kiz

I had some hair loss, but nothing at all different then I had after previous surgeries and childbirth. I know there's a million theories, but I think it's due to the shock to the system and hormone disruption. I am lucky that I have a lot of hair to start off with, so it wasn't at all noticeable, except for the bottom of my shower. I take a multi-vitamin and Calcium. I also added B-12 because I stared feeling sluggish a couple months after the surgery. The only ones the doctor told me to take for sure were the multi-vits and calcium. I just had my year end blood work done, so I should know next week if I'm low on anything, but I don't feel like I am.

I hope the seminars were helpful by giving you a good overview of your options for weight loss surgery. It's perfectly natural to be nervous, and I think most of us were in the same boat. You worry that you won't be successful, that you'll be the one to have complications, that your life as you know it now will be drastically changed, etc. For me, reading these boards and getting the most up to date statistical info I could find helped alleviate my worries. I decided I was going to follow the band rules to the best of my ability and if I happened to be one of the unfortunate people who ended up with a complication, it wouldn't be because of something I did. I also chose a surgeon who had tons of experience with lap bands and had come highly recommended. I'm self-pay, and I feel like it was worth every penny. My quality of life has improved exponentially. I'm not one of the extraordinarily fast losers. I've lost 50+ lbs in a year and I'd like to lose 20 more, and then I'll go for the final 10 lbs (if I decide I need to at that point). On the other hand, I can eat almost 100% of the same foods I could pre-band, just much smaller quantities. One of the pluses of the band is that it can be adjusted to your lifestyle and goals, to a point. For me, it's the perfect tool to help me become healthy again.

Hi Dean, and welcome to LBT. You'll find forums dedicated to both complications and success stories on here. I can say, for me, it's been a life changer, and I absolutely love my band. Have you gone to a lap band seminar yet? I went to a couple in my area presented by different surgeons, and that was a big help. If you have any specific questions, be sure to ask.

I do think your trouble with eating out is stress related, especially since you're ordering foods that you know you can eat when you're home. Some people say drinking something warm helps to loosen their band. I wonder if you could try taking some warm tea with you to drink before you get to the restaurant. Maybe you could give something like one of my favorite soft foods, the Black Bean Soup at Panera Bread. Then once you feel relaxed with soft foods, work your way up the consistency latter to something like a soft broiled fish (if you eat fish). Take tiny steps, and hopefully you'll be able to enjoy a dinner out with your friends &/or family. (I just noticed you're from VA. I live in the Richmond area. )

Ditto (I know just copying someone else's reply is sorta cheating, but that's my exact reaction to a fill )

Oh, thanks, those plates are darling. I have a Crate and Barrel in my mall, so that will give me something new to shop for today. lol

Personally, I use a small plate in proportion to my meal size, but I've never used small utensils. I know some people swear by them, but I've never felt the need to use them. You've found a nice looking inexpensive set, so it sure won't hurt to have them on hand.

I can't feel the band except when the doctor has pulled the Fluid for a check. It's not exactly comfortable, but it's not painful at all. When he's refilling after emptying my band is the only time I can feel the saline going back in. I can definitely feel it tightening then. Occasionally, liquids make a squeaky sound when going through. Thankfully, it's not too loud and doesn't happen too often. If I push air into my stomach, I can feel my port if I press softly on the area.

Eating and not knowing why is probably what got a lot of us in trouble. Unlike the rule to stick to liquids after our band surgery so that we don't tear our stitches, I think the rule that many doctors follow about sticking to liquids after a fill is for fear that we might have swelling, and the doctors want to make sure we don't get stuck and cause additional swelling and then an emergency unfill. Since you didn't have any pain, I really think you didn't do any damage. That's just my unscientific opinion.

Congratulations on your successful surgery!

The doctor can check your pouch under fluoro xray, but chances are, you just need a fill.

Absolutely, you need an unfill...call your doctor ASAP.

Hey Paperplane, you've been through the wringer, but you're hanging in there. I know it has to be hard not to get your original surgery date, but you're going to be much healthier going into surgery by having it postponed for a few weeks. I wish you much luck in losing the weight. I'm very thankful for you that your husband is doing well now. (Go ahead and have a good cry. Sometimes it's the best stress reliever).

I'm so happy to hear your good news, Mickey. Good luck on Friday!!

That's my take on it as well. If you find you're eating slider foods because you're too tight for solid food, then your band is too tight. But, if you're nutritional needs are being met through out the day with your other meals, you're losing weight, and you're not hungry soon after lunch then it sounds like it's working for you. I eat the same thing for breakfast 99% of the time - 1/2 cup dry Khashi Go Lean cereal (high fiber/high protein). I try to vary my other meals, but sometimes I know I get into a rut.

