RestlessMonkey

Andrea71...I know you're smart and "savvy" enough to know what's best for you! (and my husband is an RN who "enjoys" wound care a lot yuck but he concurs wet to dry is old school and not really useful) I'm throwing my 2 cents in with your peers who are telling you to look elsewhere! (not a nurse yet, but I will be next month when I graduate! LOL) Good luck and I hope it works out well for you!

Hello and welcome! Just wanted to chime in with Bandfun4me and say to follow your doc's orders about diet. I couldn't have Protein shakes, let alone fruit, the first week. (blended or not) You can really damage your healing process if you eat "ahead" So unless blended fruit is given a green light, hold off until mushies! of course you're sore, you had surgery! But it will pass. Just walk, stay hydrated, and give yourself a chance to heal. Good luck!

We're all different. You just had surgery on Monday. Give yourself a break!

Sounds like your surgeon is incompetent! I didn't think they really "did" wet to dry any more? I'm so glad you stuck up for yourself! (I wonder if a sloppy fill procedure caused your problem to begin with?) Good luck. I hope things resolve for you.

Are you exercising? And just eating "less" won't do it, unfortunately(I know from personal experience). You may not have to "diet" but you do need to eat lean foods, only eat 3 meals a day (at least per my surgeon, he feels snacking causes failure) and keep your calories to a good limit. PLUS get your water in. You may need a meeting with your nutritionist. Remember the band is a tool, not the totaly answer.

NO! I don't wish I'd had bypass. If I had wanted bypass I would've done it years ago. There are too many issues down the road. No thank you. Even if I never lose another ounce I don't want bypass.

I think those are very good questions, a very thorough list. I also think you're smart to switch. Good luck!

Call your surgeon, describe your symptoms and follow his advice.

I think we're all different. Just because I know what type of band I have, how much it holds, and how much is in it right now doesn't mean I focus on it. It just means I know that information. I also know what type battery is in my car, but don't know how to change it! LOL I'm a nursing student, interested in most things "medical" right now, and find it interesting, but I'm sure that isn't the case with everyone who wants to know. We're all different, as i said? It's my body and I want to know. If you don't, that's your prerogative. No big deal either way. It doesn't make you "odd" if you don't care, it doesn't make me "odd" if I do.

They are all different. You are safest to ask your surgeon what YOU are allowed.

I think the AP lapband (which comes in 2 sizes) holds either 10 cc or 14 cc? I have the AP Large and have 6 ccs in a 14 cc band and got restriction at 5.5....pretty good restriction now. (My doc said they all have "primer" in them and it doesn't count so unless your doc purposely put MORE in, that 1st 2 cc may not do much? he'd know, of course!)

What are your questions?

It can; you'll need to just check with your surgeon. If you are badly congested, for example, it may impact your anesthesia and oxygenation. Good luck!

I'm with cyndir...not weather, but tension and mostly ME...if I chew very well and take very small bites first, I do fine. Our insides, to a point, maintain our internal temperature. We may FEEL hotter or colder but our core keeps a constant until things break down (ie "heat stroke" or freezing to death) . That's one thing that happens in the lungs...air is heated or cooled.

Cleo's Mom...I'm truly sorry I missed your post! I back stalked and see it was 8/25...which is right before I had my 2nd surgery. Not that I take on too much LOL but I try to always post when someone asks "Is it ok to get an inexperienced surgeon"... I don't know that your decision would've been different but at least I would have been one voice of discontent. Maybe someone else will learn from this! BUT I'm really sorry about your circumstances. I wish I could've helped you! Seriously though; really really contemplate staying with him. Aftercare is almost as important as the band itself and you have been his experiment long enough, don't you think? (and no I don't know either of the surgeons involved and have no hidden agenda) We all deserve great care and you aren't getting it. Good luck! :smile:

I'm 54. I had TWO surgeries in the same month (same sites!) because my liver was too large for the 1st attempt to be successful. I had minimal pain immediately in recovery and post op. I removed the On Cue Pain "ball" that he installed for the second, the MINUTE i got home. I took Darvocet twice, for the second surgery, and otherwise tylenol did the trick. Even in recovery, round 2, I stopped the nurse from giving me the 2nd mg of morphine, and I declined the pump they offered. My attitude is and was: I am glad to be alive. I'm glad to have the band. If I am alert I can distract myself and concentrate on getting better. That worked for me. I have honestly had other things, like bronchitis, cause me more agony and discomfort and last longer. This was EASY. I walked asap, I drank Water as soon as they offered (no juice thanks afraid it would nauseate me) I know that a skilled surgeon is vital (for one they are better at removing all that gas) and I had minor gas pain as well. My surgeon, my attitude, and good luck all combined to make both experiences easy. I hope yours is as "uneventful" pain-wise. OH the recovery room nurses all said "no one ever remembers us. You'll forget too" Nope! I remembered their names and went back to tell them bye! :smile: I wanted very much to be "normal" and the more I acted like I felt fine, the finer I felt.

Don't get a beverage and put it on the table...simple! It hurts me to drink with meals, Until I got restriction it didn't matter and I drank whenever. Now that I have restriction it isn't hard at all to "remember" not to drink. One sip and I'm in agony.

Hi. Sorry you're having problems but 1. newbies a lesson here...pick a surgeon with experience and 2. Get an anxiety med and go to the new doctor. Quit being the guinea pig for the old one! :smile: Good luck!

Actually I wore pull on pants and a tee-type top and got it put on over my head just fine; they can "saline lock" your IV and it's no big deal. I also put on my panties (no commando here) You have pain meds on board and it isn't that hard to reach bend etc.... (You'd have to shoot me to make me wear a dress and then I'd still come back to life and switch to pants, but that's just me LOL) Wear what YOU are comfy in. It will be fine.

This isn't really reliable because you don't know how reliable the data submitted is. :thumbdown: Interesting but not valid. People shouldn't use it (it can make you feel like a failure, or for those without band make them think OMG I'll lose 100 pounds in 2 months..or conversely make you think why bother I'll never lose an ounce) These things are interesting but not reliable! :confused:

I had a BMI of around 67 when I got my surgery. So no, a higher BMI isn't a contraindication. This is surgery to promote weight loss. If your doc tries to push bypass on you, go to a seminar where you can get objective fair data on both and make your choice. I had to do a preop diet that was pretty strict but it wasn't to lose weight so much as to shrink my (enlarged by fat) liver. You may have that depending on your lab results etc. However it was just for a few weeks (would've only been 3 if I hadn't cheated) and it wasn't that bad.

Your co pay(the 20%) should be 20% of what INSURANCE pays, not what your doc bills. Say your doc bills $2000 and insurance pays $400. Your co pay is $80. If they are billing you more, then don't pay it.

You have to do what's right for you. I "successfully" dieted off between 40 and 45 pounds over and over. My first time? I was 16 and went from 160 to 120. My last "High" (after one last good try at WW) 405. I diet like a champion. If you really think that you can successfully diet, exercise, lose weight and keep it off (and there are some; estimates vary between I think 1 and 5 out of 100) then go for it. I truly wish you all the luck. For me, I know I'm not that 1 or 5 in 100. I fooled myself about that for the last time in 2008.

I'm so glad that it's helping you like it did me! Good for you!!!

People!! be easier on yourselves!! This is life; having McDonald's or pizza every once in a while won't doom you! Don't let that "guilt/diet/failure" thing get started. Just "enjoy" the splurge and get back to normal. :eek: And Want...good for you not vomiting it back up. That would've been like pouring gas on a fire. (and not good for the band either). It was just food, not poison. Maybe not the best food out there, but still food. It isn't worth your worry.