zobee

I have no idea what kind of band I have, or how big it is. My doctor didn't tell me that there were different kinds or sizes :biggrin:

That's great advice, I think I'll do exactly that, and plan on staying at the inlaws, as well. But normally, if someone is going to have a "gut reaction" to a fill, is it right away, or do a few days pass? I'm just trying to get a grasp on what to expect the week or two after a fill, with the obvious understanding that everyone is different. I'll feel much more confident about a fill if I know what I might expect. Thanks again, I really appreciate the input!

I should add that the physician's assistant said they will only give me 2 to 3 cc fill the first time, and subsequent fills will only be .5 ccs. Don't know if that will make a difference -- seems like some people get really big fills the first time.

Despite his invitation for flaming, lol, I think that btrieger put it best. I don't tell people because frankly, it isn't any of their business. Truth be told, my name is not Zoe -- that is part of a pen name that I use in my writing career - and as I do not want everyone and their little brothers to know about my surgery, I felt it best not to disclose my real name on this site. In my experience, there is a definite negative stigma attached to WLS. By and large, I fave found that most people who do not need WLS think that those of us who do are weak. I have even had doctors tell me that I didn't need it - I could do it on my own if I just tried. Uhm -- no, I can't. And I can't for very valid reasons; medical reasons that the doctors themselves have diagnosed. And then there are the extended family members and all their judgments. Inlaws that I never speak to anyway, cousins I haven't heard from in years -- it just isn't any of their business. If someone noticed the weight loss, then I would tell them, but otherwise, not so much. I don't feel obligated to report every aspect of my health status to people who are not significant parts of my life. I told my immediate family, one sister and one brother, and my father in law and his wife. That's it. Unfortunately, two of those people each told someone else, who then proceeded to call everyone they know, and before you know it, everyone knows my business -- and yes, I am also pretty upset about this. Good topic. It is interesting to read the various viewpoints.

You have received excellent advice -- a letter is most assuredly called for. You could address the letter to the doctor and write CONFIDENTIAL across the bottom, but it seems this nurse coordinator might not even respect that. Alternately, you can send it certified mail directly to the doctor -- that way he will have to sign for it himself. Just make sure you check the restricted delivery box. Unlike some of the others, I wouldn't make any definite plans to move my care to another doctor until after I played this out. See how things go. You like this guy, so you should not be the one leaving -- the NC needs to move on or back off. That is YOUR right as a customer who has paid for your doctor's services, and who continues to pay via copays. Good luck, and let us know how it works out!

I need to start on some sort of protein powder and have been doing research all morning, but there really aren't any good comparisons that I can find. I need something that is not absolutely vile, lol, but possibly even more important than taste to me is texture. I cannot swallow things that have a grainy or lumpy texture - I'll absolutely gag. Ideally, I would like to find something very smooth, along the consistency of maybe slimfast or boost. Anyone have any suggestions?

Pam, which protein powder are you using?

I am currently two weeks out, but unlike others, I am not feeling weak or tired, I am feeling bored and restless! There is only so much resting that I can do. I want to take the Christmas tree down! I want to paint my dining room! But every time I try to do anything too strenuous or exercise, I end up hurting myself, then back on the couch I go :thumbup:. By "hurting myself" I mean that my incisions become sore - especially the port site and that one that they put right under your bra line (what is up with THAT, anyway?? lol!) food is not an issue. I am on "mushies" but told that I can eat what I want as long as I chew it well, so that's what I'm doing. I'm eating more than I should, probably. Not hungry though. To be honest, I think that it's all in my head. Otherwise, all is well!

I don't know, Humming Bird. I do respect your compassion for the OP, truly I do. However the community owners have set down very definite rules that each and every one of us have agreed to abide. It sounds pretty plain to me that Demented Frog did not live up to that agreement -- and though I've seen some angry replies, I certainly have not found any that could be considered rude or insulting. Certainly not any that attacked the OP. For Demented Frog, if you do decide to stay, a few excerpts from "LapBandTalk Forum Rules" that might be handy to remember in the future. "The basic ground rules for discussions on Lap Band Talk are simple: be polite, use common sense, don't break the law and don't post any message that even hints at advertising. "By agreeing to these rules, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are hateful, threatening, or otherwise violate any laws. "We take the "Be Polite" rule very seriously. We do not tolerate any rudeness. Any member who is intentionally unpleasant or disruptive may be banned without warning... "Members will treat each other with courtesy and respect, especially when they disagree. We understand that bright, intelligent and educated people may not always agree, but personal attacks in the form of insults, abusive language or other means of obvious harassment will not be tolerated." Peace.

Hello all -- Zoe here, from Clarke County. I'm fifteen days out and doing okay. My first fill isn't scheduled until 1/16 and I'm currently in Bandster's Hell. Not the best time of year for it, what with all the yummies floating around. Sigh. Good to see so many Alabamians here. Looks like the majority are from the northern part of the state. Sure would be nice to find a few folks a little closer to home. Look forward to getting to know you all -- have a wonderful night!

It sounds to me like one of the issues you're facing is a loss of a familiar support group, and that can be so important. Also, moving to a rural area can make you feel so cut off and alone -- I know a thing or two about that! In addition to the great advice you've received about exercising, I would suggest finding a support group in your new area. I found this one, which is in Portland and probably a few hours drive from you, but when you're rural everything is a few hours drive, isn't it? And it wouldn't hurt you to get away for a few hours once a month -- in fact, it would probably help your depression a great deal to get to a larger city once in a while. Here's the info: Bariatric Surgery, Maine Medical Center - Support Groups Another thought -- look for some groups or clubs for an activity that you and your husband can participate in together and meet other couples. Geo-caching, for instance, would get you outdoors and walking around together, and a geo-caching club would mean interaction with others (see: potential new friends). If you cannot seem to lift the depression by your own means, absolutely see your doctor and tell him or her what is going on. There is no reason for you to suffer like this. Best of luck to you - let us know how it goes! This can be such an exciting time for you! New beginnings are always full of promise -- you just need to find your way clear to seize the day!

I'm no expert, having just been banded on 12/11, but I'll share with you what I've been told, and maybe that will help: 1. You CAN eat as much as you like, pretty much as you always have been able to -- but that doesn't mean you SHOULD . Until such time as your band is filled to the point that it is causing some restriction, you may not feel full after 2, 4 or even 8 ounces of food. This is a time for good old fashioned will power. Do try not to over indulge, but don't get down on yourself if you slip up and gain a few pounds back. From what I can tell, it happens to the majority of us. Just keep walking and doing your best! 2. My nutritionist/doctors did not state how long I had to go without alcohol, and I don't drink so I didn't question further, but my understanding is that an occasional glass of wine or mixed drink is not going to hurt you. However, once you reach your restriction, a drink might very well may knock you on your tookus. Remember, there is only so much room in your tummy. A 4 oz stomach will only hold so much -- is it going to be food or liquor? My nutritionist told us a horror story about an alcoholic that got this surgery specifically because it is easier to get drunk, so please do be careful! 3. Bread/Pasta is not made of poison - of course you can eat it ... but get your Protein first, and be smart about the amount of carbs you're eating. Remember to treat carbs as what they are: sugar. Yumminess, and not going to kill you, but definitely something that will require (and here's that phrase again...) will power. Having said that, bread was on my top five foods that I tried in my mushie stage. Specifically, I mixed some stuffing and turkey with enough chicken broth to make it mushie. It was bliss after 21 days of liquids! Remember, the band is not going to do this for us. It is not a magic trick, it is a medical tool designed to assist us in strengthening our will power muscles! 4. My doctor told me no bending or lifting of anything heavier than 10 pounds for two weeks and no exercise for a month. I did heavy housework at week two and ended up hurting myself. Stick to walking until your doctor tells you otherwise. 5. I think it's sad that your friend is more concerned about damaging a 15 thousand dollar piece of silicone than she is about damaging her own, invaluable organs -- and I say this as someone who used to smoke. If this surgery does me no other good -- if it ends up giving me trouble and I have to have it removed, it will still have been worth it because it forced me to finally quit smoking. I cannot even imagine wanting to pick it back up again, and yes, I was totally addicted. If she absolutely MUST smoke, maybe she could use an electronic cigarette. Still a bad idea, as she will be taking in nicotine, but at least she'll spare herself the tar -- and she could work down to the nicotine free cartridges, but still get the satisfaction of drawing on a cigarette and blowing out "smoke" (vapor). Just a suggestion. Edited to add that in all things, you should follow your doctor's advice and see him or her before you try something you're not sure about. Gather advice and such, absolutely, but then bring those ideas to your doctor and question him. Remember that each of us are different, and each of our bodies need different things. I, for instance, have a Vitamin D deficiency, so foods high in D are on my list, right next to protein, but for you, probably not so much; and someone with a fatty liver might need a 2 week sugar free liquid diet pre op, while someone else may not. Your doctor knows your history and your body's needs far better than we do! Best of luck to you!

I have also made some poor choices the past couple of days. We had our holiday meal at home two days before Christmas, then another at my inlaws on Christmas Eve, then an open house on Christmas Day. I probably ate more than I needed to - definitely more than a half cup of food, but then I didn't really gorge, either. I still feel guilty, though! A turkey medallion in Cabernet reduction, about three T. mashed potatoes and another three T. dressing, then veggies, then three bites of chocolate mousse -- but in all honesty, it was still far less than I would have eaten in the past, so though I have not been brave enough to get on the scale, I'm claiming it as a victory and vowing to do better after the holiday! Something that has been helping me a lot is using my "baby spoon." I felt silly using an actual child's spoon, so I picked up several silver demitasse spoons at Bed, Bath and Beyond. They were just $2 each. I know it's silly, but it really helps me to feel less like someone who has just had weight loss surgery, and more a part of a normal family meal with somewhat "normal" eating utensils

Thanks -- I was also on restricted activity for 2 weeks, with no exercise for 4 weeks. I was good for the first two weeks, but I guess I didn't think of exercise in terms of climbing ladders to dust chandeliers and moving furniture about the better to mop under it. I think I will call them on Monday. Chances are it's nothing to be too worried about, but better safe than sorry. Thanks again!

I was banded on 12/11, and am doing well for the most part -- incisions all look good, no redness, etc. But for the last two or three days, I've had some pain at my port/incision sight. It's a sharp pain, like something is pulling. I did a lot of housework for the holidays, but I don't recall any one specific moment when I thought -- uh oh, I think I hurt myself. Should I be concerned about this? Is it normal to have port pain? And if so, how long can I expect this to last? Will it go away? Should I phone my doctor (not that anyone is in until Monday)?

My understanding is that you are supposed to ingest 8 grams of protein for every 20 pounds of weight you carry -- so, for instance, a 200 pound person would need about 70 grams of protein per day. My nutritionist suggested that I check all labels and keep track of how much protein I'm getting every day. There are a lot of ways to sneak extra protein into your day, as ymjackson1 pointed out. My nutritionist also suggested adding powdered NF milk to casseroles and such.

My goal is to land somewhere between 135 and 140.

Well said, LollyMoe! I am most comfortable with a doctor who really listens to my concerns, trusts me to know my own body, and who respects me as an intelligent and individual human being, not just another number.

It's a long story, and would probably bore you to death, lol, but to answer your question, due to insurance and timing issues, I didn't have time to switch doctors before my surgery. And no, I don't feel all that confident in what my doctor or his assistant tell me. His office has proven itself incompetent, and frankly, it is run like a lapband mill. I feel like I had a number branded on my tookus, and then kicked down a chute. I think he is probably a very skilled surgeon, but that's as far as I am willing to go .. and since the surgery is over, I'm not planning to go any further. Once I get through these first few weeks, I will be looking for a new surgeon... and btw, I'll happily take any suggestions for doctors in the Mobile or Montgomery, Alabama area!

LOL -- it's all good, no worries. And I didn't think that you were rude either, I was just trying to point out that a post that one persons sees as "nervy" might actually just be someone just trying to be helpful. And it might be that the original post raised a red flag for someone and they are sincerely concerned about the OP's wellbeing ... and that could hardly be considered nervy or rude, wouldn't you agree? Sure, there are nice ways to phrase things, and not so nice ways to phrase things -- but not everyone has a really good grasp on the written word, and they come across as short or what have you. Knowing that their opinion about something having to do with lapband surgery/surgeons/etc might be seen as "nervy" might not exactly fill them with enthusiasm to jump right in there and share it again in the future, and I personally think that would be a shame.

If I might respectfully interject an opposing viewpoint here ... I don't believe that sharing an opinion is nervy at all, especially on a site such as this, where we are all here to learn from each other. Generally speaking, just because someone has a piece of paper on a wall, and has done thousands of surgeries does not necessarily mean he is not an idiot, or what have you. My doctor has a degree and has done thousands of surgeries -- but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't question him. I don't follow anyone blindly when it comes to my health. Personally, if I share something about my experience that seems odd to someone else, and based on what they know about the process, they believe that I should question what I was experiencing, then I would want that person to tell me. I wish someone had told me that my doctor IS an idiot before I chose him to do my surgery. I would have been much happier had I found a surgeon that I was more comfortable with, but I guess nobody wanted to appear "nervy" or rude?? Just a couple of ducats to consider.

Hi Everyone... I was banded on the 11th after much ado. The surgery itself was flawless, and recovery has been fairly easy. I was up and walking as soon as I came fully out of anesthesia. No gas/bloating from the surgery. The only real pain I experienced were at the actual incision sights, which is to be expected, and my throat -- good Lord, but my throat hurt from being tubed. It felt like it was on fire for days!! Lots of warm tea helped that, though. Didn't really worry about protein. My doctor said if I had to chose between eating and drinking, to concentrate on drinking, so I sipped on herbal teas for the first few days. Oh, a suggestion for those with nausea: ginger tea is excellent for nausea. You can find it at your local health food or herbal store. Peppermint tea is also good, but ginger tea is the best! Also for those with nausea, I would definitely advise that anyone hoping to get banded requests the nausea patch -- and keep that sucker on for the full three days. I had one and didn't have the first bit of nausea. They are miraculous! Gradually added broths to my diet and stayed on clear liquids for a week post op. Went to full liquids on Friday (Tomato Basil soup has never tasted so good!). Had my first check up today. I'm down 21 pounds in 20 days between pre and post op dieting. Doctor's assistant says I'm doing well enough to move on to mushies, so had some mashed potatoes today. Her instructions: take it slow. Try one thing at a time, and when I do try something new, try it at home, just in case I have a problem with it! If I feel any pain, discontinue mushies and go back to liquids. I'm scheduled for another check up in 3 weeks. I may or may not have my first fill then, depending on how I'm doing. The doctor said that they are conservative -- they fill about 2 to 3 ccs, then about .5 ccs every month thereafter. She said it could be up to THREE MONTHS before I feel any restriction!! That's a long time in Bandster Hell! @ The person who was having breathing problems and called the nurse -- I would absolutely follow up on that with your doctor. No offense to your nurse, she's probably spot on, but that sounds rather suspect to me and nurses have been known to be wrong. Regardless if you've got a cold or not, since you have been having breathing problems since surgery, I would absolutely follow up. It took me three days before I finally coughed up the yucky congestion out of my lungs, but I felt so much better afterward. Please do follow up with your doctor!! Nice to meet everyone -- look forward to your updates!

I was banded on the 11th and had the same problem, and it turned out that I was fine -- but absolutely call your doctor. I would follow up with his/her office if you experience anything of concern -- that is what they are there for, and it's always better to be safe than sorry. Hope you feel better soon!

Not sure, but I found this: HotSmartUSA - Home

I have a rare sleep disorder which is treated with 1 smallish tablet per night before bed. I was banded on 12/11. Prior to surgery, my doctor said that the pill would not be a problem; however, as I was being discharged, the nurse said that the doctor's orders were no pills. Instead, I was given an RX for liquid LORTAB (narcotics are a last line of treatment for my disorder). All was well the first few nights, but as the week progressed, I needed a little bit more to stop my limbs from jerking. My plan was to discuss this with my doctor during my post op check up on Monday, however last night it got to a point where I needed more Lortab than I am comfortable taking. I broke one of my pills up into eight pieces and took it with some Jello. Within an hour, I was feeling nauseous for the first time since surgery. I woke up a few times in the night with hiccups, and woke this morning feeling nauseous. I even had a vague sore feeling in my stomach that only lasted a few minutes -- but it concerned me because I have not had any other nausea or stomach discomfort since the surgery. My questions -- Has anyone else had to take pills during the liquid stage? How did that go? Wouldn't the pill have dissolved by now? And if so, then the tightness/fullness (for lack of better term) I'm feeling in the center of my chest can't be from that, right? So what could it be from? Have I done something dangerous, or am I worrying about nothing? :thumbup: