Good morning! I was banded a week ago tomorrow. My surgeon is Dr. Kirshenbaum from Aurora Colorado. I've lost about 20 pounds from the pre op diet and the week since my surgery. Over the last two years I developed serious chronic pain issues. Last year I had a spinal fusion done in my neck. I've tried a dozen solutions to the pain and other issues and nothing has helped so I decided that I simply had to get the weight off and I've never had much success with traditional dieting. Now I'm eagerly awaiting some weight loss to see if I will start to hurt less. I'm happy to find this group. After my surgery I was unexpectedly miserable and reading through all the messages on this board helped considerably. I really like my Dr. but wish I had been better prepared for the misery. Right now I'm very uncomfortable from gas and port pain, not to mention the head cold I got right after surgery. So far I'm the only person I know of who was hungry after banding, but I was so painfully hungry that I moved to full liquids after two days. I think i tried to go too fast so I'm only drinking protein shakes and vegetable juice for now but its keeping the hunger at bay. And I eat a lot of sugar free popsicles! Anyway, this has gotten long enough. Nice to meet everyone. - Ronni

Hi Ronnie, I've been checking out the boards and also find them to be super helpful. I'm pre-surgery and will soon be scheduling with dr. kirshenbaum. I live in Minnesota so will be traveling out of state. I wasn't aware of the liquid diet thing--is this for before and after surgery? Are there special liquids you have to consume?

For Dr. K, the liquid diet is after surgery. You do a day or two of clear liquids, then a while of full liquids before moving on to mushies, softs, and all food. I think for the full liquids (proteins) they want you to get a drink with 15g protein (at least) with no more than 175 calories. Dr. K's pre-op diet is a modified Adkins plan.

Ronni:

You are starting bandster hell. The time after banding, but before restriction. It's hard to think about having had the surgery and still hungry! Remember, this is the most important time to follow the doctors orders because you want your band area to heal well and for your band to be in the best shape for future weight loss success.

Welcome aboard and keep lots of those sugar free popsicles on hand. I bought an ice crusher too so that I could eat something sugar free with a spoon and get a crunch. I crush the ice and then put some crystal light on it for flavor. Yummy!

Best wishes to you for your band success. I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Sue

Michelle,

The liquid phase is after surgery. Dr. K has you do a low carb diet before surgery. If you haven't already had your consultation with Dr. K's nutritionist (Paula) then she will explain it all to you. My post op diet instructions said to do clear liquids for 1 to 3 days. I managed it for two but was so hungry that I moved to Protein shakes, V8 juice, sugar free Jello etc. Some surgeons want you to do the clear liquid phase longer. Best of luck!

Ronni

Sue, the ice crusher is a good idea! I've made my tongue sore eating so many popsicles! I'm also enjoying sugar free jello since it feels more like solid food than anything else I can "eat" right now. I'm so glad to hear you are happy with your band. Thanks for the encouragement.

Ronni-- i had my surgery with Dr. Smith in Pueblo, CO the day after yours (i think... if i did the math right, you got yours on july 29th, right? i got mine on july 30th)

anyway, i just wanted to share that i also lost a lot right after surgery. in the past 17 days (10 between pre-op and operation. and 7 days since surgery), i've lost 26 pounds.

i also moved on the diet really fast. my dr. said that you can normally tell when your body is ready to move on. i had surgery one week ago today, and for lunch today i had a string cheese and a meatball.

Edited August 7, 200917 yr by amshae
typo...

Congrats on your weight loss so far. Isn't it amazing that we struggle with our weight for years and now it just kind of melts off? I realize that might not continue but its an encouraging way to start. Your string cheese and meatball lunch made me laugh! Last night I pureed a chicked breast with some stock and it tasted so good. My Dr. said I'm doing the right thing with what I'm eating so I'll just keep slowly adding variety to my diet as I feel I can tolerate it. I'm just glad neither of us had to stay on clear liquids for a week! Ugh. Now I just wish the gas would go away. - Ronni