Hi.

I am new to this site. My weight is 375lbs and I am 6 ft. tall, male, 37 years.

I have been approved for Lapband by my insurance and am scheduled for Aug 22.

My surgeon will be Dr. Christine Ren at NYU hospital.

First of all:

1. I am scared SH*Tless.

I have never been admitted to any hospital and am scared of anesthesia (sp?). Also I am embarrassed of my weight... will they be able to move me from the gurney to the bed? Also, can I go to the bathroom, or do I use a bedpan (again -- I am embarrassed).

2. PAIN

I am a baby with pain... I have a low tolerance for pain. How bad is the pain?

3. Recovery

Can I climb stairs on arrival from hospital? (I have 7 stairs between my bedroom and the foyer).

4. Gas

Any problems with burping? Acidity?

5. Diet

What is did others eat during the liquid-diet phase? I don't like sweet too much, so I guess I am stuck with broths, etc. Any other suggestions/guidelines?

I'd rather do this than go to the dentist!!

I am always surprised that more doctors do not start their patients out on something like Medifast http://www.medifast.net or Optifast http://www.optifast.com (both offer soups and non sweet stuff) for the first few weeks. Those liquid diet products have much more balanced nutrition than those carnation instant breakfasts

I am going to be banded on thursday the 28th and was looking at the medifast website. Which on would you recomend? I am going to be in Mexico tonight until next sunday so i may take a while to respond beck, but would like to talk to you. Figured I would vacation for a few days before and catc some sun for a few days after.

Nicole

I was on Medifast a few years ago. I believe I was on the Medifast 70 - I liked the chocolate ok. They are not horrible but I would NOT recommend them for more than a month because (for me at least) they got really old... But its a diet shake so you can only expect so much... I would recommend that if you are going to go for medifast that you order one of each of the boxes that sound good to you. The boxes only have seven servings in them so you figure you will go through them pretty quickly. They are not cheap - but they DO have all the Vitamins in them and have far fewer carbohydrates than something like Slim-Fast.

I currently use straight up Protein powders. http://www.wlssuccess.com/champion.htm The thing that is different with them is that they do not have all of the vitamins and stuff so the medifast is probably better for when you are not eating any other foods and the protein powders are better when you are getting some of your vitamins through food.

If you do the medifast one trick I learned is to buy the vanilla and then get some flavorings to put in (many flavors also work with chocolate). These days I use sugar free syrups by http://www.davincigourmet.com/page.php?page=742&s=0&&category=2 because it is an excellent way to make your own exotic creations and flavor to suit yourself. I use them in everything actually - I am hooked! Amaretto is really good, danish pastry is heaven in oatmeal and replaces sweetner. I add various flavors like watermellon, raspberry and strawberry to Water to make it more palatable - it makes it easier to get all that water in. Its much better for you than soda and you can flavor it any way you like.

One little trick I picked up around week two or three when I started feeling a little hungry again and the shakes were not cutting it so well anymore was to freeze banana chunks and then toss them into the blender with my shake (in place of ice). They thicken the shake up and cool it all in one move. The other side benefit is that you can stock up and you don't have to worry about them turning brown!

You will probably also want to find yourself some Fiber powder. One of the only side effects that this surgery has had for me is that now I only have a bowel movement about once every four or five days unless I help it along. I find that taking extra fiber and the ocassional bowl of oatmeal (on the runny side not real dry) helps tremendously. One little treat I eat now is sugarfree granola mixed with yoghurt. I don't think you want the oatmeal or granola until at least week three though.

If you can swing it I recommend trying to sit tight for at least the first week after surgery in Mexico (if you aren't already planning to). If you are anything like me you will not be wanting to do much of anything that first week - outside sleep that is. Good luck with everything!

I would just like to say that your fears are the same fears that I am facing. I am 255lb. and I am scheduled for surgery on September 30th. From what I am understanding, this is quite normal for us to feel this way. Hang in there, I'm going to.