RestlessMonkey

I didn't strain...but everything I had would through a straw. I did food process things though, not just "blend" them

Blend! You need to be able to get whatever through a straw! One I found wonderful was blended (I have a little food processor) split pea with ham. WOW that tasted like food!

Another San Antonian here (my dad was born in Burk Burnette) and another Dr. Cavazos bandee. (love my Dr. C) Good luck! :thumbup: And Emilie if you don't ever tell me when on the 9th you're going to be there, I AM running thru the halls yelling your name LOL OK OK I know you don't know when yet! :frown:

Get up and walk as soon as they will let you! and Follow your doc's orders re post op diets etc....they are for healing, not torture! I hope you love your band!

You said it. Until you get fills you won't have restriction. Now is a time to not worry about portions but focus on healing. The band is NOT rapid weight loss like by pass; the average is 1-2 pounds a week ONCE you have restriction. Give it time and give yourself a chance to heal. And don't just drink tea; you need some plain old water! (I know, I love sugar free tea too) I have found I need a good quantity of Water each day . My surgeon requires 64 ounces and I try to get that much each day...then I allow myself tea. Try that. BUT remember...you are healing right now. Let your body adjust.

So glad you're having a good "recovery"! I did too...no nausea, I felt a little stiff on the 2nd day but took two doses of the Darvocet the doc prescribed and felt fine; in fact night #2 I slept on my stomach! LOL I had my huband pull out the pain ball thingie that very first night, though; it bothered me, hanging there, way more than it helped me. I was never nauseated, never restricted, etc. So, you go girl! :bolt: In fact, I felt so good I had to keep reminding myself to have liquids etc. It was a big challenge! Enjoy your time off; be good to yourself. THe poster who said you did have surgery is right; even we who are lucky and have few issues need to be kind to ourselves! :tt1: Welcome to Bandland! :thumbup:

Personally I find the idea repugnant. Good grief, how pathetic! Sorry; I really try to not be judgmental; I mean I am VERY large and it happened because I overate. I try to understand everyone has issues and so on; but if that "chewing and spitting" thing worked, why even BOTHER with the band? WHY do bulimics SWALLOW? Not to make fun of anyone with an eating disorder which, at best, I think such a thing is....but, ewwwww.

I don't think "many" people reach goal without a fill, though; not sure where you got that statistic but from the literature I've read, studies don't show that to be true. A VERY small percentage of people feel restriction with just the band and don't need a fill FOR A WHILE...but as you lose and the visceral fat around your stomach disappears, your band will loosen too. However, let me reiterate that regardless, some people ARE successful without getting the band and maybe for you just the psychological fact that you went through the surgery will be enough to keep you motivated. Your doc knows what he's talking about...if he says you don't have a pouch, you don't. He was in there....he placed the band. You may not NEED the pouch, though, to lose with the band. So do what you think is right. One caveat however; if you are afraid of getting a fill because of PB'ing or something, maybe a psych visit or two would be in order (and I don't mean to presume you feel that way. You didn't say you did and I'm just thinking out loud, not trying to be judgmental or anything) because for most of us, that golden period of weight loss doesn't last without the restriction and satiety of the band. You'll do what's right for you!

I get my first fill 10/9 and I WANT it. It's why I got the band...I have absolutely no restriction whatsoever. However, you're the consumer. If you don't want it, don't get it.

Can you ask HR which policies cover WL surgery? Or ask for the booklets and read through them? Each employer is different...so you'd need to find out for your specific area etc, I'd think.

Reflux can also be caused from eating too much...

This might help...it's a tutorial a user made up a while back...very helpful http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

I WISH! I was hungry in the recovery room (and no, not "emotional" hunger...true HUNGER!) Lots have an abatement of hunger for the first few days but it will come back until you get sufficient fills. I should say a VERY small percentage of people don't need any fills and find sufficient satiety without any tightening of the band, but that is not common.

What's the max you lift at a time? My doc has us limited to 15 pounds for the first 2 weeks. A job like you describe, because of the lifting? I'd guess at least 3, maybe 4. Your surgeon can say what s/he recommends and also give you documentation, should you need it, for your employer. You'll probably feel much better before then, but after surgery, even laparoscopic, you need to heal and your band needs to settle.

