RestlessMonkey

They didn't weigh people at the seminar I attended. That was done at my 1st appointment.

Ask your doctor. Acid reflux is never "normal" and if left untreated can erode your esophagus, among other things.

Preop diets are not required by all surgeons...and even those who do require one can vary it depending on the patient etc. I am sure they feel with your starting weight and the results of your tests that you don't need one. If you are truly unsure, call back and tell them you're scared; they can either give you one or reassure you. But truly, you just need to do what your doc wants. If s/he felt you needed to be on one I'm sure you'd be given one.

The left shoulder pain is "referred pain" from your diaphragm. It sits above your liver and stomach and is, well, "upset" during surgery! LOL Regardless of how gentle your surgeon, many of us have that shoulder pain. Some say it's trapped gas but if so, it's gas that is agitating the diaphragm. For me, it only hurt when I breathed deeply...like after going for a walk etc. For me, the pain was like a muscle cramp and having my husband rub my neck (and having my breathing rate/depth return to normal) made the pain go away. Some say lying on their left side with their hand stretched above their heads works (but again that's just releasing the cramp in the muscle, like when you have a charley horse/cramp in your calf and stand up on the painful leg to make it go away) A pain that radiates from the elbow is different...different cause, quality, treatment. Either way, though, it will pass.

If you chose lap band because you didn't want excess skin I have bad news: If you lose a lot of weight FAST or if you lose it SLOW...if you're going to have saggy skin, you're going to have it. Whether or not we have baggy saggy skin depends on many factors: our age, our skin type, our nutrition, how long it's been stretched, how MUCH it's been stressed, past sun exposure, etc etc. What it does NOT depend on is losing really slow. Trust me, if it can bounce back it will. So if that's your reason for chosing the band, then get Roux-en-Y without any worries. Either you'll have saggy skin or not; the speed with which you lose won't impact it. AND...skin is an ORGAN. Exercising may tone the muscle underneath the skin (and that is good for you! Exercise, that is!) but it doesn't reduce the skin. When you see someone who is muscular...they are just that: muscled. IT isn't that their skin is all tight or in nice cut mounds, but that their muscles are big. Not to discourage you but saggy skin can be hidden (unlike fat) and you can have it surgically removed if you need to. I always figured I'd rather have a tummy tuck than open heart surgery because of blockage from being fat.

I had: abdominal ultrasound, chest x-ray, upper GI test, ecg, tons of blood work, nut and psych consults, and meeting w/surgeon. It was all done in 2 different appts; fast and easy.

Wasabubblebutt...because I know you never make wild claims without backing them up, would you mind posting a link (or links) to the stats you're quoting? Since they are contrary to what I found (about a year ago, have NOT dug around lately) and what I've experienced (on a limited basis with bandsters, but have seen MANY GI issues etc with bypass patients etc) I'd like to update my "data bank". I need to read and process the source etc...if you don't mind posting?

I'm Tricare standard. I had to use a "Center of Excellence" surgeon. He's head of bariatrics at a local hospital and they had someone (thank you Nadia!) do all the paperwork for me. From seminar to surgery was 1 month and my approval took about 48 hours.

If it's not on your list of foods approved for your stage post op, then I'd avoid them.

I don't really understand the question. What type of RN? A nurse practitioner? And do you mean will insurance cover it? THat depends on the requirements of your insurance. But generally yes RN's are legally able to do fills, although I'd assume they'd need training in the procedure.

Actually you don't need to wait 6 weeks to sleep on your stomach post band, unless you are "opened up" the traditional way. It is best to stretch and "be normal" to prevent adhesions. I never heard that the stomach takes 6 weeks to recover from "any surgery"...but of course if your doc tells not to sleep on your stomach, then don't. I slept on my stomach from the start and had about zero issues.

Thanks for clearing it up. I NEVER have made myself throw up and it usually makes me feel worse, not better...I guess like crying makes some people feel better but not others. I thought everyone hated to throw up! :thumbup: And I used to drink...but if I paid for it, I kept it down! LOL I think my digestive tract is a one-way. :tt2:

Sarah I really don't understand having to make yourself vomit. I'm 54 and can say honestly that I have thrown up when I was very ill but NEVER EVER had to "make myself" vomit. ?? Not being pissy, just confused. You shouldn't have to make yourself throw up. Once banded if food gets stuck it will come up without you forcing it, if it won't go down...

I was banded 8/29, slept on my stomach 8/30. I just "did" it. If you wait you can get adhesions etc.

I know how you feel. I have a 14 cc band and only have 6 cc's in there....still can eat too much and get hungry if I keep it to 1/2 cup etc. Hang in there; that's what I'm doing! :thumbup:

you should go to your regular doctor. Many things non-band related could be causing your cough.

Try this i didn't use it (I had trouble too) but found it and it seems to help most people: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

I think some people with autoimmune issues (like scleroderma, lupus, to name two) run that risk and therefore may not be candidates for the band. For the rest of us? It is not an issue. The material is considered inert...we don't react to it. That's one reason they do all the blood work etc pre banding; to make sure you don't have a medical issue that would cause you to reject it (or have other issues) down the road.

Respectfully, eating until you're so obese that you need a surgical implant to curb it is eating like a freak. Chin up! Remember the point of the band is to eat less and lose weight. You are recovering from major surgery. Give yourself a break. What if it was bypass? You'd REALLY be unhappy then! I know it's easy to get down in the dumps during "bandster hell" but it will pass. It is a short time in what should be a long healthy life. You'll be able to go out to eat once you've recovered. You'll forget you ever felt this miserable, trust me.

OK! :smile: Not a bank holiday here (I WISH!) but tues is surely soon enough. Just be careful. It really is most likely something very minor. So don't worry!

The odds are it isn't serious...could be so many NON horrible things! but if you pass out while driving etc (or if you'd cut yourself badly) then it WOULD have a serious effect anyway. You really should call monday because odds are it's something you can fix quickly and easily but the fallout if left untreated could be bad! :smile:

It's called "orthostatic hypotension" and it doesn't just happen to people who have normal BP. Drugs can cause it, or a TON of other things...but definitely call your doc tomorrow and tell him/her. AND it may not be your BP...it may be a blood sugar issue etc. :smile: so safest to let the pro figure it out for you!

Go see a regular doctor. It's totally possible that what you are experiencing is NOT band related. Something's causing your blood pressure to tank. You need to get checked out ASAP! Be careful driving etc until you find out what's causing this!

It's just 3 months out of your life. You can discuss with your surgeon but you don't want to be TOO tight...that would be a nightmare and dangerous, to boot. If you are at good restriction now just go and enjoy your summer!

Here's a link to the "contraindications" (scroll down) straight off the trademarked lap band web site: Lapband.com - LAP-BAND® System Risk and Complications Information IBS isn't specifically listed but some doctors may feel it falls in there along with other digestive problems...so truly it depends on the surgery and she would need to talk with a surgeon (or several) to find out that info!