confused

I am scheduled for lap band and I am doing mostly liquid diet. Some food and have been losing.  So i am confused by why I am doing this. I am losing and not really starving so I am wondering if I am a good candidate for this. Please if someone  can share with me the reasons you all have decided to do this. Thanks for input.

Are you doing a liquid diet because of your doctor's suggestion or just to get your weight loss going? Either way, it can't hurt. Definitely let your doctor know. Some doctors have you go on a "liver shrinking" liquid diet a week or two prior to surgery, so your stomach is easier to access. I had to do that with my initial band placement with a different doctor than I have now-- we both currently see Dr. Shayani-- but the primary reason wasn't for weight loss. It was just an added benefit.

I did go on Optifast four years after banding. I lost 40 pounds and gained 20 pounds back. I'm still down 20 pounds. My weight has been stable for the last year so I consider it a success. The difference between the band and liquid diet is that the band-style of eating is more sustainable. My liquid diet was only recommended for 3-4 months.

I go to Dr. Shayani too, and I strongly recommend him. I initially saw him for a consultation when I was considering the surgery. It took a year and a half to get my insurance to approve the surgery, and by that time he was no longer practicing at Loyola but at a same day surgery center. I was hesitant about not being at a hospital so I stuck with Loyola.

My doctor, Dr. Sarker, trained under doctor Shayani. I didn't like her bedside manner. She was blaming. At fills she asked what I had for dinner the night before to get an idea for how much I was eating. I told her chicken and broccoli. She was like, "Broccoli? Don't waste your time with that. Protein only!" I followed the lean protein diet, but no vegetables, come on!

When I ended up with a band slip I headed back to Dr. Shayani who was an independent practitioner at several hospitals by then. She could be responsible for my band slip, but I can't be sure. Dr. Shayani would never say that.

Recently, I found out I have a leak in my port, and it needs it replaced if I want to utilize my band. He didn't replace my port when he replaced my band so that leads me to think Dr. Sarker might not have done the best job on my surgery. For now, I'm not going to have the surgery. Dr. Shayani didn't pressure me into it. In fact he said most "normal" people at my weight are struggling to lose the same 25 pounds I am. He suggested I come up with a weight limit that if I ever reach it, I get the surgery.

Dr. Shayani performs surgery at a number of hospitals. I'm guessing he likes the flexibility of being an independent practitioner. I see him at his Hinsdale office but unfortunately he doesn't/can't perform lap bands there. I had my replacement at St. James. I was able to choose my hospital, and I would caution you against St. James. Strongly. A nurse or other medical staff member did something during my surgery to compromise the OR sterility. I had to be on antibiotics because of the elevated risk of infection. Also, the nurses didn't wear gloves when inserting or removing my IV. If I were to have surgery with Dr. Shayani again, I would go to Bollingbrook hospital. I'd even go to the same day surgery center in Oak Brook where he operates. He might even release you the same day if your surgery is early enough in the day, and you're recovering well. I do wish he still operated at Loyola or Northwestern or something like that but I think he has to be on staff there.

Sorry this is so long winded. Please contact me if you have any questions about Dr. Shayani or the band. I have had complications, but I don't regret having the surgery. I have a different life now than I would have had without the surgery.

The doctor recommnended that I go on a "liver shrinking" diet the week before surgery, which basically was less than 30 carbs a day,  all liquid including protien shakes.  Two days before surgery, I had to go on the clear liquid diet.  I lost 10 pounds in a week.   He said it made it easier to lift up my liver and access my stomach. 

Remember why we are doing this and it is for portion control and hopefully perm weight loss. With the other methods we have all tried, we have gained the weight back when you go off the diet. Hopefully, this will help us make a perm change to our lifestyle to help us with how much we eat and to make better choices permanently. I too lost weight quickly while preparing, but I am not eating, being satisfied with my food choices and taste and am still losing at a good rate. Down 56 pounds since Christmas.

I am happy with the progress so far.

I wish you success too!

Thank you Sue. You have put it in perspective. I cannot go like this the rest of my life. I do need to learn portion control . Thank you and congratulations on your weight loss.

Wow. My Dr is Dr Shayani as well. Tell me more about your thoughts on his process after surgery. Did he tell you how to eat and what? because there are people i know that see dieticians and nutritionists after and before surgery. I am going to have mine done at Bolingbrook Hospital since my insurance is with Adventist Hospitals. I didnt have a choice so I am glad there is someone who had theirs with him as well.

Congratulations on your weight loss. What complications did you have if you dont mind me asking?

well.... I wish I had given "dieting and excersise" one more chance. I hadn't done that in years. The band hasn't been the tool I hoped it would be. I was never at a sweet spot for very long. I would be very hungy go in for a very small fill and not be able to keep even protien shakes down. It was sooo frustrating. That being said, I did loose the excess weight, but I experienced a lot of hunger on the journey. I stuck to a highprotien, low carb, low fat diet. I now choose to keep my band pretty loose. Just my story, hope it helps, it is by no means meant to band bash. As you have probably read on this board, there are lots of success stories.

I think for most of us the band did NOT work the way it was advertised to work. :-( You might want to check out the failed band group

Good luck!

For me losing weight wasn't the hardest part, keeping it off, was. So I had WLS to help me with that. Some Dr's have their patients on the liquid diet before banding to help shrink their liver so it will be easier to do surgery on you and to help you get used to the diet right after surgery. I don't think you should be going into surgery not sure, you need to be totally sure and know what life will be like after wards, you will have fills, unfills, etc for a very long time. The band will only make you full on less, that is all it does and it will not do that for at least  a few months after surgery. What ever you do,good luck and ask any questions you may have.