Ghanian Queen

In my opinion the liquid diet is to assist with your immediate post-op period, you want your colon empty when they perform the surgery, and it's easier postoperatively to not deal with bowel movements, the gas with be very prevalent. Good Luck

Just make some quick notes, shortness of breath, back pain, knee pain, etc. Gastric reflux, difficulty walking or just some of my initial thoughts. Good Luck

Congrats to You. I was banded April 9th, and I've loss 8 pounds, and I don't feel restricted really. But, I'm trying to be patient. This website and others like it help a great deal.. I never even thought that we'd be able to feel the port and band, by just touch our stomach area. That was a shocker to me!!!

They will repair the hernia during surgery. You will feel better, but it's a journey and we have to be patient. I think the first 60 days post-op are the most challenging, because although you've had the surgery some of us still can eat, I feel very little restriction. We must get the recommended Protein portion, or we start to lose body mass and it's appears as though you've shrunk. Good Luck

Hey Sista,

I am the Ghanian Queen, I only went on Clear Liquids, two days prior to surgery. I recommend that you comply because, you are not going to want to deal with having a bowel movement during the first few days post-op. Also, they inject air into the abdominal cavity as part of the procedure and the "Post-Op" gas is quite painful so do the liquids, clear broth, sugar-free popsicles, etc. Keep in touch. Good Luck It's a process so be patient, I was banded April 9. Are you getting the lapband or the Realize Band? I got the Realize band.

My family is from Bham!! I would ask my insurance provider to provide you with a list of approved physicians in your area. The first step is a seminar which descibes the procedure and answers some basic questions. If you choose to proceed, you then see the physician face to face and proceed with an EGD which will determine if you have any ulcers, etc. The office will also schedule you to see a nutrition and psychologist after you complete those three steps, they submit to the insurance company. Some companies have their own set of pre-op guidelines which may be additional.

What caused your erosion? What are you doing presently for weight loss, if anything?

Greetings,

I hope that you are feeling better, I keep telling myself to be patient, we are still in our infancy. My surgery date was April 9 and I'm scheduled for my first adjustment on May 5. It seems surreal, with the healing process at least on the surface appearing to be complete and yet we still have the weight. I saw a cardiologist prior to having my surgery and he made me promise to exercise 30 minutes everyday and never eat fastfood again:) Since, I want to benefit in every possible way, I am trying to adhere but it's a challenge everyday. Good Luck to all of us and blessings

I was really lucky, I started seeing doctors March 2, went to a physician group referred by my insurance company and they are very knowledgable, I had my approval in five days of submission, and the doctor had a cancellation, and I had my surgery on April 9th. My process went so fast, that i missed alot of key elements in my decision making process, but I am clear that I made the right decision, time is your friend. I realized that my insurance approval was fast, because from a medical perspective I truly needed the surgery, so that made it bittersweet. Most of us approach this from a cosmetic, aesthetic perspective when in essense it's truly life-saving. Stay encouraged and allow yourself the necessary time to make the right decision, and follow your heart. The good thing is, with the exception of some pains, and a few minor things, I feel perfect!!!!

I only did like 5 days Clear Liquids pre-operatively, I personally think it's good and it jump starts our weight loss, and you also want to adhere because immediately after surgery you will have alot of gas pains, but if you have adhered to the preop diet I believe that helps the pains, because they are difficult. I think we all handle the hunger differently, but having close understanding support is essential. You will become hungry and that's natural, but even if you've been adjusted to the maximum capacity we will still get hungry, the lapband is not designed to eliminate our hunger. If I sound like I have all the answers, I don't I am learning as i go, but I'm trying to stay focused on being and looking healthy. So that makes everything else worth it. :thumbup: Banded April 9th

I get my first fill on May 4, I was exactly like yourself, I was so anxious and excited that I neglected to review all the necessary material. Have all of your foods prior to surgery, and if you are on any medications, speak to your surgeon about taking pills, postoperatively after you've had your adjustments. I found liquid Multivitamins and Calcium, you will need that. I also tried several Protein Drinks, and I like the Special K (chocolate). We become so consumed with losing the weight that we skip vital steps. Be patient!!! I stayed overnight in the hospital, ask your doctor about that also, when I awoke from surgery my incisions were not too painful, but my back felt like it had been in a train wreck, i believe it was from laying on that cold guerny, but it was horrible. Try and get alot of rest prior to surgery, I worked up until 10hrs prior to surgery, (I work at night) and when I was in recovery, I was exhausted. Good Luck:thumbup:

Your symptoms are mirroring mine, and I was banded on April 9th. I think it's kind of psychosomatic, they prepare you with all these new eating tools, and they we don't get your adjustment until 5-6 weeks post-op, so they early discipline that we've obtained just goes out of the window. I am feeling fuller, but I like you moved on to eating, but when I eat too much, like I am feeling presently you feel miserable. I am also feeling the pains, I believe they are normal, but we are so focused on losing the weight we forget we are still in a healing phase. Stay encouraged, and keep the support close to you. People will expect us to never become hungry again!!!! Take it slow, we will love the results!!!!:thumbup:

Hey Girl, I was banded April 9th and I am hungry, the broth and popsicles are not getting it. If you can, I would naturally speak with the nutritionist, try having a Protein Shake with each meal. I think the Protein is essential so we don't lose muscle and look sick. You are not alone, stay encouraged and I will stay in touch.

Congrats!!!!! I'm still in my infancy, but my stomach does feel bloated!!! Hopefully, after my first fill, I will feel better. Keep up the good work

I was banded on April 9th, I'm still doing broth, Protein drinks, but I am hungry!!! I am encouraged, but it still seems surreal, since I have not lost any significant weight.

Hi guys - one of the first posts I've seen that's similar to my story... although I've had my band a lot longer. I was banded in Dec 08 - then lost about 20lbs and then it stalled then another 10 then a plateau, and so it's gone. What I've found, is that I'm in it for the long game - so I just wait them out and try not to worry. In fact, I've found that if I eat more during my plateaus and then go back to a restrictive diet that it works better. For example, I've been stalled at about 175lbs for a while -- I stopped thinking about it, upped my calories (not on purpose but because I've been traveling and going to restaurants) and then started being strict again. Today I got on the scale and it looks like about 167-169lbs... just stay with the program and think long term. It's so much better than going in the other direction.

Hello All:tt1:,

I was Banded on April 9th by Dr. Feiz,(Great Doctor and Office Support Staff)

I unfortuately was so anxious, I did not read much of the literature, as i am reading about band sizing etc. I choose for the Dr. to select my band based on my stomach. The reason that I'm writing is we all are very anxious for the immediate weight loss!!! As, I was having my pre-op labs and testing I became to understand that I had more health issue than I realized, so I am trying to stay focused and patient. I have not had my first post-op because I work crazy hours, but I enjoy this forum alot. I became disenchanted initially when I started to read alot of negative comments, so I decided not to log-on anymore, but I realized that you do need support for this to be a success.

I am hungry, and I'm having challenges maintaining the post-op liquid diet. So, I suppose I just want to congragulate all of you that have made it this far, and remind you that we did not gain this weight over night and we won't lose it overnight. This is for all of us, we want the weight off, but we also want to look and feel healthy, so be patient and stay encouraged. Ghanian Queen:thumbup: