RestlessMonkey

I believe the success rate in the USA with diet and exercise alone is something like 5%. You may be one of the lucky 5 in 100. And I can tell you that the lap band doesn't help much with emotional hunger. It helps with physiological hunger. As they say, the band is around your stomach, not your head. If your hunger is "head hunger" the band doesn't address it. Therapy is a great start for that. Any surgery is frightening for most of us, and being trepidatious, anxious, unsure, is a normal reaction. Only you know if those feelings are enough to stop you from continuing. Frankly, some DO decide not to go through with it. Some do and wish they hadn't, but many of us proceed and are so thankful that we did! If you have specific fears (like about the other post on blood clots) I don't mind addressing them with you (if I can) and your doc and/or his nurse should also be a great source of info and facts. There are no guarantees in life; you know this as well or better than anyone. But we have to move forward and do what we can. The band may be perfect for you. It may not. You won't know until you try, and only you can decide if the odds are in your favor.

Yes, it's pretty common to get a blood thinner before surgery. You need to watch it for at least a few weeks. For example at my 2 week check up, when they found out I was just sitting in a 3-hour class (nursing school) I was told to GET UP AND WALK!!! every 40 minutes and if I needed a note to get permission, they'd give me one! LOL. They gave us a break every 50 min so I'd get up and walk during the break. The farther you are from surgery, the less likely a clot, but realize that anytime any person is very sedentary (like being on an airplane flight, cramped, and sitting for a few hours, or taking a long car ride and not stopping every hour to walk a bit!) the risk increases, even if you aren't post op. Add obesity into the mix and the risk goes up more. Most of us even when we sit, we are wiggling our legs, flexing our feet, shifting around, etc. If you are on pain meds or in pain and don't move around as much, that sedentary situation can lead to trouble. So move, walk, wiggle your toes, and you should be ok!

The realize port is clamped onto your abdominal wall muscle (the lap band port is stitched) and because it is in the muscle it takes longer to heal, and is more prone to soreness etc when you exert yourself or USE those muscles. If it doesn't improve, call your doc with your concerns. Just realize that some pain is the "nature of the beast" when it comes to ports and healing. Even months post op, vigorous "different" activity etc can cause it to be a little sore.

Sitting in a recliner can put pressure on the backs of your calves. Wiggle your toes frequently while you're sitting in it! And don't sit for longer than an hour; every hour get up and walk a little, and you'll be fine. Stretching also helps. Realize you don't have to do a power hike, but walk around the house 5-10 minutes or so. Move. If it hurts to walk, take your pain med and walk anyway. Brace your incisions with a pillow (hold a pillow over your abdomen) and that should help! but move those legs, breathe deeply, keep that circulation going! :biggrin:

I'm sure it varies but at my surgeon's office, you secure financing on your own. It's not like buying a car. You come in with the money or insurance. They do have brochures for finance companies but you're on your own to choose one, apply, etc. And from what I've heard it isn't "easy" to get approved. If you consider you'll understand why; it is an unsecured loan and if you default there's nothing they can come take back. I've heard people must have pretty good credit to qualify. If you scroll down on the home page you'll find an "Insurance and Financing" forum. You may find more info there, and get more answers to your question if you post it there. Good luck!

A few things...one, pasta doesn't really usually have much nutrition for the calories (no bang for the buck) so it may not be "sensible" unless you are getting fortified wheat pasta or some such...? however my nut (who IS a nut by the way) did say this: cook pastas and rices REALLY well, no al dente, because they usually continue to take on Fluid and can swell once you've eaten them And...have you tried a VERY SMALL unfill, of say .2 cc or so? Often the difference between "perfect" and too tight or too lose is very minute. It takes "zeroing in". Also I've found, at my sweet spot, that I MUST listen to my body. I must chew things well. I must take smaller (about 1/2 or so of my "norm") bites. I must PAY attention and stop when my body is cueing me that it's full. If it tastes good and I want more, I have to tell myself "you can have it next meal". It takes our bodies 20 minutes, generally, to say "ok enough food" so eat slowly, give it time. Have you tried that? It may help... Lastly Have you tried a therapist? I'm a night time grazer and have gone, on my own, to a behaviorist who's been really helpful No the band isn't for anyone, you didn't "ask" for help, so please don't think me presumptuous! But if any of that can help you make your experience more enjoyable, then great. AND if you really can't eat healthy and a small unfill doesn't work, go get more removed. You will kill yourself living on sugar!

Opioid based pain meds (like vicodin, lortab, hydrocodone) can also be very constipating and may require intervention if you take it consistently (ck with your doc, don't self-medicate)

Although it is fine that you posted this here, you might get more "action" if you post it under either "Lap Band Complications" or the one (forget the exact name" that is something like "Life after lap band removal". Just a thought.

Alcohol is dicey (unless you mean Isopropyl?) may just make 'em party all night.

A brick? Or PTF PRN (pillow to face, as needed)

I'm so sorry for you! I think I truly understand. I know people say "food was my friend" Well, I NEVER thought of food as my friend. If pressed I'd have to say I felt it was a harsh cruel taskmaster who kept me on a short leash. My FRIEND is the band! It keeps the taskmaster, the "boss", the mean control freak, at bay. My band gives ME control of my eating. If I lost it, if it had to be removed, I would mourn it almost like a lost loved one. It would devastate me. I can also imagine that others around me, while supportive, wouldn't understand my grief. So I feel for you. I'm sorry!

I have "the big picture" goals of being more slender, healthier, more able to get around. I have a LOT of traveling, for example, that I want to do, a DH who's on board with that, and the funds to do it. What's stopping me? Too fat. I know, don't let your fat hold you back yada yada yada. Well, it does. Frankly, honestly, it does. Short term, though...First I wanted to lose 10% of my weight. Then, I wanted to "get down" to 335 which I last weighed in Oct 2003 when I had my gall bladder renmoved. THEN I wanted to get to 328 (almost!) which would be a 2nd 10% lost. After 328 I want to get to 290 which is what I weighed in 1995 when i was 40 and quit smoking. After 290 I want to get to 265 which is my "Disney World" weight (Love Disney world but heavier and I don't have as much fun) then 245 (just cuz it's under 250!) and so on. I have/had SO MUCH to lose if I look at all of it, it is overwhelming. So I set those smaller "milestone" goals. Clothing; when one is this large it takes a lot of weight to drop a size. I was 5x tops, 2x bottoms at 405. I'm 3x tops, 1x bottoms now. Not a LOT of difference yet. But I know as I get smaller, less weight will mean more, size wise. I'll also be ecstatic when I can go to a local store and buy clothes instead of ordering on line. So my motivation is my desire to be healthy (I was borderline a LOT of things, most frightening, Diabetes II. I've backed away from that cliff and never want to get so close to it again) and active. I have a lot of life I want to live, and every 10 pounds gives me more energy. It feeds on itself that way. My mini goals are how I mark my progress.

It's the lap band "post op" liquid diet.

If I knew what you know this would be SO much easier (LOL) Post op must haves for me: Tylenol (they make adult liquid but after one sweet gicky dose I just took the pills and did fine) "Soft lips" (chapstick thingie) chicken noodle Soup (drained it for the broth, regular chicken broth was just salt Water with yellow dye, IMHO) Something to entertain me was paramount (good new books to read, a few videos I hadn't seen w/my fave actor etc) House cleaned before I went For me recovery was easy and fast I had surgery on Friday, was back at school (student) next Tues. So I wasn't house bound. Questions...by the time I got to surgery I didn't have much to ask my doc. You MIGHT ask him if he removes all the gas he pumps in before he closes you up. That can REALLY impact recovery. Otherwise, most of my surgeon questions relate to earlier in the relationship, like "what is your fill philosophy" and "on average how many fills do your patients need before they are in the green zone" and "have you ever had a patient die" that type of thing you've probably already asked

