Surgery Friday and I'm excited!

My lapband surgery is Friday.  Finally it's here.  I'm down 8 lbs on the Optifast.  How do people do that for 6 weeks??  Two is enough for me.  I'm desperately trying to get rid of this cold - second one in a row - so that everything will go smoothly.  Any last minute advice??

What an exciting time for you!  Congrats.

Okay, last minute advice....
Take lots of "before" pictures, no matter how much you might not want to. 
Journal what it feels like to be obese and why you want to fight obesity and get healthier.
Make sure you know what your diet progression is supposed to be from your surgeon/Nut.
Get some Adult Strength Liquid Tylenol

Best wishes to you on your journey!
Kristi

Kristi,
Thanks for the suggestions.  I hadn't thought of pictures but will have my husband take some tonight.  We just came back from vacation last month and pictures of me in a bathing suit were quite shocking.  Someone else suggested taking some measurements which I will also do.  Liquid adult tylenol sounds like a terrific suggestion and I'll stock up tonight.  Did you have trouble taking medications right after surgery?  Thx for the advice, Kristi.  You've certainly done well.  Would you do it again??  Is there a return to some normalcy as far as food goes in the future?  Regards, Karol

Yes, I would do the band again.  You need to be very careful following the post op instructions per your surgeon to allow the band to "settle in", they take some of the stomach tissue below the band and suture it above the band to make a tunnel for the band.  You want to avoid vomiting or making your stomach have to work hard to digest solids while it's healing.  Oh, you could ask your surgeon for a PRN ( as needed ) med for nausea.  I have Zofran ODT ( oral dissolving tablet) available for just in case situations.  Haven't really needed it at this point, but I did when on the liquid pain meds right after surgery.  Right after surgery I had to open up my Prilosec and sprinkle it in applesauce. I was on this years prior to the band for reflux and was taken off of it several weeks after surgery.  You should ask your surgeon about your meds and if they are okay to take whole.  There can be some swelling after surgery even without any fluid in the band.  And make sure you ask your pharmacist if any of the meds you are on can be crushed.

Yes, eating for me has just become "normal".  I weigh out my 3 oz of protein and eyeball about a 1/4c of a veggie and that's my lunch and again at dinner.  I eat a few snacks of like a cheese stick or 1/2 of an apple with some peanut butter etc. Breakfast could be a Greek yogurt or a 1/2 serving of steel cut oats etc.  At a restaurant I ask for a to go box with my meal and just put 2/3 of it in the box right away.  Even though I don't have as much to eat compared to the others, I take 20-30 minutes to eat it.    And on vacations I have allowed myself to have some foods that I don't normally eat and don't feel guilty about it.

I exercise 5-7 hours a week and mostly did walking up until 4 months ago.  So just plain old walking really worked for me while I was losing the most weight. With winter here, I added the exercise bike and a few DVD's.  I really like the 30 day Shred, by Jillian Michael's and I also like Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home.  And I walk on the treadmill.  I'm looking forward to warmer weather and will get back out to walking a lot.

Yikes, I guess that's a lot of info. 
Kristi

My surgery is Wednesday, today I started on a clear liquid diet.  I excited too,  I also have a little bit of a cold.  Well, best of luck to you..l

Please read!:

www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASMBS/20919

Good luck Carol Go get 'em!!

Congrats. I agree with Tetrarose take before pics .. I didn't and regret it now.

As soon as I left recovery and they took me to my room I asked to walk around and it helped by the next day I was walking fine. Walk walk walk it help with the gas too

Here is my last minuite advice: READ:

www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASMBS/20919

WOO HOO! Congratulations. May I offer the advice of getting some self shelf tank tops... because after surgery I found wearing a regular bra put some uncomfotable pressure where the band was at.

Best of luck!!