RestlessMonkey

Ok...have you tried to diet before? Have you done as well on those diets as you did on this? You do realize that 82 pounds in 6 months is a GREAT loss and you may be one of those few rare people who really can lose with just diet and exercise! Do you have a history of dieting/losing/regaining more? Or is this the first time you really gave it your all?

Agreed. I don't have kids, and am not a teacher but I was lucky to get to go to several different local schools (private and public) during my nursing school as parts of "community" and "pediatric" experiences and they are kids down here, not little robots. I didn't ever see any food fights but lots of laughing talking happy youngsters acting like kids. (ok maybe they WERE little robots LOL) What you describe sounds just short of abusive if you ask me. I wouldn't like to have to do that and I'm a grown up.

Generally no, the band gets looser, not tighter, as you lose. Unless you were dehydrated (dry person = tight band). That's why I think you should check with your doc ASAP. You've had a change to the status quo, and it's not what would be expected, and GERD can do damage if left untreated. Even if your band has slipped, the sooner the doc catches it, the less damage that will be done.

How do you know it's in your pouch? If you feel you just haven't fully digested, that's one thing. If bits of food come back up into your mouth that's another (just info gathering here!) Either way though, unless you went to bed really soon after eating, I think you need to contact your doc. That shouldn't be happening (pouch OR mouth!) You're right to wonder; get it checked out!

When I need a meal replacement I just drink a protein shake...I never found a meal bar that I felt was palatable that wasn't too sweet. The shakes are fast, too. Love the convenience.

You may have reflux; you need to contact your surgeon. Don't delay; if you DO have it and catch it quickly it can be a non-event, but if you let it go on it can do damage (but your surgeon will diagnose you) As to the lying down, it would depend on how tight you are, how long food lingers in the pouch, how long it takes you to digest. I'd "guess" 2-3 hours at least. I try to give it at least 4 hours myself.

Good for you. I will say you can have steak, and veggies, and some baked potato, and even cake if you want it; but the portions will be MUCH smaller and you won't vomit! :blushing: A "good" dinner for me is 1/2 of a small baked potato and 3-4 oz of a good steak. Delicious. And then I'm full; no need for cake. Not that one has to NEED cake, you know...but it's easier to pass on it when you aren't hungry.

God bless anyone who has bulimia, and God double bless anyone who has it AND the lap band (esp if it is well restricted) Besides the fact that frequent vomiting (even if it's a PB) can cause a slip, for me at least being stuck HURTS. Sometimes it hurts like HELL! I can't imagine trying to make that happen. That's like cutting or something; beyond my understanding. I guess it can happen, but wow. Ouch. and danger danger....

No it's not normal. Just losing 25 pounds in 1 1/2 years isn't normal. Honestly I do not think she's too tight (just guessing here). In fact I'd think she is too loose. HOWEVER I think also that she isn't following the "rules"...chewing well, eating slow, no drinking. So she "vomits" up because she eats too quickly or whatever, then settles down and eats relatively "normally" but that is an unbanded "normal". I have good restriction and CAN overeat some things (like tacos) but I could no more eat an entire steak than I could eat, well, a monkey! LOL The "wife" needs to get a fill, and embrace the banded lifestyle. Doesn't sound to me like she's done that at all. That's my guess, anyway. But no, it's not band-normal, not once you have good restriction.

I don't know how I missed this, Jennifer. Congrats! You're so cool, I'm glad the band is working for you (because I know You work IT!) :blushing:

Call your pharmacist, let him know what the med is, and ask.

If you have a pain that seems "different" from your other post op pains and is worrisome, call your doc. It can't hurt; best for them to guide you!

If it were me, I'd try doing just liquids (not with broccoli; it's pretty fibrous) for 24 hours and see. If you can't get Water down right now, you have an emergency. If you can get it down, and your doc is open on Friday, you can wait 24 hours and give your stomach and band a chance to settle down, because it's possible you're swollen from being stuck and keep getting "re-stuck" and agitating the band. Also my nutritionist says all Pasta must be well done because it continues to absorb liquid. If you eat it and it swells in your pouch, that will be uncomfortable at least. Of course, do what your doc says; this is just a tip.

I'm tricare standard and it covered EVERYTHING subject to my deductible and copay. I've read some tricare prime patients who don't pay a penny. ?

A fatty liver will shrink in repsonse to a low fat/low carb diet, not a "liquid" one. There are protein shakes that are too high in fat and/or carbs to make them good choices for a "liver shrink". Atkins-type seems to be the "go to" though, for most surgeons who want their patients to drop a lot of weight quickly!

Although it is possible (as in, anything is possible) that a person could be awake through a lap procedure, the odds are SLIM SLIM SLIM to none. Because...you are monitored six ways to Sunday (whatever that means...I know it's like a LOT!) they ck your blood pressure, your pulse, and so on. The anesthesiologist is a pro and the drugs used are getting better all the time. Tell your surgeon you're concerned, and the anesthesiologist. Find out WHAT they gave you and how much, in case your docs ask. Otherwise, try not to fret. Unless you were in total PAIN for the EGD odds are they just gave you something to calm, not totally sedate.

Each doc seems to have a different "liver shrink" diet. Just because YOU are fat doesn't mean your liver is, though of course there is some correlation. Mine was too large and I did my "own" diet instead of the docs and didn't get the band the first time thru. 2nd time (doing what my doc told me and losing another 17 in 17 days, in addition to the 15 I'd lost that first 3 weeks of "my" diet) and he was successful. The thing is; the liver has to be small enough for the surgery to be done laparoscopically, but my surgeon COULD have "opened me up" and done it the old way. He was just afraid he'd lacerate my "thick" liver, trying to move it to place the band around the top of my stomach doing it laparoscopically and he knew I had school starting and didn't want a lengthy recovery (which is what happens when they have to cut you open to place the band). If you are worried, discuss your concerns with your surgeon. He may advise you to do the diet a little longer, or may be able to tell (from blood, ultrasounds, etc) that you'll be ok. Don't just freak out, though, talk to him about it. AND yes, follow the diet YOU are given to the letter, not anyone else's diet.

You know, I think a lot of ya'll who have this "problem" have it because of a different "Problem"...you are nice and polite! LOL Because I'm named Jeff but am (and have always been) a female, and because I grew up in the 50's and early 60's (when people weren't named things like moonbeam and antfarm...that came later) I got a lot of SNOTTY comments on my name. Most often it was "Oh your daddy must have wanted a son". Now, that is a tacky thing to say to a 5 year old girl. :thumbup: But early on I developed snappy comebacks. My best, developed when I was a very pretty, feminine, petite 16 year old was this: "Oh, your daddy must have wanted a boy" me: "Well, I used to be" blink blink So I've learned to counterattack quickly; you guys are polite!

Like Parrothead, I don't ever have diet police. BUT...I told everyone from the start "Once I'm healed I'll be able to eat normally. Then as the band tightens, I'll be able to eat anything still, but my portions will over time get smaller and smaller". Voila! No diet police.

Good luck to both of you! :thumbup:

I'm with Jachut; I don't do sweets that often anyway and when I do I go for "regular". I'd think too much of anything isn't good for you!

Call your surgeon. Sounds like acid reflux and if it is it can, over time, damage your esophagus. Your doc can tell you what may be causing it (eating too late, being too tight) and he can help you fix it. Don't just leave it; it is something that's fairly minor if caught quickly but can be very problematic (esp with a band) if left untreated.

Not to be tacky but on another post you said you were smoking...that's "cheating" too. It's hard.

Drinking isn't the only reason to GAIN weight and not drinking the only reason to lose it. There are tens of thousands of people who are overweight and don't drink. Apparently alcohol isn't the only reason the coworker is obese. Plus MANY people hit plateaus. Perhaps after 40 pounds he hit one. Just because we are getting the band doesn't mean we are diet experts (although I've done so many different diets I often feel like an expert LOL) If he's interested in the band, he needs a check up and then to go to a seminar or two, discuss his concerns with a surgeon.

I'm Tricare Standard and from the time it was submitted (my civilian surgeon's office handled it all) until the time I was approved was under 48 hours.