RestlessMonkey

If her surgeon has an informational seminar, you should attend one. That will give you some solid info. Many people CAN eat bread, many others can't. Carbonation can cause pain and stretch her new smaller stomach. No beer, no champagne, no sodas. The band is not placed above the stomach. It is placed near the top of the stomach and, when tightened, forms a small pouch that holds only a little bit of food. The "hole" or "Stoma" between the upper little pouch and lower intact "rest" of her stomach slows the food down as it passes from the top on into the rest of the stomach to be digested. Apparently food at the top or upper neck of the stomach triggers hormones and other body signals telling the person "OK we're full you stop now". She should be able to eat more than 2 bites; more like 1/2 to 1 cup at a time. There may not be any foods, except carbonated beverages (and chewing gum...can block the stoma) that she can't eat. Everyone is different. We have to chew well (everyone is supposed to; we have to) and eat carefully. But we can eat. Now, using myself as an example, instead of a double meat double cheese hamburger, once I've lost I'll maybe eat the kiddie burger. I may pass on some of the bun. I'll have some fries instead of a super size. I'll be happy with less food. While I'm losing I'll try to choose more healthy options to lose weight and stay in shape. But if I want a few bites of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, or a cookie at christmas, I can indulge. She'll lose weight. She'll feel good. She may not let you get away with calling her "old lady" any more...the surgery will change her life. Better get ready!

I just got my first fill; 1 1/2 cc in a 14 cc band. As you can guess, I STILL have no restriction. BUT my doc was quite explicit in the instructional seminar; he said it would take at least 4, maybe more, fills (and some unfills?) to get the restriction right. He doesn't want his patients so tight that we PB and slime and so on. Once I am rolling along he'll do more if I want, but he explained his rationale to me, and I agree with him. I trusted him with my life on the operating table, so I can trust him with this too. Today, he said to cut out all Snacks, just eat 3 meals a day, chew like the dickens, don't drink before, during, or right after I eat, and get the "new habits" in place. He said I'll lose fine doing that and that as restriction starts to happen it will help me stick with my "new" lifestyle. SO you're doing fine, IMHO. Hang in there. If your surgeon told you 1 fill and you'd be "There", he lied.

Lovenox is supposed to hurt less than heparin, and bruise less. The dose is actually prepackaged with a small air bubble that does the trick; (and it is too minute to do any damage) but most nurses are taught to get rid of ALL air bubbles and so can actually bypass the "innovention" of of lovenox. Even if the shot hurts, though, (lovenox or heparin) it beats getting a clot. Those things can kill you. The pain from the shot goes away!

Maggies You are so funny! I was just thinking I should post. I have had a wild school semester, computer problems, you know: life as usual! LOL I am glad they are reviewing you. I bet you get approved this time! I'm so glad! And JWRN wow you have really shown dedication to get the band. I hope you drop weight like it's hot! I got my first fill today...a whopping 1 1/2 cc's in a 14 cc band! Good grief! My surgeon, though, explained why he's going slow and what he wants me to do; he feels he is setting me up for long term success and you know, he's the pro. I have to trust him. Maggies, this may be your last weekend in limbo! I HOPE so!

That makes sense! If it's any consolation for you, I'm 53 and had 2 surgeries in August; my first lap band attempt on 8/11 (liver was still too fatty) and again on 8/29 (successful). They honestly didn't bother me as much as the upper respiratory infection I got on 9/16! Everyone's different but as "bad times" go, the surgery isn't even on the list!

Hi and welcome! Can't he take your gallbladder out while he's in there to do the band? Easier on you and probably a little cheaper, too!

I lost 32 pounds in 5 1/2 weeks preop, 9.4 additional pounds 1st 2 weeks post op, then "gained" back 10 (5 is water, 4 is fat, 1 is "other" LOL whatever that is...muscle? IQ? who knows) once I was on mushies and then food. I have no restriction and was running wild! But I got a TINY fill and the doc said to stop snacking and come back once I had that mastered (sigh) so the wild days are past me now. :biggrin: I go back in 5 weeks for a reassessment and another little fill.

I'd actually forgotten about the lovenox shot. It didn't hurt me much at all.

I'm 53 and could've gone back to an office job full time with 1 week off. However, may I make a suggestion? Why don't you take sick leave if you have it coming, and save your vacation? Many "bandsters" just say they had hernia repair surgery when they don't want their place of business to know they were banded. You should actually be able to just say you are having "abdominal" surgery if you want to. Then the "odd" diet (liquids, mushies etc) make sense. Just an idea. I used to work in HR and I hate to see you use up your vacation for something that is actually medical! That way, too, if you need more than 1 week, you'll be in line to extend a little. Good luck!

BMI uses height as part of the formula to get your BMI so that won't "matter more". However other than that I don't know what Kaiser's requirements are, but I can tell you that your best bet is to call them and find out what their prerequisites are. Each insurance is different and different employes may modify them (by omitting bariatric surgery, for example) to save costs. So people with Kaiser won't necessarily have the same coverage. Good luck!

It's not likely it's your liver; they aren't really enervated (no nerves there to transmit pain messages) so there's no way for you to feel pain from it even if it WERE rubbing on your band which is unlikely. Odds are it's gas. However if it stops you from exercising (aerobic exercise should help get rid of gas) tell your doctor again; make sure he knows it bothers you that much.

You've lost 58 pounds in 10 weeks. That's 5.8 pounds a week. You'd have to ask him to find out exactly why he didn't give you a fill but I'd figure it's because you are losing very well exactly as you are. We're "supposed" to lose 1-2 pounds a week, and you're losing 3 times that. You aren't a bypass patient and I'm guessing he feels you're doing fine as you are right now. When your loss slows, I'm sure he'll give you a fill.

Oh my good grief I hate when I think like a patient and not like the (future) nurse I hope to be. Of COURSE if you have been sedentary and not cleared your lungs you are in danger of pneumonia... Do you have the incentive spirometer they gave you in the hospital? If so try using it 10 times every hour. Make sure you are walking and breathing deeply. And make sure you're drinking enough water. Take your temp, too. And call your doc tomorrow if you don't start to feel amazingly better in a few hours. Thanks to odizzydori too for remembering that!

Honestly it sounds like you have a cold. Those symptoms aren't a side effect of surgery, at least not that I'm aware of. Tomorrow call your PCP and go in; if you have a bacterial infection you may need an antibiotic. You MAY have the flu. Go get checked out.

I left out water...64 oz minimum a day. Sounds like you are good there!

WOW that is bad. I didn't go to "weighwise", I went directly to Dr. Cavazos and his facility at NE Baptist. I had no idea there was another clinic flowing people to his surgery....he needs to know so they can all get on the same page. Having said that. I hope you'll be ok. I lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks doing my version of his diet but my liver was too fatty and I had to reschedule my surgery. I lost 17 MORE pounds in 2 1/2 weeks on his diet. It called for 2-3 EAS carb control AdvantEDGE shakes (only those or something with same formula) and 3 oz fish chicken or turkey and green veggies. No extra butter, ketchup, etc. What have you been eating?

My surgeon won't perform the band on anyone who has any type of autoimmune disorder because of potential for band rejection. You might want to confirm with your surgeon before you proceed that he/she doesn't feel that's an issue. Having said that, I only have MORE MORE MORE energy when I lose. There was a brief time post op during which I only could have clear liquids (no protein) and frankly I felt bad. That only lasted 1 week and once I added protein in I felt better. However I have ALWAYS done better, energy wise, when eating foods that are high in protein and low in processed carbohydrates. I think your "energy" will depend partly on attitude and partly on what you choose to eat once you have the band. If you have protein, then healthy veggies, then fruit, and finally grains, you should be fine. However again with your CFS and other autoimmune issues, you may react to the band in a totally different way. That would worry me a bit, were I you.

Congratulations! Surgery date totally depends on your surgeon and his/her schedule, but at any rate, you're on your way! Good luck!

No...not for a few weeks. My doc said nothing over 15 pounds for 2-3 weeks. Check with your surgeon, but I am sure not for the first 2 weeks. You could tear your sutures loose etc.

LOL and unlike littlemissband I was starving...but you have to just get through somehow! Hopefully you'll be like some bandsters and not be hungry. Some of us don't have that issue and just have to tough it out.

You need to ask your surgeon. littlemissband was allowed lots of things we weren't. Our clear liquid diet was water, broth, SF jello, and decaf tea or coffee. Period. At week 2 we got to add in protein drinks and skimmed milk. So check with your doc and nutritionist; each program is different.

Sure I haven't had a fill and I'm able to eat normally. I get my first fill tomorrow and I expect it should start to help me a good bit. Everything I lost was lost preop and then the 1st 2 weeks post op where I was on liquids. I've gained some back (some water and I'm sure some fat) once I could eat mushies. But I'm not worried. It'll come back off again once I get the restriction and prolonged satiety that is the hallmark of the band.

Respectfully, I don't know who "the lady" is you're referring to, but if she is your doc or someone important on the staff, may I suggest changing clinics? Your surgeon shouldn't push you. Mine offered a balanced review of various surgeries, pros, cons, success rates, etc. If you are being pressured to do one over another, I'd think you need a different surgeon.

There is a doc in aurora CO who does the surgery for under 10K...Kirshenbaum? Something like that. You might want to nose around the forums covering docs and hospitals. Many go to mexico many more wouldn't ever go there..it's a personal decision of course! :tt1: You are good to line up after care first, however; that is problematic for some people who go out of country (or honestly even out of state) to get their fills etc. Good luck!

Follow this link...it should help! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/