Perfect! Then you know what you're supposed to do and you are doing it! :blushing: Don't fret that you aren't miserable! You're just one of the lucky ones. In fact, most (not all, but most) don't struggle post op getting fluids in now that they have a variety of band sizes to choose from. Just relax, heal, and plan your new wardrobe! :biggrin:

You shouldn't choose a WLS by geography. The band helps a certain type of over-eater, bypass another. They aren't "one size fits all" and you should get the surgery that fits your needs, personality, lifestyle. For example if you have a big sweet tooth, bypass is probably "better" for you because of the dumping syndrome. If you graze or snack, again bypass is better for you because if you graze or snack then the band can effectively be made to fail (depending on what and how much etc) Conversely, if your problem is huge portions, the band is the surgery for you. Research and soul searching are indicated! Having said that, there's a forum lower down about how to research a surgeon in Mexico. I'm sure that, like here in the USA, some are competent, and some are just WL mills. I personally wouldn't go across the border but that's just me. Also if you decide to go, pick an area that is relatively crime free. Perhaps those of you who live farther north in our great country don't realize the drug strife that's going on down there right now, but it's real. I grew up in El Paso (across from Juarez) Juarez was just another seedly sleepy border town, baking in the sun shine, when I grew up. Now it is the most violent city on earth, or so our local news said. Even allowing for hype, it's dangerous. BUT not all cities in Mexico are hot beds of unrest and crime! Again, research is in order. Lastly if you do get the lap band and do go out of country, make SURE you line up aftercare locally or plan to always go BACK to Mexico for fills and follow up appointments. The lap band requires adjustments and attention during the first few months to one year. If you don't get the fill level right the lap band doesn't work. Some lucky people hit that in one or two times, some take much longer. It is imperative to have handy care nearby (or the funds and time to hop a plane or into a car to go "back" if you have surgery done away from home) This isn't just a "Mexico" thing either. If you have surgery done in another city or county, most surgeons in your home won't treat you. They don't want to inherit (and potentially be liable for) someone else's work or mess. So...If you go to Mexico choose who and where carefully. Line up local fills and aftercare before you go. If you are unsure about bypass vs band, then do research and decide which (if either) is right for you. Good luck!

It's very normal. Probably you're a bit swollen still from the surgery. (not everyone is! we really are all different!) You've been reconfigured internally, the ability to burp will come back but it will take a while. Right now try to minimize any swallowed air (don't use straws now) The uncomfortable feeling should diminish and vanish over the next few days. Just take it easy on yourself!

If you aren't in pain, don't worry about it. Before the band, if you went days without "passing gas" would you have freaked? Probably not! Be glad you're pain free, relax, and enjoy!

Diarrhea isn't uncommon; it's caused from your diet, the anesthesia, etc. Don't worry about it; mine lasted about a week. It's not fun but it's better than being constipated! If you're still worried on Monday you can call your doc but you should be fine. As to the burp, that isn't uncommon either. Don't drink with straws (if you are) and take some liquid tylenol (or whatever your doc adivised) to help. I wouldn't take gas x unless he told you it was ok, but the simethecone should break down the gas. The surgery reconfigures you internally. Until your body overcomes the surgery etc it isn't uncommon to be unable to burp. Believe me, the ability will return! Oh boy will it return! :blushing: Hang in there

Not everyone feels miserable post op. The new, sized bands, individual reaction to the bands (ie how badly you do or don't swell), your surgeon's skill, your mental attitude, whether your surgeon fills you during surgery or not, MANY different things all contribute to a patient's post op status. And until you are VERY restricted liquids should flow through easily. So relax, follow your docs advice, and you'll do fine! Don't add in extra Proteins etc unless he's told you to do so.

wah! Sleep well! and fast!

I must be too old. To me, Hendrix is a Jimi. Rock on.

You are in fine form tonight! LOL what else would you like to make snorkle

If you can get 420 oz honey, go for it.

Oh good grief that one is just TOO easy!