thebandedgirl

I'm at high risk. I'm planning on talking to a PCP as soon as I can about it. But I don't have a PCP right now...

WOOT! Congratulations!

I can't do strips of bacon, and any shredded meat is really difficult for me to chew well enough. I can also eat bread if I make sure to chew really really well! Hang in there. You'll get it all figured out soon :bored: Just be careful!

I would meet with the local surgeon first to make sure you like him. I don't know what criteria have to be met to make a practice a center of excellence, so I would check into the doctor specifically and make sure he's place a lot of bands. A lot.

My surgeon's office actually considered depression a comorbidity when my pre-op evaluation was being done. Don't get upset about it until you actually talk to a psychiatrist/psychologist about it. If (s)he says it's a no go because of your depression and anxiety, find out the exact reasons and ask if there are steps you can take to help them become non-issues.

Nerves are completely normal! But really, it's pretty easy :bored: Just keep the image of a healthier you in mind!

Most (but not all) surgeons require a diet for 1-3 weeks before surgery to shrink the patent's liver. I was on a modified low-glycemic diet for three weeks before my surgery. Some people have to lose a certain number of pounds (I've heard anywhere from 10-30 pounds), some people have to go on protein shake diets.... It all depends upon your surgeon.

Awesome! Congratulations :bored:

Do you have any comorbidities? High blood pressure, diabetes, PCOS, high cholesterol.... Some insurance companies approve surgery with those of a BMI of 35 or higher with an accompanying problem.

I attended two seminars--I didn't feel like the first practice would be a good fit for me. My SO went to the first seminar with me, and I think that every other person there had at least one supporter. The second seminar conflicted with my guy's schedule, so I went alone and I was the only one there, which really shocked me. I was actually worried that I'd be the only person there who didn't have someone with him/her!

Yeah, I've had to go to liquids a few times after getting stuck, too. That's a really good suggestion

I'm kind of with elcee--I typically eat breakfast, lunch, a snack, dinner, and sometimes another snack. Today I had a snack, lunch, dinner, and dinner take 2 :thumbup: I think it's most important to pay attention to what your body is telling you. Some people have to eat every three hour four hours, even when they're at "perfect restriction." Some people can stick to three meals a day. If you're concerned, my advice is always to talk with your doctor!

Only you can decide if the surgery was truly worth it to you. The truth is, nobody who has WLS (any type of WLS) is going to be able to enjoy food in the same way as they were able to before. Had you gone with an RNY procedure, your diet would probably be more restricted than it is now. Eating the wrong thing (sugar, processed carbs, too much fat...) can cause "dumping syndrome," which does not sound like a pleasant thing to me (you can look it up on Wikipedia for a quick, bare-bones explanation). It's an adjustment. And it can be really frustrating. But ultimately, it doesn't matter that I couldn't eat that whole burger with fries. Or the fries at all. Or the bun for that matter! My body is still nourished and, when I'm following the rules and chew well, I can eat with my friends and SO with no difficulty whatsoever. Yeah, there are foods I have to avoid, but I know what they are and just stay away. Talk to your surgeon and maybe get a slight unfill. But know that what you're feeling isn't uncommon and it's definitely not uncalled for. Lean on the people at LBT for support if you need to!

happy2lose, I really admire your passion! I don't think that people necessarily disagree with what you have to say, but you know how tone can be over the Internet, I'm sure. Some of your statements come across as being combative to me and I think that it might be easy to mistake your enthusiasm and desire to educate others for an attempt at picking a fight. itsalmosttime, my surgeon says carbonation is okay after 60 days. Honestly, though, I really lost my taste for soda completely after surgery. I drink Water and unsweetened iced tea almost exclusively now. Very very occasionally, I'll have a bit of beer.

I was starving when I went into surgery, I was starving when I came out of surgery, and I was starving for a long time after that. Them's the breaks for a while, unfortunately. I started on mushies exactly one week after I had surgery. I had no problems with swelling and being able to consume my blended foods.

You can lose 15 pounds in a month, no problem. Do you have a refrigerator? Get lower-sodium lunch meat, precooked chicken strips, and low-fat cheese. Use them for salads or to eat on their own (I wrap the meat around cheese slices sometimes for a quick meal or snack). Egg whites are great. Get a carton and make omelets. Add some lunch meat and a little cheese and you're good to go. Snack on not-sweet veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, etc) and hummus. Depending upon the number of carbs you can have, you can get low-carb tortillas to make wraps and mini-pizzas with. Also try contacting the cafeteria and letting them know that your doctor has placed you on a low-carb diet and that breaded options don't cut it for you right now. You might have to get a note from your surgeon, but it's worth a shot. Finally, Google "easy low carb recipes" and "Atkins recipes" and see what comes up!

My doctor recommends eating no more than one cup of food total per meal. Some say no more than 1/2 cup.

I was on clear liquids for the first 48 hours, full liquids until a week after surgery, mushies for two further weeks, and then solids. So banded to solids in three weeks!

Good luck! You'll do great!

Hi Sara! I was so sick of the Protein shakes; broth was a welcome distraction! I know it's hard right now, but you'll make it through :thumbup:

Wow, no 6 month diet? That's really unusual! Congrats on getting your date :thumbup:

Yay! Good luck on your journey :thumbup: This is really an excellent resource, I'm so glad I found LBT!

You're awesome, as always :thumbup:

Check with your doctor. There are many kinds of blood pressure medicine--it might take some time playing around with different meds and doses to find one that works well for you.

I was banded a week after you!! :wink2: