LowPSI

Since not all pre-op diets are the same - "Your results can vary." Seriously though, some docs require weeks of liquid diets (mine was 1 week, 20 grams of protein/day.) and some only require the day before. For those on a restrictive diet, a lot of our loss was water, which I gained back during my 23 hours at the hospital, thanks to the gallon of fluids they pumped into me! (BTW, water weighs 8.333 lbs per gallon.)

I think the nurses get commision each time they weigh us. I've never been to ANY Band appointment and NOT been weighed - including the day of surgery.

OK, so I had my first fill this morning - 5.5 cc's in a 14 cc band. (Was 3.5) Everything went fine and I don't really have a problem, except that I just ate lunch without thinking about being on liquids for 2 days! LOL I had a Wendy's chili with some shredded cheese and some onions, along with a few crackers - a meal my doc is normally OK with. I realized about halfway through the chili that I wasn't supposed to eat "real" food, but since I was not experiencing any negative sensations, I finished my meal. I understand that the liquid diet is a precaution in case there is band swelling from the fill, or if the fill is too much, but does the fact that I am able to eat normally (I did get full.) a sign that I should have another fill sooner rather than later? (My doc says 1 month, but is willing to fill in 2 weeks if needed.)

My key to surviving being stuck is to try to avoid it to begin with. If, at the first hint of sticking, I remove everything from my mouth and try not to swallow - even saliva. I figure that once the drain is clogged, adding anything to the pipe is only going to make it worse.

My first answer is to follow your docs orders. My second is to call and ask if its OK to add some mushies. My third - and my personal favorite - is that I tried some scrambled eggs a few days early and had no problem.

Sounds like your doing fine. I was banded on Nov.10 and had restriction from surgery until last weekend. I get my first fill on Monday and I'm looking forward to having restriction again.

Take the pain meds! Seriously, that's why they give them to you. If what they gave you isn't working, call the Dr.'s office ASAP and get something stronger.

I almost went to the doc's last week because mine had turned green! I finally thought to Google green bms and realized that I had been drinking a lot of grape Crystal Light! LOL

I was banded 11/10, had no problems, and will get my first fill on 12/13. As far as I can tell, 4 to 6 weeks is the average to the first fill.

I prefer Levitra. Fewer side effects than Viagra. At least for me.

Learning to eat slow and small is a process. The pain of being stuck should help us to do it less and less often. I hope!

Once I get that "feeling" in my stomach, I spit out whatever is in my mouth and try not to swallow anything else. Think of a backed-up sink. Adding anything to it only makes it worse. The less to get through, the better.

Bad breath (unless you had it before banding!) is a sign you are following your diet correctly. Our recommended diet is high protein, low carb - just like the Atkins diet...without the fat. Having done (and un-done) Atkins, the breath issue is a part of it.

Wow! You can touch your ankles!? LOL

Aside from pain being subjective, it seems that two factors influence our pain levels. Since we've all had the same surgery, there must be some variables that would account for the wide range of pain levels. First, men seem to have fewer pain issues. Personally, I found the whole experience pleasant. I've had none no real pain issues. I got good drugs at the hospital and at home and took them. Second, those that stayed overnight at the hospital seem to have less pain. Third, and this is a little harder to tell, but it would appear that those with a lot of pain have other medical problems, including hernia repairs during their banding. Lastly, my unofficial observation is that those with the most pain are also those that were not expecting it. I think that subconciously, if we are mentally prepared for the worst, anything less appears as a win. Just a few observations. I'm not a doctor, nor a psychiatrist.

I had my post op visit yesterday but was allowed mushies since last Wednesday. (banded 11/10). Doc said he put 3 cc's in my 14 cc band. First fill is scheduled for 12/13. Also said I can start real food next week. As far as restriction, some foods (chile) go down no problem and I could (but don't) eat a lot. I found that adding a few saltnes will cause restriction and the doc was ok with that. If I eat protein (eggs, canned chicken), I can only manage a little at a time, so I guess I am lucky to have some restriction. I haven't needed any shakes since last week, as I'm able to get enough proten from real food. It's good to have "our" forum back.

I actually really like the mobile version on my iPhone better than the full version on my home computer.

Sorry for what you're going through. My experience has been the exact opposite. Having read this forum for several months (and 3 or 4 seminars by my bariatric group) I was expecting the experience to be more like yours. Maybe guys have it easier?

After my surgery, I was told that the doc put between 2 and 4 cc's in my band. I didn't think I had any non-surgical swelling restriction until I got stuck the other day!

I was banded 11/10 and my first appointment with my doc isn't until 11/22. I was given permission to progress to mushies yesterday! I've had scrambled eggs with cheese (No problem - ate 2!) and chicken salad with low-fat mayo, which I ate with a cracker. (Yeah, I know...) I paid dearly for the cracker, as I got "stuck". Serves me right! (Now I know that I do have some restriction though.) Today, I had 2 hard boiled eggs and discovered that one and one half fit in my new stomach! Stuck again! Lesson? Eat slow, small bites, chew throughly and when I get the first sensation that I'm getting full...stop eating - or else!

I've had about 11 or 12 surgeries in the last 2 years and after each one, my BP was lower. My normal BP (on meds) is 128/72. After my Lap Band surgery last week, it was 80 something over about 50. The nurse didn't like it, so she took it again and got a 90/50 and was happy with that. They will keep you in recovery until they're happy with her condition. It sounds like your Mom is being taken care of. Don't let her low BP give you high BP! She'll be fine.

While I didn't have any real pain (other than a wicked sore throat) which was probably due to the Delauded PCA pump that I could get a jolt from every 10 minutes. (Take the pain meds!), the first 3 days were rather disorienting. Add pain and it would truly suck! The one constant in peoples experience is that it does get better.

I'm a week post-op and can honestly say that my port doesn't hurt. I've been able to sleep on my side or flat from the first day. I wonder why some people have problems and some don't. For sure, you should not have to suffer with pain. Ask your doc to prescribe something stronger.

So I have to ask...Was the pretzel OK? LOL Seriously though, I completely understand about being too dumbstruck to respond to someone else's stupidity. If it were me, given your situation, I think a private "chat" would be enough. (As long as the chat mentions some of the legal ramifications that could result.) BTW I think if Tony told Gibbs that he was going to report him to HR, my guess is that Gibbs would smack him harder? LOL (Gotta love an NCIS reference in a LAP-BAND® forum!)