RestlessMonkey

BethFromVA...maybe this will help you feel good about going to the "far" doctor...I LIVE very near the medical center here in San Antonio. I'm a nursing student, my husband teaches LPNs/LVNs, and we are near the "pulse" of things. San Antonio has DISMAL traffice, by the way; all our interstates are torn up and under construction. The Doc I chose to go to is on the far side of town away from me....he's about 20 miles away and instead of taking 10-15 minutes to his office, it takes me 45! BUT he's worth it! Of course there are good bariatric surgeons closer to me. Reputable doctors who do well by their patients. However, I preferred MY doc! He had the right combo of experience, bedside manner, and sympathetic staff to fill all my requirements. The seminar he conducted sealed the deal for us since he was approachable, and spoke in terms that even non-medical types could quickly grasp. My husband liked him too. SO...you do what feels right for you! ANd there's nothing wrong with moving on getting the band once you feel it is right for you! :thumbup: I also agree; if the surgeon you like TEACHES...odds are he's done the procedure a lot, is up on the most current research, and has a great success rate. Sounds to me like you have done your due diligence and picked a good one! Way to go!

LISAMARIE1158 THANK YOU! You are so sweet to take the time to tell me that! I appreciate it so much! :thumbup: AND I have to tell you I really did "laugh out loud" when I read your comment about the student loans!

I'm glad my hard drinking days are behind me. They were fun, but WHEW! Glad they are over. I agree with the other posters; what I'd do (what worked for me when I was a younger, wilder woman) was I'd have a drink and then 2 "rounds" of water. So I always had a "drink" (no empty glasses for this chickie) but it paced me. All the water also helps prevent a hangover. Good luck! :biggrin:

Jeemee you do what you think is right but it's kind of like dating. If on the first date you start to get a queasy creepy feeling, you don't have to keep going out with the guy to know it's wrong! LOL Usually these first appts are happy and optimistic and so on; if you are already "wondering", trust yourself, ok? :biggrin: I guess that's the bottom line; listen to yourself and trust yourself.

If you already aren't happy with your surgeon and his "tone" can you go elsewhere? It's often hard to find someone "else" to do your fills. Many surgeons are reluctant (or whatever?) to take on someone else's patient. If your red flags are already flying...pay attention! :biggrin: and i agree with you; you shouldn't have to beg for a fill. That fill is the essence of the band. Oh, and welcome! :thumbup:

I agree w/Rachel G7 but DO check w/your surgeon just in case, ok? NOT to punish yourself or anything; just to make sure it's ok in there. Odds are you're far enough along that you'll be fine but you need an official OK, ok?

You still need to tell your surgeon and the anesthesiologist...you may risk your life if you don't. Best case scenario they can adjust for your compromised situation.

Sorry no personal experience, but if I were you I'd go to my primary care doctor and have him check blood etc. He should also be able to get the x-rays etc from the ER you used. Have him check you out; if it's the band, he can help you get assitance from your surgeon. If it's not, he should be able to help you narrow it down. Please do this ASAP...and keep an eye on your fever. 100 is low grade, but it's not something you want to have go on and on.

Hi and welcome.... go to the seminar, take notes, ask whatever occurs to you. That is a great first step!

Do you get steroids for sinus infections? I never have; they can make you prone to other infections and harder to heal so I'd say no. And I don't think you can have nor would want surgery with a sinus infection...call your surgeon tomorrow and see what s/he says. Good luck...if you have to postpone a little it will be for the best. Recovery is easy but does take it out of you; you want to be at 100% before you have the surgery done!

Actually gas x didn't help mine...rubbing it helped, or tylenol. It depends on WHY it hurts and it can be gas but also referred pain as I stated. So try several different things until you find something that works.

Of course you can eat anything; you don't have any restriction yet. That postop diet is to allow your band to heal into place (it is sewn in and eating like you did causes your stomach to churn like a washing machine...and you can see that the churning might tear your sutures loose). Just call your surgeon and see what he says; he'll be able to tell you if you need an x-ray, or to just watch it, or go ahead and eat, or whatever.

It's referred pain from your diaphragm. It will get better and disappear. Mine didn't last much beyond 2 weeks and only acted up when I exerted myself and increased my breathing. (thus my diaphragm would move more and so on) It's common, it's ok, it will go away!

