mandi78

Well, I have a cardiologist....is that what you mean by a heart specialist or is there doctors who may be even more knowledgable than a cardiologist? I have had an echo, stress test, nuclear imaging, ekg, etc.

Sounds like anxiety.....that's what happens when I have anxiety (can't eat, can't sleep). You should get a relaxation/meditation sleep cd and listen to it. I have 2 that I love called Indigo Dreams (if you get this one, make sure its the one for adults because they make them for kids too) and I can't remember the other one. They work wonders!

If you don't want to read the whole post, skip to the end for the questions. Thanks! Does anyone have tachycardia or did you have it before your surgery? I am so frustrated. I have been on a beta blocker for tachycardia for a few years now. I have had all the tests (echo, stress, ekg, nuclear imaging) and my heart is healthy. However, my tachycardia seems to be getting worse. I went to my cardiologist a few weeks ago for cardiac clearance for surgery and my resting heart rate was 112....he put a holter monitor on me and it got up to 150 at some times over the next 24 hours. He belives some type of hormonal problem is causing this so he tested my thyriod (which the levels were a bit off, some indicating hypo, some indicating hyper....I have symptoms of both...go figure), my cortisol was a little high but not high enough to indicate Cushings and he has referred me back to my regular dr for a catecholemine test (these are the levels of adrenaline, epinephrine and norepinephrine). I'm so frustrated. I feel that if I could just have the surgery and get some weight off, a lot of my health problems would start to diminish. I know there are people on here who have had surgery who were in worse shape than me. I know that I can't go into surgery with 110-150 beats/minute heart rate because they won't put me under but I'm just so irritated about having to wait. He has increased my beta blocker which has helped some but probably not enough. Sorry this is so long. My question is basically did anyone have tachycardia before your surgery? Did it cause a delay or did it cause problems in your surgery? What did your surgeon or anesthesiologist say about it? Thanks.

Those of you who were diagnosed with apnea before surgery, did you have to wear your machine in surgery? Was the apena a big deal relating to the anesthesia/surgery part? The dr who did my pre-op eval said I did not check enough of the boxes to justify her ordering a sleep study....not that I wanted one but I want to be safe in surgery. I'm worried about what if I do have it and they don't catch it before surgery. I snore and have daytime sleepiness but DH says he's never heard me gasping or stop breathing (but who knows if he pays attention). I guess what I'm asking is Will it be a serious risk for me to have the surgery if I do have undiagnosed apnea? Thanks.

Those of you who were diagnosed with apnea before surgery, did you have to wear your machine in surgery? Was it a big deal relating to the anesthesia/surgery part? The dr who did my pre-op eval said I did not check enough of the boxes to justify her ordering a sleep study. I'm worried about what if I do have it and they don't catch it before surgery. I snore and have daytime sleepiness but DH says he's never heard me gasping or stop breathing (but who knows if he pays attention). I guess what I'm asking is Will it be a serious risk for me to have the surgery if I do have undiagnosed apnea? Thanks.

Dr. Benavides: “As Dr. Garwood stated, what we have found is that when we place patients on pre-op protein supplementation plus reduced man made fats and carbs in their diet two to three weeks pre-operatively a majority of the liver infiltration will be re-absorbed and the liver decreases in size and becomes firmer and more manageable. This makes our surgical approach technically easier and improves our operative time by at least 15-20 minutes. Post-operatively, protein supplementation is important because after the banding procedure most patients are on a liquid diet for one month. There is a minimum amount of protein consumption on this diet and therefore in order to maximize the patient's nutritional state and promote fat re-absorption adding protein supplementation is important. This allows the patient to spare their own protein mass and promotes the body burning more fatty tissue and therefore there is more weight loss in the post operative period...”

Here is the Protein supplement my surgeon requires. If you look at the pics, you can see the difference. I'm not exactly sure how it works but there is some info on this page. Good luck! Why Myocel

What is the consistency of pureed meat supposed to be? Should it be like baby food or canned tuna or somewhere in between? Is it watery and runny? Thanks.

Well, they may not have to pay you but they cannot fire you due to a medical illness or complication. It's against the law because of the Family Medical Leave Act. Read this.... Family and Medical Leave

When you are about to have a PB or slime, if you are in a restaurant or at someone's house, can you tell soon enough to get to the bathroom or do you just have to do it right there at the table? Thanks.

I can relate to all of your posts.....I crave, eat huge portions to feel full and then I'm thinking "what will I eat next when I don't feel so stuffed". My biggest worry is the pre op diet. How did you all handle this? Were you able to stick with it? Were you miserable and starved for 2 weeks? Here is what my pre op diet looks like. I dont know how I will ever make it. When I even think about it now, I have to run eat something. I'm assuming one serving will be MUCH smaller than the "servings" I am used to. LOL Meal 1- 1 serving of 2 of the following: (yogurt, fruit, Cereal, toast, bagels, waffles, muffins, eggs, or oatmeal). Meal 2- 1 serving of Myocel (protein shake) Meal 3- 1 serving of any type lean meat or fish (chicken, pork, turkey, ham, steak, etc.) and 1 serving of green vegetables (lettuce, peas, broccoli, green Beans, spinach, etc.) Meal 4- 1 serving of Myocel (protein shake) Thanks!

For awhile now I have been noticing that sometimes (usually only in the evening/night) when I take a deep breath while laying down or sitting down, when I exhale, my heart kind of beats harder for about 4-5 beats. It does not skip a beat, double beat or anything like that, its just like a harder pounding for a few beats. I see a cardiologist for sinus tachycardia (fast heart beat), thickening of the heart muscle (due to strain of excess weight on my heart) and a mild mitral valve regurgitation (probably hereditary). I told the cardiologist's nurse in January and she didn't seem concerned, she just said if it started doing it a lot I might need to wear a holter monitor (which I did about year ago and all was fine). Like I said, it only happens sometimes, not always and I cannot make it happen. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? The PA who did my physical at my consultation said "Well, I don't want to tell you anything for sure since you are under a cardiologist's care but most people's heartrate does increase upon taking deep breaths." It just feels kind of odd and I don't remember it doing this before I gained weight. I have an appt with my cardiologist on Tuesday for clearance from him and I will mention it to him. I was just wondering if anyone else has this and if it prevented/delayed surgery. I don't want that to happen, but of course, I dont want to go under anesthesia if there is something else going on with my heart.

Anyone know?

Are banded patients allowed to take pepto for nausea? Just curious.

Khaliah is Muhammed Ali's oldest daughter and was banded awhile back, I'm not sure exactly how long ago. I just bought her new book yesterday and started on it last night. It's really good so far. It's called Fighting Weight: How I Achieved Healthy Weight Loss with "Banding," a New Procedure That Eliminates Hunger--Forever. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking into getting banded. She wrote it with medical professionals so it is partly an autobiography about her own struggle with weight and her experience with the lap band but it also has a lot of medical information as well.

Does doing the liquid diet for 2 weeks before and 2-4 weeks after not shrink your stomach and make you used to eating less food? Just curious.

My grandma told me of a lady she worked with who had the band 15 years ago. I told her the lap band was only FDA approved in the US in 2001 and I asked if she was sure it wasn't gastric bypass or the vertical sleeve or something else. She was adamant that it was the lap band done by a dr in Houston. Does anyone think this is possible? She says that the lady lost over 200 pounds and has kept it off to this day. Do you think she has the lap band mixed up with something else?

maudeispam-I have PCOS too. Has the weight loss from the band helped with your PCOS symptoms (excess hair, acne, lack of menstruation, etc) as well? Thanks.

Well, I guess that's just an assumption on my part. I have read of many who were taken off meds before surgery and then never had to take them again. I have a feeling that with the weight loss and eating so much less food, my sugars will go back to normal pretty quickly. But, as I said, that's just an assumption (and a hope)! Also, I was wondering if anyone takes or has taken Metformin ER. I had to take it because the other tore my stomach up but I am wondering if it is not being absorbed as well because (sorry, tmi) sometimes the whole pill comes back out in the end. Does anyone know about this? Thanks.

I have been on Metformin XR 1500mg for awhile now for Pre-Diabetes. Well, the past few months, my sugars have crept up and were over 200 tonight! Its never been that high and I am freaking out. It had been a few hours since I had eaten anything before checking. My question is this. Since I am wanting to have the surgery very soon, do you all think they will make me go through the Glucose Tolerance Test, etc and add more medication only to take me off of it in a month or so? I really don't have a lot of time off work built up right now and I'm wanting to save it for the week I have surgery. I know there are going to be other tests that have to be done also before surgery. Is the Glucose Tolerance Test an all day thing? Thanks. Mandi

<p>caz1970-As someone who has suffered depression for close to 10 years now, I firmly believe that for some of us medication may be required for the rest of our lives. I am not saying this in a hopeless way. However, just as someone with any chronic long term illness will probably be on their medications forever as well. I feel so much better mentally and emotionally when I am on medication as I believe much of my depression is a chemical imbalance. That being said, I too have the health issues you mentioned and more which also makes me depressed. I also have low self esteem that contributes to more depression. I am seeking band surgery as a way to lose weight and hope to eliminate my other health issues. I believe this will help with the external components of my depression but also feel that I will be on medicine off and on for the rest of my life and I'm okay with that. I'm not ashamed of it, it's not my fault. I also suffer from health anxiety and I feel that improving my health will help with this some.

Heather-That's good to know (not that you are having a problem) but that they are fixing it since it is an emergency. That's my concern.....that I would have an emergency and have to spend time in the hospital and it would be like $20,000 or something and I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket. Good luck tomorrow!!!

Yeah, I went to the seminar this morning and they didn't even have a roster of names so I was worrying for nothing. I already knew everything they said. I was disappointed because the surgeon was not there....he was supposed to be conducting the seminar and I wanted to meet him. Anyway, Dr Benavides is who I plan to use to do my surgery.

Gas is overpriced too but we still buy it....LOL.

What was it like? I am concerned because I signed up 10 days ago for one in Dallas tomorrow (May 19) at 10 am. They sent me confirmation email and I have been really excited about. Well, they called and left a reminder voicemail message today and sent a reminder email (around 5:00 pm) reminding me of my seminar in HOUSTON tomorrow!!!! Houston is like 5 hours from here. I'm not going to Houston. So, I called Lap Band Solutions and, of course, since it is after hours on a Friday, it was their answering service. They took an urgent message for someone to call me but I have not heard from anyone. Dallas is an hour and a half from here and I don't want to drive all the way down there in the morning if they are just going to tell me I can't stay. Did you have to be on the roster to get in? I have printed my initial confirmation email showing that it is in Dallas. Do you think that will be enough for them to let me stay? Do they have a limited number of seats usually? Thanks!