RestlessMonkey

I think I'm probably the person slim-n-tn is referring to. I only "kind of" followed the preop diet, lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks, and doc operated. I came to in recovery to be told he couldn't place the band because my liver was too large. He said he COULD have opened me up and placed it but knew since I am a nursing student and have to be physcially able to do clinicals that I wouldn't heal in time. (thank goodness!) SO I did what he said for 2 1/2 more weeks and 17 more pounds, and the band was placed. Follow your doc's diet. He has you do it for a reason. If you cheat, let him know. It may be uncomfortable but trust me, it beats going through surgery for nothing.

I found this via google a while back and thought it was pretty informative...maybe it will help you decide. Compare Adjustable Gastric Bands - LAP-BAND vs. REALIZE Band

That will be up to your surgeon! You may need to stop it for a few days prior to surgery so you won't have issues with bleeding, but your surgeon can make that call.

Maybe...when I was growing up in El Paso we didn't go over there for medical care. I know some recently who've gone for drugs, but not medical care. But different border cities have different, um, auras? Anyway the point is, regardless of WHERE you go, to research, research, and use your gray matter. There are good and bad doctors everywhere; no one place has the market cornered on either.

Here is the answer! We're supposed to be thankful, not gluttons! :thumbup: I know it's the holiday where everyone overindulges but you don't have to overeat, you know. It should be about the people, anyway. Don't put food on your plate you don't want or can't eat. Someone (maybe you!) worked hard to cook it...leave it for leftovers. Just take what you think you can have, chew well, and enjoy. And think that you are working on getting healthier so you'll be around for many Thanksgivings to come. Enjoy the day. And if you are someone who hasn't told those around them about the surgery, just say you have a stomach bug and are watching what you eat. If they send some home with you, portion it and freeze it. Most of it freezes wonderfully! :thumbup:

Sorry, no sympathy from me, bloody or no! LOL I was banded 8/29, have had only 2 fills, only 3ccs in a 14 cc band, and no restriction. Haven't ever had any. None from post op swelling, etc. I'm just trusting my surgeon (who isn't charging me addl for fills, by the way) who says he's setting me up for long term success....no GERD, no PBing, no slime. I trusted him w/my life in the OR, I guess I can trust him now! :thumbup: He said it may take up to 6 months before I start to lose again but that it will last a lifetime. So I'm in worse shape than you, but not frustrated. Some things take a while, and I do NOT want GERD or esophageal spasms etc. He's not making any more money on me doing it this way, so I think he may be on to something. NOT that everyone with quick fills gets GERD (want to be PC here) but I have less chance of complications doing it his way.

I'm so glad you posted this! My doc is going REALLY slowly....4-6 weeks between fills, and only 1.5 cc's at a time! AND I have a 14 cc band! But he says he's setting me up for success...he doesn't want me to develop GERD or whatever etc. He isn't charging me for them so I'm not feeling ripped off, but it's hard to be patient. He told me I'll start losing at about 6 months out. SIX MONTHS!?! LOL but hey. I have the time. I think. :cool: Anyway thanks for posting because now I don't feel like the only turtle at the track!

You know, it's dangerous in the USA or elsewhere. I personally feel the USA is better if only because we can sue the turkeys if they mess us up! :cool: I grew up in El Paso and even many Mexican Nationals....good friends etc, would not even get a cut treated in Mexico. Not to paint the whole country and every doctor over there with the same negative brush. I think the important thing is to do thorough research as best you can, make sure you have great after-care lined up, and then roll the dice.

You know, you're right....my doc gives fills for up to 1 year at no add'l charge to all self pay patients. He said he feels it's more important they get it right than he makes a few extra bucks. Bless that man!

To each his own, at any rate. My ticker is mostly for me, actually! My car's been stalled on the side of the road waiting for parts (aka restriction LOL) but I did suffer my fat little fanny off for 5.5 weeks to lose that 1st 32 pounds, and then suffered liquids only for 2 more weeks for another 9.4. I'm counting it. I started out WAY higher than a lot of people, and I own that, too.

