RestlessMonkey

I posted an answer to this on your other thread...odds are you'll be fine, longer answer there! Good luck!

The BEST thing you can do is calm down about it. Only your doctor will know; he'll probably want you to do a cardio consult and have a cardiologist clear you for the surgery. PVC's aren't uncommon in young women and tachycardia can be caused by nerves. It depends on whether you have A tach or V tach and how extreme it is, how many PVC's you're "throwing", etc. Again odds are a cardiologist will clear you! So don't panic, be calm, things will work out!

There isn't really a "normal", but what is "normal" for you and your surgeon! Yes without much restriction it is almost as if you did not have a band because food flows through your pouch into your stomach "almost" as freely as it did before the surgery. My doctor does the first fill at 6 weeks (or later) and then every 4-6 weeks after. He just will not do them sooner than 4 weeks apart. His take on the research has him coming down against aggressive frequent fills, but some surgeons disagree and DO frequent aggressive (or just one BIG) fill. If you're following your surgeon's guidelines, you're doing what's normal for his patients....and eventually you'll come in for a landing on your sweet spot. It's hard to be patient, but I see my Doc's point...time to practice and adapt without PB'ing, being unable to swallow my own saliva, no panic, etc. And so far I can still eat anything, but I AM filling up on way less and really not grazing or snacking any more. Hang in there!

I'm sorry for your loss! The lap band is a great tool but guess what....you do it "on your own" with it, too! Inasmuch as you are in control of what you eat, if you exercise, how much you eat, if you follow the "band rules" etc! It DOES take care of physical hunger, but that emotional or "head" hunger still rears it's ugly head, if you have struggled with it in the past. You CAN eat around the band (unfortunately things like ice cream and milk shakes and chips and candy and nachos go down pretty easily). Having said that, it IS a great tool. If you can control the head hunger and the snacking then it keeps you full and satisfied for much longer! SO I don't mean to be negative, but straight forward...if you work it, it works. And yes, it does not have the same issues as by pass....nor is it as invasive or "final". It's a great thing, in my opinion! :grouphug: Attending a seminar or two (each surgeon is a little different etc) will get you started! Good luck!

You need to call your surgeon. When we eat our stomachs churn to aid in digestion and you may have done some damage. Hopefully you're far enough out that isn't the case, but there's a reason we're given post op diets, and healing is that reason. Please call Monday, let him know what you did (not to confess and be punished, you understand, but medically he needs to know) and take it from there. And...stop eating until then. I know it's hard; many many of us suffer through it, but we made it, and you can too.

You'll need to say what city you're in if you want some help. I assume you aren't willing to travel since you aren't going back to Mexico for your fills.

For once, Mine's a little more lenient! LOL 1 day liquid 1 day mushie 1 day soft then normal. That is, if I EVER have restriction! :grouphug:

What I like best about the band (well, one thing!) is that we control it. You don't have to be so tight that you can't eat most foods. Some people choose that path but personally I think it's risky to be so restricted that you can't drink cold water or whatever. According to what I've read, being that restricted can just set you up for failure because it's hard on your body AND you. You'll find your happy medium!

That's lucky for you! People who ARE put on a specific preop diet, however, need to follow their doctor's orders. That's why we pay them the big bucks! :grouphug: I had my surgery successfully on 8/29 after doing exactly what my doc told me (and lost 17 MORE pounds, which shocked me! pleased, but shocked!) !

You don't really NEED to know the capacity as long as you're going to that doc and he knows! But if you're curious, you can always ask. I THINK lap bands come in 4cc (old style), 10cc and 14cc. So if you're in the larger one, 3cc's isn't too much. I sure couldn't tell it at all when I had 3cc's, but then we are all different!

I think for my anniversary I'd want something other than a meal out, then. A shopping spree? A movie? Gemstones and gold? anything but food! :grouphug: Hope it all works out for you!

I have 4.5 cc in my 14 cc band and yes I can eat everything including untoasted bread. I don't have carbonation because it isn't worth the trouble (sip burp BELCH sip burp BELCH) but otherwise, I'm fine. I occasionally get REALLY uncomfortable if I forget to chew well or take a LARGE bite, and I too am eating less. (Had lunch today at noon, and am hungry now) My doc says he wants me (all his patients too) to be able to eat anything but just be satisfied with less.

I wouldn't, and that's because I think I'd use that to "tinker" so I could eat more. I wouldn't mind physically doing it (nursing student...I'm a tough monkey! LOL) but feel that the temptation to mess with it would be almost overpowering to me.

Welcome! What is your band capacity? I have a LapBand APL...it holds 14 cc's So 3 is a "little" aggressive, but not too much. I have 4.5 ccs in mine so far (doc is NOT aggressive!) and feel a little restriction sometimes. What is happening, though, is that I'm full faster and stay thatg way longer, so I'm getting there! Good luck to you!

Do you have allergies? Could it be that? It's ok to take an allergy medicine if you have them and have taken it before (just follow your directions for nothing by mouth etc before surgery, of course!) Otherwise, you've done all you can. If you are too congested or have a fever, they'll delay it. (but that's for your safety; you want to come through it all fine!) On the bright side staying well hydrated (with LOTS of water) will be good for you! :grouphug:

Please try to be a little more active if you can! It prevents clots and is good for your lungs, etc. The pain meds can make you draggy, of course, and you did just have surgery. But if you lie around and sleep too much you're not really doing yourself any favors. Walking helps with the gas but also circulation etc (you'll heal faster) and also moving around will help you heal better...less risk of adhesions etc. I found liquid tylenol worked as well, or better, for me than the prescription pain med, especially when I coupled that with a pillow over my abdomen. Ice packs may help a lot, too. (heat can dissolve stitches). DON"T take liquid tylenol if you're taking lortab or some other opiate that has acetaminophen in it though (if in doubt, call your pharmacy) It'll pass and the more you move around, the more energy you'll have and the better you'll feel.

Are you maybe too tight? According to my surgeon, the huge bulk of his patients can eat anything except stringy red meat and bread. That leaves a LOT of food. From what I've read, the "green zone" or sweet spot means you can eat most foods, but must chew well, you get full on a child sized (or smaller) portion, and you remain full for hours. You know best how to work your band so I hope I don't sound presumptuous but I don't think you have to suffer as much as it sounds like you are. Life is going to go on and you need to be able to live it....being too tight will just hurt you in the long run, I think! Of course I just read that you had a fill 3 days ago so hopefully you're just "too tight" for a bit. Anyway, I'm sorry everything got messed up for you and I hope you hit the zone soon...where you can eat anywhere! :grouphug:

I get a little frustrated sometimes but have to remember that old saying "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". If I don't want to answer a post, I don't have to. I ask some "out there" questions, I get confused, why shouldn't other people? And if they want to be self destructive, or snarky, or uninformed, well, that's their prerogative.

A caveat Jill...besides the fact that it would've been prudent to clear that diet with your physician (I lost 15 in 3 weeks on my own "modified" preop diet and didn't get banded the first time because of that...my liver was too thick)...POST OP it is VITAL that you stick to the diet prescribed by your doctor. If you eat too early you can hurt your stomach, risk slippage, etc. You're safest to let your surgeon know what you've done and clear it. Not knowing you, your medical situation, OR your surgeon, I don't know if you'll probably be ok or probably not, but you do need to let the doc know! Good luck! I'll cross my fingers that you are good to go!

You might want to google it, or ask your surgeon, or both. I don't have it but know it is a potential side effect of being too tight from my reading.

Since it's the dietitian, I'd probably graciously decline, unless it was ok for me to be honest.

I don't think that will necessarily disqualify you, but it may impact your surgery and recovery! Good luck!

I have no familiarity with aetna but I can tell you that if you meet the criteria, they have to approve you. They will evaluate you ALONE and your husband ALONE. YOU may think you're a package deal but to Aetna, you're just 2 more clients.

good luck! That's the day before my birthday! where in texas are you? I'm sure you'll love your band!

I'm sorry I can't help you regarding your pain; I'm sure you've tried hot (or cold) drinks, and sipping. Can you keep anything down? Are you able to keep water down? You do realize you can become dehydrated really quickly.