My name is Peter, and I'm from NYC, although I've lived in DC, FL, TX, MI, and CA. I consider NoCal to be my home. San Francisco is my favorite city in the world.

I'm getting the procedure tomorrow; meeting the surgeon (Christine Ren from NYU MC) at 6am. Procedure starts 7:30am. At that hour, I doubt I'll need any anesthesia. :thumbup:

I've been on a liquid only diet for 2 weeks. The first 5 days were one of the hardest things I've ever done, but watching the procedure done "for reals" on youtube gave me the will and resolve to stick it out on 1000 cal/day Protein shake diet. The 2 cups of veggies were the high point of my day.

I've been faithful to the diet, and other than days where I probably had more like 3 cups of veggies, I have been 100% faithful to the diet. OK, there was one day I fell off the wagon and had 4 cups of veggies.

My pre-op diet went something like this:

Days 1-3: Agony. Pain. Like a drug addict in withdrawal.

Days 4-5: Misery.

Days 6-10: Much easier, but I felt like an angsty teenager, looking at a pizzeria or a deli knowing they aren't for me. I became angry with things like Subway sandwiches and yogurt. Typical "diet food" that was off limits for me.

After day 10, I have to say the diet is much easier. Occasionally I feel hungry, but it almost feels natural to go for some rose-Water or some spicy broth.

In all, I have lost 20lbs on this crazy diet.

It's not that I'm not looking forward to eating my first pizza, but I really think the pre-op diet will make the 10 day post-op liquid diet much easier. I feel more prepared for it. Oh, I also have found the diet is MUCH easier on days I go to work. The weekends are much harder for me.

I did a lot of research on bands, and decided that unless my surgeon thinks otherwise, I want the Realize-C. The reasons AGAINST the Realize-C are:

1. LapBand AP seems to have more weight loss associated with it. However, I am a mathematician, and I know claims like this are nearly meaningless. Contrary to what people say, statistics don't lie, however, you need an unbiased researcher who wants to do a good job, and this particular statistic does not come from an unbiased researcher.

2. The LB-AP is 3rd gen while the Realize-C is 2nd gen. True, but not compelling. I'm sure the Realize-C engineers had a LB-AP in their hands while contemplating the Realize-C design.

3. There is some empirical evidence that the Realize-C balloon may crease, causing saline leakage when past a fill of 9.0. However, I have full faith in my surgeon, and if she thought the risk was anything other than nearly insignificant, she wouldn't have offered it to me. There is risk in everything we do.

There are numerous benefits to the Realize-C which seem compelling, but I think the port profile and insertion technique is what put me over the edge in favor of the Realize-C.

So therefore, I'm going to ask her for the Realize-C unless opening me up reveals that LB-AP is a better choice.

I have no number "goal" weight. My goal is to look great naked. I don't care if that puts me at 150, 180, or 200. I want to look at the mirror and say "Hell yeah, that's *my* body. Awwwww yeeeaaahhhhhhh......".

I also want to be able to shop in any clothing store and be able to find clothes that fit. About a year ago, I went to H&M and not a single pair of pants fit me in the entire store. Not one. I was traumatized. So my secondary goal is to be able to find groovy clothes that fit me anywhere in any store.

My last goal is to learn moderation. I want to eat a single pizza for lunch and say "You know? That was delicious and filling". Currently, even 2 pizzas would leave me hungry.

I eat great food. I don't eat candy or sweets. I don't eat fast food at all. My last Big Mac was in 1986. My last KFC was in 2003, but before that, it was probably sometime in the 80's. However, I currently do not know moderation, e.g. I can eat a whole jar of Peanut Butter.

I have made a few theories about weight loss in the past few weeks. I'm not sure if they're true, but it's what I've seen.

1. If you lose more than 2lbs in a day, expect diarrhea. Your body is probably in shock.

2. If you eat something, the weight you'll gain will not show up on a scale anytime soon. It takes about a day or two for the weight to fully show up. I have no idea why. It just appears to be true.

3. There is a moment in the morning where your weight is at a minimum. Past that time, even if you don't eat or drink a single solitary thing, your weight will increase. For me, that time is somewhere between 7:30am and 9:30am.

Anyway, that's pretty much everything. I'm glad to have found this resource. I still have loads and loads to learn. I doubt I'll be able to meet support groups since I work in the financial district all the way downtown NYC, and sometimes I keep pretty late hours at work. But I'm hoping that forums like this will be a good substitute.

Pete

Thanks Tracy!

I hear you about being inside and a part of the OR. I can't imagine what your job must be like. I've always heard that surgeons develop a strange detachment to horrifying situations because if they didn't, they'd be miserable thinking of all the people they work on.

The nurses and staff at the NYU Bariatric Center have been wonderful. In fact, one of things I'm going to do today is send flowers to my surgical coordinator because she has been SO wonderful with everything.

I think part of the reason is that doctors must have a really awful job -- telling people the most awful thing you can tell someone. And the nurses caring for people who have no hope.

But bariatric hospital staff must be different. The office workers, staff, nurses, doctors see people who have suffered their entire lives. We have dieted and rode the weight rollercoaster our entire lives, and suddenly, we are being given the chance to reclaim our lives and really live to our full potential.

No more searching the closets for a shirt that doesn't show a roll of fat. No more feeling awkward about having our pictures taken. I'm sure our excitement rubs off them, and I would imagine that even though there's a lot of fat people in the office, it must be a very positive, very good-vibe kind of place to work.

Everytime I had to go to NYUMC, I couldn't help but have an out of control smile on my face. :scared2:

Dear Peter,

Your post cracks me up! I got banded last Monday (3/8) I don't know what model it is, just know its a lap band. I am more freaked out by what I can and cannot eat. I have lost 10lbs since the surgery. And people that don't know what I have had done are telling me I look skinnier :scared2:. But losing weight was never the issue for me. It was keeping it off. I bet I have lost over 500 lbs in my liftetime. I had a pre-op diet but I cheated on that. I still lost 12lbs though. I am happy it does not hurt to breathe in anymore. Frankly if they did not show me a picture of my stomach with the lapband in place I would not believe it was in. I have had a minimal amount of pain. Getting used to the way to eat is the hardest part for me. And it seems like every other commercial is about food. Plus I live in Chicago now which is a food capital. I used to live in L.A. but it seems like there are tons of places to eat around here. Good luck on your journey.

Cathy

Hey Cathy,

If you got a Lap-Band lapband, you almost certainly got the Lap-Band AP, with a whopping 14mL fill volume. It's their 3rd gen model. My surgeon said that Realize is often better for men and LabBand is often better for women. One of the reasons is that men usually have a layer of (healthy to have) fat that never disappears. It's encoded in our DNA just like wider hips are encoded in females' DNA. The Realize bands have a curve that accommodates that layer. I guess it's genetic leftover when we left our caves for a few days to wrestle apes and bring back dead boars to feed our fellow cave dwellers.

Please don't tell my friends and family, but I have a passion for Chicago style pizza. In fact, my last 2 meals were a hot pastrami on rye from the 2nd Ave deli and Chicago deep dish style pizza. :-) But I live in NYC, which is also a food capital....

There are a few things that make me sad, like calamari and Chicago pizza, but as they say, nothing tastes nearly as good as being thin feels. I've also heard that people with LB lose the same kind of cravings that we used to have. It's now been a week for you -- are you finding that to be true? I imagine you haven't had your first fill yet.

I'm relieved to hear that breathing is painful for others. Nobody warned me about that; I was stressing a little that that I was the only one. The hospital gave me a little breathing exercise device. I'm supposed to hit the 1500 mark. Right after surgery, I think I was able to hit like ... 500. In the evening I got up to 1000. This afternoon I hit 1200.

I wonder of there's a LB FAQ out there? Your reply, along with a number of posts I've read here, have taught me a great deal about pre-op and post-op issues.

Pete

Hi Bob! Welcome! :scared2:

My procedure is scheduled for the 22nd. I can't wait! I'm slightly nervous but for the most part, just want to get it over with. I agree - my first four days on the pre-op diet were TORTURE. I wanted to strangle someone. But, it's gotten a lot better.

I do agree - I wish they had something other than sickenly sweet foods. Ick. I used to have a sweet tooth. I think it's run away and will never come back now. Blech.

You'll do great tomorrow! Just talk to the people on this site. Those who have been banded are so positive and it's encouraging to see how it's done! :thumbup:

Hey Pete,

No one told me that there was a limit to the amount of fluids you could take in either. I had a little reflux on the 2nd day after surgery when I got over zealous with a Protein Shake. it was in a word, weird. I am going to miss food and I am a great cook. I have to learn how to cook more healthy fare I guess. It amazing to me the amount information we don't know about this. I mean I was and am still sold on the surgery but it kind of freaks me out the on the number of differences in people's experiences. Some had the pre-op diet some people ate mushy food right away. Where does it end? And everyone has different trials and tribulations they must go through. Sometimes I feel weird that I don't have more issues. Maybe its the luck of the draw or maybe I have yet to run into them.:thumbup: I am on this journey and am grateful that this forum is out here for people like us. I so don't want to be an island :scared2:

Pete,

I swear I'm going to follow you around to watch your progress as I haven't giggled so much in quite some time. I like your writing style. :thumbup:

I'm getting banded tomorrow at 2:45pm (yeah, right.. my doc is notoriously late so it'll probably be 3:30ish) and I cannot wait! I'm not nervous for the surgery, either, but rather the recovery. I've had the shoulder pain from surgery gas before and it "ain't" pretty. Oh well... if that's the worst I have to endure then this will be a piece of cake (light, and well-chewed, of course.)

I'm also dreading sitting in another room hearing all of the people around me farting up a storm like after my EGD test. Goodness, the poor people.

I'm tempted to put a St. Patty's Day temp tattoo on my belly for my doctor's amusement, but I'm not sure where to put it. I looked through the scar thread yesterday and dangit but the insertions can be anywhere.

Good luck to everyone on your continued recovery!:scared2:

Wendy

Great posting Jen! Lots of great information. I'm taking notes to help me with my preop diet... not sure when it will be... but i'll be ready!

Best of luck as you start your new life Journey!! Can't wait to join you!!!

Tracy