PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I'm curious, and well, getting a little paranoid. My surgery is scheduled for July 17th and I was wondering if the Dr. starts out with a band that is smaller and I adjust to it too quickly, how long before they won't be able to fill it any more? I think maybe I'm obsessing just a little too much! I'm really excited about my band, but am really nervous about how everything actually working. On one hand, I want a smaller band because I want to have restriction right from the get-go and on the other, I wonder if I have a bigger one and then they can't adjust it enough to get a good level of restriction. Please!!! Someone tell me to just sit back and enjoy the ride! O…

Hello everyone! I'm officially freaking out. I got my surgery date yesterday...August 17th. I can't believe that it'll be so soon! Of course my insurance company has to approve it first BUT still I'm freaking out. Don't get me wrong I'm excited...this is what I've been waiting for BUT I can't help but think of all the things that can go wrong. Was anyone else as worried and utterly petrified as I am? How did you cope?? Also, I'd love to hear from people that have lost 100 lbs+...That's my goal and sometimes I wonder if I can do it. On my own I've never been able to lose more than 20 lbs...need some encouraging words

Hi, I'm just beginning to explore lapband surgery. My husband says if I cannot go on a liquid diet before my consultation then he wonders if the whole procedure will be successful. Can i still be successful if I manage the pre op liquid diet but not before my consultation? Thanks

I was banded 3 days ago and am still feeling really uncomfortable. It is not the chest pressure that I have been reading about but more of an awkward and irritating feeling in my stomach. Could this be the gas that I saw on other threads? I have been doing everything that I have been told to do (walking, breathing exercises, liquid diet). Any insight or tips on how I can make this easier for myself would really help me out!

Hi- I have been considering WLS for the past year. I have been overweight for about 10 years. Most of my weight gain has been caused by the hunger that has been driven by the medication I take. I don't have insurance, because in Canada it is difficult to get insurance. I have saved my money and now I am going to meet with my doctor. Overall I am healthy; no major illnesses, except for the Bipolar. My main depression is driven by my weight to be honest, so I REALLY want to get WLS. My fear is that because I am bipolar, I will be denied. We don't do psych consults here, but just the same...I am very nervous. I see this proceedure part of the solution to help get myself on…

My surgery was yesterday. Is it normal to hurt so bad everytime you move? If I cough it feels like my inside are going to explode. I'm afraid that I am going to make the band slip or my port flip. Is this normal?

Hello all, I'm Rain and I had my surgery done on the 10th of July (two days after my 31st birthday). So far I've had managable pain, but I am starting to be irritated by the constant pressure in my chest. I ate my first thicker liquid foods today and although I didn't feel like I overate, I suppose I did since I am tasting the Soup over and over again. So, what do you do to get past the initial grumpiness? Also, I'd give my left arm for a pretzel...how pathetic is that? Rain

4 Days post-op is it too soon for Bear Creek brocolli and cheese soup? I'm so worried about eating the wrong thing and having my band slip. Can someone give me advice on the right and wrong things to do? I know I need to follow my Doctor's guidelines but he does say at day 4 I'm allowed to have soups and yogurt. Ah someone HELPPP

Hello, everyone, I was banded on May24 2007. I had my first adjustment on July 10. I am burping constantly, even after drinking Water. Am I eating and drinking too fast, or will this subside?

So I am scheduled for an endospopy on weds. The lady who made the appointment said she was sending me information on the pre-procedure diet. I just opened the envelope and it says instructions for colonoscopy. Didi you all get an endoscopy? Did they sedate you? Did you have a special diet before? do you think she thought i wanted a colonoscopy or do you think she just sent me the wrong instructions.

day 3 post op and having intermittent chest pain that lasts only a few seconds but is very intense and comes every 10-20 minutes. I had hiatal hernia repair at the same time. Any suggestions?

