RestlessMonkey

I am. Just ask Tim Curry. :frown:

Do you have a cupcake? I'll trade you for a box of hamsters.

HEY! Do NOT belittle the love I have for Tim Curry. It is pure and sweet and wonderful. You go TOOOO far, POOOOLy. Sniff. and who told you about the banana?

Carlene, I'm going to send you a private message with the pool girls full real name and phone number so you can contact her directly whenever you need to. She knows a LOT about all this stuff.

It's kind of "1984 meets Children of the Corn" or something. Very unnatural. Poor kids! I'd have hated school, too.

It's possible, since I just recently read about someone having a slip during a canoeing trip in Hawaii. You probably should get checked out if your symptoms don't resolve soon. Do you have a local surgeon you can contact on Monday? Just in case?

Or perhaps, when the patient is ready, the surgeon will appear.

I didn't have any doubts, but that's only because I wanted the band since 2003 and had LOTS of time to change my mind (back and forth and back and forth) before Aug 2008 when I finally got it! :frown: What you're feeling isn't uncommon and is kind of smart, actually. It is a big thing; it's good to think it over and be a little anxious. I can tell you at one year out I LOVE my band, have no issues, and would do it again in an instant.

Welcome and good luck! :frown: Sounds like you're doing marvelously!

Excellent point, thebandedgirl!

The pool girl is very wise, especially for someone who doesn't even HAVE any type of WLS going on. :frown:

Several reasons. One, as most of us lose weight, fat around our stomach "goes" and so the band loosens. Also some fill is just "lost" over time...I've forgotten what it's called but it happens.

Is that picture of you, Carlene? Or just of someone dear to you? (I'm also a nosey Monkey!)

Carlene, you may want to finish your SRS surgery before you get the band. Just a thought. Check with your surgeon, to be sure.

Don't they have an elevator? You'd think they would for handicapped access. Use that until you heal, and call again on Monday if the swelling hasn't gone down.

There are forums for specific US surgeons, and surgeons and hospitals; if you'll scroll through them on the home page you'll find the listing. You may be able to find the info you seek there.

Welcome and good luck!

Dumping is associated with Bypass (and the fact that a portion of the small intestine is surgically removed) If you have that with the band, it's a mental issue, not a physical one. :frown: And yes if you would need plastic surgery with bypass you'll need it with the band. Take me. If I lose 200 pounds, whether I lose 200 in 1 year, or in 3 years, at the end I'll weigh 200 less and need some stretched skin removed. I think people assume you need it more with bypass because they initially lose more quickly. But then, they also recommend you maintain your loss for 1 year to allow the skin to shrink. So whether you lose it fast or slow, much like letting the air out of a balloon fast or slow, the end result will be the same. Loose skin depends on many factors; age, genetics, weight, health, etc. So you won't really know your situation until you get there.

It's the FAT that causes the liver to shrink, LOW FAT. If you want, find a shake that has comparable nutrition but less carbs. Some think the diets are to prepare us etc, but while it does depend on the surgeon (s/he knows his motivation best) mine wasn't for any reason but to shrink the liver so the lap surgery would be possible. I will say (and you may have read this; I'm pretty out there about it) I was given a 3-week diet, read on here about how NO ONE but me had such a long diet. I read poster after poster who only had 5 days, or 2 weeks, or 3 days, or none, and about how it was just to "get our head in the game" etc and so on. Since what I was reading was what I wanted to hear, I did my "own" diet that 3 weeks, lost 15 pounds, and guess what? My LIVER was still too thick. I then did exactly what my surgeon told me for 17 more days, lost 17 MORE pounds (much to my astonishment) and got the band. I drank 2-3 shakes a day, 64 oz (minimum) of Water, and was allowed 3 oz of lean chicken turkey or fish and green veggies. It worked. If you think that's too many carbs (and I kind of agree, but am not a doc nor am I a nutritionist!) I really would just find a shake with similar vitamins/minerals/fat (or less fat) but less carbs. My EAS Carb Control advantedge have less carbs and fat, and have a good 17g of Protein. They might be a do-able option. Overall of course you should probably discuss your concerns with your surgeon. He may have a good reason why he wants you to have the carbs and feel that they are needed for you to have energy, for example, since he's not allowing you any "food". Check with him first and if he approves, find a different shake. Don't be a "maroon" like me and do what YOU think best; you may not be right! :w00t: And if you think "well maybe RM's surgeon just wasn't skilled, that's why she didn't get the band the first time"...not so. MY doc has a nick name among other surgeons (he didn't tell me this but I found it out) they call him "boy wonder" because he looks young (he's closer to 40 than 30) and is so darned skilled. If he couldn't band me laparoscopically, no one could've. He told me he could've "opened me up" and placed it the "old" way but thank GOD he didn't. WAY longer recovery etc. So listen to YOUR doc. AND share your concerns about the carbs.

hey Gary! Surgery is amazingly easy. They'll give you something to relax you before they roll you in. If you've never had surgery, being "out" isn't like sleeping; you won't really have a sense that time has passed. You'll be "there" and then "gone" and then "back". I find it helpful when in recovery to find a clock (they all have big clocks on the walls) and re-orient myself to what time it is. You'll probably have a mask on, with oxygen. Don't flip! It helps clear the anesthesia from your lungs. Once you're alert enough to concentrate, take several deep breaths (in and out) and it helps clear your lungs and your mind. Deep and slow. Once you are oxygenating well, ask them to remove the mask if it bugs you (it does me) They'll remove it and see how you do on room air. Again deep slow breaths really make a difference here. The soreness, to me, was reminiscent of too many sit ups. I felt a little "odd" but nothing excruciating. Again, breathing deeply helps expand everything, helps you feel normal. If it hurts a little at first keep at it; things will loosen up. A big secret I can share: The sooner you act normally, the sooner you'll feel normal. Walk as soon as you feel able (with the nurse's help, and of course once you're out of recovery LOL). Don't be a fool about it, don't try if you're still dizzy, but walk ASAP. When they give you something to drink pick Water first; less likely to nauseate you. Let the nurses know, in fact, if you feel nauseated or "funny". Surgery is scary. The nurses all know this, the docs know it, so don't feel badly because you are petrified. No mentally healthy person ever says "Surgery? Oh yeah baby bring it ON!" LOL The medical staff will help you through it, and the tips I've given you give you a degree of control to optimize it for you. You will probably be dreadfully thirsty, too. They give you a "anticholinergic" to dry up your mucous membranes so anticipate that; it's normal. A mild sore throat is normal too. Take some chapstick and that helps with the dry lips. I agitated for ice chips and got some before I was cleared to drink water; that helps a lot too. Post op take your pain meds if you need them; liquid tylenol may be enough for you after your first 24-36 hours or so. Or not. Just be aware that if you take your prescription it MAY constipate you so be alert for that; ask your doc what s/he wants you to do if that happens. And follow your doc's post op diet and instructions TO THE LETTER! You'll be through it in no time! :w00t: Hope some of this helps!

I've always heard them called "Fourest", "Threedom", "Twoterville" and that most special of all "Onederland".

Call your doc. You have "horrible pain" so whether it is a slip or something else you need medical attention.

If it bothers you enough to scare you, but comes and goes (not tied to eating) call your surgeon tomorrow and ask about it. Better to be safe.

You know yourself best. Hopefully ins. will do as they say...go by your starting weight rather than current. If so, you'll have a GREAT start! :thumbup: