mandi78

For those of you who have been banded, are you aware of your band? I mean if you are just sitting watching tv or whatever, can you feel it? After you heal and everything I mean.

Sassafras-I can't believe the medical supply store doesnt want you to try a new mask. Mine would sell me one of every kind if I would let them. They are just losing money by not letting you get another one. Of course, my insurance is paying for it, not me. Does your insurance cover it?

I know how you feel Sassafras. I have been at a loss myself. They keep telling me to try new masks but it's not really that. I just cant stand having something up my nose cause it feels like I have a stopped up nose and cant breath but I can't breath out my mouth either. And I know I would freak out with one of the masks that covers the face. I had a panic attack at the sleep lab wearing that kind. What to do, what to do..... I did email my dr's office though and they said my surgeon doesn't require us to wear it before or after. So I will only have to wear it at the surgery center after surgery.

My surgery is coming up next week and I am starting to get nervous. I'm just wondering if anyone had any complications during surgery such as breathing/lung problems, heart problems (fast heart rate, high bp on anesthesia) or any other problems. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance but I do want to know truthfully if any of you had problems, what caused them, what you or your doctor could have done to prevent them (if anything), etc. I have been recently diagnosed w/ mild apnea and have a bipap machine but I have not found a mask yet that I can sleep with so I have not been wearing it while sleeping. Does anyone know if this will cause complications? I am going to take it to surgery with me. Thanks.

I'm having mine in a surgery center. I'm sure they are prepared for the possibility of complications, they are doctors and probably have the necessary tools to treat you should something go wrong until the paramedics can get there to transport you to the hospital. Surgeries are done in surgery centers all the time. I wouldn't worry about it.

Gumper-I do have a CPAP...I just can't sleep with it on. I'm really trying but I just lay there for hours until I wind up having to take it off just to sleep. I figure if I get no sleep, I'm more at risk of dying now from falling asleep at the wheel and having a wreck (because I commute to work) than having a heart attack from not wearing the CPAP. I'm going to keep trying and I'm going to try taking melatonin to help me sleep with it on. And, I will definitely take it to surgery with me.

Gumper-Did they say that sleep apnea was the reason for that? If you'd had a cpap to wear during surgery, would it not have happened? Just wondering. They told me to bring mine so I'm hoping that will keep me from having problems during surgery. Also, did they not intubate you (put a tube down your throat into your lungs to breath for you? I thought that's what they did.

I have tried 2 different masks but my medical supply company only offers about 8 different types and I know there is no way I could wear the other ones that I haven't tried.

You're a trooper Kimmie. I think I would have had to have one piece anyway. Did you frequently feel lightheaded and weak and go to bed with gnawing pain in your stomach from hunger? I'm having this problem and I'm not even on the liquid diet. I get about 1000-1200 calories per day with shakes and meat/veggie meals but it still sucks. What were you allowed on the liquid diet? Did you get Soup or just broth? And, it doesnt help when people at work are sitting in there eating Jack in the Box for breakfast and talking about what they are going to have for lunch. Geez....

Yes, mine does have a ramp feature but it doesn't really help. I was just worried mainly because I had read somewhere that if you have apnea, they like you to wear the machine 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery. They did tell me to bring it to the surgery center on hte day of my surgery which I will do but they didn't specify if I HAVE to wear it in the meantime.

apralfool-I am diabetic but have been watching my blood sugar pretty close and it has been good. I have been supplementing with broth and sugar free jello (the stuff those on the liquid diet eat). Do you think that's okay? They barely have any calories but help fill me up if it's not meal time. Did you drink the 2 shakes a day on your pre-op diet? I've only been able to do 1 because 2 gives me too much protein and gives me the stomach problems. Well, great job. Thanks for your reply.

How do you get used to sleeping with it on? I have tried 2 different masks and have been trying for over a month now to sleep with my cpap and I just flat CANNOT go to sleep with it on and wind up taking it off after about 2 hours because I have to get some sleep. I can't stand it on my face and in my nose, etc. And I definitely can't use that gel mask that goes over the nose. I had a panic attack wearing that one at the sleep lab. Any suggestions?

I have posted my pre-op diet below. I am taking in around 100-120g of protein per day. I have been having (sorry, gross) watery diarrhea for 2 days now. Do you all think this is due to the diet? Is it normal and will it continue after surgery? Thanks. The protein diet prepares you for surgery and reduces the fat in and around your liver. ØTake 2 scoops of the Myocel 2-3 times each day mixed with 8 to 10oz. of skim milk, water, fruit juice or fat free yogurt. You may add fresh or frozen fruit (stay away from bananas, they are too high in sugar), fat free/sugar free Jello or pudding to vary the flavor. Try extracts and spices too. ØYou may also have 1-2 healthy meals each day. Stick with lean meats (chicken, turkey, fish & lean beefs the size of the palm of your hand – 4 to 6oz.), green vegetables (all you want, avoid potatoes & carrots), and fruit(1 cup, remember – no bananas). ØYou may drink tea, coffee, Crystal Lite, etc. Anything that is not sweetened with sugar, use an artificial sweetener if needed. ELIMINATE FROM YOUR DIET All fats – butter, fatty meats, fried foods, whole milk products. High sugar foods. High carbohydrate foods – breads, pastas & other starchy foods. Carbonated drinks – eliminate completely after surgery.