I got the first adjustment of my band this morning, about six weeks post-op. I had no restriction whatsoever after the swelling from the surgery went down, and I could eat normal portions with no consequences, even bread, rice, and stuff that causes problems for some. We started at 4cc in the 10cc band. I had difficulty just sipping Water right after the fill at the office without burping or getting hiccups, but the nurse said as long as there was no nausea I'd probably be OK. I've been able to get down about 48 oz. of water and juice today (Clear liquids for 2 days) and it seems to be getting easier, but still a LOT of burping and some hiccups. Is this normal after the…

Do folks usually leave the hospital with some liquid RX pain medication for the next few days after surgery? I have some liquid adult Tylenol, but what if I need something stronger? Thanks for any replys:)

I had my band put in almost one month ago. I started out at 250lbs. One week post op I was at 222.8. I got down to 215 at my home and starting last weekend, I more almost the same before I decided to have surgery. I gained almost 11 pounds in one week. I lost control and while I feel full, I did not expect to get to eat more than one ounce as I was told. I didn't vomit but at times felt uncomfortable. Now...I feel horrible about what I have ate after being on liquids for so long...and I am worried I made my band slip and ruined a $12K surgery that my family paid for because they wanted me to be healthy and happy the rest of my life. Did this thing work? Did I mes…

Hi there. I was banded on April 25, had my first fill on June 1. I haven't had a whole lot of success yet with my weight loss, only about 15lbs. I go back to the dr. next Friday for my 2nd fill and am keeping my fingers crossed that it increases the restriction to my desired amount. My question is, when I am sitting down, sometimes I get this uncomfortable pulling sensation on my left side. I figured it was my port, but the pulling feeling has progressively moved higher over the last few weeks. I had my first fill, and being that I have sensitive skin, the needle left a mark. I can now feel my port and it is several inches higher than the needle mark where they went in …

Hi! I am still at the pre-approval stage. (Blue Shield:California.) (Quickie background) Today was my last day of a six month long supervised diet. This program is new to my medical group; I was literally one of the first set to go through it. I have had many issues with this program, but being the guiney pig means my feedback will make it easier for the next group. My main concern right now is coordination between my insurance, my medical group and my Surgeon (Laura Machado). My dietician seems confident that I will be approved for surgery, yet she doesn’t have the final say. She has to send up my paperwork to another office and they will approve thing…

Hi to all...I had my surgery on Thursday and since my surgery that night I have not stopped moving....I just keep going...My surgery was suppose to be 1245pm but didn't have it done until 420pm...i was hungry and mad....not to mention i lost 6.5 lbs...:clap2: so when it was time to get out of bed and walk to my room...i just told the nurse lets walk around the nurses station....they were shocked....and i haven't stopped yet... all night i think i got up 3x every 4hrs to walk...my gas is still there but not that much....you have to let it out..:eek:...hungry somewhat....but i cant seem to finish the 8oz meals 6x...so with that im trying....so if anyone can give me some ad…

:help:Hi All, I'm wondering if anyone has a solution for what type of painkillers are okay to take once you have restriction. Since my last fill I've found it very uncomfortable to swallow tablets (sometimes, I'm guessing it's the direction they are facing when I swallow?). I don't take them everyday, but when I get headaches I'm wondering what options there are. I do know tylenol comes in liquid form but I've found it doesn't work for me. Does anyone know if Ibprofen does? Loridee11

I just went to the Dr. for my second fill. As he inserted the needle to pull out the liquid from the first fill, there was NONE!!! He does not know where my first fill went! He said perhaps, I have a leak? Or, maybe he missed my port (although I was initially jabbed four times and he was certain on the 4TH try he got it). Has this happened to anyone else? He again filled me with 1.5cc's, I am not having any problems with liquids. Please help, thanks. Ja9

will it hurt to have a tiny bite of food first day post op? IM SO HUNGRY

Can someone tell me what "slime" is and "PB"? Thanks Ann

I don't eat a lot of sugar. No cokes, cake, etc. Only ocaisionally. But I REFUSE to eat artificial sweetner. #1 I know what it does to you. #2 I know how it tricks your body into dumping insulin. #3 It is vile tasting. The aftertaste is even worse. #4 It gives me headaches. I looked at the diet for post op and was schocked at the amount of artificial sweetner in it. If I forego the artificial sweetner, there is almost nothing left for me to eat. I've met with my doctor and told him about this and he said it was wonderful that I didn't like it, but didn't give me any suggestions. I'm looking at having my band done the first week of September. He only requires 3 days of pre…

Hi everyone. This is my 1st day after surgery (July 11). Surgery went well with no complications. I did have some pain in between my shoulder blades but taking deep breathes seemed to help. Today my abdominal region feels like I've down 2000 crunches. Luckily I haven't had to take any of my pain killers and opted for extra strength Tylenol. I was crazy enough and went to work today. I'm hoping that I didn't overdue it. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Overall everything seems to be ok. Tomorrow I start in on Clear liquids and Protein shakes. I haven't had much of an appetite these last few days which is good. I hear though after 2 or 3 wks. post -op the cravings…

I was banded on 6/25 and lost 9 lbs total so far (17 days out). Unfortunately I weigh myself everyday and can't break myself from this bad habbit. I have been stuck at 9 lbs for the last 5 days. I am eating healthy and according to diet and trying to walk as often as possible. I see others on this site that lost 14 lbs in their first week. I realize everyone is different, but it gets very discouraging. I am eating much less...why such poor results? Does anyone else feel the same?

Currently I am on Welbutrin SR 1 X day... but its a hard little purple pill (asprin sized) and I am told by Pharmacist that it CANNOT be crushed. Has anyone got a good solution/suggestion....???? What other antidepressants is everybody on?:ranger:

I had a tough surgery on Monday (165 minutes) but I'm doing better than many. My question is : I have an appointment to see my Doc next Tuesday. I'm on Clear liquids now and all I've had is Water, and I'm fine with that (no cravings, etc.). From what I can tell I could keep this up until Tuesday. Is all the talk about a water regimen, a protien regimen, etc for application after I see the Doc, or should I be trying to force 60 grams of protiens, 60 ounces of water, Vitamins, etc. now ? Am I working myself into some sort of protien/vitamin/ deficit, or is my only duty from now until Tuesday to make sure I don't do anything to rip, tear, pull, etc. my band?

OK, am I stupid??? I heard that pb stands for productive burp. What does that mean????Also - I just today heard someone use the word sliming. What is THAT????? Hoping to be scheduled in Aug.....

Hello guys, I'm new to this site. I had lap band surgery on 6/25/07. I am having a rough time. Keep in mind I am allways a possitive person..Day of surgery scared to death, surgery went great , stayed overnight. In the hospital every time I got up I threw up or felt like it. So I received meds to help.arived home and felt O.K from there it's been rough.Tired most of the time, in the middle of my chest feels like a brick is there, can't eat much at all and trying really hard to get in all my protein. Having muscle cramp right where the port is, heavy feeling is in my chest as well. Please tell me someone that it will get better. :help:

I was wondering how long it is going to be before I can eat salad again? I am 3 weeks post op and I am really missing my salad. I know it is going to be awhile but I was wondering how long? I get my first fill next week and I am so ready, starting to get really hungery.:hungry: Banded 7/21/07:clap2:

I was banded 2 weeks ago and am stil in a lot of pain. My husband was banded 5 weeks ago and was fine after one week. Should I call my doctor? I have a burning pain where the port site is.

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between clear and full liquids? I'm confused because, on the pre-op diet, some people say that they mix their Protein supplement (powder) with milk. But is milk a clear liquid? I'm supposed to be on an all-clear-liquid diet for two weeks before surgery. Is sugar-free yogurt okay? What about cottage cheese?

Hey there guys, So I've had my surgery and am down 8kgs already! It's amazing really. But I have a concern about some pain I'm having. It's on the left side, around one of the wound sites. I mean it could just be bruising. But It's a real sharp pain and it hurts more when I move or stand or sit. It only goes away when I'm lying down. But when I try and roll over it's back. It's lasted 2 days now and it seems to be getting worse. My Mum said if it wasn't better tomorrow we should call the surgern. But I woundered if this was normal and if anyone else has had that problem? I've been out a week tomorrow. So please.. let me know. :help: please! Steph

What did your dr. do for your approval? All he did was fill out the two forms that were given to me form the surgeons office. I really wanted him to write a letter explaining why I should have it. I have diabeties, high chol. ect. He said if the insurance company wants more from him they will ask. Yeah I know that but I dont want anything to hold things up! AHHHHHHH!!! Val:eek:

I wanted to find out what most people wear after surgery? I am sure comfortable clothing. What about underwire bras and undergarmets. Help-surgery in just a couple days!

Hi Everyone, I Was Just Banded On 6/21/07. Now My Doctor Office Gave Me A List Of Food Of What I Should Eat And All That Good Stuff And How Much To Eat. On The Other Hand My Nutrionists Gave Me The Same But My Nutritionists Says My Doctor List Hardly Have Me Getting Any Protein. I Should Be Receiving At Least 40-60 Grams Of Protein A Day. Witht The Little Food I Eat Some Where During The Day I Always Have Me A Shake. My Doctor Office Says I Should Be On A 1,000 Calorie Diet But My Nutrionist Says I Should Be On A 800 Calorie Diet However It Works I Keep Up With My Calories. Since My Nutrionists Told Me About The Protein Thing, I'm Doing Ok.

I have a question for those of you more experienced with the band than me... I had the band done in mid January of this year, and have been very happy with my progress (almost 80 pounds lost so far!!!), but three weeks ago I went in for my third fill as I was starting to get very hungry and had lost enough weight in the stomach area that I really needed it. Problem is, I was hungrier AFTER the fill. way hungrier. even more than before I had the very first post-op fill. Is this possible? Could the needle miss, or even release some of the Fluid. I gave it a few days to make sure, but have now scheduled to go in again this week. I think the DR is going to think I a…

I was just wondering are all the incision sites stitched up? And are they stitched up with the ones they have to pull out later or ones that dissolve? Also, how long did it take to heal and how long do you have to refrain from getting tha area wet?

Hello everybody, This is my first post so forgive me if I get things a bit muddled up! I live in the UK and no insurance company in the world over here will cover us for lap band surgery, so I am a self-payer. I have so far had appointments with both my surgeon and the dietician and I hope to schedule my surgery in for October/November this year :whoo: My question is this. I am a huge emotional eater and firmly believe that I got as big as I am because I eat whether I am hungry or not - happy, sad, bored, depressed, nervous, upset, it doesn't matter - I will eat!! So anyway, the dietician I saw was very thorough and the minute I said I was an emotional eater she …

I will be traveling by plane (3 hr flight) in earky Aug. I have heard that some people experience problems with restriction due to air travel. I will ask my surgeon about it but has anyone else heard this or experienced any problems?

Hey everyone. Can some of you please tell me about how many calories I should be getting a day on the mushie stage? Then when I move to regular is there a certain amount?? I am currently eating about 1-2 oz protein, 1/4 cup veggies and 1/8 cup starches.:whoo:

I am feeling really bad right now, I had a small drink while on my pre-op, and a slice of pizza. I had a lot of stuff going on this weekend, I went to two concerts, one Friday and one Saturday so my eating was off. I had one drink and a slice of pizza, I lost 1.5 pounds in the two days but I'm worried that my Doctor will know that I had a drink. I know it probably didn't help with shrinking my liver. What's wrong with me? I really want to have my surgery but yet and still I indulge (I must be crazy).

