What preparation did you do prior to Lap Band surgery?

Hi Everyone, I am happy to report that I will be having my Lap Band surgery on 12/26/07.  This is going to be the best Christmas gift I could ever give myself. What I wanted to know is based on your surgeon, what preparation steps did they have you do, prior to your surgery date?  Dieting, Protein intake, etc.... Also, I am looking for people who have a BMI of at least 38 and have been through the Lap Band surgery.  Please share your success story with me, so that I have some idea of what to look forward to.  How many fills did you complete before you were able to notice a steady weight-loss?  Also, what type of meal plan did you follow after surgery? Thanks for your help in advance!     Regards, Marie 

Hey Marie First of all, congrats on your decision My insurance didn't require me to have a psych evaluation, so I just had to do 2 weeks liquid diet, medifast, and thats it.... That was just to shrink my liver to make the surgery easier... that's all I did.. Soups, oatmeal, and crystal light After surgery, I was on clear liquids, clear broths, fat free sugar free jello, and water, crystal light etc. for 1 week, then on to pureed foods for one week, then I did mushies, then soft, then regular, each on was for 1 week Hope this helps

AND.. i would post on the lap band forum message board, because they are all lap banders and you will get a ton of responses

Hi Crystal, Thank you for your feedback.  Now that you mentioned the after surgery steps, I believe I had heard something to this effect from my group.  I also forgot that I will meet with the nutritionist before surgery as well. Did your program require you to work with a nutritionist?  I hope you don't mind that I ask but I noticed on your info it shows your lap band being done on 7/24/06.  Did you recently have the band done again or have you had problems with your band? Thanks again for sharing, Marie

Hi Marie... I just wanted to say Congrats on getting your surgery date in December.  I know it has been a long time coming.  I am happy for you. (Merry Christmas!!) Sorry.. since I am still pre-band I have no experiences to share.  I will also be doing the medifast diet pre-surgery. --Lisa

Marie, Congratulations on getting a surgery date a very exciting time. I've tracked my journey on my profile. My BMI started at 48  I will say it hasn't been an easy journey for me and not that I want to scare you because if I had to do it again and again I would.  I am having trouble kicking my addiction to carbs.  As far as preparation I did the same as Crystal but that's because we are throught he same surgery the famous Dr. C. I just had my seventh fill and I'm hoping that this will be the one.  I have lost weight even without my "sweet spot" it is hard work.  I have lost 60 lbs.  I really hope to hit 100 lbs by my bannviersary March 30.  I know I can do it! I will tell you in the first few months I was a model patient I did everything I was suppose to and eat just right its been the last month or so that I'm having trouble but its because I returned to old habits.  I need to get that honeymoon excitment back. I love my band it has changed my life forever and I'm very thankful. Amanda

Hi Amanda, Thanks for the feedback.  My problem is my sweet tooth however;  since I have a morphine pump implanted, my teeth have become sensitive.  I was told by someone else that this happened to them as well but he left the dentist pull all of his teeth out.  There is no way that I will go that far.   Well hang in there, I'm sure that you will do great. Regards, Marie