PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Hi all! Like everyone else, I endured every diet out there---including the infamous phen-fen. Several years later, I started using Ionamin....which is phentermine. Initially, I had alot of success loosing weight with those prescriptions. But, of course, gained whatever was lost and then some after that. My story, I'm sure, is the same as everyone else's...diet, diet, diet! One of my favorite things about Phen was the bursts of energy it gave me. It definitely did curb my apetite too. But, the energy and endurance was what probably kept me going back to get more even when I wasn't loosing weight! That's what I miss the most about that darn drug!!! :redface: Any…

Recently found out I have a 15cc Alergan band. Most of what I read, most people have 11cc or less. What have your experiences been with the larger band? I have not had any fills yet. Nor have I felt any restrictions. I force myself to stop eating after small amounts ("small" as compared to the mountains I ate before - ) I'm probably eating about a quarter of the amount I used to eat. With the exception of red meat I have tried just about everything - all in moderation! Nothing seems to bother me - no pb's yet!!!

I'll be a week post-op tomorrow and I wonder if I'm losing too quickly? I started a full liquid diet on Jan 2nd, had surgery on Jan 9th and I've lost 14 lbs. already. That's a pound a day. Is that unhealthy? Since I'm on liquids, I only get in between 400-600 cals a day. Thanks! I'm a little worried that my hair is going to fall out or something!

I'm nervous about attending this seminar on Saturday. I mean I was just outside on break at work thinking about this. I'm going to be going to a seminar where there is going to be bigger people there than me and I'll look skinny compared to them and they will be looking at me like why the hell are you here. lol :rolleyes Well I have a BMI of 41.6 and I'm only 5 foot 5inches. I carry my weight in my upper body, I have skinny calves and ankles and little hands and wrists. I look like I'm carrying around two tires one on top of the other and big boobies and a broad back. So I'm just wondering if anyone has felt like this before going to a seminar..I mean I really WANT A…

Here's the situation. :smile: Banded on 01/03/2008. My doctor's post op diet consists of 1 week of liquids, 2nd week mushy/pureed and liquids, starting 3rd week begin incorporating solids. Per my doctors instruction I did 1 week of liquids and stuck to it fine. Day 8 was the first day of mushies.... great. Day 9--hunger finally kicked in. Real hunger. So... I fell of the wagon so to speak. I ate stuff not on the mush list. I have a theory that my band does not know what texture the food was before it got to my stomach--and I took extra care to chew chew chew. Here's what I'm asking. People who have been in this same situation-ate real food just a week or…

:think A sad story to tell, but I'm still full of hope..... I had my band fitted in Prague on Nov 20 07. My stiches became infected about a month after the operation and my local GP put me on antibiotics. Then I found a Bariatric Surgeon in my home town of Aberdeen, Scotland, who's been taking excellent care of me. After Xmas he looked at my port and descided that it wasn't getting any better. Now I'm having an operation to get the port taken out so that area can heal and in 8 weeks I'll have the port re-located. I still haven't had a fill yet, but I've lost 7lbs and kept it off. Has anyone else had this happen ?? Lynsay - full of holes - Scotland - UK

Good news is my mom is finally starting to get it. She agreed that if I could have my tubes tied while I have the band done that it would be worth it. I am 36 & have my boy & girl so I am done w/ having kids. Has anyone else had both surgeries done together? I am scared of what that recovery would be like, but my gyn said they could coordinate the surgery with my surgeon. At least my mom has finally agreed to help me with the kids. I am planning to have the surgery done before March 1st so I feel good enough to go to Disney World w/ my kids on spring break the last weekend in March.

HOW MANYOF YOU GOT TO CHOOSE YOUR PORT SITE? WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE FOR IT?:help:

<p>Waking up after surgery, what is the likely scenario? Am I going to feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck? Tubes everywhere? I'm a control freak and this is the part I'm most nervous about, that I'm sick and can't get it together. Just go ahead and tell me what to expect. </p> <p>Thx, Joanna in North Carolina Surgery by Dr. Cook at Frye Medical Wednesday January 16, 2008.</p>

I had surgery 2 weeks ago. I keep having a brown colored bloody discharge. I went back to the doctor on Wednesday, and they put fresh steri strips on it and told me to continue chaning the outer dressing. Is it possible I have a hematoma that is using the port incision to drain out. How is a person to exercise, or even do daily activity when this incision continues to do this? It is bleeding through on my clothes, and saturating the dressing.

I was banded on 12/31/07. My UGI showed a large sliding hiatal hernia. MY surgeon did not repair the hernia during surgery because he said he didn't see it at the time. I'm worried because he didn't fix it and I'm scared that it will cause complications with my band. did anyone else have a large hernia that wasn't fixed? I'm afraid it will cause my band to slip or something.

Hi all, I am new here and I have found that I am able to eat salad and cheeseburgers and just about everything 9-10 days after surgery. I even ate the bun with the cheese burger. Is there even a pouch after surgery before a fill? I see my Dr tomorrow to have the staples out and I am afraid to tell him. I ate the cheese burger really slow, but after 17 days on liquid and mushie diet I was ready to kill for a cheeseburger!:ranger:

i usually have 8oz of instant carnation breakfast for breakfast and mid morning i have 8oz of water. then i usually dont drink again until midafternoon i have 8-16oz of water then after supper 8-16oz of water. i dont feel dehydrated and its hard to drink anymore than that because im either full or dont feel like drinking. my friend who just started weight watchers is drinking at least 6 bottles of water a day and she is losing pretty fast between dieting and the water. i wish that i could drink more but i have a hard time getting more in. any feedback? andrea

i had few sweets this weekend like a piece of cake from my nieces birthday party and a handful of m+ms that i had at work on friday. i was doing well especially since one week ago when i had my first fill and now that one week has past ive slipped. im trying not to be to hard on myself because as long as i get back on track thats whats important. i just hate slipping period. does this happen to any of you? is it practical for me to stick to everything perfectly? i do well when i put my mind to it but sometimes i go back to my old habits and cheat because i always ate bad everyday before surgery. now i may have a slip up once in a while which is better i have to say than …

First, I'd like to say how happy I was to find this site- I've learned more from it than from any seminar or doctor! This is day 5 of my pre-op liquid diet, and I'm miserable. I keep telling myself I'll get through it, but the thought of feeling this way for 8 more days is so discouraging. How does anyone manage to make it for 2 weeks of liquids before surgery? I haven't cheated at all yet, but I keep thinking "one little serving of food wouldn't hurt". The worse thing is that this Optifast stuff I'm on goes right through me. I've practically lived in the bathroom since I started it. :smile: Anyone have any suggestions to get through this? I'm so afraid t…

I'm having my band put in on Tuesday, Jan. 15th! What did your drs. have you eating/drinking the day before surgery?

Good Am, It has been a long time since I have been on here, I was under Chattanoogabrat but I have relocated with T-Mobile to Augusta GA Chattanooga is four hours a way I know such a short distance however have to go thru Atlanta GA what a nightmare so It would be a good 8 hour day of just driving time. So I am hoping since noone else has been able to find any info for me, does anyone know of a fill doctor down in the Augusta Area that is willing to work with lap band patients that had their surgery down sompelace else? If so please let me know I greatly appreciate it. Hope everyone is doing welll

I was given the new 'Realize' band during my surgery on the 4th. Does anybody know off hand how many cc's that band is total? I don't believe they told us. The one we were shown at the seminar was an older model and it's not what I got. Thanks!

Hi -- I am preparing for surgery and trying to get a handle on exactly what is forbidden post-surgery. I felt like I had read alot, but this forum has been extremely helpful and sparked several other questions. Specifically, what exactly is completely forbidden? I just read that asprin and NSAIDs were ... someone mentioned caffeine? I've resolved myself to giving up my Diet Coke, but no caffeine? Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks. Cynthia

it was hell!!!! I was so scared! I tried to take a drink to help the food go down but then it just made it worse. I couldn't breath and really started to panic! What are some things that you do to help through this?

I am supposed to have a consult with Dr. Provost tomorrow the 14th...someone from his office just called and said that he was sick all last week and was not sure when he was coming back to work. They switched me to Dr. Rivas and now my appointment has been pushed back to the 21st. I have already waited a month and a half for Dr. Provost because he's one of the best in Dallas/Fort Worth...and now I'm not seeing him but one of his colleagues. I don't know how to react to this. If I insisted on seeing Dr. Provost it would be late February when I got in to see him. I don't want to wait forever...but I don't want to go with the wrong doctor. HELP!!! Has anyone had this happen …

Is it possible to lose feeling in your stomach after a procedure like ours? Like numbness or nerve damage to the actual organ? What I mean by that is...I get absolutely NO feelings of being full. Not at all. Not after any amounts of my full liquids. However, after about a cup, I begin burping and I get "the slimes". Is that going to be my ONLY indication of fullness forever? I would love to feel full to help me with this new lifestyle...but I haven't felt full (not once) since being banded on the 4th. I'm getting really worried.

Hey there! This is a short-term thread for discussion of those who are having surgery the week of December 17-22. I am having surgery on Thursday, 12/20. Very excited and very nervous. Not sure what to expect. Anyone else having surgery this next week?

stretched my pouch???? i guess i am freaking a bit, but i am worried about everything...my sips are too big, my mushies aren't mushie enough...etc, you get the picture! just wanting some guidelines to know whats going on....help?

I was banded on 1/10/08 and have had a lot of nausea when i go walk. ALso when I swallow water, it hurts my throat. I was wondering if this is normal? Thanks, Jenny

Since being banded on the 4th, I've desperately been searching for a Protein shake or powder (to add to skim milk) that I really, really liked and that made me want to really, REALLY drink it. I found it! So, I'm going to share my discovery with you. I found it at GNC. It's expensive, but totally worth it. I got the Rich Milk chocolate flavor and it's called "Pro Complex". It's 60 g. of protein per serving. HOLY MOLY! What I'm gonna do is split the serving each day. I'll have 1/2 serving (of course that would be 1/2 the powder as well) in the morning, and then the other 1/2 later in the day. Let's see if this finally helps me get full. Nothing else is workin…

I have been reading various threads from people who say that they feel they got their lap band under false pretences. The general theme is that they were told they wouldn't need to diet after the surgery and that they could eat everything they ate pre-surgery, but that the band would make them eat less. They also thought that the band would force them to stop eating bread and sweets. Now, post surgery they are not losing weight and are feeling "sold up the river" because they still have to watch what they eat or they won't lose weight. I have to say GET REAL PEOPLE- you were probably not given inaccurate information, rather you have decided to interpret it in your own w…

I was banded last week - 1/10/08 - and I am doing great - pain is not too bad - feels like when I had my daughter cesarean. Mushies aren't too bad - have had Soups, jello's, Protein shakes, oatmeal, applesauce, yogurt. my thing that is killing me is that my sweet tooth is going nuts.... is that possible? I am not hungry but I really want something sweet.... is this normal - or is there anything out there any of you can suggest? I am going to make some pudding with protien powder later.... maybe that will help. Thanks for your help! Helena Banded 1-10-08 Dr. Needleman, Columbus Ohio

hi, i'm new here! i go for my 1st appt this friday and i'm a little concerned about the psychological screening because i'm Bipolar. i want to ask you guys what sort of questions they ask ABOUT YOUR MENTAL WELL BEING? are any of you guys Bipolar? i also want to know what are the procedures during your 1st visit, i wanna know EVERYTHING

for the first month after surgery i barely had any carbs. now i eat a little everyday between milk, yogurt and sometimes weight watchers meals which some have pasta ( i usually only eat half of the serving size that it comes). well i havent had any sweets for a week so i treated myself to a small whoopi pie ( from the grocery store) and it put me out. i felt like someone gave me a sleeping pill. between the sugar and the carbs i couldnt even function. i layed down and couldnt get up for 2 hours. it may have been because of the sweet (more so the sugars) but sometimes if i eat pasta i get really tired also. so needless to say i guess ill have to stay away from those kind o…

I lost 6 pounds between my surgery and my first fill, and my second fill is on Jan 21st. As you all know, the holidays came, and I cheated so badly that I guess I lost motivation in what I was doing, and went back to eating crap every day. I'm not full at all, but of course I only have 5 cc's in a 10 cc band. I don't know- maybe it's because I'm getting so impatient and so frustrated with the whole thing because it's already been about 10 weeks and I've only lost 6 pounds. I just can't seem to get back on track with my dieting and exercise. My family keeps buying these brownie and cake mixes and I fall into the trap! I'm so disappointed in myself. I feel like I don…

I am going to banded on Monday at 7am:biggrin: I have a question that I forgot to clarify with my Dr. On Sunday, I am on clear liquids only, now I know that consists of sf jello, broth, sf popcicles etc. but what about protein? I have the syntax nectar protein drink, is that considered a clear liquid? Thanks for your help!

Hello again.... I was banded on Dec. 27th. My healing has seemed to be going well, but now I am having some heat at the port site ? Anyone know if this is a bad thing, or is it just a healing thing ? Thank you in advance !:smile:

my nutritionist told me on friday to stay away from protein drinks because by the time you add everything in the calories add up. i have protein powder called (whey) and its 150 calories for one scoop then you add 1 cup of milk which is 115 calories and then i add a few strawberries which is 50 calories so the question i have is this too many calories if i use the shake as a meal? i wont get in the habit of this everyday but once in awhile when im home i would like to have one instead of eating the same thing all of the time. i do have low carb slimfast shakes that have 20 grams of protein and 190 calories but it doesnt stay with me for long. the shakes that i make are th…

I have read the 'rules of the pouch' and they mention 'water-loading'. Is this for bypass patients or for lap band patients as well. Does anyone use this technique between meals?

It seems to me that most people who have the band are around 100 and 150 lbs over weight. I would love to hear the experience of bandsters over 350. I was banded 11/17/07. I started out at 434 and now am down to 370 It seems to be happening fast. I try to stay under 1000 calories a day, but I do slip up sometimes. I also see my self stuffing myself when I cook something that I really like. I dont get hungry often which is good. It just seems such a long road ahead. I guess the good thing is that i am on the right road this time. I am so thankful to be able to tie my own shoes again. I can walk down the hallway and people dont hear my breathing before they see me. Who eve…

i am now 7 weeks out and find myself eating fast like i always used to. at first for the first month i would get food stuck if i didnt chew well or if i ate to fast but now nothing gets stuck. i am not taking 1/2 hour to eat my food, im lucky to make it to 15 min. i know that i need to slow down but its a bad habit of mine. i hope that im not hurting anything by doing this. andrea

Hi! I was just banded on Monday January 7th and I had a fantastic experience. Glad to say that all went well, in fact I was doing so well that I was sent home the very next day..... I made sure that I got up and out of the hospital gurney as much as I could without overdoing it, and made my rounds walking around the nurses station and back, used my spirometer often, coughed and cleared up my lungs, sipped slowley and waited every 5 minutes, etc. Because I am doing everything by the book I feel that has a huge part as to how I'm recovering so well. I have also noticed that my stomach doesnt really ROAR so much when it growels like it did before I was banded. Don't get me w…

:help: I'm trying to decide if I want to go through lapband surgery. I rarely use message boards/forums, but I'm confused. I've been reading a number of threads on this site and it all seems so scary and a lot of doom and gloom. Maybe I'm just not reading the right threads. I've been through a consulation session. I'm 37 years old, 5'3" and 263 lbs. I'm about 80% sure I want to do this, but it's a big decision. However, I don't like my physical self very much at all. I'll need too do a 3 month diet/exercise program with the surgeon before my insurance will even consider it. Out of pocket, I'll need to spend $175 a month. However, that is a lot less than food for…

Did anyone have an umbilical hernia and still have a lap band placed? Were there any problems with this combination?

Hi everyone, I was just banded two days ago on 1/9/08. There are so many people on here who have had tremendous success with the band, and I am just wondering if people can get together their best tips for being successful in losing weight with the band and reply to this thread. I don't know why, but my biggest fear is that I will go through all of this, and then not lose weight! Any tips would be appreciated. What rules (besides the obvious ones from the doc) have you all followed that helped you lose the weight?

I am going to see the surgeon for my fisrst visit next week. Over the phone I was told I would have to have my primary care Doc send me out for a bunch more test. Does anyone have any idea what those test are?

I am just wondering if what I am experiencing is gas or what. I am 5 days post-op. The pain in my shoulder has eased considerably, thank goodness! Now, it feels like I constantly have to burp, but no burp comes out. It is like a tightness or pressure in my chest going through to below my left shoulder blade. I wouldn't exactly call it painful, but it is uncomfortable. Is it gas or just post surgical discomfort that will go away or what?

A day after my second fill on Jan 8 (now have total of 8ccs in 14cc band), I had my first PB. I was drinking water and some of it came back. Finally, some restriction! I had another mild PB at lunch today. I had 1/2 bagel and 3/4 cup mashed potatoes. When I ate a second spoonful of apple sauce, it came up. Time to stop eating; finally the dinner bell alarm is sounding. I'm happy that my tool for permanent weight loss has been activated. :whoo: Lori

I am 6 days post op, and started mushies last night...so far i have had some pintos n cheese from taco bell, a bit of cottage cheese, and then this am i tried to have some malt o meal after my coffee....my question is, alot of times i have a rumbly tummy, i am not quite sure if it is hunger or gas.....also i have stomach cramps when i take a bite sometimes....i had it with the cottage cheese before bed and the malt o meal this am, but not with dinner (the beans) so is this normal??? what is it?? should i stop mushies and go back to full liquids for a day or so (please dont say i should lol) I also feel a burning sensation when i eat or drink sometimes...is this normal? …

Hi all, I'm in the early stages of looking into a lap band - I have an appointment with my primary care dr. in a few weeks to discuss it - and I have been doing a great deal of internet research. I was hoping y'all could give me some perspective about my fears about the surgery. Here's my main worry: now, I struggle intensely with emotional and other non-hunger related eating. In fact, I rarely get to a point of true physical hunger. I've had some limited success on diets and other "healthy eating plans" when I can get myself to stick to the diet, but I'm also in therapy for compulsive eating (which hasn't had much success). I know that the lap-band isn't a "magi…

I have always had a problem with drinking a great deal of liquid. This is something both my mother and her sister have as well. I am drinking more than I ever have before, my urine is light and pale, but I am no where near where I should be. I am sipping through the day, take a bottle of water with me when I am in the car, I am losing weight. Am I hurting myself? I had my first fill yesterday and it is harder yet.

Hello, well tomorrow is the seminar and I'm at work trying to think up things to ask, but I guess the nerves are destroying brain cells. I cant seem to think...I only got 3 questions written down... 1. In your experience have patients that have PCOS and pre-diabetic find it still extremely difficult to lose weight w/ the band? 2. How many patients have had problems w/ band and have to have it removed? 3. How many bands have you done? They sound TOTALLY LAME dont they?? I know there is tons of stuff I want to know and ask, but for the life of me I cant think of them...damn it!!! LOL Please help me!!!

It has been exactly a week since I was banded and I feel pretty good. The problem is I know I should not eat but I started to just pick and now I feel hungry all the time. I have not had an entire meal but I did have mashed potatoes tonight and have had bites of mac & cheese from the kids etc. I know the band is a tool and you need to watch what you do but if I had self control and did not have these issues with food than I would not have been so overweight to begin with. I know that in weeks I will get a fill and then will be restricted (hopefully) but I wanted to know if anyone else was able to eat so soon after banding. I am also scared that I will harm the band, …

The Protein powder was the one thing I was afraid of believe it or not. I spent hours and hours online reading all the comments. I finally saw an ad for AnyWhey by Optimum. It is actually formulated for cooking so I figured it wouldn't taste bad in hot liquids and guess what...I was right. It is almost tasteless. It has a hint of vanilla and that is it. It is 17g of protein per scoop and I actually drink it in my Water. Has anyone ever tried it? It has truly made my post-op a wonderful experience.:clap2: