RestlessMonkey

I can't offer any help or advice but I did want to tell you I think what has happened to you is pretty awful! I do think your doc should not charge you his fee...or work with you on it somehow. I feel for you!

Many of us are very very hungry post op (not all though; some lucky people have swelling or some other issues that prevent the hunger, but not all of us). Just follow your post op diet/instructions. It will pass.

Try this tutorial:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

Hang in there! You aren't cheating and that's good. It will be worth it; eventually you'll forget you felt this hungry!

Being alone will make it MUCH easier!

You don't have to deal with the aromas and sights of foods that aren't necessarily healthy. You can have your first PB in private and learn "gadzooks don't wanna do that again" without someone hovering around. You can eat baked fish 4 days in a row if you want (food will eventually not be so important) without someone there to say "Baked fish AGAIN!!!"

I don't know why you're questioning yourself but I'm sorry that you are down!

It's hard but you need to be strong. If you advance your diet too fast you can cause a slip (or set yourself up for one later). Just tell yourself that the "hell" is only for a little while. As you get restricted you won't be able to eat a bunch of inappropriate foods anyway and will be full and happy with way less; then it won't be such an issue. So be strong now! Just leave the room/house when they eat if you need to!

What are you eating? Are you making smart choices, not snacking, getting your water in? are you keeping up with sufficient fills? Are you exercising? The band is just a tool, we have to use it for it to do anything. Are you eating lean protein, then veggies, then fruit, then grains/pastas? or are you eating a bunch of slider foods?

Fifty pounds lost beats 50 pounds gained, but only you know what you may need to do differently!

I was told to eat protein first, then veggies (neither of which you ordered!) then fruit, THEN grains, pasta etc.

Have you been banded yet? IF so, I think you're going the wrong direction...if no, then you still are choosing wrong because most of us are on liquid diet then mushie etc.

What did your doc tell you to eat? You need to follow that guideline....

As far as I know if you signed a "waiver" that means that the surgery is excluded, ie not covered. It is not a covered item. You'll need to self pay, I'm thinking

I'm not a transplantee...but I do take 27 blasted pills a day (and only about 5 of them are prescription! the rest are "supplements") So I feel your pain. I can't take most of them on an empty stomach but honestly once I've "eaten" the pills won't fit! It's a bummer. And not all pills can be crushed or dissolved in liquids. Maybe your pharmacist can help?

Yes. Once you're well healed, and you can ask your surgeon if you have doubts as to when that will be, there isn't any sport I know of (except maybe competitive eating LOL) that is off limits.

I didn't stick to the preop diet and came to in recovery without the band because my liver was too large. I hope that doesn't happen to you.

I could do any diet...for a while. I just couldn't keep it off. You still have to kind of diet with the band anyway....could be you aren't ready for it? (not being mean either, ok? just honest!)

The preop diet is bad but the post op phase is worse and it is imperative that you follow doc's directions then or you can cause slippage etc. So talk to your doc (I was on a 500 cal preop diet) and do some soul searching; see if this is really what you want. If you do, then diet like your life is on the line, because it may be!

I responded to this in your "hello" thread in the "introductions" forum. Not that you won't get other answers, but mine is there.

Actually you don't need to wait 6 weeks to sleep on your stomach post band, unless you are "opened up" the traditional way. It is best to stretch and "be normal" to prevent adhesions. I never heard that the stomach takes 6 weeks to recover from "any surgery"...but of course if your doc tells not to sleep on your stomach, then don't. I slept on my stomach from the start and had about zero issues.

I was banded 8/29, slept on my stomach 8/30. I just "did" it. If you wait you can get adhesions etc.

It depends on what your preop diet requires. For me, no way. Odds are if you have a 2-week long diet, alcohol will be forbidden. Usually the diet is used to shrink the liver and alcohol is contraindicated in that situation. You can ask your surgeon but odds are you'll either need to not drink, miss drinking this one cookout, or reschedule your surgery.

Some may tell you that you can "cheat" and you'll be fine but let me tell you that isn't a given, either (in case it comes up). I read that and cheated and wasn't fine. Not worth it. Just check w/your doc and follow his lead! :thumbup:

Always given in to vanity!?!? I almost spit out my water at that one! Did you slap her? Ok just kidding. mostly.

I don't blame you for keeping this private. Let her wonder. and stew.

I just don't waste my time with women who aren't "sympatico". You know the saying "there are other fish in the sea"? It works for girl friends, too. I have my BFF who's been my buddy/pal/best friend for over 45 years, and I have other really good friends I've made along the way. Otherwise my life is just to busy to waste it on negative jealous people! Why bother?

My closest friend weighs what we did in high school and has been there for me when I was HER size, and when I weighed three times as much as she did. That's part of being a friend, I think. If you closest friend isn't supportive, then in my book she isn't a friend. Honest, yes. Straightforward, you bet. But once you commit, as in to the lap band, she ought to be there for you.