MaggieB

Congrats! We are getting ready to run an obstacle race on Sept 18th - runthejailbreak.com.

I had to wait 3 weeks. Ask your surgeon. The last thing you want is for any of your incisions to get infected which could lead to your port being infected then you need to go thru all of this again.

Supposed to get a fill at 6 weeks post op but will be going on 2 back to back vacations - I chose to put it off until Aug 9th. I didn't want to deal with any issues while away.

Totally agree with you. I have 13 more days of this. I have stuck to this full liquid diet for the most part - I do have to admit I have "cheated" a few times with a bite here and there of things. I am so looking forward to expanding my food choices. Lately I have been craving veggies - very weird for me to actually want to eat veggies :thumbup:

I like Unjury too - but only the chocalate and stawberry. I mix the chocolate with milk and use the strawberry mixed with lemonade crystal lite.

I try to drink 3 protein shakes a day - Im still on a full liquid diet for 17 more days (total of 5 weeks). Doc told me to get in at least 60g/day.

I don't remember much either. I was given something to "relax" me on the way to the OR. All I remember is being told to scoot onto the OR table and looking at the clock on the wall then I was out. Next thing I know I am being wheeled to the recovery room with the nurse telling me to open my eyes they were done and I was fine.

Hang in there, I am in the same boat. I am on a similiar meal plan. I am half way thru my full liquid stage - Only 2.5 weeks left then on to solids - I can't wait. My doctor told me that he takes a more conservative route with the diet - a few of the reasons he gave me were that he wants the body to heal, doesn't want to take a chance of having a stitch that holds the band in place to pop - then you will have slippage, and there still may be some swelling that can get worse with eating too soon and not chewing well. He also stated that this 5 weeks is to learn new eating behaviors - learning to recognize fullness feeling, eating/drinking slow etc. I am trying to stick with it...I don't want to take any chances of screwing anything up. I have 2 vacations scheduled back to back and I want to be eating solid food during them. I have noticed my weight will stay the same for 2-3 days then drop. I was banded on June 10th and have lost 16lbs so far. I weigh myself everyday...I know I shouldn't but it almost like an obsession. Just hang in there.

What is an EPT test?

3 days pre-op full liquids. 3 days post-op clear liquids. 5 weeks full liquids - includes oatmeal, cream of wheat, grits, yogurt, soups - no chunks, pudding, jello & least 60g protein. 1 week of diced, finely chopped foods.

I was approved and banded June 10th. My BMI was right at 40 (232 lbs) when I started this process in January and this was my heaviest weight. I did not have any weight documented for 2009 and my weight for 2008 & 2007 was 218. No co-morbidities until I was diagnosed with sleep apnea going thru the required appointments by Aetna. I did the "fast track" 3 month plan - which really takes 5 months to complete. Sleep study, pysch eval, 3 consecutive monthly appointments with nutritionist and 4 consecutive monthly appointments with weight loss doctor. Because I was right at BMI of 40 I was told not to lose or gain any weight. Hang in there. Just go thru the requirements and see what happens.

Sorry - I don't know about the denial and appeal process with Aetna. My sleep study required an overnight stay - in the lab at 10pm out the door at 530am. I also had the worst night of sleep - still can't understand if results are accurate because I felt I didn't sleep at all. About a week later I had to go back to be fitted for a mask/CPAP machine. Basically the same thing happened - in by 10 out at 530am. Got my CPAP machine about a week after the last appointment.

I didn't journal either. My weight was 232 with a BMI of 40. I was told by the surgeon and the weight loss doctor NOT to lose or gain any weight during my 3 month supervised diet. They did want me to start reading labels, exercising, drinking water & some behavior modification during this 3 months.

The barium I was given didn't really have a flavor. It was just thick, white, chalky stuff - I thought tasted horrible. I was a given a full 8oz cup but didn't need to drink all of it - maybe only half. You just need to drink enough to for the radiologist to get the xrays. I had to drink the barium standing up while they took xrays. Then I had to lay down and turn right to left, then they had me on my stomach drinking the barium while they took xrays. The whole thing lasted maybe 10 minutes.

