RestlessMonkey

Good luck! :thumbup: Try to relax, too....being nervous can make it worse! (great, huh?)

Many people find fills take a while to kick in. Run this by your surgeon; you may need a slight unfill. The only other option I can think is that you had a stuck episode, are swollen, and keep re-agitating it. I'd definitely call my doc, but I'd do liquids for 36 hours or so and then try mushies. If you can tolerate them, do them a day or two then try soft foods.

I can tell you my take and maybe it will help a little. In the past, I always felt like diets were almost a race...a track that I had to jog along, run along, regardless. Often going "off plan" meant doom and ruin and a regain. When I "took" the lap band, I took it for life. Now I walk the path and if occasionally I stop and sit on a park bench, no one gives a rip. The pace is leisurely, the journey part of the trip. You walk along, sometimes at a fast clip, sometimes more slowly, you look around, you enjoy things, and sometimes you go to a scenic overlook and pause a bit. But you don't ever leave the path. That's on the fly and I'm sure it's not perfect but I hope you get my gist. Leave the diet mentality and the guilt behind. You have the band. So you ate trail mix. Life goes on, the band is still there, you didn't decide "Oh too bad I've blown my diet might as well get pizza and ice cream tonight" and at taco bell you had what, 2 items? How much did you used to get? Be kind to yourself, kind but firm. It's all different now, remember that. You have more control that you did, and at any time you can get back up off that bench, walk away from that scenic overlook, and continue down the path.

wrelcome and good luck. I LOVE my band and wouldn't trade it for anything!

Do what your doc says. You are WAY new to the band. Focus on getting the mechanics down, following your docs orders, getting to goal. Once you're well healed and cruising, see what your doc tells you. Once I was one year out mine told me I could begin adding carbonated bevs back in if they didn't cause me pain or discomfort, but I followed his advice and am doing really well with no other issues. Right now you're still very "new" to the lifestyle. Give your body a chance to adapt. You have a long life ahead; going without diet sodas, sodas, and beer won't hurt you for a little while and you'll lose weight better if you don't indulge (esp in the ones w/empty calories)

Yes it is. The band is inert and won't prevent you from getting any immunizations or boosters.

Take the softener. You should have gone by now. If you wait, you don't want the alternative if you can't go naturally, trust me on this!

I wouldn't think that much food would do it (and liquids SHOULD go through just fine) but try a night or two to allow a good 3-4 hours from last food (not liquid, just food) till bed and see if that doesn't help? Many surgeons will prescribe a Proton Pump Inhibitor (stops the stomach from producing so much acid) before they do something more drastic like removing fill, so do contact your doc.

Do you eat close to bed time? I have to eat about 4 hours before bed....

Call and see if you can change shakes. I'm allergic to one of the artificial sweeteners and some things (like sugar free popsicles) make my mouth break out. Otherwise I'm sure you're fine. I did 5 weeks and 2 surgeries on a diet similar to yours and I was 20 years older! I know we aren't all alike but I know it gets tedious to just drink your meals. You'll get through it, you really will! :mad: You should be getting adequate nutrition from the shakes; your body is just pitching a hissy fit because it is used to getting lots and lots and lots of food. But do tell your doc you may need to switch protein drinks because you will be on liquids for a while post op (very important, that, as you know!) And your PCP can give you something to take for the cold sores. Having said all that you know yourself best...if you REALLY thing you are sick, not just body rebelling, call the nutritionist and tell him/her your symptoms. Hang in there.

I agree reflux usually means you're too tight, and checking w/your doc is the way to go! :mad: Do it soon, though, because reflux isn't just a pain, it can damage your esophagus and may evenutally cause you to lose the band altogether if not treated.

You do need to make sure you are chewing everything chewable into mush, and taking small bites. I can feel it when I don't do this; when I do, things feel "normal". Make sure you are following the "mechanics" properly. AND the tightness in the morning is very likely hydration. Are you making sure to get enough Water (64 oz) in? If not, up your consumption and I bet that goes away. Most schizo bands are caused by hydration issues. Dry=tight.

Because you are so soon post op, please don't add ANYTHING into the mix (ie your chewable benefiber) without your surgeon's ok. You are healing, and the band is healing into place. Your doc will have something he wants you to use. I know that seems odd but these first few weeks are critical to a successful and problem free experience, ok? Call them today and ask when they want you to worry! :mad: Seriously you should be going by now. They may green light your chewable Fiber, but let the doc tell you how to proceed this time, ok?

If it is only 5 weeks post op I'd agitate for a discount at least. Usually the leak is in the port or tubing so it's not as severe as having the whole surgery again. However...didn't your doc give you any guarantees? Most self pay patients over here get some hedge against necessary re-surgeries. Will your doc waive his fee? It shouldn't just "leak"; it was either faulty to begin with or the doc accidentally punctured something so you need to share the blame around. :mad: Anyway yes it does happen and its generally, from what I read, an easy fix.

If you are taking a prescription pain medication that is opioid based (ie vicodin, hydrocodone, dilaudid) and you are taking it/have taken it more than a time or two, odds are it is constipating you. (they are notorious for that) Call your surgeon and ask if she/he wants you to take a stool softener or just wait and see (or take something else?) Don't let it go to long. By day 5 or so something really should be moving.

Good for you! I read this whole post braced for a "I ate I couldn't help it" type of post and BAM! A surprise ending! YAY! :mad: You did great. I bet you are going to be one of the super successful bandsters because you already are! And great attitude about your friends and eating out but if all they want to do is scarf food, I bet you end up finding some new friends, too. (not that you will ditch the old ones, but your focus will shift!) :sad:

What's going to make you more comfortable; what is going to change? Probably nothing. And putting it off isn't going to help. Aftercare is VITAL with the band. If you don't like your surgeon and feel he's incompetent for fills, start now and find another option. Seriously; because you need a working partnership for the band to work for you. I'm sure you didn't go through everything to just stay the same, weight wise. Go back and if it's bad this time too, get your files and find a different fill option.

Dab I appreciate your candor. I too have a LOT to lose. I love my band; but I think, from your post, that while I have good restriction (and enjoy the ability to eat anything) I am perhaps still in need of a fill! :mad: I'll keep that in mind when I go back to my surgeon in October. I could eat so much, before, that it's hard now to gage how much is just right! Thanks for telling me how it has worked for you. I know we're all different and have to find our own way, but information is always helpful! :sad:

I don't think they'll have a reason to check, say, your hair! :mad: So you should be ok; just don't use it. And seriously discuss it with your surgeon or his nurse before you use post op. You want to heal properly. All debate aside about whether it's "right" or not, you don't want to hurt yourself.

Not all will have issues with pills, and as plumplump says, not all pills can or should be crushed. If you are worried, check with your surgeon or pharmacist. I take about 20 pills uncrushed each day and have for over a year now (many are vitamins) but I didn't start out with fill. Actually the pill getting stuck probably wouldn't have caused such dire issues if you'd had time for your band to heal, but PB ing isn't something to ever hope for. It's safest to not take pills until you're into the mushie stage, at least, and if your doc fills you any during surgery, be especially careful.

Thank GOD my doc didn't fill me any during surgery.

Do consider the difference in cost for Tricare Standard vs Tricare Prime. You will face considerably more out of pocket expenses. Fills and aftercare are vital, so it will cost you a good deal more. I agree with Hel that you should try the referral thing; otherwise I'd wait. Our tricare standard policy is as follows: $150 deductible then we pay 20% of all charges until a 3000 annual cap. Since you will have just switched, it's entirely possible you'll need to come up with the 3K to get the surgery. Don't know your finances and they aren't my business, but many of us would kind of hesitate on a 3k bill we didn't anticipate. Just something to consider.

You can lose as much as you want with the band. There's no limit. And yes, 3-5 years out losses are similar, from what I've read. There are reasons to choose one over another (ie if you are a grazer, the band won't work as well or easily) but max weight you can lose really isn't one of them.

Whether you decide to quit or not...talk frankly with your surgeon before you get surgery. Because...if you smoke it and don't tell them, they will not be able to predict the condition of your lungs properly. Marijuana smoke is REALLY hard on the lungs and you don't want to have issues while you're out because the anesthesiologist doesn't know you indulge. I'm betting the surgeon will want you to quit, not unlike they often want cigarettes smokers to quit, so that you have a better chance of recovery. You are already "at risk" if you are obese; to add smoking (marijuana or tobacco) onto that makes your surgery substantially more dicey. So Tell your doc. Once you're healed and post op, it will be your decision to "restart" or not (although Kartman makes a good point about the munchies, kind of counter to the band) but give yourself the best chance for a safe surgery and recovery.

That's really great! Did you follow a diet, or just try to make healthy choices? I'd love it if you'd share how you used the band to get you so close to your goal!