I think (don't know, just processing what I've read) that you can tell because it hurts to eat. If you have been chewing well and eating the right quantities once you have restriction and didn't "cheat" on your post op diet (ie eating when you were supposed to be on liquids) the odds of a slip are very very miniscule. If you cheated, or vomited a lot (for whatever reason, stomach virus, PB, slime, whatever) or have pain ... maybe. You can do everything "right" and it slip but it's rare. And even then, from what I've read, it's painful and you know something's wrong.

Sure! Good luck! :cool:

I don't have an answer for you except to say when stressed or nervous I've heard the band can be tighter (it's hormonal somehow, I think) and if you are stressed (happy stress OR nervous stress) and in a social setting that's probably why you were vomiting? Did you ask your doctor? I just wanted to say you MIGHT get better response if you post this under the "lap band fills" forum....people who know what's going on or have the same issues may find it more easily there. That MAY not be the exact name but you get the drift....

I don't mind at all sharing what I did but please realize that it is more important that you do what your surgeon wants than what I or anyone here says they did! :cool: All the doctors seem to have their own style and spin they put on every aspect of this process, and I am sure they all have their reasons! So what mine wants ME to do may not work for you at all! I'm sure you know that but a caveat can't hurt, can it? Anyway I had a fatty liver and was held to 2-3 protein shakes each day, 3-4 oz of lean fish, chicken or turkey for 1 meal, and 1 cup of green veggies, and 64 oz AT LEAST of water. That's it. no butter condiments bread water mix ins nothing. No coffee tea without sugar. Nada. That was preop; I did it for 5.5 weeks. Post op I advanced from clear liquids (no protein then, just water and broth mostly) to full liquids (those you can't see through) to mushies (like mashed potatos and yogurt) to soft foods (baked fish) and then on to regular foods. This process took 5 weeks. Now I am eating pretty normally but I have absolutely no restriction. I have 3 cc's in my 14 cc band. Until that loop is tightened, it's the same principle as if I have a belt sitting loosely around my waist. Until that sucker is cinched up, it's not doing much! If your doctor didn't put you on a long preop diet, the odds are your blood work or some other test didn't indicate a need for it. See? We're all different! :cool2:

You don't need to miss food. That's a misconception. You will most likely be able to eat almost anything one year from now that you do now. You may not WANT to, but that's the point, isn't it? My doctor said SOME people have issues with white bread and/or stringy red meat. Some have issues with everything...but you need to remember that most people who post here are the ones having problems and seeking answers, not the ones for whom the experience is smooth sailing. There are bunches out there! My doctor told me his goal was for me to be able to eat ANYTHING if I wanted. He said: You'll eat up to about 1 cup of food, be satisfied, and stay that way for 5-6 hours. I want you to eat Protein first because it's very important. But no food will be off limits to you, if we do this right". So don't be sad. Right now, food isn't really your friend, anyway. It got you here today, didn't it? You'll just have control. Many posters say they feel "freed" from food and obsessing over how much, when, where, diet, not to diet, etc.. It is common to be scared, to mourn it, but really, once you get through it, you'll think "Wow this isn't so bad". :cool: Of course the preop diet (if you have to do one, I did, forever it seemed!) and post up until you are healed and back on food, is tough. But it's just for a short time and you can make it!

Sorry my husband is darn glad I'm doing this for my health! BUT I can tell you a few things; until you get restriction you'll struggle but once you are adequately restricted (the fabled "sweet spot") you SHOULD be able to eat just about anything, but will be satisfied (not full, just satisfied) with WAY WAY less, and will lose weight. As long as what you're filling up on isn't things that are SUPER high in calories....and it doesn't sound like you do that. Which means if you fix Mr. "Don't mess with my food" your favorites, you should be able to eat them too. You just won't be a "large" eater any more. The action of the pouch at the top of the stomach triggers the hormonal signals of full. That's how it works. Rather than stuffing your stomach to the top to get those hormonal triggers firing, the pouch triggers that sensation on the cup (4 oz by weight) or so of food we eat. So...4 oz of steak will fill you up rather than steak, baked potato w/everything, side of mushrooms, etc. You get my drift. That's one reason we aren't to drink before, during, and for a time after meals....the food MUST stay in that pouch for a while to trigger "FULL" in the body. Then as it goes on through we keep that feeling, hopefully for up to about 6 hours, before "hungry" rears it's head again. Large volume (as opposed to snackers or grazers) eaters are, per my doc, the most successful on the band. Good for you, huh? :cool:

