RestlessMonkey

And I had 2 surgerys, one on 8/11 and the next on 8/29...no issues with either time (except the 1st time I didn't get the band). I think about 95% of my fast recovery was a desire to recover fast!

Everyone recovers differently but for me, I was posting here within hours of getting my band. I came to fast, felt a little tight and breathed deeply often to clear my lungs and reduce that "tight" feeling in my chest...needed minimal pain meds, etc. I could drink water fine from the minute they gave it to me, no nausea, etc. I slept in my bed on my left side the first night(with a pillow to prop me up...it helped) and the next night back on my tummy, as is my "norm". Just make sure you walk walk walk as much as you can!

I was able to drink water pretty much from the very minute they finally broke down and gave me some post op. Since it is water and flows through, i didn't need to worry about it "stretching my pouch" or anything. It never gave me nausea, it was delicious! I was SO THIRSTY from the anticholinergic they give you to dry up secretions! I slept on my side the 1st night (with a pillow to assist) and my tummy on night 2. If you wait too long you can have adhesions as you heal and it makes it even more painful. Yes my tummy rumbles and gurgles and has for a while....but I don't have chest heaviness. When you get that you need to take some deep deep breaths...clear the anesthesia etc out of there! If you don't have restriction you may drink more quickly. And don't forget to walk walk walk!

I went in about 730 am, woke up on my own in recover at 9, and was back in my room by 930. I had to wait wait wait to have a thin barium swallow done....standard operating procedure by my surgeon to make sure things are going where they should...then I got to go home. I felt marvelous and was even on here posting that night! I slept on my left side the first night, tummy the second night. I took 1 pain pill on day 2, otherwise, liquid tylenol took care of my pain. I had no restriction from the get-go. When I woke up in recovery my chest felt tight but deep breathing for about 5 minutes took care of it. The RN offered me 2 mg of morphine but I asked for just 1 and was fine with that (didn't want to be groggy...I wanted to wake up) I mostly felt sore (as if I'd done too many sit ups) and that was totally tolerable for me. The gas pains were minor and walking walking walking helps you feel better from head to toe. I've felt great pretty much since surgery and can't wait for my 1st fill on Oct 9!

If you have a surgeon who is trying to push you, get another surgeon. He is trying to have you follow his agenda, not what is best for you. GBS has more health issues and also has a failure rate (think of people who gain back afterward)....stick by your guns. Look at my stats...I started very obese. My surgeon presented, in his seminar, both GBS and LB fairly and unbiased. He lets the patient choose what is right for him or her, figuring we know ourselves WAY better than he does. I've lost 40 and don't see any reason why, 3 years out, I'll be at goal and be healthier and happier than any GBS patient.

if your band is so tight that you cannot drink, then you surely are not getting adequate nutrition either. Don't mess with your health that way. Go get some saline removed from your band, pronto!

I was in Ketosis on the preop diet but not post op...liquids initially didn't have enough protein to make me that way. I probably will be again once I can eat what they call "solids" or "hard" foods I think you'll be very successful! and the beauty is, once we have lost our excess, we can eat more "normally" but it will be so much less. :thumbup:

Jamimagine as far as I know they can't really tell your liver is too fatty until they open you up. At least that happened to me. I can't tell you the awful sinking feeling to be told in recovery "Honey they couldn't place the band. Your liver was too big". OMG it was awful. To go thru the surgery and ...nothing! then you get to blow it off or diet the RIGHT WAY and do it again! You don't want to do that. Stick to the diet.

By plug do you mean the port? If so mine isn't sore and hasn't been and I had my band placed 8/29. The band works if you work it. If you eat around it, don't deal with your head or emotional hunger, it won't help. Period. If you are ready to change how you eat, it will help you get slimmer and more healthy, but its just a tool, not magic! I think a lot of people don't really get properly educated by their surgeons preop and think it will be effortless, and it's not. But if you are committed to using it as a tool to help you, it will do the job.

Honestly each surgeon is different and you may not even have to do a preop diet. I vote don't worry about it unless your surgeon prescribes one for you.

Hollie I don't have a tat but judging from what I've learned on the Weight Watcher 200+ board, 27 pounds won't mess you up. If you're pretty firm now, you will be then, too. If you are saggy (and I think you're probably too young to be saggy! but just in case) you might want to give it another year or so...

Yes, it's typical. Anything from 4-6

when did you get enough restriction to curtail your eating? count your weight loss from that fill.

Actually, it's not insane. Your stomach churns with everything you eat....and a churning stomach is a big NO NO post op because the doc sutures your band in place. It can tear loose and lead to slippage and erosion. I didn't go through all this just to eat the first 2 weeks and mess it up! The 2nd week we got to add protein shakes. Now I'm on mushies and through that worst part and it's all good. If you can't do a few weeks of liquid only, you need to talk to your surgeon. It's not a punishment nor to see if you can "diet" but to heal the stoma. Preop I followed one almost as severe to shrink my liver. It's just a little bit of time ... it's not the most fun I ever had but I lost 41 pounds and that helped make it all worth it!

To start a message...go to "home". Down the left hand side will be categories like "Frequently asked questions" and "General Lap band Surgery discussion" Pick a category pertaining to your thread once you click on the category, "start a new thread" (or something to that effect) will appear. Click on that and post your thread!

wow an hour long cab ride? I'll come take you for half that! LOL seriously see if you can dig up someone to be with you. You'll need a little tending. Not a lot, but a little....

I think you've lost "food" and you used it as a coping mechanism (just guessing here)....if that is possible, a few sessions with the therapist will help you immensely. I've been super happy post op...but I went to a therapist for 10 months (on my own) before I ever got the band. Maybe you are grieving your old self (as another poster said)...only you can answer that. It's not likely effects of the anesthesia on a younger person such as yourself.

I agree the 1st weeks postop are for healing. You have enough fat stores so that only getting 557 calories won't hurt you. You shouldn't get dizzy unless you have blood sugar issues....if you do, tell your doc. And make sure you're drinking protein that is doc approved. Mine wanted us on nothing but water, broth, and jello for the 1st week.

NO NO NO!!! not unless you stay overnight. You are still under the effects of anesthesia and pain meds and may hurt yourself and/or someone else. Either tell your doc and spend the night at the hospital, or wait until someone can come get you.

Actually there's a doc in aurora co who does the surgery for I think 9500...there are competitive US surgeons.

I was banded 8/29 and feel great and have for, well, since that day actually. I can bend and move and so on just fine.

Good luck !!!

Your surgeon may require additional tests, data, etc but generally no.

Does that dietitian work with/for your doctor? I agree its inappropriate. I say ignore her. The statistics are there for lap band; she obviously doesn't know what she's talking about. And as a dietitian she should be RELUCTANT to push GBS because of its malabsorption issues. I think she's a quack and you need to tell your surgeon she is undermining him that way.

It depends totally on if you think its good or not! That post op liquid diet is for healing, not loss. If you lose during it, all the better. You may gain a bit when you can "eat" before you get restriction, but that's normal too.