newgirlinwa

Having just been banded, I will tell you that the gas pains can get crazy! With that in mind, I'm sure you won't want to knowingly put yourself through the pain by drinking soda. If it is the taste that you like, there are popscicles that they make that are soda flavored. I think they are sugar free too.

That is the question. From reading on the boards, many newly banded patients are not supposed to weigh themselves because of the possibility of no weight being lost. My doctor wants us to weigh every day. Apparently, gaining weight after surgery can be an indication that your body is having problems passing waste. What do you guys do? I've been weighing daily on my Wii Fit so I can have an electronic record of my weight.

Hi Elation! I was just banded on 23 Feb 10 and have lost 8 lbs since my surgery date. The one big thing I've noticed between my doctor and a lot of others on this site is that mine won't allow me to have solid food until 6 weeks after surgery. The first week is strictly liquid (no protein shake), then the next 3 I can do my pre-op diet (liquids and protein shakes). Weeks 5 and 6 I can graduate to mushy foods , then after, regular food as tolerated. I think the reason he does this is so that the band is not dislodged during the healing phase. Do you think going on a liquid diet until you got your first fill would work out for you?

Congratulations!

I was just banded two days ago and used Premium Protein (purchased from Costco) to make my protein shakes. It comes in either chocolate or vanilla. I haven't tried the chocolate yet, but I would mix the vanilla with 8 oz of water and some frozen fruit and it would make the best shakes. Definitely makes the liquid diet more tolerable. And if you don't have one already, I would highly recommend buying a Magic Bullet. It makes making the protein shakes a lot quicker and easier. You can also get the Magic Bullet at Costco for about $50, or you can get something similar from Target for about $30. Good luck!

Are you taking your vitamin B12? I find that gives me a lot of energy.

You're not crazy at all. Does your gym have a pool? Maybe water aerobics will be easier on your joints. And don't worry about wearing a bathing suit. Most classes allow people to wear t-shirts and shorts. Michelle from Washington

Thanks for sharing your story. I hope you don't mind me asking, but were you allowed to have your surgery because you were a cash patient? I know my insurance would only consider approving my surgery if I was at least 100 lbs overweight or had a certain BMI with several co-morbidities. The Lap-Band is a wonderful tool when used properly. I wish I had known it would be an option for me many pounds ago. Michelle from Washington

I noticed a lot of people were able to drink milk and eat milk products on their diets. My Dr. strictly forbade that, saying that milk in all varieties(regular, soy, rice etc) were high in calories and could cause weight gain. I've been mixing my protein shakes with water, which taste alright when you throw in a few pieces of frozen fruit. Michelle from Washington

#1. Surgery date? 23 Feb 10 #2. State you live in? Washington #3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Dr.Oh, St Francis Hospital #4. Insurance or self pay? Insurance (Aetna will pay 90%) #5. Age and height - 37, 5 feet 4 inches #6. Current weight and goal weight? 245/145 #7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? There are many reasons why I decided to have this surgery, my health being a main priority. However, I feel that as an obese person, I do not get the respect that I deserve. I work for the military, which has very strict weight standards. While I may know my job inside out and will do more than my fair share of work, I am still seen as "lazy" and not taken as seriously as my thinner civilian coworkers. I truly believe that people (especially those in the military) discriminate based on weight. #8. Do you have the support of family and friends? Aside from my sister, I only recently told my parents and my brother about my decision to have weight loss surgery about a week ago. Only one person from work knows, and he is helping me work out to lose the weight I need to pre-op. Aside from a handful of friends, everyone else thinks I'm going in for hiatal hernia repair surgery, which I will be having done at the same time. #9. Concerns and questions? My only concern right now is how I will manage after my surgery. I live alone and my sister, who was supposed to let me stay with her while I was recouperating, will no longer be able to help me due to medical issues of her own. I'm only taking one week off after surgery, which is the amount of time I am not allowed to drive. I work a desk job, so I shouldn't be lifting anything heavier than 5 lbs. Will that be enough time off? __________________ Seminar May 2008 - Approved on 18 Dec 09 Surgery Date February 23rd, 2010!!! Highest/Current/Goal 259/245/145

Has anyone out there been scheduled for laproscopic surgery that ended up having regular surgery instead? Although I am still in the first week of my liquid diet, I have only lost 7 pounds of the 26 my doctor wants me to lose. I understand that by losing the weight, my liver will get smaller, thus facilitating the process of inserting the band laproscopically. However, he warned that if my liver had not shrunk significantly, that he would have to open me up to perform the surgery. Has this happened to anyone? If so, did you require a longer recovery time? Right now, I am only planning to take 7 days off, which is the amount of time I am not allowed to operate a motor vehicle.

Have you been taking all of your vitamins too? I was given a long list of supplements I would have to take after I got my surgery.

I have been approved for surgery without a PCP referral. I did everything through the weight loss surgery clinic I go to. As long as I fulfilled Aetna's requirements, I was good. Michelle

I joined this forum back in August but I'm just now getting around to introducing myself. After what felt like forever, I was finally approved by my insurance company to have weight loss surgery. I am scheduled for 23 Feb 10. I am very nervous but excited as well.

Hi Wonderwoman!, Thanks for sharing your story. Your numbers look very encouraging and at this rate, you should be at your goal in no time! Good luck! Michelle

My doctor is requiring a two-week liquid diet before and a four-week liquid diet after being banded. He also wants me to lose 10 percent of my starting weight before my surgery date.