Just FYI I don't (and haven't ever) drink Ensure but tried to find nutritional info on it online. I never found a site that displayed the label but it looks like it is too high in sugar and too low in protein. My shakes, EAS Carb Control AdvantEDGE have 17 g protein each and are VERY low carb/low in sucrose etc. So I'd think ensure wouldn't work but truly who knows what your doc would say?

My doctor specified which shakes he wants us to use. Didn't your doctor tell you what to buy? IF not, perhaps you should call and ask. They usually have a brand or two (or type or two) they specifically want us to consume...

During my preop and postop phase, my wonderful husband ate pretty much like I did...at least when at home. Honestly, per my doctor (and he just reiterated this to me at my 2nd Fill on Thursday)...the goal is for me to be able to eat essentially any food, but WAY less of it, and no snacks. Period. I'll eat whatever protein first, then veggies, then fruits, then pastas/grains/breads etc. But I don't anticipate a "diet" mentality in my house; no separate me/them foods etc. I've been there, done that. It doesn't work for me. Eating "normally", but less, and being satisfied with less, and not being hungry every 2-3 hours; that's what I'm aiming for. So no, my husband won't suffer at all. Frankly, though, if it would mean that I would lose weight and be more physically fit so we could travel etc like we want, he'd gladly drink nothing but protein shakes at home for years to come...LOL

You'll need to get that info from the surgeon's office because each require different preop tests depending on patient, and also it depends on how busy/booked surgeon is etc. For me it was VERY short...one month total from seminar to surgery (the 1st time). For some, once approved, the wait can be much longer. So your answer is anywhere from 2 weeks (I had a 3 week preop diet) to 2 months or more, depending!

One prescriptions' worth of whatever your doc gave you won't make you an addict. My doctor gave me enough for 10 days. Lucky for me I only needed 2 doses on day 2 but I was glad they were there if I needed them. Pain is what you say it is. If you are in misery, take the drugs. I didn't hurt but believe me, if I had been in pain like you are, I'd have been taking those things round the clock.

And if someone tries to do something like this to you, just tell them "I am not going out there until I am decent" or whatever. Healthcare professionals HAVE seen it all. BUT we are also trained to be sensitive to our patients who are people, not dolls to be dragged naked and positioned as we see fit! LOL So if they do anything that bothers you, tell them.

I went thru 2 surgeries, preop tests (blood, upper GI, chest x-ray, ecg, abdominal ultrasound, and urinalysis ... to see if I was pregnant LOL....) and the ONLY time my clothes were off I was knocked out and in surgery. I did need to change into a gown at the hospital (done alone) and I did take off my bra for the upper GI and the x-ray (again, I was alone, and put my shirt back on w/out bra) Doc does look at my stomach now for fills. That's it. So you're good to go. There is really no reason for a surgeon to see you naked. Look at your stomach and navel, yes. S/he can do that by lifting your shirt up to your bra. But the rest of you? Nah.

I only paid deductible and copays, about 3k total BUT I would've paid in full if insurance hadn't. I figure I'm worth it.

Yes my ticker also has preop and I was on a severe diet for 5 1/2 weeks. Post op with the band (and after liquids were done) I haven't lost anything. I'm keeping my ticker because I HAVE lost the 41.4, and hopefully soon it will move down again, but for now I'm just holding. I also agree with the poster who said not to compare yourself to others. It's not a race or a competition and we each have to follow this path our way! I'd like to lose 100 pounds in 5 months, but not badly enough to get bypass or really starve myself, so I'll just keep on keeping on! :Dancing_sorry: