I had Lapband on 6/28/2012. Because of insurance I had to have a 6mo medically managed diet. I had to lose 20lbs for the surgery - I lost 35. So because of that I did not have to go thru the full two weeks of pre-op that those that get approved quicker than I did have to go thru. I did have to go thru the 7 week diet after surgery.

My surgery day started at 6am. Went into surgery around 9ish I think. It was a breeze, I was in some pain upon coming out of the anesthesia - but they quickly got it under control. After I came out of surgery I had to have a xray done as I swallowed a vile tasting liquid, Luckily it was over very very quickly. Took me to the recovery area, put me in one of those big recliner chairs. Then they brought me the little cups of liquids. The one that I did not like was diet drink they brought. I had runny jello (more like jello water), water, - and I honestly don't remember what else. I was to SIP them. I walked around several times. I was in the recovery area for about an hour or two. Then I came home, walked around the house for a min or two and went to bed. pain wasn't too much for me - I had liquid pain meds, and nausea med too. I had non caloric liquids (water basically) for 24hrs, then went into a 2 week full liquid diet - protein shakes, jello, milk, broth, no solid food, cream soups... Then came the pureed diet. And boy let me tell you - with almost 2 1/2 weeks of nothing but liquids - my first meal when I started this was a few bites of scrambled egg. It was heaven. That stage was 7 days - Then you move to the soft diet - moist food, and small small small bites. Then you get to go to add more foods but TRY a little bit first. You don't want to eat something that your pouch does not like. For some reason my pouch does not like eggs 50% of the time.

I purchased a box of cocktail spoons and forks. Like baby spoons \ forks but not with the plastic coating on them. They are just smaller versions of the regular silverware. i find that by using them - my bites are smaller. At first I was self conscious of them at work but now they are just a tool I use to help me with my meals. Just like the band is.

There are some things I have not tried - tougher cuts of meat - meat has to be moist for most pouch people. I also am careful how much bread \ pasta I consume. It can make your pouch cranky.

One tip - my pouch is cranky in the morning after I first get up. I found out alot of people suffer from that too - the trick is to have a hot drink (coffee with a protein powder in it for me). I have what my hubby and I call my wakey wakey Mr P drink. I have found that if I forget to have a hot drink then the pouch is not as happy when I put solid food in it.

Find a protein powder \ drink you like. It will be your friend. On those days when you can't get much food down - you still need to get your protein in. I use Pure Protein - can get it at Kroger, Walmart, Walgreens... I like it. others have a ton of suggestions.

Some people have pain from the gas they use to expand your stomach during surgery. Walking helps with that. I fortunately did not have that. What I did have and I will warn you about - my pouch was swollen and because I was anal and tried to get the protein drinks in - and couldn't - I wasn't drinking as much water as I needed. My blood pressure med at that time also had a diuretic in it. So I became very very very very very dehydrated.:sick: I ended up in the ER with several bags of fluid being given to me. I am so very careful now to make sure I get at least 48 ozs min! a day. I try to get more than 64 if possible.

If you listen to your doctor, follow his orders (alot of doctors do not have the same plan as mine or others had) and be cautious when introducing new foods - you will be fine. I will tell you a little secret my hubby came up with. You will have a time - maybe several - but you WILL have a time when you put something in your pouch and it refuses it. I carry a plastic baggy with a couple of hankies in it. You may not have time to get to the bathroom in time when the pouch kindly returns the food you gave it. I thought I would never have that problem - but you do. It may be because you ate too fast, you had put in something that didn't agree with you - but you will have this happen at least once. It is a learning process.

Congratulations :drinker: on your upcoming surgery. I am so very glad I have done this. Yes it can be a pain to go thru the pre-op and post op diets but it gives you a chance to break the new pouch in and to do it correctly. Good luck and friend me if you would like. Let us know how you do!!!

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