RestlessMonkey

Ok God's honest truth I have NEVER heard that. Quite the opposite in fact. Most people have gall bladder surgery, recover, and never look back. All the gall bladder does is concentrate some bile to aid in fat digestion. It's VERY LITTLE and people don't usually miss it. As my surgeon told me, I'd have plenty of bile to take care of things without the gall bladder. So don't worry about that. I have had NO issues whatsover. No food I couldn't eat. No pain, No phantom symptoms NOTHING. Seriously my surgery was SO fascinating (the OR looked nothing like I expected, for example) that it was one reason I went to nursing school. And yes before the surgery I was petrified to death. It ended up not only being a big non issue, but kind of interesting to me. As I've posted, recupertation was even easier than lap band...no pain, and a WAY shorter post op diet! My surgeon (I can't remember exactly now cuz it was Oct 2003 when I had it removed) had me follow a specific diet for a short time post op to give things time to settle down. I did as he asked and never had an issue, problem, etc. So do what your doc says and you'll be fine!

Trying to tread lightly here... I just would like to say that parts of this thread have been pulled. It's easy to draw the wrong conclusions when we don't have all the information, and to misinterpret emotions intended when we post on a board here. Goodness knows I've been misunderstood before, and most of us have probably experienced that too. As the mods have said, no personal attacks please! We all have a right to our opinions (thank goodness! it's still the old USA) But perhaps we could just let this rest? (We could all join hands and sing Kum-Ba-Ya or something!) Since the thread is incomplete, perhaps we could just let it die a natural death. ?

Trust your doc if you trust him. Not everyone has a liver large enough to stop surgery and in fact it's pretty rare. Believe me, if your surgeon thought you needed to shrink your liver before the surgery, he'd tell you!!! Just brace yourself to be strong post op; it's tough to follow that post op diet but vital. :smile2: If you are REALLY worried about the liver thing, ask your surgeon so he can reassure you.

I'll add this. It seems on diets I was ALWAYS hungry, and obsessed with food. I counted it. I weighed it. I bagged it and apportioned it. I fretted over each bite, wondering if I would be hungry later. Food wasn't my friend, food was my "master". Now I forget about food for hours at a time. I eat a good meal and am not hungry for HOURS. In fact, when I get peckish between meals I KNOW it isn't real hunger, and believe me, knowing that REALLY helps stop the bad behavior. As I posted earlier (and Nanook liked!) The lap band is a tool, not a solution. If you are willing to work, it's another weapon in the weight loss arsenal. I had despaired of dieting because I'd do well for a while then get exhausted or bored or both and stop, and gain, plus plus. Now with the band, it's there helping. I don't get bored because I personally don't count, weigh, portion, fret...and if I want something I eat it. I just don't eat much of it any more. Last Weds I had 3/4 of a cheese enchilada and about 5 tostado chips at my favorite Mexican food restaurant. I was happy as a clam, and I've lost a couple pounds since then. Amazing! I couldn't ever have done that without the band.

Ask your surgeon for direction here. It's great that you are feeling so fine! :smile2:

Wordsmyth, in 8 weeks you should essentially be through with the patches, correct? Just let your surgeon know. Nicotine impacts circulation etc so he may want to delay surgery a bit. The patches are WAY better than smoking (your lungs are not impacted, as you know!) and the patches usually have way less nicotine. If you're up front with him it may very well be a non-issue. :smile2: Good luck!

Rather than me rattling on and on about whatever, can you be specific? Are you afraid of the pain immediately post op? or of feeling bad say 2 months out? When you say feel, do you mean hurting? or how you'll need to eat and live? I will gladly help you if I can...just need a little info! :smile2:

I wore my normal bra and it didn't even TOUCH my surgical sites. In fact, it helped keep my breasts up out of the way. Had I gone braless, it would've hurt. So just take a comfy bra; then you can decide which option works for you. :smile2:

From what I've read and researched online, aggressive fills seem to be a contributor to post op complications. Just wanted to let you know that; surgeons use their own good judgment and want us to be successful, I generally believe. Taking a while to hit "restriction" helps prevent that. They have come a long way since the "early" days a few years back. Bands come in sizes now, many surgeons DO NOT put a fill in during surgery, and they fill more slowly. Since the point is a lifetime of health, if your surgeon is a conservative one, there's probably (in his mind at least) a good reason. I do NOT mean everyone who has aggressive fills will have problems, nor will everyone who has conservative fills be problem free. But the odds are in your favor if you take it slow. Good luck! :smile2:

I wasn't told not to have pasta....in fact I was told the point of the band was to allow us to eat anything but in smaller portions. The nutritionist did say to cook pasta AND rice well done because they both tend to keep absorbing fluid and swell. Of course you should follow your doc's advice over anything you read here, but cook it well (no al dente) and it shouldn't give you any trouble! :smile2: Bon appetit!

It's normal and you're just freaking out. This is a time for healing, not weight loss. Hang in there. The lap band is a process, not a quick fix. You're fine and right on schedule! :smile2:

I am speechless! (A true rarity! LOL) I can't believe it....a 2? I think I'd need to be resuscitated!! That is so great! Sounds like you are doing marvelously! Now that I have good restriction, I'm losing well. Love the band and feel I can keep this up forever (unlike diets) I've missed seeing your posts; so glad to know you are thriving!

I got that you can't eat sweets and had to grieve the loss of your "friend". :smile2: Now I get that you meant nothing changes if nothing changes (inside). That is very true.

That's the ticket! :smile2:

Hey how are you! I agree...real food. Works for me. Probably not for everyone though! And I like the healthier things because they keep me full longer! :crying:

Most people don't sit around laughing and cheerful when they are hungry and many of us were hungry post op. I came to in recovery starved. What I did was 1. husband didn't eat around me, no cooking smells or food prep in house 2. I distracted myself by doing things 3. I remembered how crappy I felt when i didn't get the band because I cheated; that made it easier to just tell myself NO and hang in there 4. one time I sat and held a can of refried beans and CRIED because I was hungry. BUT I DID NOT eat them. It passes. The bottom line is...we just tough it out.

Just a head's up...dont' spend money on foods (like the "clear protein") until you are sure you can have it post op. Some of us can't have ANY protein for the first week or two and some have a specific protein drink preferred by the surgeon. :smile2:

Ask your surgeon; however I don't think you'll be ready to work on Monday. He's the best source, though, for that info

Not to be contentious, but this isn't true. Since May 7 I've lost 44 pounds or so...and I have on occasion had potato chips, tostado chips, Mexican food, a candy bar, and a piece of cake. NOT in the same day. Not even in the same week. But ... you have to use moderation. That's the key...not abstinence, but moderation. At least, for most of us. There may be some who can't have one...but there are at least as many of us where if you tell us we CAN'T have something then we MUST have it. An occasional indulgence (for me, part of my meal, never a snack) can make the whole thing work for many of us.

Lap band surgery is SURGERY. There will be some pain. HOW much and how long it lasts depends on many factors. You should discuss this with your surgeon.

Yes 2 days is too long to go without being able to at least drink water. You'll get dehydrated and end up in the ER. We can go MUCH longer without food than we can without water. If you can get 64 oz of water down per day you can wait until Monday. If not, call someone now and get an unfill.

Actually 15 min of sun twice a week or so is enough! :smile2: And my D is low too (I avoid the sun) so my doc said to take D3. I take vitamins anyway so 1 more pill is no biggie. But sun on your hands and face will help your body produce D.

It may very well be gas. Do you have some gas-x? 12 days is a little early for some of us for mushies...but if your doc says it, you're good there. However if you've been on liquids for a while and are now eating "food"...your stomach and intestines are probably having a party down there and you're producing gas. If you try Gas X and it doesn't help, call your surgeon. :smile2: Don't let it panic you...you'll be fine.

I know you cut out a lot of your post, Paige...did you get an answer? It's not an uncommon question, HOW can the band help. I won't address it if you feel you've figured it out.

jgurl I HATED that on-Q thing! My husband removed it about 5 minutes after we got home the day of my surgery! I thought it was vile! :crying: It bothered me way more than any post op pain (I didn't have much) funny how different we all are, isn't it?