Alexandra

Katie, I've heard it said quite often that the 4th-5th days out from surgery are the worst. Things often start to improve immediately after this, so just keep doing what you're doing and taking it easy. Healing is hard work and we have to be careful not to expext too much of ourselves. Getting enough liquid in is the most important thing you can do so just concentrate on sipping your Water and resting. You have plenty of time to think about calories later on. You may indeed have some built-up air inside that is making you feel uncomfortably full, but that will pass. If you're not feeing better tomorrow then by all means call your doctor! You're not bothering them--that's what they're there for. But don't panic, either. You'll start to feel a bit better each day from here on out. Good luck!!

Well, everyone's experience is different, of course, but it can indeed be perfectly normal to feel a little weak and dizzy when adjusting to a drastically reduced caloric intake. My point was that it's nothing to panic about, but it is something to address. Taking in enough protein and fluids is vital, of course.

Congratulations on your wonderful success!! :huh2: :w00t:

Lalida, you've asked a question to which everyone has their own personal answer. I decided on surgery after 40 years of obesity that I couldn't get any control over otherwise. You're very young and there are a lot of things out there that might work for you if you explore them. Good luck--and ask LOTS of questions!

Miss Daisy, the answer to your question is YES, it is normal to feel a little weak as you're in the liquid phase. Be sure you're getting enough Protein and liquids, and your body will adjust. But you're definitely going through something and you're still healing, so take it easy. The itching belly is due to healing. It too is perfectly normal. Congratulations on your banding!!

I was banded on April 17, 2008. I'm so weak from not getting any food. I am still on full liquids and I drink the slim fast low carb (when I can find it). I'm losing a little bit of weight, but I'm very weak. Is that normal? My belly itches something terrible too! (Posted on behalf of Miss Daisy.)

Miss Daisy, I'm going to sart a new thread with your post--it's really a whole new question and you'll get a lot more responses in a new thread.

Greetings to you, and welcome to LBT!

Oooh, I'm so sorry having it removed didn't fix your problem! Medical mysteries are sooooo frustrating. Best wishes that you figure it out and get it fixed, soon!

I agree with Plain. Whether weight loss has an effect on your health problems depends on the cause of those problems. But that doesn't mean it's not worth doing!! I had borderline high blood pressure all of my life but it had always been attributed to my weight. The only time it went down was during pregnancy, oddly enough. After banding and a loss of more than 100 lbs, my BP was still borderline high and FINALLY a doctor suggested that it *wasn't* due to my weight. That makes sense, since my slender mother also had HBP--but everyone had always attributed that to her smoking. So I'm on BP meds but it's OK. If I hadn't been banded it would never have become evident that it's out of my control. So one way or the other, banding has led to control of my high blood pressure.

I agree with Dollhouse; wait and see what results from this letter. Your doctors have done this before, they probably pick and choose from among the various facts available to create a compelling case for surgery. I remember reading my letter and it sounded awful! Everything in it was technically true, but I had no idea I was at death's door. Good luck!!

Hi Samantha, While everyone is nervous, of course, in my experience it's important to listen to yourself when making a decision of this magnitude. Perhaps you're excessively nervous because you're not 100% sure this is the right decision? You're very young--are there things you have yet to try to get a grip on your weight issues? Bariatric surgery isn't something to be entered into lightly--it's life-changing and takes a serious approach. If you're really ready, there's no reason to be extremely nervous. So perhaps there's a message there in your subconscious. Think through your decision carefully. If you've really done all the prep work and are positive this is the right step, your nervousness will fade.

My fingers are crossed that it's as easy as getting a fill, but I'm afraid it isn't. Over time my fullness receptor (wherever that is) has gotten much less sensitive, and a tight band isn't what it used to be. But I'm still thinking about it, with hope! In the meantime it's my struggle to even *remember* that I'm banded, and to let my band do its job. You're not alone!!

Wow, Shorty, what a PITA your doctor is being! I wouldn't wait or ask, I would just write the letter myself and present it to the office staff to have it signed. I'm sure your surgeon's office can give you the text, which you can tweak to be specific to you. Don't sit around and wait, but don't be rude either. Just do it!

I have had complications, too, even to the point of having my band removed and replaced. Three surgeries in all, two more than I'd bargained for in the beginning. Also an endoscopy, a couple of stints on medication for reflux, and a lot of sleepless nights. But I don't have one single regret and am 100% glad I made the decision to be banded. Knowing going in that the worst thing that could happen was that it would be removed is one of the biggest reasons I chose it over bypass. With two small children I couldn't take the chance of being sidelined by some major complication like those I'd heard about with RNY--rare, sure, but when they happen they seem to be extremely serious. I wanted something that would leave me whole even if it had to come out or be reversed. The band is the very first time in my life I've had real control over my weight, which was nearing dangerous levels and making me an unfit parent. Over my first three years I lost 130 lbs, 50 of which have come back on through my difficulties. But I am very much healthier and more active than I used to be, and I have a realistic chance of losing the weight again and more. No surgery is risk-free. We ALL are taking a chance, whether it's going under the knife or staying morbidly obese. We have to consider what makes the most sense for each of us, and consider all our personal circumstances. Sure, things can and do go wrong, but HOW they go wrong and how they can be fixed are important things to consider. The "worst" happened to me and I'm still 100% glad I made the choice to get banded.

None of which is true, of course. Rep can be fun, but let's remember that it is all just for fun and really means nothing.

Having the band removed is, unless there is internal damage, quite a bit easier than having it placed. My removal was amazingly easy; could have gone to work the next day. As I recall they told me to stay on liquids for like a week(?) but I'm not 100% sure about that.

CONGRATULATIONS, WHEETSIN!!! Oh, wow, are you in for a treat. :drool: I am so, so happy for you and your DH. :sneaky: I remember at my first prenatal visit having the same feeling you did about the doctor's casual attitude to all my questions! It's hard to remember that for them, this is the oldest of old-hat business. As a first-time mommy every single thing is brand new and there aren't enough answers in the world to make it all seem easy and worry-free. One thing I can tell you that helped me IMMENSELY was to hire a doula. Tell me if you want to know more. Oooh, I'm so excited for you, Wheet! (And maybe a wee bit jealous.) Congratulations!! :biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

At some point you will need to have a complete physical exam, so you will need a new PCP if the one you had has left. Whether you need a referral or not is a function of the kind of insurance plan you have, but just about ALL insurance plans will require a letter of recommendation for surgery from a primary care doctor in addition to your surgeon. If your insurance plan doesn't require you to get referrals to see specialists, then you can start with the seminar at your selected surgeon's office. But fair warning: Your surgeon will VERY LIKELY want the results of a complete physical, as well as the evidence your insurance company needs of your history of obesity. So it's a great idea to find a PCP you like, schedule a physical now, and go in prepared to be brutally honest with him/her about how much your excess weight is negatively impacting your life, how long you have been struggling with it, all the things you have tried over the years to lose weight, and how you are absolutely at the end of your rope. The idea is to get this doctor to support you in your search for bariatric surgery, and it's even better if the initial recommendation for this treatment comes from the PCP. Even if your own doctor has left, if the office is still there your records very likely are too. Those will be necessary to prove your medical history, so get copies of them as soon as you can. Good luck!!

Hi Sphynx, As surgeries go, lap-band placement is pretty minor. But it's probably not considered "minor surgery" in the medical sense because it involves general anaesthesia (which is where most of the risk lies) and internal organs. It is, however, often done as an outpatient procedure with no need for an overnight stay. I've had three band-related surgeries, and none were difficult at all. For me personally the hardest part was recovering from anaesthesia, which took a couple of days to work itself out through my system. You ask if "anyone has ever died or had a blood clot or bad reaction or major infection from this surgery" and the answer to that is yes, of course. People have died from infections and complications related to having their tonsils removed! Surgery is surgery and there are risks. But the overall risk of complications with surgery is quite small, and with this kind of surgery it's VERY small. Your doctor's skill and experience is the best predictor of your chances of having a surgical complication, so choose one you have maximum confidence in. Your fears seem related more to surgery in general than to lap-band surgery specifically, and your doctor is the best person to discuss those with. Surgery is a scary thing, absolutely, but it may help you to consider all the people you know and all the people here who come through these types of procedures every day without issue.

Kendra, my thoughts are with you and your family. What a difficult thing you're going through. :tea: That is wonderful news about the breast masses. I have an image of cowboy boots with very sharp spurs in my head, and will keep it uppermost in my mind as you go forward with treatment. We are ALL pulling for you!!

I'm another non-cooker. Deli meat or leftovers (thank you DH!!) are my mainstays, with protein bars for breakfast and canned chili frequently for lunch or dinner. It's important to read labels carefully when buying prepared foods, but if you have a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods near you there will be a much better selection of wholesome, healthy, well-labeled ready-to-eat varieties.

Pix, you are not alone in valuing the moderated weight loss offered by the band. This is one of the primary reasons I chose the band over bypass, though I was a good candidate for either. Back in 1990 I lost 75 lbs in three months on Optifast, and it was really a very disturbing experience. I hated not recognizing myself in the mirror, and particularly hated everyone oohing and aahing over me like I had been some sort of creature they couldn't bear to look at and only now was I worthy of their notice. Nuh uh, no thanks. 70 lbs in a YEAR is much more my speed.

Horizon BCBS of NJ has an excellent approach to banding, so as far as the carrier is concerned you should be OK. The question to answer is whether your company has a custom contract (most large companies do, where they can choose various options about what not to cover--bariatric treatment is often excluded) or if it's one of Horizon's standard plans. If the latter, I can tell you that Horizon does cover banding for qualified patients.

Oh wow, what a nightmare! I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Can they give you anything for the pain? If it's gas-related only time will heal it, but in the meantime you shouldn't have to suffer. Good luck, and heal fast!!