID NOT WANT ME TO HAVE THE RUNS SO HE HAD ME START EATING SOME Fiber. I WOULD CHECK WITH YOUR DR. YOU WON'T RUIN EVERYTHING. My Dr. just said if I do eat something dont eat anything high in fat. They want to get a jump start on your weight loss and shrink your liver. Fat affects the liver. I incorporated some lean turkey and fiber into my pre op diet but again check with the dr. You can make it! Dee

DON'T BE DISCOURAGED. I HAVE AETNA AND THEY APPROVED ME. THEY STATE IN ON THEIR WEB PAGE THAT THEY DO NOT COVER ANY WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY UNLESS... I WILL SEND YOU THE LINK. THEY REQUIRE A BMI OVER 35, SIX MONTHS OF NUTRITIONAL VISITS AND A FEW OTHER THINGS. MY NUTRITIONIST HAD IT ALL OUTLINED FOR ME. I HAD TO MAKE BEHAVIOR CHANGES. ONE A MONTH AND DOCUMENT THEM. THINGS LIKE. ..NOT EATING IN FRONT OF TV, WALKING, NO CAFFIENE. I WILL INCLUDE THE LINK FOR YOU. IF IT DOESN'T WORK JUST GO TO AETNA.COM AND FROM THE HOME PAGE SEARCH FOR LAP BAND. IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST ARTICLES. GOOD LUCK! Obesity Surgery

TODAY I am three weeks post op. I feel great. I still have tenderness at my port site and gas! I don't know if it is normal, but I still have it. Thankfully, gas x helps now. If you are concerned make a call to your DR. Because my gas no longer hurts I haven't called. I am starting to think I will always be filled with gas!