RestlessMonkey

You need to contact your doctor about this.

If I eat a good dinner at 8 and am up late, I can get REALLY hungry by 2AM. Since my doc says "NO SNACKS" and I'm trying mightily to comply, I go to bed hungry. (I never did that pre-band). I can be TRULY hungry (I mean, 3 oz of steak at 8pm only goes so far) but tune it out and fall asleep...and when I wake up... I AM NOT HUNGRY! Don't know why though because like I said I never ever wake up hungry. If I could bottle that and sell it, and stretch it 24 hours, I'd be a rich rich Monkey!

Click on HOME and then scroll down until you find "Surgeons and Hospitals" that's where most doc talk is located. Plus you can search for info using the search engine (top right...caption between "new posts" and "quick links") And there are people banded in Mexico who post here so hopefully one will see your post and respond; but since you don't have "Mexico/TJ" or some such in the thread title it may be missed.

I don't wake up hungry but honestly I never have. So I guess I'm not a good help here! How to decide on a fill... here's a PDF file on page 2 is the chart in my doc's office it should help you decide and yes being stuck, unless you are SUPER tight, is a sign of mechanical error...ie you didn't chew well, you ate too fast, you took too large a bite It doesn't really indicate "the sweet spot" or "the green zone" I've also found hunger can relate to WHAT I choose to eat. I'm not diabetic but if I have more carbs I get hungrier faster, more Protein I can go longer (which makes sense; it takes our bodies longer, generally, to digest the protein) So look at WHAT you're eating. If you can eat over 1 cup or so of food, have a meal with adequate protein, and still get hungry "too soon" you need a fill. Make sure though that you're really "hungry" and not just nibbling or bored or whatever. OH and here's that chart! :scared2: http://www.core.monash.org/patient-care.pdf I don't know about the rest of the info in the file; i just did a quick and dirty google search for the chart.

I don't know who told you this info (about "fiber powders will stretch out your new stomach") but I believe it is blatantly wrong. You might want to confirm with your doc. What stretches your pouch is overeating. Fiber is better for your digestive system than taking weekly milk of mag doses. Most healthy females need about 25-28g of fiber a day, men a little more, no one "needs" milk of magnesia. It's safest to ask your doc what to do for constipation, and do it. carbonation doesn't generally stretch the stomach either...it just causes gas which is really painful for most of us, especially in the first months post op.

Ok being really honest here: I took (and still do) EVERYTHING I read on there with a grain of salt (and I will include my posts in this as well). ALL this info is anecdotal and you know the nature of the internet; the info can be dicey. Having said that, use this to get info to confirm (or disprove) using your surgeon, and published data.... For every person who is gaining weight on 900 cal a day there is one who is losing 2 pounds a day eating 2000 cal. In other words, unless you KNOW the whole picture, you don't know. People may intentionally lie. They may accidentally omit vital info. They may have undiagnosed issues. They may be just "guessing" ... at calories, or exercise level, or whatever. OR they may be telling the stone cold truth. BUT you don't know this. I have regular posters that I trust more than those I don't know, and some regular posters I totally dismiss (because according to my knowledge base I know they are off or wrong) but if the info impacts me, or if I am going to pass it on, I TRY to confirm it. So remember that when you read here. Not all people are you; not all are as particular about their info. They may be 100% earnest in trying to help but misremember their doc's info, or have heard from a friend who heard it from her AUNT who asked HER best friend's doc, or whatever. There doesn't have to be malicious intent to misinform. Even if everything you read is true, do you KNOW it will apply to you? So...chill out, use the good brain you've got, ask your surgeon the stuff that rings true (or false) to clarify, read some books, and remember the nature of this beast. We try to be helpful, but we all have different skill levels, knowledge levels, and what is totally anecdotal doesn't necessarily pertain to you.

I'd pass on the straw for a few months actually. tipping your head back won't make a difference; you swallow the air in the straw. A little goes a long way post op.

don't put a heating pad over surgical sites without your surgeon's approval...if you have sutures that dissolve with heat and they are superficial you may dissolve them prematurely. :scared2:

Check with your surgeon...seriously, tell him what you ate and when (even the PB and cheezits..) and let him decide. Odds are you'll be ok but better safe than sorry. (I can say this w/some conviction since I was "sorry" and didn't get my band the first time out)

I say you know your husband and situation best, but sometimes things cloud our better judgement. If he really doesn't care about you, why would he FREAK at the knowledge that you are having the surgery? You need to clarify that in your mind. What I suggest; flip it. How would you feel if he took such a step and didn't tell you? Would you feel betrayed? shoved to the side? ticked that he spent the money, risked his life and didn't tell you? Would you give a rat's ass one way or the other? You need to treat him the way YOU would like to be treated. Take the high road. You may or may not end up with him; I don't know your relationship/situation/life status. I just know that if you wouldn't mind or care if the tables were turned, then proceed. Otherwise, bite the bullet and tell him. You want respect and to be noticed; you need to give that out.

Unless you have a medical condition (can't think of one off the top of my head) that puts you in danger without Vitamins for a few days, I think that may be it. Make sure you get some plain old Water in too. It will keep you hydrated and shouldn't irritate your stomach. But you will have some gas over this time; your digestive tract is getting used to the change, and you are healing. Walking helps, and trying to not swallow air (ie no straws) when you get your fluids in. If you are worried about getting though the weekend; call and ask your doc though. However, if you feel "ok" (you are just a few days post op) when you DONT take the vitamins, let them wait until you start mushies. Right now hydration (64 ounces of water/fluids) is most important! And not being miserable! :scared2:

Don't weigh. You are healing, your body/metabolism/digestive system are all freaked out. Plus you're pumped full of liquids during surgery. Give it until your first fill and THEN you can start weighing and fretting. But now, your body is focused on repair and recovery, not weight loss. What's happening to you is normal; you'll get through it!

First...are you sure you are supposed to take the Vitamins yet? Can you call your doc and ask? I was told not to chew anything...including vitamins...until mushies. Please confirm that; going a few weeks without a Vitamin won't hurt you as much as chewing something before your stomach is healed. Ok? If you'll check with your doc about that and then post back I will try to help you; but I think that may be the culprit.

My doc is adamant about NO SNACKS! Its taken a while but I'm compliant! How long I can go depends on what I eat. If I eat something that is likely to take longer to go through my pouch, like steak (well done!) or white meat chicken, I can easily go 6 hours. If I eat something softer (baked fish) or more "mushie-esque" (like a bean burrito or a taco) then I get hungry earlier...around 4 hours. Carbs and blood sugar/insulin may play a role (although I'm not diabetic) but generally the foods that stick around in the pouch longer=longer time between meals.

I think he's thinking of bypass actually. During the first months they drop the most...malabsorption is at it's height (over time the body, to a point, compensates for that) and the new stomach is at it's smallest. That's also when they are most likely to have dumping syndrome, if they do have it. (some have it early on but then "lose" if after a period of time) The band, however, is different. Since it is essentially only restrictive, and because it takes some that long (or in my case LONGER) to obtain good restriction, some don't lose any during that time frame or even gain. The NP at my surgeon's office said "Many of our patients don't even start to lose until 6 months out so don't get impatient". So, I think your surgeon was confused...mixing his surgeries. The band, with it's restriction, is supposed to provide slower weight loss but long term...with patients still losing 3 years out (or more). This, at least, is what my surgeon, the 2 books I bought from Amazon and read, and my internet meanderings bears out.

A girl's got needs.

Mexico - Security Travel Alert Our government's travel alert re: travel in Mexico Just FYI

HH Dude you need to put the banana daiquiris down! :wink: Save them for me, the monkey and Richard.

I'm SO GLAD! Love my surgeon and his patience at answering ALL My questions! I know it doesn't do the trick for everyone but it helps a LOT of people! I know my band is the same AM and PM. I am sure that's partly a benefit of my age (post menopause thank goodness so no hormone fluctuations LOL) but also because I start the day with 16 oz of Water (before my coffee usually!) and keep it up! :wink: It's wonderful that helped you too!

Mine was 1 month. Many are longer. Some are shorter.

it depends totally on your insurance and the surgeon you choose The surgeon will have tests he feels he needs, and the insurance will have prerequisites.

misty there are 2 important "take home" messages: 1. Do your research before you decide which WLS, if any, is right for you, because all have their pros and cons and 2. Never ever agree to a "secret" cabo weekend with Headhunter, unless you want to end up in a hot tub in Tucson with Richard Simmons and a monkey (VERY important lesson here)

OK my potassium pills are 4/5 of an inch LONG 1/4 of an inch thick and 7/16 of an inch wide. See, they ARE big! But I am sure they dissolve in my pouch before going through the band...which is ok, as far as my surgeon is concerned.

This is just so odd! :wink: MY PCP (who prescribed the darn potassium pills)...told me when I asked him about taking them (this before I got the band) "Most of my patients with the lap band don't seem to have any trouble taking pills". I am beginning to think it's partly whether or not we think we can. :crying:

He's got a hot date with me, BethinVA, 2 monkeys, Richard Simmons and a spa tub in Tucson. You're just going to have to wait your turn. :wink: