RestlessMonkey

Did your doc's office say WHY they wanted 2k instead of $750?

Every person on earth is different. We are unique creatures...but I still think maybe some therapy would help you; what you describe sounds to me like depression. Not the blues, but something that is ongoing with you? I am not a psychologist and I don't even play one on TV so forgive me if I am intruding. I do hate to see people in pain (mental or physical) when they don't have to be. If you had a headache I'd offer aspirin or tylenol; since your psyche seems to hurt, I can only offer therapy. Don't be so quick to dismiss it, or to think that losing weight will solve every problem. It won't. That thinking is dangerous and will set anyone up for a big disappointment. Sometimes getting out of a prison requires more than opening the door. I hope you will think/pray/meditate/ruminate or whatever on maybe getting a little professional help, maybe an anti-depressant? A talk with your doc would be a place to start. Good luck to you, whatever you decide!

I asked my doc (they all do it a little differently) and he said "It has some primer in it; nothing important". He's one who feels slow steady fills are best, and that post op we need to heal from the trauma of surgery. Personally I'm glad I wasn't filled; I've read too often about people post op who were nauseated, couldn't keep liquids down, etc because of a fill! (Not the only reason for nausea ... unfilled people can be nauseated...but I wanted to do anything to avoid it!) Different docs will handle it differently.

Call your doc ASAP ! Seriously. There are drugs to give you to help that, and if you DO vomit this early in the game you MAY (note I said MAY) do damage to your healing band. Don't just suffer, call your doc.

Yes I would never make light of anyone's sadness, and I think that there are issues that our weight may make worse (some medical, some emotional!) So that's why I suggested therapy...because not all fat people are lonely, so it can't be just a condition of being overweight. And how sad to have the surgery just to "fix" loneliness and it not work!

Just another reason not to have our bands too tight! Hope you feel better soon!

So sorry but your questions are ones best answered by your surgeon...all we'd be doing is guessing. I hope everything works out well for you! I can tell you that if it "has eroded into the gastric lumen" the odds are high that you will need it removed ASAP. Also because it hasn't been in there for a LONG time, odds are you'll be ok after a time for recovery. BUT those too are just guesses. Good luck!

Therapy? You do KNOW the basics, right? Only you know why you aren't using the tool you've worked so hard to get and keep. That's why I was wondering if therapy would help you? Otherwise just tell yourself you'll follow the rules for just ONE day. Then see if you can stretch it to two, etc...or, do what worked for you before. Our lives change and sometimes things are easier than others, but you know this is do-able...you know it works if you work it. You have to find the answers within why you won't "work" it this time...

I'm so sorry you're lonely! But honestly, losing weight may not fix things for you; some therapy may help. I AM more active as I lose more weight, but I had friends and a social life at 405 too. A good therapist may help you come out of your shell a little? Good luck to you, whatever you choose!

If excess weight caused your asthma, losing will cure it. More likely your symptoms will improve because you will be more fit, but it won't "cure" it. ALL our medical issues aren't caused by being fat, so getting thinner won't fix them, but anything that obesity causes or makes worse will improve with weight loss. For example, I have a bone spur on my left heel. Losing weight may make the surgery I'll probably need easier (too hard to drag this fat carcass around on crutches for 2-6 weeks!) and losing weight MAY make things hurt less, but it won't make my bone spur go away.

It depends on WHY you have lower back pain. If the weight is exacerbating it, then losing will help. However I'd think you STILL will have to walk and exercise to strengthen it. If you are having the surgery ONLY for that, then discuss it at some length with your surgeon. No bariatric surgery will "cure" back pain...it treats obesity which can (or may not be) causing your issues. Good luck!

I wish I'd realized how important fills are (I knew, but I didn't KNOW! if that makes sense) and how LONG it would take me to finally get restriction. It wouldn't have changed my mind, but would've saved me a lot of disappointment. After surgery my lip moisturizer, my birkenstock sandals (easy on/off), loose clothes. Tylenol. A pillow to brace my surgical sites when i got up, sat etc. That's it. It was easy!

LOL I like that one even better than my mom's! Thanks for sharing it.

AH. Ok. In a way you're "pouting" because you can't eat. I understand that all too well! What helped me honestly was just not thinking about it but almost like a mantra reminding myself how happy I was to have the band, how great it was going to be to not be hungry all the time and to finally lose weight and keep it off. I just found things to do to distract myself. I didn't even get Protein shakes week one, and would've almost killed for one. So in a way I would've killed to be you! It's hard but worth it. Just keep reminding yourself of that. Or as my mother used to tell ME...Put a smile on your face and get over it. LOL That used to make me mad, but it does help. sometimes.

FINALLY! I came to in recovery hungry and thirsty! I got told "it's head hunger" Uh. NO! I'm HUNGRY! LOL I just gritted my teeth and got through it. I kind of got used to it. Week 2 my surgeon allows protein shakes (week one was just clear liquids. I almost gnawed my own arm off but it was too fatty! LOL) and the protein helped a little. Mushies were like manna from heaven...hang in there.

ok...then what feels "yucky"? Is it because you're nauseated? Do you have diabetes? If not, it could be your body is just rebelling and you just have to tell it to get over itself! LOL You didn't have to do much of a preop diet, did you, because they moved your surgery up? If you think it's hunger (it's possible) it will pass.... otherwise, what do you think it is? We usually "know" more than we realize about why we feel bad.... Since you are "miserable" but aren't in any pain, I'm trying to figure out how to maybe help you a little, so if I'm being too nosey forgive me!

Why aren't you taking your pain meds? Are you walking some?

Although odds are you'll find someone on here who says yes...I think the answer really should be no. You're still healing and alcohol is pretty counter-productive to that. Plus, many of us lose inhibitions as we drink and that can mean eating/overeating. At 9 days post op letting your band seat well, letting your "innards" heal etc are most important right now. Since your doc isn't available to ask (I'm assuming?) I say better safe than sorry. Give him/her a call on Monday though and ask, so you'll know for next time.

You'll need to call them directly to see if lap band surgery is covered; as you may know, many insurance policies are modified by the purchaser (usually an employer) so one person's policy is different from another persons, even if the insurance company is the same. Good luck!

I agree 100%...you need to be checked out. You may have slipped, or something else may be going on. The longer you delay, the more internal damage you MAY be doing to yourself. Call your doc ASAP. Good luck!

It could be, too, that you are a little more tuned in to the urge right now (not working or busy etc...but recovering/recuperating) and so you go more frequently and so have less to go, too. :tongue:

You shouldn't have to use pressure to urinate, actually, although sometimes we do to "hurry" it. You should in fact RELAX...if you relax your muscles it happens. If the "little bit" is abnormal for you and you are well hydrated (getting 64 oz Water daily etc) then mention this to your surgeon at your 1 week check up. Normal urination won't discommode or upset or impact or bother your band at all.

I will say this for the slow fill schedule my doc used...things are exactly as he told me they should be. I can eat literally anything (including untoasted white bread) IF I WANT IT. I am full usually on about 1/2 to 1 cup of food (depends on what I choose) and I stay that way for HOURS. I love it! :tongue: So not everyone has foods they can't eat.

Note the "can" cause hunger...for some, caffeine is actually an appetite suppressant. It's been in many many OTC diet pills/concoctions, etc. So it may or may not make a person hungry. It doesn't impact me that way, but then I've been drinking sugar free iced tea since I was about 6. I can honestly say that caffeine is one thing that does NOT make me hungry LOL Fortunately I don't get w/drawal from it either; I didn't indulge pre band and post band for about 3 months but finally cleared with my doc that it was ok for me to have it. We're all different....amazingly so!

What happened to you isn't necessarily COMMON but it does happen. Odds of it being something permanent are really really really slim...partly because the surgery shouldn't have impacted your bladder at all (you weren't operated on in that area) Some bladders do get "upset" at anesthesia and become a bit shy. I'm sure the cath is not comfy but it will give your bladder a chance to get over the "insult" and move on!