RestlessMonkey

I agree with Laurenica123....the point is to eat normally, but less. My doctor said to think of "kid portions" ... his goal is for me to eat anything I ever did but in small amounts. Your fears are normal but unfounded. Sure, you'll find people here and elsewhere who have a long list of things they can't eat and that's sad for them but usually they are either too tight, or don't follow the rules of chewing etc etc. There are also many who can and do eat anything including white bread, popcorn, etc etc....just in much smaller amounts. So don't be sad. Next year a much smaller healthy you will be at the holiday table, and you'll enjoy your meal and feel satisfied, but will eat a LOT less than you would have before :thumbup:

I just did what my doctor said. I learned the hard way. I had clear liquids for one week...that was a no brainer. At least 64 oz of water and clear broth. That was what I was allowed, essentially. Second week I got to add in protein shakes (thank goodness!) Just don't eat anything until your doc says YOU can (different posters have different diets!) and you'll do well. It's HARD...so be gentle with yourself, but tough it out! It will pay off and be so worth it!

You probably should get RIGHT back on the post op diet you were given (whatever that is!) and call your surgeon asap to tell him what you've done and see if he thinks you'll be ok. When we eat our stomachs churn and that could pull loose a stitch (or more) where your band is stitched into place. It could cause slippage now or just weaken things so you slip in the future. I hope you're ok but please call your surgeon and get the all clear (or not) from him. Good luck, and just hang in there.

My doc charges 15K for self pay for the band. I suggest you find a surgeon you're comfortable with that will accept in payment what your insurance will pay.

It is SLOW. Truly. If you want/must have/need/crave fast, then get the RNY. I'm not being facetious or mean, either....I did think long and hard about RNY for that very reason. I lost my weight preop and 2 weeks post op, then have gained back a bit. Just now with my 3rd fill I am FINALLY starting to feel restriction. Some take longer than me to feel it, some much less, but my doc told me it may take up to 6 months post op before I really start losing. I feel the loss with the band, however, is more long term. You have to pick the surgery you think will work best for you!

i don't know who told you that you can't stretch the pouch? While you are on liquids ONLY right after surgery, the odds are slim that you'll stretch it because liquid flows right on through unless you "chug" a big bunch at once. But of course, the pouch is your stomach and yes, that can stretch. Whether or not you "vomit" isn't necessarily an indicator of slippage or stretching. Having said that, though, until you have good restriction, odds are you didn't stretch it, or at least not too much. Just try not to eat until you're stuffed, ok? It DOES get easier! :tongue2:

it's not just number of fills but also amount of fill, and that is REALLY individual as to when you FEEL it... assuming you already know that but are wondering just in general, then I have had 3 fills and still don't "feel" it. I am eating less, though; at least family and DH say I am.

I eat a lot less now but thankfully can eat anything (as my doctor predicted!) quite happy! :tongue2:

I was told by my surgeon that it might take up to 6 months POST OP before I felt restriction and started losing weight. I was told that weight loss with the band is slower, but that we lose longer than, say, RNY patients, and that 3 years post op the loss is often comparable. I was told that I would NOT feel restriction until I started getting fills and he started tightening my band. I was told not to DIET but to avoid snacking, following the band rules (regarding chewing, small bites, no liquids with meals) and relearn how I eat. So if he were your surgeon, you'd be a LONG way from failure. Personally, I didn't get the band so I could DIET...I have dieted (and lost quite well) about a million times. What I didn't do was keep it off. Now, slowly, my gain train is coming to a stop and I'm losing and it's staying off. Go to WW if you want, if you think it will help, but don't do it out of guilt or fear because you are doing very well and won't have restriction at all for a while.

It depends on your restriction. I have had 3 fills and am losing slowly but can eat anything if I chew well and watch my portions. Each surgeon has his or her own spin on "ideal" (and each bandster, for that matter) but my surgeon's goal is for me to be able to eat essentially anything, but in more "child sized" portions, and lose weight slowly over the next several years, then keep it off the rest of my life. So far, it's working. Except things with carbonation (which I CAN consume, but it isn't worth the time and trouble because they hurt and make me burp) I haven't found anything, including white untoasted bread, that I can't eat.

i've read on here that being tense can make you tight. So if you are pressured, or really whizzing around, maybe that's what's wrong? I agree try the liquids, and be calm when you eat....deep breaths, center yourself, whatever works. Maybe that will help!

