PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

ok i feel like a totaly failiure!! I was banded Nov 10th. and im going through hell..i have really bad stomach pains...throwing up and have diraheera all night. I know its still early and im still healing up i cant do this one more day.....my question is im self pay in mexico anyone know how much the charge for removal??

Hello Everyone! I am one month post op and all is going well. Lost 27 pounds so far... but am now getting really hungry and think about food often and have made a couple of bad choices but for the most part doing well. For Thanksgiving I may have eaten a bit too much if I am honest. My question is.. I am having naseau and I am worried..Last couple of days I feel blahhh. Is it possible I have overeaten and stretched the pouch that easy? Is this something you guys have gone through or does this sound bad? Thanks for your input! Jen:speechles

How do you make tuna and egg salad pureed. and any more pureed foods, please

Hi, Almost there for banding in oct. Any other from Maine?

<p>My husband is concerned that I might need blood during the surgery for some reason and I am not donating any for myself, or that they won't have blood for me if I need it. To my knowledge, there isn't any reason to receive blood because it's not that of an invasive procedure. Just wondering if anyone knows anything about this.</p>

Hi everyone! Well, I was just banded on Friday! Everything went well, better in fact than the doctors had been hoping for. I needed to stay on aspirin for heart stuff, but the bleeding wasn't too bad. They kept me overnight, just to keep an eye on me, and I came home last night. It's nice to be home, although I miss the hospital bed. My kids are still gone (we farmed them out for the whole weeked) so it's nice and quiet around here. My abdomen is pretty sore - I need help sitting up, but the girdle thing helps a ton! I'm also feeling pretty bloated. I had really bad pain in my shoulder from the gas, but that's mosly gone now, too. I'm taking the liquid percoset rig…

can i eat mushroom barley soup? i know i can have mushroom.

Hello All Just a little history I was banded on the 30th July 07. On the 31st July I had slight pain when swallowing Water and had a Barium swallow/xray which was fine. I had my first fill of 4.5ml( totally done by the doc of how much and when) on the 6/9/07. I had 2.0ml removed on the 22/10/07 after complications (refluxy with pain after crackers, funny noises in throat, hardly drinking water). I then still had problems with the noisy throat and inability to eat with major reflux/nausea and then being sick in my sleep caused me to fly to Perth to get the rest of the fill removed. The Doc only got 1.0ml out on the 12/11/07, I then had again had another Barium swall…

I am at almost a month post-op and starting solids. My question is to those bandsters with a little time under their belt, what do you eat for protein. I am nervous about chicken, turkey and beef as they have a tendancy to be dry. Do you have any problems with these particular foods?

Im on the pureed stage and would like peoples advise please

I know this sounds silly--but how long before you were able to drive? Is this even an issue? TIA Mary:car:

My surgeon told me to ask my physician, he said ask my surgeon, the pharmacist said there was a possibility that I could use tablets, Not XR, that can be crushed, only I would have to take 2 a day. The XR capsule can not be crushed or opened and put in applesauce, etc. Anyone have an answer from experience about the ability to swallow this med? Thanks, Jodie-Surgery date 12/13/07

I am getting banded in Dec. and was told that after surgery I can drink Unjury as anyone tried this stuff if so how did u like it before I buy it

For those of us in the Mushies stage have you decided what you will eat tomorrow? Curious how everyone is planning on handling this huge feast of overeating and enormous calorie ladien foods...we have all grown accustomed too!! Share!!!

Hi I am new to this forum & had my lap band on 11/16. I have faithfully followed my diet instructions & am disappointed. I weigh 4 pounds more today than when I left for the hospital Fri. morning. Is that normal? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Ok... it's going well... I'm happy about the loss, but do you know of any products to help tighten the skin... I do exercise... but, nothings helping. My dermatoligist said there was nothing that works... but, someone must know something :scared:

I know it's not alot of progress but I did the seminar in Sept and just did my consult and measurements today! They scheduled my phsyc eval for 1/8.... After that I just have to wait till april when my dietitian appts will be complete... Such a long road but there will be an end I am sure. Every appt just makes it a little closer :scared:

I just got my LapBand in on November 13th and I am not going to lie I have been very, very hungry on this liquid diet to the point where my stomach hurts so bad.... this morning and was thinking screw this I am going to eat something...before I did I got a glass of Water and decided to go on this website. I want to thank every single person on here. Not only do I understand how hard this stage is BUT! I am not the only one and IT!!! will get better. Reading all of the comments good and bad just makes me understand that losing weight is not easy on anyone and we all need support especially going through the LapBand process. I put the scale away. I am sticking to my liq…

ok i feel like a totaly failiure!! I was banded Nov 10th. and im going through hell..i have really bad stomach pains...throwing up and have diraheera all night. I know its still early and im still healing up i cant do this one more day.....my question is im self pay in mexico anyone know how much the charge for removal??

When we eat a slushy meal (pre fill), how soon may we drink something?? At breakfast for instance, coffee or tea before and nothing after???? Rick

Hi all. I am sick to my stomach in the morning after drinking my shake and eating my bar. It usually passes by 10ish. Anybody else? Also..., I eat at 7 and about 11 (I am a teacher so that is the time) and then I die between 11 and dinner at 5.... I am ok the rest of the day..... it seems that 11 to 5 span is REALLY long..... anybody else have this problem? :help:

What does dehydration feel like?

I have had my band for 15 months and have only lost 25 pounds. I only recieved 7 fills in that time frame. I'm pretty sure I will not get my money back, but does anybody know how much it is to get the band removed? I can not eat hardly anything and I still can not lose weight, so I would at least like to be able to enjoy a nice steak every now and then. Please any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks, J

Well...here I am 3.5 weeks post-op and man did I screw up this weekend! I am so mad and frustrated with myself:mad: I had quit smoking prior to surgery so it has been a total of 1 mo. and I broke down and bought 2 pks. of cigs, then to top that off I figured well girl ya screwed up, might as well go for broke, you know like...take the weekend off...yeah right! Anyway for breakfast I had 2 eggs (fried yikes:eek:) and a slice of toast, a lunchable for lunch and a potato, cheese and meat cassarole for dinner, not the whole casserole...hee hee then got hungry again and had some leftover casserole. And of course I had to add fuel to the fire by having some wine...man I don't k…

I posted this in the November group, but thought I would share here also.... I had a very easy recovery from surgery. Some discomfort, but really very little "pain", no nausea, and no shoulder problems. What I did have was the feeling of being a giant hot air balloon, as I was so puffed up from the gas used in the surgery. I got a new heating pad (because so many people said heat helps). It happens to be one that also VIBRATES. OMG, it was fantastic. I sat on the couch and held it on various abdominal and back parts for 20 minutes at a time and it seemed like I could feel it moving the gas around and helping it to get out of my system. Maybe that was why I didn't have a…

I’ve only been banded a week and it seems as if I have developed the common post surg lactose intolerance (oh man it was horrible). Tried the pills and they didn’t work. Doing okay with soy and lactose free milk but was wondering if this will continue forever? Will I have been able to tolerate dairy again

Hi everyone, I have 2 small children (3 and 1) and am scheduled for my surgery Nov 27 at SWLC in Mississauga, Ontario. I was going to have someone watch them during the day of my procedure, but go home later that day, try and rest but I know they will want me when they see me and may not give me the chance to really rest.... would you recommend having them sleep elsewhere for the first night, or is it pretty easy to get back into the swing of things ... I do tend to bounce back pretty quick from illness/childbirth so am sort of counting on that to help me but do not want to cause any complications or hinder my recovery time thanks for your responses ..... …

I had the band about a month ago or so i had started solid food on friday that just past. After most times i eat it hurts like a stabing pain in my throut and my back and in my chest. i was just woundering if anyone had this before on knows what couses it . it feels like the food is stuck in my throut not in the stomic to. please help me or let me know what this could be. thanks

Ok, I was Banded on Monday, Nov 12th. I am starting to panic, and second guess my decision. Please tell me that I am not alone in thinking this. Also, today is the first day that I am left alone up to my own devices, I am praying that I will not fall pray to my old habits. I am afraid to fail. :help:

My surgery date is 12/04. I went to my nutrition and exercise education class today and they were talking about what is going to happen to you in surgery. They mentioned a catheter. I was wondering if someone can tell me if they had one and if they put it in before or after you are asleep. I prefer after but am just curious. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I was banded Monday and have lost 10 pounds, but I am on clear liquids still. I am wondering if that weight will come back next week, when I can have protein shakes? Thanks.

I am considering having the procedure. Please tell me all about it because I have sleep apnea due to my weight and can't get used to the breathing machine I have to use. The apnea is hard on my heart and other organs, I could lose my life if I don't loose weight. What is a "fill" and an "unfill"? What complications can I come up against? What are some of the terms, and lingo, I will have to know and understand. Pray, please tell me. Alida:help:

I am hoping to be banded early in the New Year-I have seen the surgeon here in Dublin and he showed me the band he will use.It is silicone and has little"wings"which he can suture in position on the stomach.He was very reasssuring in every way and has never had a slippage with this band which he designed himself and has made in Switzerland.Hes new to Ireland so I can't find anyone who has had the op a year ago as hes from Poland.Just wondering if any other surgeon out there SUTURES the band-it seems like an obvious way to stop it slipping but does it have other side effects??comments appreciatedx

How long is the surgery? and what to expect?:cry

I currently go to college and my nurse wants to send me to a MD to get my medical approval for the surgery. I'm really nervous about going to see some doctor for the first time and asking for surgery that a lot of people think is unnecessary. My nurse knows me and knows what I have been going though, but who knows with this new doc. I'm just so nervous he or she will turn me down with the prescription of diet and exercise. Anyone have experience with this?

in the past two days ive been really doubting that i want surgery on monday first of all i just moved on sunday and i am trying to adjust and my surgery is the monday before thanksgiving. i just feel overwhelmed with everything. my husband just started a new job on monday and money is tight right now and he wont be able to get time off to take me to the hospital so i will have to do this by myself. i cant tell if this is normal to feel this way right before surgery. i have so much other stuff going on that i am so overwhelmed. i have been eating really bad in the past month also. i didnt have to do a preop diet and i dont have to do a post op diet i am on soft proteins on…

I just recently decided to do the band. I am self pay and for me the suregery is going to be 10000. This includes The doctors fees, the aid fee, the anestesiologis *(sp) fee and the hospital fee. I am wondering on the related costs, the things that are possible that the doctor might send you to get prior to surgery and after surgery. So from what I have read, I am making a list here. if you think something is missing, if you let me know I will add it. And if all those who have had self pay any of this things can post what it cost them, I will be updating the list with prices people say they paid. Hoping this will help some of us prepare money wise prior to taking t…

<p>I have a little soreness especially where the port is. The port spot seems to still be bleeding. When I blow my nose, blood comes out. Is this normal? Also, today I am eating 2 cups of soup 8 oz of skim milk with 3 tablespoons of genisoy and a 40g Isopure drink and green tea. Is that enough for the day. I dont feel any restriction, but I also dont feel hungry. I try to sip water but I dont see 64 ounces happening right now. HELP!<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/help.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Help" smilieid="256" class="inlineimg" /></p>

Do any banders out there take anti-anxiety/ anti depressant meds? My Dr. just changed me to Cymbalta. Does anyone out there take the capsule whole? My pharamacist said to take it in applesauce. Any feed back is appreciated. :help:

Hello everyone, I really just need to vent. My husband is being so completely unsupportive about my preop liquid diet. I have been cheating by not drinking my Slimfast, but I have been following clear liquids for the most part and eating healthy foods when I don't eat clear liquids (yogurt,fruit,etc). My husband is completely riding me about cheating. He used to be an alcoholic and is comparing it to his drinking, which I think is completely unfair- yes, food is an addiction, but unlike alcohol, we need it to survive. It's not something you can just totally avoid. What does everyone else think? I need some words of wisdom. I am starting to doubt whether I should go thr…

Hello, I am getting banded on 11/26. Can anyone tell me what I should expect in post op? From reading other posts it seems that there is much frustration & hunger in the following weeks. Is anyone having a positive experience? If so, what are you doing to help yourself to have the post- op going so well? Thank you.

Is it normal for me to be STARVING right after I have had the surgery? I just assumed I would be full after I ate.

I am not banded yet. I hope to be banded in early March. I was wondering if anyone has had a stomach virus or food poisioning since being banded? I have this weird fear that it would hurt really badly. Any information would be helpful.. Thanks!:help:

I was just banded yesterday, but I cannot keep any liquids or anything down... I just throw it right back up.. I think its the gas pushing it back up but I was wondering if anyone else had any problems the next days after swallowing any water, crystal light, jello, or the liquid pain medication?

What is the average recovery time for everybody? How much time has most of ya'll taken off? I have a new job. I sit on my butt at my desk. I don't want to miss too much time. Thanks so much for everyones support!

I was banded on 11/14 and I have this air trapped in my diaphragm. I have a lot of soreness to be expected inside my stomach under my incisions, but I can deal with that. It's this air that keeps moving up and it feels like my ribs are breaking. Any suggestions on how to get this up. They nurse tells me I have to burp but not to push it up. What the hell does that mean???!!!??? I would love some help. :help:

So I was banded today and I am hurting so bad!! I got gas in my upper chest area where it feels like I am having a heart attack. My doctor never came and checked on me, so I am not sure what am I supposed to do. I walk around... luckily my stomach is not hurting that bad its just that compression in my chest... Anyone else have this or have any tips??? Thanks Ashley

My husband just had the surgery and his breath is, well.., just short of UNBEARABLE! ( It was not that bad before) Does anyone know why that is?

Hey everyone! I was banded on the 15th, and I'm still feeling so much pain, especially in my port site! I can't laugh, cough and barely sit up without feeling immense pain...and don't even get me started on my back pain! I've been taking my pain killers as directed...but is there anything else I can do? I am supposed to go back to work on Monday, but I don't know if I will be able to. Anybody else experience similar pains?

Hi. I'm having a really hard time. Now that I'm starting to heal I feel hungry... sometimes very hungry... and I'm really struggling with it:cry. I'm on a full liquid for the first two weeks and really do want to follow the rules, but i feel like I'm gonna lose it!! I dont want to fall back to old habits, but when I get this hungry, old habits start to come into my head!! I haven't breaken the rules, had a cracker to have the sensation of chewing. Went down fine? I wish I could get a fill now and start feeling the restriction so I can't eat.... 5 long weeks to go before real food consumption. Has anyone had this type of experience? What did you Do? HELP!!!:help…