faithmd

Some of the Mexican surgeons were the proctors who taught the first US surgeons to place the band. No one in this hemisphere is more experienced than some of the surgeons in Mexico.

Yep, all I needed to take were: my pillow (for my hospital bed and to cushion the seatbelt on the way home) hairbrush slippers toothbrush and paste one change of underwear (I didn't wear any during the OR case or during the night after-can't imagine having to pull them down to pee) something to read (but I didn't read much) lip balm my ID cards (just in case, but I didn't even use those!) I wore home what I wore to the hospital-a loose flowing dress. In terms of important things to have in place pre-op, I have found these invaluable in the past four days: liquid tylenol popsicles a shaker to mix my drinks in (nope, haven't used my blender) my pillow to splint my belly while coughing or getting out of bed loose nightgowns slip on shoes gas-x strips lipbalm Gerber apple prune juice in the four ounce bottles (drink one a day to keep things moving) medcups for meds (I didn't need them to stop myself from gulping, but it might help someone else) hydrocortisone cream to put on the rash the tape left on my skin baby oil to remove all the yellow OR gunk The first day I used my kitchen timer to time my drinks every fifteen minutes, but by day two, I didn't need it.

nope, not really hungry at all. thankfully!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's in the FAQ's and references forum: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/ Which has many great threads like what to ask the doctor, technical references, etc... Here's the thread: Post-op Checklists - Things to have before surgery.

South Beach Snack Bars have about 140 calories, 5 grams of fat, 15 grams of carbs with 3 grams of Fiber an 10 grams of Protein. There are about four or five varieties and they taste pretty decent. I also like the Quaker QSmart bars that are 120 calories with 6 grams fat, 9 grams carbs with 2 grams fiber and 10 grams protein. They taste GREAT!

The point of liquids post-op (and by liquids, that means liquids without solids in them) is to allow the band to set itself in place. The band is sutured on the front of the stomach into place, but the back side has nothing keeping it in place. This is where the liquid diet comes into play. The band gets "seated" by scar tissue forming around the band on the back of the stomach. It takes time (not days, but possibly weeks-everyone is different) for a good scar ring to form that will hold the band. ANY solid particles will cause your stomach to churn and move around trying to digest what has been ingested into it. The stomach is a big muscle. You do not want to have that muscle moving around and churning, the more it moves, the less scar tissue will form, the less scar tissue that forms, the higher your chances to slip down the road. Liquids are processed with a lot less churning than even something you've chewed and chewed. Hope that makes sense.

I'm hanging on. Am two, no three...shit! I'm FOUR days post-op now (dayum time flies!) and doing okay. My DH was sweet as all get out to me while I was being admitted, after the OR and on the drive home. He went up north to our house up there on Sunday evening to get some yardwork done and left me here (about 3 hrs away). I have my dad next door so I'm fine, but still. I kind of would have preferred for him to stay home with me. Though I kind of like the solitude as well... I really wanted him to sleep with me (in bed, I mean) but he didn't, he always sleeps on the couch down here-we have a queen sized bed. Though when we are up north, we do sleep together in a king-sized bed. He pointed out that he'd be too scared he'd roll over and hurt me by bumping into me. I agree, but I didn't like it.

What a great NSV! Burn those bad boys!

I hear ya and I agree! But... Suck it up, deal with it (that's the mantra I keep chanting to myself). It is for our health we are doing this and it is for a specified period of time. I can do anything if I know when it's going to end. Come one end, come on end...

Advanced Platform Here's a link to a thread about it on Dr. C's forum: Trace W. Curry, M.D. :: View topic - New AP band and a pic thread: Trace W. Curry, M.D. :: View topic - pic of new AP band I was closed with staples....DAMN! But I agreed with my surgeon's logic, gotta hate that freaking logic!

Hiya kleta! I was closed with staples. I started a poll thread about this subject a while back and it's still pretty active, here's a link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/what-were-your-incisions-closed-31852/ Thought you might like to see what many others have said as well

Hello Kahuna and welcome to LBT! Many surgeons do not like to remove your gallbladder at the same time as placing the band due to increased risks of complications with the surgery and with infection. They will more often remove the gallbladder when doing a RNY than when placing a band. Self-pay packages are coded differently than insurance paid procedures, it would be worth talking with a surgeon about. But being in the San Diego area you are close enough to Mexico to take advantage of the wonderful surgeons there. I would reccommend you start by looking into Dr. Aceves or Dr. Ortiz, you can do a search on here for them, or look in the Mexico forum. They are both good surgeons with good reputations. There are more wonderful surgeons from Mexico, but those are the first two names that popped into my head. If you choose to go out of your area for surgery, just be aware that you need to set up aftercare and fills with someone close to home BEFORE you go for surgery. But again, being so close to Mexico, if you should choose to go with a Mexican surgeon, you could fairly easily return for fills/follow-up.

If I couldn't drive for weeks I'd be hosed. I have to drive myself to my one week post-op appointment next Thursday and my surgeon is well over an hour away.

Thanks, Edie! I can always use fast, easy and nutritious meal ideas. And I love Schwan's quality.

Carrie, I'm not sure if you even come here anymore-I see your post counter is only 9 and like so many people the possibility is that you came with a problem seeking help and just haven't been back, which is fine. But I just wanted to post something for you to consider about going back to Dr. Selim:cry If your Dr. Selim is Niazy Selim then here is some information I found on OH about Dr. Selim in KC. There are no reviews of Dr. Selim, which is interesting if he's done "thousands of bands" as it sounds like you were told he did. This is from a woman's surgeon's story: Surgeon Testimonial I met with Dr Niazy Selim about 2 hours after my appointment time. He seemed to be nice, asked me if I had questions, of which I did and answered each one to my satisfaction. I did express the need to get things going in a timely manor due to a change in my insurance in May 07. I was disappointed because he did not give me any paperwork, booklet, brochure or anything about the lap band surgery. I did recieve a pamphlet 10 days later after calling his office assistant to find out what the next step was. I was directed to get a letter from my cardiologist and have my psych visit before they submit to my insurance. He did have one doctor suggested but left it up to me who I see for the psych eval. Dr Selim says he has done about 100 Lap band procedures and had 2 who had slipped band which was the only problems he mentioned. He says that he does fills in four week intervals which seemed appropriate to me from what I have read. I also would caution you that someone who is a liver specialist may not be a BAND specialist. Is he a member of the ASBS? You can check by going to ABSB.org, was he trained and certified from Allergan to place the LapBand? You can check that at lapband.com

Angeladarling, good luck! You'll do great!

I know I'm specifically looking for unflavored protein. I've got some GREAT chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla shake packets already that mix with water and taste pretty damned great-even my husband "the picky eater" likes them.

Yep, it was one of the suggestions my nutritionist had for our class as well.

CONGRATS!!!!! Go to this forum, there are two threads filled with questions to ask about the band and ask of the surgeon: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/

My best friend is a Urologist and he has also been very vocal against surgery. I half-expected him to fly in from SF and stop me on the way to the OR, so I didn't tell him my new date when it was rescheduled. I wish you luck and welcome to LBT!

Most folks LOVE unjury. unjury.com I just went there and ordered one sample packet of the chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and three of the unflavored Protein. All together it was $13.45 including shipping for the six packets. I'd rahter pay that than pay $20 to $40 for a large amount of gross stuff. I'm looking for unflavored protein that I can put in HOT foods. Haven't found it yet, anyone?

I haven't bought a scale that I can weigh on yet (too heavy), that stops me from making myself nuts with scale checking. I never got weighed pre or post-op at the hospital. I have no idea what I went into OR at, nor what I weighed after all the Fluid.

Thanks! I just posted some incision pics on Scar Stages. I'm so far fairly fortunate, I have very little bruising. But my belly remains totally numb around my big port incision. I should probably be grateful for that.

Maybe, but I've been working out pretty heavily (pre-op) three times a week 45 min-50mins at a time. Recumbent stepper, rower, elliptical, treadmill, bike...