podna

How many of you out there had your band embricated when placed? I'm referring to the technique of overlapping a piece of stomach and securing it with sutures to help hold the band in place to reduce slippage and erosion.

I never advocated breaking the law. My portion of this debate is over whether the law is right. As you well know, just because something is legal doesn't mean it's right. Also, I never said that I should be allowed to do anything just because my money is at risk. I frankly could care less whether or not Eharmony is inclusive or exclusive of gays. What I do stand up for is their right to conduct their business as they see fit so long as they are not taking actions to harm anyone.

Just so you know. I'm not anit gay. And I'm not racist. Also, us right-wingers care about a whole lot more than this little issue. Just think, if Hillary Clinton wins the oval office lap bands will be free to everyone.........you just won't be able to find a surgeon to do it. After watching Fred Thompson on Fox last night I was planning to send my $1000 donation to him today. After reading your posts I decided to double it.

What about Hooters not hiring MEN to serve tables for that matter? It would destroy their business model...wouldn't it? Put just one man in daisy duke shorts and a tank top and that place goes out of business cause most of the current patrons would rather eat the plants outside than look at THAT guy.

Pink hair and a nose ring are BEHAVIOUR just like my neonazi example. you sure werent born with those now were you? Like it or not, your appearance speaks for you as loudly as any words in a business setting. You still haven't addressed WHY if I put MY money at risk to start a business. Maybe I mortgaged my family's house and quit my job, for instance. I work night and day trying to make it a success. Why should anyone be able to tell me who I can hire or what type of clientele I must serve? Why would anyone have that right in a free country? Now, if you think I should be serving some segment of the public you are totally free to mortgage YOUR home and start a competing business that serves anyone and everyone.

All pain is gone except for a little superfishal tenderness like you would have from any incision after a week. Range of motion is pretty much back to normal. I can cough or sneeze without wincing. Gas problems disippated yesterday. Digestive system feels normal now. I have posted (with much anger LOL!) about my surgeon's seemingly super-restrictive 2 week clear liquid diet (zero carbs and zero protein). After a conversation with the nurse on Monday she allowed me to move cautiously to yougurt, cottage cheese, etc. So, I began having just a few ounces...not even to the point of fullness. Just to get something in my system and it has made a TON of difference! It coincided with digestive system normalcy. Lethargy disappeared almost immediately. Anger about the diet is slowly disappearing (although I'm gonna have a "come to Jesus" with my surgeon when he gets back from vacation). I plan to hit the treadmill with moderation today...just to break a sweat. Funny thing about the diet and psychology: As soon as she gave me permission to have a little soft stuff I felt I could recommit to liquids somewhat. Meaning, I won't have soft stuff every meal. I'll still do Clear Liquids frequently. Just knowing I have control -- or an option -- makes all the difference for me. All in all, life feels pretty darn back to normal today!

Sure they should. What about a Jewish deli refusing to serve a group of neo nazis? What about a restaurant refusing to serve someone without a shirt on. What if their religion dictated that they dine without a shirt?

That's a pretty selective quote from my post. I don't support anti-discrimination laws when it comes to private businesses. Again, if I put my money at risk, why should you be able to tell me who I can hire, fire or cater to? It's not YOUR money. But you could use your money to compete with me...couldn't you?

This brings out the libertarian in me. In the United States we still have ownership rights. If I own something, I get to determine its best use. Eharmony is a privately owned company. Why shouldn't they get to cater to whatever market segment they so choose? Gay, straight, whatever? I feel the same way when it comes to no-smoking laws. If I put my money at risk to open a restaurant. I should be able to CHOOSE whether to allow smoking in MY restaurant. BTW, I'm a non smoker and hate it when the guy at the table next to me lights up! Eharmony is being unfairly targeted for this. It is their business and they should be free to run it as they choose. If they run it poorly then the market should respond by spending their money elsewhere. Vote with your pocketbook but don't use the courts to impose your will on someone else. No one has a constitutional right to a matchmaking service.

My doc's verbal and written instructions were to cough cough cough. It does hurt some for the first few days though...primarily around the port. What hurts even more though is a sneeze. I have to say, though, 6 days out the pain totally disappeared and I can cough without worry.

Yeah no kidding! I spoke with the nurse this morning (my doc is on vacay) and she browbeat me for the apple juice saying it is empty calories. She did reluctantly allow me to move slowly to the phase two diet which includes cottage cheese, eggs, yougurt, etc. She reminded me though that I was to have absolutely no smoothies, Protein shakes, etc. I'm beginning to think my doc combines a few purposes with this post op diet. 1. Protect the pouch 2. Begin to retrain eating habits and expectations I have no issue protecting the pouch of course. But I wasn't a huge eater, sugar lover or anything like that before. Basically, I was a "bad" eater. Meaning that I would just not eat until I got so freakin hungry that I would eat whatever I could find to take the hunger away and eat it fast so it would then be too much. I understand the new "rules" about eating and have no issue with retraining to that. My problem now is that I'm starving, have no energy and must be losing muscle mass too. I do worry that I'm further damaging my metabolism too. Bottom Line: I'll do whatever necessary to protect the pouch. But, I think now is a poor time to retrain eating habits. I am grateful that she agreed to move to stage two. If I can just get a few ounces of yogurt or cottage cheese twice a day I'll be very happy!

