RestlessMonkey

Losing weight, age, many factors can cause you to lose your gallbladder. It's no big deal! hair loss...again, it doesn't happen to everyone but when it does, it's no big deal. I lost mine for a while but never needed a wig etc and now it's growing back. (and I didn't have TONS of thick hair to begin with). PB? Some do, some don't. I haven't yet and I'm 6 month's post op. Sounds to me like your husband is reading the negatives and ignoring the positives. Plus he's putting pressure on you to "diet" again. If that worked, more people would be thin. There are several good boods about lap banding that he could read, or if possible, take him with you to a seminar held by your surgeon. The doc, with statistics and "real stories", can set his mind at ease. I'm a FIRM believe in autonomy but when my husband was against it, I had to listen. First, we're a team. If it went south, he'd have "part" of that. Second, he's an RN and has some true horror stories about bypass patients. I told him "bypass is different" but it was the seminar with my surgeon (and my surgeon's many many answers to my husbands questions) that got him on board with it. I think knowledge is the best defense against fear. I just wanted to add, if you're 185 pounds overweight....that your husband may decide not to "support" you in this and get you to cancel. But what will he do when you have developed some of the terrible co-morbidities of obesity? What will he do when you're older and need cardiac surgery? Or if you lose a limb (or an eye) to diabetes? What if your kidneys go, will he tell you he's scared of dialysis? Because obesity IS a disease. We (most of us!) don't CHOOSE to be fat. We don't think "Man I'm only 5'5" and I want to weigh over 400 pounds; won't that be fun?"(that's me by the way, I started out this journey at 405) If we could "fix" it, we would. So I finally figured I could face weight loss surgery now or something scarier and worse on down the road. When I looked at it like that, it was easy to see which one to pick.

Sounds to me like you need to call your doctor fiirst thing tomorrow, or tonight if he has an emergency number. It isn't supposed to hurt like that. When did it start hurting that way?

Just hang in there and follow your doc's instructions. It's hard when you're hungry, but only eat the things he tells you it's ok to eat! (they are all different in their instructions so what's ok for one person may not be ok for you) It will get better. The post op diet is the worst part for many, but it's important so that you heal properly.

We're not docs but most don't mind if we chew Gas X. It's fairly inert and doesn't usually cause reactions etc, it does help break gas up into smaller bubbles so you can pass it more easily!

OK JMS I had to laugh at your hot cocoa comment; for me one is plenty, 2 is too many, so I feel your pain. I hope it resolves very very soon. And seriously a pharmacist can give you something to make you vomit (ipecac for example) but I'm sure you don't want to if you can help it (especially this soon post op!)

I'd toss those pills out (not that that'll help you right now....and you've probablly already done so!) because they obviously won't dissolve to help you any and may be harmful! The problem with killing stuff off that lives inside us is this: We have good bacteria that lives there. Plus, us...our cells etc. You take something that will kill "parasites and other stuff"...it will also kill your good stuff. It's very dangerous. (as an aside that's one reason cancer is hard to treat. What we can do to kill the cancer cells also kills the healthy tissue). I wish I could help you with the vomiting: I'm really not much at it either. Honestly a pharmacist might be able to help you. Good luck! I'm so sorry this happened to you; and why do these things ALWAYS happen when the doc is closed?

What's IN The capsule? Is it something that might be caustic? (for example, you don't want an aspirin hanging around and dissolving) Have you tried warm or hot liquids? If not, give that a shot. AND...it's possible it has dissolved but your stomach is just agitated. I'd give the warm/hot (tea, coffee, Water heated in micro, water with a little lemon) liquid a shot.

If you are following the "rules" by cutting your meat into tiny bites (pencil-eraser sized) and chewing very well (at least 20 times) and not drinking during meals (that can be a double edged sword...washing stuff through or, if something is already at the opening, making you PB) then you are too tight. Have you tried doing just liquids for a day or two, then mushie, then soft, and then trying again with Protein? And when you say meat, do you mean red beef? Remember poultry (chicken, turkey) and fish (tuna, salmon, tilapia) are all Proteins too. Even pork (ham, pork chops, etc)....so try some variety. But chew chew CHEW whatever you select. If it still comes up, get a slight unfill. You are smart to stop this now!

I agree to call your surgeon. You may feel fine but we aren't docs and don't know you or your medical background etc...you're probably ok but it would be up to your surgeon to make that call! And you can be a warning about the dangers of gum! I NEVER swallow my gum and haven't since I was 5 and told by a babysitter that I'd have a gum tree grow in my stomach (I was scared for months! LOL) but know as soon as I started chewing, now that I have the band, i'd swallow it, so I just avoid it. Safest that way.

My post op diet was similar but different...however you're safe to do as your doc orders! The post op diet is for healing more than weight loss (or nutrition, for that matter...) Point is to keep you hydrated and let your band and port sites heal. So if the surgeon, who knows your "innards" (LOL) says you can have full liquids and then soft food, I'd trust him! And LUCKY you!

Rockwell there are also some very good books about banding...you can check on Amazon for titles and of course probably find them locally if you don't want to order and pay shipping etc. I bought a couple and found them very helpful and informative.

Good I thought I'd lost my mind (it does tend to slip away from me now and then and go out on its own!) Anyway regardless I hope Doodle feels better and makes it through bandster hell without any more mishaps! :wink2:

TQuad gave you a good, well thought answer, and I'm with her on this. If you are a volume eater, especially, the band will do wonders for you. You have to decide, though, what's right for you. Just remember that the negatives here are just a small part of the picture...often happy successful bandsters are out living their slimmer healthier lives, rather than posting about how great they are doing....so take this site (pro and con) with a grain of salt, and do what you feel is best for you!

I'm from the school of why suffer if you don't have to. It's not easy just consuming liquids every day but I can't imagine that, for a short time, it will hurt you but call your doc to make sure (because we're all different). The one drawback I can see is if you find it too hard, you may set yourself up for failure post op. You know yourself best. If you think you need the practice (or just want that extra "insurance" for your liver!) and the doc clears you, then good luck!

Who has no sense of humor, me? You're kidding, right? (irony happening here)

Usually shoulder and neck pain is "referred" pain caused by trauma to the diaphragm (like it gets moved around a little during surgery and that makes it cranky) One thing that helped me was having my husband rub my neck muscles. The PAIN isn't in there, but they respond to the signal and cramp. Rubbing usually helps release the muscle quickly. Maybe it will help you guys too.

Good for you! I know I personally often forget food isn't something else...one of my big ones is using it as a timer, like: "I'll eat this snack and then I'll clean the kitchen" LOL There are way better timers than a handful of cheezits. Why can't I learn that? LOL I don't like cake but I LOVE buttercream icing, so I do feel your "pain". I don't really have a typical day (that's life, isn't it?) I'm in school and each day brings a different schedule and different demands. I too struggle and am trying to not eat snacks, make "healthy choices", and watch my portions. I don't have proper restriction yet either and am starting to get frustrated. SO...my post to you? Save it and you can post it back to me from time to time! Except change the "cake is my friend" to "food is my timer and substitute for sleep" LOL I can't get another fill until Feb 5 so I'll hang on if you will. I know it's hard to get time off on a new job but do what you can. We both need the band to provide us with that restriction....it's what the band DOES and we're not getting the benefit yet.

Yes, she did edit it quite a bit! LOL She ate salad and muffins and was in great pain. And I didn't "rip" her (believe me, I can go off on someone, and that wasn't ripping her!) I asked why she was eating muffins and salad because, per the info I saw on HER profile, she is supposed to be on a very different diet. I thought maybe she didn't know how important it was to follow that diet so I asked "Why are you eating muffins and salad?" If that's ripping her, we're all doomed! However, she, as we all, can eat what we want. We're grown ups. I don't know her and don't "care" if she wants to eat foods not on her doc's diet! It's her prerogative.

After I burst into tears and cried because he surprised me with a totally inappropriate (but favorite) meal he cooked for me...I told my husband that I wished I didn't have a problem with food, but the truth is, I do. I said that I need to be in control of what I eat all the time...and that while an occasional treat wouldn't bother most people, food surprises can be very dangerous for me. He said he'd just make sure his surprises weren't food any more! I think it was much harder for me to tell him than it was for him to hear it. I told him I wouldn't always make the right choice, but the onus had to be on me, and he was fine with it. Maybe a heart-to-heart with your husband is indicated. Apparently he has learned, in the past, that food is a good gift for you. You need to tell him things have changed! It's only fair. He wants to please you so help him do that!

good luck! The protein shakes count as fluid, too...so add them in to your "count" for the day. I'm sorry you're so tight you can't get your fluids down! If you're comfortable doing so, will you post and let me know what he says and if you're doing ok?

I'm not a doctor, ok? But you can become dehydrated VERY fast. How much Fluid are you getting in? I'd hate to encourage you to go to the ER if this isn't really an emergency but by the same token, once you get dehydrated things start to dive pretty fast. If your doc has a 24-hour number you might should call it and let them know average how many ounces you're getting in, how much you're urinating. They can decide if you need to be seen right away. I don't mean to alarm you but if this has gone on since Monday and you really are getting a little bit down, you may need IV fluids. AGAIN..I'm not a doc. I don't know for sure so don't panic, but see what your doc says.

No your stomach doesn't churn unless there's a bolus of food (like salad greens) in there. But you are a grown up and can do what you want, even if it isn't what the doc told you! You don't have to follow his rules. So to respond to your thread as you meant it: After not following the diet and not getting my band on the first try, i've been pretty good about following my doc's orders and fortunately haven't had anything bad happen!

Ok did you call and tell them you can't? Because you know if you don't take in enough liquid you can get dehydrated. Are you still urinating? Is it clear or concentrated?

Depends on your surgeon. According to mine, yes.

Ok I see you're supposed to be on pureed/blended foods. Why,then, are you eating muffins and salad? You do know you have that postop diet for a reason? Your stomach churns to digest...and your body isn't really ready for that yet.