I just joined and are there any Lapband people out there?

coastalbreeze64

Hi, I just joined here and I had the Lapband proceedure done 3 weeks ago and I think I am pretty good on the way...lost 30 lb so far and feel realy good. Anyone out there that wouldn't mind sharing tips, hints and recipes who had the same proceedure?

shortwasp

Hi Coastal Breeze,

I've been seriously considering the lap band because I'm diabetic. Perhaps you could answer a question or two that I have?

Just how bad is the recovery pain? I'm a wuss when it comes to pain.
How long did it take for you to start exercising again? I have 50 lbs to lose.

I've heard that you can't eat bread because it balls up and won't go down. The same thing happens with lettuce and some veggies. Have you had problems with these?

The doctor I talked to said that a person has to go on a liquid diet before they will do the operation to see if the person has a will power to be able to cut down their food portions. Did you have to do this?

Thanks a bunch. Do you live near the coast with your name Coastal Breeze? I grew up in San Diego and now live in the desert.

Sherri

coastalbreeze64

Hi Sherri,
I had the proceedure 3 weeks ago and would do it again in a heart beat...no regrets. To answer your questions: You have to go on a liquid diet one week before surgery and the reason that they want you to loose some weight before the surgery is that it will shrink your liver which makes it easier to place the band around your stomach (they have to hold the liver away to get to it). The pain was minimal, all done lapascopic, and you get pain meds that will keep you comfortable. I have 5 incisions (all but one are about 1 inch long and one is about 1 1/2" long that is where the port is placed). I had the surgery on a wednesday, they kept me overnight and I was back home thursday and back to work on monday. The diet that follows after sugery is 2 weeks liquid, then 2-3 weeks pureed, and then soft foods. You are really not hungry, eat very small portions like 1/4 cup at a time, keep your fluids up and take a chewable mulit vitamin twice a day with adding calcium. A must is to get 30-50 grams of protein every day to help the healing and maintaining muscle, but there are great products out like unjury protein powders that can help. You are correct with bread and "sticky" or "dough" food, they are a no-no. Food needs to be soft and not crunchy, but you will have some good healthy options. Let me know if you have more questions