tillydog

No regrets, but band for me is not what I expected. You still need to make good choices and yes, you can still emotional eat with the band (if your that way) I thought the band was the magic solution. Finally. But its not. I struggle still to keep calories down and make good food choices. Good luck to you and be sure to work the band properly!!

I will have my 1st fill tomorrow and am the same as you. I was banded july 1 08. I am now eating regular food and figuring after my first fill things will change - I hope.

you have lost 60 lbs. and not even had a fill yet? that's awesome! good for you!

I was banded July 1 and today am back to work. I feel great! Not to scare anyone, but the 1st 2 days were rough. very sore stomach and hard to get comfortable, day 3 things really started to feel a lot better and each day since, better and better. I never threw up. I never took pain meds. They were perscribed to me in liquid form and I knew the taste would be bad - I never took them. I did swollow tylenol pills just fine. the better I feel the hungrier I get - its apparant the empty band does not have much restriction and I am really trying to stick to liquids only. I don't want to gain back the weight I lost from pre-op liquid diet before I get my 1st fill. Its hard. I miss food and feel I could probably eat soon. :tt1: I know everyone is different, but wanted all of you to be banded to hear things are going good for me and I am so glad to be feeling good so fast.

I was banded last week, so don't have too much to say about eating and drinking in public, but I can tell you that regarding how and what to tell people, My friends and family all know about my band and some co-workers. My personal theory is that all the people that care about me will probably be glad to hear I am making a change in my life for better health, it may not be the traditional way to get healthy or lose weight, but when you have so much weight to lose its understandable. I am not embarrassed or ashamed to have lap band, I am proud to say I have taken to steps necesssary to get to this point and I am making my life healthier and everyone understands and is supportive - I have not had 1 bad comment. And I would never lie about it.

Tomorrow I get banded. Finally! The liquid Pre-Op diet has been surprisingly enjoyable. Anyone worried or nervous or frustrated Stick to it! Keep motivated by reading this web site and thinking positive. Since startign the pre-op liquid diet I have lost 11 lbs. (about a pound a day) After the first 3 days the diet was pretty easy and hungar lost. Along with the 11 lbs. lost I have saved a lot of $ I am not buying breakfast on my way to work or going out for lunch. No trips to the store to pick up a few things for dinner (and buy more too). I think mentally it is good preparation too. food already feels like a thing of the past. I did go though a stage around day 3 -4 where I was sad and missing eating - not hungry but missing the good tastes of food. I think its important to get that behind you before surgery so you can only focus on the important food you must eat after surgery (Protien, veggies, etc). And trust me after 12 days of this liquid diet, when I am able to eat again I will have no problems picking healthy food and ignoring the junk. I now appreciate food as energy and fuel for my body. It is also apparent that the food I use to eat (carbs, sugar) was really slowing me down mentally and physically - I really feel very good and healthy now. It can be a positive experience for anyone! :wink_smile:

wow! no fill yet and already you fell full eating less? that sounds good to me. I will be banded 7-1-08 and getting ready for all to be over and on with how it will be.

EAS brand is ok and slimfast optima strawberry is different. I am on my 4th day of liquids (pre-op) and chocolate and french vanilla were getting old. I read here, to put in blender with ice too for a different texture more like icecream plus adds to the volume. I buy mine target, wal-mart, drugstores in the diet pill isle or buy protein bars and body builder powders. good luck!

My Dr. in CHicago does lap band on 14 - 18 year olds who are very overweight. So 23 is not too young. Before I could get insurance approval, I had to have 12 months of weight loss counseling with my primary Dr. and document it for INS. if this is something you really want there should be a way to get it, but it may take some time. Good luck to you!!

great idea thanks so much!!!

I have started my liquid pre-op diet today :rolleyes2:. I am very optimistic and excited to be 1 step closer to the band, so it helps. any other liquids only let me know if you have any tricks for making this easier. Thanks.

Anyone had Dr. Galvani at the University of Illinois at Chicago? So far everyone there seems really nice, looking for feedback on them. thanks!

I am July 1st!!!!! will not know surgery time until day before, but have been busy with pre op testing. Did chest X-ray and EKG Tues. Also blood and urine tests, have a barrium swollow tomorrow and that should be last test (did psych eval. 2 weeks ago) I go next Friday for pre-op paperwork and meet anestesiaologist (spell wrong sorry). My surgery is going to be at University of IL in Chicago, and I live almost 2 hrs. away with traffic. Mine is outpatient and I am nervous about a long car ride home after surgery (I will be passenger) hopefully I don't get car sick. So excited as I am sure everyone is! It feels like such a long road to get here and can't wait to start the "NEW ME"!!!!