ok I'm on board, started with the doctors appointments. I have a tentative date for mid December. Now my wonderful husband springs on me that we are going to Superbowl 2013. Which is about 6 weeks post op. Now if it was me and him going alone I wouldn't have a problem, but we are going with another couple and I am not sharing my lap band surgery with any one except my husband. So what should I do? I can move the surgery up to first week in November but then I would only have one week to recover before going back to work. I work on my feet all day long. Or keep the mid December date have two weeks off of work and roll the dice when it comes to Superbowl time?

I got one wonderful lbt take on my situation but need more feedback! Please help!

I would stay with the December Appointment that way you have two weeks off and still can enjoy the superbowl with your husband and friends

You need the two weeks off from work so leave the date as is. You should be fine to get around.for the superbowl. At six weeks post op, you will be on a regular diet, but nutritious and small quantities. Keep ready to drink protein in your room as a back up to make sure you get in your 64 grams. If you feel the diet options are not there with traditional football game food on the menu, you can always opt for a small grilled chicken salad. Remember, no bread, alcohol, or desserts. If asked about your diet choices and quantities eaten, just say that eating healthier is your New Years Resolution.

I had my band on Wednesday and went to work the following Monday. I'm on my feet all day too but no lifting or straining. The first 2 days I was pretty tired, by Wednesday (1 week post op) I was ready to roll....but also 6 weeks is fine for an appearance with friends, you'll just have to be careful, you can always say you've had a stomach bug or something.

I have not told many people about my band to this day and its been over 2 yrs for me so keeping the band a bit of a secret isn't so hard. I explained my 3 days of sick leave (combined with my normal 2 off days) as having hiatal hernia repair-- which my doc did do at the time of banding, so I consider it not a lie but an ommitance . At 6 weeks out you will not be in any acute pain from the surgery itself that would be noticable to anyone but you. Some sensitivity at the port site is a possibility but as long as no one plans to hit ya in the abdomen you should be fine there. However with the idea of having a week to recover, everyone is different. IMO you should be fine as I was back to work after a week- on my feet but avoiding heavy lifting again, understood by my boss as the s/e of hernia repair. But your ability to do this depends on your pain tolerance how fast you heal. The wonderful gas pains you may have read about diminished completely by about 2 weeks out. I believe at 6 weeks I was already eating pretty normal food, but in smaller portions, not because I had ANY restriction but because I was trying to stick to my doc's diet plan but I could eat ALOT more if I tried. Also I celebrated my bday 3 weeks after banding and was able to eat in a restaurant with ppl without incident and no one questioned my diminished appetite. Smaller portions is something that will be typical for the entire time you're banded, getting progressively stricter as you gain restriction so if you're afraid to eat small portions in front of people in 6 weeks you're going to have a rough next few years anyways-- so might as well get them use to the idea of seeing you refuse those big stadium size portions!! In the begining I just told people who questioned my eating habit changes that "I am on a diet". Seeing my progressive weight loss people just equated it to my previously mentioned "diet". I think saying nothing at all and having massive weight loss suddenly is what would lead to suspicion and questions. The main drag you will deal with early on at the superbowl will probably be the inability to drink beer, if thats at all an issue, but again its something you would be giving up anyways no matter when you're banded so doing it earlier or later won't change a thing. Something I have learned is putting off the band, fills or other associated weight loss interventions is a sign that I am not fully committed and need to regain my focus on my ultimate goal. I have in the past purposely rescheduled fills when I knew I planned to go out with friends and eat or celebrate and knew if I got a fill I would be tight and unable to eat or drink "normal" and in doing so I was usually disappointed after the event when my weight loss hadn't progressed or worse yet I had gained. So if you find yourself doing things like this try to evaluate your reasons and decide if they are beneficial to your goal or if they are one of the habits that have helped cause your need for the lapband in the first place? Also, before starting this journey, as for some it is not as easy and straight forward as it is for others, be ready to put YOURSELF first and do what's best for you and let everyone else and other events in life take the backseat for a while, at least until you've adjusted to your new lifestyle being banded. Change your perspective on how food impacts you daily life and social situations. Don't stress over the band and the changes you will be making in terms of life or other people, this is a time that should be about you-- sometimes its OK to be self absorbed. I would say go ahead with the band whenever YOU are READY. But 1 week back to work should be fine if you dont have to do much bending or lifting-- for me being busy was a curb to my appetite returning in full force a week post op. And 6 weeks out for superbowl, you are perfectly healed enough to watch a football game amoungst friends. Just keep in mind if you have to fly to the superbowl many people report tightness in the band after flying or even just walking to higher altitudes. So be mindful when you eat and drink no matter if its 6 weeks out or 12 weeks out from surgery. The band is temperamental and not always predictable. If you're worried about PBing in front of people avoid eating at the game, do NOT use a straw, no carbonated drinks and sip slowly, chew long. Talk more at the dinner table, move your food around and people usually don't notice that you're not eating much. Best of luck!!

Thanks you guys are awesome!!! I so appreciate it!!!

I think by 6 weeks you should be feeling good. I went to work 4 days after surgery and was exhausted but did ok. I also had a hernia repair so I was able to tell people about that if my belly started to hurt...I felt that telling them about the hernia was ok...but I have only told 2 of my coworkers.

At 6 weeks you should be back into the groove and able to have fun. As far as explaining your new eating habits you can simply say that you are being more midful of what you eat. I think that you will have so much fun that no one will notice that you aren't eating as much! )

I took a 5 weeks off work because I could and needed a vacation anyway to take care of me. I was on a plane to Florida 3 weeks after surgery for a friends wedding wearing a swim suit and playing in the ocean. I had soreness still but not any real pain. You should be fine good luck and it would be nice if the Cowboys went to the superbowl If they do I will see you there. Best wishes.

I would definitely keep the December date if I were in your shoes. By 6 weeks post op you'll be off all restrictions and back on solid food. You'll also be feeling totally normal and recovered physically. You won't have any problems at the Super Bowl.

Best wishes to you.

Thank you so much, looks like the December date wins. Thanks for all the in put I truly appreciate it!

you should be fine for the superbowl. I traveled 8 weeks after my surgery. I just ate very little and if I was scared I went for the mushie food options. You will be so amp'd up about the Superbowl that you will probably forget to eat in all honesty. That's how I am when I travel.

I went to hawaii at 3 weeks post op, and it was fine. I just ate a lot of soups and yoghurts, along with other softer foods.

As everyone else has said, keep your December date. You will be fine 6 weeks post op. I just had my surgery this past Friday and feel good as new

Roll dice stay December.

I would definitely not change the date. Better to be safe than sorry; I needed a lot more time off work than I expected. I agree compeltely with Gigi_Girl - at the Super Bowl parties you can beg off the bad food and impress everyone with your discipline at your "New Year's Resolution!" No need to elaborate.