Just 2 weeks for the preop diet.

I was banded the same day and have been really freakin hungry for 2 days now. In fact I've been posting about this miserable post op diet and how there's no way I can adhere for another week. Everything else seems to be settling out so I cheated a little tonite and had 3oz of low fat yogurt and a little diluted fruit juice and it made all the difference. I feel so much better! Not recommending you cheat but I'm having the exact same experience. My doc's diet has me on way less than 100 calories per day and zero Protein. I've lost 8 pounds in 3 days and 27lbs in about 3 weeks. That seems extreme to me.

Michelle -- I was banded on the 29th and that sounds similar to my experience except that I didn't have any pain from trapped gas. By the way, have you SNEEZED yet? The first time I sneezed it hurt like a mofo where they put the port!

I dunno. In all of my pre-op reading my surgeon cautioned me that when looking at slippage and erosion complication rates in some earlier studies to consider (among some other things) that this is a newer technique that may not have been employed in some earlier studies. I'm just curious....

Chickie -- I understand totally. Why then do you see the pronounced rebound weight gains in gastric bypass patients (group at large) but not in lap band patients over a 5 year span? My surgeon also explained to me (perhaps I misunderstood) that one option in some cases of pouch dilation for gastric bypass patients is to THEN apply a band. I'm not discounting your points at all and I don't want to appear to be a newcomer with all the answers. I've enjoyed reading your views on life with the band and think we are of similar mind. Particularly with regard to slow weight loss. My point to the original poster is that the studies clearly show a rebound weight gain long-term (3-5 years) that band patients don't show -- another plus in the band catagory. According to my surgeon one distinct reason for this is the adjustability of the band. Not that it will cure a dilated pouch from "abuse". With regard to slippage and erosion, I wonder how many folks out there have their band embricated to hold it in place and further reduce the chance for slippage and erosion? I'll post that as a seperate question.

Hi all I was banded 5 days ago. My question is regarding the consensus on the immediate post op diet. My doc put me on a 2 week diet of nothing but Clear liquids, and only 120cc of that. He defines clear liquids as broth, SF POPsicles, SF Jello, crystal lite. Other than the 120cc of those items only 3x per day with each "meal" spread out over 1 hour. IOW, 30cc every 15 minutes. It worked fine for the first 3 days but Now that I'm 4-5 days out I'm finding this IMPOSSIBLE to follow. What types of post op diets were you all put on?

Good point Chickie! I'm only a newbie (banded 5/29) here but I've read every study I could get my hands on and discussed them with my doctor. While your point is certainly valid, I'm referring to study outcomes that I've seen comparing the two methods over multiyear spans. You can clearly see a rebound weight gain in the bypass line graph vs lap band pts. And, although no infinite adjustments, one advantage of the band is that it can be adjusted long term vs the bypass. Just pointing out another reason to look favorably on the band vs bypass.

Like I said early in the thread, I'm collecting info to make my case with my doc for a very slightly expanded diet after 1 week post op. If the answer is still "no" then I'd like to understand 'why' a little better. I don't want to do anything that will cause unnecessary problems for my band or it's future/long term success. That said, I'm probably getting about >100 calories per day with zero Protein and that seems extreme considering I'm quite hungry and having zero problems.

Thanks Cyndilou! I don't want to go hog wild but would like a little mushy and to treat my body to a little protein shake or something. Did your doc specify that anything with flavor (broth, Jello, crystal lite) be reserved for a MEAL ONLY and then only 30cc every 15 minutes for a total of 120cc?!

Thanks Kwalla! 3 responses now and all more reasonable than my doc's diet. He's on vacay for a week but I'll talk to his nurse on Monday.

I asked my doc the same question as I did a LOT of reading studies, etc. Remember this saying "There are lies, DAMN LIES, and STATISTICS!" You may be seeing an average number but realize that some of the early studies didn't produce great results b/c they were done by a bunch of bypass surgeons and had poor followup. You also don't know the history of the patients inthe series. Did they get their fills? Did they follow the eating instructions? Etc, etc, etc.

Thanks, SElaine!! That sounds much more manageable for a few weeks! I don't want to be a non-compliant patient and go off label but these responses will help me make a case with my doc to lighten up a little. I really don't think I can make it thru another week of this.

Yes. 3 slim fasts per day and one small piece of lean protein and a veggy for dinner. Broths, SF Jello, etc unlimited.

Thanks Joe! Yeah, I'm beginning to suspect that my doc's diet is a bit overly restrictive. I'm not trying to be a whiner, in fact, he's a close friend of mine. But, the diet prescribed is ridiculous IMHO. I'd kill for a cup full of cream of wheat, malt o meal or a Protein shake. Literally there is nothing even semi solid in his prescription for the first two weeks. And, no protein whatsoever which floors me. I'm interested in hearing from some others b/c I plan to make a case with him on Monday. I'm freaking starving!