It did take about 6 months to go thru the requirements. I started the required appointments in January - sleep study, psych eval, 3 monthly visits with nutritionist & 4 monthly visits with doctor. Good Luck!

No idea what POS means - its listed on my card.

I'm on full liquids right now, I blended my veggie soup last night and thought I was about to gag. I ended up eating eat & it tasted Ok - just the process of blending it was a little gross for me.

Banded on the 10th...actually feeling good today. My swelling/bloated stomach has finally decreased. I made it thru my first day of full liquids yesterday. Good luck to you guys getting banded this week!

I was banded on June 10th. Just be sure to ask your doctor about your Fluid requirements. I'm sure you have noticed on these message boards that there is a very wide range of post-op diets. Good Luck to you!

I'm new, so not sure if I can help. I just started my Full Liquids today. My doctor told me to get my Protein in first. He said to start with 2oz of my shake, not to sip it but drink it, wait to see how I feel - he wants me to get used to feeling "full", then increase up to but no more than 4oz at a time when I recognize my pouch being full/empty. Right now I am doing ok with this...I think I am feeling the sensation of being "full" at about 2.5-3oz. My shakes do not count toward the extra Water I need to get in. My doc wants me to drink at least 48oz in addition to the shakes. I have a big cup that I pour 48oz of water in and drink from that all day long. So far it is working for me.

This was one of my pre-op questions to my surgeon. He told me he could use a smaller port but there is a higher chance of it flipping.

Just banded on the 10th & currently on clears for today & maybe tomorrow then I can start a full liquids. For my Clear Liquids - apple juice or cranberry - doctor told me not to get sugar free. broth - I purchased veggie and chicken. I can have unlimited water/ice. Full liquids - Protein shakes, protein juices, fruit juices, broth, sugar free pudding & Jello, really thin grits - malt o meal - oatmeal, applesause, yogurt, popsicles, soups - no chunks, need to blend smooth. Decaff tea/coffee, may have a cup of caffeinated. Sports drinks. Medications - I purchased Tylenol - the kind that melts in your mouth & Gas X.

I was banded June 10th. Showed up at hospital at 7:30. Pre-op around 8:00am – answered a bunch of questions, changed into the hospital gown, they started my IV, gave me Reglan & Zantac thru the IV. Anesthesiologist came in around 9:05 – gave me his “cocktail” then I was taken back to the OR – last time I looked at the clock it was 9:10 – remember being moved to OR table but nothing else until I was being wheeled into the recovery room around 10:30. In my room a little after 11:00am. At this point I didn’t have any pain but just felt really sleepy. I have 5 small incisions. I also had an “On-Q” pain control device - basically looked like a drain attached but it is filled with medication that continuously flows to port area to control pain. Immediately, I was started on my liquids. I was to drink 2 ounce of juice or broth every hour – Water and/or ice chips in between – no limit on the water/ice, I could have as much as I tolerated. Got out of bed for bathroom and to walk around 3:00 – I was lucky, I never had any nausea or dizziness and really no pain except for the gas pains that would come and go. I was so afraid of the gas pains that I got out of my bed just about every hour and walked the halls for about 5 minutes. I didn’t sleep well that night – just could not get comfortable. I was up till 1am, finally dozed off for a few hours, woke up around 3:45am and could not go back to sleep. I was really tired the next day. Xray came around 8:30am – had to take a few drinks of contrast while they took a few views. The contrast was horrible – worse than the barium I had taken for my pre-op Upper GI. I was discharged around 2:30pm. Came home, showered and went to bed – I was so tired. I went home with my “On-Q” pain control device – doc said I could just removed it when the bulb was empty – should be empty by tonight. He also gave me prescription for Lortab. I really haven’t had any pain – Im just sore. It is difficult to get in/out of flat bed – I had to pile my pillows up to make a wedge – I could not tolerate laying flat on my back. I am to continue my Clear Liquids today – 2 ounces every hour with at much water/ice as I can tolerate. I can start Full liquids tomorrow – doc told me to take it slow and if I could not tolerate my Protein shake to go back to clear liquids for another day. I do not have any pain – just feel really bloated & I’m really thirsty – my mouth is really dry. Wishing Good Luck to the rest of the June Bandsters!

Hospital gown, bra off, mypants stayed on.