RestlessMonkey

I think she should talk to her surgeon. It's possible she needs some time with a nutritionist or psych consult. If she gets too tight and doesn't eat the right foods etc she can become anemic or do other harm. Not being prissy or mean, either; just until she's ready to follow the rules, I'd think being restricted will just cause her problems. Aside from the fact that as she gets restriction she may not be able to eat the lettuce etc in a salad, even if she CAN, 1/2 cup of veggies doesn't usually have the protein of 1/2 cup of meat. She'd need to eat something very high in protein and that's even more work... The point is to not hurt herself, whether she ever loses an ounce more or not. I think chats w/surgeon etc are in order. She's not the only one to be reluctant; maybe they can help her move on! :thumbup:

I agree, call your doctor. My instructions were to eat per his instructions for breakfast and lunch, but then to begin bowel prep and only clear liquids until midnight, then NOTHING. I'm pretty sure he'll want you to discontinue the optifast at some point because, like you said, why? it's just coming back out. But it's his call! :thumbup:

You have the last minute heebie jeebies. Lots of people do. 1...no one can promise anything about anything. Frankly if you don't control your weight (which is trending up) you may not BE here in 15 years so if the band were to fail then, it would be moot. Further; it's sturdy and inert. Unless you abuse it by not following the rules, it should last as long as you do. Risks of slipping and erosion are real, but are low. 5% is the top figure I've seen. It has only been around since 1993 (that's when they started testing it) but the materials it's made of have been around (and used in the body in various ways) much longer. No one can say you WONT need another surgery, but odds of it, at least relating to the band, are low. 2. You can't have beer. Unless you like it flat. Oh boo hoo. I love beer too, but honestly if someone walked up to you and said "If you give up beer I'll make your weight problem go away" would you say "NO"? If so, you need AA, my friend! You CAN drink...have a bourbon and Water or a glass of wine or a grey goose on the rocks. Life does go on without beer. AND maybe some day you can drink it. A year or two post op I've read of people who can but just don't bother. If you are one of Dr. Cavazos's patients then I am sure he's told you that the goal is for you to be able to eat just about anything, but be satisfied with less. So you will only eat 3-4 ounces of steak instead of a side of beef. Big deal, really. I was told that some can't eat untoasted white bread (it balls up) but many can. I was told that some of their patients don't eat stringy red meat (well ick, anyway. I don't like my steaks stringy). I am 3 months post op. I have 3 cc's in my band. Dr. C is filling me slowly because he says the point is to hit a good zone where I can eat what I want, in small amounts, and be full for up to 5-6 hours. What you will have to give up...snacking, carbonation....is minor compared to what you gain. food won't be your master any more. YOU will control it. Unless you are one of those people who earns a living by winning the "who ate the most hot dogs" contest, I don't think any future employer will look at you and think "Man I don't want him he only eats 4 ounces of red meat". no...they'll sit a fit man who eats to live, not lives to eat. Being nervous is normal. Many of us were. But, it IS reversible if for some bizarre reason you really really can't handle it. Even that, though rare rare, happens. Odds are, you'll be unhappy the first few weeks post op as you heal but can only have liquids and are starved. Then you'll get over it. You'll start to realize this thing can really work for you long term. You'll see life differently. It's worth it. Don't let your fear stop you.

How much did you eat before? Actually, 2 scrambled eggs, a patty and toast isn't all that much food. And if you stay full up to 5 hours, sounds to me like you're doing great. As urwhatueat said, if you are still losing at least 1-2 pounds a week, then you are doing great. Relax and enjoy your success!

I replied to your other post about this; you need to call your doc and make sure everything's still in place because you are so soon post op. What you did sounds like "PB'ing" where food won't go through the hole or stoma and your body "burps" it back up, accompanied by liberal amounts of mucous. That does happen and once you're healed it isn't a major concern. After only 1 week, however, you might have torn your stitches loose. Only your doc can tell you if he wants to test you or if it is no big deal. Be sure to call on Monday!

I had surgery friday and was back at school Monday. DON"T eat! I know you're hungry; I was too! But stick with whatever post op diet you have. You'll thank yourself later! And the shoulder pain is referred pain from you diaphragm. If you have someone who can rub your neck and shoulders for you, it should help pretty quickly! Good luck!

I'd call my doc monday just to be sure. Newly banded as you are, it isn't likely your band site has healed yet. A PB (such as you had) wouldn't hurt a few months down the road but 1 week post op, it can be a concern. Your doc may want to do a test to make sure you haven't slipped. IF you have, don't panic. He can most likely fix it and it's better to know now than to risk erosion down the road!

I too have a filled prescription for phenergan on hand for just in case. If you come down w/bug before monday, call your surgeon; he should have an emergency service. And if not, call him on Monday and ask what he wants you to do if it comes up again.

