RestlessMonkey

From my research (several books etc) and what my doc tells me, aggressive fills can cause a multitude of problems including esophageal spasms. Some do fill quickly but many prefer to take it more slowly. While some people say it's just to get more money from us (and I'm sure that's true with some doctors), I think most just want us to be very successful. My doctor includes all fills for 1 year for self-pay patients and he takes his time with them, too. I was told before I even GOT the band that it would/could take 4 or more fills and up to 6 months before I really felt restriction. Honestly if you want fast, get bypass. The band is slower, but then it is adjustable. Three years out you can get a fill if you need it. It's a trade off.

Recovery is VERY individual, of course, but I felt good pretty much immediately. The day of the surgery I felt fine! Day 2, I took my prescription pain meds twice, but otherwise, liquid (or pill) tylenol did fine for me for the first 3 days or so. I could drive, I think, at 24 or 48 hours. It depends on the doc; you just need time for anesthesia to clear your system, and you do NOT drive when taking prescription pain meds. I moved around good from the start...a little slow at first, but that passed quickly. A pillow to help brace the surgical sites really helped brace me when standing up or sitting down... Post op eat/drink whatever YOUR surgeon tells you. All post op diets seem to be just a little different so do what your doc finds works best for his/her patient base. I was allowed only clear liquids (water, broth, oh, and water LOL) for the first week. Not even any protein shakes! Hopefully your doc will be a little more lenient!

I think you should share right away...if not with the preop psych, then with one you go to "on the side". I think it's brave to admit those feelings; you need to get some help to deal with them. Once they are under control (and you aren't alone, you know....there is help out there!) then you'd be more likely to be successful with the band! Please talk to someone about those feelings; if not a therapist, then your primary doctor, or a religious leader, if that fits your lifestyle and outlook.

Hey Emilie! How ARE you? I think Dr. C fills pretty slowly...at least he does for me. So I vote go for it! Congrats on your loss, by the way!

Flowers, I was thin for a long time. Honestly, I didn't say I wasn 't treated DIFFERENTLY, I said no one was rude now that I'm "fat". I'm 53 now and treated differently from how I was treated when I was 20, also, but people are generally friendly, outgoing, and just plain nice. At least, in my little world they are! :wink: Seriously no one but one, one time, has ever been nasty or rude to me about my weight. That doesn't mean I think it doesn't happen, because I know it does. About attraction, though, I am short, blond, curly hair, short (but curvy) legs, large "girls". Even when thin, I had those attributes. There were men who liked Long, straight hair, long legs, taller women, etc. I never wasted my time resenting that....people don't have that much control over INITIAL attraction.

I suggest you check with your surgeon for specific medical questions like this....I know flying isn't any problem. Your surgeon would be the "go to" guy for this info, however!

At the hospital prior to discharge they should've told you when you could shower. It depends on your incision sites and what type of dressing is on them. For me, it was 24 hours post op. Don't you have steri strips or something covering your incisions? To feel comfortable while they are braced with, say, a pillow, is common, but you should be able to move around etc without them popping open!

Yes. When I am losing weight I get cold more easily.

I just wanted to add...DONT FEEL STUPID! Goodness we need to "test" our bands some. If you don't, how will you know what you can and cannot eat? I agree that we aren't really "supposed" to eat candy, but you are human. You are over 6 months' post op. That you tried it isn't a bad thing!

I slept on my stomach from the 2nd night post op. Honestlly I did. I know that as we heal from surgery we can develop adhesions and I REALLY didn't want that. I slept in bed on my side (with a pillow to help prop me) night 1, and on my stomach from night 2 on. No pain at all. I did take pain med before bed on night 2, but otherwise, nothing. It was the right choice for me apparently!

My doc was very clear that most of his patients required 4 (or more) fills before feeling restriction, so I expected to not feel any, and I don't. I have had 2 fills so far, 3 cc's, and nada. If you're in doubt, ask your doc....

They probably really think they ARE helping. Until they've "walked in your shoes" they can't know how UN helpful they are really being! Just stand firm. I'd say "I appreciate your concern but I've thought long and hard about this and feel it's the best course for me. It would be great if you could support me in this". or something like that.... Hang in there!

I think they are a waste of money! Use portion control and divide out your own... my surgeon says NO Snacks anyway! I know they aren't all that strict, but he is.

My doc says 15 min before, during, and 15 min after eating. Each doc is different. What I've never heard is what Jachut does...eat and drink together if you want. That's a big no no, as far as I know.

I think maybe some therapy might help you put it all in perspective. Personally I think people often get back what they put out there. I'm HUGE and honest-to-god can only tell you ONE time in my adult life when someone was openly rude to me because of my weight. I'm 53. That's a LOT of interactions where people have been nice, gracious, even friendly. I guess I don't have the "us and them" mentality. I have an "all of us" outlook....everyone has issues they cope with. So I can't identify with your anger and rage but do have my own things I've had to grapple with. A therapist can really help you get over it, or plot a revolution.

I don't know your doctor or situation but can tell you many surgeons have really tight schedules. Depending on how late you arrived it's possible someone was waiting for him elsewhere. If you ALWAYS felt used, maybe he wasn't the right choice for you. If not, probably if you'd been on time (depending on how late you were) you would've gotten the service you expect. AND if you didn't want a fill, why didn't you speak up? I agree 2 weeks is early but not all surgeons/docs feel that way. If they'd tried to do a fill on me at 2 weeks I'd have said "Uh. what?" Sorry you're unhappy, no one deserves poor treatment. But if they treated you like this before surgery I'm shocked you didn't switch surgeons.

I think you need the help of a therapist. Kudos to you for admitting you turn to liquor. Get help NOW! That's not uncommon (one of the things a good psych eval is supposed to catch) and something that you can "fix" before it gets to be a huge problem! Your surgeon should be able to help you find a good therapist if you don't know of one. A good one can help you work miracles.

I'm exercising. HOWEVER I have absolutely NO restriction (3 cc in a 14 cc band) and can (and do) eat like I did pre-band. I'd feel bad about it but, hey, the reason I GOT the band was because on "diets" (like WW, which has a great program) I'd get hungry. I STILL get hungry, and I will until I have restriction and that wonderful little "pouch". I am not dieting because that doesn't work for me. If I COULD diet (and stick w/it) I wouldn't have ever had the surgery. So...I guess what I'm saying is I DO exercise now. I TRY not to snack but I get truly hungry (yes, after 11 months of behavioral therapy, I know the emotional stuff from the true physiological stuff)...I figure once I have restriction things will click into place. That's what my doc tells me, anyway!

Just wanted to tell you, by all means do your preop 10 days if you want to, but what you gain in the hospital is just from the gas and fluids they pump into you, and it comes back off within a week. It's important that you follow, to the letter, what your surgeon tells you to do. BUT that other 5 days are your choice entirely. Personally I wouldn't voluntarily drink only liquids 5 days before Christmsas unless I HAD to, but then something got me to 400 pounds LOL Here's a ticker tutorial, also.... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

Insurance is VERY different...even the same "insurance" can cover different things depending on the purchaser (usuallly an employer) and what coverage is selected. That's why it's best to start there, to see 1. if it's covered 2. what prerequisites they require (if any...and there are almost ALWAYS conditions to fulfill, some more tedious than others) and 3. if it's covered, which surgeons can you use? If your insurance company/employer has a website you can check there. Just remember coverage can be modified by an employer (for example they can exclude bariatric surgery if they want to, since it is elective) Good luck. It is tedious but considering surgery costs anywhere from 10K up to 20K, just think of it as "earning yourself" all that money by taking the time to find out if it's covered and so on!

Honestly, because I've been in nursing school and had training about fecal impaction, I'd never ever let it go so long! It does happen, though. Usually, just once! :thumbup:

I believe the INAMED 9.75 band holds 4cc's actually, not 9.75 or 10. Check out this site: Compare Adjustable Gastric Bands - LAP-BAND vs. REALIZE Band It's the older style band...been around since 2001.

Depends on what size band. I have 14 cc's so 9 cc's wouldn't be THAT drastic for me. Also I agree, if you're paying $1100 a fill, you need to look around for cheaper fills! OK DUH I just re-read the thread title and see you are in a 10 cc band. SO I agree; do they count what's in your tubing? 1 cc isn't much....as a guideline, a teaspoon is 5-6 cc's. Otherwise if you don't have restriction, either your pouch is really stretched, or your band is leaking. I think you should discuss with your surgeon! Good luck!

Ask your doctor, do what s/he says!

When were you banded? How much do you eat? WHAT are you eating? If you were recently banded and eating foods that give you gas, it can be normal. Best bet is to call your surgeon and ask!