DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Only with the old, outdated 4cc bands. Normally the surgeon would know during surgery which size band is necessary so this isn't a normal issue for band patients. I personally think the surgeon messed up huge and is now trying to cover his butt.

You can drink anything you want as long it's not carbonated and you count the calories towards your daily total.

You'll have to read the nutritional label and decide based on your surgeon's guidelines. Every surgeon is different and has their own rules.

Talk to your doctor and let him help you decide. Ultimately, whether or not you need a fill is based on hunger not weight loss. Fills don't make you lose weight, they help to control your hunger. When you're not always hungry it's much easier to eat less calories and lose weight. Some people are lucky and never need a fill, btw. Can you go at least 4 hours between meals without hunger? If so, you may not need a fill. If not, maybe you should discuss the possibility of a fill with your doctor. Best wishes.

I measure out a cup (per my surgeon's rules) but I can never eat that much. I eat about a half a cup and am definitely done.

My whole life seems to be one big "that was stupid" moment! (j/k) I actually just had one two nights ago. I was eating mostaccioli and wasn't paying attention. I was too busy talking with my family. Next thing I knew, I was sliming up a storm and really stuck. It ended up being only the second time I've ever PB'd since being banded. We all have moments like that I think

Forgive my bluntness, but I really think you need a new surgeon ASAP. The one your wife is going to sounds like a total quack. No one goes on IV's for months with the Lap Band!! If you are dehydrated to the point of needing an IV you need the band unfilled immediately. Being as she has nothing to unfill, then other measures must be taken. Saying it's due to stomach swelling is also crap- she had surgery in June. Any swelling from surgery is long since gone months ago. If I were in your wife's shoes, not only would be finding a new surgeon immediately but I wouldn't let her current one touch me with a tissue let alone a scalpel. No way in heck I'd let him do surgery on me again. Again, just sharing my opinion based on my experience and knowledge of the band. I will definitely keep your wife in my prayers.

I have MS and I also have the Lap Band. Losing weight can't and won't cure MS, but for me it has drastically improved my mobility. I have gone from needing a cane just walk around my home to walking 2 miles a day unaided. I feel that losing weight has helped me better deal with the MS symptoms and getting my body as healthy as I can gives me a better chance to fight the disease in the future. You can be as successful with the Lap Band as you're willing to be. It takes a total lifestyle change and work but it's very possible. I've lost 227 pounds in 19 months and I've never felt better in my adult life. Getting the band has truly given me my life back. Best wishes.

I agree with the ladies above me. She doesn't have a month to wait, this has to be taken care of immediately. You can't take that big of a gamble with her health. I would find another bariatric surgeon immediately because it's clear her current surgeon doesn't have her best interest at heart. May I ask where she had her surgery and what size band she has?

I would ask a lot: How many Lap Band surgeries has the surgeon performed? What brand gastric band does he use and what size? Will you stay overnight in the hospital? What is his follow up schedule? Does he have an afterhours number in case of emergencies? How often does he do fills? Will you need a pre op diet and if so, what one and for how long? What does the post op diet consist of?

Agreed, me too. My collar bones actually stick out a lot now. I swear I have no fat above my actual breasts whatsover. If my port was up there, it would stick out huge by now.

Wow I've never heard of a port there before. I have to be honest, I wouldn't want mine there at all. It sounds painful Since losing a lot of weight mine now sticks out noticeablely. It's easy to hide on my tummy but I fear it would next to impossible to hide if it were over my breast.

Yes, it most certainly can be from the hernia. In fact, I strongly suspect it is from the hernia. I've had many hernias over the years so I know them well. Why isn't your surgeon fixing the hernia? It makes no sense to be even discussing other WLS when they already know you have a hernia. Plus, hernias don't get better on their own, in fact they will only continue to get bigger and more severe the longer they're left untreated.

You need to ask him. We can't possibly know what he's doing or what response he's looking for.

Well you do have to eat healthy and change your lifestyle. The band is a tool not magic- the work is still ours to do. But just because you eat healthy doesn't mean you can't have the occasional treat. If you continue to eat the unhealthy way that lead to obesity in the first place, you likely won't lose weight. So, a lifestyle that includes healthy food and exercise is crucial.

No. Salad definitely isn't soft. If you can't easily mash it with a fork, it's not soft.

I'm the same way!

B12 has a very short shelf life and isn't absorbed well via ingestion. That's why doctors will often opt to give it via injection (usually monthly) because when it's injected it's a lot more effective. B12 is usually taken for extra energy or a B12 deficiency. (it definitely works too).

If you get B12, your best bet is actually injectable at your doctor. Your next best choice is a liquid or the kind that dissolves under the tongue immediately. If you take B12 as a pill, your body doesn't absorb it nearly as well and it's less effective.

I don't think you're kidding yourself at all. I personally feel life with the band is about moderation, not deprivation. Like the poster above me, I still eat carbs (pasta, bread, rice, etc) regularly I just make sure the ones I eat are healthy (whole grain or whole wheat). I still enjoy treats occasionally too- but the key is occasionally. When I do have Cookies I have two rather than the whole box I used to eat. If I have ice cream, I have a cup not half a gallon. At the end of the day, you have to do what's best for you. For me, getting the Lap Band was an amazingly good decision. I've lost 227 pounds with it over the last 19 months and I'm still losing. It's changed my life dramatically for the better. Best wishes.

I'm assuming you're transitioning to mushies? When I was mushies, the blender was my best friend, because anything I could blend into baby food consistency I could eat. My favorite was putting chili and cream cheese into the blender. I also liked both chicken salad and tuna salad in the blender. I've known people to even put spaghetti or raviolis in the blender. Really, anything you can make baby food consistency, you can eat.

It's inevitable you will lose some size because while fat is not as dense as muscle it's still has a lot more volume than muscle. I drink a lot of Green Tea, take Biotin, a Multivitamin, and D3. What type of supplements are you looking for?

It's not a matter of doing "bad" or cutting back tomorrow. It's a matter of letting your stomach heal from surgery. It's been sutured, manipulated, and overall wounded. Cheating on your post op diet puts you at very high risking of ripping a suture and/or causing a band slip. Hopefully you didn't do any damage. Just stick to your post op diet from now on- regardless of what you want and what social function you're at. It's simply not worth the risk to cheat.

chips are fatty/greasy so it makes sense it would upset the gallbladder issues. I'd go back to your doctor and let him re-evaluate the situation.

The problem isn't the surgery itself, the problem is the risk of blood clots after any surgery and being sedentary on long flights or car rides. Check with your doctor to be sure and be prepared to walk around during the flight.