Hi there, just getting started looking into all this, so please be patient with my ignorance! I've been to quite a few sites where they say they'll do the operation at a BMI of 40 or 35 with complications due to weight. I have a BMI of 35 with no other complications other than I have a very hard time losing weight (I have PCOS - for those of you with that, you'll know how hard it is). I've been 10 years overweight. Once I got down to 165 on Atkins but God awmighty I don't really want to do that again. I'm back up to around 210, my mother is around the same size, along with all the females in my familiy - so genes are playing a role. I don't want to be fat forever, a…

Hello, I am a newbie at this forum and being banded on August 7 - YAH!!!! I am from Ontario. I have a question for those who have had surgery already. Do they put the tube down your throat during surgery? I had that done when I had my tubes tied and they said it was to make sure nothing got lodged in my throat while I was under. (Fillings, crowns, caps etc). It hurt my they do the same during lapband surgery . Thanks

Ok I need some help here. I just got an e-mail rom my Bariatric Center here in Waco, Texas. it said that all looks good for me and my answer should be in either by Friday or Monday as to if I was approved for LapBanding. I was told to select a date for surgery, you bet I am a happy clam for sure, but I am still waiting for the approval. OK what kind of a liquid diet can I go on to help me lose a few pounds? The clinic said that they ahve not started any patients on a liquid diet but will be considering it in the future. I know about the Slim Fast been there and lost nothnig, I bought this stuff from Adkins called Advantage :confused:I think and well it lowered my blood s…

I am very seriously considering lap-band surgery. Based on my research and reading of posts here, I am very confused about what I can expect my stomach to look like after surgery. Not that I am planning to be bikini ready - but the idea of a permanent bump somewhere is strange to me. What does the port site look like? Is it visible as a bump on your belly? Or does it become visible as you lose weight? I am familiar with the scarring as I have had my gallbladder removed and I can live with that - but wondering about port bump and intimacy issues - I can see being very self-conscious about that. These might sound silly, but I am confused by all the different descriptions…

I am 67 days post surgery, doing great with everything, but the past 2 days I am having terrible pain in the port site....same pain that i had the first few days after surgery (muscle type pain). Anyone else have this? My doc said it was probably just gas pains or something, but still this makes me nervous because it is a wierd pain. Thoughts?

Hello everyone, I just got banned on 6/21/07, i'm feeling fine, I'M ON SOFT FOODS BUT I AM KIND OF SCARED TO EAT CAUSE I DONT WANT TO THROW UP. ITS LIKE WHEN I CHEW AND THEN SWALLOW I'M BASICALLY NOT SWALLOWING NOTHING. AND I EAT UNTIL I FEEL MY HUNGER IS GONE NOT FULL. BUT I DRINK A LOT OF FLUIDS AND I STILL HAVE A Protein shake DURING THE DAY. I STARTED OUT AT 220 NOW I'M DOWN TO 194. I WALK EVERYDAY FOR 45 MINS. Done! Your Ticker:

I had my surgery in Aug 2005 and to date I have lost only 71 lbs. I'm so disappointed.:think I honestly haven't been consistent in seeing my surgeon on a regular basis because I live far from her office but I just fiund out that one of her associates sees patients in an office closer to where I live so I do have an appt in two weeks. I have two relatives who had WLS and have lost so much more weight than me. One had Gastric Bypass before I had LapBand and the other had LapBand after I did. They both look great and here I am with still about 130 lbs. still to lose. I know that I don't always eat the right foods but sometimes I can get so little down (my fill is 3.4)…

I was banded on Wednesday June 27th. I was done as an out patient and went to the motel several hours after surgery. (I live 4 hours away) The next morning Thursday I took a dose of my pain medicine and we went home. I was a little sore for 1 day. On Friday morning I was driving. I have not taken any more pain meds since the day after surgery. The only problem I had for a couple of days was trying to get in the required amount of Protein. Got that worked out. I worked ever day last week, drove 4 hours on Friday to get staples removed and was put on mushie food. I walk 1-1-1/2 miles every morning. I do what the doctors tell me to do. The surgery for me was a breeze. The…

I have not had the surgury yet. Why do people say they get shoulder pain?