Corrigan

I guess i was one of the lucky ones, almost no pain at all. The throat rawness from the intubation device was the worst and it was gone in three days.

Hi Callie, You seem to have a very good surgeon and I imagine you'll have an easy time of it. Best of luck and don't forget to let us know how you make out.

Unless you're prepaired to change doctors, there's probably no need to ask about his experience. You might ask if he's going to have you meet with a nutritionist and provide you with a post-op diet. Don't forget to take PJs and slippers because you don't want to be walking down the hall holding your gown closed in the back. I hope your surgery is as good as mine was.

I took a shower a while ago and weighed myself and was happy that I'd lost four pounds this week, then I read your post and thought "what a bummer". I could come up with a bunch of things I'd do to lose weight, but that wouldn't help you. I'm certainly no mental health expert, but I wonder if you don't need to talk to a therapist more than a WLS forum. We all want to help you, but I don't think we have what you need. If your post is really how you feel, I hope you get some professional help and I wish you all the luck in the world and please let us know how you make out. POST SCRIPT: Carol, If you're still there, Look up "5-day pouch diet" in Google. This will take some commitment on your part, and I hope you're up to it. It requires many of the things you say you're not willing to do, but if you took time to write your post, you must want help, and this is the only thing I've found that might do that. Again, good luck.

We're in the High desert of So. California and today will be 81 and tomorrow 83, a welcome relief from 112 a month ago. Wouldn't mind a little snow (just a little).

This was sent to me a while ago and seems like a good explanation for stalls. This is FWIW. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

We went to a Mexican restaurant last night for a birthday party and I had my first beer since surgery a month ago. I ordered a second, but couldn't drink it because the effects of the alcohol from the first hit and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to drive home. I was a beer maker for 20 years and was able to drink, but not anymore. I think that after WLS, at least the band, alcohol has a much greater effect than it did. The carbonation wasn't a problem, but the alcohol was. So I guess we just have to be more careful. After fills it'll probably be a different story. Then the carbonation will<BR>probably be restrictive.

You'll probably be fine, but keep an eye on it and if it gets worse, have a medical professional look at it. (I guess this is redundant but bears repeating).

I'm not an expert, but I wonder if you might need a bit of an unfill. I do know it takes a few days for a fill to allow much to go down, maybe you need to give it more time. My book says to drink liquids for a day or two after a fill. Someone with a little more experience will come along and give you better advice. Until then, good luck and keep chewing.

I was banded the 12th, I'm not losing much, and I don't think you should worry too much about it until your first fill. You probably don't have any restriction yet so you can (not should) eat almost anything you did before surgery. You should just follow your dietitian's instructions and you'll be fine. We'll lose after our first fill.

If you don't have access to a pool, you might try a physical therapy office and see if they will recommend some exercises you could do considering your limitations. I hope this helps.

Most anesthesiologists use your IV for sedatives and anesthesia these days. No mask involved. It's a very easy procedure, you're wheeled into the OR, everyone says hi, and next thing you know you're in the recovery room. Couldn't be easier. The worst part is being so thirsty afterwords. It really is just that easy. If you spent as much time and effort following your surgeon's instructions as you do worrying, you'll do great. Best of luck.

I don't blame you. My PCP talked me out of WLS for years. He retired and a new, proactive doctor took his place and recommended I try the Lapband to control diabetes and other problems. I guess it just depends on the PCP. You are probably the best judge of what you want and need, and there are a lot of doctors around, so find one you get along with. Good luck.

Lorianne, I was banded at Cedars-Sinai about a month ago. I can honestly say that I have never had a better hospital stay. I had a private room with a couch, table several stuffed chairs room for DW to sleep. The view from my window was of the LA skyline with the ocean behind it. The operation went as well as I could have hoped, No pain except for a little discomfort from the incisions. That place is huge! I walked about a mile, up and down the corridors, wheeling my IV stand. when I was leaving the next day, it was all hugs and kisses. I have never in my life, been treated that well in a hospital. when we got home, I went for an almost 2 mile walk around our "ranch" and never had the slightest pain. I'm seldom this enthusiastic about anything, but they deserve it. I hope you're experience is as good.

Wow, SM you're going to make medical history. You had the sleeve in Mexico in Aug., now your having the band. I didn't know that was possible!

Hi Joe, You've probably have a bit of a sore throat as well, from the intubation tube you had to help you breathe during surgery. Just keep it as wet as much as you can. Mine went away in three or four days. Good luck.

NorthShore University Health System Evanston, IL Level 1 Fully Accredited January 26, 2006 University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago Chicago, IL Level 1 Fully Accredited June 30, 2008 West Suburban Medical Center-RHC Oak Park, IL Level 2 Fully Accredited November 14, 2008 NorthShore University Health System Evanston, IL Level 1 Fully Accredited January 26, 2006 University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago Chicago, IL Level 1 Fully Accredited June 30, 2008 West Suburban Medical Center-RHC Oak Park, IL Level 2 Fully Accredited November 14, 2008 These are Centers of Excellence in the Chicago area. You will probably have a very good experience with any of them.

I've only been here a few months, but if there's anything I could help you with I'd be happy to.

If you're really careful with calorie control there's just no way you won't lose weight I lost 30 lbs pre-surgery with keeping my calories to about 1200 a day. I was really hungry for a while, but that gradually lessened with time. If you are really honest with yourself and write down everything that you eat, you'll have to loose weight. I know it's not easy, but good things seldom are. Best of luck to you.

I'm willing to give up many things to make a success of this Lap band, however my morning coffee isn't one of them. I usually only drink two 6 oz cups, but I really need them to get started. On the other hand, I only need 52 additional ounces to make up my 64.

Ditto. I had the band w/plication done at Cedars-Sinai a month ago. I had absolutely no problems, other that slight site discomfort. I have very little hunger and am not planning fills unless things change.

I don't think you could find a better hospital to have your surgery done. I'm a big advocate of CoEs. I'm only a month out, but I've already cut my diabetes meds in half and my blood sugar was 88 this am, sleep apnea has a way to go. My stay at the CoE I went to was the best hospital stay I've ever had. I came away with almost no pain and was able to walk almost two miles the day after my discharge. Hope your experience is just as good.

You're correct that you have to follow rules with the Lap band, but the band makes it easier. The band is safer and weight loss can be about the same in a years time. Whatever you decide, I hope all goes well.

You should get all the information you need from your seminar and classes. Each hospital approches it a little differently, but most of the instructionis are similar. Best of luck.

What's that, 60 lbs a year? I know a lot of people that would be mighty happy with that.