The Icy One

You need to call your surgeon's office. You shouldn't be feeling like this with an empty band.

You are so lucky that you didn't have the Horror Show Shed! I like Joico. I get the Protein reconstructor for deep treatments for my "assisted blonde" hair and it just eats up the protein and feels so good after a treatment. I should try the shampoo and conditioner, too. Right now, I am into Alterna. It is spendy but I love it. Their styling products rock as hard as their shampoo and conditioner. I don't even want to think about how much I spend on hair products, now.

The hair loss post WLS is horrifying. And perfectly normal. It happens to the vast majority of us. It is a combination of stress from surgery, the drugs we are given, and the change in our body and the different nutrients levels and the weight loss. Our bodies send the nutrients we do get to the vital functions, brain, organs, the making of blood and so on and our "vanity functions" like our skin and hair suffer because of it. The good news is, the shedding does stop. It just takes time, then time for the hair to grow back. When I started this process, last June, I has *ss length, THICK hair. I knew that I was going to suffer hair loss post op so in September, last year I had about ten inches chopped, just to bra strap length. My hair re grew and was nearly waist length by the time I had my surgery in November. (I have a short distance from bra band to waist... Prodigious rack, here. ) But January, I was noticing heavier than normal hair fall and started to lose small clumps of hair. By February, it was coming out in hanks. Between pre wash brushing, the hair I lost in the shower and post wash comb out, I would lose a ball of hair the size of a shower pouff. It was terrifying and every time I washed my hair, I'd sit and look at that huge ball of hair and cry. I finally reached the point where I couldn't deal with so much hair loss and my waist length hair, any longer. It was too demoralizing to watch my braid and bun get smaller and smaller and my length to get thinner and thinner and in March, I had my stylist chop my hair at shoulder length and put in a few layers. I cried as she cut it so short and it was so thin (relatively speaking, to most people, my hair looks perfectly normal or even "thick" but I know the difference) that I half wanted to get a wig and hide my hair. My hair finally stopped shedding in early June. It is as if a switch was flipped and it was just normal shedding, once again. I am getting new growth and I am keeping my hair short until my thickness catches up then I will grow my hair, again. At heart, I am a long hair and I WANT MY HAIR BACK! But it's going to take time. I wouldn't trade getting my band, I don't regret it, even tho losing so much hair was hard to live through. The trade off, for me has been worth it.

I recovered in a recliner. It has an electric motor to move the footrest so I didn't have to strain my tender belly. I was able to get up easily and I could really snuggle in and get super comfy for resting. I didn't really have any trouble with gas... I guess that my surgeon did a god job of pushing the excess out, when he finished my op. I had a lap chole that wasn't earlier last year and I had NASTY gas pain after that surgery. My gas pains from that one took weeks to go away because I got a big gas bubble stuck up under my rib cage on the right side that I just couldn't dislodge and it caused me hell when I tried to take a deep breath or cough or laugh. Urgh! I finally got it moved out by doing bending and twisting exercises with my torso. The first few days are the roughest. I didn't have any real pain but I was so sleepy! I would get up, go potty, walk, do incision care, get something to drink, snuggle in, watch a little TV or read and crash. Wake and repeat. Day three, I could barely keep my eyes open and I almost slept for twenty-four hours with just brief minutes of wakefulness. Then on day four, the clouds parted and I felt almost human, again. I was able to get back to a more normal type of schedule and really feel as if I was recovering. Hang in there. It gets better, I promise. Just be kind to yourself, listen to your body and allow yourself to rest and recover. You'll be up and at it, before you know it.

My psyche eval was a joke. I talked with the psychologist for about three minutes, filled out a ten page multiple choice exam and out the door. Done. I guess that what I had to say and the answers I gave on the exam were satisfactory because I was cleared immediately by the psychologist. Don't let the psyche eval throw you. Just listen to what your psychologist has to say, be open and honest and you will be just fine.

I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my mom to breast cancer last November, ten days before my surgery date. I was gutted but determined to go forward and I knew that she didn't want me to stop my life so I went for it. Now that you know that everything is a go, do your best to be fully prepared. Buy the liquids, full liquids, supplies for incision care, sugar free Popcicles, sugar free Jello and so on that you will need. Make sure that you fill your scripts ahead of time so that you don't have to worry about going out for the first few days. It isn't really a good idea to be completely alone, right after surgery. If you have a friend or co worker who can spend a day with you, or pop in or at least cal you on a regular basis to check in on you, that would be good. I had my surgery outpatient and was getting around just fine by the time I got home but it was reassuring to have my husband here in case I had needed him and he was handy to run little errands for me and bring me stuff to drink. I would have been fine on my own, as it turns out but still... It is a good idea to have someone, if you can, just in case. Good luck and your surgery date and surgery will be here, before you know it.

The pre op diet blows. Mine was three weeks. I could have two Protein shakes, with frozen fruit, if I wished, but no banana. I had one meal, 6 to 8 ounces of lean protein and salad and green veg a day, as well. I could also have sugar free Jello, broth or bullion, sugar free popcicles and all of the Water, Crystal Light and coffee (I am a coffee junkie) I could drink. My pre op diet wasn't easy but it was pretty doable, overall and I lived over it. Hang in there. You only have ten days to go and then you will be banded. You can do this!

Oh, sure! Just rub it in!

Oh! I feel you. Once I finished all of my insurance hoops, I had to sweat out a FIVE WEEK wait for my decision and approval letter. I thought I was going to lose my ever loving mind! I drove my husband insane, fretting, worrying, awfulizing and just generally obsessing. That day I finally got the call from True Results telling me that I was fully approved and had a surgery date and to start my pre op diet, I literally did a happy dance all over my house. And, when I had that latter from my insurance company in my hand, I KNEW it was real, happening and nothing could stop me. Hang in there. You will hear. And when you do and your surgery is done, all of the hoops and waiting will all feel in the past and worth it.

So... How'd it go? I hope that your surgery went really well and you are recovering swiftly.

Definitely talk to your doc/NP and do as they say. That is always the best advice and remember, YMMV, some people do well with straws post band, others, not so much. I am a straw sucking maniac. I was told by my medical team no straws until I was a month out from my surgery. Then it was okay. I have used straws since with no ill effects. If I get a bit of air trapped under my band, I have learned how to release it and I just have me a nice burp and onward.

Congrats on your new Silicone Friend and your swift recovery. You're going to rock this.

How about bringing some Melba Toast in and ask your pastor to give you a piece of that, rather than soft, squishy bread? Melba Toast tastes okay and it breaks down completely in your mouth so that you are practically swallowing nothing.

Definitely have Water ready! I had a long drive home. I live in Prescott, AZ and my surgery was performed in Tempe. I was happy to have a bottle of water at the ready to sip on the ride. I bought some fancy stuff and left it in the car so it was the perfect temperature by the time they sent me home.

Congratulations on your band to be! I remember that feeling, so excited and high on the anticipation. My last day before my surgery, I was like a racehorse in the starting gate. I couldn't wait to hear the signal to go. In my case, to the surgical center for my Lap Band. It sounds as if you are prepared and ready to go. I hope that you have a successful procedure. Good luck and we'll see you on the other side.

The Lap Band can be installed alone or it can be combined with a procedure called Plication. Plication is where your surgeon "folds" your stomach in on it's self and stitches the folds together to form a much smaller main stomach. There is no cutting of stomach tissue and, if the Plication, for whatever reason doesn't work for you, it is reversible by simply removing the sutures. Think of it as a pseudo Gastric Sleeve-ish kinda thing. If you have the option to add Plication when you get your band, you might want to go for it. A lot of people who have had the duo are really happy with it. Personally, I wish I had read up on it, more before I got my band. Had I known then what I know now, I would have added Plication to the pile when I had my surgery. As it is, I am happy with my band and I figure, should God forbid, I lose my band for any reason, maybe I can revise to Plication.

Too tight isn't right. Seriously, that should be every bandster's mantra. If your surgeon has told you that you can't receive any more Fluid, take that as a sign that you are right where you need to be and Celebrate. I think that some of us really need those regular aftercare appointments. I go to every one of mine, every four weeks (unless life gets in the way) because it is good to have a check in, talk over how I am doing and just get back in touch with my purpose, even if I am not having my band adjusted. Those visits are pretty crucial to me. Maybe you are the same way. You don't have to stop going in, getting weighed, have a progress chat with your NP just because you aren't getting more fluid added. I intend to continue my visits until they tell me not to come back or my insurance company cries, "Uncle!" Once I know that I am solidly in my Green Zone (thought I was... Nope.) I'll scale them back but I won't stop them.

Everyone is different. I had one adjustment in January and I thought, for quite a while that I was in my Green Zone but recent events... Eating a lot of sliders, larger than I should portions, cleaning my plate, getting hungry after a meal sooner than I should and slow (slllooooow) weight loss finally convinced me that I had slipped back into lime/almost yellow. I had a 1/4 cc put in, today and I am hoping that that was just the little push I needed. We'll see. This isn't a competition. Get the number of adjustments and amount of Fluid that works for you.

Thank you. You know it! To a really great song!

Holy sh*t! I just noticed that my BMI is now below 50! Do you know how long it has been since I have had a BMI under 50?

I wish that I had known about plication before my band was installed, I'd have pushed for it. It would be nice to have that bit of extra help. My band rocks, it may have rocked a bit harder with the plication. If you feel good about the plication and have researched it and feel it will work well for you along with your band, go for it! Why not?

I wonder if it has to do with your weight loss? When you are heavier, you produce more estrogen, maybe it is the same with the thyroid hormone? Crazy idea?

It is normal to have a bit of a sore throat, post op. It is from being intubated. Personally, I find hot liquids more soothing to a sore throat than cold. I sipped lots of hot tea and drank my coffee and the sore throat disappeared after a couple of days.

Congrats on your new Silicone Friend! I'm glad that everything went smoothly and you are recovering well. Personally, I didn't really have pain. Just discomfort. And that really wasn't that bad. I found that walking frequently, moving around was the best medicine and kept me most comfortable. If I sat still too long and let myself stiffen up, I would hurt a bit. I never cracked my narcotic pain reliever. I used a heating pad and a little liquid children's Motrin for my shoulder discomfort. Honestly, that was the worst part, for me. My left shoulder. I didn't have gas pain but I think that my shoulder was bad because of my hiatal hernia repair... Lemon in your water? It's probably okay... But just call your surgeon't office to get the go ahead. Lemon is acidic and your stomach has been through a lot. Of course, I was slarking down coffee the day after my surgery (with my surgeon's blessing) so... Coffee... Lemon? Okay, pooping post op. If you are using narcotic pain relievers, they are going to stop you up. A lot of people get some constipation after surgery. I didn't, after my Lap Band. I had the opposite problem... Diarrhea. I had two weeks of the Infernal *ss Hose. It was hell. But after my lap chole, I took two to three liqui-gel stool softeners with as much water as I could put down, several times a day and two days after THAT surgery, I had a nice go and all was well, from then, on. With a new band, I would suggest a powder stool softener that dissolves completely in water and take it as often as you need to to get things going, again. You can take a bit of pushing, just be careful... Don't strain too much. If things aren't going to move after a little push, just take more softener and drink more water... Of course, run this by the experts at your surgeon's office. I am not dispensing medical advice, here. Hope this helps, a little.

I have the good old Allergan AP Lap Band and my port is in my abdomen. Above my navel, a little to the left. Funny mini NSV, I have lost 60 pounds and now, if the waistband of my pants is over my port, it is uncomfortable. And, I was FINALLY able to feel the damned thing with my fingers, where before, I couldn't.