La_madam

I understand your reason for not wanting to tell anyone other then hubby and I felt like that at first but after alot of thought I decided to tell anyone and everyone for 2 reasons 1. So that more people would be aware of the Lap Band procedure, I feel it does not get enough publicity I actually had one of my customers see me 3 weeks after surgery and he then decided to have the surgery himself he used the same surgeon I chose he is 3 weeks post op and after his surgery one of his coworkers had the surgery also. They are both so happy with their decision and I feel responsible for helping them come to their decision, neither one of them have ever heard of the Lap Band until they spoke with me. 2. I have told anyone and everyone becasue "for me" it helps me to stay focused and it helps me to make better food choices around my peers who know I have done this. I run my families restaraunt and I'm around food constantly so all of my employees and customers know I have had this surgery. I'm far from perfect but telling all of my peers of this surgery helps me to not fall off that band wagon. I know alot of people do not want to tell anyone becasue they do not want to be scrutinized for whatever they put in their mouth when they are around these people but like I said it helps me when I'm around my peers to make better food choices becasue I do not want to be scrutinized. Does this make sense? I beleive whatever works for each person, this is whatworks for me. Michelle 4.6.04 265/240/160ish Dr Ortiz

Hi Kathy I had a slight fever 5 days after my surgery. I called my surgeon and told him about it, it was low grade 99.8 but still a fever. He told me to drink alot of fliuds and if it did not go away in 48 hours to come see him. It went away.

I don't understand why you can not drink 3 hours before laying down. I have always thought that the liquids go right through the band? I was never told this by my doctor, nor is it in my post op instructions Michelle 4/6/04 265/240/160ish Dr Ortiz

I have been told by my doctor and the fellow bandsters here and on other message boards to go on liquids for 24-48 hours after an episode of Pbing. Have you tried that? Your stomach might need a little rest. If after this time you still cant keep anything down then definately call your doctor. I have not PBed yet so I do not know if this works but I am keeping it as useful info for when I do. Hope this helps..

Hi Kathy I take the liquid Adult Strength Tylenol, I found it at Wal-Mart. Its just easier then trying to crush the tylenol . As far as getting all of my Water in. I drink 24 oz in the morning, after breakfast about an hour later I drink another 24oz then after lunch about an hour later I drink another 24 oz, during the afternoon I have another 24 oz and then after dinner about an hour later I drink my last 24oz bottle. I use a 24 oz sports bottle so I know exactly how much I'm getting in. Some days dont go as well as other days. When I was on my mushy food stage I took very small bites and waited 1-2 minutes between bites that helped me alot to not get that stuck feeling in my chest. It did go away after the swelling in my stomach went away each week it got easier and easier to get food down.

Congratulations Kathy ...Welcome to the banded world! My Gas problems did not start until 3 -5 days post op. They started with my bumpy ride back to the airport from TJ and got worse as the days progressed. By 10 days postop I had a terrble pain under my breastbone which I was told by fellow bandsters was just gas trapped in my diaphram, I could not burp to get it out. I seemed to get better as days passed and as the swelling in my stomach went down. I justwalked alot and took Gas X all the time. best of Luck to you..... Michelle 4.6.04 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Congrats Shelly....What an awesome accomplishment!!! Michelle 4.6.04 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Congrats Shelly....What an awesome accomplishment!!! Michelle 4.6.04 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Hi I was banded by Dr Orit on April 6th and I experienced the exact same pain under my breastbone about 10 days post op...I was told it was gas trapped in my diaphram..I constantly felt pressure and felt like I had to burp but couldn't It went away at about 2 weeks post op. The pain in your neck and shoulder is most likely trapped gas also. I just continued taking Gas X and I walked as much as possible and it went away. Hope this info helps...Good Luck P.S. I did not have gas pains at all either until about the 5th day post op Michelle 4/6/04/ 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Yes for me fills in Mexico are just a little over an hour away. I just live across the border so it is very fesible for me.

I'm planning on goingdown there the 2nd week in June once my kids are out of school so I do not have my daily carpool duties....where did you have your surgery?