I think many of us here are lap band patients; there is a section of horror stories and you can probably find it by checking the forums. Personally I have no problems with the band, love it, don't regret it, would do it again in an instant. However, perhaps you should attend a seminar first. Statistics and comparisons are covered in the good ones....or like I did, buy a couple of books on lap band surgery. This site is great for anecdotal info about recovery and life with the band, but perhaps a seminar can answer your initial questions. Lap Band IS a lifestyle; it's hard to just tell you "what you need to know"! Helpful though we want to be! LOL Also reading through the different forums and posts here may give you the essence of what you're looking for. It's a life style and a life change, I can tell you that!

I LOVE Dr. Cavazos. He's great, the staff is wonderful, you'll do well! He prescribed liquid hydrocodone for me, too, the first time, and I didn't ever need it. Can't say about the scars since for me it's just been 3 months. I had my surgery on Friday and went back to school that next Tuesday. I felt great. I think a week is a good amt. of time to take off unless you have a physical type job; then lifting restrictions might mean you need to take a little more time.

I cheated on my preop diet. I lost 15 pounds anyway. My liver was too big for the surgery. I came to in recovery to be told that they couldn't place the band. Don't cheat any more. Yes, depending on what you ate today and how large your liver is, one day CAN make a difference. Don't mean to depress you, just being honest.

Ok not true. My insurance approved me in 2 days. If you have insurance that covers lap band, try that first. Use your savings for clothes and travel! LOL

Hi MissBS! I only have 3 cc's in a 14cc band so don't really have much of any restriction yet. But what you're describing is pretty normal, I think. Not sure why it happens but originally I thought once the initial swelling that can happen when the stomach is agitated (like for a fill) goes down, it can take up to about 2 weeks to really "feel" a "fill". Unless you're too tight from the start, I think it takes a while to settle in and really "restrict".

Seriously, instead why not take a fruit basket to his office? That way he and the staff can share. Otherwise you don't really need to give him a gift. A nice plant or some other such thing for his office would work, too.

If you have specific questions I'll try to answer but just wanting to know "more" about it is too general for me! LOL I mean, they've written books about it; not sure what to tell you! You can google sites for the bands, lap band and realize band, and also "lap band surgery" and your city and probably get some sites for local surgeons. That might be a good start for you!

Why haven't you called your doctor about this?

You won't have gas pain in your calves. Please call your doc and describe the pain....(I know it's a holiday but call his number). Pain in the calves CAN be a sign of clots. Usually it's just one leg, one area, and goes away depending on how you flex your foot etc but I don't have the expertise to help you diagnose it via email. It's 99% likely that your electrolytes are a little out of whack post op but because of that 1% chance, it's best to be safe. No medical professional will fault you for asking about pain in your legs, especially when you are a bariatric patient post op! Call right away, just to ease MY mind! :grouphug:

Birth control containing hormones can increase the risk of blood clots. The risk increases depending on person's size, history, age, etc. I don't know why your surgeon specifically wants you off of it but I can tell you its safer for you. Just use an alternate form of birth control. My surgeon really stresses that we NOT get pregnant for 1 year post op because of risk to us and fetus, so make sure you use a good alternate birth control until you've met with your surgeon and discussed risks and when you can get back on the depo. Good luck! :grouphug:

Unless you are going to pay for the surgery 100%, start with your insurance and find out if they cover it, and if so which surgeons they approve. You don't want to go through a lot to find out you picked a surgeon who isn't in your care network!

When I came to in recovery I was hungry and thirsty. I have never had one moment's restriction yet. I would almost think I didn't even HAVE a band but I've seen it. SO be grateful for any post op restriction you have! :grouphug:

I don't have any restriction yet and assume if you were banded 9/8 that you don't either. Until you have sufficient fill and your band is tight food flows through into your lower stomach much like it did before you got the band. Just be patient and keep practicing the "bandster rules", and get fills as often as your surgeon suggests.

Hang in there. Honestly? I'm 5'5", weighed 405 at 53 years old and have never been depressed. If you have some issues with that, maybe it's a good thing they caught it? AND he said 5-20%. I agree, 5% is do-able. I lost more than that on the preop liver shrink diet I was on. You really don't want to go through the pain, time and expense of surgery and not be successful; no one would. If you need to prove to them you CAN change the way you eat, then do that. Many have insurance hoops to jump through; just consider this a different hoop. I understand your frustration but let it just make you more determined.

Just do what your doctor says. Seriously, different measuring tapes, how tight you HOLD the tape, WHO holds the tape, WHERE you place the tape....all impact the measurement. Unless you're a professional seamstress who has measured thousands of stomachs, the odds are that inch is just a variance based on something besides your size. Please don't obsess over it and trust your physician. I understand the desire to measure yourself but don't do it too often. Post op I'm warning you you'll be up due to fluids etc...you'll fret again! Maybe you should make a pact with yourself to wait until Feb 1 to measure again! :grouphug:

Did you try rubbing it? It makes sense that it hurts when you eat (stretches stomach and impacts the diaphragm) or when you exercise (deeper and/or faster breathing of course involves your diaphragm) Icy/hot patches probably won't work, especially since the heating pad didn't. Seriously just try rubbing it to release the muscle cramp.

Just do what YOUR doctor tells YOU, when the time comes.