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Awww, hang in there and try not to be too tough on yourself. It's a HUGE change and it's not easy. Just think how it'll be post op--you might have that little bit of Nutella and your body will tell you whether it's ok or not, like your own body did today. I'm on day 1--2 Protein shakes, 4 oz of chicken or fish, a cup of veggies. This is NOT my idea of fun, but I'm not going to worry myself to death if I slip up once in these two weeks. Good luck!

Hey congrats! I'm 3 weeks post op and I've lost 10 lbs since the surgery and 25 lbs all together. I'm excited and nervous about my first fill. I heard it's nothing to worry about, but still. My biggest fear is that the port will flip. Every time I move fast I stop and think "crap did I just make my port flip" LOL I know I'm a loser what can I say?!?! Good luck with everything and congrats again! :thumbup:

I've been looking into lap band for a long time and finally decided to do it. It's all been a great idea theoretically, but now..it's going to happen!!! What am I doing?? I've had 2 laparoscopies for endometriosis, so the surgery part doesn't scare me. I was on Optifast for twelve weeks, so the liquid diet doesn't scare me. BUT, what if I can't fix the mental part fo me that can't figure out how to eat right? What if I can't fix the behaviors that got me here is the first place? Obviously, I couldn't fix them before or I wouldn't be logged on here now. I'm hoping it's normal to freak out like this a little. My pre-op visit is 3/19 and my surgery date is 4/3 with Dr.Greg Schroder in Richmond, VA. Let me know if you have any hints on how to fix my thinking!

Hi! My husband and i both went thru options at panorama city. Our class ended 3/31. I know its A LOT of info to take in..just hold on to all the paperwork and you will always have it for reference..plus they give you the info again at your pre-op appt, again at the hospital,etc. and it's on their website too, so it's not like you have to memorize it or anything. Anyway, I got a lot out of the class and it helped me feel very prepared and educated about the whole thing. You will do fine too I'm sure!! One day at a time, one week at a time. And feel free to message me if you have any options-specific or kaiser-specific questions. Best of luck to you!

Hello everyone! I am in the beginning stages of this whole process and have come here often to help me through the process and to find answers to questions I have. I had the consultation with the surgeon about 2 weeks ago and am just waiting for the insurance approval to come through to schedule all of the other appointments needed. I have a question about the sleep study though... What exactly is done? What can I expect? Why is it needed? Thanks! gtbadkitty

WELCOME AND A MASSIVE CONGRATS :-D I was banded 5 months ago and i can honesty say it has been the best decision I have ever made for myself. After coming out of surgery and getting home I was finding it a struggle to drink my liquids all day everyday for 2 weeks. I didn't think I would be able to do it but I kept in mind that I couldn't afford for anything to happen and jeopardize the life changing choice I had made. I kept myself occupied by reading, watching my favorite movies and well doing my favorite pass time- sleep :-D It is worth it, you are strong enough to do it- you made a life changing decision like everyone else here and that takes strength! GOOD LUCK!!!!! P.S- when you get to purée you will think you've gone to heaven :-) hang in there x

My post op diet is 2 weeks clear, 2 weeks full, then on to the mushy stuff for 2 weeks. I also had the plication done at the same time so i have to be really careful not to put too much in at once. Once the sutures heal in 2 weeks I should be able to move on to fuller liquids. i do hope the worst is over. I have not had any of my pain meds today. i tend to not like them. I might take a dose at bedtime. I am having a hard time deciding if I am in pain or hungry. For instance, I just almost gave in to take some meds but my 14 yr old made me some decaf hot tea. As soon as the warm hit me the pain went away. Has anyone else had that? Warm makes you feel better? And Steph04 that is awesome that we were banded same day. Good luck in your journey! Thank you all for the warm welcome!

Hi everyone - Introductions always feel weird, but I suppose I can't jump into spazzing out at you. My name is jen. I'm 34 and.. well, I'm fat. I've been overweight since I was a kid. I've lost 50 pounds more times than I can count, and gained it all back every time. At my heaviest, I was 260 (I'm 5'2.5"). Right now I'm struggling to get under 240. Mid-last year, my blood pressure started to creep up, and my dad was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. That's what I see in my future, and I don't like it. I started looking into the lap band last year, and now I'm on my 5-1/2 month of my 6 month doctor-supervised dieting that my insurance company (BCBSIL) requires for approval. I have my final pre-insurance weigh-in in about two weeks, and go for my psych evaluation on the 22nd of April. And I've pretty much been reading everything I can get my hands on about people's experiences with the band. I've lost weight quite slowly (well, slowly compared to how I'd lose weight if I'd get serious about following the current 'fad' -- be it low carb, low fat, whatever) while seeing the nutritionist, but I did make a lot of positive changes that I've never done before -- things like get used to eating three meals a day instead of one or two giant ones (adding Breakfast was really, really hard for me), eating more slowly, not drinking with meals -- all the things I'm going to have to do once I'm banded, anyway. I've also been exercising three times a week for the past four months with a coworker who is also planning to be banded around the same time (we didn't find out till we were both about halfway through our six months insurance approval dieting time period, which is kind of hysterical. We're even both going to the same surgical center, though different surgeons). And now that I'm getting close to the time when I submit for insurance approval, I admit I'm freaking out a little about how much everything is going to change. Even though I KNOW I need to do something, now that it's really this close.. I'm both nervous and excited and overwhelmed. And it doesn't help that a friend of my sister-in-law has apparently had a terrible experience with her band (though I also hear that she got so upset at her surgeon that she had the surgery and then didn't follow up for a year and a half, so I'm not sure how much to take her "advice" about it) -- and who, now, is apparently only eating 600 calories a day, is losing her hair by the fistful, and who gets so hungry that she shakes. Of course, now my sister in law is very concerned about me going through this, as well... but to me, that experience doesn't sound like the norm of what I've read, both here and in many other places. She really wants me to call her and have a one-on-one conversation, but I'm kind of shying away from it, because I don't want to let one overly negative situation have too much weight. Anyway, I've been lurking here since I started the dieting process, but figured I'd come out and say hi.

I was sleeved last Tuesday, and my best preop diet advice is to start cutting your meal size now if you haven't already, and work on getting as many carbs out of your diet as you can. My surgeon required a strict 2 week preop diet of protein shakes for all the nutrition, with unlimited zero calorie liquids. I SO want to succeed that I have been slowly cutting back since March, and it was not nearly the shock to my system going to all liquids that it might have been. Even at my "last meals" I avoided gorging myself, savoring the flavors and keeping my eye on the prize. When your body enters ketosis, your mouth will taste and feel funky. Therabreath does help a lot; I found that recommended here.

I am one week in and I couldn't help it! I have been sick and I just caved in. I had 9 pretzels. I am really upset I guess its because of the stage one diet and I am just really hungry still. Is this going to wreck my band? Its been a week since I have been banded.! I am so weak!

I am 66 years old and I am just starting the process. I have a psych eval, and a Nutrition eval, on Wednesday. I actually started this process a year ago, by going to the seminar. I am a medicare ins. I was told it takes about a year as they only do a certain amount of Medicare. Then they called me and I went to see the Dr. last week. I have lost 44 lbs since last January. I am not sure why, but a year ago in July, i had a total knee replacement, then in October I had surgery to repair a c3-c4-c5 in my neck, and ever since they have healed up, no more pain, and a heck of a lot more active. I will keep you posted as I hope to continue on with this process.

I am so tickled for you, Cajun!! What I am especially tickled with is your surgery date--you know, many are stalling until "after the holidays" to get banded ("Just one more holiday, please") and I am so proud of those who are getting banded BEFORE Christmas! (I was set up to have a second fill on December 28th and moved it up to December 21st--I want to be tight for Christmas!) So my hat (if I wore one!) is off to you!!!

Don't sweat the small stuff! You are gonna do great and in a few short weeks the pain will be forgotten and you life begins again. Good luck, Jamie. Hang on tight, you are in for a great ride!

Hi I am here in colorado springs my hubby is in the Army here at Fort carson. I am 27 235 pounds and a BMI of 41.5 I went yesterday to my Doc and he put my referral in to Tri Care For the lap band I am so happy. I was on WW for 7 months lost 25 pounds and it all came back in the matter of weeks I have insulin resistance and PCOS.

I'm a little over a year out and I still usually start my day with a Protein bar, especially if I'm going to the gym. I use the Premier Protein Bars, which have 30 grams of protein. I also eat a mini babybel before I take my Vitamins because Iron makes me sick to my stomach. Eatng something first helps. lunch and dinner are usually straight protein, chicken, beef or pork. My Snacks are evolving now into fruits and veggies because I know they need to be part of my diet. I have been meeting or exceeding my original protein goal (70g daily) since about a month post op. I have actually upped my protein goal in the last few weeks to 90g daily because I've increased my workouts. You will find a way to get there.

