RestlessMonkey

PB is "productive burp"...happens when food comes back up

Although as you know this site is geared mostly towards "bandsters" if you go to FORUMS and scroll WAY WAY down there is a forum for "other weight loss surgeries" and you may find some info there. Good luck! When I thought my ins wouldn't pay for the band, only bypass, I decided to figure out a way to self pay the band.

Mom7010 the reluctance to allow us to take it isn't just operative concern. NSAIDS are notoriously hard on the stomach and can cause bleeding and ulcers. We with the band have slower motility to begin with; docs don't want us to have a couple aspirin or motrin sitting in our small pouch (where there is no stomach acid) eating away at things. So depending on your restriction and when you eat etc, they may be contraindicated. Safest bet is to ask your doc what is ok for YOU to do.

Frank: Go to "HOME" (tab at top). On the left hand side of the screen is a list "FORUMS" Select the forum (like a heading, or title, or general category) that is closest in nature to your question or area of interest. CLICK on that forum. There will then be a tab saying something like "New thread" or "start a new thread" That's where you can start a thread with your question. TO answer the rest of your question....again in the "forum" section, there is one entitled something like "Age specific questions" (or something like that....) CLICK on that. You'll find an area for bandsters over 70! CLICK ON THAT! :tongue2: and you should have some info, anecdotes, etc. Good luck!

I'm so sorry I have no info about Dr. Ortiz! I think there are many here who've used him and are pleased, however, and I'm sure you'll find the answers you need. You might want to check in the "doctors and hospitals" forum for more information. One small caveat: If you go anywhere for surgery (even one county over LOL) make sure you have good local aftercare lined up, or plan to travel. One thing many of us learn is that the aftercare (fills, unfills, access to surgeon for band-related questions and issues that arise, nutrition support, etc) is as important, if not moreso, than band placement. AND many surgeons are reluctant to take a patient that another surgeon banded. Again...regardless of whether you got your band in Mexico, or in the next state, surgeons don't like taking other surgeon's patients. Make sure you have your after care lined up and finances in place because without it, it's like buying a car with no way to put gas in it or get oil changes and repairs as needed. Good luck to both of you!

Mrsteacher... they don't have data specifically on the band, because it's only been in use here since 2001 (I think eighties, in some form, in other countries) HOWEVER they do have other medical implants that they can use to compare. Because of the material it's made of, it's lack of battery or moving parts, etc it is placed with the expectation of lasting a lifetime. This won't be true of everyone, of course (nothing is absolute) but for many of us it will last us throughout our lives.

Are you a teacher or a student? I had a REAL easy surgery but I have to say after my friday operation I was glad I only had class (student here) that tuesday afternoon for 1/2 day. My problem was as much weakness from hunger (not a drama queen but when you only get water and broth, you do get a little hungry LOL) as it was recovery. Can you wiggle out a couple days off?

I'm glad I went home; I felt great, had no nausea, no vomiting, and slept MUCH MUCH better in my own bed. HOWEVER....we should all do what we, and our surgeons (both!) think is best. If you're in doubt, unsure, worried, a little nervous, by all means STAY overnight! I didn't need to but not everyone is good to go right away!

Call the insurance company. Find out what surgeons are in your network. Get from the insurance company exactly what they will cover (psych consult? nutrition? what preop tests? overnight stay post op? etc) and ask them exactly what they require, when, what format (more info is better here...many like to deny on small technicalities) once you have that, pick a surgeon and go to a seminar. OR pick a couple and go to a couple seminars. Once you find the surgeon, his office can help you take it from there!

Best bet is to check with your surgeon.

If you are in pain or scared you should call your doc asap, not post! Call now, describe your symptoms!

Call your doc! If it's been 2 hours!

I hate to say it but I do agree, just hang in there. It IS hard! But there's a reason they have us do this in a certain order and time frame...it's to heal (not torture, not "prepare" us, just to heal. At least that's what my doc says) I was hungry too. If you think "it's just 2 days, not THAT early"...well the flip side is "it's just 2 days, you can do it" :tongue2:

See! You're a perfect example of why it's best to ask your surgeon and do what he says! You'd have gone thru torture for nothing! :tongue2: I unfortunately DID need 3 weeks of preop. I'm so glad you don't!

Respectfully, a post op fever isn't normal. It DOES happen when the body is starting to develop Fluid in the lungs. We don't really feel it at the early stages, thus the incentive spirometer. NOT to contradict your surgeon! I know my limitations! LOL But I did just go over your posts with my husband (who's a bsn RN with over 20 years experience in med surg) and he said a fever post op isn't normal and you need to watch it, deep breathe, and walk (LOL) So please keep on doing both those...even though your lungs feel clear, if when you breathe deeply you cough up "stuff", then they are NOT clear! :tongue2:

I'm a teller. I've told everyone. It's just not in my nature to be secretive or "on the QT" about it. I understand some people don't want to tell, but that mindset is pretty foreign to me. They can tell I'm fat just by looking! I've invariably gotten positive feedback from everyone, and have never regretted "telling". I will say this...those who know me know I'm pretty smart and independent and when I make up my mind to do something, they know I'm doing what I think is best for me. So I didn't figure anyone would try to talk me out of it or second guess me. However, since I am pretty smart and independent, if they had, it wouldn't have bothered me any, either. The only person I felt needed to be "on board", besides me, was my husband. (we're a team and he's kind of in it with me) Otherwise, I told, not really caring if anyone approved or not. Guess that may be my "secret". :biggrin:

My nutritionist said Pasta is ok as long as it's well cooked (and it usually is in a frozen dinner) so you should be ok. Also post op most people don't have much restriction yet so unless you've had trouble swallowing certain foods, you'll probably be ok. Yes it's normal not to lose or not to lose much. You aren't restricted yet. It takes time.

