TQUAD64

Yes, at after surgery, I had to sip fluids too. But after a couple of weeks, I was back to drinking larger quantities of Fluid at once. It will get better.

I have a crazy Vitamin regiment, because my lab work comes back with low levels. I take so many different Vitamins, multi-vitamin, B1, B12, D3, Iron, and calcuim chews. The iron tablet I take is 65 mg once a day.

This one cracks me up!

Great list Heather!

Everyone is different, but I left the hospital hungry and that was with 3cc in my band. Just follow your doctor's instructions and you should do great!.

No this is not normal and it sounds like you need to a more fill removed. I would not wait.

There are some people who have restriction after surgery and do not require a fill for several weeks. After starting the post-op solid food stage, some indicators for needing a fill might consist of: Always hungry and not feeling full or satisfied after a meal (and I am talking solids, not slider foods) No losing weight Able to eat large quantities of food If this occurs to you, then talk to your doctor and discuss the possibility of having a fill prior to his 3-month post-op surgery policy. Good luck!

Good luck Shakia!

Good job!!!:tt2:

There is a risk of complications associated to any surgical procedure. You should be fully aware off all aspects of any surgery before going into an operating room. With that said, there are several scientific reports available on line via the Mayo clinic and JAMA, which provide statistical data about the risk of complications for WLS. Based on the studies I have read, the complication rate is less for gastric banding than for gastric by-pass. There are several areas of complications you might keep in mind; the surgical procedure itself, recovery, and aftercare. Below are links to the Mayo Clinic and JAMA. Usually there are costs associated to their reports. However, they do offer a lot of full pdf reports on WLS on their web site. Utilize their search tool and type in key words such as gastric banding or gastric bypass. JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal published by AMA Mayo Clinic medical information and tools for healthy living - MayoClinic.com As far as risks, yes I had two complications at surgery which required me to stay in the hospital for 2.5 days. But I am doing great now and don't have any health issues. Good luck.

Hello Haunted. Congrats on your insurance approval that really is half the battle. Good luck your journey!

Hello Luna and welcome to LBT. Feel free to jump on any of the threads and post your experience and/or ask a question. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome to LBT! So sorry to hear about your mom's problems with the band, but glad to hear your doing so well. Congrats on your successful weight loss! Keep up the great work and in no time you will reach goal. Best wishes!

Hello Jhirel and welcome to LBT! You will find great resources on this forum and wonderful support too! It does take a long time for insurance approval, but once you have the surgery, I am sure you will have no regrets. Good luck with your surgery!

Hello Hally from down under. Welcome to LBT! I am so glad you are making yourself a priority, because you deserve a healthy life for your two beautiful children. Best of luck to you on your journey!

I have a desk job and had complications while in the hospital. I took two weeks off and did not tell my employer. I utilized vacation time. Every person's experience for recovery is different, but with a complication would occur, then what would you tell youe employer? If you do this on spring break, who will watch your baby, since you cannot lift him? Good luck with your decision.

My surgery was November 11 and right around January 1, my hair started falling out in scary chemo looking treatment clumps. And I am not on chemo. I stopped washing my hair daily. I figure I will be bald by summer. Seriously, it freaked me out so bad that I took ones days worth of clummpy hair to the doctor and said "What's up with that?" They don't know. :-( My thryroid is testing okay and I take my thryoid meds every day, so I don't know. I live close to San Francisco and was thinking of going to China Town to get some herbs specific for hair loss. I am really desperate.

Usually a doctor allows the patient to select the band. You can compare bands on this site by utilizing the search tool at the top of this web page. Compare Adjustable Gastric Bands - LAP-BAND vs. REALIZE Band There is a specific thread for the Realize band on this web page too. Doctor's do not give their patients a choice of band size.

I would call my doctor to get their feedback. On January 14, I received a 1cc fill, so when I left the doctor's office I was suppose to have 5cc in a 10cc band. But several days later, I knew there was something wrong. I was hungry a couple hours after eating a healthy meal (meat and veggies). Plus, I was drinking a Protein bullet, because the hunger was really getting unmanageable. So I called my doctor and stated something was wrong. They got me in on January 28 and took out the old fill. I lost 1cc. We are not sure why this happened, but it day and we will continue to monitor the situation. Anyway, they gave me back my 1cc plus put another .5cc in. My grand total is now 5.5cc, but we will see what I really have when I go in for a check up in March. Just maybe you lost some fill, like I did. It doesn't hurt to talk to your doctor about it. Good luck!:tt2:

If your going to utilize sick leave, you will have to bring a note from your doctor releasing you back to work for your employer. Most employers have an administrative policy in which three days sick or more requires a doctor's note to return to work. If that is the case with your employer, then really you need to talk to your doctor to determine when he/she will release you back to work. You might want to consider the possibility of complications as well. You just never know what might happen. I ended up staying in the hospital for 2.5 days, because of some complications. I felt great on day 7-post-op. I was sore and moving slow, but I felt so much better on that day. That also happened to be the day my doctor released me to start driving again. I took two weeks vacation time off rather than sick time, because I did not want anyone at work to know I was having surgery.:tt2: Good luck and I hope all goes well for you!

I was wondering how you were doing. I remeber reading one of your threads when you were getting ready for the break up. I am so glad you are taking care of yourself and moving forward!

Nope. I didn't go there, because I did not want to get sick. But let me tell you I was hungryyyyyyyyyyyy. So I did call the doctor to find out what else I could have to help me feel full during the liquid post-op diet. She gave me some tips, none of which was chocolate. Back away from the chocolate. :-) Seriously throw it away and keep it out of the house.

Trell: First of all congrats on all your weight loss. I think it is great that you will be hitting Onederland very soon. Sorry to hear that your reaction to the last fill was not good. I have had two instances where my fill disappeared and the doctor and her nurse could not explain it. Actually, they both looked up at each other kinda of stun by it. I have not heard of evaporation before. Interesting! I lost .5cc from the surgery and I lost 1cc from a fill on January 14. The crazy thing is, I knew two weeks after the January 14 fill that something just was not right. So, I got an appointment right away on January 28 to find out the 1cc given on January 14 was gone. Weird. Very weird.

I would not chance it. If you cheat on this, then will you not cheat on the post-op-diet too? Start making healthy habits now that will get you towards your goals. Your friend took a big risk and I would never recommend that anyone not follow their doctor's instructions.

Yep, I owe you Restless. When I read your story it scared me straight. When I got out of surgery and was in recovery the very first thing I asked was "is there a band in me?" And yes there was. :sneaky: The next thing I asked is how was my liver. I swear true story!!!!