RestlessMonkey

What size band do you have? I have a 14cc band and didn't even feel a HINT of restriction until 4.5 ccs...and it took to 6.5 to get to my "sweet spot". I'm now at 7.0 ccs Even 10cc bandsters often take 3-4 fills (or more) to really "feel the love". But you're right; you need to get control of yourself. Just don't assume that you've hurt something because you aren't restricted. AND fyi things like chips and cake are "sliders"...they will always go down way too easy, unless you're so tight you can't drink liquids, and then you'll dehydrate. In other words, willpower will always be required for those foods; the band can't really help us there.

I was going to when I found out literally days before my seminar that my insurance had started 7/1/2008 covering the band retroactive to 1/1/08. Some things I've learned since that might help: 1. SHOP AROUND....balance cost/benefits offered for cost/surgeon. Surgeons offer different benefits like 1 year free fills, lifetime free fills, (or none!) etc. Fills are VITAL and they can be pricey. 2. If you go away from home (to the next county or the next country) line up local aftercare. Fills are what make the band work, but aside from that, you may have issues that are easily treatable if caught early (like GERD, or a mild slip) and you'll need quick easy access to a surgeon. If you have to get time off work and fly 1000 miles to see if you have GERD you may put it off and many issues with the band, if caught quickly, can be easily resolved but if left untreated can cause a cascade of caca! and 3. Whichever surgeon you choose, research research research him/her, the facility, the band. There are threads on here that help. Lastly; if you have ANY insurance, see if it will pay for complications/removal. That is something horrid we don't want to contemplate but sometimes the band isn't right, or we have a medical issue non-band related, or some such and you want to make sure you can get quick treatment. Realize too that things can happen like ports tilting/flipping, bands leaking (very rare but possible) and so on. Make sure you're well informed, and find out what your surgeon will do if, say, your port tilts within the first year and you need a revision. Will s/he cover it? Just some things to think about, that I know would've NEVER occurred to me before I got the band and spent a year on this board, reading and learning! :smile: Good luck!

I'm not diabetic but was "pre"...in fact 7/08 my PCP told me "do something or in 3 months you'll be on diabetes meds" my glucose was 126 which is just over the 125 threshold...but rather than getting retested etc I got the band. At 6 months post op (and about 30 pounds down) my blood sugar was 112. I go in a couple weeks for my latest checkup; now at almost 70 down (and after finding my "sweet spot" in May) I am anticipating a glucose level at/under 100. So for me, it saved me from developing Diabetes II.

Gain weight! Seriously though, while you can build and tone muscle UNDERNEATH the skin, skin is it's own organ. It will shrink for a year or so after you have lost, then what you see is what you get. Sorry. People may say "exercise" and that's good for you but again, it will build muscle (or tone) and if you build enough muscle, it will fill up the skin like the fat did (if that makes sense?) BUT...if you don't want to buff up to take up the slack, you're left with surgery.

Some people say having a sip or two of water (or liquid) can help make the "stuck" item come back. It just makes me more miserable.

Many of us don't know that when we eat, our stomach churns to digest food (even a bite of vegetable or chicken. If you have to chew it, your stomach churns to digest it). If you think it through, then, it's logical that you need to be cautious. Because most likely your lap band is sewn into place....and if your stomach thrashes and churns (and it does, if you digest. You don't feel it, but it ALWAYS moves around some to aid in digestion) it can rip loose a suture or two, or loosen them or move the band enough that it doesn't heal properly. I've been taken to task for "scaring" new people, but honestly what I've said is what happens. Don't risk it. Some docs are comfortable advancing their patients sooner but each surgeon has his/her own style, etc. So do what your doc says. You aren't the first to be VERY VERY hungry and if we can make it then I KNOW you can make it!

It's very important to follow your post op diet plan as written. Advancing your diet too quickly is a major cause of band slippage, either now or down the line (if it doesn't seat properly) Please ... just because others "cheated" and got away with it doesn't mean it's ok. If you are too hungry call your surgeon on monday, but don't cheat. This time it really is only yourself you'll be hurting.

Thanks for answering; I always wonder about "national" type health care...pros and cons, you know? I appreciate your post! :cursing: Good luck!

No panic attacks here. However, while you may have diarrhea post op (anesthesia and liquid in/liquid out) you should discuss that with your surgeon and it can be forstalled. Otherwise most bandsters have the opposite problem, as you might imagine. Eating a high protein/low fiber diet usually leads to the OTHER end of the spectrum, not diarrhea. Again a talk with your banding pro will help guide you through this.

Welcome. Because the USA is going through "insurance" pangs and countries like Canada are being hailed as "wonderful" because of your socialized medicine (and I'm sure Canada is wonderful anyway! :cursing: ) I thought lap band was covered "up there". Is it not? Or is your "copay" (or whatever it's called) too high? If this is too nosy please forgive me. And either way, I hope things work out for you!

The only other thing...are you maybe eating later? When was your last fill? Because; if you got a fill recently and have dinner within a few hours of bed time (or have a snack) that may be a big part of your problem. Just guessing here! Hopefully the liquids will help you calm things back down!

Yes. You've agitated your stomach, band (or rather the area where the band is) and esophagus. I was told after a bad PB to go to liquids for 24-48 hours, then mushies, then solids (much like after a fill). Try that. If you don't feel better, of course, seek medical attention. But you've probably agitated it then re-insulted it so you need to take time to calm things back down. Switch to Liquid Protein (shakes, whatever) and hang in there for a day or two. You should start to feel it loosen up and improve pretty quickly. OF COURSE....if you feel worse or can't keep liquids down, call your doc!

WATER! Are you getting at least 64 oz of the pure stuff in? Seriously it is vital. Especially since many get liquid from food but as bandsters progress, we don't eat much food, so that 64 oz of water becomes even more vital. It is easy to be dehydrated and not even know it. Make sure your water intake is adequate and if that doesn't fix it (if you've been "under" drinking, give it a week or two of adequate hydration to see a change in your lips) call your banding surgeon.

Cheating on your post op diet (advancing foods too quickly) is a major cause of band slippage. You aren't the only person who feels fine. I came to in recovery hungry and had senior year of nursing school to contend with while on liquids for 2 weeks and I made it so I am sure you can too...because I didn't get to 405 pounds by dieting frequently and easily, you know? Get back on your liquid program and HANG IN THERE. call your surgeon monday, tell him/her you are hungry and that you advanced your diet and how and when. Odds are he'll tell you it's ok and you can eat more than what's prescribed but let the pro guide you, ok? A slip is nothing to fool around with.

It depends on many factors...you, how quickly you recover, how good your surgeon is, how physically demanding your job is! You really can't judge by us, but your surgeon should be able to give you an average of how long his patients are out (and how long he'll sign off for, so you can get your "disability") I was attending nursing school (53 years old, top weight 405) when I got mine and I had surgery on Friday, was back in class that next Tuesday. I had a VERY easy recovery, though (even though it was my 2nd surgery in a month.) Not all recover so quickly.

I agree with Enchanted, you need to see a doc pronto, and I see you plan to do just that. Good for you and good luck; I think you're right to be worried and I hope they help you figure out how to stop it. Just wanted to add...yes be worried but don't be ashamed. Sounds like you have a little deeper issue than just "plain old" overeating going on.

The support group at my surgeon's office is across town at 6pm once a month. The traffic is VILE beyond words that time of day (and there is ongoing interstate construction at his exit, etc). I would literally have to leave home by about 4:45 or earlier to make it on time. So no, I don't go. I too am not a joiner although I probably would've gone at least a time or two to see what it is all about if it were closer or later or earlier or whatever!

I'd have a "family education night" I don't know exactly what family you mean (parents? kids? husband? cousins?) but I would sit the whole kit and caboodle of them down and discuss the lap band with them. Have a picture of the band around the stomach, or whatever visual aid you think appropriate. Treat it like a true litlle "class" on the band. I would also discuss how ineffective and counterproductive a force of "food police" is (plan this and say it nicely, as you see fit). Tell them you are now in more control than ever but to have people constantly treat you as different is very off-putting. Tell them you just want to be treated "normally" and that would be the biggest help of all. Tell them the goal of lap band is for you to be able to eat ANYTHING but in small amounts, and until you have good restriction (which may take up to 6 months or more, actually, depending on many factors) your portions will be larger, and then slowly get smaller. I think since they all apparently want to help and are asking in kind ways, that they are probably curious and want to know. They want to help you....so help them do just that. That's what I'd do.

Since you obviously know yourself best, then you are the one to best advise yourself on this subject. take whatever colon cleanse works for you. Don't "poo" for 10 days, then go to the doc whenever it suits! :cursing:

The abdominal cavity is filled with CO2 during surgery to spread things apart and make the surgery easier. Sometimes that discommodes the diaphragm and it can be agitated and sore afterward. If it presses on the phrenic nerve that runs right by it you have what is called "referred" pain in your shoulder. It will lessen and resolve over time as the gas is absorbed by your body (Gas X or other drugs won't help it because it isn't in your digestive tract, it's in your abdominal cavity, unless your surgeon removes most/all of it) It felt, to me, kind of like what we call "a crick in my neck" but having my husband massage my shoulder would make mine quickly abate. Different people have it (if at all) to different degrees.

It can all be a little overwhelming sometimes, can't it? I'm thinking that since you don't have symptoms, you can probably manage it. Lots of times our bodies respond to our stress levels etc, so if you don't worry about it, it might not be a worry, if that makes sense? You have a good attitude; I am sure it will all work out well for you!

well of course our pouches are made out of our stomach and it is VERY VERY stretchy, and also rebounds back down nicely. It makes sense the pouch would stretch a little but you'd have to really overdo to stretch it out, I think. So odds are you're really great! As my granny would say, "don't borrow trouble"...don't worry about it unless it happens. :scared2:

I say ask your surgeon...let him know about the flight etc. Also at 3 weeks will you be on food-type restriction? It's important not to advance your post op diet too fast. A good talk with your surgeon is your safest option.

With your surgeon, who knows? But usually if the pouch is stretched, docs unfill you and let things "rest" for a while, then begin refilling. In order to stretch your pouch enough to cause trouble you generally have to consistently overeat. Note I said consistently...a time or two of wild abandon won't do it. Odds are at 6ccs your pouch isn't stretched but you just need more restriction. Bands aren't one size/one fill level fits all, and while I'm no pro, your surgeon is the first I've ever heard of with a kooky "6 cc" rule. Bands can be filled to capacity...that's the point.

I guess it's part of church politics and apparently something I don't understand. However if he was "OK" to ask her, in his official capacity, should she have LIED to him? I think he's culpable too but don't understand the situation apparently. Maybe as your friend she wanted to be quiet but when a church official asked her outright she didn't feel comfortable lying. I would've been ticked off that the bishop didn't ask ME personally, but that's just me. I'd be upset with her, too...but again, your church and it's beliefs are all intertwined here.