PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I am 6 days post off and should have 48-60 oz of water a day. How on earth can I get that in??? I am still on a liquid diet so you'd think it would be easy but it's not.. I do good to get 32 oz in a day. Any suggestions???

Just a curious question, after the band, do you have to keep the incision area dry? How long do you have to wait to take a bath or swim. Just wondering!

I have been banded since 3/12/07. Not loosing any weight yet to speak of. I just had my first fill. I don't know what I am feeling? I feel like things get stuck in my throat and I cant swallow!! Is this sticking? Is this the what it is supposed to feel like? If anyone has any ideas let me know. Thanks for all the great posts here on line. joan B

Hey everyone, I am a stay at home mother of three, I have a 2 ½ year old son and twin 9 month old daughters. My surgery is scheduled for May 23rd and my husband took off two weeks from work. Is two weeks enough healing time for me to start caring for my children again?

So I had my second fill on Monday. I know it can take up to a week to feel the results of a fill but honestly I still FEEL NOTHING!!! I mean I can still eat a piece of bread and two scrambled egg in one meal. I mean its not that high in calories but it is high in protein but should i be able to eat that whole thing??! I feel like I am some sort of lapband failure that I can still eat so much with two fills under my belt. I received 1 cc on 4/30 and then 1 cc on 5/14. I have another fill scheduled for 4/27 but seriously, why am I not feeling this yet? The PA said it can take up to 3 fills to make a difference but how come it seems like almost everyone else feels a big diff…

Hello. I am the first of two new lapband receipients here in PA 4/24/07. My surgeon was recertified during our procedure, so he is primarily a gastric bypass guy. A lot of the information/education I am receiving seems to be bypassed based. With that being said, I am prescribed actigall BID to help prevent gall stone development during rapid weight loss. My surgeon said that I will likely only lose 20% of my excess body weight this year and the next 2 consecutive years. I don't consider that to be a rapid loss or at least one that would put me at high risk. Any one else rx this medication? Any ideas of how to get more lap band specific education for myself? thanks …

Got Lap Band Friday May 11....Can't keep 4 ice chips and 1/4 teaspoon jello down....lots of saliva in mouth and phelm...could this be correct...doctor said Lap Band was very tight...will I ever be able to keep anything down...nervous....

I have been reading info on this site for a while...I am a previous gastric bypass patient with a total weight loss of 168 lbs..I had my bypass in January 2001..Kept the weight off pretty good until the last year and a half or so....I have gained about 20-25 pounds, and it scares me to death! I can eat A LOT now with very little restriction :hungry: ! Was wondering if there is anyone else who has been banded that previously had other WLS??? Also, anyone with experience with adolescents and the band?? I have a 14 year old daughter who struggles with her weight...just like I did, and I would like to explore the possibilities of the band for her, as well. Thank you all f…

I see everyone is taking vitamins. Where are you getting them from and are they liquid? how much are you paying. I get banded on May 29 and just want to get stuff in order. thanks!:youcandothis:

I have not been banded yet (waiting on insurance approval). However, I am trying to "change my habits now" by watching my calorie intake. :hungry: I saw on another post about counting daily calories using fitday.com. I found it a bit tideous because I could find nutritional values for food that I ate in restaurants. I eat out quite a bit--I may have to stop once banded---is there an online site that lends itself to counting calories of restaurants? Anxious to begin...

Hi all, I was banded on April 30, 2007. It has been about 10 days and I am starting to feel depressed. About what? Im not quite sure, but I am crying easily, restless, wanting to do something, but I am not quite sure what yet. I know it sounds crazy, but I almost feel lost. Lost with what to do with myself. Anyone else experience this after surgery? I would sure like to know that I am not alone.:help:

I have seen a lot of different people post about different tests they had to have before sugery. What tests/consultations did you have to have? Does it depend on the dr or does it depend on the patient? Also, what do they do for cardiac clearance? Just an EKG? Tests I have heard that some have had: Upper GI sleep Study Bloodwork Liver Ultrasound EKG/Echocardiogram Pulmonary Functions Test Psychiatric Clearance Also, what order were they done in?

Hi everyone... well I made it. I was banded on the 9th and man I am still sore. I had to stay in the hospital for 2 days because it was just too painful to walk and I was coughing up a lot of phlegm. But I finally got to come home at 6pm last night. I am not experiencing the pain the shoulders like others from what I assume is gas in my stomach. I randomly get this sharp pain right below my sternum & below my port cut and it feels like a fist pushing it's way out. I am guessing this is the gas that others have spoken about. But lucky me I am getting it in my stomach. Also, the cut above my belly button is swollen so it looks funny when I stand up. It stic…

Has anyone received a card - one that is given to lap-band patients that you take with you when you go out to eat :hungry: that says you are a lap-band recipient and the establishment must honor your ordering off the kids menu or asking for a smaller portion and adjusting the price accordingly? Second card you take with you when you travel because the port will set off the security alarms at the airport. The card says something like you are a lap-band recipient, and you have a devise installed in your body that will set off the the alarms? I went to a seminar at Grand Park Surgical Center in Merrillville, Indiana, and they mentioned these two cards that the patien…

Just thought I'd get some input... my post op instrustions say not to lift over 25lbs for at least 2 weeks after surgery. Well I have a 15 month old and I have to get him in and out of my car. He's 24lbs.. so I'm actually right under the 25 mark.. My question is, does anyone know if I could "tell" if I've lifted to much? He's the only thing I have lifted and my husband does it when he can... but he's not there all the time.

I know this sounds stupid, but one of my biggest fears about being banded and working with children is catching a belly bug and vomiting...what happens? I would assume that puking while banded is NOT good...Does anyone have any insight?!?! Hahaha...paranoia?I think so!

http://www.core.monash.org/assets/documents/research-papers/2005-52.pdf I found a study (linked) that shows over 60% of new bandsters have shoulder pain at one week. The study is an interesting read. Most troubling for me was a finding that nearly 50% of those who had hiatal hernia repair at the same time as getting banded had significant shoulder pain at 5 weeks post-op! I had a large hiatal hernia repaired along with the band last Tuesday and am still experiencing excruciating pain. Today even hydrocodone wasn't cutting the pain level.

Just a quick question for those of you that are horse owners... how long after banding were you able to get back in the saddle and ride? DollyRose 'still waiting on Cigna determination' :bored

I have been banded since Oct. 2006. I have had gas problems ever since, some days worse than others. I have eaten different foods to see if that was the problem. I guess that wasn't it, because I'm still having the gas. It's really just an uncomfortable feeling nothing really painful. Yes and sometimes embarrassing.:cry My Dr. says this stays with some people forever. I'm not complaining, I'd have this surgery again in a heartbeat! I was just wondering if anyone else has this problem? I love this Lapband, I have lost 40 lbs, and I have gone from a size 22 to a size 14. The inches are really falling off. I have never lost inches like this before. It's GREAT!!! I have a…

Okay.. I might have missed this thread somewhere, but I will be going in Thursday for my band. Any tips and information on what I will need pre and post op in the house, in my bag. Thanks for any information you can give me. I am getting nervous, as I am sure I should be or something would be wrong. Thanks everyone.

Okay.. I might have missed this thread somewhere, but I will be going in Thursday for my band. Any tips and information on what I will need pre and post op in the house, in my bag. Thanks for any information you can give me. I am getting nervous, as I am sure I should be or something would be wrong. Thanks everyone.

Hi I have not a banding date yet but I am closing in on the preop testing etc. I was wondering if anyone who had sleep apnea was able to eliminate using the CPAP maching after losing weight while banded. Please let me hear from you. I need some first hand information. Thanks.

I am just wondering how much weight you lost before your surgery? I have to see a doctor for a year prior to the surgery being approved by insurance. I was told that they want me to lose some weight to "show" I can lose weight. I have gone down ten pounds and then up six and then stayed the same. I don't want to lose too little or too much ya know. Because if I lose too much I won't qualify. I am at 300 and can't lose too much for my BMI to fall below the required BMI. How much did you lose while waiting to get approved by insurance? Cheri:omg:

OK, I am 3 days out and sick of the things I am drinking/eating on this liquid diet. Would anyone care to share some of their faorite liquid diet recipes with me? Thanks. Suzi

I was wondering if being vegetarian can be an option for bansters?:help:

I have never been on a liquid diet but I have tried low carb diets in the past and they leave me feeling weak, nauseated, tired, foggy headed, headachy.....just basically feeling like total crap. Was this the case with the liquid diet pre-op or post-op for any of you? I know we are supposed to exercise to help get rid of fat around the liver before surgery but I know, based on past experience, there was no way I could exercise on the low carb diets I have done in the past because I felt so weak....I mean, I could barely go to work and make it home to go to bed. Is this the case with the liquid diets? Also, was low blood sugar a problem for any of you during the liquid…

:help: Is anyone having any problems NOT drinking fluids before, during and after meals? My Dr. says NO fluids 1 hour before, No during and None for 1 hour after meals. That is killing me. I have slowed way down, but just can't stop it completely. Anyone else having this problem? I'm also having problems NOT getting the FULL Feeling. Could the drink be my problem?:help: HELP!!

Im getting banded on May 24th...I cannot wait...I have been reading about people on a preop diet...My Dr didnt say anything about one. I have my Proop Dr visit on May 16th. Will he tell me then or is it up to the individual. I have been pigging out...That sounds terrible but its true...Any suggestions??

My pre-op instructions said no alcohol for 2 weeks prior to surgery. I forgot and had two drinks last night. Big problem?

I had Lap Band May 11 and I have used a box of Kleenex spitting up saliva...also throwing up clear liquid that has no taste or smell....does this sound right?

Is it a thing with bariatric surgeons or is it just mine??? I have had 3 appts cancelled by my surgeon. Granted I am not even approved yet but I am still anxious to see him and get on with it. I found out it happens quite frequently with him and the other surgeons in the office. Is it just mine or has this happened to anyone else? If it happens again I am going to consider switching. Not to mention I live 2 hours away and my appt yesterday was cancelled on me when I was already half way there, plus I'm taking time off work, which I enjoy doing but don't really want to waste vacation time for nothing. Okay sorry for the ranting, I got a little carried away.

I was a little out of it when the doctor was going over the results of my Upper GI but I know she said I have 2 ulcers!! I have to call her on Monday because she gave me a script for Prevacid (sp?) and it isn't covered by my insurance for some reason. Hopefully she can give me something else but I want to get a little more detail about my results as well. She asked if I have been taking a lot of aspirin or any pain reliever lately - which I have been (Ibuprofen). My last 2 periods were really rough and I had a bunch of dental work done lately. My dentist thinks I am clenching and/or grinding my teeth at night too. I've been waking up with really bad headaches lately…

According to my pre-op instructions, I'm not allowed to have Aspirin or NSAIDs (including Ibuprofen) during the week immediately prior to surgery. I suffer from chronic back and neck pain and require some relief. Any idea what pain killers are allowed? Advil? Tylenol? Acetaminophen? Will any of these interfere with blood clotting following surgery?

Hello all.. just a short update on what's been going on so for. I've have my general checkup, met with the nutritionist and had an upper G.I. done , chest x-ray and blood drawn. Today, I had an EKG, polumanary breathing test and an ultrasound of my heart. I think the only other test I'm waiting on is the sleep study. I know it sounds like a lot, but I just have to keep reminding myself the reason for it all:) . After all this it's finally sinking in that I'm actually going to have this done, and I can't wait.

I was banded last week and I was curious how to pick a goal weight? Is it a size you would just feel comfortable at; is it a government table for healthy BMI's; what? I am just happy to lose almost anything, but secretly wish for a whole lot more. Just to where I can get off some meds and buy clothes in a "normal" clothes store again. And, of course, but hot undies.

