DodgerFan

My docs says while 3 meals a day is the goal, it's not expected during liquids and mushies. He said eat as often as I need to, just watch my calorie intake. The nutritionist and other office staff are constantly reminding people not to expect things to start being "normal" (for a bandster) until proper restriction is met. Likewise, they don't expect patients to follow the rules of a properly restricted bandster until they are.

I'm still a newbie so no personal advice but wanted to share that thinly sliced deli meat is actually on my doc's mushy stage list so I imagine it's pretty safe. Like PP said though, once you're restricted, things can change.

Thanks for asking (and answering) BaseballMom5. I logged on to look for info on this very issue. For any future readers, I wanted to share that my pain feels more like a muscle cramp than a burn. Also, and it may be because I'm short, my pain is pretty low, right above the left side of my pelvis bone. If I push on it I can feel the pain shoot all the way up my side, almost to my back. Now that I know it's something healing, I'll be more gentle!

For some reason, avocado is on my doctor's "avoid" list for the mushy stage. I haven't been able to ask why yet. Anyone know?

Mmmm, that Lemon kind sounds good. I got Bariatric Advantage brand lozenges and think they're only just tolerable. I tried a mint flavor at my doc's office, tasted like a giant mint Tums. So I order cinnamon, wish I'd ordered Cherry. I only bought one bottle though, just until I'm allowed to swallow pills again.

I thought I'd post a follow up in case anyone ever searches for this topic. I spoke with the nutrutionist at my surgeon's office and she said losing 3 lbs wasn't common but wasn't unheard of. She said my (relatively) low BMI at 38.5 might be part of that too. The reality was, my at-home scale sucks. The hospital scale said I had lost 10 lbs. Much better.

Mine is two weeks of all liquids. The guideline is 70 grams of Protein and 1,000 calories. 2 Protein shakes 2 low fat cream soups FF pudding Various juice, small servings Yogurt FF fudgesicles Unlimited amounts of Water, broth, Diet Snapple, Crystal Light, SF Jello and SF popsicles. I've only lost 3 pounds and I'm on day 10. I swear I'm not cheating, I think my body's freaking out. Most people lose double digits in pre-op. If you're asking because you're worried, don't be. The pre-op diet is what I feared the most out of this whole journey and it hasn't been that bad. After day 3, it's all good.

This is from my doctor's website: Surgical therapy should be considered for individuals with: oBody mass index (BMI) greater than 40 kg/m2 OR oBMI greater than 35 kg/m2 with significant co- morbidities. AND oProven failed attempts with dietary weight-control Co-morbidities include but are not limited to: ·Cardiac disease ·Diabetes mellitus – Type 2 ·Obstructive sleep apnea ·Hypertension ·Dyslipidemia ·Gastro-esophageal reflux disease ·Stress urinary incontinence ·Arthritis of weight bearing joints ·Infertility ·Some cancers My BMI was 38.5. I had a sleep study done. The tech told me 1 in 5 people have at least mild sleep apnea. I was one (mild but my tech wrote a perfect "recommendation"), so that, combined with my history of semi-severe acid reflux got me approved no problem.

My pre-op is all liquid...1,000 and 70 grams of Protein. I haven't been logging calories so I think maybe I've been shorting myself. (Ask me two weeks ago if I thought this was even conceivable and I'd have laughed at you.) I have two Pure Protein shakes from Trader Joes, 35g, 170 calories each, 1-2 low fat cream Soups, a yogurt, a pudding, and unlimited Crystal Light, Water and broth. Oh, and at least 1-2 cups of coffee in the morning with FF creamer. I'm not discouraged or feeling like a failure. Just perplexed.

I've been on my liquid pre-op diet for 9 days and only show about a 2 lb loss on the scale. Weird right? My only slip was a few nights ago and it was 3 crackers and a slice of cheese. I swear. I'm worried that my doc's going to think I'm not taking it seriously. Has anyone else seen this happen? It seems like everyone I read about loses so much (water) weight.

Thanks for the tip. Will be having surgery by him (hopefully, just got insurance approval) soon.

I'm still waiting to be approved by my insurance but I'll admit, the two week liquid diet before surgery is my biggest fear in the whole process. I can't provide any tips, just my all-time favorite motto, one my dad said everyday for 10 years battling cancer, "one day at a time".

Seems like these days anyone who has insurance is lucky. But yeah, you're lucky you happen have an insurance that covers WLS if you meet their criteria. Yay for you. Good luck on your journey to improved health!

About 1-3 lbs a week. I don't speak from experience, just LOTSA research about the band.

You said it yourself...the talk with your doctor helped the most. Sounds like the counseling will be the key. See if the doc who did your pre-op psych evaluation can see you. He/She may specialize in WLS patients.

I suggest going to the "search" tool above and search by "bandster hell"...cuz that's where you are. This is what the posters and bloggers have dubbed the period after surgery where you have no/little fill or restriction. Good luck on your journey.

My surgery center has an $800 program fee due at the pre-op appointment. They stressed that only patients who actually have the surgery pay the fee. The stress on this statement lead me to believe that that's not always the case in some centers. Take advantage of shopping around if you have the luxury.

Congratulations! :thumbdown: I have Aetna and am doing my sleep study next week, before sending for approval (38.5 BMI). Not really hoping to have it but kind of am...weird. Good luck on your journey!!!

:biggrin: I have mine tomorrow. Good luck to both of us on our journeys.

Duh me. I totally forgot about the free seminars! Thanks OnTheWay To Thin. I haven't even been to one myself. :thumbup: I feel pretty educated by my personal research but I don't know anything about my doctor or his philosophy. I meet him Monday at my appointment, I'll ask when the next seminar is so I can bring my husband. Silvers320, I like your thoughts about how the pre & post surgery diets kind of reboot your system. I know how to be on a diet but I've never learned how to eat. I hope more people still post their answers. Why does/did Lap Band work for you, above anything else you've tried?

While talking to my husband about my possibly having LB surgery, he asked me why this will work if I've failed at all my other weight loss attempts. (To his credit, he worked very hard at asking this in a sweet, non-offensive way.) I didn't want to say "because I'm focused this time" or "because it's a big investment and I'd cheat myself if I didn't," because I've said that all before. Everytime I begin a diet, I'm totally gung ho, and truly believe that it's going to work. I finally explained that my biggest hurdle is overeating and a LB will help me combat that. The only other thing I could think of to say was that most everyone who has gotten a LB has been unsuccessful at dieting, just like me. And most of them are larger than me and have been failing at diets longer than me so if they can do it, I know I can. (Sorry if anyone feels tossed under the bus. It's a toally valid question and I choked.) Long story for a short question: Why does/did Lap Band work for you, above anything else you've tried?

I agree with pp: tread with caution. Sorry you're in that situation. Keep politely declining her ice cream offers and responding to her questions when she asks how much you've lost. Maybe you'll eventually inspire her.

Go eat some bread and pasta!! j/k Congratulations.

I don't know the answer to your insurance question but if you scroll down on the main manu page, past the 'by state' area, there's a section for Insurance stuff. You can search within there by key words. Good luck. I'm not banded either but my research just makes me want one more and more.

Thanks Jodi. So, same with liquid? I know you're not supposed to drink with meals because it can push food down faster, but then how does a protein shake keep you feeling full? Is the band just tight enough that thicker liquid is still slow to pass through?