Would It Kill Me....

Operagal · May 19, 2008

Okay, if somebody has REALLY screwed up....what's the next step beyond going back to liquids and praying? Is there any test to determine whether the band has not "seated" correctly or whether it is seated in a weakened state? Is there a general time/window of opportunity when the setting of the scars seats the band? At what point does the opportunity for a good setting/seating no longer exist?

In other words, if you've really #&*(&& - up how can you improve your lot?

WASaBubbleButt · May 19, 2008

Okay, if somebody has REALLY screwed up....what's the next step beyond going back to liquids and praying? Is there any test to determine whether the band has not "seated" correctly or whether it is seated in a weakened state? Is there a general time/window of opportunity when the setting of the scars seats the band? At what point does the opportunity for a good setting/seating no longer exist?
In other words, if you've really #&*(&& - up how can you improve your lot?

Nope, there is no test I am aware of. You discover it when you slip a few months down the road. :confused_smile:(

Most scarring happens within the first three months, it's usually about done by six months. The critical phase is the first month. The adhesions are baby adhesions, per se and they are weak and fragile. If you are less than a month out and you haven't been following the post op diet I would suggest going to liquids and giving your stomach a bit of a break. Personally, I would start at the full liquid stage and just go from there.

Operagal · May 19, 2008

Thank you. After a long night of panicking (yeah - stupidly after the fact) I came to the same conclusion. Apparently a lifetime of pushing limits didn't magically end at the conclusion of surgery. Talk about rebellious-self-destructive attitudes. Heck man, it took this to see my self as I truly am. Delusionally thought I was getting away with something because I felt perfectly fine. Me -wonder woman - I'm not.

SueFromMichigan · May 20, 2008

I am so glad I found this thread. I have read it from start to finish. I just had my surgery last Friday and this has definitely strengthened my resolve to follow the liquid diet 100%. As an older bandster, I realize my healing may take longer than some younger people, so I want to be especially careful not to mess things up.

I do have one comment. Like some others, I went a long way away to have the surgery. I don't feel I received the care I should have there. I never saw or talked to a nutritionist or dietician. I never saw or talked to any kind of counselor or the onsite clinic coordinator. I met the doctor only briefly before the surgery and never saw him thereafter. A resident came in the day after surgery and offered to answer any questions, etc., but everyone else seemed to be off for the weekend.

I feel like I was on an assembly line in many ways. I wouldn't feel comfortable calling the doctor's office - I'm sure they would have to dig out my chart to give me any advice, because no one there really knows me, and I'm sure the surgeon wouldn't even remember me. My coordinator is available by telephone - she is really my only resource.

As it happens, I am a researcher by nature. And I've learned where to go to find the answers to my questions myself (here at LBT, for instance). I am retired,so I have the time to do so. But I want to know if there are others who are in the same boat? So much of the advise here seems to be to "call your surgeon".

Thankfully, I have found a physician locally to do my follow up care. I am looking forward to my initial post-op visit and meeting a doctor I can trust.

WASaBubbleButt · May 20, 2008

I am so glad I found this thread. I have read it from start to finish. I just had my surgery last Friday and this has definitely strengthened my resolve to follow the liquid diet 100%. As an older bandster, I realize my healing may take longer than some younger people, so I want to be especially careful not to mess things up.
I do have one comment. Like some others, I went a long way away to have the surgery. I don't feel I received the care I should have there. I never saw or talked to a nutritionist or dietician. I never saw or talked to any kind of counselor or the onsite clinic coordinator. I met the doctor only briefly before the surgery and never saw him thereafter. A resident came in the day after surgery and offered to answer any questions, etc., but everyone else seemed to be off for the weekend.

I feel like I was on an assembly line in many ways. I wouldn't feel comfortable calling the doctor's office - I'm sure they would have to dig out my chart to give me any advice, because no one there really knows me, and I'm sure the surgeon wouldn't even remember me. My coordinator is available by telephone - she is really my only resource.

As it happens, I am a researcher by nature. And I've learned where to go to find the answers to my questions myself (here at LBT, for instance). I am retired,so I have the time to do so. But I want to know if there are others who are in the same boat? So much of the advise here seems to be to "call your surgeon".

Thankfully, I have found a physician locally to do my follow up care. I am looking forward to my initial post-op visit and meeting a doctor I can trust.

That's too bad that you are getting such poor follow up care. I went through your past posts to see who your doc might be and I found where you mentioned Belite and Detroit. That kind of explained it right there. :wink2:

I would really urge you to post a testimonial about this on OH. If you sign up on obesityhealth.com: The Leading Obesity Site on the Net, in your profile you will find a place to write about the experiences you had with your surgeon. Wouldn't you agree that others need to be warned about this kind of behavior?

If there is anything we can do, please let us know!