RestlessMonkey

My doc usually keeps patients overnight but let me go...even for my 2nd surgery in under 3 weeks! I had delays with my barium xray too but all told it was pretty quick....6-7 hours or so.

Wow that's awful. I'm tricare and my seminar was 7/10, surgery 8/11. same year. I don't know why it's taking you so long! My surgeon operates out of a bariatric center and the nutrition and psych consults were taken care of in one morning. Preop stuff all done at once, too. And I didn't need a sleep apnea test....Maybe where you live and/or the surgeon you picked is just busier? Anyway, good luck!

Tex Mexie I LOVE Dr. Cavazos! Does your friend like him? Good luck, by the way!

Honestly, I don't think you have to do liquids for 5 days, unless it will make you feel better. My doc (not nutritionist, but the doc) gave me a very specific diet to follow and I didn't. I did atkins instead of what he told me to do. Different people have different blood values and so on...and require different preop diets. I think the odds are if it was important for you, they'd have made sure you were told. My surgeon said in all his 1000 ++ patients I was the first that couldn't be banded laparoscopically because of my liver. (and understand he could've "opened me up" but decided not to, thank God) So it is RARE, and it DID happen to me, but I think if you are worried to call them tomorrow and just ask. If you are one of the "iffy" ones, they'll just delay your surgery a little so you can diet. If they say don't worry about it, DONT. OK? :hurray: Good luck!

Make sure you're getting enough water!

Walking must help because I didn't use Gas X and had minimal gas pain. (You know good surgeons remove a good bit of it for you...maybe my surgeon's just an angel in disguise!) If it's trapped gas from surgery gas x won't touch it (that only works on gas in the stomach).

Since her doctor won't do it, I guess there's her answer. And I wasn't discussing plastic surgeons. Most of their procedures are elective (as is banding) and they have a whole different MO. Please understand I am not attacking her nor do I think she's wrong in her desire to lose weight, nor do I think she shouldn't get surgery because she isn't as fat as I am or was (lots of people aren't as fat as I am or was) But she is obviously having a hard time finding a surgeon to band her. I offered a reason. If she wants it that badly, I'm sure she can find a surgeon to perform the surgery at her lower BMI. I wished her well. That's it. I'll reiterate, however, that just because you can find a surgeon who WILL do it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

once a week. It goes down each time, now that I have restriction. Weighing daily is just frustrating...as long as that one morning each week is lower than the week before, i find I'm happy.

Get an unfill. The point of the band isnt' to force you to keep on a liquid diet. ... you'll lose your health and do yourself a disservice!

I think they can get a sense of your liver size from all the preop tests...for example my surgeon has different preop diets (and he has some diet longer than others) so you can't just go on starting weight (although mine was very high). If he hadn't been worried about your liver, he probably wouldn't have given you a specific diet but, like spud.mama, just told you to lose. I just honestly don't wish what I went through on anyone. I read on here about so many people who "cheated" and were banded I figured that would be me, too, and it wasn't. Trust me, nothing I ate in that preop phase was worth that feeling in recovery. Nothing. So call your doc (that's our concensus I think! ) and do whatever s/he says! Good luck; I'll cross my fingers that you are in great shape! You probably are; what happened to me is rare. But if you're that "lucky" one in a thousand, it really sucks.

There are SO MANY MORE potential bad side effects with bypass. I don't mean to be negative or harsh, but it is just a fact. People down the road have many more GI problems. Realize the stomach is closed off and left inside to sit there and make acid. And because it's closed off (sewn shut) drugs can't get in there, cameras can't get in there...that's just one small area of problem. The lap band does require work, but it is a great weight loss tool. It is EASIER to lose with the band than on your own, but you are still doing the work. Bypass does seem more passive, but it has it's toll, too. In the end, it is a personal decision. Just remember neither is a 100% sure thing. Bypass patients can gain it back if they don't change what and how they eat, just as surely as band patients or dieters. Bypass patients can stretch their stomachs (the small part left to process food) and then they are stuck with it or face more surgery; we have other options. If you want an "easy" 100 % guarantee, get the duodenal switch operation. Of course, you'll have diarrhea 5-7 times a day but you'll lose, no matter what you do or how you eat! It is a hard choice; you're right to explore all the options. Just make sure you look at the downside to each surgery (they all have them) not just how fast you lose.

No. This is elective; choose one with all the experience you can get. More is better.

I posted to you on your preop thread. I hope it works out for you.

I'm afraid you may be harming yourself. I did a low carb-ish diet preop...not the one my doc prescribed. I was an atkins pro and so did my own thing for 3 weeks, lost 15 pounds and (drumroll please) did NOT get the band. Came to in recovery to be told by the nice recovery nurse "You don't have the band, dear; your liver was still too large". That was vile. I did my doc's diet, lost 17 more pounds (in 2 1/2 weeks) and GOT the band. Low fat is vital...because the point is to make your body pull fat from your liver. If you eat too much fat, that doesn't happen. Low cal doesn't do it, low carb doesn't...it's the unique combo of low carb (no quick easy energy for the body) and low fat (no handy fat to store) that does the trick. I'd get on his program ASAP and let him know how long you did eat too much fat and make the call. It may delay your surgery a little...(or not) but trust me; that's better than going through it and NOT getting banded, then having to go through it all AGAIN in just a few weeks.

Please make sure you have a capsule that CAN be opened...not all capsule meds can or should be opened, and not all pills can be split or crushed! Make sure you aren't doing yourself more harm than good! Having said that, unless you are SUPER restricted, you should be able to take a capsule. They are usually formulated to dissolve fairly quickly. If you're in doubt, of course, check with your doctor! I have always been able to take my pills including my potassium which is a big horse pill that always tends to give me problems, even preop! I've had a couple different foods almost get stuck, but the pills all go down easily. (and I take a bunch including a 6-pill multi Vitamin pack!)

I told everyone. People talk; that quit bothering me a LONG time ago.

Tell your surgeon!

Welcome and good luck!

What health problems?

I feel your pain! I honestly would've been scared to death if "normal" I had done such a thing. And I felt WONDERFUL! I was happy to have the band, not TOO hungry, not in pain (hadn't taken anything but tylenol for 2 days) etc...but since nothing like that has ever happened to me before, or since...I guess my teacher was right. It probably wouldn't happen to you...but if it did? Could be the impact lingers a bit in the math center or some such. Who knows? Good luck to you! I hope you LOVE your band, and have a great surgery and quick recovery!

Ok just wanted to tell you I was a bookkeeper for 20+ years and am pretty darn good at math. The Tuesday I went back to class? (I"m a nursing student now...) I badly failed a math test (for calculating drugs). I got every answer correct but didn't round properly (and I knew exactly what to do and how to do it) My teacher asked me to review everything the next week...I told her exactly what she'd told the class to do, and explained the rules of rounding to her...(how many tenths, etc). She said...then why didn't you DO that? I calculated everything to the correct place, then wrote the answer wrong on the answer line. Why did I do that? She said (and she's been a nurse forever) You were probably still a little confused that soon post op. Just warning you...as an accountant....you may think you're alert but be totally wrong. I've never failed a math quiz since then LOL and hadn't ever failed one before (100 was my average grade! LOL) but that one, well... So honestly take off. Go back early if you feel like it. I know it's tax season but you know doing it right the first time is WAY easier than trying to go back and fix it later!

Working that soon really depends on a lot of things...like what you do and how fast you recover. I think though honestly you should take the week. You'll feel better and do a better job. I had my surgery friday and had tues afternoon classes but I had that next day off and was really greatful for that! You'll be on liquids, recovering from surgery...and you will get tired way more easily than you're used to! You really need to take the week! If your job runs over the weekend you might be ready by Saturday...but take a week and go back early if you recover really fast!

You got some good advice. I will say that they most likely will NOT release you unless it is in to another's care; they won't let you drive and may or may not let you take a cab. Call to make sure. The afternoon of the surgery my husband was home with me....I enjoyed the attention but would've been fine alone. By the next day he was long gone to work when I got up etc. I slept in my bed the first night and got up fine BUT I took it very slowly, used a pillow to brace my torso (that is a great trick...use it!) and I have a 4-poster bed...that poster by my head got used for me to help position myself. To be honest though had I been alone, i could've rolled out of bed onto my knees (into a kneeling position) then gotten up that way. Hope that doesn't sound dramatic...just letting you know it's do-able. I was determined to sleep in my bed from the start. I agree to make sure you have your prescription on hand from the start, and have easy access to your Water. I wouldn't want to face an upstairs/downstairs thing, but same floor should be fine. Also please realize that the idea that you SHOULD rest is wrong, to a point. You did have major surgery and you aren't ready for a marathon; but you need to walk...getting up every hour and moving around a little is good. You also need to breathe deeply...if you feel bad take your pain meds, of course. I found I was good with tylenol and it didn't knock me out. The sooner you act like you're normal, the sooner it will be true. Walking does miracles for pain, gas, circulation, and healing. And by walking I don't mean to head to the track and do a few miles, I mean getting up and going for your own water, to your bathroom, around your apt., etc. I had an easy fast recovery. I know pain is different...but if you're at all like me (not bad for a 53 year old fat chick!) then being alone won't bother you at all. Enjoy watching some dvds or reading or whatever, enjoy the time to yourself!

I didn't even get Protein shakes for the first week! They helped a lot once I could have them! The fact is, odds are you're going to be hungry. I know I surely was! But stick with the doc's recommendations; you'll make it through, be proud of your accomplishment, and be set up to succeed! Good luck!

from the fda (who had to approve the use in the usa) When is it used? The system is used for weight loss in severely obese adults who have been obese for at least five years and for whom non-surgical weight loss methods have not been successful. They must be willing to make major changes in their eating habits and lifestyle. Patients must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 40, a BMI of at least 35 with one or more severe morbid (unhealthy) conditions, or be at least 100 pounds over their estimated ideal weight. At any rate, I hope the OP gets what s/he needs to lose weight and if that's lap band surgery, i hope it happens! And not a lawyer but if the situation arose, a 29 BMI and lap band surgery would sure help in a malpractice suit, if the surgeon were sueable. Just because some physicians do something and get away with it doesn't make it right or safe. I will say though I can understand how many overweight people (whether 'obese" or just "overweight"...and those are just labels) can be drawn to the band because it is a great tool. It should be available to anyone in whom it would be medically safe to implant it!