My ins didn't require me to have a diet etc....some require 3 months' exercise, some the 6 month diet, some just want medical records etc etc...so best bet is to start there and work forward! :thumbup:

Tiff, I think the first step would be to contact your insurance, see if they COVER the lap band (assuming you aren't planning to pay for yourself!) and what their requirements are. Get them in writing! THEN pick a surgeon or two from your insurance list and hit some seminars. They are very informative and you get an idea of the surgeon and his/her staff...by then you'll have a good idea if you want to pursue it or not!

SueMagoo...if your doc's office is open on friday afternoons, call and ask. Seems to me like there shouldn't be blood in there, or maybe just a very very little. Even if the needled passed through a small capillary or vein, it would only have a little blood on it. Best to ask and then post the answer so you can educate all of us! :thumbup:

Gastric bypass is touted as the "cure" for diabetes but depending on how long you've been diabetic and what food choices you make post op (because you can still load up on carbs and sweets...no dumping syndrome with the band) your DM II can resolve or at the least be very well controlled post banding. The band is a tool, however, and you must be committed to using it. That means choose the right foods to eat, and exercise. I'd suggest going to a seminar and asking the surgeon what his/her results are with DM II. Most are not into a "hard sell"...but if you're worried, take a trusted friend or family member along to help you. Ask questions...see how you feel.

You both probably already thought of this but unless you plan to go back to TJ for fills and if you have pains, port flips, etc....make SURE you have aftercare lined up in the states. That's a real problem for people who have work done in another city or out of the country....

clg62084...Your best bet is to pick a surgeon and attend a seminar. A good one is truly informative and will answer many of your questions and probably raise a few more. As to "does your boss have to know" I guess it would depend on what you do and so on but knee jerk I'd say no...that would be up to you. I agree it would be foolhardy to assume you could have surgery on Friday and be back at work on Monday. It would depend on how quickly you recover, how much pain you're in, how much anesthesia lingers and effects your decision making, how much responsibility you have, and so on...things beyond the scope of this board. Although this is just an "Average" a good rule of thumb is one week. That's something else the surgeon can answer at a seminar; each surgeon is different and how his/her patient base recovers depends in part on anesthesiology, how deft s/he is at placing band, what drugs are prescribed post op, and so on. Call your insurance and find out if the procedure is covered and if so, find a surgeon in your network and go to a seminar. That's the best place to start!

I understand how you feel. I lost a chunk of weight (45 pounds) when I was a teen, over the summer, and people who just "knew who I was" didn't any more. One guy (a cutie, too!) asked me if I had a "chubby twin" LOL It's nice, and not nice, all at once.

Only you can answer if it's right for you. Personally, I am moderately successful on just about ANY diet I've tried, but find myself unable to go the distance. I tire of weighing and counting and writing about and FRETTING over every morsel that passes my lips. Some like the regimen, or learn to embrace it. I never did. And foremost? I get HUNGRY. Not head hunger, not emotional hunger, not from boredom, but plain old HUNGRY. With the band, those major stumbling blocks to my success are removed. I think the band is just a tool. Some need it, some don't. Some use it, some never do, even if they have it. So while I honestly have no idea if the band might be a good choice for you, I can tell you with a certainty that comes from years of soul searching, dieting, and even includes months of behavioral therapy I paid for on my own before I ever started the process to get the band, that it holds the best hope for me to get my super morbid obesity under control.

Molinomama, I think they consider bypass a "cure" for most Diabetes type II...the lap band can control or prevent it depending on how you choose to eat. You might want to discuss this with your surgeon and your PCM or endocrinologist to see which surgery might be best for you if controlling your diabetes is a main concern. In other words I think both surgeries CAN do it but it's more work with the band, and "almost" a guarantee with bypass. Check with your surgeon and doc.

What did your surgeon say to do once he got the info about the swelling?

Wow sounds awful. I too woke up very fast, was alert very quickly, surprised recovery room nurses, but never had any nausea or vomiting. I guess the drugs they give for that worked on me and didn't on you. How awful!