RestlessMonkey

Great! :thumbup: (how smart you are! I would've never thought of that before I got the band! You are really prepared!) I know you'll have wonderful band success!

WAIT! Atelectasis is fluid IN the lungs. If the fluid you're talking about was outside the lungs, that's something else altogether and the balloon trick won't help you. Either way by now you've probably met with your surgeon so I hope you're back in the pink!

I don't know about your great country, but over here it's often a challenge to find a place to get fills if you get the band away from your home area (either 100 miles away or the next country) so make sure you have aftercare lined up! Good luck!

The Fluid is "atelectasis" and can cause pneumonia...common after ANY Surgery. They should've sent you home with an "incentive spirometer" to use. If they didn't, buy some balloons and blow one up 10 times every hour (I know seems like a pain but it will work) until the feeling passes, then do it every couple hours to maintain. When the balloon gets easy to inflate (stretched out) toss it and get another. This works. You have to breathe deeply and keep your lungs clear.

Unfortunately this is a common problem for people who are banded in another country (or another county, for that matter!) Surgeons don't like to take on patients that aren't theirs. Good luck finding someone! And for bandsters contemplating getting banded away from home...get a plan for fills NOW. I had no clue, when I got my band, that the fills would be so time consuming and important! But without them, for most of us the band doesn't do anything.

What they said! It's there for life. Most who have it removed (for whatever reason) regain. (at least that's what I've heard and read; I don't know anyone personally who had it removed)

Bottom line, the lap band doesn't "work" for everyone, because you do control what you eat. Unlike bypass (where many get dumping syndrome if they eat sweets, and initially at least they have "malabsorption" to help them lose) we can eat shakes, candy, Cookies, nachos, chips, whatever. While the band, once tightened, does control true physiologic hunger, it won't help with head hunger (although some find it easier to not snack because of the "idea" of having the band and all it stands for). So if you are a grazer or, like me, a night time snacker (for example) you have to deal with that; the band is of limited help. You have to choose the healthy foods. You have to exercise. So your doc may guide you but if you feel s/he is trying to meet his or her own agenda, GET ANOTHER DOC. Although I started out at 405 my doc never once tried to convince me to do bypass. He presented both in his seminar and let his patients decide. If you have an issue where you can't (in his opinion) get the band...like an immune disease, then he won't do it. Otherwise he performs both and supports both. And realize initially gastric may cost a little more, but over time the band probably costs almost as much, what with fills and follow ups. So I don't think any sane doc would push one over the other just for money. At least, I wouldn't go to a doc I thought was doing that!

Talk to your surgeon...they are all different, as we are all different. Mine won't do aggressive fills, some do. In a way I was in a similar boat in that I have the 14 cc band and it took me until fill 5 to "feel it". But it's for life, it's not a race, I didn't expect fast weight loss. May I say...if you truly think your surgeon is doing slow fills just for money, then get another surgeon. I know my surgeon needs an income (we all do) and wants to make a profit but I have never felt that he would compromise my health or success for his pocketbook. He is supporting his staff, they work for their salaries and I KNOW this. BUt they are all kind, caring, helpful. If they acted like I was a number, or tried to herd me through, or didn't listen, I would find another surgeon. You should do the same. I always say to trust your surgeon, if you trust him. I don't mean to blindly hand over all your brain cells! BUT if you trust him, talk to him about it, listen to his side, and then make your decision. This anecdotal evidence posted here shouldn't cause you to doubt yourself. If you don't like your doc, get another. If you like him, get his take on it rather than being scared and worried about it. Your surgeon is the pro here; he (or she!) should be able to help guide you through it all.

Talking with your doc is an excellent plan! There's quite a learning curve with the band the first 6 months to 1 year or so (depending on how hard headed you are, like me LOL, and how quickly you get restriction) so you want to do all you can to make that period easy and successful for you and your future "band".

Call your doc. It's important to follow the post op diet...no one likes it (at least no one I know! LOL) but we do it because we have to, to heal. Your doc may give you the green light to eat or he may give you a nausea med, but don't just do this on your own. Peristalsis (digestion) can cause your stitches to rip or loosen and you may not know you've hurt yourself until on down the road. I know you don't want that; let your doc decide if it's safe for you to eat or no.

I think, from the little I've read, that yes the AP (advanced platform) Lap bands, small (holds 10cc) and large (holds 14cc) are supposed to be safer. Less slips, less erosion. Less issues. And because they are sized so that docs have a choice which to install, they can be more "custom fitted" to the patient. Because they are reporting issues with aggressive fills (too tight too quickly) like esophageal spasms etc, some docs consider a slow steady conservative approach to be more healthy. It's not a race and long term weight loss is the goal. I'm not a pro here but that's what my doc and my limited internet reading have brought up for me. So the OP who had a slip with her first band doesn't run as much risk of that with her new one. The old ones are still used, although more widely in Mexico than here in the states, and are safe and useful, but the "new ones" are supposedly safer long term. Remember though, if you HAVE an old one, that safer is relative....we're taking 1-2% of all "bandsters". They all will do the trick.

Even if it is "fast" for you, take time to, um, take your own pulse, if that makes sense? It is a big change. It's positive (usually) but even good things can be stressful and if you are doing it at hyper speed your mind may struggle to catch up (counterintuitive, but true!) Just be good to yourself, follow the "rules" your doc gives you, and I am sure you'll do great! :thumbup:

Thank you, TSB! You made my day! :thumbup: I wish you every success with your band!

Everyone is different...you'll learn that the more you read on here. There are no two experiences alike, it seems! But no, I didn't have to do a sleep test, nor did I have to do a stress test and/or get a cardiac clearance, like some do. It depends on the person, on insurance requirements, and on the surgeon. Since I had a normal ecg and no heart issues or symptoms, and since I didn't have anything that would indicate sleep apnea, and I didn't NEED a comorbidity for my insurance, the doc didn't require it. I just had the psych eval, a very quick nutrition eval, and some other medical preop tests...all of which were taken care of in one day at the hospital where my surgeon is head of bariatrics. So it was fast and easy!

I went to a seminar 7/10 and was in surgery 8/11 and am not self-pay so yes it can happen fast! Don't know about that Doc/Facility, but good luck to you!

I think you should probably know the info, in case you're ever in a medical situation where you need to give someone the info (just like you know what you're allergic to, or you know your insurance even if you don't know exactly what's covered etc). Otherwise I don't think it much matters; totally up to you. They all function essentially the same and the "perfect" fill level is different for every person, and it changes for every person too depending on weight, life situation, etc. So it just depends on your personality, besides the basics.

While you'll probably feel ok, depending on your surgeon the post op diet may be a little tricky. By week 4 I was on soft foods, some are still on mushies, some docs let patients advance. AND some docs say no hot tubs (for example) for up to a month post op...this is something you should probably discuss with your surgeon. You'll "feel" fine by then most likely, but other things may make your vacation more problematic than it should be. Good luck!

Honestly you'd be safer not to get a fill and then go on vacation the next day anyway (although your 2nd fill may not do much. Mine sure didn't!) If it is too tight and you need an "unfill" you'd be in deep poo! However I agree that is totally red tape BS!

The Front! :smile: Actually I really was just a little sore mostly in the front...the middle. It wasn't bad though. Tylenol for a day or two kicked it. I think I was really very lucky!

Depends on your doc; you might want to call and ask. Mine says 15 minutes; some say 1 hour or more.

i can believe the lower bmi/need more restriction view point, because I was told, and have read, that as we lose weight often we need our bands tightened because the fat around our stomach is diminished. If you start out with less fat around the stomach, then you need a smaller belt (just like a thin person needs a shorter belt than a heavier person does)

WOW! Thanks for sharing! Now we know yes the body CAN reject the band, rare though it is (lucky you, huh?) Glad it's out; glad you didn't wait longer! Hope now that everything is much easier for you! Take care and heal well

I have wanted the band since 2002 but my insurance didn't cover it, my doc wasn't on board, and I would just talk myself back out of it. This year my doc and the insurance company finally came around! So my doc recommended it, but about 7 years after I first wanted it on my own anyway.

Sounds to me like either you are too tight or you aren't taking small bites and chewing really really well. Are you following the "rules"...small bites, chew to mush, no drinking with meals?

My first fill was at 6 weeks. It seemed like FOREVER though. And it took to fill 5 before I finally got restriction.