I'm currently working on being a band patient (very excited). I'm going to self-pay route.

I travel a lot and have a food question. Once you're on solid food post surgery, yet prior to the first fill do you have food that you can't eat? I have trips starting about 4 weeks post surgery (some international) and wasn't sure what to expect prior to the fill.

I've read a lot about what causes people problems, but it wasn't clear if that was prior to being filled.

Any advice would be appreciated.

nothing to help you, I am getting banded on 24 Sept. what is your date?

Everyone is different, I don't think any of us can give you anything that would guarantee what your case will be. I was fine with just about anything I tried. I still haven't been filled and had OR on June 21st. I am a bit tighter in the mornings and I still avoid bread and most pasta, more for the lack of nutritional value than anything else. I can eat anything I want, but eat things like rice (I choose brown) and steak, etc. in small amounts and chew really well. I have had no problems with shrimp or chicken, either. The only thing I every got "stuck" on was deli turkey slices when I was hungry and "inhaled" a couple slices.

I'm planning on mid-October. Had to find a time period when I didn't need to be on a plane every week!

I am getting banded 24 Sept - I can't figure out how to PM here, but I thought that we would make good suport for each other, I also spend 2 weeks a month on international flights and we are going to have some unuasual challenges that will be difficult for others to identify with.

:hungry:Hi Socaldixiegal,

I am self pay also. I am hoping for a 11/1 date. Are you having yours done in Mexico? I have a surgeon in Tampa, and total cost is $15000, so I am going to be very careful not to screw it up. I have already had the psych eval. My surgeon appt is 9/10. Psych guy pissed me off by telling me that 3-6 months out he is scared that I will screw it up since I have a history of Yo-Yo dieting. I guess that has just given me more incentive to prove him wrong. I have already begun buying differnt types of protein powder. I have already begun replacing breakfast with protein drink. I am making small changes already. I saw a protein drink on bariatriceating.com that might work for your travelling. It is a ready to drink "bullet" with 42g of protein. I bet if you take things like that with you, you can avoid eating out, unless you are on business dinners.

I would like to keep in touch with you, and also others who are planning late Oct early Nov surgery. I have been reading this site for a few weeks, this is my first post.

Pattypoo, those bullets are (acording to WasaBubbleButt-she's a real expert on Protein and has done LOADS of research about them) the lowest quality of protein you can get. Quality protein is perhaps more important than quantity. If your body isn't processing it, then why bother drinking it? Also, the body can't generally process much more than 25 grams of protein at a time, so about 17 grams of the 42 is pretty much wasted if you drink it at once. I also read that if you mix up your protein in the morning and seperate it and drink at intervals during the day (like splitting a drink you mixed), the protein starts to break down and likely doesn't give you nearly as much by the end of the day.

Just wanted to give you guys some information I have gleaned from the boards.

Do a search for posts by wasabubblebutt about protein in the advanced search area and I'm sure you'll find some of her info, it's fascinating!

Good advice on the Protein.

the travel is definitely something that has me a bit concerned. There are times when all I can do is grab something prior to jumping on my next flight. Will have to look at better alternatives.

I'm not going to Mexico, although saving money is appealing, i want to medical support from my community. I'm going to Dr. Oliak. The cash program is $16k which includes the post-surgical program, education/nutrition classes, psych support and fills for the first 6 months.

I know that Mexico would be cheaper, but not sure if I want to do that. there's that health/price issue at work there.

The real kicker for me is that 5 weeks or so afterwards I'm going to Asia for 3 weeks. That's what led to most of my food questions.