I can eat bread, and I've never had a stuck episode with it. For instance, I can eat a small slice of Papa John's pizza regular crust. I self limit on white bread products because unless it's a special treat for myself (ex. small homemade dinner roll), I don't want the empty calories, but I don't have a problem with bread products because of the band. Thankfully, with the band, I'm satisfied with just a small bit, and the band does regulate me in that I can't scarf down a huge dinner roll mindlessly. The band will kick your butt if your overdo it.

I've had three surgeries, and for some reason, during my second surgery (not the lapband), they said I fought getting the tube, so they left it in until I was awake in case I had a problem and they had to react quickly (they didn't want to struggle getting the tube back in). I remember coming to and being aware there was something in my mouth (throat), but I wasn't fully aware of what it was. The nurse removed it very quickly (at least it seemed pretty fast), and the only bad part I remember is it stung while being pulled out. I wasn't gagging or anything of that sort, and while a little painful, it wasn't terrible. I guess it was sort of like the pain of coughing while having a sore throat. Given the option, I'd rather have it removed while I was still under, but I wouldn't fret about it if I knew they were going to wait until I was awake.

I'm so sorry you're going through this additional stress. I hope everything works out Wednesday for you so that you don't have to postpone your surgery. Best wishes.

I just caught the last 15 minutes of the show, but I thought Alexandra looked great with her 60 lb weight loss. Yay for her, and I'm glad she's has more confidence in herself.

Kimo, even the most lenient post-op diets I've seen generally call for staying on a two week liquid diet. You have stitches that are holding your band in place, and you do not want your stomach churning to digest solid food. The scary thing is that you can't see if you're doing damage, and often it doesn't show up until later when your band slips. You have to stop with the solid foods. Call your doctor, and tell him what's going on. You're not going to be his first patient who feels like he's starving on this post-op diet, and maybe he'll have some good suggestions to help you get through this healing period with your band stitches intact. I do agree with BonMag that you shouldn't beat yourself up over it. What's done is done. There are people who cheat on the post-op diet, but of all times not to cheat, this is it. Good luck, and believe me, we know this period can be rough, but you have to be strong.

Good advice! I'm glad you brought up an emergency unfill. I had forgotten that was an option. My NP had mentioned that as well. Not that anyone would want to be in the position of having to go to the doctor with a stomach bug, but at least it's an option. The H1N1 virus is causing vomiting in some people. I've already gotten my seasonal flu shot, and I'm very anxious for the H1N1 vaccine to be released.

I asked the NP at my last appointment about this very thing. We're not supposed to drink anything 1/2 hour prior to eating. She said that it can take that long for the pouch to completely drain, and they want to make sure we're getting our 1/2 cup meal, (I go to a practice that is big on measuring), and they don't want us having a false sense of fullness due to having liquid in our pouch. I also think some foods pass through more quickly when combined with liquids. It really depends on what I'm eating. Personally, I'm sure my pouch empties out much faster than 1/2 hour after drinking, but I do stop liquids at least fifteen minutes before a meal. If I'm out to eat, I will sip on Water up to my food being served, but unless I was behind on my water intake, I don't drink more than maybe 1/4 glass. I can drink during meals without pain (I can't drink milk on Cereal though). I almost never drink with meals unless it's to sip water or wine (rarely) when out to dinner. I don't order any other type of drink, because unless it's a nice glass of wine, it's not worth the temptation or the cost to me. I definitely know I can eat more of most foods if I drink during a meal, so I don't make a habit of it. For me, I do think it mixes with my food and helps it to pass more quickly.

I think most of us have concerns about a stomach bug. Talk to your doctor about his recommendations in case you ever come down with one. The NP in my doctor's office said a 24 hour bug shouldn't harm the band but anything over that, they'd want to call in a prescription med to my pharmacy to settle things down. I was going out of the country last spring so I got a prescription med to take with me. Thankfully, I didn't need it, but I was glad I had it just in case. Some lap banders keep a prescription med on hand in the event of a stomach ailment.

1. Especially at this stage, when you learning to eat much smaller meals and when your band may not be holding your food for any significant time, it's very smart to measure, imo. The biggest indicator at this stage - if you're measuring -that you have little restriction is the quick return of hunger after a meal. So, often, it's not so much people are overeating or choosing foods that are not on their approved list that lets them know they have very little or no restriction, it's the quick return of hunger after eating that they're battling at this stage. That's not to say that some people aren't overeating, but it's not always the case. About two weeks before I had my first fill, I began getting hungry between meals. My doctor wanted me to be sure I kept my meals smaller than one cup and that my snack was more of a heavy Protein rather than something snackish like a SF Popsicle. 2, Unless it's a very thick soup, I would consider it a liquid with calories. Depending on how tight your band is at this point, if it's not a real thick soup, it's going to go through like any other liquid. A broth based soup would be more like a liquid, but the soup you're eating sounds like a soft food to me. Hopefully, you have instructions from your doctor, but I was supposed to have 1/2 cup meals, even during the soft food stage. *You're doing a great job and being very careful about you meals. It'll pay off in the long run.

I'm so happy to hear that you're feeling better. Enjoy the creamy soups too!!