RestlessMonkey

LOL "everything you wanted to know about eating post band (but didn't know how to ask)" Thanks! I just went and bought some food.....healthy, sensible, tasty, food! :frown:

I even dragged out my (unused) bottle of "hydrocodone elixir" and it doesn't say "can cause constipation" I'm flummoxed! It SHOULD! Thanks for sharing this; it's a good reminder. Nurses should put this on your discharge orders but if they don't know the doc prescribed it or get busy or forget and then you don't catch that it's been a while (which is understandable, post op we're dealing with a bunch of changes!) then you can be very unhappy very quickly! Hang in there! :smile:

Poor Renee! Your nurses should've warned you! ALL opiates can be constipating. If you only take a couple doses you'll probably be ok but if you take more than that, you run the risk. And of course NEVER go over 2-3 days without a bowel movement; even if you are post op and on liquids. If you are constipated, contact your surgeon to find out what he wants you to take and like Renee said, do it sooner rather than later. It's a real threat when you are on an opiate pain killer, like vicodin, lortab, or hydrocodone.

Thanks to you both for your most valuable input! :smile: I am beginning to realize that I was slipping into a "diet" mentality and that is not good. THis is for my life, and that's what I want. I guess that's why I had to pause; I have dieted successfully, counted carbs, counted calories, counted Beans (etc) and so on and gotten so bored and felt so caged and trapped by the regimen that I thought I would go insane. I don't adapt to it, I get increasingly impatient. I KNOW what's healthy....and as of yet (1st fill was minute) I have no restriction. That's ok with me; I think I'll use this time to set some new good habits into place. No snacking per my surgeon, chew well, small bites, no liquids with meals, Protein first, then veggies, then fruits, then grains/breads/pasta. I'm going to start to eat now like I plan to eat the rest of my days and if, as I get restricted and proceed down this road some foods lose their appeal, well that's all good! What you've both posted reinforces to me that I have to find what works for me and it's very similar I think to what you both do.. I can also start now to up the exercise. I guess it's odd to think of this time before restriction as the honeymoon phase LOL but I feel it's a good time to lay down some patterns now. If I slip up I won't PB or slime (yet)... but I can learn to be a bandster. Thanks!

I'm pretty new, 7 weeks post op, and wrangling with trying to figure out "how" to eat post band. I know my surgeon says no Snacks, and I'm on board with that. No problem. I'll have to get used to it, but I can. I've quit all carbonation, no longer use straws at all, don't chew gum any more. I don't mind at all not drinking before, during, after meals per my surgeon's request. However, I'm puzzled. I read on here A LOT and want to be successful for life. How do you eat to lose, and keep weight off, for good? Do you do a low carb low fat high Protein diet? Did you eat differently to lose than you do to maintain? Or do you eat like you did, but just way less? Honestly, the last option is the one that drew me to the band. Now I wonder if I was perhaps naive thinking I really could just "eat less", like a thin person, and do that forever? I really don't want to spend the rest of my life eating lean chicken and baked fish. I don't want burgers and pizza every day, either, but I do love variety. What have you done that has worked for you? I'm flailing around trying to find the right thing for me. I'm not restricted yet and that's ok too. It's a process, I'm not impatient, I don't want to have lost 100 pounds by Christmas. Well, ok, it would be groovy but I don't expect it! LOL Tell me how you do it, would you? Thanks so much!

I believe I'm the person you've read about; if not, that did happen to me. I want to tell you that 1. I started out at 405 pounds, not your average bandster and 2. my doctor put me on a 3 week high Protein low carb low fat diet. I modified that and ate more fats and carbs I LOST weight..15 pounds...but not where it counted, in my liver. When I did what my doctor told me to, in 2 1/2 weeks I lost 17 MORE pounds and he placed my band during the second surgery. So bottom line...do what your DOCTOR tells you! I didn't. Learn from my mistake, please, that's why I share it, but don't take that as a reason to panic or think you must do the same. The point is to follow your doc's orders to the letter, not try to worry about every little thing that can go wrong. If I had done what my doctor told me the 1st time, (and it shames me to admit this but I am being honest to help, I hope!) then I wouldn't be posting this today! So if your doc does NOT require a preop diet, don't sweat it! ENJOY and do what s/he says. You're trusting them with your life on the table; trust them to guide your eating for a few weeks! :smile:

Thanks again to all who have posted. I believe I was falling back into a "diet" type mentality and fortunately caught myself. I know the band is for life; it's what I want. BUt after years of, uh, Brainwashing? LOL it's easy to revert to old habits that don't help. Even when the old habit is "dieting" and not "eating everything!" I'm going to set a task for myself ... eat normally, but less, and no snacks. I don't have any restriction yet but it will come, and now will be a good time for me to establish new habits, like small bites, chewing like a banshee, no liquids with meals, protein first, and so on. I am glad I caught myself before I got back into the diet/boredom rut. :smile: Your honesty has helped me immensely!