I went to pre-po this morning @10:00 got done @ 2:00 I get banded next Friday,then I can start living again.:dance:

I am 29 y/o and weigh 205. I have had issues with weightloss the past 5 yrs. and I am unsure if I should go through with this. I met with my doctor yesterday and I am a candidate (private pay). I'm just scared about the eating afterwards. Did anyone else go through this? Thanks, Kelli:eek:

Hello everyone. Maybe i just need a little encouragement or need to be more patient? I had surgery on Dec 21, 2006. It's been almost 4 1/2 months. I originally lost 5 lbs before the surgery, but since the surgery have only lost 12 more pounds. I actually gained 3 pounds when i went for my second fill, but when i went for the third fill i had lost the 3 lbs again. So i am still at 17 lbs lost postop. I still am not feeling much restriction, but the surgeon tells me he sees that i am restricted. I am scheduled for a fourth fill on June 21. It gets a little discouraging. I am leaving on a cruise next week with my girlfriends and now I am worried about gaining wei…

Sounds like a silly question, but I've got kids signing up for swimming lessons that are parent interactive. Does anyone know what I can expect for recovery (incisions) and being able to be in a pool?

Any tips, suggestions or recommendations on the best way to take meds post-op?

I was banded on 4/19, and have had little to no pain or discomfort almost from the beginning. Yesterday, I noticed a "knot" about 1.5" wide and maybe 2" long radiating out to the left from the main scar in my stomach - it feels like it's attached to what I thought was my port. It moves around a bit, and is tender (probably because I keep poking at it :nervous ), but not overly painful. I'm a bit whigged out about it. Any advice?

I'm 2 weeks out and still not losing. I'm eating sooooooooooo much less. What am I doing wrong? My dr. was surprised at my 2 week visit monday that I had not lost. arghhhh

Hi ya'll. Well gotta another letter from my insurance company on Friday. Now they are asking for pictures of me from 2004 and 2005. Oh and they want dates on them. They want me to prove that I am morbidly obese. I currently weigh 371, my doctor has submitted proof to this, my surgeon has submitted proof to this but still they do not believe. I guess they think I could go from 150 to 371 in less than two years??? Can you believe this??? Excuse my French but Damn ! Well I actually could gain about 50 pounds while in hibernation from January till April but --------Well here I go to look for old pictures. I hate my picture taken but I know have some somewhere here....…

How many days did you have to stay off work after your surgery? I am a teacher and I have a lot going on this summer but still want to get going with this procedure!!! Excited!!!!:clap2:

Hey guys so I am about 12 days out from surgery and I have some hardness around the incision of my port. ITs a little painful not horrible and its not red or anything but when i pust on it it like a big knot. I know my port didn't fall out but i just want to make sure this is normal.

Well...I did it. I am two days post-op and feel like I have been hit by a freight train. The pains in my stomach are terrible. In the hospital, I vomited twice because of the pain medicine and that was a horrible feeling. I took my bandages off today. Two of my incisions have some oozing, but they will be alright. I didn't realize how sore I was going to be. Hopefully it will go away in a couple of days. How long before I start to feel "normal" again? Tina:eek:

hi all , I am 10 days post op from a double operation I had my band fitted and also my gall bladder removed at the same time , has anyone els had the same op , my progress in the first 5 days was quite slow , but i am now driving and walking well , still just on the fluids , but i would like to hear from anyone who has had the same op.

I havea good friend who is interested in lap band surgery. I have been telling her about my lap band journey. She recieves dialysis 2-3 times per week for kidney failure. She told me that her kidney doc said it was ok her to get banded as she needs to lose a certain amount of wait to get on the donor list for a kidney. This doc is just her kidney doc and I am not sure how much he knows about weight loss surgeries. She is on fluid restriction and I would think that the amount of fluids we are supposed to drink daily is way over her limit. Not to mention I am sure that she would have some dietary issues. Are any of you aware of any dialysis patients being banded?

Wohoo I made it to the manditory pre-op dietary counceling 4 weeks till my pre-op appt with my surgeon. Things are moving along very well . I am really getting excited now that I know this is really gonna happen.:clap2:

I'm getting banded in Mexico on 6/21 so will need a local Doc for fills. Does anyone know who will do them in Everett or North Seattle? It appeares that many Docs don't like to do fills if they didn't do the surgery. Thanks for any tips!