Congrats Deb! I was banded on April 6th in Mexico and I can honestly say it was the best decision I have ever made for myself. I have not felt this good in years. I'm down 25 pounds in 6 weeks and could not be happier. Best of luck to you Michelle

I was told by my doctor to not drink 30 minutes before or 30-45 minutes after. Every doctor seems to have adifferent approach to drinking. I had mine done in Mexico wit h Dr Ortiz Michelle

Dont worry to much one of our fellow members had the same problem when she arrived in Mexico 3 weeks ago and her surgery went off without a hitch. You should be ok, but it porbalby would not hurt to give your doctor a call to let him know of all of this. Michelle

Hi Joyce I was banded on APril 6th and have not gotten a fill yet. I have heard with everything that I have read about that a fill should help you. But it is important to not drink at all before during or after a meal. Drinking pushes the food through the band quicker and makes you hungry again quicker. The whole idea behind not drinking is to keep the food in the pouch to keep you satisfied. I think it would be in your best interest once you get your fill to try and not drink before during or after a meal or you may exerience hunger quicker. Just my thoughts Michelle 4/6/04/ 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Delarla You crack me up! I was told that any liquid right before, during and right after a meal helps to push the food through the band quicker to only make you hungry again quicker. My doc said no sipping either! Michelle 4/06/04 265/242/160ish

Thank God All of my three boys ages 16,12, & 10 all have their fathers metabolism. If anything all of my boys are too thin. They are all built like their dad...tall and slender. I let me boys eat whatever they want basically. I do not see any sign of any one of them ever being overweight unlike me who has been overweight my entire 38 years on this earth. I wil lsay this though, that ever since I have been making more healthier chocies my two younger boys have been wanting to eat the same things I eat. Something different for them I guess. Michelle 4/6/04 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

WOW! I was not able to eat any of those things exccept Jello, popsicles until week 5 post op. Even now that I'm on those foods I have a hard time. I still feel alot of restriction just from my band placement.I'm scared to death to eat bread or pizza or rice. I have yet to have a fill and I'm almost 7 weeks post op. My doctor does first fills 6 weeks post op and beyond. As far as my gas pains, they lasted for me 3 weeks post op. Every day was a little less painful though. Gas X did nothing for me. Walking did nothing for me, I just had to let it runs its course. Well, good luck to you. I hope your fill helps you!! Michelle 4/6/04/ 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Dr Tengs number is 702-838-5888 I think the reason you could not find it was just becasue you were spelling it Tang instead of Teng Hope this helps Michelle

I did not quit befor surgery. Believe it or not when I went for pre op my nutritionalist told me not to try and quit right now. After surgery is a different story though. I had no urge or desire to smoke with the bloatedness and gas pains and not being on nothing but liquids a cigarette was the last thing I wanted. You may feel the exact same way. Some will tell you quitting smoking before surgery helps you to heal better but I healed very quickly and just fine. the added stress on trying to quit before surgery was something I did not want to experience so I did not quit. ... Good Luck Michelle

Slurpees are good but have very high calorie value (500) ... to me no liquid is worth wasting those ammount of calories since liquid goes right through the band. I have heard if you want to drink your soda to let it sit out for awhile to lose the carbonation. I have yet to try it though. Good Luck Michelle

I had my surgery done in TJ by a very well known doctor, it was not Dr Lopez but he is one of his associates (Dr Ortiz) Trust me when I tell you all of us who went to Mexico most likely had the same thoughts and worries that you are having. My family and friends acted the same way. I felt as though they did not think that I knew what I was doing. Do they not think I researched this and researched my doctor. The same worries and same problems could occur here in the states as in TJ. My hospital was nice and the staff was wonderful and my doctor and his staff are fabulous and if I had to do it all over again I would do it the exact same way. I love my Dr. and I love my band! Michelle

Hi Delarla My Dr, Dr Ortiz gave me instructions in my nutritional handout that was typed in big bold letters NO CARBONATION EVER AGAIN!!! I know Dr Lopez and Dr Ortiz are associates so maybe give him a call and ask him. I'm just going by what my doctor has told me and since I paid him thousands of dollars I figure he knows better then I do about the carbonation... Michelle

Atkins Advantage Chocolate tastes exactly like the chocolate slim fast to me...

Thanks for the info, my hubby just brought home Arbys last night for dinnner and I picked the roast beef off and it it by itself beacuse of the bread nightmare. I will have him get me a wrap next time. Arbys roast beef is the only beef I seem to be able to get down. It is so thin and tender I guess is why.