RestlessMonkey

I can only address the "band slip" question and I believe it's about 3-5% of the time. I can tell you following the "rules" post op (ie don't eat solids before you're allowed, and once you're restricted, don't drink w/meals, chew well, etc etc) minimizes the chances of slippage and erosion. You might try the "doctors and hospitals" forum with your other questions.

I agree ask your doc. I too was told that the only absolute NO NO is carbonation. Period. That means no beer as to other alcohol, i was told I needed time to heal internally and to not get the surgery if I couldn't go 3-6 months without liquor. So check with your doc.

Get some help, and then reapply! I think it's great you're dealing and aren't suicidal, but sleep walking/talking is a sign that something's up. Why not get healthy inside AND out? If you don't like that psych consultant, you can surely find one you like and trust. Once you are under his/her care, it's possible they will write an acceptable eval and you can proceed! I know it seems unfair but there are some problems worse than being overweight. You need to take care of all of you! If you REALLY don't want therapy, ask your surgeon what s/he suggests.

My doctor actually gave me phenergan to have on hand JUST IN CASE I ever got a stomach bug. Call tomorrow and ask your surgeon what if anything you need to do.

Check with your doctor. The carbonation isn't good for your newly configured stomach. I have pretty much NO restriction yet (my surgeon believes in SLOW fills !) and tried a little beer last month. It was uncomfortable, much to my dismay. I burped A LOT and had to sip (normally I can eat anything at any rate). It just wasn't a happy experience at all. I know we all work the band, and there are no "absolutes" (you'll find some who DO drink beer and or carbonated beverages, even if they have to let them go flat first...yuck!....or drink them really slowly...and a VERY few can drink them almost normally) you'll probably need to face the fact that carbonation will be off limits for you, at least for your forseeable future.

I had TWO surgeries in August so I understand! I lost mine right away and have kept on until the last week or so, when it stopped. People "swear by" many remedies...enough Protein, taking BIOXIN, etc. I don't know if any of them work. I know that my surgeon warned about this in the seminar. He said that, for his practice, supplements etc don't seem to help. (We are to take a good multi Vitamin and Calcium supplements, fairly standard, I think) He said that it happens to almost (but not) everyone, is usually over in 3-6 months, and none of his patients "needed" a wig. It was scary losing it, I admit. But my hairdresser kept telling me I was still fine and I guess I am! I'm pretty much back to normal now. So I say, hang in there. Doc said he thinks it is from the trauma of the surgery ... it goes away! :blushing:

I agree. Unless you are an athlete or do something (work in heat) that causes you to sweat excessively, 60+ ounces of water should do it for you. Please get your blood sugar checked and tell your primary doctor about your symptoms...ASAP! That thirst is a sign that you need to do something quickly.

Ya'll hang in there! Very important to let your sutures heal, and it gets better. It's worth it in the long run! You can do it!

I can tell you this...Go to a borders or Barnes and Noble or half priced books and buy a book or two on the Gastric Band. Very informative and helpful! Then go to a seminar or two. They will give you tons of info and even more questions!

Take them out of the equation and get the surgery YOU want. In the end, you'll be the one living with your decision. They both have good success and both can be "eaten around".

I am SO GLAD I have tricare standard and didn't have to go through all that! But I'd ask the specialist what exactly he wants. No reason to get an ecg if you don't have to. I got one as part of my preop testing and since it was "normal sinus rhythm" I didn't have to see a cardiologist.

I chose the band for several reasons. 1. I didn't want dumping syndrome. I wanted to be "normal" and getting the shakes when I eat anything with refined sugar didn't appeal to me. 2. I've heard of too many people with bad GI issues after RNY 3. I wanted something adjustable so 2-3 years down the road I can get the band tightened if I need to and 4. I wanted something adjustable so I could get the band loosened if I need to Another consideration was this: I know that as people age, they don't remove the nutrients from food as efficiently. That is another reason re-routing my intestines just seemed dicey. I know they say to just supplement with B-12 but as I reduce the intrinsic factor I make, I am afraid B-12 supplements won't be enough. The band can be removed if I have issues. I'm 53, so who knows where I'll be 10-20 years from now? I may NEED that bit of intestines! :confused_smile: RNY Bypass was just too drastic for me; didn't want my innards re-routed. It would be great to lose a ton of weight really fast, but looking long term, the band was the best solution for me.

No insights, but a wish for good luck! I hope you'll both love your bands!

Make sure you check with your doctor. Mine did NOT allow yogurt, pudding, etc until week 3 and starting mushies. Follow your Doctor's rules!

WasABubble...I stand by my post. To have a surgeon try to force one elective surgery over another is filling that surgeon's agenda, not the patients'. If there is a sound medical reason one should'nt have a procedure, then give it. Otherwise, let the patient decide. AND I said question...but never doubt. Maybe you do doubt yourself, and if so, I feel for you. That's no way to live. On the plus side, open debate is always good. If our stances and beliefs can't hold up to scrutiny and questions, then maybe it's time to revamp.

Is the True Results office near where you live so you can go back easily to get fills and follow-up care? That's the first "thing"...follow up is as important as the surgery! I don't know about that specific doctor but can tell you my surgery was an easy breeze. I went out easy, came to easy, didn't even have a sore throat from being intubated, went home the same day and needed only 2 doses of pain meds. The surgery is the easy part!

All I can share is what worked for me. When we eat solids, (anything...a noodle in chicken noodle Soup, a mushie cracker, anything that has some substance and isn't jello) when we swallow it's called "chyme". The stomach churns like a little washer to help the enzymes etc to start digesting the chyme. While most digestion happens in the small intestines, the stomach does it's part to mix it up and break it down. We don't FEEL this, but it happens. So you can see the problem. If you eat, your stomach hums along moving and digesting. If you had the lap band your surgeon likely pulled your stomach up over it and stitched it into place. The churning can (and has done so in the past) rip some or all of your stitches loose. All of them means BAM right back in the hospital, in pain, getting repairs. Just a few means you don't know it now but you risk slippage and erosion down the line....months, a year, whenever. So do what your doc says. Not what worked for someone here, but what YOUR doc tells YOU. I will admit I sat and held a can of refried Beans and CRIED the week before I was allowed mushies, but I didn't eat the beans. Others before me made it through so I figured I could, too. So can you. It's worth it! Hang in there!

Yes, it can happen. It does. Our bodies are unique miraculous machines that often work in their own ways, regardless of science or logic.

You need to follow YOUR doc's directions for you. Odds are you'll be good, but take it from someone who did what worked for others instead of what she was told (and didn't get the surgery the 1st time because of it)....do what YOU are told to do, at least for the pre- and post-op periods. If in doubt, call and ask your doctor. I'm sure, especially if your mom is successful, it's hard not to listen to her about this. She IS your mom! But you are a different woman, different body, different blood work, different everything. You need to do what your doc tells you. Clarify with him if your mom raises concerns, but trust him. If you don't, don't use him for the surgery! Sorry I can't help you with the rash...does your surgeon know you have the disease? (He should've gotten a thorough health history) If so, did he seem concerned, or give you any guidance? If he knows about it and didn't mention it, odds are you'll be fine! :biggrin:

Gas pains are worse if the surgeon can't or won't remove the gas before "closing you up", or can't remove ENOUGH gas. I was quite large and had no problems. Not to be contentious! I'm sure your husband is suffering if he has gas pains because those suckers hurt! I've had gas trapped when I've eaten certain things, but nada post op. The shoulder pain isn't gas...so Gas-x etc won't help it, either....it's from the diaphragm, having it pinched or jostled or just plain discommoded. It's bad, but does go away. Good for you two getting healthy together!

I think you might have hit on something. What attracted me to the band in the first place was "being normal but eating less"...however I've seen a HUGE amount of "diet mentality" here. You MUST do this you MUST do that. Life isn't so absolute, is it? Diets never did work for me, I have to remember not to "go on" one. Thanks for posting this!

It's probably referred pain from your diaphragm. Exercise helps. It also helped me to have someone give my neck and shoulders a quick massage to loosen the tight muscle up there. Rather than heat, ice may help too. It will go away over time as your insides heal! If it doesn't get better by Monday call your doc. The odds of it being an injury from surgery are slim; it CAN happen, but not likely, especially for such a quick surgery as the lap band. And they'd have to really be rough with you (unless you have a pre-existing condition) to dislocate your shoulder. You are limp and they move you into place, so it would be HARD to injure you that way; they'd have to work at it.

It's sad that you are in such an environment! My doc is really pretty balanced and at my 400+ start weight never batted an eye when I chose the band over RNY. I'm so sorry you don't have that kind of support! But 3 years down the road, we bandsters have figures that compete with RNY and other bypass patients, and it is becoming more frequent for RNY patients, several years post op, to get "revision" surgery and get the band. Why? It is adjustable, that's why! It's always good to question yourself, but don't DOUBT yourself! The band has a much much higher rate of success than "dieting", I guess because it isn't dieting. You'll do great at it! :biggrin:

My doctor said most people have no problem with pills. You just need to coordinate with your surgeon and psych doctor. You should be fine. I know some "extended release" pills need to be switched to regular because once you have restriction you kind of have built in extended release, and so on.... your surgeon and doc are better sources of info for your situation!

I don't really understand why the comments they made caused you to "second guess" your decision. They were just saying what scares them about the band. You said what scares you about RNY. ? To me, one of the plusses OF the band is that you can have adjustments throughout your life, as needed. With RNY, you're stuck. Sorry you're upset and by all means talk to your surgeon if you have doubts.