I just had my surgery last week. Good luck I promise it flies by! I hope you make your goal and good for you for loosing so much before surgery!

Hi yall! My surgery date is Dec 12th, so close but it feels like time is ticking away sllloooowly! Im having the RNY gastric bypass. I had lap band surgery 7/2008 and needless to say it wasn't for me.

Good luck to the group! Cant wait to see before/after photos from everyone!

Hey all , My name is Emmy and I had the Gastric bypass over 3 years ago My highest was 270, my lowest was 125 , i recently went from 144 and now im back down to 127 with the help of the gym and my fitness pal.

No I didn't have a special diet before surgery. Seems each doctor is different on this. I am mid two weeks full liquid diet and on wed I get purrees for two weeks

Hi. I am working through the requirements of the Bariatric Weight Loss program myself. I am having a difficult time deciding whether to do the gastric sleeve or the bypass. I have been leaning towards the sleeve, but I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes in January (controlled solely by diet at this time), and I read that a medical study showed that bypass could cure diabetes. I want to talk to the surgeon more about that study before I make a decision. I have lost 13 of the 14 lbs that I need to meet with him/her. My next weigh-in is on Monday, and so I am hoping I can lose at least one or two more pounds by then. The surgery option makes me a bit scared, but I want to do it to be around for a long time for my young daughter and for my overall health.

Hi I'm new here, but yes, my lap band surgery is Tuesday Nov 22nd, nervous but excited!!

Hi everyone - I am excited to join this group so that I can share with other people who are going through similar experiences. I am just over a week to my surgery date (Monday, Dec. 5th :-) - Yeah!!. I'm on my 2 week pre-op liver shrinking diet and am using the Unjury protein powder. I've seen some comments on other brands but this one was highly recommended by my surgeon and nutritionist. Since I want to do everything possible to make sure things go as smoothly as possible, I am following their plan down to the letter.

Has anyone else that is using Unjury found a really yummy way to get it in? I have to say the chicken flavor is quite good, don't mind the unflavored mixed in with sugar-free Jello, and have used the classic chocolate in sugar-free chocolate pudding and with skim milk and ice to make shakes. I have to get 4 scoops per day in and would like to find another way. I'm able to have applesauce, Dannon Light & Fit yogurt, low-fat cream soups, V-8 juice, oatmeal, and low-fat cottage cheese but am finding by the time I get my 4 servings of Unjury in, that I am too full to eat much else. I'm not complaining, however, because with so few calories and nothing solid, I would have thought I'd be really hungry.

I'm anxious to hear other's experiences with this lap band process and am sooo excited!

Thanks for starting this group!

Hi Lisa

I am one week into my pre-op diet and have to say, I am amazed but I am never hungry. In fact, I am allowed things like yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, and such, but don't really want much more after I get my four servings of the unjury protein in. It hasn't been bad at all so far! I, too, had worried about it but if your experience is like mine, you can stop worrying!!

Diane

Hello Everyone,
I am new to the group and have been working hard to get everything cleared for surgery. Weighed in at the doctor's office this week and I had lost 11.4 lbs!
I will be going to a local surgery support group here next Monday, and figured that it wouldn't hurt to have all the support I can get.

Hi there I am 9 days post op now from my lapband surgery. It went well and recovery was pretty good. Looking forward to the future and what life will be like come summer time. I'm dropping pounds, my face is looking slimmer, I am convinced this is going to be the answer finally for me.

I am so excited for all of you! I had my surgery 2 weeks ago, and everything has been running real smooth for me. After the first couple days, I was STARVING on only clear liquids - now I'm on mushies and I am satisfied with my small meals. I've learned that I need to be accountable...this site is so incredible for that. It's so nice to meet people that are going through the same thing!

My thoughts and prayers are with you as you have your surgery. One day I will be there too for surgery.

Hi risskie,

Yes, I'm feeling quite good. Very little difficulty with the pain. I am still taking one or two oxycodone each day but my husband and I have been caring for my mom (more him than me!!) for the past week and a half. She was admitted to the hospital this afternoon so I will be able to really get a good night's sleep. I'm sure that will make a big difference!

I was in the hospital just about 12 hours and the surgery itself, took less than one hour. Today is day 3 and I'm a little more tender tonight (but again that could be because of the stress and all we had to do today).

I've ordered the Unjury twice more because I've read that people still need to have 1 - 2 per day to get enough protein in. It hasn't been too bad so I figured it would be good to have it handy.

When I'm less tired, I'll post more details but for now, I'm off to eat a sugar-free Posicle and going to bed!

Try not to worry - it will all go better than you think!

Diane

HI Christine,

Oh my goodness! What a coincidence! I live in Lebanon, ME and Dr. Carroll did my surgery at SMMC. I assume you will be having him as well? Have you been attending the support groups at the hospital? My husband (who is also my support person) and I have been going since last April and find it very helpful and reassuring. There will be a meeting next Wednesday from 7 - 8 PM. I am hoping to go if I still have any stamina left after a day at school. I teach in South Berwick and had planned to return to work on Monday but called today for a sub on Monday as well. I figured I would need a couple of extra days. If the plans haven't changed, the operating room staff are going to be there this time to explain the process.

You haven't met with Shannon (the nutritionist) yet? I'm sure if you called, you could get a list of what you will need to have on hand for the two weeks prior. But to give you an advance notice, this is what I could have: up to 6 servings per day of oatmeal (Weight Control - green box) or cream of wheat, sugar-free pudding (which you can mix with the Unjury to get more protein in), sugar-free jello (again it can be mixed with Unjury), Dannon Light N Fit yogurt or any sugar-free yogurt, unsweetened applesauce, low fat cottage cheese, low fat cream soups, and v8 juice. You have to have four servings per day of the Unjury. However, I found that after my four servings of Unjury, I couldn't get in more than one or two of the other things. I usually had a chocolate shake (Unjury Classic Chocolate blended with 8 oz skim milk and ice cubes) for breakfast. Then mid-morning, I had a yogurt. For lunch, I sometimes had the Unjury chicken soup or the hi-protein jello. Sometimes I had another yogurt or applesauce mid afternoon if I was working late. Then for supper, I often had Healthy Requests Cream of Mushroom soup mixed with unflavored Unjury. Then in the evening, I had either a serving of the hi protein jello or hi protein chocolate pudding.

I never experienced hunger throughout the two weeks prior to surgery and since surgery, for the first 2-3 days, could only have clear liquids (broth, juice w/no pulp, and water). I now can add a protein shake, the chicken soup protein, sugar-free popsicles, decaf coffee or tea (which I don't drink at all anyway), 1% , rice, soy, or skim milk. I bought the Carnation Instant Breakfast (sugar-free) yesterday and that was handy to have when I was not home and didn't have access to other things I needed.

I meet with Shannon again on the 20th to advance to the next level (the mushies stage). In that stage, you may or may not still need the Unjury (or some protein powder) to get to the level you need each day. I know several people said they still have one or two protein shakes a day to be sure to get enough in but other people don't. Once you move to week 5 after surgery, the protein shakes, oatmeal, applesauce, yogurt, and such that I am on now are to be avoided.

After a fill, however, you do need to return to the liquid stage for 48 hours, so I would assume, protein powder will be something we go back to once in a while.

Hope this information is helpful. If you are still concerned, give Shannon a call (283-7148) or send her an email dt.sxw@smmc.org
She is very nice and helpful.

Feel free to send any more questions. I'll do my best to answer them.

Diane