project lisa

Are you being charged again for the removal of the first band and the installation of the second one?

I had the same issues - I am 2 weeks post op- what worked for me Phazyme worked better for me than gas ex - 2 small red pills Hot Showers - 5 or 6 times a day helped Hot heating pad Walking in the house - it's 100 degrees outside here rolling on the bed - left and right slowly - the gas just rolled around but at least it was moving Some crying and a pity party helped too! I went back to work monday - it's been interesting trying to figure out what to eat at a hospital cafeteria

I think it worked! Thanks so much - I would have never figured out this was a signature! I appreciate you taking the time to spell out the steps. Lisa

I work in a professional environment and I might have said something like this " Each person makes decisions that impact their lives, I made an educated choice to be smarter about my health. " Sometimes it's choosing a smarter route not a harder one to accomplish a goal that makes all the difference." I don't understand the other posters comment about a hostile work environment - Everyone is entitled to their own opinion - it's what you do with that information that is important - Good Luck to you - I am just starting this journey and very excited to have lost 40 pounds in 21 days!

[i need help too and have not found it - I made my ticker over a month ago - followed what i thought were the instructions and pasted the html code into the section on my profile but it does not show up when I post - i have repeated this twice with no luck, when you search on ticker or post ticker nothing comes up in the search -- I wish someone would reply to this post and help me figure out how to get my ticker to show up. thanks, Lisa

Hello, I live in Arkansas and was banded May 26th - I had a hernia repair as well. It's so interesting to see the variety of experiences from people all around the world. I must say it's been hell - I've really had second thoughts about what I've done - but it is getting better - I wrote another post about all my problems so I will not repeat them here. I've lost 38 pounds since the pre diet began on May 12th. An amazing amount of weight! My clothes do not fit, thankfully I have many sizes to choose from in my closet. Yesterday I had to go buy all new underwear- what a happy day! Yesterday I kept down 20 oz of gatorade for the first time since surgery. looking forward to real food but taking it very slow today. Has anyone else noticed how much food is a part of everything - television, social activities and just driving down the road seeing the signs. Until I was unable to eat it all I had never noticed this. I am not hungry but a pizza sounds so wonderful-the thought of that hot cheese makes my mouth water.

this is what we use in the hospital and it works - but beware it's a hard thing to swallow The Bomb - Milk of Mag, Cascara and Dr. Pepper - all warmed to a temp you can swallow without being burned A note before you do this -- you mentioned weeks since you pooped -- I would be suspect of a blockage of some type - you should contact your doctor before you try anything else or go to an emergency room to see one. Better safe than sorry when dealing with bowel issues.

I am no expert as I am only a little over a week post op but the staff in my doctors office - all who have bands told me to go to use biotin 1000mg daily. I have not started it yet but they say it can be purchased anywhere vitamins are sold. I asked my hairdresser and she agreed it was an excellent product for strengthening hair and nails.

the broth made me gag too- I use regular campbells chicken noodle Soup and just drain the juice then heat it up -- eating only 1 oz at a time- it's very salty and much better than chicken broth.

Today I am 8 days post op-- If I had known it would be this bad I would not have chosen to have a lap band. I do believe it will get better and I may be glad at some point but not now. People considering this should know things can go wrong and do. I have lost 32 pounds in 21 days - this is not a healthy way to lose weight my expectation is to lose weight in a healthy manner. I had a normal progression post op to Day 3 and lost 16 pounds on the 2 week pre-op diet. Some gas pain and soreness. Then I developed pharyngitis - a very swollen sore throat with huge pus pockets down my throat and ears. This can be viral or bacterial - some refer to it as strep throat ( bacterial) Mine was viral and resulted in the inability to swallow due to throat swelling and pain. I was unable to take any liquids or medication by mouth. I called my doctor and was told to talk to my primary care physician. After about 36 hours I was able to swallow sips of liquid with pain meeds. My stomach was so swollen and tight - it was miserable and each morning much worse. On day six I began to vomit with every sip of liquid. Lots of abdominal pressure and by this time very dehydrated. I went to my doctors office and was told to continue to sip gatorade about 10 cc hourly. With phenergan suppositories Today I made a decision something was going to be done. I went to my doctors office and requested immediate action. They accessed my port and removed the "prime" Fluid from the band- Immediate relief from the pressure in my chest -I can now sip Water and gatorade without vomiting. That was 10 hours ago and I feel 100 times better. I am a Registered Nurse and I write all of this to say - if you are having problems - speak up and demand that something be done. Problems unrelated to the band such as pharyngitis can cause problems with the band that must be dealt with. Dehydration is dangerous.

[i did not find anything that really "works" but some things that helped me with the gas were - 1. HOT Showers and put the hand held shower right at the pain point 2. Phazyme - 2 extra strength tabs ( very tiny red gel pills) 3. HOT Heating PAD - High heat 4. Lying on the bed and rolling from side to side very slowly- moves the gas around Good Luck! I know it hurts.........

Update: it's been almost 24 hours since I began this topic- Thanks to so many of you for your kind words and encouragement! No further vomiting - I've taken in 16 oz total in gatorade, 2 oz of chicken broth plus a snack size cup of strawberry jello in the past 24 hours. I still feel some pressure in my stomach and have been nauseated a couple of times. I am finding it very hard to SIP fluids - I am so thirsty I just want to gulp it down so I have been putting it in a very small measuring cup to learn SLOW sipping. There is a lot of gas still present and I am Coughing very frequently from a dry scratchy throat - sometimes this causes me to gag. Today I was down a total of 34 pounds since May 12th. I suspect as I progress in fluids my weight will go up 3-4 pounds due to the dehydration being resolved. Good luck to all of you with future surgery dates - for those of you still considering it -- do your research and put contingencies in place - I am single with grown children and have mostly done this on my own - I would not recommend doing it without a good support system in place for the first few days. Also you might try doing a diet with 800 calories daily (only liquids) for a couple of weeks and see if you can tolerate it. It would have been a lot easier to back out before surgery rather than after. I was a self pay and shelled out $16,000 last week - this has got to have some wonderful results at some point. I'm still praying for a healthy weight loss outcome where I feel good, can tolerate regular food and maintain a regular work schedule.

I am praying you do not get this virus!

today was my day to move from Clear Liquids to semi liquids - for lunch I am having Panera Bread /tomato Bisque soup. Here is the list from my doctor of what to eat beginning the 3rd day up till day 15 post op broth, cream Soups, diet popsicles, watery grits or oatmeal, cream of wheat, blenderized soups ( vegetable beef, chicken noodle etc) no particle bigger than 3mm low calorie high Protein smoothies, low fat yogurt, sugar free pudding. Juices between meals Water, crystal light, unsweetened tea, coffee, propel, gatorade, juices ( count calories these add up fast) sugar free jello( let it dissolve in mouth) I like Sonic drinks and their strawberry creamslush has 7 grams of protein in 370 calories so I may try that for dinner. I hope this helps. Hang in there -- today I still have a lot of gas pain in my shoulders but I am determined not to take pain medication until at least 5 pm so I am walking all over the house. Lisa

The time has come - Tomorrow is the big day for the lap band! I'm excited but terrified - went to the grocery store tonight and bought tons of liquids, pudding, soup - whew I have the laxatives, gas pills, xanax, surgical scrub, ride home - I think i am prepared physically -- emotionally a little shaky. No backing out now today I wrote a check for $16,500 to pay for this surgery, had my blood drawn and EKG done -- any pointers for surgery day?

I was banded the 26th also- spent one night in the hospital post op- I have no appetite and cannot drink more than a few sips at a time. Have not tried a shake yet but I will not be able to get much Protein during this liquid phase- I too have popsicles ( sugar free) crystal light and tea -some Jello but it's nasty - I did take a can of campbells chicken noodle Soup and drained off the juice and just had that - it was good - eery salty but good. Hang in there angelpie07 I have several friends with lap bands this past year and they say this is normal. Still have lots of gas - my shoulders hurt. I'll pray for you. Lisa

I had Surgery Thursday May 26th. I don't have an appetite but I am very thirsty all the time. I've been drinking the clear liquids and walking every hour. This morning the gas pain was very bad but this afternoon - it's much better. My shoulders still hurt ( gas) but I seem to be much more energetic. I even cooked supper for my son- and I rarely cook but it helped me move around. I am amazed I was able to not even try one bite , Congrats to all May Bandsters - I look forward to years of being thin!

I made it! Spent 24 hours in the hospital post op. Now I am dealing with lots of gas in my shoulders and lower abdomen. Hot drinks and hot showers seem to help and I am walking 10 minutes every hour trying to get things moving. My doctor said my liver was about 30 pounds and my pancreas was very large as well. He added that if I had not done the 2 weeks of 850 calories per day he would not have been able to do the surgery laproscopic. He also repaired a large hernia near my esophagus. The pain from the incision sites is very low- it's primarily the gas around my shoulders that hurts. Sunday I will start soft foods but right now I have no hunger at all. Thanks for the encouragement - it's not been all that difficult. Lisa

thank you so much Mandy - good luck to you too!

fantastic! Does this mean your diabetes is cured? I hope to be medication free soon. I am amazed at how my sugars have responded to this pre diet.

AAAhhhaaa - sorry to over answer - You will be fine day of surgery. Your blood sugar may be slightly high prior to surgery but you will not be eating on that day and you will have an IV with a balance of electrolytes during surgery. Good Luck!

Hello Kay, I am on my two week 800 calorie restricted diet and will be banded on Thursday. I am a type 2 diabetic and a registered nurse. Two years ago my Endocrinologist told me if I would get a lapband I would not longer have to take any meds for diabetes. I was not ready at that time. In the past 18 months I transitioned from oral meeds to insulin to obtain tighter control of my diabetes and gained 70 pounds. I was taking 50 units of Novolog prior to each meal until 10 days ago. along with Metformin and Lantus. My Bariatric surgeon cut my Novolog to a sliding scale during my pre diet- a drastic sliding scale - 5 units is all I have needed prior to my meals and some meals I don't need any insulin at all. For the first time in 18 months I am not hungry. I have more energy and sleep better already and I am only 10 days into the diet. I have dropped 17 pounds during this time as well. I am so excited about surgery and the reduction of medication. I take six oral meds and six injections per day - according to my physician I will be down to one or two meds only with greatly reduced dosages immediately post surgery! So to answer your question about going too long between eating - you may be surprised and not have that issue at all post surgery. Four physicians have told me they have diabetic patients that take NO medication at all post lap band and added some very brittle long term diabetics will continue to need oral meds. The combination of the diet restriction (volume), the focus on healthy eating ( protein not sugar) and the weight reduction changes in the body all lead to improved diabetes management. Good Luck to you and I am hoping for a very positive outcome from this surgery. At a cost of $16,000 cash out of pocket it's gotta work! Lisa

I voted 4 U!

I'm so sorry to hear you are struggling - I have surgery on the 26th. A co-worker visited with me today - she was banded on November 25th and has lost an amazing 75 pounds. Has done no exercise and is having her second fill today. She looks wonderful and is down 6 sizes. She started at 302#.