I started out really large (405) and lost 42 pounds in my 5.5 weeks preop and 2 weeks post op. THEN once I got mushies (start of week 3 post op) I started gaining and gained back 20 pounds from Mid Sept to Mid November! HOWEVER from my fill 11/13 (fill # 2) until my 3rd, I only gained 1/2 pound and since my 12/18 fill I've lost 3 pounds. WITH CHRISTMAS! I am not, nor have I since my surgery, dieted at all. I don't weigh, count, fret, or measure a thing. This is per my doc; he says it's gradual, and wants me to not snack, and let the band work. So I'm doing my part by trying to make healthy choices and so on, and now with 4.5 cc's in my 14 cc band, my intake is diminishing and so is my weight. I'm pleased! I like you was quite panicked but he said that he prefers this gradual "turn around"...he feels he's setting me up for success for the rest of my life. In other words, rather than slam on the brakes, we're coming to a gradual stop and turn around! All I can tell you is I was dubious but didn't get the band so I could "diet", and I DID (and do) trust him. And by George it's working! Hang in there!

My doc also told me it was rare for a liver to be too large, especially since mine was not diseased in any way. So I guess I had bad news/good news. At any rate, it's safest to do what your doc tells you...they have their reasons. Post op it's really important you follow the directions, especially the first few weeks as your band heals into place.

I cheated on my 3 week diet by doing my "own" diet rather than his 600-cal a day liver shrink diet. I lost 15 pounds and did not tell him I had not followed his instructions to the letter. I had surgery and came to in recovery to be told that my liver was still too large and he couldn't place the band. I told him, then, that I hadn't done what he said but that if he'd do the surgery I promised I'd follow his instructions to the letter, which I did. 2 1/2 weeks and 17 MORE pounds and the band was placed 8/29. so I cheated, I got two surgeries out of it. Not worth it.

If you haven't had any darvocet, and you used to be able to take tylenol in pill form, then I'd think Liquid tylenol should be safe for you to try! They make an adult liquid tylenol. Just don't take more than the recommended dose, and so on! It's all I took, actually, post op because I didn't want to be groggy. Also use a pillow to brace your sutures and surgical sites (that really helps) AND....gas x strips or chewables help with some of the trapped gas (but wait a bit after the tylenol before you take your gas x) Good luck and hang in there. It won't knock you all the way out, but it should definitely take the edge off for you!

I had one It drove me CRAZY. As soon as we got home my husband removed it for me. I didn't need the pain killer and having that thing pinned to my clothes, and on my left side, was a horror for me. I couldn't stand it. Once it was out I felt fine and even slept on my (LEFT!) side. So I really didn't NEED it. It was a bigger pain than the pain. LOL

Liquid tylenol?

In that case your safest bet is to ask your surgeon, if you are that unsure. He or she can tell you what is safe for you; here you will just get anectodatal evidence, or as I've done, best guess conjecture. And as I've learned from anecdotal testimony, just because some people "can" do something doesn't mean we ALL can do something. If you are afraid a roller coaster will impair your function as a dad, then check with "the authority", your surgeon! Good luck to you! :thumbup:

As long as you aren't chugging a gallon of Water or some such then no, you won't stretch your pouch just drinking liquids. It flows on through (like water through a hose)...you don't have restriction (or probably not much, if any) except whatever swelling may be present following your surgical trauma. As you heal, that swelling subsides, and you are still "wide open". As to being hungry, call your doc. It's very important to follow the diet he or she gives you, and not to follow anecdotal advice. One thing I've learned from this place is that every surgeon seems to put his/her own spin on every aspect of this surgery and banded life, and it's important that you do what yours has found works best for his/her patient population. Mine, for example, didn't allow ANY Protein for the first 7 days. Tell your doc you're starved; they may advance you. Don't feel bad; you won't be the first! :smile:

Straws can just increase your gas because you swallow air with them. Immediately post op I didn't use them; now I do again, from time to time, with no noticeable ill effect. And ask your surgeon if in doubt but as long as you're healed (and in 6 months you should be) there wouldn't be any problem with any roller coaster, unless they nauseate you and make you vomit violently or some such.

I can't think of any reason why you couldn't do those things, unless they nauseate you and make you vomit. If you have good restriction, I would wait for a bit after eating to ride, just "in case", but otherwise, go have fun!

I used the shakes my doc had me use for my preop diet. I fortunately had no trouble drinking liquids. Thank goodness!

You don't need to apologize or anything! I just wanted you to get the info you asked for and that area is full of insurance-related posts. I assumed you were new and unfamiliar with the site. It has taken me a while to get the hang of navigating! But there's no "wrong"...just some forums have more of a certain type of info, is all!

Since you're shouting out to people with your insurance, you might want to move this to the "Insurance and Financing" forum...you should get some hits that way! Good luck.

Your pain is probably caused by 2 things...trapped gas, and referred pain from your diaphragm (that's the shoulder pain) What helped my shoulder was having someone massage my neck and shoulders. The trapped gas...will resolve with walking walking walking! You'll get the hang of things! Just take your pain meds and walk and drink your water and hang in there. You'll feel better soon!