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Well I only had to do liquids for 3 days prior to surgery. I did have a lowcarb diet I had to do for 7 days prior to that though. What got me through it was a lot of whining to the dogs, and the realization that I only had to do it for X amount of time, and any weight I lost during that time was going to stay off, as opposed to other times that I tried to starve myself and nothing happened with the scale I have a desk job with a bit of flexibility. I took 1 week + 1day off (monday through the following Monday, returning on Tuesday). The remainder of the week that I came back, I worked 5-6 hours instead of 9. I think time off really depends on what you do though

Restless Monkey, i am waiting for insurance approval hopefully in next week. I was diagnosed with a fatty liver about 4 years ago. what will my preop have me do different.

Oh yeah, #9granny, donating plasma is the same process as donating blood. So the only pain is a poke in the arm. The main difference is the process of separating the blood cells and returning them to you while they keep the plasma (clear fluids and proteins). I donated while in school and once I qualified after the sleeve procedure (had to be 1 year post major surgery) I started donating again. For me the challenge is to keep my Protein level up so I drink the 20 gm Protein shakes at least once a day and 2 times a day if my readings are low (the plasma center checks your protein every time you donate and will defer you for a week if you drop below 6.0)

My Dr.'s protocol was every 4 weeks from the day of surgery....I GAINED weight between my first and second fill....but then I only needed 3 fills over 12 weeks....and that was over 3 years ago...still holding fast and steady ever since. A lot depends upon how much your Dr. gives per fill also....My Dr. was aggressive with me....and I've been told by some other of his patients he was not so aggressive....

I call my dr speedy Gonzales because everything he does is fast paced. 1 appt before the surgery, back to work 1 week after the surgery, back on solids 1 week after the surgery, large fills. Anyway, even HE wouldn't fill me before 3 weeks in between. I know you are anxious but just give it time and adjust yourself. You will get there. I just went for my 3rd fill today, hoping I'm finally where I need to be in between 6.5-7 cc and my dr said I seem to be kind of tight but I felt like where I was with 1 cc less was too little.

Have a great week everyone! Had lapband surgery 10/12/16

Hi Sandra, Things are going okay for me. I was very afraid of beginning any exercise too early and have now been on my 5K training program for 3 weeks without any problems. I too have had 2 fills. Not quite at the sweet spot, but hopefully that will be soon. I suppose slower is better...don't want to stretch the pouch. I have a total loss of 31 pounds, but only 15 of that is since surgery. I only lost 1 pound last last month. I think I was eating too much at mealtimes, however, my surgeon told me to eat whenever I got hungry as it is too hard to eat slowly and small bites when hungry, which is still a problem for me, and I have pretty bad pain from the restriction when I swallow too much or too often. It's a learned process. I just hope I don't damage something while learning. Anyway, hope you continue with your success. It sounds like you are doing an awesome job! Keep me posted! And yes, I try to only weigh once a week, but it is hard not to every day!

Hey, I was given a new recipe: banana Surprise Muffins Preheat oven to 350 degrees -15 oz container of LF Ricotta Cheese
 -8 oz package of LF Cream cheese (you will need an additional 4 oz of LF cream cheese for the surprise part)
 -1/2 c. Soy milk (I used Vanilla)
 -1/2 c. Splenda
 -1/2 c. Egg Beaters (or 2 eggs)
 -1 tsp of Vanilla
 -3 servings of your favorite flavor Protein powder (Of course I used Chike Banana)
 -1/4 c. whole wheat flour Mix together all ingredients (except the extra 4 oz of LF cream cheese) in a mixing bowl. Pour into greased muffin tins - I made 12 and I could have made 3 more but I just tossed the excess batter - however the stats below are based on the full 15 for accuracy reasons (if that makes sense). Cut the other 4 oz of LF cream cheese into 12 equally sized cubes and push down into the middle of each muffin (optional).

 Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

 I haven't made these but they sound divine!

i went throught same thing my dr wanted me to have gastric or sleeve but i was scared didnt want something i could not get off if i changed my mind and had problems so i went with lap band i have lost 20 lbs in 4 weeks thats counting the 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after but i am happy with it good luck to u

Easy vegetable-rice soup Serves 4 Of course, you may chop a fresh onion and a bell pepper or two to substitute for the frozen mixture but why? I prefer the convenience. Some frozen onion-bell pepper mixes contain celery or other seasoning vegetables. They work fine, as do larger quantities of the vegetables (if you should find a 1-pound bag, for instance, use that). 1 tablespoon canola oil 12 ounces smoked sausage, such as kielbasa or skinless turkey smokes sausage 12 ounces frozen onion-bell pepper mix 3 to 4 cups minced fresh green cabbage ( I will use a bag of cole slaw cabbage) 2 cloves garlic, minced, about 2 teaspoons 1 teaspoon thyme A 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional 1 quart reduced-sodium chicken broth 2/3 cup white or brown rice 15 ounces canned crushed tomatoes Put oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Chop sausage into A 1/4-inch (or so) pieces ( I cut the sausage in slices then quarter those so I get sausage in every bite), and add to saucepan as you do. When all the sausage is added, cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown. Add onion-bell pepper mix, and stir. Add cabbage, garlic and thyme (and cayenne pepper, if using) as you get them ready. Keeping the heat as high as you can, cook 15 minutes more, stirring occasionally, or until the vegetables are tender and have reduced quite a bit in size. Add chicken broth, 1 cup of water and rice. When the mixture boils, reduce heat, cover and cook 15 minutes, or until rice is tender. Stir in tomatoes, bring to a boil and serve. Serve with garlic bread. Nutrient data per serving: 368 calories, 20 grams protein, 49 grams carbohydrate, 7 grams fiber, 11 grams fat Courtesy of Sarah Fritschner, Courier Journal http://www.blogger.com/home

Was banded on may 1, all went well the last two weeks. I found my appetite increased the last two days. I am very nervous about that because my dr has not scheduled me for a fill yet. This was a big decision for me to make. I don't want to be a failure

Right. I would hope it wouldn't be an urgent matter. Actually, my original question, though I may have phrased it a little awkwardly, was really this: After you have been banded for a long time (think years, here), and goal is reached (Hope, hope), will it be necessary to have fills regularly? Will the band maintain the fill or is there leakage that might require more fills in the future? I suppose that a lot depends on the individual person, but I am trying to anticipate any problems that could occur. I have my first consultation with my doc in a couple of weeks, and I will have a lot of questions for him. I am kind of looking for what actual users (of several years) are experiencing. Thanks lot to all of you.

Some people are filled beyond capacity, but I believe most find that they don't need to be. The band by itself, without fill, will give you some restriction. Some people make it to goal without any fills. The Fluid added from there just increases that. Ideally by the time you reach goal you'll have been able to change your behaviors enough that fills aren't required for a lifetime. However, if you aren't able to do that, or have situations come up that make it near impossible (e.g. pregnancy), then your band is there and you can seek out a fill. I can't remember where from, but I've heard the statistic that after the first 2 years, fills are really only done if weightloss warrants (reduced organ size requires tighter band for continued restriction), post-pregnany (returning restriction to where it was), etc. I believe there are doctors who are starting to empty the fill after the first 2 - 3 years, too -- again supporting the idea that the behavior change should have occured by then.

Mine was very similar! Five shakes a day and a meal at the end consisting of a small amount of protein along with very select vegetables. Is yours for two weeks? One week? Mine was for a month! It can be very hard to get through, but you just have to push through it! The first week or so I was very tired, no energy at all, and just laid on the couch a lot (outside of a bit of exercise.) It got better after that though. Try to get in your liquids, as they do help a bit at least (and a lot for some) when it comes to hunger. As for my surgery, it went very well! The first few weeks were no real issues, outside of normal post-surgery stuff, though now I am dealing with a lot of nausea and general sick feelings. I think it may be attributed to my vitamin pill, or at least that may be part of it. Thank you for asking though! Despite my frustrations and the nausea, I am still glad I went through with the surgery. It's been great to watch the scale go down, down, down!

I really like unjury. It comes in two kinds of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. I order it online from unjury and it usually arrives in the mail in less than a week. They also have a starter pack to try the individual packets. pam

twobluecats: i am the same way. everybody is moving out upstairs but not downstairs. my husband had the rny about 3 weeks after my sleeve and he is down 3 pants sizes and hardly has bugded upstairs. i just would like for it all to come off at the same time but i guess i didn't put it on in one day so i can't expect it to come off in one day!!!!

No pre-op diet here either....3 weeks of liquid after surgery will be long enough!

Im 4 weeks out and have 2 cup, 1 for morning and the other for afternoon with lactosfree milk. Im ok with it. Before the sleeve I have 8-10 cup a day.

Hey, I am a teacher in Tennessee. I am having my surgery Dec. 14th and then taking the next week off before our break begins. My daughter, who is also a teacher, is having her surgery on Dec. 21st. We are both very excited!!!

I'm 7 weeks out today, and started getting a stomach ache yesterday morning. I thought maybe it was something I ate, so I didn't eat anything for a while and tried again. Today I went back to all liquids, and I still have a stomach ache and it's worse when I drink anything - hot or cold. It's not a right side pain - like what I assume gallbladder would be, and it's fairly constant. Ideas? I'm going to try calling my doctor's office after their lunch break.

I was never put under either and here i am 32 pounds ligther. I ws sleeved on 11/05/12 and I got to the hospital, filled out paperwork, went to the back to get changes and to get my vitals done. met with doctors to confirm what we were doing that day they went over every little detail and answered all my questions. the I was hooked up to the IV and was taken to the OR. they told me to lay on the table the nurse grabed my hand and assured me she will be there taking care of me through out the whole thing and after that I was out. I woke up in the recovery room in a bit of pain and I was hooked up to the morphine after that I was heaven becuase I didn't feel pain I spend 2 days in the hospital alto of Iv's fluids, antiacids and pain killer as needed I walked I sipped (after the leak test of course) and of with me to my house all was well had no issues my expirience was great. I felt sore in the first 2 weeks but I've been feeling better every day after that.

My surgery is 3/18 also. I don't have a real pre-op diet, just 24 hrs before. What I wanted to say is regarding the protein shakes. try mixing different flavors in with your vanilla protein powder, orange crystal light powder to vanilla protein powder makes a pretty good orange Julius flavor. and pumpkin makes a good shake also. try different amounts of different flavoring. my sister had her sleeve surgery 5 weeks ago, and says she really has to remember to eat. I guess you get a hollow feeling when your hungry which isn't often. She has also started buying vitamin waters at Wal-Mart ($1) she adds crystal light, clear protein powder and miralax to the bottle. gets her protein, liquids, some vitamins and her stool softener all in one. Just play around with what you can have. create your own recipes. for clear liquids, go get you some chicken taco soup, strain it, or wonton soup, strain it. add a little clear protein powder to everything you can. Unjury has a really good clear protein powder, hope this helps. now I just have to take my own advice!!! good luck and stay in touch, maybe we can help walk each other thru this!!

Hi all. This may be kind of long, so please bear with me. 13 years ago, due to a nasty divorce, I went on a diet of coffee and Water, and lost somewhere around 100 lbs in a little over 3 months. At that time, I started having major chest pain every time I had my period-to the point where I needed to be hospitalized every month for 4 days. I was throwing up bile and in so much pain every month-it was what I imagine a heart attack would feel like. They did extensive testing on me, and figured out that it was some kind of combination of endometriosis coupled with a strange form of pancreatitis. They decided there was some kind of pancreatitis involved, because during 2 different hospital stays, my amylase levels were way way up, and any surgeries that were consequently done triggered off attacks as bad as the ones I got with my period. They went in looking for the endometriosis, but never found it-although they told me that although they couldnt find it that didnt mean it wasnt there. I should also mention that until then, and after that I was never able to get pregnant, and we did end up adopting 2 beautiful children. I begged my dr to do a full hysterectomy, but he refused because they werent exactly sure what was causing the problem, so therefore they couldnt be sure that would stop it. I should mention that during this time, since they were testing for all kinds of things, they found I had a huge amount of gallstones, and they did a laparoscopy to remove my gall bladder. The surgery went well, however I did have an attack that lasted 4 days after, and the only thing that helped with the pain at that point was shots of dilaudid-(a form of heroin usually only given to cancer patients in their last days.... The doctor finally did put me on Lupron shots to stop my period, and I took them every month for over 5 years. The attacks all stopped, and I havent had a problem since. He did stop the shots 6 months ago, and although I have my period again-very irregularly, very heavy-I havent had an attack-thank goodness. Now, with all the reading I have been doing, I see that one side affect that is listed in the side affects that happen in less then 1% is pancreatitis. I also see that they wont put the lap band in someone who has chronic pancreatitis. Now I should mention that many pancreas problems are due to drinking excessive amounts of alcohol-which I dont do-not now nor ever. Other then maybe a glass of champagne on new years and a beer or 2 in the course of a whole year, I dont touch the stuff. The doctors never felt this was chronic pancreatitis-but they believed that endometriosis may be attached to the pancreas somewhere in my system which is extremely unusual. I guess my question is twofold. I have about 200 lbs to lose, and although I havent had an attack in over 4 years, of course I am scared to death that it will start again-I really cant even describe the kind of pain that was for me....My health is severely deteriorating due to the extra weight. I cant walk far because of my legs, my ankles are always swollen, I wake up short of breath very often, and I am out of breath from walking across the street. I really dont know how long my body can take all these extra pounds, and I have a 4 and a 5 year old to be here for. I am wondering if anyone here has had their pancreas affected by the band at all, and how it happened...If the surgeon is willing to do the lap band surgery, can anyone familiar with pancreas problems give me any suggestions as to what the dr could do to avoid it? Do you think the type of meds they use to put me under could also have something to do with the problems I have had? I know no one here is a dr, I am just wondering if anyone else has had any kind of experience with this sort of thing. I have been reading alot on alot of different message boards, and I havent seen anyone mention anything about it....:help: If youve gotten this far in my messy story, thanks for reading-and thanks to anyone who can offer me any insight. I do have an appointment in early July to start the ball rolling...I know the dr will have his own opinions....I guess I just want to know what others think as well... ~Dawn

I found out yesterday I was approved, but I was told that I would have a year to do the surgery. Now I am told it is only good until the end of the year. I am so bummed, I planned on having it next spring. I can't afford to be off work for 6 weeks now. I have to be off for atleast 6 wks because I have to lift 75lbs at work. Thinking maybe I should just say heck with it and try diet medication instead of surgery. Now that I am approved my husband tells me I don't have to have surgery because I can do it without surgery if I just exercise.