Well I finally have made my mind up and my surgery date is Oct. 23, 2008. I am looking forward to this day but the two week liquid pre-op diet is a killer. I know this diet is extremely important but what if I slip and eat something that is not allowed.

That would not be a "slip", that would be a choice. :laugh:

If you don't think you can stick to the diet, call your doctor and find out if there are any alternatives. I am not looking forward to it either, but I am conditioning myself to view it as the first step in a long line of changes that I am going to have to make. I am practicing now by already not drinking while I eat, taking nickel sized bites and chewing 15-20 times. I have also had days when I did liquids only for some of my meals. I am just very determined I will NOT make foolish choices. One lady here came out of anesthesia to discover her band had not been placed...her liver was still too large to do the surgery. No way do I want that to happen to me.

The counselor I went to said the top two causes of band failure are failing to stick to the pre and postop diets and failure to give up carbonated beverages.

Hi! I would definitely follow the instructions your doctor gave you. Maybe you can ask whether you can have soup -- like chicken noodle or broth.

I also want to share my experience with you. When I met with my doctor to discuss preparations for the surgery, etc., I told him I was worried about the two-week Optifast requirement and I asked, rhetorically, "how can people do that?" and he said "they don't." He said that most people do not follow it strictly and eat food. He said that it's really to jump start the weight loss so that the patient feels like she has accomplished something. Also, this morning my surgery for tomorrow was cancelled and when I expressed exasperation to my doctor's assistant about going on the Optifast for another two weeks before the new surgery date, she said that "you really only need to do it for two days" to shrink the liver. So, that is just FYI. (Also, for the first 2-3 days on Optifast, I felt miserable. After that, I got used to being hungry and it wasn't so bad.) Good luck!

Thanks for the advise.

I have been on the pre-op diet for six days now and each day is a little better than the last. I still have eight days to go. Not so bad at work but at home and the weekends are tough. I have a feeling I’m going to need a lot of support.

Hey everyone --- I was banded on Thursday oct. 23 and the surgery went well. I am back at work today (Monday). I am a little sore but nothing I can't handle. I will more than likey have to take a my pain meds tonight. I feel that this has been the biggest and best decision with regard to weight loss.

Well I'm back! One week post-op and I feel great! Can't wait til I return for my post-op appointment so I can get to exercising. I have been walking daily but would like to pick up the pace.

For those of you who are considering lapband, it has been a blessing.

I'm not looking forward to the pre-op diet, but it's a small short term sacrifice for a long term benefit. I get mean as a rattlesnake when I get hungry and I'm insulin resistant so I'm hoping that I don't have any problems. My diet says I can have all the steamed veggies I want, so I'll be steaming up the house.

The post-op diet that my doctor prescribed was the same as the pre-op diet. This is to help your somach heal. But truley the post-op is not as bad as pre-op. I guess by this time you are use to liquids and you are experiencing the result of banding. Good luck and I wish you well.