RestlessMonkey

TANITA! I second that. Anything by Tanita. It's the brand, incidentally, that many WW facilities use (they do NOT use the cruddy WW brand. don't buy those they are useless). Even my surgeon's office has a pricey Tanita scale that tells me more than I want or understand about my body composition! LOL J/k Anyway Tanita makes a quality line of instruments.

Mine was very much like yours. I felt a little more sore on day 2 but not bad and by day 3 felt "normal"! Glad you too are having an easy time! Just stick to your post op diet so the band can heal in place properly and you'll be set! :smile:

I'm not going to be mean, just honest. chicken with gravy isn't a mushie, I don't think (chicken is notorious for getting "stuck") and if you're supposed to be on mushies (depends on what your doc prescribed) you've "cheated" and may have been stuck or had a slip. IF you are on mushies only you may want to call your doc tomorrow and see if he thinks you need to be checked out. If you were already approved for "solids" (which is what chicken is...and which usually, but not always, isn't allowed until week 4-6 depending) then you probably didn't chew it well enough.

I came to in surgery hungry. Yes, I really was. It wasn't head hunger. I recovered super fast; I had no issues, I was HUNGRY. But, it passes.

I think these are questions you should ask your surgeon. Since you're self pay, you have a bunch of choices; you chose him for whatever reason. If you aren't happy with the service you're getting, take your test results and find another doc.

1. How good I felt how quickly 2. How long it took to hit my "sweet spot" and finally start losing 3. That's it! :smile:

It's not normal. You need to see a Gastroenterologist, I'd think, and get that checked out. Don't leave it...you may have an issue that's easily fixed if caught, or can do damage if not. I assume you didn't have the symptoms before the band? If not, then call a GI doc and get checked out. Good luck!

Welcome and good luck! :smile:

Agreed! Good luck; let us know how it all turns out for you! :smile:

If your doc said 3 weeks, then that is probably what it is for his practice. It depends of course on your surgeon and the facility he uses for the surgery (hospital etc) So each person will have a different take on it. Mine was about a week as I recall...from approval to OR.

I'm confused as to what "Lap band solutions" had to do with your "relationship" with your doc and your insurance, but I'm sure it makes sense! :smile:

I understand your reticence. Do you like the surgeon? Do you trust him? Has anything else given you pause? If not, then go on...maybe in the "vast scheme" Weds is the right day for you, and not the other two dates. However, if you've been unsure about the performance of your surgeon or the hospital etc, then pause and rethink it. Not going through with a surgery that doesn't seem right doesn't make you a quitter, in my book.

That is VERY VERY absolutely true. And once you have restriction you'll just PB if you gnaw off too much so it's best to just leave it be! :Dancing_wub:

Many docs have different post op regimens. They (gasp!) prescribe what works for THEIR clients/patients :smile: Docs have different "touches", different surgical techniques, different ways of suturing, etc. If your doc tells you "have a cheeseburger on the way home" then if you aren't a vegan, go for it! But if he tells you "stay on Clear liquids for 4 weeks" then you'd better do that. To judge your band experience by someone else's is just about impossible. We're always best to follow our surgeon's advice...and if in doubt, ask him/her for clarification/rationale/help.

I think you were very very smart to tell your doc! And apparently he didn't take it lightly because he checked you out to make sure you're still ok! AND...he gave you some tips to help you stick with the diet but not gnaw your own arm off in hunger! You slipped up but caught it, and are back on the "path". I know it was hard to call your doc but be very proud of yourself for seeing your error and correcting it instead of being flippant and thinking "oh well it didn't hurt me so I am fine" or whatever. You will make it now! :smile: Way to go!

I can only speak for myself, of course. For me, I had done SO MANY diets, and either, it seemed, I was ON ONE or "cheating" or "should be on one" that cheating on a diet ALMOST became a way of life. Because, eventually, no matter how strong, how sure, how dedicated or committed I was, something happened and I cheated. I am sure most of us have done this, or something like it, or we'd be at goal, most of us, and not need the band. So, given yet another "diet" by my surgical team, and then reading on here of posters who "cheated" and were fine (or so they thought)...I figured, "why not me?" I did my OWN post op diet, lost 15 pounds, didn't get the band. That was a wake up call, a steep learning curve. I began to ask my doc WHY...and not in an obnoxious way, but because I wanted to know. WHY stick to the preop diet, WHY stick to the post op diet...WHY avoid caffeine, WHY avoid carbonation. Because once I know why I can, as an adult, make an informed decision. My doc, in the seminar, said don't cheat on your post op diet. I had a patient eat a tuna sandwich and was back in immediately with a slip. I thought that meant immediately post op, I didn't know it meant FOLLOW THE POST OP DIET TO A T. I learned that though, after my own foolishness during the preop phase. I think many cheat not because they want to hurt themselves, but because they don't KNOW why it's important not to, and because like so many of us, "cheating on a diet" is almost built in to our lives. Diets are HARD. We forget the preop and postop phase is finite, we don't know why it's important, we read of others (many many others) who CHEAT and are FINE and we think "why not me"? It's not a consious (or unconscious) desire to hurt ourselves or derail the process; we just don't know how important it is. I think once most people realize WHY they are doing it (preop to shrink the liver, post op to allow the band to heal into place without a slip, and the stomach CHURNS to digest even if you don't feel it so stick to your diet as ordered) then they will comply. Just my take on it. It's why I cheated, and why I subsequently QUIT cheating and became a big old rule follower for my surgeon. I paid a high price, though. I didn't get the band the first time. Maybe people will learn without having to go through what I did, or a slip, or some such. So we do help, support, and EDUCATE on this board.

The post op diet is hard when you are just living "normal" life. To try to do it on vacation must be hellacious! But it really is important....not like in the past if you "cheated" on a diet like weight watchers or atkins. Hang in there; do what you're supposed to; and next vacation you'll be healed, able to eat, and thinner! :smile:

I think you need to call your doc and get some direction. A MAJOR cause of slips is eating "ahead" of your post op diet. You may feel fine but your band, that is sewn into place and needs to heal there, may not be. You know your stomach churns to aid in digestion...(you don't feel it but it does it). Well...that churning action can loosen/rip your stitches, cause the band to move, set you up for a slip down the road (and then you'll post "Why me?") Not to be harsh, just up front with this. You may or may not be fine. Call your surgeon, find out what he says, not what we say.

HolliJ I used to use Carmex until a good friend pointed out that it's really intended for cold sores (which I don't have) and it has ALUM in it, which is a drying agent! No WONDER we have to constantly reapply it! She got me off the Carmex and on to "Soft Lips" which is moisturizing (more than chapstick which just coats them in wax as far as I can tell) and protects them. Give it a try.

DONT spend a lot of money on "liquid" stuff. You may not need it. I didn't. Please understand that you get the band and may be swollen for a couple of days post op (that's normal) but then the swelling abates and unless the doc has filled you a great deal, your band will be open and it will be as if you don't even have it. Swallowing pills and food won't be an issue. Post op you need to follow the diet as given so you can heal. If you are on liquids for a while you don't want to take a multi Vitamin anyway because it can irritate your stomach. As you start to heal and feel better, you'll have a better idea of what you can take etc. I take my normal 6-pack multi and 2 HUGE potassium pills (they are the biggest pill I've ever seen and I'm a nurse) and no problems. And I am at my sweet spot. So save your money for smaller clothes! :wink2:

No, honestly for me, no. My motivation has changed. Now I try to pick foods that will keep me full longer as opposed to those that don't. But I still like the same old food I ever did. I could pretend I have changed, but if I'm honest, not a bit. That's ok, though....I have the band and that's the important change. I believe now that I can lose and KEEP it OFF. I know I can't overeat like I could. So I have changed a good deal, but my "tastes" are as they have always been.

You need to go see a doc. If you are weak and have pain, you may have an electrolyte imbalance and trust me, that's more than a banana or two (or gatorade) can fix. You can mess with your heart, among other things. Two weeks is too long to go unable to eat, especially since you are more slim and don't have fat stores to call on. If you think you can wait, call your surgeon and/or Primary tomorrow ASAP. If not, go to the ER. Don't ever let yourself get so low just because a doc on the phone says "it's probably a reaction" ok? You need medical intervention now.

als4...I don't think it works. Once our skin is overstretched (much like a balloon or a rubber band, except skin is alive) it's overstretched. Surgery is the most effective solution...removing the extra. Sorry!

You might want to read in the "lap band complications" forum, and I THINK there's one pertaining to life after lap band.

And.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :smile: If it was your 21 you deserved a blow out. Don't let the guilt suck the pleasure out of your day!