PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Hi, I went to my first appointment in August and after months of fighting insurance and then Dr. scheduler, I'm finally scheduled for surgery. Just wanted to see if anyone else out there is scheduled the same day and how you are doing on your pre-op diet. Cheers! Suzanne

Hi ~ This is my first time to post. I was banded on Nov 29, 07. My only complaint is my mouth has been broken out for about 2 1/2 weeks. My lips are swollen and red also inside my mouth are a few small blisters. I thought maybe an allergic reaction to the fruit juices, so I stopped that. Maybe the vitamins.... stopped them. No change... maybe yeast? I'm trying the over the counter capsules for that now. I crush a zoloft and celebrex and mix with yogurt. These aren't fever blisters either. Any more ideas what could be happening??? Of course, "It's the holidays", is my only excuse for not going to the Dr yet.. Any suggestions or advice? I don't want to be seen :think ~~ …

Hi There~ I was banded on 12/12, I am now at the mushies phase. My question is do you eat when your hungry or eat because you know that you need to...I am gagging at the Protein drinks, but am hardly ever hungry. I have been eating because I think I should, do I need to be waiting for hunger? It is 4:00 pm here and I have not had a bite yet, because I just am not hungry! Thanks everyone!!! Brandy

I have talked to a couple of other people being 'banded' tomorrow...who are you? How are you doing the day before? Im getting excitedly nervous! Tracey:clap2:

Pre-op diet, and things will never be the same. Can't believe it's here. We're all in this together so good luck everyone! We had an Italian Creme Cake from the Cheesecake Factory for dessert on Christmas. I think there may be one piece left.... no sense in letting it go to waste, right? Or is that waist?

Hi all, I did a search through the forums but didn't get an answer on this on the first two pages... I have to take a huge B Vitamin that has a coating on it. It is about as an inch wide. I know I could use a pill cutter and crush it, but since it has the coating, do I need to worry about absortion? What do I take it in (applesauce?), and do I take it really slowly (torture), or can I take it all at once? I'm also on Nexium which is a bit smaller. My other meds which are tiny (thyroid), can I just take as they are? Thanks :eek: Roberta

Hi, I am scheduled for surgery next Friday, Jan 4th. I'm not a heavy drinker, but do like to have a few at the occasional party. I'm having a New Year's Eve party and was thinking about maybe having 2 Diet Coke and Crown Royal or something like that. My paperwork says no alchohol 7 days prior to surgery. I called the Dr. office and they just said, abide by whatever your paper said. My question is, is it just because of the sugar/calories or will it actually do something to my liver that would compromise my surgery? Suzanne

I am going to the official informative meeting Jan 14th. I have an appointment with my PMD next Thursday. Tole her on the phone what I had in mind. We'll talk more at the appt. I have a call into my ins company but have not gotten a callback yet. It figures that I am on hyperdrive with this and it is right in the middle of the holidays! Waiting for the "meeting" seems soo far away. I called the surgeons office to book and I can go see her before that. You all have been very helpful with your replies. I hope I can come in after surgery too to pick your brains. Thanks again, Susan

Is it better to get your Protein (I am on mushies and still doing the shakes) all at once, or spread out through the day. Yesterday, I just was not hungry, so I drank my protein all at once and was completely satisfied with that. Just wondering!! Thanks so much for all the help!! Brandy

When it is hot as a witches.......*&^ outside and I have a bottle of water I know full well that I tend to swig/gulp it and can finish a small bottle in a matter of seconds. Now of course that behavior is not desireable with the LB but if it were to happen out of habit, what would it feel like? Would I have water spraying out my nose(like a salad post I read earlier)? Also, bubblies i see are not so good does that mean no Dit Coke ever again? I like the fizz. Susan

I was banded on 12/3/07 and have lost 20 lbs so far, gaining one pound back. I did my 10 days pre-op with liquids, and only 1 1/2 weeks after, then on to soft foods, and now anything. I feel like I'm eating to much. I can eat at least 1 cup of food. My 1st fill is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2008. Is this normal? I feel like in the beginning I only at small amounts, like tablespoons fill, but now 4 weeks almost passed I'm eating alot more. When I question this with the RN at my surgeons office she says that after my fill I will not eat that much. That now the band is only in place without any restriction. Can anyone out there please give me some advice? Thanks.:help:

<p>How much weight did you loose, starting at first day of surgery until your first fill?</p>

inthe first two weeks i lost 14lbs and then in the following two weeks i lost another 6 and now this past week ive only lost 2 ilbs. i am eating reg foods including pasta now. for one week i was so nauseas that i was only eating about 500 calories a day now that my hunger is back im back up to 1000 a day. today for the first time in weeks i felt like i ate alot. it seemed so much easier in the beginning to only eat chicken, eggs, tuna, yogurt and instant carnation and the weight melted away. now i have a bigger selection of food and i feel more out of control because i dont have such a controlled diet. i know that im supposed to eat protein first but sometimes i forget. l…

Did any of you move to mushy food after a week? If so, what went down the easiest? I'm craving cheese of all things!!!

Are you totally put under for this surgery or is it local? Do they cut you or is it done through laproscope/belly button?

I have lost quite a bit of weight... but, I have so much more to go (40 pounds). It KILLS me when people call me skinny in the hallway to refer to my losing weight. Does it bother any of you?

Was banded on Tuesday 11/6/07 By Dr.Sheldon Randal at the Lawrence memorial hospital in Medford Ma.DR. Randall has been great only complaint is amount of time in the waiting room. Because of my sleep apnia I was put in ICU after surgery. first question is has anyone been put in ICU for similar reasons.??? 2nd question is about pain, Ive been experiencing pain in my sholder and in my foot any ideas. I walked today about 15 minutes Just a note to say the staff at the hospital were tremendous, all the nurses from the operating room came to see me after the surgery and the staff in the ICU were also excellent. Melrose Wakefield Hospital high recommendation 372 pre …

I was banded on December 4th. All of my incisions look good except for the one with the port. It is still very red all around it. It is not that painful, and I do not have any fever or symptoms that I would consider infection, but I am concerned that the area is still so red. Anyone else having similar issues?

I was banded Dec 4th and have been really hungry. I am allowed to eat soft foods now and next week I can go to regular foods. My question is how much could you eat before your first fill? I had Christmas dinner today and ate some turkey (mushed) and some mashed potatoes. I didn't eat as much as I would have before surgery but I felt like I could have eaten more. I am afraid that I am eating too much. Did you notice that without restriction, everything goes down? Did it change dramatically after your first fill? Thanks!

I am 8 weeks out and have noticed the last few days a mild pain right underneath the left breast. It's like a stitch you get when running. It is constant, but gets worse if eating or drinking anything. I have had one fill (12/10) and have 4cc in an APS band. I thought maybe I was eating too much or too fast, but since it happens when I drink, I don't think that's the case...very strange. Is this something to be concerned about?

i figured it out thanks<p>Weight Loss Tickers </p> <p></p> <p></p>

Hi all, Dec. 27th is my date for banding and I was looking at my prescriptions that the doctor had me fill. I noticed that they are all chewable or disolve on my tongue. However, my pain pill is a HORSE PILL!! My question is, isn't that strange? Am I supposed to disolve it in Water and then take it? Im thinking the taste is going to be HORRID and I sure wont be able to drink lots of water. I will try and reach the doctor tomorrow morning, but I was wondering if anyone else has had this issue come up. Thanks! J

My doctor recommended Lap-band for me a couple of months ago. I have a BMI >40, high blood pressure, high chol, edge of Type 2 diabetes... To boot - I have lost & gained probably 500 lbs in 10 years. Whew. My questions... Once I go to a Lap-band doctor in January, what can I expect? Will insurance cover it with my scenario? From my first appointment, how long will it take to have the surgery? For the first steps of the process, what am I looking at? BTW - This forum has been god sent. Thanks!:help:

Hi all! I was banded on 12/13/07, had some pain after surgery, but I am 8 days out and returned to work this week. Day one back at work and extreme nausea kicked in and pain.:cry Found out that my blood pressure was way down. I fixed that. Now I am hungry but when I try to eat even yogart I get pain at the topof my stomache kind of like real bad heartburn? :sick Any suggestions or comments???? Also I make a killer homemade chicken Soup, when I am sick, I usually take out or puree the chicken when I am sick, and add a few fine egg noodles. Would that be okay to eat right now. Are the noodles okay?? Also I see many of you pureeing meatloaf, my doctor told me to…

Hi everyone I was banded on the 21st of December, and I have dutifully kept to my liquids-only post-op diet, even on Christmas Day. The gas pain was difficult for the first few days, but that's gone now. What concerns me is that I'm constantly aching where I think my port would be. Getting up from bed or from a chair is agonising, and I know it's probably from the strain on the muscles where the port is embedded. But how long does this usually last? I'm guessing I probably strained it moving around too much over Christmas. But I don't remember doing 10,000 sit ups - which is exactly what this feels like! :faint:

I had my first fill on Thursday the 20th and am very hungry in fact Im more hungry than before the fill. I have been looking for food all day Friday through Sunday. I cannot go back and see me Doctor till after the new year. I was wondering if anyone has had the same problem as me and if this is normal. I have lost 15 pds and do not want to gain any back. I also want to know what is a good average to lose since surgery. I was banded on November 14th. Thanks for anyones insight. Have a Happy Holiday.

I am two weeks out and yesterday I had some taco soup and some rice and a little corn that was in the soup broth. Today I feel like I have lump in my chest just below the bottom of my breast bone and my stomach is growling for the first time since I was banded. I have already had one fill, my dr. filled me on the table, so I am not sure if I have caused the band to slip or if something is stuck or if my stomach growling is because of the measly bit of rice and corn that went with the soup broth has made me feel hungrier today. I have looked through the threads here and I would really like to hear what it feels like from someone who has had their band slip or knows of some…

What can they do to release the gas before stitching you up? Is it the kind of gas pressure like if you were to go through a decompression after airplane trouble or scuba diving? Scheduling my procedure next month but want to be well informed. As far as the Gas-x, will the chewables be hard to get down? Thanks everyone and Happy Holidays, Jennifer

Did everyone's insurance require a 6 month medically supervised diet record be in their health history? If that's the case I'll never be approved. I haven't had that. :eek: Susan

We didn't attend church today since I'm still very sore from surgery on Thursday. We will be at Christmas Eve service tomorrow night. We typically have communion at every service. Our church uses real bread and wine. Obviously, it is a very small piece, but I just started full liquids today. Any thoughts? The idea of skipping communion breaks my heart but the idea of getting sick in front of everyone doesn't sound much better.

ive noticed that my weight loss is so unpredictable now. for the first two weeks i lost 1 pound per day and then i slowed down. i went 6 days without any weight loss and then lost 5 in two days. i am almost 5 weeks out and lost 20 lbs in 4 weeks but havent lost anything in the past 5 days. is it because im not eating much and my body thinks its starving? for example somedays i eat around 1000 calories and somedays im so nauseas that i may only eat 500-600 calories. should i be more consistant on the calories? its hard to eat or drink anything when your nauseas. should i eat anyway when my stomach is feeling icky? they say dont eat if your not hungry but somedays i barely …

I seem to be able to feel my band through my skin under my ribcage can anyone else?

So, before I got banded, i was diagnosed with Gerd. But basically had NO symptoms of it at all. I didnt even notice i had it and it didnt bother me. I took no medication for it. Fast forward to now, 13 days since being banded and Im having horrible acid reflux. I figured this wouldnt bother me since im not eating fatty or fried foods, or anything that say would irritate it. Im still on Clear liquids including 3 Protein shakes a day. I also got my gallbladder removed and a hernia repair on my band date. I dont know what could be causing my reflux...the only thing that im doing is drinking my chocolate body fortress Protein Shakes. Do you think that is the cause?…

Hi I am almost 3 weeks post surgery and I lost about 20 lbs in the first 2 weeks but now that I am eating I have gained about 4 lbs back. Is this normal or should I not have gained at all? Thanks Rosie

I am 3 days post op surgery. Everything is going as I had figured. However, the breathing tube for the anesthesia tore the roof of my mouth up and my uvula is extremely swollen. It is so painful to swallow anything and when talking the uvula gets stuck on my tongue and makes me want to gag. I need to vent and see if anyone else has had this problem. If so how long does it take to heal. I am very frustrated and feel like crying. Kelly:help: :faint:

Hi everyone, I was banded on 12/7 and my doctor uses glue over my incisions. I have been scrubbing at it (gently) trying to get it off but it is hanging on. I also have this residue all over my stomach and hips from the glue that is turning a shade of grayish black from all the black shirts I wear (it looks terrible). How long is the glue supposed to be covering my incisions and how do I get is off me? Any advise would be great. Thanks

Ok, so here's the thing. I have seen alot of people say that they are constipated frequently after being banded. I am having the opposite problem. I swear I feel like all I do is poo!! I used to go once or twice a week before being banded, now I'm going once or twice a day?? Anyone else have this issue?

Hi guys I have finally been approved by aetna Monday afternoon. My surgery will be 12/28 over the weekend I had a toothache. My doctor suggested that I finish the dental work and instead of having surgery which was supposed to been today I will have it next friday. So I will get to taste some xmas dinner not to much. I would like to thank you guys for your support may God bless you all and give you the desire of your hearts. Liz:clap2:

<p>could someone please tell me how to get the graph for your weight loss. I'm having my lap band done in mexico on feb 28th, and am so happy.</p> <p><img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/clap2.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Clap2" smilieid="217" class="inlineimg" /></p>

Hi, I'm all set for my band next Friday(28th) and am starting to think about what I need to take with me. I am going to Monterrey-flying in on Friday morning-surgery friday afternoon and coming home on Monday. I will spend sat & sun in a hotel in monterrey. I want to keep my packing as light as possible and don't want to check luggage-just carryon stuff. So--my question--what absolute-have to take items do I need to include. Mary

Does anyone know of any good over the counter nausea medicines? My doctor prescribed one for me and the price tag is $700+ before insurance and about $100 after. I just don't have it in my budget right now to fill that prescription. Is there anything over the counter that might help me? I need to shake the nausea to feel normal and start getting my calories and proteins in. Thanks for any advice!

Hi Everyone, First off I would like to thank LilMissBand-Aid for providing the shopping list that I used for my shopping trip. I saw the list when it posed and I was so happy that when I covered this list with my doctors office the only thing I could come up with was a pedometer, so, I added a pedometer to my list and that is about it. Off I went to Wal-mart with shopping list in hand. I would like to note that these prices are subjective to the area's that you live in. I have even found that they are different from store to store depending on demographics and housing costs. UGH... curse you Wal-mart for being so easy to shop at and priced for my neighborhood. So, …

I have a question that has been bugging me for a while. It sounds so pathetic that I'm too embarressed to ask my doctor. If anyone can shed some light on this one it would be much appreciated. Q. When you lose weight, where does the fat go? Gross I know - but I'm sure I don't poo 1 - 2kg (2.2/4.4lbs) a week.

I have a question about the pureed (mushy) foods. I know they say that they need to be blended, but if I make meatloaf (which is usually mushy), do I really have to blend it? Why can't I "blend" it as I am chewing it? I'm eating full liquids right now, but I'm not blending my vegetable soup or my chicken noodle soup. I haven't had a fill yet, and I recovered from the surgery VERY quickly, so I wonder if that is why I can handle unblended foods. I chew them really well though. Some advice please! Thanks!

Hi everyone. I was banded on 12/19 so this is my second day. I was working so hard before my surgery that I didn't have time to get registered and read the posts. What I would like to know is 'should I still be in so much upper and lower belly pain?' I really thought I would be able to move a lot better than I am. Can anyone tell me their experience with the pain and how long I should expect to be down? Thank you.

<p><p>ANYONE KNOW ANY GOOD AND TASTY PROTIEN DIETS OR DRINKS?

I was banded a week and a half ago. Saturday I started running fever. Monday I saw the doc, he ordered tests. Diagnosis: kidney infection. Has anyone else out there in band land experienced a kidney infection post surgery (like within a week of surgery)? I won't hear from the culture until Monday so I don't know which bacteria has caused my problems. I'm worried.

Perhaps other people have asked these questions, but I am 2 days post band... I am in pain even with meds, is that normal? Can only sleep on couch upright or my stiches hurt so bad I cuss. Water and food take a while to get down sometimes, is that normal? Also, have been walking as much as I can and heating up my back with a heating pad which was lovely I slept for 4 hours straight. Just let me know if you experienced these things and how long it took to feel better. Thanks a head of time.

Ok, I have scheduled and appointment with Dr. Ortiz in TJ for 10/16/07. I just need to know I am making the right choice. I need the good the bad and the ugly. I have done my homework. I have read from the forum for weeks. You all are the experts. What were you experiences with Dr. Ortiz. I know there are some of you out there from Oklahoma. Do you go back to TJ to get your fills? Was the travel difficult after the band in TJ. I plan on taking a friend, so this will help. Please let me know about your experiences. Margaret :confused::help:

Well, I just had my first PB, and it was not a fun experience. I had just read a post by Jack that talked about how you get that feeling that you did something wrong after about 2 bites, and that's exactly how it was for me. Two bites, incredible pain, and then PB! There is a gal on OH that has in her signature line "A PB is like the big O-if you have to ask if you did it then you didn't." Boy, you aren't kidding!!