Hello everyone--My name is Cristi and I am so happy to have found this site. I was always thin growing up and I never even knew to appreciate it its just what I was. I gained 100 lbs with my first pregnancy and have had no metabolism since-I worked really hard to get all 100 plus 30 2 yrs after birth but it was a constant battle-it had to be my every thought. since then I had 3 babies back to back to back so you can imagine. I have severe asthma so its almost like a catch 22 for me--I can't move around and do alot until I get some of the weight off, but I can't get the weight off until I get more physical. My insurance just approved the surgery today-(after jumping thru a series of hoops) and the surgery should take place in the next 2 weeks. I am sooo excited and ready for this--I'm ready to play with my kids again I'm ready to not dread getting dressed everyday, and I'm ready to not be out of breath just from reading a sentence or two to my boys. I look forward to taking this journey with all of you and I wish you all luck

Hi everyone! I am so glad to have found this site. I am 35 years old and I weight 247 and I am 5'8 which puts me at a BMI of 37. So that means I need co-morbidities to get approved. It has been a long wait. I started the process in March with the LB workshop. I got word that my insurance (which is Aetna PPO) requires you to do a 3 month weight managemet with your surgeon, 1 physic consult, and 3 nutrition consults and a letter from my PCP. We have everything submitted and it has been 2 weeks today since I had my last appointment with the surgeon. I am to the point I am ready, but scared. I have never been this size, but started to gain weight after my hysterectomy 8 years ago. I have tried many things, but nothing seems to work. I am an active person. I already have asthma, just diagnosed with rheumotoid arthritis, sleep apena. I hope that is enough to get approved. The only part I am worried about is the protein shakes. I have not found one that I can learn to like. Hope I make lots of friends. The waiting is killing me.

I was sleeved on the 6th with a band removal. I made a mistake by eating fresh mozzarella on my 8 and 9 days, maybe an ounce or two. I am back on liquids for two more weeks. I posted a similar message and folks told me don't do it! So I won't.. Good luck!

Hello! I have my first appointment with Dr. Ghiassi this coming week. I'm pretty excited! Dr. Boone did my fathers surgery about 10 years ago and has absolutely loved the support he's gotten from the staff all these years

Hi there I had my surgery at Barix in Ypsilanti, MI (my fills will be done at their Holland, MI office, which is much closer for me) My Dr. is Dr. Shramm, and I am really happy with him and the whole Barix setup. Surgeries are also done in the town where I live, but the doctor doing them has only 1 year experience, and Dr Shramm was my friend's doctor 4 years ago. Also, bariatric/LB surgery is ALL they do at Barix (Ypsi is just outside Detroit) so I felt that any potential complication would be in good hands. My insurance requires an overnight stay, and I was glad they did (although I didn't get much rest with the respiratory therapist and nurses coming in every 2 hours!) I was on full liquids for 3 weeks after, then blended foods for 2 weeks, then go to "soft foods" (what you could chew without teeth :eyebrows: ) then regular food. I am supposed to not lift anything over 5 lbs for 3 - 4 weeks, stay out of the pool for 6 weeks, and walk 30 min a day or more from day 1 (I did my first "walk" at Kohls the day after surgery - probably not the best idea) I did go back to work on day 8 - I'm a massage therapist and saw just 1 client - and have had no pain, but did feel very tired for the first 2 weeks. I really had to look down and see the "ruffles" on my tummy (surgistrips, starting to come off) to remember I had something so major done. I'd love to hear your experience with fills, choices of food, and weight loss. I am down about 18 lbs 3 weeks after surgery, and back working pretty much full time (4 or so clients a day, up to 3 days a week) Also, if you had surgistrips, and they have come off - HOW do you get the adhesive off!?? :help:

I am with you... My date is 11/6. I cant wait. Started my 2 week pre op diet today! :mad:

hey there... well, I have a friend who was supposed to be banded the week before me and she didn't follow the pre op diet as strictly as she definetly should have and when they got in there to put in her band they couldn't do it. Her liver was to large. She had lost weight but not enough. So she had the surgery but didn't receive the band. I had a tough time but stuck to the preop diet. I lost alot in those two weeks and it was pure hell but worth it when I knew that I would be getting banded. I hope that gives you the inspiration to NOT CHEAT.

Hi Sweetp. I was banded in Mexico about five weeks ago. I will be getting my fills at Barix in Ypsilanti. I live not too far from there. My daughter lives in your part of the state in Allendale. We will be up there this week babysittling while she gives birth. I have to call for a fill as soon as we get back home.

The shoulder pain is normal unfortunately. I was banded 9/4 and am still having the pain. Heating pad, GasX and WALKING are the only things that really seem to be reccomended for that. Stomach noises.. oh yes.. mine has been pretty noisey too. If you are having that much trouble with getting down a yogurt, I would stick to liquids. My doc had me stay on clear liquids for the first week anways. I just moved to full liquids, and then will move to mushies next week. But every doctor is different in what they reccomend. Hang in there.. I'm a week out.. it really does get easier!

What you had your first fill this week! I can't belive that because my doc will not do any until at least 4 to 6 wks after surgery. Well I wish I could do that. Well tell us how your fill goes. Congrats!