RestlessMonkey

:confused: very clever. Well done! :

Congratulations and good luck! Sometimes the only way to face a fear is just to face it! Be sure and follow all your post op diet instructions and you'll be set!

So...you feel guilty because you want to! Ok..whatever works for you I find guilt is pretty draining, but that's me! I'm not perfect (Lord knows I am FAR from that) but if guilt isn't going to make you change, to keep feeling bad about something is, well, something I don't do. However if it works for you, then you go! :confused:

A surgeon who plays "head games". Lovely.

Go to another surgeon and seminar. I feel your surgeon is wrong, but I am not a surgeon. I know how MY surgeon comported himself, however, and it wasn't anything like what you experienced. I weighed 405 and I was 53 years old. I had no comorbidities; I was "borderline" everything. My sugeron calmly and concisely laid out current procedures and statistics for lap band, the sleeve, bypass, and the duodenal switch. He said he only does (did) lap band and bypass but he wanted us to know there were other options and be able to choose what was right for us. Once I selected lap band, I told him it seemed to me lwith that tool I would be able to lose as much or as little as I wanted; that I would have control. He agreed this was a correct assessment. I went with it and have never once looked back or regretted it. Had he given me good valid reasons (that tiny hammer to hit a big problem has visual impact but no facts to check out) to get bypass over lap band I would've considered it. However, he is a smart, compassionate, skilled surgeon and was behind MY choice. You need someone like that. I know that great as my Dr. Cavazos is, he is NOT the only good surgeon practicing! So look around some more. ByPass MAY be the correct surgery for you and/or your husband, or the sleeve may be correct, or the lap band. Don't go with a surgeon who seems to push his agenda on you without giving you good solid facts. From what I've read, at 5 years post op, lap bander and bypassers experience similar losses. Some lose all, some don't lose much, and the average is around 50% if I recall correctly (some say 55%, it depends) The band works IF you work it. That is the case with all surgeries except the duodenal switch. You choose what fits your life, your lifestyle, and where you want to be in 5 years or 10.

Mickey mentally you're where I was in 2003 when I weighed about what I weigh now and was thinking about the band. In other words, you aren't there yet, you may never be. If you honestly think you can diet and exercise and lose and keep it off, do NOT get the band. You may be one of the 5% who is successful in that venture. And the band isn't something you get removed. It's like marriage; it may not work but going in you assume it's for life. Many (if not most) who have the band removed, regain all their lost weight unless they revise to a different weight loss surgical method. You need to understand you aren't the first (nor will you be the last) overweight person who mulls the band and says "I like Pizza and Margaritas". You think I got to 405 eating celery and tofu? By all means, research it. But don't move forward until you are as sure as you can be that it is the surgery for you. There are other options, not all surgical.

If it's a Lap Band it holds 14 cc. If it's a realize-C it holds 11.

I have a suggestion that may help some of you. I had a friend who felt her band was almost psycho...tight in the mornings, too tight sometimes, etc. I asked my surgeon and he said the key is hydration. dehydrated people=tight bands. now, some this doesn't help. But some think it over and realize they are not getting 64 oz of Water each day. If hydration is your issue, drinking will make a quick impact. I start each morning with 16 oz of water and my band functions then like it does in the evening. Lying down doesn't make you tighter. Going without liquids for the span you're asleep DOES. You may want to try the water thing.

You guys have crappy docs. They may be fine surgeons, but they are lousy docs. I weighed 405 and my doc laid everything out for me and let me decide.

The more I think about your doc the madder I get! Thank GOD my Dr. Cavazos doesn't treat medicine like some "inner sanctum" that only the initiated deserve access to. That man has answered, logically and accurately, and with infinite patience, ANY and every question I've asked him. I've even asked him things for people on here (not his patients!) and he's answered me! I don't tolerate that imperialistic attitude from my HUSBAND, I surely wouldn't tolerate it from someone I am PAYING for a service.

I agree with the fills thing. And frankly I find your diet too austere. Seriously, why no red meat? (I'm a Texan, that is almost sacrilege LOL) Why no dairy? Why no heavy starches occasionally? If I were you, I'd sign up for like a 10-session run of Weight Watchers. I'd work that program, eat "their" way...and see at 10 weeks where I stood. You may be out $100 or so but otherwise it can't hurt and may very well help you. Restriction is important...and the WW thing. That's my suggestion.

May I say something else? If any of you think your surgeon recommends a surgery based solely on COST, CHANGE SURGEONS! Seriously. You aren't buying a car or an ipod. You are getting a medical device implanted and will need good reliable follow up care for years to come. If you think (whether it is true or not) that your surgeon is motivated by the bottom line more than what is good and healthy for you, SWITCH! While docs need income, as do we all, one should NEVER suggest a procedure based solely on income in his/her pocket. If they tell you bypass would be better, ask WHY. Think it over. Decide, and proceed. But if you really think they just want money then good grief do NOT trust him or her with your life! You already know it isn't as important as a fat wallet.

I've always read and "heard" that Barrett's Esophagus is a contraindication for lap band. While your GI specialist knows his area, the banding surgeon would know what kind of side effects his patients experience. If I were you I'd get a 2nd opinion from another reputable banding doctor. And ... I'd do research on my own. I do know from reading here a LOT of lap banders develop GERD over time. I don't know why; I don't know if it's a condition of being banded or caused by user error (too tight, go to bed too soon after eating, whatever)...just that it's common. And yes, they take prilosec, nexium, prevacid and often it helps a while then doesn't. (this is anecdotal from reading, not knowledge I have based on a scientific study) SO you need to do some research.

Pnksteph if you will go to the "Food and Nutrition" forum, there is a thread there "Share ideas...what did you eat today" that covers this. You may want to check it out.

I would never have gone with a surgeon like that, but that's just me. I figure we need to have the same "philosophy" or it just won't work. Your guy sounds like a dangerous ass.

I'm one year out and can eat ANYTHING and I mean that. I can eat white bread. My nutritionist said just make sure Pasta and rice are well done (because they continue to absorb fluids). My doc even recently gave me the go-ahead to have an occasional carbonated beverage if I want it, and he cleared me long ago to take NSAIDS if I needed them and was "careful". I've been a good bandster, followed the rules, healed really well, have no issues, and now have no "forbiddens". My goal going in was to be able to eat ANYTHING but in smaller portions. That was my surgeon's goal for me, too. I realized I MIGHT have a problem but I didn't expect or anticipate it, and TA DAH! I don't have any. Please understand that you have a VERY large degree of control over this thing. How tight you keep your band, for example, is up to you. A LOT of the success is between the ears...how you feel, how you work the band, what choices YOU make. So don't let fear of never having a sandwich stop you from a life of good health.

it sure means that for me. Hiccups=stop! :drool: And the burping means I need to stop for a bit, assess, and then if I keep eating, proceed with caution. It's hard to learn all these "new" cues, but one cause of hiccups even in unbanded people is eating too much and/or too fast... We're configured differently internally so most of us burp more, but especially now that I'm so far out, if I burp while I'm eating it is a sign of DANGER DANGER! Anytime I've disregarded a burp and plowed on without checking my chewing etc, I've regretted it.

Man I can not stand being drugged and out of it. I stopped them from even giving me morphine in the hospital! I am a Restless Monkey I guess. You guys on hydrocodone, morphine, and opiate...remember it is VERY constipating. Even on liquids you should "go" by day 3 or so. If you don't, call your doc.

Just stick to it. It will pass.

You'll know. You'll feel pressure, maybe pain, you'll realize you don't really "want" to swallow anything else. Although it isn't a feeling we usually experience before the band, your body will cue you in. No...you won't eat fine and then have pain later. What MAY happen is you'll be eating and enjoying it and get a cue to QUIT and ignore it...and then have pain much later, but at least for me, that has only happened once or twice when I totally disregard that cue to stop now. Some people get the hiccups, some begin to burp, some just "know" it's time to stop. You'll go from hungry to NOT hungry and you'll learn to recognize that. You won't (or shouldn't) feel "full" like Thanksgiving dinner full, once you have good restriction, but you will realize you aren't needing more food. MOST stuck episodes are caused by operator error. You don't chew well enough, you take bites that are too big (my normal bite now is about 1/2 to 2/3 the size of my old bit. Substantially larger than the "pencil eraser" size I read on here, but smaller than preband) or you eat too fast. This happens to most of us when we either are really hungry and forget the band rules, or are dining with someone else and get involved in conversation and forget the band rules. Don't worry; you'll recognize it, it will probably happen at least a few times (there are probably some who NEVER experience it but it's common, and has a learning curve) and you'll learn from it. But it won't sneak up on you. LIsten to your body, pay attention to the "rules" and you'll be fine!

i'm glad I (a nurse too) could help! You know, nursing and computers aren't mutually exclusive! :drool:

I don't know what your surgeon has told you about foods off limits, but except for carbonation, I don't think ANY food "shouldn't be eaten ever again" and I only bring this up so you'll quit feeling guilty. If you look around here at successful bandsters you'll see over and over they pretty much eat anything they want. They may choose to avoid things like sweets, chips etc most of the time (not enough bang for your buck!) but nothing is "off limits". UNLESS...you cheat during your post op diet; that can contribute to a slip. So quit feeling guilty; there's no need for it. Use all that energy for something constructive!

There are different ways to handle "stuck" episodes and you'll find which work best for you. I handle mine these various ways: If it is pretty immediate I lean over my kitchen sink (because it hits me right below my stomach and I use the pressure to help) and cough. Usually a hard cough will get the item to return. Papaya enzymes are also a godsend. Papaya helps Protein digestion, and does it quickly...and many brands come formulated with other enzymes to dissolve vegetable matter and fat. They don't act on living tissue so it won't hurt you. They have worked every time for me. Some people do a "down dog" (?) yoga position; I don't do yoga and don't know if it works but if you do maybe it's worth a try. AND yes you dont drink and eat but some have found that sips of Water (particularly WARM water) can help dislodge the offending food and send it on through or back up. I've been afraid to try it though. Being stuck is at best uncomfortable and at worst painful but it happens to most of us at one time or another. Just stay calm and try to either bring it up or eat some papaya enzymes and you'll be fine! And I want to say that my worst stuck episode, I would've thought I was having a heart attack. It hurt that badly in the middle of my chest. I knew it wasn't my heart because: pain wasn't radiating to my arms, my heart is pretty darned healthy, and I had just eaten fried okra. So realize that it can hurt A LOT, depending. As to the protein; my doc says (they are all different so check with yours) that a Protein shake can REPLACE a meal, but no Snacks, and no shakes in addition to a meal. I use the ones he recommended for my preop diet: EAS Carb Control AdvantEDGE. I like the chocolates.

You know, mine is getting better as I have the band longer and I agree with you...it's a sign to STOP! eating, and can also indicate I ate too quickly or didn't chew well. I used to burp a lot (drives me NUTS...almost as bad as having the hiccups, IMHO) but now, if I'm fairly sane about things, it doesn't happen nearly as often. More than preband, but not THAT much more. Two years out, it seems it would be better, not worse. I hope the original poster got in touch with his banding surgeon!

My surgeon says it is. Let me paraphrase what he told us: You'll lose hair somewhere between roughly 3 and 6 months post op. You can take pricey supplements or not; they may make you feel better but won't impact your loss, as far as our studies can tell. It is related to the trauma of surgery and not an insufficiency of your diet, so Protein, Biotin, Water, oil, nothing will help it. I had one patient in almost 2000 who needed a wig, but she owned a wig shop. Otherwise, most lose some, some lose a bunch, but it all grows back and no one needs a hair piece. It happened to me exactly as he said; started at almost 3 months to the day, continued on for a couple of months (and I had TWO surgeries in August) and then quit. I don't have thin hair but it isn't all that thick either. My hairdresser never even could tell (although I could; I felt it was coming out in clumps!) and she's been my hairdresser for a LONG time. It has all grown back, as well as I can tell (I didn't count them) SO take biotin, extra protein, extra multis if it makes you feel "proactive" ... or save your money for new clothes! :drool: