girlinnyc

oh, forgot--you can have clear soups too--chicken broth, things like that.

hi sean, i'm on a 2-wk pre-op liquid diet--with 5 Optifast shakes a day, sugar free Jello allowed, sugar free ice pops allowed (in moderation), up to 2 cups of vegetables a day (raw or cooked--no peas, corn or potatoes allowed)...this is day 3. it's feeling a bit easier than day 1 and 2, which were a little rough. also, you can have diet drinks (no sugar)--soda, snapple, things like that. no juices--too high in sugar. i think you can get designer whey Protein at GNC and make drinks from that with sugar free drinks---but you can't add fruit---too much sugar. i think you can use skim milk. if you have any questions, please feel free to write. best wishes, girlin nyc

dreamer, that sounds terrible--have you called the dr? is there anything else they can give you for pain? what about getting the stone out? i don't know anything about kidney stones--other than that they are severely painful. just wanted you to know that people are listening--wish i could offer more than a shoulder to cry on. feel better soon! girlin nyc

wellllll, i haven't been able to stay on weight watchers again since 13 yrs ago, when i lost about 45 lbs....then of course, gained that all back and more. what i was told about this surgery--which i'm having on jan 8--is that it does something to the nerves of the stomach--which make you feel FULL. you just don't feel HUNGRY as you do before the surgery. yes, you have a limited intake of food, and have to learn to obey the rules of the band--but you're not as obsessed with food--because you're not HUNGRY all the time. this is why i've decided to go ahead with it. also--less invasive than gastric bypass, etc. etc. good luck with your decision! as for paying--i would think dr's have payment plans--you might not have to lay out the 16K all at once. best wishes, girlin nyc

i'm on day 2 of pre-op diet. TWO WEEKS are required. ugh. i'm not really HUNGRY--but i wish i could BITE INTO something--and not just raw vegetables (of which i'm allowed 2 cups per day--raw or cooked, no peas, corn, potatoes). i probably had 3 cups yesterday. i don't think that's the big problem here. i'm DYING for a bagel with cream cheese. or toast. or an omelet, or...ANYTHING that tastes UNLIKE this revolting chocolate optifast thing. i put a drop of vanilla in it--can't tell if that made a difference--and mixed it up with crushed ice. so, i think it tastes as good as it's gonna get. i was supposed to have soup for lunch yesterday--but i wound up at dr's office for surgical clearance test at lunch--and spent the REST OF THE DAY THERE. that's right--never got back to my office. thankfully, the day after xmas--there weren't that many people there to notice my absence. well, at least i'm done with the pre-surgery this n' that notes from various dr's. i hope. so--now it's just concentrating on this liquid diet thing. please---feel sorry for me! i need company!!:think

i'm on day 2 of pre-op diet. TWO WEEKS are required. ugh. i'm not really HUNGRY--but i wish i could BITE INTO something--and not just raw vegetables (of which i'm allowed 2 cups per day--raw or cooked, no peas, corn, potatoes). i probably had 3 cups yesterday. i don't think that's the big problem here. i'm DYING for a bagel with cream cheese. or toast. or an omelet, or...ANYTHING that tastes UNLIKE this revolting chocolate optifast thing. i put a drop of vanilla in it--can't tell if that made a difference--and mixed it up with crushed ice. so, i think it tastes as good as it's gonna get. i was supposed to have soup for lunch yesterday--but i wound up at dr's office for surgical clearance test at lunch--and spent the REST OF THE DAY THERE. that's right--never got back to my office. thankfully, the day after xmas--there weren't that many people there to notice my absence. well, at least i'm done with the pre-surgery this n' that notes from various dr's. i hope. so--now it's just concentrating on this liquid diet thing. please---feel sorry for me! i need company!!:think

wow--sounds like you're doing well--how are you today?? keep it up--people are reading and watching and hoping THEIR surgery goes well too (like me!) best wishes, girlin nyc

Yes, i've started and ALREADY i am dying for ...something to CHEW ON. i'm not really HUNGRY---i just miss EATING, rather than drinking. it's all mental. i don't know why 2 wks are required. i guess it is for shrinking the liver, which has to be moved to get to the stomach during the surgery-that was the explanation given by the surgeon. are you allowed any food (other than Protein shakes and diet drinks) during your pre-op diet? i can have 2 cups of vegetables--cooked or raw--with no dressing. i probably had 3 yesterday--but i guess that wasn't SOOO bad!

Gigilabella, Jan 8 is my day too! do you have to do a liquid diet? i have started mine today. ugh. good luck to both you and me!! my surgery is in nyc--dr. george fielding at nyu. comments from anyone who has been a patient of dr. fielding are most welcome! also--NIKKI and KELLEY--how are you feeling? pretty recovered? congrats on getting your surgerys over and done with! Regards, girlin nyc

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search/article?title=GASTRIC+BANDING&title_type=tka&author=suter&year_from=1998&year_to=2007&database=1&pageSize=20&index=1 This is the article that Dr. Rutledge is referring to in the above video about lapband failure. The full-text can be purchased for $26.00. From the abstract, it seems that this report is based on a very small sampling of patients---317? That seems very low to me, to make blanket statements that "lapbanding is not the surgery of choice anymore." now i must say, i'm at work, AND talking on the phone, AND listening to people with screaming kids (it's PARTY DAY HERE!), while i'm typing this--so if i didn't read it correctly--forgive me!

I don't see a Dr. Robert Rutledge listed on the AMA Association "Doctor Finder" in Nevada, California, New Mexico, Florida or any other state mentioned on his website. Who is he and why isn't he easily findable on a site such as the AMA dr. finder?? I am not convinced his "mini gastric bypass" is the wave of the future. Will go through with my lapband...there seem to be thousands of people who are currently pleased with their lap bands. Medicine and surgery change all the time. you can't wait for "the future"--the consequences of obesity are progressing while you wait. I have decided to do something about it now!

Gee, i have so many things i want to GET BACK INTO--no need right now to shop for that pre-reward! it'll be thrilling if i could just fit back into my 1x suits!! i'd be happy!!! (of course, if i get BELOW 1x--then i'd go crazy shopping)

you're sounding very up and like you're all better! super! keep us posted! best, girlin nyc *(spent all afternoon getting pre-op tests--ekg wasn't quite right--now have to squeeze in a visit to the cardiologist too. the fun never ends..)

Bandiva, sounds like it couldn't have gone better! i really am taking heart from everyones' experiences told here. i feel much better about my upcoming surgery. had my pre-op tests today...something not exactly right with EKG=-=now have to see cardiologist as well--squeezing that in next tues. please keep us posted about your progress--you sound like you really had the best possible experience! best wishes, girlin nyc

i just printed this out for my FILE on "what can i eat after surgery?" it looks good! thanks! girlin nyc

http://www.kcra.com/news/10575699/detail.html?treets=sac&tml=sac_12pm&ts=T&tmi=sac_12pm_1_02000212202006 here's a link to a new article about microbes in the gut that may cause obesity. I just thought it was interesting. (i definitely have those big microbes....) :biggrin1: girlin nyc

i'm a jan 8th person also eldon!! where are you located? as you can tell--i'm in NYC. are you going to start a pre-op diet? i have to start next tues--i got a reprieve for Christmas! best wishes, girlin nyc

yvonne, can the dr. give you a sleeping pill? ambien is great stuff--i take the lowest dose and break it in half=--it gives really good sleep--and not too groggy in the morning--particularly if you follow the instructions telling you to plan to get full 7 -8 hrs of sleep. see if the dr. will prescribe a few ambien for you! as for me--next tues, i start the dreaded 2-wk pre-op diet. ugh. then--1/8/07--happy new lapband to me. how are you finding life with it?? best, girlin nyc

what if you have some fruit? or applesauce? i'm not looking forward to this pre-op diet--mine starts next week. you have my greatest sympathy! best, girlin nyc

hi benbax, i am going to the nyu program as well. my surgery date is 1/8/07 with dr. fielding. i have to be on a 2-wk liquid diet before the surgery--that starts next tues. therefore, this is my "goodbye to food" week....i keep thinking that each time i eat ANYTHING. pathetic. anyway--it's a good program--dr. ren and dr. fielding are 2 of the world's most experienced surgeons--or so i've heard (and so i hope) and they seem to have a first class staff. the process is: 1) go to the public information session (you need to call and be added to their list). 2) go to their psychologist for clearance 3) have your dr. send various medical history information pages to the dr.'s office 3) go see the nutritionist and p.a. at the surgeon's office. and THEN 5) see the surgeon--then make your appt. for surgery, and get insurance coordinated. if you have any questions--drop me a line! girlin nyc

Yvonne, I give that to my cat--who has chronic constipation. one day, i tasted it--just to see how awful it was (since the cat has to have it daily)...it was sweet--not too terrible! (in the liquid form). hope it works! how are you feeling otherwise?? best wishes, girlin nyc (surgery 1/8/07) this week--saying goodbye to food! next week--pre-op liquid diet starts!

ask your dr. about going in the water after surgery--maybe incisions have to heal first!

oh oh, i should have read snopes MYSELF before writing about "poor man's copyright" shame on me! http://www.snopes.com/legal/postmark.asp still--keep us posted! girlin nyc

WELL DONE!! you're all banded and still happy! please keep us posted-and definitely give the surgeon your poem. you should COPYRIGHT it! at least use the "poor man's copyright"---mail it to yourself in an envelope (snail mail, u.s. post office mail) and don't open the envelope. if anyone ever claims that they wrote it--you have a postmarked envelope with the poem inside--pre-dating that person's use of the work! not sure if this is still a valid copyright protection--but it used to help in court cases! best wishes for a quick recovery--and wanting to hear about post-band life... girlin nyc

DEFINITELY see another dr. Where do you live? maybe people on this board have recommendations for some FABULOUS and supportive dr's who KNOW MORE about the lapband than your current dr. NO dr. should outright say "no" to any procedure that they don't have enough information on--and then just tell you "see me in 3 mos"--with NO OTHER HELP offered--not even a "diet drug" (glucophage? metformin? meridia? who knows what...) or "treatment" or even "see a dr. more experienced in weight control--here's a reference". that is just...medical abuse--not treatment. at your weight--do you have co-morbidities -- are you on medications for blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea--anything like that? come on--you may have gotten along well with this dr. for awhile--but now--you need another view, and some support for what is, i think, a perfectly good and reasonable choice. i have not had surgery yet--it is scheduled for 1/8. that's soon! 12/26, i will be on pre-op liquid diet. not particularly looking forward to that--but remembering "well--i did it before--for my wedding (long time ago)---i can do it again because it's required." i am in nyc--my dr. is george fielding at NYU medical center. i have several other dr's, some of whom know about this surgery and approve it--others who don't--but are pleased that I have consulted experts in the field and know that I have considered this choice carefully and deliberately--that I know what the pros and cons are--and that i'm willing to take this step towards better health. it's been a long, search for me--I considered gastric bypass--and then, after the surgical consultation, AND after pre-op tests, i said "no, not for me"--The lap band sounds more livable to me=--fewer side effects and less surgical risk. best wishes on finding your new medical advisor(s)! girlin nyc