PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

i had my first fill on Jan 4 and definetely can feel some restriction. i am losing weight and when i eat i am full for 3-4 hours. the reason why i ask this is because sometimes i eat more than 1/2 a cup of food. sometimes i can eat a whole weight watchers meal ( feeling very full after) and sometimes i can only eat half of one. the other day i had some broiled haddock and i ate about 6oz and i thought my band was going to burst i was so full. so what i am trying to say is sometimes i can eat 10oz of weight watchers usually (swedish meatballs with noodles) and sometimes i get full on one cup of food. should i be eating less? my nutrionist wants me to eat 1/2 a cup and tha…

I am ready for sugery....everything is done...going to seminar and my dr. appt. on 2/1/08. Schedule sugery then....any ideas how to make time pass quicker!! lol:shocked:

I have 6 incisions- seems like a lot! I also had a hiatal hernia repair which may be why- How many incisions did you all have?

Hi Everyone - I am scheduled for my surgery on 1/30/08 and I have some questions. I want to know what is a should I have with me for the initial two weeks after surgery to make the time go easier. I am a complete chicken when it comes to pain, so I already have my prescription for pain medication. Also, I am wondering about liquid Vitams and Liquid Tylenol. Are these items available for over the counter purchase or by prescription only? Thanks

Hi y'all.... Okay, my weightloss problem has always been immediate gratification. Typically I loose weight pretty fast and easily, however, when I plateau...I begin to binge, which gets me right back where I started. I decided on lapband...because there will be no binging! Here is my frustration. I was banded 1/4....lost, lost, lost...I was so excited. Now for the last 4 or 5 days...nothing! I am stuck at 14 pounds. I know this is normal...and I should be excited for the 14 lbs, but my immediate gratification problem...is making me sad and frustrated. I made a thread a while back about "Your First Month Weightloss" to try to get a feel for what other have …

Hi everyone, I'm a special education teacher and hopefully I'll get my surgery date soon. I wanted to know how much time did lapband teachers take off? Did you try to schedule your surgery around Christmas and spring break or did you wait until the summer? Also, how much info did you give administration and how far in advance did you notify them of your expected absence? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Hello everyone: I was really suffering from the surgical gas they use after surgery as I was banded on the 17th. Last night I felt like my stomach looked like I swallowed a basektball. It was very painful and uncomfortable but I wanted to tell everyone what worked for me. I did get up and walk more but I also used a heating pad right on my stomach and would move it from my upper stomach then my lower stomach. After awhile, it really did get things moving and I felt much better. I just thought I'd mention it as I know how awful it feels. Jeni in PA:redface:

What are your thoughts?? Has anyone that is lactose intolerant tried them? What kind of effect did it have? Thanks!

I had my upper gi done this morning at 930 and then had my pysch eval at noon, everything went fine and the pyschologist said I am more than fine for this procedure and that we can move on. I am excited to see what the results are for my upper gi test on the 31st, hopefully all should go well and then we need to wait and see how the insurance does for me. Wish me luck folks!

i've read thru a lot of the questions and answers regarding supplies, gas, post op foods, etc. Any advice that you bandsters have that maybe haven't been addressed yet? I am very excited (and nervous as hell) for the surgery. Thanks in advance for your help. Glad this website exists! Brooke

I was banded on December 4th...and I have been craving everything in the world. I look at things and think to myself well maybe if I just chew that up really really well I could have that. I was about 2 steps away from making some eggs to eat today. There is no way that people have not cheated at some point in this first 7 to 10 days of liquids. Please tell me I am not the only one who feels crazy over this.

Hello Friends! I am Tracey, and I will be banded on December 28th. I am really excited! This is my third day on the liquid diet, and I can barely function today I have such a massive headache! Did this happen to anyone else? :help:

I'm really starting to worry about my incisions. My port incision is okay, but all the others that are small are really weird. I literally have 4 holes in my stomach. I don't know if the glue didn't hold them shut like it should have or what. My take home instructions said I could start flaking off the glue on Monday. The first one that I did left a hole, probably only about an eighth of an inch deep but a hole nonetheless. This really worries me that the glue should have held them shut and didn't. I wasn't supposed to put anything on them for 2 weeks, but I started tonight. I peroxided them and tried to get as much of the glue off as possible then filled them in with ant…

So I've been reading these boards and how most lap band patients (well, at least the ones who are losing weight) are eating between 800-1,000 calories per day. I've been tracking my daily menus and today I've had it up to my eyeballs in confusion. I've had Breakfast, mid-morn snack, lunch, afternoon snack so far. I've not even had dinner yet. I'm already at 1,075 calories and 85 g. of protein! I know the Protein is good since my goal is 59 g. per day...but how in the heck do some of you low-cal eaters make it through each day on such low calories? I'm eating very little food and I'm making really, really good choices (my Nutritionist agreed)...so why am I not losing…

I was just banded on 01-17. For some reason, even before being banded I sneeze first thing in the morning. Can this cause the band to slip? I have never seen it mentioned but it certainly doesn't feel nice when I sneeze, lol. Any thoughts?

I was banded 2 days ago. I'm much more sore than I thought I'd be. I'm also super-bloated. My belly looks 5 mos. pregnant. Is that normal bloating from the surgery?

Quick!!!! I'm being banded on the 25th and I need the list for stuff to buy and bring before I get banded. I just went this morning to Dr. Spivak's seminar and surprisingly got scheduled for surgery this friday. I thought I'd have more time to get everything ready. I really am soooo excited I can hardly type fast enough. I'd appreciate any advice for this soon to be newbie bandster. Thanks, Alice

I had my band puy in two days ago. How much should I be drinking? It seems I can only drink a little at a time. Also, I have a lot of pain in shoulders, arms and neck. Is that from positioning during surgery. What works for bloating? Also, I am spitting up a little after I drink my protein is that normal? Let me know Thanks.

Just wanted to share that I have now lost 49.5#. Was banded 10-29-07. Wondering how others, who were also banded around this time are doing? Hasn't been easy..but have relied on will power, restraint, and of course the help of the lap band. Have only had one fill so far, 4ml in a 14ml band. Go back in a couple of weeks for 2nd fill. Hope I feel some restriction after that. Honestly, I don't feel much, if any, restriction thus far. Have never vomitted and have never been nauseous.. Thankful for all that. Just wanted all to know, that the sacrifies have been worth it..Have about60 more # to lose, looking forward to the new me. Would love to know, how the journey h…

O.K., I am new to this so please forgive the novice questions. I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been banded for a year or more as well as from anyone who knows of people that were not successful with banding. I just want to fully understand both sides so I can make sure I make the right decision and am successful. I am trying to get my head around the lifestyle change. I truly want this and I truly believe I am committed, but isn't that what I said about every diet I have done over the past 30 years!!!! Is it truly a "revelation" that after surgery you just don't want to eat and don't want the bad foods? How do you deal with not being able to eat …

I have a million things running through my mind (as you can see with all me responses and threads). Now I am worried about work now though. I work for USPS and lift up to 70 pound bags of mail/parcels. Will the Dr. do the FMLA paperwork for 2-3 weeks? I don't want to hurt myself or ruin the surgery.

Hi, I'm sch for feb 5th. So i'm preparing as much as I can, working out, trying to eat right for what is needed. Its tough though. lost a couple of pounds so far.. but anyway. i do see a couselor and she is wanting me to get ready for the emotionsl change so I do not use food as medication anymore. so I need a list so when i feel the " triggers" of stress and life I do not self medicate with food. So what where the some of the emotional changes and when daily life gets tough how did and do you great gals handle it? Now that you've been banded. she wants me come up with an emotional plan as well as the diet change so I fix and heal the inside and woohoo fix the outside.…

Please help. I am 4-1/2 weeks post-op and every time I roll over in bed I am still in excruciating pain. (I finally started sleeping in bed this week. I was in the recliner for 3-1/2 weeks.) This cannot be normal, can it? I feel the same pain when I bend or twist the wrong way. Should I call the surgeon?

I had surgery on the 10 everything great... now I am at hotel and it hurts like heck to lay down. Is this normal? I have walked maybe I should walk more.... BY the way... Mexico Kuri GREAT EXPERIENCE!!!

I need help chosing a band. The Mexican Doc I am using gives you a choice between J&J or Inamed. What is better? Do Docs use J&J in the US. Will fill docs fill J&J or should I get the Inamed. Inamed adds $500 to my out of pocket cost. Anyone have light on this situation?

Hi there, I just had my gall bladder taken out on the January 6th in an emergency surgery. My original WLS date was February 12th, but I decided to move it to March. I was wondering for those who have had the surgeries back to back how you dealt with it. Were there any problems? Any issues with scarring, mobility and things of that nature. I guess I am a little afraid now of having another surgery so soon since my incissions are still healing. Plus, I am wondering if having one surgery will make the healing time for the second longer. Anything will help. Thanks.

First time posting . I am going to be banded on jan 29 ! I cant wait. I have been waiting awhile for the insurance to accept my claim.And I just got a date! Any support would be great. I have no family around and no friends around here.And my husband just dose not understand what I am going through right now.I am happy and scared at the same time.

has anyone read any good books about lap banding? i want to be like an expert on this stuff and love to read anyway (books are just better than reading a web page). i've seen a few on amazon and in stores but was just wondering if any are worth while. thanks

I'm getting nervous. My surgery is at 10:30 EST tomorrow. I have a 14 month old little boy. I've been under general anestesia before, but now it's different. Before, I wasn't married and didn't have any kids. Now, it's so different. I have great life except for my weight. Nervous.

when i was at the surgeons office the other day he pushed on my stomach and said you are going to feel the band and it will be uncomfortable and if you lose to much weight you may even see if through your skin. this is coming from a surgeon who doesnt really believe in the band anyway, so is he right or is he just trying to talk me out of it? andrea

hi all just wondered if someone couldhelp. i was banded 48 hrs ago and feel ok except for what feels like tearing at one end of my port incision when i move around. i had something similar when i had my gall bladder out, so of course i've done nothing, and now it's the weekend and i wondered if i should go to an after hours doc or something. i'm not taking any pain meds, and slept ok last night. it's just when i move around. it's like a hot searing pain. thanks t

I cant stand the wait!! I dont even start my preop diet for another 12 days. I may start it sooner just to be sure my liver is perfect. Ins is approved as soon as I get 5yrs of weights to them which I will get tomorrow from my endocrinologist. Anyone else start the diet earlier than you were supposed to? What can I do to speed up the time? I feel like I have read and researched everything there is and when I try to look for more info, its all so repetitive. The days are dragging by so incredibly SLOOOWWWWW!!!!!!!!! AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!

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How many days was your pre-op diet? Only liquids? or some solids too? Did you stick to it? If not, what were the results? What did your Dr say? or did s/he know?

This may sound like a stupid question, but does anyone have any recommendations as to a good bathroom scale?

Hello all, I had my first consult with Dr. Forgione in Vermont yesterday and since I had today off anyways they were able to schedule my upper Gi test and my phsych eval as well! Talk about luck! My upper gi is scheduled for 9:30 this morning and the eval is at noon today as well. I have my next appointment with Dr. on the 31st of this month, I can't believe I got so lucky with my appointments as I know they are usually all booked up. Let's hope all goes smoothly throughout and the insurance cooperates. Barbara:biggrin:

Hi, I live in Massacusetts. I just had my first appointment yesterday. I need to go back in one month and must immediately begin the diet of protein and vegetables. I am suffering. Were others as hungry as I am. I read some people did not lost weight. They told me I must lose 10-12 lbs before they will even schedule me for the surgery. I'm afraid I won't lose the weight. has anyone else had a similar experience? Thanks

Hi, I have my psych eval 2/8 and am wondering if I should get off my prozac before then. I suffer from depression but mostly because my weight. I'm really nervous about the psych eval. Any help, advice, hints, etc... would be greatly appreciated!

Okay...I am not some crazy drinker...I just have a party to go to soon and I watned to know if I can have a glass of wine while there. So my question is.... How long Post-op should I wait to have a glass of wine??? Thanks so much in advance for you input!!!

I'm curious...what is the difference between eating foods that are pureed in a blender before you put them in your mouth - vs. - soft foods that you put in your mouth and puree by chewing before swallowing? I'm wondering because I began purees yesterday and some things I'd like to eat pureed are just difficult or time consuming to take the time to puree. Plus, it's difficult to visually accept how some things look pureed. However, as long as I'm chewing it down to puree before I swallow, what harm would I actually be doing? I can't see the difference here. I ate 2 scrambled eggs and a small single pancake today to try it out at lunchtime. I chewed and chewed and …

I have not been thirsty a single time since surgery EXCEPT when eating or after until I drink... but I can't drink then so I have to wait. Once I drink I instantly lose my thirst. I keep forcing myself to drink. I have NO restriction against Water so I can drink plenty of it but I have no desire for it so it's kind of unpleasant to drink it... it's like my body is saying BLEH! I'm not thirsty! I've taken to filling up a bunch of water and sitting it out to remind myself to drink. I know getting enough water is an issue for many bandsters but I was curious if thirst was mostly gone in the same way for others. It's very strange... I'll just keep reminding myself to…

Hey guys. I'm a little frustrated. I guess with the surgery, I expected to fill FULL on minimal amount of food. At 2 week checkup I told surgeon (actually partner of surgeon that did the surgery) I told him I was starving all the time and was already eating real food. I haven't had ANY issues with stomach except occasion when I ate 1/2 small bag of cooked carrots since I was so hungry. I can eat how much and whatever I want. I lost 10 lbs during 1st 2 weeks. I actually gained couple lbs last week and then decided on Monday I'll just have to starve because I was NOT going to let the weight come back on. I had actually called surgeon to see if I could go back on phenterm…

Well, I'm waiting on my insurance company to give the go ahead. I started "the program" at the end of May 2007. I have jumped through all of the hoops and now I'm just waiting to hear the word. I am really looking forward to it. I have been able to lose some weight on my own in the past month or so. I have quit smoking-I had no idea my hair smelled so good! I am looking forward to reading the posts on here and posting some of my own. I haven't done one of those timeline thingies yet-I will after I am banded. I am at 238 and would like to be around 150 or so. Everything looks great on my blood work, except my doctor said that I will end up with metabolic syndrome and ultim…

I was banded 3 weeks ago and have been eating solid foods since week 2. I have been eating less and droped 16lbs, but I am miserable, I feel like a failure and I am afraid that I have ruined my band. I think I want to have the surgery reversed. My first fill is next wednesday and I am terrifed of even facing my doctor...:think

Hi... I would like to hear the ups and downs of your weight loss the first month post-op. Please be very detailed...... Thanks tons.......

Hi friends! I did it! I was banded on Jan 11th and I feel great. Every day I feel better and better. There's only one small problem.....what can I take for a headache? I've searched high and low for liquid tylenol, but the pharmacy's in my area just don't carry it. They told me I have to take the kid liquid (which I have cauz I have a 6 and 2 yr old ) but the taste is sooo sweet its nauseating. Any suggestions out there?

I've been thinking about the surgery, but at the seminar I went to they said you would have to get a B12 shot once a month for the rest of your life. I really don't like shots. I talked with someone who had the surgery at a different hospital here in St. Louis and she said she doesn't have to have the shots. What does your doctor say about shots?

Help! I read the post about the phys evals. Some people had really easy phycs and others had 700 questions. Does anyone know of a good easy phyc in the Knoxville, Tn area. If so I would be really thankful!!!!

Where the heck are my boobs going? :eek: I just went and got new bras last night. I was a 42DDD and now I am a 40DD. I excited about the weight loss but why are they going away? UGH! :cool:

At the seminar I attended, the doctor mentioned that sugar junkies don't do very well with this surgery because they still manage to find a way to beat the system. I can see where that's possible on the one hand, and on the other, I would think that between surgery and liquid diet, etc. that the sugar addiction/cravings would decrease. Of course, there might be some killer headaches at the beginning -- I had those when I did the South Beach diet religiously, and I did manage to kick the sugar habit for about 9 months. (That was 3 years ago...)