If they told you how to deal with it, apparently they've had diabetic patients and that worked. Why not try it?

If you graze, the band won't be able to work for you. It's because of what it does and how it does it. You will have a small "tiny tummy" formed (the pouch). You fill it up by eating 1/2 to 1 cup of food. (this is once you have restriction). That food sits there, rather than going quickly on down to the bottom of your stomach, and it triggers (they think) hormones etc telling your body "I"M NOT HUNGRY NOW YOU CAN QUIT EATING!!!" LOL That feeling, once properly restricted, should last up to 5-6 hours. However you can graze or snack all day and bypass that. Think of pouring something through a funnel. You can pour slowly and keep a steady stream, or pour too much and the funnel overflows. In a way, it's like that. if you graze, you just have a steady stream of food trickling through that smaller hole that you had formed by the band. No trigger of "stop eating" ever happens. And you don't lose weight and you are depressed and wonder why on EARTH did you ever get the band anyway? SO you are the one to decide if you can quit snacking all the time. If you really can't then the band isn't for you. We all have food issues of one type or another. There's no big shame in being a snacker (or a volume eater, or whatever!) but if you snack and graze and really think you can't give it up (or cut way back) then listen to your doc, consider a different surgery. My doc requires NO Snacks. I am a night time snacker (but not a daytime grazer) and I am really fighting to change my routine. I understand where you're coming from. I was scared of bypass, too. But 11 months of behavioral therapy convinced me I could modify my behavior and the band would work for me. Good luck for you, whatever you decide!

Volcano lady...I'm a nursing student (NOT a nurse yet) and one of the FIRST things we learn is a fever post op is often a precursor to pneumonia...it can be a sign of atelectasis (Fluid in the lungs) and what you do to treat it is to deep breathe and cough. The coughing moves the fluid, the fever resolves, and the patient does NOT go on to develop pneumonia. I don't guess the hospital gave you an incentive spirometer (since they didn't seem to do much but take your money!) but if you don't have one, try DEEP breathing several times an hour. Hold a pillow over your surgical sites, breathe deeply even though it may cause discomfort, and be happy if it makes you cough up mucus because that means you are clearing your lungs. This is vey important for ANY post op patient. Please try it while you are waiting to get hold of your surgeon! If necessary and you have them on hand (most of us don't) blowing up balloons is also a good trick to breathe deep and clear the lungs. If you do have your incentive spirometer, use it, while awake, at least 10 times an hour. Walking walking walking also helps you breathe more deeply and clear your lungs, it helps circulation, it helps prevent clots, and it helps you pass gas. (I'm just telling you all this since apparently your post op directions were non-existent) Email if I can help you in whatever limited capacity,...but try the things I've mentioned. They should help you feel better fast. Don't let the fever go, though, and don't just treat it with tylenol. You have it for a reason....and need to figure out why.

This is a time for healing. You won't really start to lose until you have had several fills and have good restriction. Right now you are following the phases of the post op diet to allow your band to heal into place (no slipping or erosion later on) etc. So yes, follow the diet perfectly but realize the point right now is NOT weight loss. It may be several months, once you've recovered, before you start to feel full on less and lose consistently. If your hunger isn't back yet, it will be. That's normal, too. Still stick to the diet post op that your doctor prescribes, and you'll be set for great success! :biggrin:

I can see why my doc says EAS CarbControl AdvantEdge shakes! More protein, less calories, less fat! They are my "go to" shake.

What you are supposed to do is exactly what YOUR doctor tells YOU! We're all different (different blood work etc) and your surgeon will tell you what s/he requires of you prior to surgery. You need to follow his/her directions, not our advice! Good luck! :biggrin:

For me it's like this...have you ever taken a swallow of something and realized it was going down "wrong"...we call it "down the wrong pipe".? Stuck is like that, only worse. AND it STAYS..it doesn't resolve like a "wrong swallow" It just sits there and causes feelings ranging from discomfort to outright pain. You'll know when you feel it; it is not a normal "large" swallow.

Smoking constricts the blood vessels and impairs healing. It is also vey bad for your lungs and just a few days out as you are you're still at some risk for pneumonia. May I suggest going on your lunch hour and buying the patch? Now's a good opportunity to quit for good. Smoking can also irritate the esophagus etc... so stay strong (I know it's hard I smoked over 3 packs a day when I finally quit in 1995) it's worth it. Use the money you spend on cigarettes to start a fund for new clothes! :biggrin: