RestlessMonkey

I don't blame you. I don't think I'd want one either and people do have trouble adjusting...but say it is miraculous, the change in energy etc. Hate to tell you this but losing doesn't cure all apnea, either! Some "normal weight" people have it. Hopefully yours will go away with weight loss. I guess if your surgeon vouches for the pulmonologist, you're kind of stuck. Good luck whichever you decide.

I know you're frustrated, but sleep apnea is a bona fide problem for many, more than one "visit" isn't uncommon, and although I understand your anguish, not all docs are essentially businessmen first and foremost. There are some money grubbers in medicine as there are in anything on earth, unfortunately, and for all I know your surgeon is one, but if you think that's the big issue, find another. seriously! I don't have sleep apnea but from reading here and another "weight loss board", and knowing a couple people who have it, the cpap can revolutionize your life. I hope some people w/apnea will post for you, but I can assure you that it takes getting the right mask, machine, setting etc to properly treat it. If you want the band but don't trust your surgeon, switch docs. If you want the band and trust your surgeon but just are frustrated, then hopefully someone can post and help you deal. But your problem isn't an uncommon one. Many have to have several sleep apnea tests pre banding.

You know, Jacqui, I think you're the bee's knees! But I believe the newest thinking is you can pull fat specifically from the liver, at least the way my surgeon very patiently explained it to me not once, but twice. Extremely low fat diets seem to make our bodies go to the liver first. I did lose fat, not just water, at least assuming his pricey pricey tanita scales that check body fat, body water, etc are any indication. I would've agreed with you about 1000% (and actually I did...that's why I did my "own thing" for my first "liver shrink") but I think that at least the diet my doc gave me does some internal magic. Ok not really magic, but it works.

I can't offer any help or advice but I did want to tell you I think what has happened to you is pretty awful! I do think your doc should not charge you his fee...or work with you on it somehow. I feel for you!

My doc had me get EAS Carb control AdvantEDGE...they have 17 g protein, 110 cal, and are low fat low carb. They taste like it, too! BUT they are great for what they do. Good luck! :tongue:

I apparently had a fatty liver...doc said it wasn't diseased (yet, I'm assuming, because it isn't healthy) and I had a low carb, low calorie, low/no fat diet I was on to shrink it. Not a doc here but I think you're right to worry about the carbs and fat in the diet the doc gave you, if the point of it is to shrink your liver preop. The diet my doc gave me (and they all tweak them a little) was 2-3 low carb low fat low cal high Protein Shakes a day, 64 oz at least Water a day, and 3 oz lean fish chicken or turkey a day in one meal, plus some green veggies. period. I cheated and did a more atkins type thing the first 3 weeks, (atkins allows more fat) and while I lost 15 pounds my liver was too big still. After that horror I did what doc said for 17 days, lost 17 MORE pounds, and that time he placed the band fine. I always say trust your doc but if you're worred about it I don't see how cutting out some fat can hurt you any! Especially for just a few weeks.

All the rest aside (name calling etc..) It's easy to think someone's just whining about the sky falling until it really falls. I'm truly a question authority type, believe it or not. However I think when people post they too are putting it out there, open to all sides. If I take a more conservative approach that's my right; no one has to do what I advise. I'm not really a "band nazi" (I find that offensive actually) and I'm sure the other poster knows that. I came here, new and uninformed, last summer. I read over and over about people "cheating" on their preop diets. I figured "Why should I be different" and cheated. I truly came to in recovery without the band. May I say that was not my most fun I ever had? It sucked, actually. I had an "epiphany" then. I realized that for all those people urging cheating, and surely they weren't all trying to be mean....that I wish I hadn't done it. I'm that tiny voice saying "Wait...what if this happens" because sometimes you don't get away with it. Sometimes you eat a sandwich 2 days post op and tear out your stitches. Sometimes you cheat on a preop diet and your liver doesn't shrink. Sometimes you puke so much your band slips. Sometimes you get so constipated you get impacted and someone has to dig it out manually (and as a nursing student I was actually taught how to do this. not fun for either person, believe me) If you don't want the "this could happen" skip my post. I also tell people they are doing well because I also assume that like me, people come here wanting to get the truth, wanting to get all sides, wanting to make the best choices FOR THEM. You'll note I often say "ask your doctor what s/he thinks is right for you". I would never want to encourage someone to do something that eventually caused pain or damage, like what happened to me. I'd rather be seen as "gloom and doom" (easy to disregard if you want) than someone who encouraged an earnest poster to do him or her self harm. I guess it's all a matter of intent. I don't mean to hurt any more than most of the "you'll get away with it" posters do. And people who post need to read and filter the answers, regardless of their content.

Of course the best thing is to do what your doc says and you know that. But if I were you and TRULY couldn't either cut the hours or do the work on the protein shakes (and honestly are you sure 2 weeks off is enough? Many of us have lifting restrictions beyond 2 weeks...) then I would eat lean protein. eggs....chicken breast, turkey, fish. No fat, no breading, etc...(no sandwiches) but I'd supplement with the lean protein....something almost like an "atkins" type thing but no red meat unless it is super super lean. I'd just do enough to get by (especially knowing now what I didn't know then...I cheated on my preop diet and my liver was too thick. I came to in recovery w/out the band, the 1st time)

I have a few questions if you don't mind...how much do you weigh, how long and what is your preop diet, and has your doc told you what he wants from your preop diet (ie shrink your liver, drop 10% of your weight, etc?)

May I suggest you ask your surgeon? S/he may prefer you don't. Some believe that "detoxing" is really not healthy because it removes our "good" flora and fauna from our digestive tracts. AND you'll most likely be given a bowel prep before surgery anyway. So check with your doc. If they give you the green light, then "go" for it!

It's individual of course but right now (depending on what the food is) I can easily eat a bite about 2/3 to 1/2 the size of my old one. Some things, like steak, I'll eat about 1/2 the size of my old bite (and I wasn't really ever a "wolf it down" type LOL) but it isn't pencil eraser sized etc...that is too small to even chew! LOL Honestly you'll eat normally enough that, like I said, no one will know you're banded unless you want them to know.

Why on earth haven't you asked your surgeon for help/guidance?

It apparently didn't hurt me at all to go 7 days with only water and broth. I know long term we need a balanced diet but for a short while apparently some surgeons feel that healing, letting the digestive system rest, is more important than nutrition. Of course, we're tested thoroughly before and after.

Please understand that it is individual...for example while I know Cassy obviously put a lot of care and concern into her post, her experiences are not necessarily going to be yours. Some may be...some may not be. Just realize that many of us don't have problems, issues, negativity. You can discuss your concerns with a good surgeon, too...that should help you.

Just follow the diet your doc gives you...I wasn't allowed protein until week 2, for example, others get it from day 1 post op. And I came to in recovery HUNGRY. Not head hunger...HUNGER. But you just have to hang in there and let your band heal in place etc.

I'm 54...I LOVE my band. I am losing more slowly than I hoped but I am losing. It gives me hope that I may actually keep the weight off. I have honestly never once regretted it or wished I'd done something different. I think it is just short of miraculous. I eat less and am happy with that smaller amount. I feel like a "normal" person. I don't PB, I don't slime. I don't hurt. I feel wonderful. The way I eat now, no one would know I have the band if I didn't tell them. I have a friend visiting who wanted chick-fil-a the other day...I ate 1/2 of a chick fil a sandwich and 2 waffle fries and was full and happy. I think that is just wonderful. I wouldn't trade my band for gold. One thing I think that may help...find a surgeon you like and trust, and then TRUST that surgeon. Listen to him/her. Do what s/he tells you, not what you read here. Trust the pro to guide you. The anecdotal info here is nice but it should never replace medical advice and knowledge. And remember people often post their problems. They don't often post to say "Hi just wanted to say I love the band and have no questions".

I didn't have a "preop" diet for my insurance (that thing for 6 months or whatever to "prove" you're serious etc). I HAD a 3 week preop diet from my surgeon to shrink my liver, AND I had a 24 hour "preop" diet before the surgery that was just liquids and included mag citrate to clear out my innards and prep me. So my 2 preop diets were to achieve different goals. I agree you have to take it in context. It may seem wishy washy if you compare yourself to everyone else....my surgeon though has specific things he wants us to do that may or may not be like what others are told. For example my surgeon is adamant about "no snacks". Not all are like that. My surgeon also is pretty strict about following the preop diet; not all are. Just do what your surgeon tells you if you trust him/her; if you don't, find another surgeon!

I have fairly good restriction and as long as I remember to take small bites (not miniscule....just small) and chew well I haven't found anything I can't eat. Even white bread and dry chicken breast both go down fine.

Good for you; you're lucky you have such an understanding team! Mine is not so lackadaisical and was adamant about "no cheating", so I didn't...but I'm sure you're glad to know you're fine.

Many of us are very very hungry post op (not all though; some lucky people have swelling or some other issues that prevent the hunger, but not all of us). Just follow your post op diet/instructions. It will pass.

Honestly because I was so large, I had no problems qualifying. My doc has a person who just submits ins for his patients so I didn't have to do a bit of paperwork and my claim was approved in two days. I knew because I have tricare standard and had met my deductible it would pay at 80% until I reached my catastrophic cap, and that's what happened. It was easy.

I think this: if you don't "trust" your surgeon to guide you through the preop phase, how can you trust him to band you? To effectively give after care? He may or may not be right: I honestly don't know. I know that I had a big liver, I didn't follow MY doc's diet, I "cheated" but in 3 weeks lost 15 pounds and did NOT get the band because my liver was too large, so I came to in recovery with the scars but no band. I then, chagrined, did EXACTLY what my surgeon said, lost 17 MORE pounds, and got the band 19 days later. What are you going to do post op when you have to have only liquids? It isn't a matter of "need to function" but a matter of "need to heal properly". My surgeon required a week of liquids only....no Protein shakes, no supplements, nothing. What if yours requires that? IF you eat ahead of yourself, peristalsis and the concurrent movement of your stomach can literally rip your stitches loose. Worse, actually, it can loosen things so that you don't know it happened, but in 6 months, or a year, or down the road you'll have a slip or erosion and wonder "WHY ME?" So while I feel your pain I think you need to really question this. If your doc is wrong (and he may be?) why do you trust him to operate on you? If he's right (and he may be) why don't you trust him to guide your diet? You said his nurse is "sympathetic". Does that mean she said "you're right; you must eat" or "I know it's hard but hang in there" And what good is 500 cal a day actually doing you? Why can't you just stick? Why didn't you tell him "I can't go 2 weeks on just water; I have kids; I need to function" Only you can answer these questions for yourself. I don't really know the "right" answer. I hope you find it.

You should tell your surgeon...because you MIGHT have hurt yourself. Usually by day 14 we're on mushies but the fact that you vomited MAY (note I said MAY) have hurt you a bit. You are safest if you call your surgeon and ask! Not for him to fuss (he's not your mama) but to decide if you need an x-ray or something to check your band.

I take pills with no problem and have pretty good restriction. Why not just try 1 and see? I take a potassium pill that's pretty darned big and it goes down. Plus my surgeon gave me pain PILLS for post op! :thumbup: You can call your doc to be sure but I think you'll be ok.

I had to do an upper GI which I think is similar to what you had to have. It checks your esophagus. It was no biggie. Actually the abdominal ultrasound I had to have was more miserable!