stevegoad

Well, I've had two umbilical hernia surgeries this year...one emergency (with a removal of about 6 inches of intestine and bowel resection), and on non-emergency, but major 3" open incision, to finish what was not finalized with the first - Even though my surgeon who fixed the hernina no longer performs lapband, and he was very certain that my hernia was a complecation of the original 2008 lap band (making me a not-so-happy lapband recepiant), he did not request, or even hint at the need of an unfill prior to either surgery. There were no problems. So I am not sure of the reason for an unfill.

I'll have to admit... I'm pretty good at deciphering theological and philosophical messages... but this one goes outsider my realm of understanding.

Well, I've been on half-a-dozen cruises since my band... my first was about 9 months after banding. Don't do anything outside of your normal plans. If you're due for a fill, get a fill. The thing is, the average person gains about a pound a day on a cruise. Most cruises, I maintain pretty well... but it's not so much the band (though it stops me from eating as much at meals), as it is making wise choices. There is ice cream available 24/7... there are bars serving drinks almost 24/7. There are midnight chocolate buffets. There are restaurants and buffets willing to serve almost all day and night. You can get room service pretty much 24/7. In other words, it's not the three meals that get you... it's the dozen between meal meals that do it. Just make yourself eat on the cruise like you would at home. Use common sense. At the restaurant, order an appetizer as a meal. AND WATCH THE CHOCOLATE MELTING CAKE... it's wonderful, gooey, warm, with ice cream on the side, and has three days worth of calories in one small dessert that works very well with a band. Go, enjoy the cruise... have a ball... but keep your head about you when you eat and drink, and you'll be fine.

A stretched pouch can go back... But it does take starting over... a few days on liquids, a few days soft, and then back to full diet. No carbonation, watch the starches... And it might help to use the gasX to keep the gas from helping stretch. It'll take a couple of weeks, but it'll work.

No doubt, the band will not do it for you. It only helps. You still have to watch your intake, your calories, how and what you eat. You still have to exercise. That's the problem. In the end, if you succeed, it's not the band... it's you. And if you fail, it's not the band, it's you. That's the harsh reality of it. The good news is that you can do it. You can make it work. Just go back to the basics, and keep working the plan.

When you walk, stand extremely straight... straighter than you think feels at all normal. It helps things settle. But the main thing is to know that it will pass.

I was doing Water aerobics for a couple of years before surgery, and kept them up for about a year afterwards. To be honest, while I have quit (trying to get to the pool at 7:00 a.m. was too much for me), I have often regretted it. I don't know how much it helped me in losing the weight, but it was fantastic for toning me up. I haven't gained since quitting, but I have definitely gotten looser. So yeah, definitely get into a water aerobics class... It is the best thing for your joints and muscles as low-impact goes.

The band is only a tool. It's still up to you to use it right. Remember the basics. Hi Protein, eat slowly... stop eating when full... and then don't go back. Don't drink while eating. Keep the fried food down. Not only are they high calories, but they can slip through the band easier, allowing you to eat more. No sodas. Ice Cream is a no-no... The band might like it, but the calories don't. Same with alcohol... Drinking won't hurt the band, but it's high calorie. Like I said... Go back to the basics,and hang in there.

I wasn't in True Results in Richardson. But while the company may be knowledgeable about how to present your surgery to the insurance company, it's still up to the insurance company. The doctor or company doing the surgery plays a small part. Still, the pluses of going through true results... they do know how to write, and since weight loss surgery is their whole business, they are likely to work hard if rejected to help you get a second, or even third hearing. The negative is that the insurance company knows that certain doctors, and companies like True Results, specialize in weightloss surgery. So they might be less likely to read the emergency need for the surgery no matter how they word it... In other words, True Results might work harder, but they would be less likely to put a smoke screen than an independent doctor. Like I said, those are not my experience. I am just giving thoughts based on logic and in talking to others. Some here might have some circumstantial evidence differently, and I certainly don't claim to be the voice of experience. But that is the thought of one who took the fast track into surgery by going around insurance and working private pay...

I hate to say it, but it could last longer... Literally, my wife will tell you that this past 4 years, my breath has been much worse... my dentist says there is nothing dental involved, and it's all gastric. And it all started with my lapband. I know most don't have such things... but it does happen.

I have to agree that your weight is not the big issue, though I can sympathize as to how weight can affect the relationship. Certainly, my wife telling me she wanted many years with me, and wanted us to travel together... but she never wanted to get on an airplane with me again was a big reason for me to decide on surgery... but at no time would we even consider divorce. If he is not willing to wait on you to have surgery, or support you during surgery, then I can promise you... he will not hang around with you fat or thin. That's not a nice thought, but I speak from experience with having counseling with couples going through hard times (I don't talk about this part of my life in groups like this, but I am a former United Methodist pastor that has dealt with people blaming all sorts of external events on the reason they want to get out of marriage... or worse, blame their spouse for an affair.) I can't say why your husband is consider giving up a marriage of 17 years, but I can guess... a real option is that he really doesn't want you to lose weight... because as long as he has you fat, he's got control over you. He says you losing weight would be too slow, and he belittles you for being too fat, but really all of that is control... and if you lose the weight, he might lose that control.... and if that is the case, he'll get out and find someone else to control... and will blame you. But like I said, that's a guess... At this point, I can only pray blessings over you, your husband, and in your relationship... and blessings on you as you struggle with the marriage and your weight loss. Shalom.

I always just say things about "restricting my intake." Complete honesty.... I don't need to tell how my intake is "restricted."

Would I do it again? Not likely. I would have worked harder to lose naturally - I know, a lot of people say "if I could, I would - and I totally understand it. I might would have said the same thing. But the fact that a band which makes eating uncomfortable worked to make me lose proves that there was some real control issues. And, had I known the pain of surgery, the discomfort during eating, the throwing up, and the damage to my teeth from PB'ing, my now chronic back breath, and most recently, the hernia repair that changed my 12,000 to more like 50K in medical expense, I believe that would have been a great enough incentive. Just being honest.

I hope all goes well for you. It might take a week or so to get feeling better, but it will happen.

That is actually the reason I only told half-a-dozen people, all sworn to secrecy. It's none of their business, and most who don't know don't understand. But you can't let other people's opinion rule your thoughts.

I've been on half a dozen cruises since lapband, with 2 more scheduled in the next 9 months. I'll tell you that, as an experienced cruiser, cruises and lap-band doesn't mix that well. There is so much food available, unfortunately, including ice cream and other sweets 24/7. I know your question is about preparing; but I'll tell you that it is more what you do once you hit the ship. The average person (non-banded gains an average of a pound a day on the ship... so if you can maintain during your cruise, count it a huge victory. But enjoy yourself... but when you go to the buffet, (or even to the restaurant), know where the restrooms are.

I flew about 10 days after surgery from Houston to Chicago. It went fine (except for the dinner with friends at a restaurant, and no one understanding why I only had a bowl of Gazpacho). Flight went well. You should have no problems at all.

My apologies... I nearly let myself get drawn into a silly argument...

Congrats on the loss. I hope everything goes well with the doctor.

Honestly, if you don't like your doctor, find another. But think about something. Is it that horrible that he said the "D" word? Lapband is a tool. (I know, we've heard that phrase ad nausium, but it's really true). We still have to watch what we eat, we still have to follow the rules. If we spend all day eating eating refried Beans and washing them down with margaritas (great food for the band, but terrible for the diet), then the band will be a waste. In other words, the reality is we still need to live on a diet. We didn't get fat because of our will power, or because we had good eating habits. The band assist us in our portion sizes, but it doesn't tell us what to eat. A diet tells us that. Some doctors don't like lapband... even some that used to do them regularly. I know the surgeon who repaired my hernia 2 months ago was very non-lapband friendly (he made it clear that the lapband surgery was the cause of my hernia, and in his opinion it was a bad surgery). Like I said, if you don't like your surgeon, get another one... but if you don't like the word diet, then that's a personal problem that you have to deal with.

You're going to have pain (maybe a week or so). For gas, gas-x strips (it doesn't really work well, but I guess it does something). For pain, Tylenol liquid. Again, doesn't work well, but it's something. And remember, in a week or so you'll feel better.

Deb. Let me play devil's advocate here. As one who went self-pay, I will give you some information. Since insurance companies will require extra testing to determine necessity and feasibility (and perhaps reasons to exclude), self pay gets their surgery quicker. I know from the day I went in for my initial consultation to the surgery day, I waited 2 weeks. Literally, I was starting preop diet almost immediately. Such things don't give you much time to consider all the options. You will be told all about how lap band is reversible. Yeah, maybe... if you want to go through surgery again, pay for a procedure that will cost equal to or more than your initial surgery. In other words, for private pay, it's not necessarily reversible without medical emergencies. Your life will change. There will be foods you absolutely cannot eat with ease. I can't tell you what it will be for you. For me, it's Pasta (ok, that's good), its seeded foods (what good is a weightloss plan without tomatoes), most fruit. You can never go out to eat, go on a cruise, or dine anywhere without scouting out where the restroom is. (we're polite calling it PB, or productive burping.... the fact is, you're going to throw up; often times even if you haven't over eaten). Because of the gastric changes, there might be some unforseen problems. I have been having for 4 years chronic bad breath... and my dentist will say it's not dental... it's gastric. 2 months ago, I had an umbilical hernia repair that my surgeon said started 4 years ago during my lap band. (yes, I knew it, but let it go, only going in when it strangulated and I lost 6 inches of intestine in the repair). IN other words, the 12,000 surgery has now cost me 50,000. Loose skin. If you lose a great deal of weight (like the 130 I've lost), you'll have a lot of sag, even with exercise. For me, that's not a huge deal, but don't let the ads of people wearing bikinis fool you... you will not lose that much weight and ever be ready for swimsuit season. I'm not trying to talk you out of it... if you want to have lapband, then go for it. But go in fully aware about the decision you're making. It is a great tool if you want to lose weight (but it will only work if you use it right). But again, be aware of all the facts... it's not just about the weight you lose... it's about the full life changes.

You'll be absolutely fine. No problem at all.

OK, my wife and I dumpster-dive (actually, I call it curb shopping... but anyway). Today, I found a case, unopened, and unexpired, of LipoRush... Thermogenic nutricianal supplements that are supposed to increase energy and burn fat, to aid in workout productivity. The stuff sells for $80 or more for a bottle of 60 at GNC. That would make the case of 12 bottles be worth $920... like I said, they are unexpired (a 2015 expiration date) and never opened. Anyone know anything about these little jewels? A strange day at the curb.

Well, there are a couple of things to remember... "Ideal Weight" is what's ideal for you... not what's on a chart. I stopped a couple of years ago in the 250 range, and haven't moved... but at the same time, it's great for me... (though I have a lot of loose skin and flab, and I'm definitely not spending the money and going through the pain to have reconstruction surgery... at 52, I'm never going to be a swim suit model, and my wife doesn't mind). Second, the band is just a tool, and will only work as well as you use it. (believe me, I know well how to cheat the band, and if I wasn't really careful, even with the band, I could have never lost any). In the end,stopping losing won't be a problem... But really, you're only going to lose so much even with the band. The general rule of thumb is that the band when used right will drop your weight up to about 40% of your body weight. (so if you're 400, you can expect to get down to 240 or so.... I stopped a bit short of that, but still, I'm cool). Once you stop, you've got to change how you use the tool to maintain your loss. You've still got to watch, as it's easy to regain without thinking. Just keep using the tool and watching what you eat.