Hi!

I am 23 (soon 24), getting the band and super scared but excited!! I'd LOOOOVE some last minute pointers if you have any. I am going grocery shopping tomorrow for my post-surgery diet for a week or so, any favs when you were just starting out?

I'd love to hear the good, bad and the ugly! Anything will help! I'm kinda panicking lol

Thanks a lot!!

Steph

Hey Steph! Don't be nervous at all. You will not remember a thing. It goes very smoothly and you will do great! The pain is bearable. Not fun, but a lil pain meds will do you just fine. I was actually just banded on 4/7/09. I have already lost 19 lbs. YAY! I take in about 800-1000 calories a day, but that is different for everyone I'm sure. I was directed to take in about 60g of protein a day. Take a good multivitamin and maybe a calcium supplement as well. Your doctor may have already told you this. I like the protein shakes called EAS: Advantage Chocolate Fudge. They taste good and they have 17g of protein with only 110 calories. I am so excited for you!!! I am still learning how to use my band. It is definately a learning process. Good luck and I wish you all the best :wub:

hi steph, you will be fine :wub:

my advice is to walk/ move about ASAP it really does help you with the gas pain & listen to all the advice the nurses/surgeon gives you & take in the rewards of watching the weight come off

stick to the eating plan 100%

good luck for tomorrow

Definitely walk after surgery - not a marathon... I'm just talking simple. While you might have those around you willing to help, you need to get up and go get your own broth, drinks, and such... Just that little bit, walking around your house during that first day or two will make you feel much better.

Buy national brand broth... the store brands are terrible. Spend the extra money on the name brands. It will make the first week much more tolerable.

For the longer-haul stuff... don't let the scales rule for the first month. Your body is adjusting, and you will have good days and bad days on the scale. The first 4 weeks will be totally nerve-wracking... if you have a bad day when you hit the mushy phase, don't worry. It happens to us all.

That's all I've got for now (not too bad for 6:30 a.m.)

Steph congrats on your surgery tomorrow!!! In addition to what everyone else said - this is my tip:

I'm a side sleeper. In the hospital they had an ice pack on my stomach and placed a pillow over it. This really helped me move from side to side. It still hurt, but it cushioned my incisions. Even when I returned home I put a thin pillow across my stomach when sleeping, placing it from side to side, and used that for 1 week or so. It just made sleeping on my side more comfy and cushioned my port site especially. Putting pressure on the pillow when turning just made my incisions feel better.

Your surgery will be over before you know it!