RestlessMonkey

I think you need to find out what's wrong with your band. We aren't docs so can't really tell you if it's slipped, leaks, what? but you need medical advice. Go get some help.

Everyone is different. I was HUNGRY. I just toughed it out. I knew if I cheated I could cause a slip and that is a mighty motivator to not advance my diet faster than the doc said I could. Some lucky people aren't hungry for a time, probably because their stomachs are unhappy after the surgery. Not me. No, my Iron stomach was right as rain and I woke up in recovery HUNGRY. It is only for a short while, though. I spent a lifetime being hungry on diets and that was like one intense period and now I'm rarely hungry. When I am, I eat a little and it passes. I think of it as a kind of "trial" I went through for freedom from hunger.

Jacqui I haven't been to WW in a couple years but I can tell you that, when I was last there, the requirements to eat (44 "points" a day and so on...and the points required drop as you lose, and depending on age etc) were more food than I can physically consume right now with my band at 6.25 cc in my 14cc band. My doc is adamant about no Snacks. So whether or not you want to do the "Protein first" thing (and note I said protein first, not protein exclusively! ) WW could be hard to truly follow because it's hard to get that much down. Some people can't even eat most fruits etc. We all have to find our own best way to use this tool and I'm sure you and I agree 100% on that. And WW is a healthy diet...we can concur on that as well! But if you TRULY follow the WW discipline it will be hard to get all the food in, until you've lost enough for the requirement to drop low enough. At my weight if I just ate 1000 cal a day, per WW I would NOT be working the program. See my point? So I said...dont' follow it verbatim! :purplebananna:

Are you going bald? Or just losing hair? My doc told us in the seminar that we'd all lose at about 3-6 months out, that nothing (protein biotin yada yada etc) would really help (they'd done studies) that it seems tied to the stress of surgery/weight loss, and that within 2-3 months after the start it will stop. he said he's never had a patient that needed a wig or hair piece. Mine fell out and I thought it was TONS but my hairdress of 20 years (this woman knows my hair better than I do) never could tell. It quit and is fine. So unless you are really going bald, I wouldn't worry about it. You may of course ask your surgeon to be sure.

Yes you can. That's one reason bypassers gain weight back. Sometimes it can be "fixed" by getting totally unfilled and waiting a while, but not always. I THINK it takes more than one or two meals, of course, but the stomach is stretchy and over time you can expand the little pouch.

Same to you! Please always call me out if you doubt what I'm typing...!! I am so NOT perfect! now we can join hands and sing "Kum-bah-ya" LOL :purplebananna: j/k

I did until I got it through my thick skull that I needed to take SMALL bites (like dime sized or smaller) and chew WELL (at least 40 times). When I do that...VOILA! No PB! No STUCK! LOL I am careful, especially when I'm hungry or in company, to watch myself and I haven't had a problem in a while now. Usually PB and stuck means too tight (at least that's what I read on here, that clued me into what I was doing wrong)

To be honest I've never had a smoothie but doesn't it have pureed fruit? If so, are you sure you can have that this soon post op? Some can, some can't. I couldn't. Just don't hurt yourself trying to find something that isn't nauseating; if you aren't sure, ask your doc.

I'm not at all offended; I didn't take it personally...you don't know me from Adam so it couldn't be personal! But perhaps it is that I live in the "diabetes capital" (as we affectionately call it; it's not official) and falling asleep after every meal isn't normal or good and is often a blood sugar issue and should be checked by a doc. There's a lot of misinfo here on the boards and I don't mind at all being called when I'm wrong (very human here) but also try to stand up if I think something is right; because it is important. I didn't mean it as a personal attack on you either...just that the OP needs to ask her doc because whatever it is, it isn't normal.

I don't KNOW, ok? but I THINK it's caused by the band not being properly placed and/or slipping early on, agitating the stomach. Like when people advance their diet ahead of doc's orders they can mess things up enough that they aren't in pain right away but don't heal right and have problems down the road. I do know that erosion is rare. For me, for example, at my high weight, I had way more chance of a heart attack or stroke than I do band erosion or slipping.

Honestly I don't think I could've modified my eating until I had the band. That's kind of why we need it, isn't it? Only you know the answer for you of course but if you had the band in place would you be able to do without your diet sodas? I personally couldn't or wouldn't have done it, though. Not the diet soda part, but things like "not drinking while eating" Until there was a need, I just wasn't one to "pretend". I get exasperated with that type of mind game. Do you think you'll be able to follow the rules when you need to? The thing is many many of us cannot tolerate carbonation and it can do you damage, at least the first 6 months to 1 year out. So while you don't have to give it up NOW, you probably will have to give it up. Will you be able to?

I think it's partly because I was SO big! BUT it's possible your surgeon has a psych person he uses (and not all require that actually) However most insurance policies, if you have a BMI of 35-40, require a comorbidity or two like sleep apnea, diabetes, etc. (not sure exactly which; it depends on insurance and didn't apply to me anyway) ZBefore you panic go to your primary, see is s/he will recommend you and then on to the surgeon. Don't borrow trouble, as my granny used to say. That therapist and nurse may not have any say in the matter.

I found out my surgery was covered by my insurance, and I found out which surgeons were in the "network". I picked one. I went to his seminar. I made an appt to see him the next week. I went back a week later for psych and nutrition consults (all at his office). I had an upper GI done. Then they submitted my paperwork. Insurance approved within 2 days and I had preop tests done on a Friday, banding date that next Tues. It was super easy!

I think gallbladders issues are generally tied to rapid or large weight loss more than just getting a band. I had mine out in 2003 after I'd just lost 40 pounds on WW...losing weight seems to trigger the problems. That's why often for gastric bypass surgeons just remove the gall bladder while they are "in there", because they know odds are it's coming out anyway. (at least they used to do that)

I think you're smart to find another surgeon if you can. Your doc is too hard to reach and the aftercare of the band is just about as important as the band itself! They should accommodate you and be apologetic, not defensive! Good luck. I hope you find a better doc! :eek:

Brian...If you think I'm the band Nazi, well right back at ya! :eek: No name calling please. (If you didn't mean me, then never mind! LOL) The point I was trying to make is that with the band it becomes more important to try to choose healthy stuff (quality over quantity) not that anyone will go to Hell for eating pizza. Obviously I didn't get up to 405 by eating carrots and sprouts all day. I got the band because I want to eat "normally" like other people. Most people I know don't eat only carrots and sprouts all the time either. But for most of us, we have to think and choose. I was told that the band will work if I make healthy choices. I don't know what your doc told you. I am a firm believer as I said that to think you'll NEVER have Pizza again (assuming you like it in the first place) is assinine. Most of us can't consistently eat pizza and lose, however. If you can then more power to you and I mean that with all my heart! Lucky you! I've eaten a hamburger (or at least part of one) post banding, too. And I haven't lost that well, as you can see from my stats. The bottom line is I think we all have to work the band the best way we see fit.

I love Pizza! But I'm finally at the point where I can't eat enough of it to get good nutrition (like pizza ever is good nutrition! LOL) And since the band is for life...I can't imagine NEVER eating Pizza again. Just remember to chew it well! :eek:

Why not call Tufts and ask? Call your PCP and ask his nurse or receptionist for a contact number, if you aren't sure who/where to call.

Well you PB'd because 1. you are eating doughy bread stuff (I know; I love pizza, but not a good choice for weight loss!) and 2. you didn't chew well. The point of restriction is that you chew well, eat small bites, get full on a small amt and stay full long. Honestly since you scarfed down a bit of pizza and it came up...that's not shocking. Only you and your doc can decide if you need a fill or not but I don't think the "pizza incident" (LOL) is a good indicator. Can you eat lean meats and poultry and fish? If you have 3-4 oz of say, chicken, chew it well, do you get full or can you (and do you) eat more? And are you happy where you're at or do you think you are eating too much? Those are the things you should use to judge, IMHO!

Call your doc. It may be nothing, it may be something; let the pro decide! And if it is "just" pain maybe he can give you something to help it! Don't just sit and suffer.

I agree that pain killer makes me vomit, so I just used tylenol. Call your doc! He can give you something for the nausea if he needs to, he can give you a different pain med if you need it, he can HELP you! Don't sit and be miserable. Call him now...you'll be glad you did.

I don't think it will prevent your surgery. There are steps they can take beyond the standard precautions of "ted" hose, lovenox or heparin, etc...precautions they can take, as well as drugs they can give you (they may even go so far as to have you give yourself injections of a blood thinner for a few days or so!) Just be honest with your doctor and I'm sure you'll be fine!

This is a common concern...understandable! But common! Here's a link to a post just the other day about it: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/5-reasons-94316/ And here's a link to a web site about weight loss surgery that compares them in a "table" form: Lap-Band vs. Gastric Bypass Surgery And I'm not from MN so can't help you there!

You know, about drinking and eating together...I was worried about that too but once I finally got good restriction it became a non-issue because I am usually hungry at meal times and I want the food; and if I drink while I'm eating it either hurts or fills me up and hurts. It has become a non-issue for me as it is for some of us. Originally I had to work at it like keeping my water or tea away from the dinner table etc but now you couldn't PAY me to drink while I'm eating. It's funny how many of the things we worry most about become unimportant as we get our bands filled and adapt. :eek: Even if you aren't one of the lucky ones who can't drink and eat, like Donna you find ways to cope and it is all worth it!

I don't think you can generalize and pigeonhole people this way. If someone did that to you, I'd have to know the person to comment....people are all different and motivated by different feelings. It's just as likely to be fear or love as it is jealousy.