Linstadt

Hi All, Banded 9/18, down 5lb since then. Glad to hear everyone else is SO SICK of sweet stuff. All I want is to chew something, get something salty, and not taste protein powder. I go for my 1 week doc appt Monday, I will definitely wear loose clothes, thanks for the warning! They say if my swelling is down, gee I could get some sf pudding. Whoopee. Yuck.

Hi Everyone, I'm now day 2 of being an official bandster. It went terrific. I went in to the operating room at 11:15 and woke up in recovery at 1:10. I had some adhesions from an old gallbladder surgery. Felt like I was punched in the stomach so they gave me some meds. Started to feel a tiny bit nauseau and felt preventive was the way to go so told them. At 2:00 went for the wonderful upper GI, love that stuff NOT. By 2:30 I was on the short stay unit. They had to stop my 3rd bag of fluids since my glucose level went up to 155. Had my liquid meal around 5:00, got another dose of Reglan for nausea just in case, home by 7:10 p.m. and felt great. Had a touch of gas pain behind left boob, took my oxycodone at bedtime, even though I didn't need it and slept great. Today, I feel like I never had surgery (this was my 10th and by far the easiest) Feel no restriction so far, walked by 4 times, no gas pains, a little bruisy feeling on left side and could even sleep flat and on my stomach. I feel very lucky so far, knock on wood. My coughing is coming back, I was getting sick the Friday before surgery, so I was put on augmentim? One thing I have noticed on this forum and mentioned to my nutritionist is all the different procedures doctors have. I think since lap band is getting so popular, the medical community will eventually set up some guidelines regarding nutrition, exercise, procedures, etc. My DR Greene, Rockville, MD, is very strict and conservative. I had to be on 1 shake a day as soon as I saw him in July, then 2 shakes a day when I was given a surgery date (8/11) and on 9/4 had to start all liquids. Post op I have 2 weeks liquids, maybe adding sf pudding if inflamation is down after 1 week post op, then mushie food for 2 weeks (no pasta, potatoes, bread, starch) then 30 days post op I can start with chicken, ham and 60 days post op red meat and salads FINALLY. Can't have fruit for 1 year. He puts us on 70 gms protein, 30 gms carbs, 1000 cal/day, basically the south beach diet. I also started seeing a nurse who works with another hospital's bariatric group that only does by pass and is also a licensed therapist. I realized that for this weight loss to work for me, because I know I can lose the weight, I just cant keep it off, I'm an emotional eater, not one of the lucky ones that stop eating...I need to work on changing the way I feel about food!!! How will I reward myself? In the past, after I weighed in at Weight Watchers, I would go to dinner and eat anything I wanted, then next day back on. Then something would happen in my life, like everyone else, and I would emotionally eat......So, I'm hoping to change this part of me, while losing weight on my diet.. For those of you waiting to have the surgery, good luck. Make the most of this. Everbody goes through this in their own way.

Hi all, Just want to thank everyone...I feel I'm pretty well prepared for tomorrow and what to expect. Just anxious to get going to the next stage - 2 more weeks of liquids! Come on mushies! Linda

I have my surgery tomorrow morning and I had my meltdown 10 days ago, just started crying at work, why, etc. My doctor's support group really helped me through it. I know it's what I need to keep off the weight. Today I'm OK, just want it over with and get on the 2 MORE weeks of liquids so I can get mushie food! Get your support group working and helping and keep thinking of the rewards for you. Good luck

Hi All, I start all liquid tomorrow. My nutritionist told me to use Whey protein. I finally found natural (unflavored) whey protein. Had it yesterday in beef broth. Didn't change the flavor thank goodness. I'm loaded with Atkins Advantage and Slimfast, choc/van/natural whey, sf jello, sf pudding (for after surgery) and tons of broth and some boxes of cream, low cal/low crab soups. I go tomorrow for pre-op visit and first weigh in since 7/6 with doc. I think I'm down 11 but not sure.... Any questions I should ask tomorrow. Also going to walmart to buy supplies for post op, there was a good site somewhere here about what you need. Good luck to all that have it tomorrow!

Bettina, I've been going to monthly support meetings that my doc does. Next Thurs I go to one and a pre-op mt prior to it. Taking my mom and hubby-mom keeps bugging me about what I'm eating, offering me food, etc So many mixed messages from her, driving me nuts. Hubby has been real supportive as well as friends. Going to dream dinners 3 days before surgery to prepare meals for hubby and my friend is going to drink a protein shake with me while we fix the food! That's a friend.

Mariecarmen - I think I like atkinds advantage and slimfast the best-170 cal, 9 g fat, 4g carb 1g sugar, 18 gr protein. I've bought some powders, Whey protein to add to broths, sf pudding and sf jello. Will be trying them next week!

Hi everyone! Only 3 days till liquid diet begins. My husband just called and told me Giant has Atkins Advantage on sale for $4.99 so he bought me 6 packs. Also, SF jello on sale.....I, like R2ht4u, am seeing Dr. Greene. Going to Shady Grove. I haven't been exercising this week, need to get back on track. Planning my last 3 dinners, crabs tonight, wedding tomorrow night, who knows for Sunday, but something like steak. Monday suppose to go to picnic but going to start the all liquid. I see Greene Tuesday and need to show some weight loss. As of Monday, I was down 6 lbs but as of today, I'm down 10! Obviously, I've been behaving on the 2 liquid meals this week.... Good luck to all of us. I'm still getting used to the fact that I am having this surgery, no more large portions. But I'm excited about doing things I want to, like horseback riding, hiking (after my back surgery next summer), and lookin good! :clap2: Take care everyone, have a healthy Labor Day!

Whoa, big dog! I do water walking 4x a week for an hour. Now that pool is closing soon, going to do recumbant bike in family room. Walking hard because of my back.......

Mom of many and Want2lose Thanks, glad to know I'm not the only doing lasts....I have been trying to chew chew chew and tiny bites. Haven't tried the sipping yet..Thinking of getting a baby fork and spoon! LOL I see Dr Greene in 6 days and today I was told by his office if I don't show enough weight loss, I'll have to come into his office for weekly weigh ins. 5 days I start the all liquid. I really think doing the 2 liquid meals a day 3 weeks prior to 2 weeks of all liquids and then 2 weeks all liquid post op is too much....when it was 1 liquid meal a day, I was losing an average of 2 a week. Made me feel like I needed to do the "last" meals. Someone I'm e-mailing has lost so much on the liquid phase that they moved her surgery up 1 week!! Wish I had that problem. What is everyone doing for daily exercise???

Hi everyone, Just checking in and saw the post about the "post-op" checklists. What a great thread!! I copied and pasted to a word document for reference. My 2 week liquid phase starts Labor Day, picnic day! And my first weigh in after I saw Dr Greene 7/8. So far only down 6 lbs. Discouraging when I see what others are doing. We're all getting closer to LB day. My worries/fears are starting to turn into looking forward to day. Did pre/post op shopping this weekend and cleaned out pantry. Lots of different broths, creamy Soups, puddings, Protein powders. Got sample of unjury powder, didn't like smell or after taste. Any suggestions from those already on liquid phase?

Help, I'm 10 days away from starting my 2 week pre-op all liquid diet. For the last 2 weeks I've been on 2 liquid meals a day and my Protein shakes are starting to get to me. I've been drinking Slimfast low carb and Atkins Advantage, sometimes EAS Advant. I've heard about some others, Myoplex plus whey Protein powder. I'm trying to figure out now what I like so I can have something good post op days (2 weeks post op liquid before mushie food on 10/3). Dr Barry Greene, in Maryland is my doc. Any suggestions, hints??? Anyone from MD??

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie to forum. Went to an info meeting 6/15, saw the doctor 7/6/06, had all of my tests, evals, etc completed in July and 8/11 I had a surgery date of 9/18! Started 1 protein shake/day on 7/10, started 2 protein shake/day on 8/12 and go to all liquid on 9/4. Going to Myrtle Beach with family on 10/7, so will just begin to start eating mushie food!!! I'm working with a counselor weekly to get my head together and be a SUCCESS! This is for me! :clap2: