PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Hey all! I was banded on October 31st with a 10 cc band. I just had my first fill this passed Monday (December 10th). My doctor told me that I was being filled with 4 cc, but ended up putting 5 ccs in my band. I couldn't eat much yesterday, but today I don't feel restricted at all. I was wondering how many cc it took everyone to finally be at that point where you could only eat 4-5 ounces at a meal? My doctor told me that I might not feel restriction right away, but I did yesterday. I've heard that there is a "delayed" reaction where you might not feel any more restriction until 1-2 weeks after the fill..is that true? Thanks!!

OMG... I want real food!!!! I'm on the end of day two of my pre-op Meal Replacement diet. I have 4 more days to get through before I get banded next Tuesday. I keep reading about people eating real food. My son just made some pizza bites, my daughter just talked about pizza delivery, commercials show pictures of edible items and OMG I want to EAT! It's really hard dealing with my head hunger and knowing that it will be 5 weeks before I can even start to try to eat real food. I would be so happy with just a bite of this, or a bite of that... but I promised myself that I would not cheat on myself during this stage and I'm praying that after banding I'll not even care abou…

I was just banded on Tuesday and have been having kind of a rough time. The surgery went well and I was home the same day. I slept good that night but on Wednesday night, I woke up in terrible pain. Spent that night and until 3pm the next day in the emergency room. They did a cat scan and bloodwork. Turns out, it was terrible gas pains and constipation brought on by the pain meds. My Dr. forgot to mention that this would happen. I was finally able to get things moving yesterday afternoon. I have stopped taking pain meds except for Tylenol. I feel somewhat better but I have no appetite at all. I am supposed to drink 4 Protein shakes and a lot of Water. Yesterday, it was…

So I went in for my first fill today and he couldn't find the opening to the port... he kept saying, "I can't find the damn thing!" Then he thought it may have flipped.. I started to mentally panic... flipped port = another surgery... but after moving the needle around for about 1 minute he found it..... I never realized that there would be a weird feeling when you got the fill. He asked if I felt it, and it felt like gurgling going all the way up from my belly to my throat..... Weird! I have felt nauseus that rest of the day and am a little sore.

My dr puts his patients on full liquids for 4 weeks. My surgery date was 12/12/07. My stomach is beyond starving - rumbling all day. The list I was given doesn't have a lot on it. My husband is getting me whey Protein powder to put in the liquids to keep the full feeling longer. What ideas for the full liquid diet do you have? Jennifer - Banded 12/12/07 - 316lbs current - goal 155lbs

Hi there, I had my surgery on the 20th of November. I'm onto eating what I want now as long as it's well chewed. I made the mistake of not doing that a couple of times and made myself sick!! Problem is, I'm getting hungry really quickly !! All the time now, I'm eating around 1000 calories a day, but I put on a 1lb and a half last week, this really shocked me. Has anyone had the same experience? Obviously I havne't had my infill done yet, do you think this will change once I've had an infill.?? Lynsay :help:

After being on my lapband journey since last feburary. I have gone through every test and meeting that the insurance has required. In October I was given the date December 20th now the nurse saids that Aenta is requesting five years of documented weight. I called my previous hospital medical records and had them to fax the information to my lapband nurse she did that now they are saiding my case is pending. I was doing very well following my liquid diet just this last day I have stopped because I feel so depressed. I am not sure if this journey is going to happen. I am starting to think know one really cares about the situation. Even the hospital what a waste of ti…

I’m in the process of completing my pre-opt testing. I had a sleep study done in November and now the pulmonary Dr. wants me to undergo another sleep study because of inconclusive results. I don’t want to do another sleep study. It was a very unpleasant experience. I could not sleep with all of the wires and knowing that I was being watched. The thought of someone watching me just creeps me out. I know the results will be the same… inconclusive. I have difficulty falling asleep under those circumstances. The Dr. refuses to clear me for surgery if I don’t have the study. I’m thinking of seeing another pulmonary Dr. to get the clearance for my surgery. My surgery is schedul…

Hi Just had surgery 2 weeks ago and now I have a pain in the bottome of my breast bone. Feels like pressure against it? Is this the band I am feeling? It usually only happens when I am sitting down? Any one else have this? :think Rosie

Help, I am 6 1/2 weeks post op and continue to experience left shoulder pain almost every day for 2-5 hours. I don't know what brings it on, happens before OR after eating. And I haven't figured out what to do to get it to go away. I tried Ibuprophen, tylenol, heat, massage, standing, sitting, laying. Any ideas? My doctor said maybe there was some swelling under the diaphragm that causes the refered pain but didn't know why, said the surgery went perfectly? Have I traded one problem for another? Diane:help:

well, i had my eye opening experience the other day. i have lost 10 lbs on my 6 month medically supervised diet, but i have started to gain again. anyway.......my boyfriend and i went to burger king for lunch ( i know, bad in itself) and i had a king size whopper meal. not good to begin with....but then i still wasn't satisfied so i had ANOTHER value meal in the same sitting!!! i have never done that before. that was basically the end for me. im so glad i decided to get the band. my paperwork is being submitted in 2 weeks, so hopefully they say yes. anyway..just thought i would share. what was your eye opening experience??? thanks for letting me vent.

i am curious if anyone on here weres a gurttle and doesnt vomit alot if they are wearing it... i wore it the first 6 months and i vommited alot i thought one day it might be my problem, and i think it was w stopped vommiting for about 2 weeks now.... just curious if anyone else has this problem!! Thanks Lyndsay:help:

I'm sure this information is on this site somewhere, but I'm not able to find it and I'm too tired to look anymore. I need to hit the hay! Please forgive me if I'm 're-asking' a common question. Ok-what is the deal with band size? My doctor said he is using a size 10 band- what does that mean? Is that common? How can I cross-check whether that is an appropriate size for me? Also, as we live in Malaysia- this might be a metric listing, if it's in reference to the circumference size. My current BMI is 36. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry to be an idiot. :help:

Has anybody had the surgery performed by Dr. Adam Smith or Dr. Craig Farrara at the LBS Center for Bariatrics in Ft. Worth? My husband and I went to their seminar last weekend and are very excited about the possibilities, but don't know much about the doctors. If anyone has any success stories or general info on your experience with them (good or bad please!!), I would appreciate hearing it! Thanks!

I kind of ate more solid than mushy and I am on mushies. I have a pain when I move in certain ways right under my left chest. Could this be slippage or gas :help:

I've had several friends ask me questions about the band and just thought I'd share it here. I'm about 2 months out with my band. I don't yet have good restriction, but am working on that. I am limited in quantity so far - just not enough. However, things I'm learning: having a band doesn't prevent me from eating junk The band controls hunger - but I need to make sure I don't eat when I'm not hungry I still need to make good food choices - I may only be able to eat a small amount, but I have to choose to make it a healthy small amount I could, if I wanted, eat a greasy meal - just one bite at a time Snacking must still be controlled I still need to eat according t…

i have questions relating to the amount of food one should eat per meal. i have read and reread everything from my surgery doctor (in mexico) and i cant find a place where there was a specified amount i should eat. it says the "typical" eat Protein first, avoid empty carbs, etc etc.... fast forward to my fill doctor who tells me that i should have no more then 1/2 cup per meal. 1/2 cup 4 times a day actually. then i was reading through posts here and it seems that everyone's amounts vary. which i know is normal. i am not really even sure what my question is, or better how to phrase it. if i eat until i am satisified and that amount is more then 1/2 a cup and …

It is post-op day 8 for me and until today I have been in the best mood! Today is another story.....I am having PMS and haven't had a period in 3 years (one of menopause's benefits :nervous). I am eating mushies with the good feeling of fullness, my husband is super, nothing has changed since yesterday......I searched the forum and read other posts about the blues - most of them were from people still on liquids. I have eaten real food for the past 2 days, so that isn't the cause. Oh, well.....let me hear from you if this has been your experience; and what did you do about it if anything? Sometimes ya just gotta wait it out. :rain:

Hey everyone - I was banded at the end of November and everything has been fine. But last night I woke up to go to the bathroom and when I laid back down I felt intense pain in my abdomen. If I stretched my abdomen as far out as it would go the pain subsided, but as soon as I let the air out the pain came back. However, once I rolled onto my side the pain subsided. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Should I call my doctor? Jenn

Now that I'm able to start eating solids, I get horrible pain between my left shoulder and neck after just a couple of bites. I make a real effort to eat small pieces and chew until the food is mush. This only started as I have begun to add meat. I never had any shoulder pain after surgery or during the liquid and soft stages. Tonight the shoulder pain was so bad, I cried. I'm going back to soft and liquids because the pain is just not worth it. In other posts, I've read that the pain can be related to the hiatal hernia repair I had, or it could be referred pain from some nerve by the stomach. Others have said that it is their "full" cue. Has anyone else had this …

I just had my surgery yesterday and seem to be doing fine. It was out patient surgery so I am home. I talked to the drs. office about what I should be eating/drinking. They told me only clear liquids for the next 2 days. At room temp. Tea/Crystal Lite, broth none of that is good at room temp. Could some of you tell me what you did for the first couple of days following surgery? Thanks Peachie

I have been looking forward to the lap band procedure since the inception of the process about 8 months ago. Yesterday they called to set up the surgery and I was good until the nurse said that I had to start the clear liquid diet on December 22nd, and then she rattled on about food, etc...I am not sure that I heard anything else that she had to say because all I could think about was that--December 22nd and my life changes FOREVER!!!! I don't know if my reaction to this was because it was soooo soon, or that is is Christmas time or just the realization of the life changeing event about to happen. Please, respond to me and let me know if anyone else felt this way and t…

Hi there. I just wanted to start a thread on preop requirements. As I don't recall seeing one on the site. I have just completed all of my preop requirements today. YEAH!! My doctor's requirements were as follows: A. Attend Informational Seminar about bariatric surgeries Then: 1. Medically cleared letter (BCBS requires it says medically cleared or medically stable) for surgery from my PCP 2. Surgeon Consultation 3. Dietician Consultation 4. Psychological Evaluation 5. Pre-op testing (EKG, Echo, UGI Xray, blood tests, etc) 6. Attend Mandatory Support Group Meeting 7. Medical Diet History 8. History of last 5 years of BMI/co-…

What is RNY is it Lap Band? This may be a really stupid question but I am confused>>>> Please help.

I got banded on 11/15 and everything went fine. But now I can eat anything. Now dont worry, I know I have to watch what I eat but it seems so weird. I try to follow Drs orders but every now and then, I cheat. I had a piece of fried chicken one day. (guilt trip) HOwever, I am living for the first fill (probably the first week in January. I have lost 39 pounds since start. I still am happy that I did it. I am walking on the threadmill now and will start strenghth training next week with a trainer. This has been a trip but it is one trip that I am glad I took. Thank all of you for your info it really helps.

My doctor says that he does the fill in the hospital with the barium swallow. Did anyone else do it like that? Maybe this way they can make sure it is tight enough. What do you think?

How can you tell if your incisions are infected if the bandages havn't fallen off yet? My port site is a bit hot, should I remove the bandages?

First of all, I'm fourteen years old, and I'm obese with a BMI that fluctuates between about 34 and 37. Over the past two years I've been experiencing obesity-related health problems, such as menstrual irregularities, gastroesophageal reflux/heartburn, and sleep apnea. I read an article online about a twelve year old girl whose mother brought her to Mexico to get the procedure done. I think that's a little insane, and I know realistically that if I couldn't get it done locally or pretty nearby then my parents would never go for it. But I'm very concerned for my health, and I'm getting worse and worse. I have tried everything. I've been struggling with my weight since I…

I am getting to the stage where I can eat real food. I am being careful, eatting small amounts, eatting slowly, and chewing the food to mush. I am still not hungry. However, when I eat, I am not feeling full. I go from eatting nicely to I feel like I have to throw up. Is there a way to know when to stop to avoid the feeling?

I was banded in Sept. of 2006. I did very well (lost 50 lbs very quickly) and then got terribly off track. I'm interested in hearing others' stories about what happened, how they dealt with it, and where they are now. I just had my first fill in 10 months, still feel like I can eat too much, but I'm better than I was.

Has anyone with the band gone on a flight since they have been banded? Does the metal backing of the port (it is there so that they can see the port on xray) set off the detector? Do things feel wierd with air pressure (I guess scuba divers could answer this as well)? Lastly since I have previously had knee issues and worry i could have more later on, has anyone had an MRI? I was thinking that with the metal MRIs are ruled out.

Hi everyone. I started my 2 weeks of pre-op Optifast today. The shakes are okay but the soup is deadly. Had anyone found a way to make the soup tollerable? :help:

I have everything ready to go for the big day, when I just realized I dont have a passport, I'm going to be driving down to Mexico, am I still going to need a passport. I have my citzenship certifcate will that work>?

Surgery was a week ago and I am still almost constantly burping/belching! Anyone else having this issue? Any thoughts on why it is, or how to minimize/get rid of it? At first I figured it was the gas they pumped into my stomach, and I guess it may still be, but a whole week later? I'm thinking now it might have more to do with my pouch. I'm still on the clear liquid diet. Thoughts anyone? Thanks!

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 7-years ago and have used a c-pap since then. My air pressure was increased when I gained weight, but I was wondering if anyone has had to have their c-pap pressures lowerd since being banded and lost weight?

I did a bit of a search for this answer but couldn't find it... Why do people get different sized bands? After my surgery, my Dr. sent me home with a lapband medical information card that tells about the lapband. The interesting thing was that on the card it's printed that I have a 14cc band. That is crossed out, and 10cc was written in by my doctor. I know what the difference is, but I don't understand why I got a smaller band. Any one have some insight? Meghan

Hi everyone, Has anyone experienced a scale that won't budge? I was banded on 11/12. I lost 15 pounds in the first 2 weeks and nothing since. I have lost inches (6 off my waist) and my face is smaller. I am wearing clothes I haven't been in for 10 years...but I want the scale to go down. I am walking every day at a moderate pace, consuming around 900 calories per day (50 grams of protein), and drinking between 50-64 oz of Water. Just wondering when the magic will start or what I need to change. I am open to suggestions. Thanks.

Last night I was craving carbs, so I decided that I would try bread for the first time in two months! I ate toasted whole wheat bread with a PB&J spread. I was being greedy and careless, and all the sudden I got the famous "golf ball feeling" that is always being talk about. I couldn't get the bread to go down or up. It just parked itself in the middle, and I had to wait 5 minutes for it to pass. Today my band feels really tight and I haven't wanted to eat anything. I have been drinking Protein Drinks instead. I was wondering if this "day-after-tightness-feeling" is normal? I suspect that it is, but because I have never had it happen I thought I would check with th…

I'm scheduled for surgery on Tuesday and, this being winter and all, have developed a sore throat. Does anyone know if the anesthesiologist will cancel my surgery for that? (Because it affects intubation?) TIA! Kris

any pointers? I think that I have all of my bases covered, but I'm sure that there are some things that someone knows out there that would save me a lot of trouble, pain or discomfort. So, if any of you have advice, it will be appreciated.

<p><p>has anyone mastered the correct way to measure inches? I am starting to ignore the scale and just going to focus on my waist. any suggestions on how i should start are the correct way to measure your waist(i.e. suck your stomach in or not?, put measure under belly button or above it, etc. ). I need some ideas. also, how often should i measure my waist? once a week? thanks </p> <p> </p> <p>banded 11-30-07 . </p> <p>11 pds lost. not sure how many inches...yet....<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/ranger.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Ranger" smilieid="301" class="inlineimg" /></p></p>

How long after surgery will it (practically) be before I can pick up my son? I don't mean walking around carrying him, I mean putting him in the carseat, putting him up on the changing table and back down. He's 2 1/2 and weighs 25 lbs. My husband will be off for five days after my surgery, but after that I'm on my own. I do have an older daughter (9) who will be able to help out some. Thanks!!

:glassesI WAS BANDED ON 12-6-07 AND I WAS TOLD I CAN ONLY HAVE Clear liquids BUT I KEEP SEEING ON DIFFERENT THREADS THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROTIEN shakes RIGHT AFTER SURGERY. ALSO I TAKE DIABETES MEDICATION THAT I AM AFRAID TO TAKE. I HAD SO MUCH INFORMATION TO TAKE IN THAT I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE DR SAID ABOUT TAKING THOSE MEDS.

I'm very curious as to recovery times... I've read a lot of threads that discuss this but I thought I'd take an informal poll. What I'd like to know is how long your recovery time was following lap band surgery, your weight at the time of surgery and if you smoke or not. Thanks. P.S. I was a smoker the last time I had lap. surgery for my gallbladder and I had a hard time recovering. I am just curious if I'll have an easier time now that I've been a non-smoker for 8+ years.

Hi everyone! I wanted to clear up some stuff before I have my surgery. I have heard so many different remarks about what you can eat and not eat after the surgery. So here's a list of things I'm confused about. Let's hear what you have been told by your doctors. Bread Gum Carbonated beverages Caffeine Pasta Rice And any other things that are remarkable. Thanks a bunch! :eek:

So I have my Lap Band seminar Monday and have a surgeon consult immediately following... For all you LB Vets... do you have any suggestions for questions to ask, things to look for, etc. Any input would help me out a great deal. I've started making a list of things that I want to know or am curious about. Thanks so much for your openess in this forum group... you have no idea how much this means to me!

I just did a sleep study last night and they told me I have spleep apnea. What does this mean to me as far as the surgery is concerned? Something to worry about?

Just wondering if there is a particular thread out there that covers maintanence after surgery. Not particularly diet, but maybe regular tests you should get done to make sure your band is fine. Is an endoscope the only thing you should have done on a regular basis?

Hi everyone - I'm the new guy. 6'1" 340lbs, 39 years old, male. I've done enough research to know that I want and can commit to the bariatric surgery lifesyle changes. I am just now entering "the surgery pipeline" here in Danbury CT. I have still not made up my mind as to whether to opt for the band or the bypass, and I have a lot of questions. Does anyone regret not doing the bypass? Medical imperatives and comparitive risks aside, does anyone have any views as to which is more appropriate given a specific body-type? See, I have a 44-45 BMI, but my build is kind of like an overweight football player. I've been lifting weights since I was in my teens. I do cardio…

I get the terrible sticking pain when I eat dinner. Am I eating too much or too quickly? Or both?