Pre-Bander Who Wishes She'd Found This Place Sooner!

stinaNYC · February 5, 2006

Hello, everyone!

I just found this community today...6 days before my surgery (Feb 11th). My name is Christina (or stina for short), I'm 32 years old, and I'd been researching/considering LAP Band surgery for about a year before I decided to seriously go forward with it. I'll be having my surgery done by Dr. George Fielding at NYU Medical Center. I have a goal of 110 pounds, but depending on how I feel and look, I may go to 120...we'll play it by ear! :biggrin1:

To say that I'm nervous is an understatement. I know this is the right decision for me and my heath, and my family and friends are 100% supportive and proud. But I am nervous and scared of making the wrong food choices, of getting sick, of the surgery itself, of what it means to not be able to eat the way I used to, of how I might feel left out socially, etc.

I know these are probably all things that everyone feels at some point. I just feel like the surgery is coming up so fast and I don't have time to process it all. Additionally, I'm in line for a HUGE job that will mean a major step up in my career...this plus the surgery is at the same time is really messing with my head.

I hope to learn so much from all of you...any words of encouragement or advice you can give would be appreciative. Also, I'm not quite up on all the terminology, so be patient if I ask dumb questions! :biggrin1:

Speaking of...FIRST DUMB QUESTION! NYU's clinic tells its patients to go on a 1,000 calorie, low-fat, high Protein liquid diet for 2 weeks before surgery to de-fat the liver. Is this routine...have others gone through this, too? I just got through week one BARELY...but I felt like I wanted to rip someone's head off, I was that irritable! :angry

Thanks, everyone!

Alexandra · February 5, 2006

Hi Stina! Welcome to LBT and we're glad you're here.

Not all docs require a pre-op diet, no. And those who do don't necessarily do so routinely. But if it's been prescribed to you it's important to do it because it can significantly lessen the fat in (around?) your liver, which makes the surgery safer and easier. It's not just a power play on the part of the surgeon, but the reasons are not always explained well.

Just think, though, you'll be so far ahead of the game! You'll likely lose a good bit of weight on this preop regimen. Keep to it--you'll be so proud of yourself! :puke:

PhotoNut · February 5, 2006

Welcome Stina :puke:

Oh yes, any fear or question you have has been felt or asked by any number of us here. But noone ever seems to tire of welcoming new folks and answering the same questions again and again. I think that's because we appreciated it when it was done for us. I found this place about a month prior to my surgery date and it was an enormous comfort to me plus a wealth of information which always help calm the nerves.

I did the pre-op liver-shrinking diet as well. Sounds like pretty much the same thing. I drank Protein shakes, ate all the raw veggies I wanted (oh gee thanks.. just what I die for each day.. raw veggies) and I could have some brown rice if I just couldn't stand it. I made it through but my motivator was the fear of waking up from surgery to hear my liver was too enlarged with fat to safely move so.. no band.

Browse all the forums here. There is so much to learn and so many great people you'll meet and grow to love as you progress on your adventure!

Get excited! You're on the right road!

stinaNYC · February 5, 2006

Thanks for the warm welcomes, Alex and Susan...I'm pretty sure that the liquid diet is something the surgeon prescribes for *everyone* having the surgery...it's in their standard info packets. I've "cheated" twice, but kept the foods I cheated on low calorie AND low-fat, staying within the caloric restrictions for the day, and limiting portions. Now that I'm over the hump, I think I'll be okay for the next 6 days (except I REALLY want a turkey burger...lol!).

NeenBand · February 6, 2006

Hi Stina,

Everything you wrote I am experiencing right now too (except for the job part). I also considered Dr. Fielding, but going into NYC is convoluted and intimidates me (small town NJ girl here).

So, good thing you found this place, it's realistic and supportive with good info. Wish I could be more helpful, but I'm a newbie too.

vluckey · February 6, 2006

Hi Stina!

Welcome to LBT. I too found this place right before my surgery (like 4 days). I have found it very helpful. I also found it to be downright scary! Keep in mind, this is a place for help and support and you might hear of every worse case scenario. But there are 1000's of happy happy happy bandsters out here and I'm one of them.

Congratulations on your new life!

Vanessa

Dody · February 6, 2006

Because I have a very tiny abdominal aortic aneurysm that was discovered 3 years ago and has never grown (I'm so lucky it was found when it was), my GP ordered an abdominal scan (even though I only need one once a yr.) and it showed I have a smaller than normal liver, thus my surgeon says I need no pre-op diet to shrink the liver. I'm not yet to that stage where the surgery date has been set, but at least I know I don't have to shrink my liver and that is a blessing. It also doesn't give me grounds to be a piggy either. I am trying to follow bandster rules before the banding, so I will stick to Soups and mushies for the week before so I get into some good habits.

You are all so supportive here. I read all the posts all the time and have become so informed that I have surprised my surgeon with my questions about erosion, port infections and band slippage. I just tell him I have a personal pipeline to some experts :puke:.

As of yesterday I am now 64. Do any of you think I'm nuts having this procedure done at this age. I'm hoping to improve foot pain which limits my activity and some other medical issues that most everyone heavy has. Is 64 too old?

gadgetlady · February 6, 2006

Speaking of...FIRST DUMB QUESTION! NYU's clinic tells its patients to go on a 1,000 calorie, low-fat, high Protein liquid diet for 2 weeks before surgery to de-fat the liver. Is this routine...have others gone through this, too? I just got through week one BARELY...but I felt like I wanted to rip someone's head off, I was that irritable! :angry
Thanks, everyone!

I'm on the last day of my 2-week pre-op diet, which was actually an 800-calorie, 60-grams of Protein per day and unlimited veges. It wasn't too too bad, but today was awful! I'm soooo hungry. Clear liquids only, no protein at all. I just want to go to sleep so I don't have to deal with the hunger pangs LOL!

Best of luck to you!