I am self-pay and I still had to have the psych eval. I think it depends on the surgeon as well and what he or she requires.

Marcy-I feel for you. Are you allowed soups or only clear liquids like broth, crystal light, etc. Do you get to have protein shakes? I am lucky and get 2 light meat/veggies meals per day but the protein shakes I have for breakfast really fill me up.

Faith-Thanks, you are right. For some reason it's so much harder for me at night. I do fine pretty much all day until early evening. (I am sticking to my diet, I just mean it's more of a struggle at night). I guess I'm just so hungry by then. I do realize how lucky I am that I do get food and not just liquids.

Why do you have to stop vitamins? I take a lot of vitamins...maybe I should stop but I thought it would be good to get all my vitamins and minerals up since I wont be getting many nutrients after surgery. I'm going to stop taking the Met early next week I think. Thanks.

I take several medications (as I'm sure many of you do) and I've always read that you are supposed to stop taking metformin (aka glucophage) before any surgery. Well, I just emailed my surgeon's office and they told me the ONLY meds you have to stop before the surgery is blood thinners, if you are on any. But, she is just the office manager so how does she know. I'm just wondering if any of you were told to stop taking your meds prior to surgery. I don't meet with my surgeon until the day before my surgery so I can't ask him until it will be too late. This is what Medline Plus says about it. "If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, any x-ray procedure in which dye is injected, or any major medical procedure, tell the doctor that you are taking metformin. You may need to stop taking metformin before the procedure and wait 48 hours to restart treatment. Your doctor will tell you exactly when you should stop taking metformin and when you should start taking it again" I know taking it while having surgery can increase the risk of lactic acidosis. Any thoughts?

MMT-Was your diet a liquid diet or did it allow for food as well?

I have a question...and please don't yell at me. :-) Did any of you cheat on your pre-op diet? I've talked to several who said they did but they all had a BMI of like 38-40 and mine is 51. I'm not wanting to binge every day or anything like that. I just can't stand this diet they have me on. It's like 1000 calories per day and pretty much all protein (and a little fruit and veggies). I'm about to not get to eat at all for like 4-6 weeks. I've read that some dr's tell their patients to eat their hearts out and others that are very strict about the pre-op diet. I just want to cheat a little here and there plus I am weak from the lack of calories. I almost fell down at WalMart today trying to get a bag of dog food into the car. However I don't want to risk my liver still being to large and fatty for them to be able to do the surgery. Please advise.

I have a friend who had lapband surgery in April 2006. She started at 356 and set her own goal weight to 180. Her dr told her it should be more like 160. She is down about 125 lbs in 1.5 years which is about 65% of her excess weight. Sure the loss has slowed but I have no doubt she will reach her goal. It just depends on your doc and what their preference is but like the others stated, how much you lose is up to you. </p> <p> </p> <p>Another thing to keep in mind is that when you do lose the weight whether it is 30% or 150% of your excess weight, the band will help you maintain the loss and you won't be yo-yoing with your weight for the rest of your life like so many of us do before surgery. And, even if you did only lose 50% of your excess weight, that is 50 lbs and it reduces your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

Myocel is the Protein my dr requires his patients to use pre-op. It is supposed to assist with reducing the fat in your liver and is loaded with Vitamins. Some of the links on the actual page dont work but here is the link to the main page and the 2nd link is info about the product. Welcome to Myocel - Engineered Drink Mixes Doctors

Yes, today is much better for me than yesterday was. Last night I was just moping around and I didn't know what to do with myself. Normally, I would have been watching TV and snacking....but, I didn't. I worked on some homework, worked on some ebay stuff.....just basically found stuff to keep myself occupied and today hasn't been nearly as hard. The girls in the office ate Carls Jr for breakfast and I really didn't even care!

I thought the first 3 days of a low carb diet were supposed to be the worst. Well, today is day 5 of my pre-op diet and it is the worst so far. I did have the headaches and stomach cramping the first 3 days but had no cravings during that time. I would rather have the headaches and stomachaches any day over this starving, craving madness. I feel like I could chew my arm off right now. My pre-op diet consists of a Protein shake for Breakfast and 2 light meat and veggie meals and a Protein shake at bedtime. And, I'm sorry for complaining because I know many of you are on a straight liquid diet and that sucks but so does this. I'm so hungry and I don't even know what I want but it does not involve meat or Protein shakes. I did have a bit of low fat cottage cheese earlier because the protein shake did not satisfy me this morning like it has the past 4 mornings but the cottage cheese didn't do anything for me either. Please help....I'm starting to wonder if I can even do this!!!!

I was just looking up this info because my pre-op diet, while there is not a set amount of protein required daily, comes out to about 120 g with my 2 protein shakes and 2 meals with lean meat. I found a site where you can enter your weight and it will tell you your daily protein requirement. Mine was 101g for 280 lbs. Hope this helps.