I have an appointment with Kaiser today to review weight loss surgery. In preperation I have been reading many of the postings on this web site for which I thank all of you contributors.

My concern is the very restricted diet both before and after the surgery. If I could do that successfully, it seems that I wouldn't have been fat all my adult life. A liquid diet for days on end is really hard to comprehend. I am hungry all the time...that's one of the main reasons I'm fat.

I understand that eventually the lap band will assist with lessening the feelings of hunger and will encourage me to eat less overall. I am mainly worried about the pre-op liquid diet. Am assuming that after the surgery it will be easier since I won't feel that well to begin with.

Would love some input.

One more question (so far). How soon should I be able to expect to return to work which consists of a desk job? What have been your experiences? Could the recovery from this surgery be compared to gall bladder removal? That I can relate to.

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Susan

My surgery was 9 days ago. I came back to work on Monday. I, too, have a desk job. I probably could have taken less time off but I didn't wanna push it.

The pre-op diet is different from surgeon to surgeon. Mine was 2 weeks of 4 Carnation Breakfast Essentials with 1/2 scoop of Protein powder and 1 Healthy Choice meal for supper. I also could have broths, pickles, sf Jello and Popsicles, and small portions of very low calorie veggies like steamed broccoli. I, too, thought it was impossible but it wasn't. As a matter of fact, I kinda wish that's what I could do now. The post op liquid diet is pretty much a breeze because your guts are sore and you don't really get that hungry. When you are ready to progress through the stages, I have found, you are definitely ready.

If you have any doubts about it make sure they are gone because once it's done there's no turning back. It will be worth it in the end.

Best if luck to you!

I won't lie to you. The pre-op and post-op diets suck big time. But you just have to do it. It's as simple as that. I doesn't last forever and you just have to put your big girl panties on and follow the rules.

If you do...and continue to follow the rules, you will do well and be successful. I was so terrified of what my life would be like after being banded and now I can't imagine life without it.

I had no life before. I was morbidly obese and quickly losing my mobility. Now I'm normal. I fit anywhere. My forum name is gowalking because that was my hope. Well guess what? I can walk again. It's a friggin' miracle to me. No more cane, no more having to struggle to walk one lousy block.

I wore a size 26/28 pants. Today I'm a size 10. I love to shop again. It's fun instead of something to fear. I exercise...I talk to people again. I love my life and this band made it all possible. Do you think I care that I had to do liquids for a few weeks? I didn't. And neither will you in a year.

Good luck honey...you will be fine...I promise.

Oh...and I attached my before and after pic so you can see what the band did for me.

The pre and post op diets seem extreme, but I found that knowing I would be banded made me more willing to follow them.

The pre op diet is for shrinking the liver, and I also think it helps you prepare for less food post op. My preop diet was 2 Protein shakes during the day, 4 oz of protein at night, and unlimited veggies all day. I did 2 days of Clear Liquids the last two two pre op days, because I wanted to be sure my liver was ready!

I'm 7 days post op and have not felt hunger yet. I have 2 Protein Shakes plus creamy Soup (mixed with protein powder). Today I was moved to mushies, but 1/2 cup of chicken salad filled me up.

I had A LOT of pain post op from my port area. It was really hard to get up and down from the bed/couch. I was only expecting gas pain and I didn't get any of that. I took off Thursday ( may 8 ) to this Friday and I'm glad I did, because I get tired very easily.

Best of luck to you!! It will be all worth it in the end!!!

Edited May 15, 201412 yr by betty_s

Protocols vary so much from surgeon to surgeon. Some people have no pre-op, some are all liquids, some include a meal, etc. Find out what your surgeon prescribes. I lost a chunk and was happy because I knew it wouldn't be coming back again -- unlike any other weight I'd lost previously, which always did come back, with some extra of course.

We have similar stats and my insurance required a 40 BMI no matter what so my pre-pre-op involved some gaining. I wish I had fudged an inch on the height measuring -- slouched -- as the whole BMI thing was such a stress factor for me.

I was banded May 9th returned to work on May 13th. I worked from home half a day may 12th.

I'm post op 6 days and I haven't felt hunger. The first 4 days I struggled and forced myself to drink Protein shakes and broth. Today I'm feeling a lot better, still no hunger. I move to mushies tomorrow.

the pre-op wasn't too bad for me. I wasn't on liquids though. The hardest part was not eating because I felt like it. Toward the end I wasn't hungry anymore. My dr said I liver was "beautiful".

Your lap band is going to be a tool. If you are confident you can use it as a tool to lose weight, consider it.

The liver reduction part is crucial for many docs and their patients. If the liver is too large, access to your stomach is limited and the danger of nicking your liver is higher. Never want that to happen. So, as GoWalking said, it sucks, but it's necessary.

The post op diet is to allow your stomach to heal and adjust to it's new accoutrement. Also very necessary. And, most people don't struggle too much the first 2 weeks post op but it can be annoying thereafter.

tmf

I had no pre-op diet other than not to eat from midnight the night before and that was even hell! Depends on your surgeon but you must listen to your surgeon either way. Also, I had no actual post-op diet other than 24 hour liquids. I put myself on liquids/ puddings/ soups for the week after my surgery until I saw my dr for my post op appt a week later. Then he said I could go on solids as long as I chewed well! Solids!? To me this was unheard of a week later! But I was hungry so I ate 1/2 a small sandwich chewed for about an hour or 2 and was okay. I was also back to work in exactly a week but still needed pain meds because I'm a nursing assistant so my job is physical. I call my dr speedy Gonzales, he is all about getting me back to seemingly normal life and having the band start working quickly! I just had my third fill to finally be at my green zone on Friday. I will be 4 months post op on the 23rd and I have just lost 40lbs. I call that a success so far!! The bottom line is listen to your doc because he/she knows best!