MrsCabes

Honestly, this is a SLOW process and your mind will have time to adjust. It all seems overwhelming at first and you don't think that you'll be able to follow all of the "rules". You'd be amazed at how quickly your mind will catch up to the band. food isn't your friend (even though you think it is) - you will begin to develop good and healthy REAL relationships, once you give up the food is everything mentality. Good luck to you!!!

Also - men and women, typically, view food differently. Women tend to be emotional eaters and aren't eating because we're actually hungry. Men are more basic eaters - they eat because they're hungry. Your wife is probably battling her mental eating issues right now and she needs you more than ever. She'll get there - it might just not be on your time frame. Good luck to you both!

I was on a 500-600 calorie pre-op diet for 3 weeks - and the first few days were the hardest. Like you, I felt sluggish and weak. Hunger was strong for a few days and then my body adapted to it and realized it wasn't getting any more than 500 calories! Good luck with surgery and let's hope that your hunger stays away for the next couple weeks!

Typically, it is a certain BMI AND a co-morbidity. However - good luck to you!!! Lapband was one of the best choices in my life!

I, actually, dislike it immensely. It tastes "fuzzy". I couldn't get through the 4 bottles that I bought - I barely got through 1.

I'm on fill #2, not at perfect restriction and had a french toast stick incident the other morning - yeah, stuck isn't fun, to say the least. So, no more french toasts sticks but that's okay. I want to be thin more.

I have a question, in regard to hunger - I've had 2 fills and am not at my "sweet spot". I can feel my "top" getting full and I stop but the "bottom" of my stomach is still hungry and growling. Is this normal? Will that stop when I hit perfect restriction?

Bottom line - it's not your parents' business and you don't "owe" them an explanation. This is YOUR journey and YOUR life - you are entitled to make the choices that you want and you don't need approval from anyone...other than YOU.

I did medifast for my pre-op diet and it was a little bit like Hell - seriously. I was allowed 5-6 "packets" a day (only ONE could be a Protein bar) and there were very few things that actually tasted good. Some of the Soups were ok and that's what I stuck with - everything else was horrible. Those were some miserable 3 weeks and I'm glad that they are FAR behind me!

Yes, I do consider it non-invasive. Some people freak out at the word surgery - the fact is, lapband is a very SAFE surgery.

Yes, it's surgery but as long as you are under a certain BMI, it's a very safe procedure and very non-invasive. My surgery took 19 minutes. For the record - I've had a screw put in my ankle before and that was outpatient. Outpatient doesn't mean that they don't give you adequate care and then shove you out the door. It means that there's minimal invasion, you have to show that you've rebounded from anesthesia and you're able to recover at home. Personally, I'd rather be recovering at home versus a hospital room.

After each fill, I'm on liquid the day of, puree the next day, soft food the next day and then regular from that point on.

I was outpatient (you have to be below a certain BMI to have outpatient at my center...which is NOT a hospital). My surgery was at 8:30 and I was HOME by 10:30. NO problems.

Yes - completely normal! The first few days of the pre-op diet...I think it's like your body is detoxing. The good news is...it WILL go away and while you'll still be hungry, you will feel "healthier". Hang in there - this is one of the hardest parts of the surgery!

I'm almost 8 weeks post op...had my second fill today and I have had the same fears! (still do) I feel like the band is never going to work, that I'm just failing at another diet and that my NUT will be disappointed in me. Welcome to Bandster Hell. :thumbup:

Nope - I absolutely did not cheat on my 3 week pre-op diet. Not one lick, bite, nothing. I wanted my surgery to go as smoothly as possible, with no complications - so for me, it was worth it. It SUCKED - but it was worth it.

Hi! I'm from Cincinnati and had lapband surgery on Feb. 8th - I, however, went to JourneyLite - you should check them out. They are one of the top centers in the country and the surgeon, Dr. Curry, is one of the top surgeons. AWESOME experience and I love them!

Yeah - not trying to be the bearer of bad news here. But, it could take 3-4 fills until you feel restriction. I had surgery Feb. 8th...2 weeks later, no restriction. After my first fill...restriction for about a week, then NOTHING. I got my second fill today, so I'm hoping for just a smidgen more restriction with this one. However, I'm not expecting it until the next 2 fills - ugh! The call is Bandster Hell for a reason! I feel your pain.

Yes, because the rest of us just suck and are weak.

My husband is very supportive - he knows the physical and mental issues that my weight has brought me. He knows that I have tried every diet out there and that this was really a chance to change my life. I married an amazing man - he loves me at this weight and he'll love me when I'm thin.

Wow - people are HARSH and ignorant. Just confirms my thought that it IS always okay to bash obese people.

I'm in the same boat - however, my surgeon does fills every 4 weeks. I was okay for about a week after my first fill and now, if I "let" myself, I could eat whatever. I don't mean to hijack but while I realize that it takes about 3-4 fills to hit that "sweet spot", I have a question - I watched my doctor fill my band. It was completely closed when he filled it and backed out .5 CCs to let a stream through. I physically saw how small my band was - why is there no restriction then? What happens to our band and/or the saline?

I'm so sorry - that sounds horrible! :frown: I got my first fill last friday - but my surgeon uses an x-ray machine...it took only seconds to find my port.

Congrats!!!!

I think 5 days is more than enough time - if I did work, I could have been back in 2 days!