Hi and welcome! Just make sure you don't "cheat" on whatever post op diet your surgeon gives you; if you eat food before it's allowed it can cause your band sutures to pull lose, cause erosion and or slippage, etc! I cheated on my preop diet and didn't get my band the 1st time because although I lost 15 pounds my liver was still too fatty, but I think my situation is pretty rare, so you will no doubt be ok! Just toe the line post op so your band can heal properly! AND....>Welcome! :biggrin:

Why don't you try NOT having liquid with your meals, following your doc's orders for a limited time, say 1 week, and see if you lose better?

I figure, considering what it's made of, it will most likely outlast me. I KNOW it should last longer than 10 years. I don't think you need to worry, but your surgeon should be able to address your concerns.

I'm tricare (DH is retired army) and did not have to use military anything to get mine, thank goodness. It would've taken a lot longer! Anyway, welcome and good luck to you!

I've learned with this process, whenever I hear "NEVER" I always ask WHY? Their reason may or may not be valid. And never is a LOOOONG time! :biggrin:

Sorry but that's bull! Doing what "makes me happy" got me to 405 pounds. Some things are dangerous whether they make a person happy or not.

Welcome! Not where you are exactly...but wanted to tell you hello. WW is a good diet; when will your 6 months be up? I like WW a lot but wore out on counting and weighing and writing everything. However it is very healthy and works for lots of people! I'm glad, though that my ins didn't require me to do a 6-month diet; I've done SO MANY! LOL

Andrea, be sure and let me know how it goes, ok? People like you are my role models (not to make you nervous or anything LOL just being honest) so I'll be interested to see how you handle it. I think you are really working the band and it is working for you! :teeth_smile:

DONT EAT! LOL Your stomach, to aid in digestion, churns like a little washing machine. We don't feel it but it does it, just another miracle in our bodies. Until the band is well seated and healed, eating solids (even mush) will trigger that churning and can rip your band loose, causing slippage and/or erosion. So hang in there and follow the schedule set by your doctor! You'll be glad you did! And I too have absolutely no restriction. That isn't uncommon. Until they start tightening the band, things are wide open. Think of the difference in wearing a loose dress, or a tight belt that cinches you in. You're in the loose dress phase. The fills will start closing the "stoma" and will form the pouch that will hold your food. Until then, you are almost as wide open as you once were. That 2ccs doesn't mean much, depending on the size of your band! So hang in there, no ham salad yet, (smart of you to ask first! LOL) and you'll get restriction after several fills! (My doc said it may take 4 or more for me to feel full for 4-5 hours on 1/2 cup of food, just fyi)

Yeah, I'm a "teller", too. It amazes me how nice and truly interested many people are....and too if I tell it will help keep me straight! :teeth_smile: Sounds like you are beyond ready!

That's great! Good luck! I too have found many enthusiastic people, and my husband was on board from the start. Bless him, he's even followed the preop and post op diets with me (above and beyond, I think!) Be sure and let us know when you are approved!

I'm 53 and banded 8/29. Although I don't have kids, at 405 and 5'5" I was almost home bound. I have a LOT of living I still want to do and being a beached whale just didn't factor in to the equation for me. I have done every diet known to man, and even went through 11 months of behavioral therapy (on my own, not an insurance requirement). That therapy was very useful in that I learned WHY I overeat and with the band, feel I'll be successful in finally controlling it. (we aren't all emotional overeaters; I wasn't) The biggest change for me, so far, is true HOPE. Sure I've lost 40+ pounds before but then would get bored or tired of the regimen or get sick or whatever (life would happen) and I'd gain it all back plus another 20-30. Got me to where I was on 7/3! Now I know, with the band, I can be satisfied with less food. Satisfied. not hungry. Wow. I can deal with any "head hunger"...but now I don't have to "journal" every bite. I don't have to count every calorie until the day I die. I have to make good choices, chew well, avoid carbonation and don't drink liquid with meals, and BAM I'm good. Wow. (did I say Wow?) LOL I have hope again. And this time, I'm losing more than 45 pounds, and I'm keeping it off. This time next year I'll be smaller than I am this year. Miraculous! For me, the band will save my life, in many ways.