RestlessMonkey

I quit for about 3 months post op, but now use them again. I have really sensitive teeth (gum disease) and it hurt to drink without them. They don't seem to bother me.

Maybe as you lose weight you'll find a behavioral therapist who can help you stop them. The right therapist can do wonders for panic and anxiety attacks, as long as you're willing to do the work to get better! Good luck to you!

You know it's a byproduct of your diet and won't really get better until you start eating. It means fat cells are lysing...breaking down. The ketones (that make your breath so vile) are a byproduct. So just remind yourself you're literally "blowing off fat" and be secretly ecstatic that your breath is so bad! :wink: And my surgeon says no gum. Breath mints (sugar free) won't really mask it either, but it won't last much longer.

I can't see mine and don't mash around to feel it (and it isn't usually in the "stomach" area...mine is under my left breast, different docs place them differently) My doctor said in obese people often finding the port is a challenge but when I lose enough for it to show he'll gladly put a low profile port in for me! :wink:

Price varies. And a warning about having it done anywhere other than where you are (Mexico, Canada, 4 hours from your house, whatever).....make sure you line up handy aftercare, or plan on traveling back to your original banding surgeon multiple times during the first year. Aftercare is as important as the band itself. (And right now it's kind of dangerous to travel to mexico...there's a travel advisory) Having said that you can find the surgery for as little as 10K or thereabouts...but you need to shop. And for something this important, price can't be the only determining factor. Good luck!

At my surgeon's office it is stressed OVER AND OVER (even to me who was past all that!) not to get pregnant for at least 1 year post op. The other poster is right; it varies. Check with your surgeon. However, I'd say if you plan to get pregnant right away, wait and get the band later. The point of it is to lose weight (healthy etc of course but the goal is weight loss) and most people don't really aim for weight loss while pregnant...there are other more important things going on! I'd say either plan to wait at least a year (or more) post op, or put off the surgery.

Good! That will help with the gas, you poor thing! I know some people CAN drink carbonated beverages...I can't! It HURTS! If I imagine putting that pain on top of post op pain...owie! :wink: Hope you feel lots better soon!

I sleep WONDERFULLY since the band...and I accented that because I was just talking to my husband about it. It's truly amazing...I don't know why it's so, but it is. So at least on my part the band has only enhanced my sleep, not hurt it. I'd suggest if you have frequent heartburn going to a doc for a prescription med. It isn't worth playing around with....you can erode your esophagus and end up losing the band (or worse)

Can't you take anticoagulation drugs (coumadin, heparin, lovenox?) If you can....I'd really really really quiz the surgeon before I got the filter. It can save your life IF you have a clot and IF it catches it before it gets to your lungs....but that's a lot of IFs. It stays in your vena cava permanently... I might get it, but I'd have to have a LOT more info.

I just take my pills, including my HUGE potassium supplement. Have you tried that? I've NEVER had a problem taking a pill...even now with restriction.

Call and ask your surgeon. I was huge when banded and didn't have any nausea at all...it's very individual and depends on anesthesia used etc. (I've never been one to get nauseated and vomit...whereas my sister could conjure it up just by thinking about it. Weird) anyway... see what your surgeon says. I'd think that getting an unfill wouldn't be a requirement, depending on what type of surgery....but your surgeon will know for sure. IF she wants you to be unfilled, make sure she agrees to refill you to your current level quickly! :wink:

Gingerale is carbonated...are you sure you are supposed to be drinking it? It could very likely be making your gas worse.

Well, it isn't just the band you know. You have to eat less and exercise. If you don't want to tell about the band (I tell, but we're all different) just way "I've been eating healthy and exercising" or "eating less and exercising" or "the old fashioned way...I've been dieting and exercising"....whatever you want. If someone says "have you had surgery" say "why would you think that?" Answering a question with a question is usually a quick and easy way to gain control of the conversation.

Since often our bodies synthesize D from sunshine, living here in sunny south texas I think it's pretty uncommon. You do know that with insufficient D you also run the risk of Calcium problems because your body needs D to process calcium.... That being said, I think both weight loss and weight gain are complex issues with many many facets. Many things can cause rapid gain or slow loss; it isn't just "calories in vs energy used" like they used to think. Whether D was slowing your loss or not, it's good it's been found and you're "fixing" the problem. I take a supplement with TONS of D in it but even at that, without adequate sunshine the body can't process it properly...so it's good to be aware.

Seriously once you've healed (no more swelling) even with good restriction you should be able to drink the prep, and do that much more easily than taking a ton of pills. It isn't FUN, but you've most likely been through a lot worse. If you had to drink something before your surgery (for example I had to drink magnesium citrate) the colonoscopy prep is similar...just more of it. I didn't LOVE it but it was do-able.

I honestly think the contrary is true; most insurance policies do not cover any type of "cosmetic" surgery, if it is an elective. Unless you have some other medical issues that require the brest reduction (or tummy tuck or whatever) insurance will not pay for it.

If you aren't going to tell the truth (especially to someone with whom you are going to be that intimate) then just don't say anything. If asked, just say its not important now.

My post fill diet is similar...liquids 1-2 days, then mushie, then food. The x-ray technician (what I think you called the radiographer) would have NO IDEA how I should eat etc. Call your surgeon or nutritionist to confirm. Ten days seems fairly severe for a fill. I will say, though, that Aug 1 to November also seems very long to wait for a first fill (in my very limited experience) so maybe your doctor is just VERY conservative.

My surgeon chose. He uses the lap band because it's what he's familiar with. I have absolutely no complaints! I have the newest AP style.

My breasts are larger and I didn't have those issues...I'd check with my surgeon to be sure. They shouldn't have handled you so roughly. Sorry I can't help you with the pain; I was lucky and liquid tylenol the first 2 days took care of it. If you're still taking your prescription pain killer, make sure you don't get constipated! Good luck; it gets better.

I agree; ask your banding surgeon.

The bands are pretty comparable. Here's a link to a comparison chart: Compare Adjustable Gastric Bands - LAP-BAND vs. REALIZE Band And here's a link to a ticker tutorial http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

My 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fills were all 1.5 cc each, and no restriction at all with any of them. I finally felt a little with my 4th fill of 1 cc! I go back march 5 and think I'll maybe finally "feel the love". I sure hope so!

POST-Operation Lap-band Surgery Questions & Answers (NEW) - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum At the top of that forum is a thread entitled "Surgery Day Stories" and there are PAGES of people's experiences! Mine was easy and quick. Good luck!

Thank goodness my husband did the shopping for my preop diet...and bless the man, never ate in front of me. And still it was nightmarish hard! You deserve a reward!