leatha_g

(((((((((Donali))))))))) I was beginning to wonder if we were gonna have to get out the hunting dogs to find you. Thanks for posting. Glad to hear you're doing okay. Leatha

Welcome Joanne!! Glad to have you join us! Be especially careful with the 'last supper' thing. It only adds to what you have to take off after the surgery AND believe it or not, you will get to eat these foods again. Welcome!

Chris, Inamed makes and sells a band called Vanguard. This band holds more saline than the regular 9cm band. The Vanguard is 11cm. 3cc's would not be much at all in this particular band. Normally, this band is used with people who are on the higher end of the BMI scale. If your doc is able to pull out 2.75cc from a 9cm band, which only holds 4ccs of Fluid. This would make me nervous. However, it has been heard of. If you have this amount in this size band. I would opt for the EGD just to make sure. No restriction is the only real symptom of erosion. I really hope this is not the case for you. Please let us know.

Do you have a Vanguard band? I'm really sorry to hear of this possibility. Please let us know.

Just so you know. Johnson and Johnson currently has a band in clinical trials, also. (I expect my cut from the profits. lol)

I'm poor. lol, but I've recommended it to many folks that I know who have stock portfolios.

Duh! LOL. It just dawned on me - if you're self pay. You may not need ANY of this. He may set you down, have a chat and set you up a date. I'm slow sometimes..

Both times, I was told to drink at least 3 'meals' a day. This included full liquids, as I was introduced to them in the hospital. I would use an Atkins or EAS shake for Protein in the morning, sugar free Jello, popsicles, Water, yogurt, broth, Soup At Hand for lunch or dinner. Tapioca pudding, maybe another Protein Shake. This period is not meant for weight loss, but is meant for healing only. This is the only time with banding that you are encouraged to have 'liquid' calories. I tried to keep the most calories for Breakfast lunch and dinner, but supplemented with popsicles, jello, etc in between times. This, along with water keeps some sustinence going in almost constantly and doesn't leave you starving to death. I tracked it all on www.fitday.com to make sure I wasn't overdoing it in calories and rarely even reached 800 calories a day. As always, this may not be what your doctor recommends, this is only what I was allowed to do.

I think that's a wise decision - not posting your weight daily. It'll make you crazy. (Cept, you've already told us you ARE crazy, so, well, I guess it'll make you craziER. ) Don't drive yourself nuts worrying about a stretched pouch. You're right. You can stretch your pouch, but it takes consistently packing your pouch to do that. Or, in some cases, an overfill will cause it to bulge over the band too. I really wished you could get the seroma behind you. That has to be so frustrating.

Not sure if I have given this to you before or not, but Yahoo has a pretty good group of Dr. Provost patients. They would be better able to tell you specifics about what he requires. Usually, you are required to document weight loss attempts from the past (not sure over what period of time), programs used, what you lost, kept off for how long, etc. ( I was able to name Diet Center, Nutri System, Weight Watchers, Cambridge Diet, HerbalLife, Weight loss Clinics, Xenical) Names, dates, how long, results. Then, you have to provide a letter from a Psych stating that you understand this surgery and are committed to making the change in your eating habits that it will require. (I hand-picked my own, took him all kinds of hard copies explaining the band. We sat down and discussed it and my problems with weight gain and depression. He typed up his findings based on our conversation and sent both me and my doc a copy. ) The docs office usually puts you in touch with a Dietician. Some require only one 1 hr visit. Others require you have an ongoing relationship. This site might answer those questions for you upfront. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/banditsUTSW/ Can you tell I'm excited for you? lol.

They can, Lisa. Problem is, you have no port to put in a fill. This is going to be a toughy. Only advise I can offer is that you try to continue eating like a bandster. I know - easier said than done. My motivating factor is that I so do not want to re-gain what I have worked so hard to lose. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. Please take care of you and your band. You can do it! Leatha

That's 18 lbs!! That's a wonderful loss to be sure! It sounds as if you are right on track, really. After about the 5th day things start getting way better. Usually the 3rd-4th days are the worst for me. I'm day 5 out of subsequent gallbladder surgery . No fun, but I'm getting there. Just keep sipping and walking. Use the heating pad if you have shoulder pain. Gax-X helps with gas/bloating. Another week, you'll be like new! Don't get discouraged if after a few days some of that initial weight loss returns. Often, Water is the first thing we lose. This is a lifetime thing. No hurry. Just heal for now and keep us posted how you're doing! Congrats!!

You are more than welcome! I understand your need to know. I always feel better if I can just understand what and why. Interestingly, with the band, the patient becomes more educated on how it really works and what's going on inside than even most of the surgeons. They are the mechanics, but they are definitely not the drivers. We are - so we need to know how and what is going on and what to be concerned with or not. Keep us posted!

I give them myself, too. No biggie! The first time ever, I wasn't so sure, but now I'm used to it. I hate them, however. I would definitely discuss with them that the lapband post-op liquids regimen is not nearly as stringent as gastric bypass. Seems like they would check with experienced band docs to see what works best. Did they give you a copy of the Patient Handbook? If not, maybe you need to give them one. lol. http://www.inamed.com/pdf/health/94829F_LB_Patient_Book.pdf

Provost does have a great reputation. Is it possible for you to get everything together BEFORE you see him? I did my own scheduling for the Psych eval and Nutritionist. If you have these things in hand, along with your weight loss attempts from the past and a letter from your PCP. His office would probably provide a name of a Dietician and a Psychologist. I located my own Psych guy - which meant I didn't have to go through 5 hours of MMPI testing. We simply sat down for an hour chat and I educated him on the lapband and why I felt I was a good candidate for the surgery. He then made his determination as to whether he felt I knew what I was getting into and whether he felt I would be adaptable to this change and commitment. Seems like those extensive MMPI sessions are a bit of overkill. Many obese people have depression/anxiety issues. To quote Jessie Ahroni - 'Even crazy people should have the right to lose weight and be more healthy. ' lol

Cute! Cute! Look at that hair! I love babies. :-) Congratulations on your weight loss! You're doing great! Leatha

Hmm.... "ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BANDING AS A REVISIONAL BARIATRIC PROCEDURE AFTER FAILED GASTRIC BYPASS. Marc Bessler, MD, Amna Daud, MD, MPH, Lorraine Olivero- Rivera, FNPCS, Daniel Davis, DO Center for Obesity Surgery, New York- Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University and Lawrence Hospital, New York, New York, USA BACKGROUND: Inadequate weight loss after proximal gastric bypass presents a clinical challenge to bariatric surgeons. Pouch size, stoma size and limb length are the variables that can be surgically altered. Aside from conversion to distal bypass, which may have significant negative nutritional sequel, revisional surgery for this group of patients has not often been reported. The addition of Adjustable Silicone Gastric Banding (ASGB) to Gastric Bypass (GBP) may be a useful revision strategy as it has potential safety benefit ts over other revisional approaches. Methods: We report on 7 patients who presented with inadequate weight loss or significant weight regain after proximal gastric bypass. All patients underwent revision with the placement of an Adjustable Silicone Gastric Band around the proximal gastric pouch. Bands were adjusted at 6 weeks post operatively and beyond as needed. Complications and weight loss at the most recent follow up visit were evaluated. Results: Mean age and Body Mass Index (BMI) at the time of revision was 36.7 (30-49) years and 45.7 ± 3.32 (kglm2) respectively. No patients were lost to follow up, which ranged from 8 weeks to 20 months (mean follow up=7.6 months) and they lost 15%-45% (mean %EWL=282%) of their excess weight respectively. The only complication was the development of a seroma overlying the area of port adjustment in one patient. There have been no erosions or band slippages associated with the band. Conclusion: These results indicate that the addition of the ASGB causes significant weight loss in patients with poor weight loss outcome after gastric bypass. The fact that no anastomosis or change in absorption is required may make this an attractive revisional strategy. Further evaluation in a larger population is warranted."

Be safe, Janie!! Have a good trip! Leatha

So glad to hear you made it home okay, Zoe! Thanks for the update and good information for those who come behind you. I hear Dr. Rumbaut is top-notch! I'm real glad you were able to get through it all and get home! Take care of you for this first 6 weeks. There will be plenty of time afterwards to tackle that weight monster, I promise! Leatha

Of course we want to see them! Silly girl!! lol. POST THEM!!

No one ever died on the pre-op liquid diet. lol. It's tough, I know, but it'll be no time before you are banded and asking questions about why you have no restriction right out of the box. This too shall pass... :-) Stay away from the DQ - it is NOT your friend. Leatha

Sorry to hear that Nancy. It is amazing, the human psyche. I do hope you and your friend are able to move past this and build a stronger relationship. It's hard losing close girlfriends. Sometimes harder than man/woman relationships. Been there, done that. I hope you get it worked out! Leatha

Sounds like your doc is definitely new at this. The souffle cup routine is very indicative of a gastric bypass regime. Of course, do what he tells you, but according to Inamed, it is not necessary to withhold liquids with the lapband. It sure makes it tough on patients when the doc uses the same routine for both types of surgery. Just my observation...

I take the Lovenox/Heparin shots due to a history of clots. I understand some docs are giving them to all their patients as an added preventative. I don't like them either. How many days do they have you taking them? As for the nausea patch. I never really suffered any nausea post-op. It might be safe to take it off if they are causing you side effects. I'd ask. Just keep sipping. Sometimes the warm fluids help more. You'll be fine!! Good luck to you!

Yes. I'm sure it's the umbilical hernia site that is so painful. It's very bruised all around it too. (My poor, violated belly button.) :think lol No one staying. I'm all alone. My mom was here til yesterday morning. My daughter stayed all day Friday. I am supposed to get out today to have my coumadin checked. I'm hoping that will go okay. Luckily, no issues with nausea or vomiting. I'm really a much tougher person than I give myself credit for sometimes. I'm ready to be over all this so I can get on my bicycle like you.