arthukd

I had the same pain in my left side right underneth my last rib and call the surgeon b/c I actually got light headed it was so bad (and I have a very high pain tolerance). He said that it was probably the tube that connects the port to the band and to take alieve and do MILD stretches. This helped! I was concerned about taking pills since it was only 5 days post op but they seemed to go down fine.

I am thinking about making a lasagna and adding unflavored protein to the ricotta mixture. I know that heat makes protein do funny stuff, but since it isn’t being dissolved in a liquid, I was wondering how it might turn out. Anyone tried cooking w/ unflavored protein rather than just adding it to soups? (every time I tried adding it to hot soups, I have been pretty disappointed so I have just stopped trying. I thought this might be different)

I was only told to give up caffeine before surgery. I too am a huge coffee snob and love it! I had a cup the day after surgery and I am now back to my travel mug every morning on the way to the gym. (about 12 oz of delicious goodness) That is really the only caffeine I drink besides the minimal amount in crystal light tea, which is a new addiction since surgery

funny! I had that exact shake this morning and and mine was way less calories. Here is my recipe and calorie/protein count: 8 oz FF milk - 90/9 1 scoop unjury chocolate Protien - 100/20 1/4 frozen banana (cut in slices before freezing) ~ 25/0 1 tbs Peanut Butter - 95/3 So 310 calories and 32 grams protien

I understand your frustration. My doc said to expect a 1-1.5 lb wait loss after surgery so it sounds like you are on target! Someone on a different post mentioned increseing protein, which would also fit in the low carb diet mentioned by the earlier poster. My sister keeps telling me the great thing about the band is you don't have to worry gaining back those 20 lbs you have already lost! (and before anyone yells at me about you can gain on the band...I do realize it is possible to "beat the band") Good Luck!

Just thought I would see what kind a reaction I get when I tell everyone that I had a protein infused peach daiquiri 4 days post op!!! HeeHee!! It was fabulous! But you know what, I only had one...moderation :-)

one of my favorite soft food meals is fat free refried Beans w/ melted cheddar cheese and enchalada sauce!! yay for mexican :-) I tried adding Protein to hot food and it just didn't work for me. I added no flavored protein to crystal light if I needed to get in more protein.

I am 12 days post op and just now feeling hungry. I was actually up 2 lbs the day after surgery which freaked me out a little, but as I continued to walk and drink plenty of fluids, the weight started reversing. Down 11 lbs total only 3 since surgery, but the doc said to expect only a lb a week so I am right on target.

My PCP is my GYN. I don't have another primary physican. I am actually in great shape for a fatty. I have no co-morbidies and my BMI was around 36. So, I don't know if that had anything to do with it. the only Rx that I am on is birth control. I am sure you can get everything straightened out by 2/11 in time for surgery. I haven't even talked to my PCP about this. I had an EKG at the surgeons office and then went to the surgery center where the operation would be performed to have blood work the week before. That was all I had to do.

Just my PERSONAL opinion but a life with out alcohol is NO life! I had one glass of champagne on my pre surgery diet to toast the New Year at mid night and my liver was fine for surgery. Wednesday will be two weeks from my surgery and I celebrated the end of of surviving my first week back at work (working over 60 hours) with 3 glasses of wine on Saturday. I was down 11 lbs at the dr visit today. could I have been down 12 if I had cut out 270 calories of wine...maybe, but the point is, it wasn't worth it to ME. I have been overweight my entire life and if it takes me 4 years to get to my goal weight that is fine with me. Just because I enjoy alcohol does not mean I am not ready for this surgery. I might not ever get to a size 6 but if I can loose 20 more lbs and keep it off longer than two seconds that will be a miracle as far as I am concerned.

that does sound wierd. My surgeon just sent a letter to my PCP telling her that I was having the surgery. I had preop test done but the surgeon was the one who decided I was good to go for surgery.

I am self pay also and had the same reservations. My sister had the surgery (insurance covered it for her) and hasn't had any complications. Also, insurance companies are starting to cover more and more procedures for obesity so who knows. 10 years from now, if you need to have the band replaced, it may be covered! I looked into having lapband over 2 years ago and when I found out insurance wouldn't cover it, I was devistated. Then I realized I could take pay for the surgery using the medical flex plan through my job. 1) the surgery was almost $2000 cheaper having it in Jan 2010 than it would have been in Sept 2007 AND taking out the $$ through the flex plan means the $12K surgery is only costing me $8K. (b/c I save income tax, SS tax, and medicare tax on 12K!!) I understand your concerns and you need to do what you feel comfortable with, but my advice is go for it!!!

does it have to be opti fast?? unjury is the best! I tried the chicken and didn't like it but the chocolate and vanilla are fabulous! I also added unflavored Protein, Pure and Isopure brand, to crystal light to get in more protein.

that is very helpful. I was thinking I would take a similar approach and my sister (who had lapband about 4 years ago) said you were not supposed to eat/drink stuff like that with the band...So I started thinking maybe scrambled eggs for breakfast to make sure I could get the protein requirement in. I think I will stick to the morning shake! It is so simple. just had my first check in after surgery and I am down 11 lbs! Doc said not to expect big numbers next time...just 1 - 1.5 lbs a week...Fine with me as long as it doesn't come back!!!

While that seems like a reasonable statement, it is not true. If there are complications during surgery there may be additional costs, which would be your burden to pay. Be sure to check with your doctor and consider any additional financial expenses as one of your risks when deciding to proceed or not proceed w/ lap-band.

My surgery is Jan 13 @ 6:30 a.m.! So excited. I had a lapse in judgement last night, but I won't let it happen again. Instead of drinking a protein shake for a sweet I ate a small chocolate oatmeal cookie :thumbup:

Gas Pains is what I have been told. My sister and friend both experienced it after surgery. I am getting banded next week so I can't say from personal experience, but I have been told to walk it out.

Well my surgery is in 13 days and I have told everyone, except one of the partners at my firm. He doesn't know what is acceptable behavior w/ that type of info (e.g. a co-worker had gastric bypass and he would announce to all our clients how much weight she had lost and another co-work had a procedure for endometreosous sp? and he told a client she had just had female surgery). But other than him, I don't care who knows. If I see someone who has lost close to a 100 pounds, I always assume it is from some sort of weight loss surgery so I don't see the point in keeping it a secret. Plus it is not like it is a mirical pill that makes the weight disappear. It is a tool that you still requires effort on your part. I am a very open person and don't have a lot of secrets in my life so I figured no sense in changing now. But, each person is entitled to their own opinion and there is nothing wrong w/ what that decision is so Good Luck with everything, and how ever you decide to handle co-works I am sure will be the right decision!!

The pre-surgery diet my doc uses seems very liberal based on what I have read on this forum. A typical lunch/dinner is 4 oz of protein, 2 servings of veggies, and 1 starch. I have been wanting this surgery for 3 years but insurance wouldn't cover it so I decided to self pay and I am concerned about complications. (a co-worker had complications from bypass, which almost killed her and would have cost over $250,000 if she wasn't covered by insurance) I just want to make sure my liver is sufficiently shrunk!! Anyone else follow a similar diet?

Well, I have told all of my friends at the office. I haven't told the partner I work for b/c someone in our office had bypass surgery about 5 years ago and he paraded her around the office like a circus any time a client was thinking about or having a similar surgery and I do NOT want that. I told him this week that I was having surgery and his response was, "I assume it is female." I said, "no, it's not, but I don't want to discuss it." Our firm doesn't provide any meals so I don't think it will be hard for me to stick to the plan. Last busy season I was particapating in a clinical weight loss study and brought my lunch and dinner every day so I don't think it will stick out that I am eating mush for the first few weeks. My sister has has this surgery and other than post op sticking to the liquid/mush diet, her diet hasn't really changed much. She still eats most of the same things she did before just in smaller portions. So when I read about people talking about not being able to eat certain foods it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I don't really plan on giving up any of my favorite foods, I just plan on eating less of them. Feel free to shoot me a private message if you want to stay in touch about combining busy season and pre/post opt diets! Good luck!!

This morning I tried one scoop of PURE Unflavored Protein in Crystal Light and it is pretty tasty...if you like crystal light. i couldn't even taste that I was drinking protein. I ordered it from Baratriceating.com two scoops has 24 grams of protein and 100 calories. (becareful if you are adding to hot liquid...you have to dissolve first in cold or it clumps and is disgusting)

Ok so my surgery is still 5 weeks out, but my Protein supplies arrived yesterday so I thought I would start trying them to see what I like and what I didn't like. This morning I decided to add some unflavored protein to my coffee. Well, I had already added it when I then read the instructions that it is supposed to be added to a cool liquid and dissolved before adding to hot liquids...So I tried damage control and pulled out the Magic Bullet to blend it, after pouring it through a strainer. I thought, this isn't bad. And then I got to the bottom of the coffee w/ grit and it literially made me vomit. At first I just thought it was a "juicy burb" but then I ran to the toilet and was physically sick. Has anyone used Pure Unflavored Protein before? If I dissolve it in cold liquid first, will it take away the gritty taste? I am nervous to try it again and just need some reassurance that just mixed it wrong.

Well, my surgery is 5 weeks out and I have already ordered some Protein mix from BariatricEating.com I saw someone post on here that they have a sample pack so I got one of those to figure out what flavors I like before stocking up. I have previously purchased a Magic Bullet to puree vetables and freeze to add to Soups and other recipes. (I read Jerry Signfield's wife's cook book and got on a kick) It works great and I think it will be perfect for making shakes and smoothies. It comes w/ 4 or 6 mugs. I used to think, why do I need all of these, and now I am glad to have them.

Anul - you can eventually add back alcohol, just know it has calories, which slows weight loss. My sister had lapband 4 years ago and is still a pretty heavy drinker...(it runs in the family;) She has lost about 80 lbs and the weight loss has sort of stopped. She knows if she quits drinking she would lose more, but she is down to a size 10 or 12 and is very happy about her weight loss. Just a personal decision on what makes you happy. I too enjoy a glass of wine or two and don't see me giving it up completely. We should definitely all stay connected w/ our Jan 13th date! I am so excited. I ate a reasonable dinner last night out w/ friends, and then got home and ate a 4th meal!! What is wrong with me??? That is why I am excited about the band. I really thought I was hungry, but I know I couldn't have really been physically hungry. Hoping the lapband will nip that in the bud.

Just-Ice that is my date too!! I think I am scheduled for 6:30a.m. Shouldn't be a problem for me since I get up at 5:30, but I am not sure my sister or Mom will be too excited when one of them has to take me. I have very similar feelings. I have started to really think about my chewing. I took a whole 15 mins to eat my lunch today as I read on this site. Normally, I think I would finish in about 5 mins. I ordered some protein shakes yesterday that should arrive tomorrow. Can't wait!!