I LOVE Dr. Cavazos. I think he's the bee's knees. You'll do well in his capable hands. Just follow his instructions (whatever they are!) for preop and post op! You may tell your coworkers that you are having abdominal surgery or hernia repair (if you wish) or you may just say...nothing. Each person is different about what they want to share. Some say "abdominal surgery" and keep it vague; they feel that can help explain any modified eating patterns. too. Don't know about the revisions; are you anticipating that the band won't work for you? You know it's placed to be permanent; people who have them removed, statistically, most often gain everything back. Or did you mean revision to a different type of bariatric surgery? Either way, the band works if you work it, for most of us. Good luck. Dr. C is wonderful and the staff at Northeast Baptist is excellent, top to bottom!

Your safest course is to call your doctor's office and see what they tell you to do. They've literally "seen it all" and would be the best to know if you needed extra treatment etc! Good luck!

My surgeon told us if we were sick to call our doctor; he's a surgeon, not an internist or family practitioner.... and please realize if your cough is caused by a virus an antibiotic won't do a thing for it.

Well there are many types of bypass, Roux-en-Y is the one most people think of as bypass, but it's all surgery. Anyway it was just a thought; I'm sure you and your doctor will come up with a plan for you!

I can't feel mine! It's not very long... I'm glad it's there anyway!

I've never heard of that, but I assume the sleeve gastrectomy didn't work for you....have you thought of the duodenal switch? Just an idea...

You've probably already thought of this, then, but I'd get a list of bariatric surgical centers in either city (or one or the other if you have a preference) and go down the list, calling to ask if they accept medicaid. I assume the one you drove to rejected you because they didn't take that coverage? IF not, call and tell them about your husband's condition and see if the surgeon will consider it. OR have the doc who TOLD him to get bariatric surgery to make some calls and help you find a center who will take him. Many many people struggle with insurance issues, but unless you can afford to just pay for it, and most of us can't, you have to just work through all the red tape! Good luck!

Where in Texas are you?

Jacqui thanks for answering. I, as always, appreciate your honesty and experience! So far, it's looking good for just watching it and cutting back on things.

Each surgeon is different and each patient is different. If your doc doesn't require you to do more than 3 days preop diet, consider yourself LUCKY! and enjoy!

I was, but we are all different. Can you plan on that but have a PLAN B just in case?

Mrs. Bubba you're a successful Bandster "present!" I appreciate your input. Right now because I have no restriction I can eat almost like I used to, but can certainly use willpower for a while. I've always been able to LOSE but then I get bored and "revert to the wild" What you do sounds like a plan for me. I appreciate your answer; and would like to hear from more people who do the same...or different? I just want to be successful! :rolleyes2: Oh and I got my first fill last thurs...1.5 cc in a 14 cc band. I honestly can't tell any difference but my doc wants me cut out all Snacks before he starts tightening things up, so I'm doing that per his request. :thumbdown:

WHy not go to your local walgreens or favorite pharmacy and ask the pharmacist? S/he can help you find something that will treat just your symptoms! If you dont' feel like going, you can call them, and they'll help you and then you can send a family member to pick it up for you. Either way, your pharmacist (not the techs, but the pharmacist) is a great source of help for stuff like this!

I get that occasionally; it's my port site. If I sit up very straight it goes away so apparently something in there is occasionally crowding my port. I don't know if that can be what's wrong w/you because I don't know where your port is etc but in any case, you are safest to ask your doc what it might be.

WHO said you have to have clearance; your surgeon, or your insurance? If it is your insurance it's likely your surgeon had no idea and it isn't something she could've told you about. I would call insurance and find out WHY on earth you have to have an ob/gyn sign off for lap band surgery...I know they are all different but that is a new one on me. I haven't had a mammogram in 4-5 years. Maybe they just want to know why you had your hysterectomy? Beats me, anyway, but I'd call whomever sent the letter and ask then "WHAT is this mess?" Good luck

I agree with counseling. You're one of those the psych eval was supposed to catch and help, I think! Anyway don't let it go on....call your doc tomorrow and get a recommendation to a therapist who can help with eating disorders. I can tell you I didn't get to 405 by not every having issues with food, so you aren't alone, or a failure. Get help!

Carnie Wilson and Al Roker both gained weight back post RNY bypass, not the lap band. You have your surgeries confused. However, you have to work at keeping the weight off, regardless of which surgery. I suggest you talk w/your surgeon or maybe do some more research, however, before you decide. Only you will know if surgery is required for you, or not.

It's not a race or a competition; if you do it right, it's for life. So ... you've lost 55 pounds since March? That's GREAT! There have been years when I gained that much in 7 months. How good that you have left it behind! Won't be long and those XL's will fit, and then the L's! :wink2: