PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Please Help, I was banded on June 4th...I weighed 268 lbs. I now weigh 274 lbs. I have been drinking at least 80 ounces of Water, crystal lite, gatorade, propel, etc..and three coffee mugs of clear broth every day...THAT IS IT! I have also been walking 30 minutes daily (2 fifteen minute sessions). I am extremely depressed and beginning to wonder if I am not some kind of metabolic screw up! Side note...my abdomen is EXTREMELY swollen and bruised.

Hi. I am 11 days after my banding and today my port site seems more"pronounced". Has anyone noticed this? Is it because the swelling of the whole stomach is going down? No extra pain or redness.

:help::help:So I have my surgery scheduled for July 2, and my surgeon said to stop smoking one month prior to surgery. So for the past week and a half I have cut way down. On Monday, I smoked 2 cigarettes, on Tuesday, I smoked 1, and haven't had another since, BUT I WANT ONE SO BADLY:faint:. Why, I don't know. I'm trying to figure it out. I'm petrafied that he will do a blood test and see nicotine in my system and cancel surgery, and that is what has held me back so far, but it's getting harder every day. I'm trying to research information on how long nicotine stays in the system, and read about body cleanses to do before drug tests. Am I crazy!!!!!!!! I feel unhuman ri…

:help: Hi all, Wondering if anyone can give me some tips, I was banded on the 5th and just in the last couple days I have been having alot of epigastric pain, it comes and goes and it feels like a contraction of some sort hard to describe but it's like everything tightens up around the band for 3-4 seconds then it relaxes and occasionally it's followed by a brief period of nausea. Has anyone else had this and is there anything that helps. I was trying to not take th enarcs because i was hoping to go back to work on Monday but those plan have changed I told them I would need another week off. I couldnt imagine going to work right now. Thanks for any input. JoAnne

I produce kidney stones. Alot lately. I am scheduled for July 3rd and would like to know how you guys handle drinking 6-8 glasses of Water per day. Do I understand correctly that you need to wait one hour after eating? I want to be successful!! Any advise is appreciated. Also, I wonder if anyone has had lithotripsy and had a lapband in place?

I hear so many negative things about Lapband.... how many are happy to have done this?

How many of you out there had your band embricated when placed? I'm referring to the technique of overlapping a piece of stomach and securing it with sutures to help hold the band in place to reduce slippage and erosion.

I am in the process of tring to have the Lap band procedure. My insurance want me to do 3mons Dr. regulated dieting. My Surgeon will be Dr. oliak. I will see his dietian to start the 3 mon diet. Did anyone else have to do this? If so, what was it like? Has anyone used Dr. Oliak?

I hope someone can explain this to me. My doctor said I have a regular 10 band which holds 4ml. Is that the same as the 4cc band? I have been filled 2cc's. Can someone explain??

I was banded Oct 06 with a 10 CC band. Since then I have lost about 60 pounds, almost half of it lost post Op. I'm currently at 11.5CCs and I still have little restriction. I was checked for a leak at my last fill and didnt appear to have one. Is anyone else here filled extreamly high, even past their bands limit? Since my last fill it seems the restriction has gotten tighter but I have noticed bread doesn't bother me like it should.

I am pre-banded. I start my day with powdered Slim-fast mixed with soy milk because it is easy and I like the consistency and taste. However, it has a lot of sugar--in fact that's the first ingredient. I know that after post surgery, I will need to drink a lot of shakes. I am very picky about the taste and texture. I wanted to start trying some now, so that I would already know which ones I like and have them ready for after surgery. Soes anyone have suggestions as to shakes that you like? I don't really like the flovor of the canned ones, but if I must . . .

I have a question about my incision. The one where my port is had a little "knot" like thing sticking out. I at first thought it was a scab, but then figured it was part of the stitch. I moved it around a little and its hanging on by a stitch still inside me. As I moved it, the area started getting moist. I squeeze a little around the area and some discolored, yellowish, clearish liquid form came out. Does this mean it could be infected? It does not hurt at all and I just seen my surgeon last Friday and he said they looked great. I have his number to call him tomorrow, but was wondering if anyone else had an issue like this. thanks for any and all help.......

:help:Today is day nine after banding and I am suddenly quite hungry. I go tomorrow for my post op and they are going to switch me to the pureed or mushies diet. I feel like I could go to the kitchen and eat a sandwich!! Of course I wont. But does anyone have any suggestions for tonight? I am fighting the impulse!!

Hello all.... I start my pre-op diet on the 28th, It's liquids all day with a low fat dinner. I've heard the raves about unjury, so I'll probably order some, but has anyone used the atkins shakes with any success?

Did you tell folks (friends, family, coworkers) you were getting the band or not? I haven't gotten mine yet and I'm thinking about not saying anything to folks because I don't want to be judged. Would love to hear what other people did (tell or not) and the reactions you received.

Anyone have any tips for getting the gas out? I'm 5 days post op and this is the worst I have had it so far! The GasX isn't helping right now. Laying down on my back is impossible. Could use whatever tips you have available. . . still on clear liquid diet, so some things are out of the question. Help!!:help:

This may be a stupid question but here goes anyways. Everyone talks about the gas pains. I understand that it is from the gas that they blow your tummy up with so they can better see where they are going. BUT is it a passable gas or is it just trapped air that has to disapate? Thanks

I had my surgery on Tues and think I may be feeling my first hunger pangs! Is this early for this to happen?:help:

Hi guys, I'm feeling a little scared and need someone to talk to me down off the ledge here. I am 5 days post-op and I'm not getting enough down. I am currently getting about 8oz of Water, 6 -8 oz of broth and less than 8 oz of Protein in. My doc said I need a bare MINIMUM of 48 oz of liquid a day. I'm not even close and I have to force the little bit of liquid I'm having. When he placed the band he said it was really loose and that I probably wouldn't have very much restriction (HAH!) but since the surgery I'm having a LOT of addominal swelling and I can't get anything in. My stomach is ENORMOUS. I'm down 20lbs and clothes that I wore before I lost the weight ar…

Hello All, I've been a lurker on these boards for awhile now and found them very informative.I decided I really wanted to do the Lap Band procedure so I contacted my PCP who refered me to a Bariatric surgeon,Dr. Loggins in Lewiston ,Maine.I waited nearly 3 months to get in and had my consultation today.Now I'm feeling depressed and wondering if I should move forward with the pre-op requirements. The consultation started with me watching a 20 minute video all about Gastric Bypass.Nothing was mentioned about Lap Band at all.After the video the Nurse Practitioner who set up the video came back in the room and asked if the video had answered any questions I might have.I to…

I know that we need to be concerned about clear liquids right after the surgery, but has anyone heard anything about miso soup? Its a soy based soup and is not really clear although it is full of protein and there is no "solid" food in it. Any thoughts??

I am trying for the 2nd time to get approval from bcbs illinois..for the lapband procedure. The last time, they said I needed 1 yr of documented medically supervised wt loss attemps, and more co-morbidites. I am now another yr of high blood pressure, ..I tried to do the wt loss for a yr..but failed.( ONLY DID 4 MONTHS) I got THOSE records, got a cardiologist to do tests on me, which show damage from PHEN-PHEN, got a letter from him and from my Orthopaedic surgeon, saying has I would benefit from the surgery, because of my severe arthritis and risk factors for cardiac disease, Listed everything possible I have wrong with me, weight related...and now I am waiting to he…

I have been on the Optifast liquid diet for about 3 months and have lost 30lbs. I had decided to do gastric bypass, but I got scared. My doctor said the lapband wasn't any good. But I found out later that he only does gastric bypass. so he had an agenda. I am going to the Barix Clinic in PA for a seminar and meeting with a surgeon about the lapband on June 12. I still have to stay on optifast because the insurance company needs 6 months of one kind of diet. But I am really struggling with it now. I feel depressed a lot about my weight. Lapband is my last try. Do you feel less depressed after you lose a significant amount of weight? I am almost always depressed …

I am having a baaaaaaaaaaaaad day. I put my faith in a guy and I was let down yet again. I attribute it to my weight and him finding me less than attractive. It's the same scenario every time and it makes me loathe myself. I have lost 28 pounds but sometimes losing that much weight just makes me realize how bad it is because I have so much to go and I haven't really seen much of a difference with the 28 pounds. I mean it's not a huge investment I made in this guy but it still hurts like hell. I have cried today. I have gone to the gym today and I have binged today. This is my first binge/ego hurt since getting banded 2.5 months ago. I didn't think I would binge but I g…

I have been so sick for 2 days-supposed to have first fill tomorrow-not throwing up but diarrhea. (sorry) Any ideas? Everything hurts. Went to the doctor-no flu or strep.

...and now I'm a little hesitant. Has anyone else felt this way? I bet that's a stupid question. Of COURSE there are others who have felt the way I do right now, and that is this: I've been on a liquid diet now for a week and have lost 6 pounds, so if I can do that, why do I need the band? I'm scared that something will go wrong during surgery. After all, this IS major surgery, right? Now that I've waited so long to be approved by insurance, and I'm acclimated to the liquid diet, and I'm not smoking pre-surgery, and I passed all of the pre-op tests two days ago, and I've arranged for someone to fill in for me at work, and the big day is looming........ .......…

:welldoneclap: I was banded on May 8th and so far have lost a total of 21lbs - which I am very happy about. Here's the thing though - I am going away to UK for 3 weeks on 18th June to visit family, and attend a wedding and my doctor has said that he thinks it's probably a good idea not to have a fill before I go incase I have any problems when I'm over there. I noticed on some of the threads that some people had their first fills at 4 weeks and others not until about 8 weeks. I'm just worried that if I don't have a fill, I will not have any restriction and begin to put weight on when I'm over in England. What should I do?

Hey everyone, Weird question here, sorry. I had a lot of restriction due to swelling post op (still have some honestly) but I'm supposed to slowly add thicker foods to see what I tolerate. Here's the problem - I'm terrified. I'm afraid of getting stuck or frothing. Really afraid. So I'm living on broth, tea, Water and Isopure clear liquid Protein drinks. I want to try some, say, tomato Soup but I'm so scared it won't go down. Yet I am absolutely STARVING. Did any of you struggle with this? If so, how did you deal with it and overcome it? Any help would be most appreciated. Cyndilou

My dr. is really big on the asprin per day thing for prevenitive heart problems etc. I just had my annual check-up last wk. and forgot to ask him about asprin being a nsaid(not for sure if this is the correct term),but part of the pain releivers that are on the list that we are not supossed to take? thanks terry

I just had my 3rd fill Thurday 05/31/07. I have 2.0cc's total. I feel restriction, but not a sense of fullness. Is this normal, because my doctor told me eventually you will only eat about 1/2 cup to 34 cup and be full. I feel like that is never going to happen. does anyone have any insight on this.

I have not lost any weight in 6 days. I am so scared that I will gain weight. I still have restriction but I have not had my first fill. I hope I will have much more restriction than I do now. Let me know if any one has any advice for continued weight loss.. My first fill is not until July 5th..

Well, finally the day came and I got to meet with my doctor for the very first time. I absolutely love him...he has such a great bedside manner. He took time to answer all of my questions (all 20 something of them) and spent more than an hour with me explaining the lapband process and was actually happy to see me pull out a whole list of questions! :faint: So, now I have a class that I have to attend on 3/22 that covers nutrition and exercise. It is a requirement and cost $300, which is not covered by my insurance. The class is from 8:30am-1:30pm and apparently we are supposed to cover pre- and post-op nutrition information. There is also information regarding exercise…

I had my surgery on Tues. May 29, and was told that I would probably see a weight gain after the hospitalization due to the fluids and the gases. When does weight loss start?

Hey everyone, I am 11 days post op, I saw my surgeon on Friday and he said everything looked great and I could resume normal activity (not lifting more than 30 lbs). So I was doing some gardening today and I feel like I pulled a muscle right at my port site. If I did pull a muscle, is it going to hurt my port?

I recently had a bad leak in my regular medium size four cc, band. my surgeon caught it early and replaced it with one of the new small sized AP bands. He was able to work the band through my existing sutures. (hes very good) im only about five days out, but i feel significantly different. I have perfect restriction so far (im only on purreed foods so far but start other soft foods this week). im excited. anyone else have the new ap band?

I was banded on the 31st. I have been doing fine, but I don't think I am getting in enough liquids. This morning when I woke up, I could tell I was hungry, so I got some sugar free Jello. After the 4th small bite, I felt like I was going to throw up. I didn't throw up, however I knew I wasn't going to be eating anymore of that jello. I poured out my crystal lite, in exchange for Water, and pulled out a sugar free popsicle. That seems to be going down just fine. I have eaten jello since I've been home, and have not experienced that before?!? What could that be from? Second question is about the pre-op diet. I am on a clear liquid diet for 2 weeks post op. Ho…

Hello!! I just scheduled my surgery for June 12 with Dr. Ortiz, and have to say, I'm a little nervous. I have been an Operating room nurse for over 14 years and have heard AND seen the horror stories firsthand. I have been scanning this board for the last couple of days to see if anyone has anything negative to say about their experience in Mexico, and have found none regarding Dr. Ortiz or clinic. I just need some reassurance that Mexico is the right place to go for this. I went to see a local doctor here in LA, and what a waste of time!! The office staff was terrible and the surgeon was a pompous asshole!! Thanks to anyone who can put my mind at ease

My doctor doesn't recommend drinking alcoholic beverages at all with the band. I have read that some people can if they take antacids. I'm not a huge drinker, but sometimes go out with co-workers and was wondering if it will destroy my band if I were to have a drink once in awhile. (I am set for the band in early July). Anyone know?

Okay, so I'm getting banded June 6th! Oh I was so excited when I was scheduled! But here's the deal. It's like the closer I get to the surgery date the more scared I am! It's kinda like what I would imagine an alcoholic or drug addict might go through before being admitted to a rehabilitation center. Food has been my comfort now forever!!!! I eat when I'm sad, happy, celebrating, depressed, hungry, bored....the list goes on....I EAT!!! Now I'm scared about my life after surgery. I'm a lower BMI candidate but I'm also 45 and I am definitely headed to more and more weight gain. I'm a RN by trade and I know when people begin to talk about their experiences (i.e., surge…

I can't believe it's finally here! I started this whole process back in August 2006. I just had my last appointment with the nutritionist before the surgery, and tomorrow I'm going grocery shopping to stock up on all the liquid goodies for the first two weeks. I'm really excited to be joining the ranks of the rest of the bandsters! :biggrin1: Besides just sharing my excitement, I wanted to ask if anyone has any last minute advice on surgery day or adjusting to being banded? How long did it take you to get back to relatively normal? I am embarrassed to admit this but I work in a kind of hostile work environment where I won't be able to disclose that I'm having the s…

<p>Hi all,</p> <p>I had my EGD Wednesday and the doctor found a hiatal hernia. He said he will repair it when he place the band. Is healing longer? Recovery harder? Return to work long? Help!</p>

Hi. I am new here. I have done everything that I am supposed to for the Insurance. The surgeon is just waiting for the psychological evaluation. How long does it usually take to get an insurance approval. I am just excited to get scheduled and was hoping to do it this month. I was told that it could be 3 weeks or more. Just wondering what you all have experienced.

Any problems with going for surgery to MX. alone.Has anyone done it ..any problems?Is pass port needed ?.....anyone?

:faint:OK. I met with the surgeon today. I was so sick on my stomach I almost up chucked this morning before my appointment! Then I got excited I was finally there talking and scheduling my surgery for the 27th of June. I am self paying do it is going faster. Anyway they gave me a brochure on lap band and it shows statistics of most people losing not losing more than 25% of their Excess weight. A few lost 33% of their excess and like 2 % lost more than that. Is this right???? So if I am 100lbs over weight chances are I will only lose 25lbs???:help: I borrowed money to get this done and will be paying for the next 5 years!!! and I am only going to lose 25lbs. Please tell…

I keep reading aobut PBing... what is that?

Yes, sometimes it is all about the benjamins! But seriously... I've found myself kind of lost on here checking the prices of the surgery if I had to pay out of pocket. I see the surgery itself is around $8,000 to $10,000 or more. I've read some people go to Mexico for the surgery and kudos to you who did but that's not an option for me. Even if it was, thank Maury for scarring me for life with his "plastic surgery gone wrong" shows. For those of you self payers and even people with insurance coverage I ask.... how much do the fills cost? While it sounds like a very simple procedure, I know doctors can turn things into a major ordeal and make it cost hundreds more than i…

I'm getting concerned about down time! I have 2 kids at home who cant drive but are very active in sports ect, my husband works, and my parents live out of town. I know its different for everyone but on the average, how bad is it and how long is the recovery time till you can get around a little bit?

can anyone give me any idea what i should be having with optifast for two weeks. Will i be full from optifast?

I found out today after some complications and several weeks of trial and error that my Lap Band is partially prolapsed. I had all the fluid removed 2 1/2 weeks ago and got by just fine. I didn't loose any weight, but didn't gain any either. I went back today and they put in .5 cc of fluid to try to start over and see how far we can get without having to reposition or replace the band. I am scheduled to go back in 2 weeks to have an additional .5 cc inserted. I was up to 2.6 cc when all this started in March. Have any of you had this complication? I have done great, have lost 90 pounds as of today's 7 month anniversary. I am quite distressed this evening and pretty scared…

I've read many conflicting things about how much volume of food you should eat after banding. I'm at 3 weeks post-op today and eating mushies. My doctor's literature talked of not eating more than 2 oz every 15 minutes. It suggests a meal of 2 T of cream of wheat and 2 T of fruit as a Breakfast. Can that be right? If weight loss is not a goal until after banding, I'd have to graze at that pace nonstop 24/7 to get in enough calories to gain weight! I read other stuff of bandsters normally eating 1 cup total at a meal. That seems reasonable. For lunch, I'm planning a 1/2 cup pureed BBQ beef and 1/2 cup mashed potatoes. Breakfast was 1/2 cup scrambled eggbeater…