Hi everyone, this looks like such a friendly site, that although I`ve never done this before I felt I wanted to post my feelings on here. Last Monday - 8th I had my initial consultation with my surgeon to explore the idea of gastric banding. During that a dtae was set for 29th March. Today I have seen a specialist nurse who was lovely and explained to me what life would be like post op - everything mashed, no tomatoes or salad ever, no white bread ever etc. etc. and my heads now in a complete spin. I know that loosing the weight is the most important thing but the thought of never again eating fresh salad, or strawberries etc. etc. is really difficult to get my head round. Am I going through a normal process? :wink2:

Well I'm sorry she shared that negative information she must not be educated in the post op diet and life after. I can tell you I'm post op 5 weeks and have some restriction and I have yet come across anything I can not eat. I had strawberries this morning for breakfast and toast with laughing cow cheese with slices of tomato and a little salt and pepper nothing mashed. Althought everyone is different. The most important part is to chew, chew, chew. Please remember this journey is a new start and a good start. I love having the band and only wish I would of done it years ago.

Edited March 13, 201016 yr by Becky Lou

I think maybe she was just describing the post op diet, when everything has to be pureed/mushie. I've been banded for 8 months and there are very few things I can't eat (bread is tough), generally I eat the protein, vegetables & fruits I did presurgery, just in smaller amounts. I know there some people that are more limited, but unfortunately you don't know until after surgery.

One thing I will say is that you need to research and get as educated as you can before surgery. I had over 6 months because of insurance requirements. I don't think I would have gotten fully prepared in less than a month, so don't let the Dr. rush you into anything. Good luck! It's a great tool!

A lot of after surgery eating is determined by how tight you personally want your band. I have mine on the loose side, once I reach goal it will be even more loose. I have good restriction but I still eat strawberries, tomatoes, salad, every veggie, steak, chicken, pasta, rice, eggs and bacon, but I have to avoid bread and tortillas because they make me uncomfortable. But I feel like after I am at goal and I loosen the band some I will be able to eat bread as well, just not as much of it. I think people will not stay on a very restrictive diet forever, if you are limited to just a few items you will get bored and start on sliders. So I have my and on the loose side so that I have a large variety of food choices. It is a matter of how you decide to work your tool.

you will get bored and start on sliders.

Can you give me some examples of sliders?

I don't mean this in a snarky way- it is completely sincere: I find the fact that he is willing to perform this kind of surgery on you two weeks from now extremely unsettling.

I don't know where you are located, but if at all possible, look into another practice that has a more comprehensive approach.

Yes, it can be frustrating to delay this, but honestly, I have read so much on these boards from people who are MISERABLE and downright SCARED post op because they just did not have the information they need to be successful.

I started this process in November with a seminar. Since then I have pored over these boards, met one on one with my nutritionist, had 2 group nutrition classes (one more to go), met with a psychologist, met with my PCP to discuss the procedure and had tons of tests to make sure my body can handle this.

I probably won't be banded until May at the earliest, but every single day I learn something new from this site and the blogs I follow and I can't imagine where I'd be if I had been banded 14 days after my very first conversation with a Dr.

This is a change FOR LIFE. Please do not rush into it. Use the search function here and post any questions you can't find answers to. I think you'll be amazed at how generous everyone can be.

Best of luck to you-

kagead

you will get bored and start on sliders.

Can you give me some examples of sliders?

Sure, sliders are high calorie foods that are easy to eat. They vary for different people but can consist of Ice Cream, Milkshakes, smoothies, Yogurt, pudding, Soups, chocolate, Breakfast cereals, Chili, any type of sauce added to meat, plus tarter sauce on fish can make it a slider. They are called sliders cause the slide right through the band into your big stomach leaving the pouch empty and calling for more food. It defeats the purpose. Usually these are high calorie, low nutrition foods. If you get too tight you can start just eating high calorie, easy to swallow sliders and then you are getting too many calories and not enough nutrition plus you feel hungry. Triple whammy!

Also I was banded within 1 month of my initial consultation. But do research it before you jump in. (Jumping into things is my specialty, I would lose my mind if I had to wait a year)

hi there i too am in the begining phases i'm a self pay who got tired of jumping through the hoops and decided to take out a student loan to apy for this becuase its that important to me. I will say this site is sooooo helpful the people hear are awsome they are very knowledable and so kind i recomend trying the chat room it's a great place to get real time answers. Lmason you must be a virgo:) i'm the same way:) best regards

Sure, sliders are high calorie foods that are easy to eat. They vary for different people but can consist of Ice Cream, Milkshakes, smoothies, Yogurt, pudding, Soups, chocolate, Breakfast cereals, Chili, any type of sauce added to meat, plus tarter sauce on fish can make it a slider. They are called sliders cause the slide right through the band into your big stomach leaving the pouch empty and calling for more food. It defeats the purpose. Usually these are high calorie, low nutrition foods. If you get too tight you can start just eating high calorie, easy to swallow sliders and then you are getting too many calories and not enough nutrition plus you feel hungry. Triple whammy!

Also I was banded within 1 month of my initial consultation. But do research it before you jump in. (Jumping into things is my specialty, I would lose my mind if I had to wait a year)

I wouldn't really call chili and fish sliders. Unless you're ignoring all the Beans and meat in the chili...

Everyone is different!

I had my consultation 1/10/10.

Then had my surgery 1/31/10.

BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE.

In 6 weeks I have lost 28 lbs. - I have had normal blood sugars tests everyday for the last month. That's a miracle for me. This morning my fasting glucose test was 98!

I had my first fill last weekend. I was never told to avoid strawberries, in fact, I add them in the blender each morning in my Protein shake. I do fine with "moist" chicken and ground beef. I haven't tried steak yet. I haven't tried any type of bread yet - too paranoid. I had a chili rellano and had no problems.

Remember chew chew chew - small bites at all times!

I am there with you I am scheduled for 3-20 a week away. I am so nervous. I saw one of the people on here was banded on my bday 1-27 :wink2: I am glad i found this site and wish you luck. I will check back to see if more resposes or comments have been made.

Thank you, thank you, thankyou.:wink2: Feeling much more positive again this morning, and very excited. Kagead yes I guess you`re right it is very quick, but now I`ve been given a date I`m reluctant to delay it. I`m usually 90% positive and ready, but the nurse really rocked my boat. She is 3 months post op and having a difficult time so I guess that influenced my consultation. Good luck alexxamarie, hows the pre-op diet going? I start tomorrow.

Thanks again to everyone who reassured me that I am in control of how tight I want the band and how I make the journey. xx

I too was banded quite quickly But I went to a seminar did rersearch months before I saw the surgeon , when I saw him I was book in 9 days later so only had to be on the pre op Optifast diet for 9 days , he said he wasn`t worried about me as I was in pretty good health non drinker so felt my liver would not be a problem...

I have had no problems what so ever , no pain after the op only a sore tummy for a few days felt tired and slept a lot , had one week on fluids (soups/optifast/jellies) but this didn`t worry me at all, then the past 2 weeks I have been on blended foods , I basically just blended whatever food I cooked the family for dinner and ate a small bowl (baby food)..spaghetti Bol with pasta/curried chicken and rice/roast chicken,potato,sweet potato, Beans with Gravy/stew...Just had to have plenty of liquid(gravy/juice) to blend it with ..I also had Soups (no lumps) low fat yoguart/porridge for Breakfast....I am off to the dietitian tomorrow and hopefully I can have real food and chew it even if only small portions, she told me once I go onto eating normally mostt everything is fine , some people have a problem with rice,white bread but this can be over come by toasting the bread or having multi grain bread (which we do anyway)....

Its not easy but its certainly doable and very much worth while especially as the kilo`s / pounds come off...

Best of luck with your decision...I hope you have a problem free journey....

Marion

I am not on the pre op diet, my doctor only requires it for BMI over 45. Good to see you are more positive, I am still emotional nervous and such thanks to someone who doesn't want me to do it and is focusing on the negative. Anyway Good luck!

I am SO Happy.....

NO MORE MUshies..... :thumbup:

Feeling GR88888888888888888888T , Lost 2kilos in the 2 weeks on mushies....

AND I CAN EAT NORMAL FOODS NOW........Yeah !!!

I came home and had 3 cruskits with low fat cheese spread , it was so much better than having yogurt, I like Yogurt BUT after 2 weeks I wanted a change....

FOR dinner

I managed 1/4 salmon fillet ,1 potato 4 asparagus spears a spoon of Quinoa (instead of rice) and am as full as a goog, a bread and butter plate and I couldn`t finish it ....I was so looking forward to it real food after 5 weeks and thought I could demolish the lot no problems ...But thats great proves to me the band is working even though I don`t have a fill yet..

I am Booked for Tuesday 6th April (Easter Tuesday) for my first fill............3 weeks ...

I told the dietitian I was going to have a Easter egg to Celebrate ... will be my first chocolate since February and I LOVE CHOCOLATE.........

Can you tell I feel very very HAPPY .......

Majj!! Your excitement is WONDERFUL! Well done you! Love hearing all this positive talk! Keep up the good work and stay in touch! :thumbup: And yes... can tell you are very happy! It's contagious!