Dody

Thanks Elizabeth for an informative post. I'm not a "junk food eater" at all. I prefer meat and potatoes. Most of my problem relates to not getting enough excercise because of severe knee problems. I have to lose some weight, but in the end will probably need knee replacement anyway. I think you make some very valid points. I don't care for sweet things....just the basics, but they do add up without much excercise. Hope you do great.

My post-op paperwork calls for one tsp of Metamucil in one glass orange juice if needed...the key word is if needed. I add Benefiber to all I cook or puree and don't even taste it. It seems to be doing the job by itself. I am convinced starting out with a clean colon has prevented the gas people speak about, because I have had none. Regardless of what people have to say about colon cleanse post-op I would do it again in a heartbeat. I credit it with absolutely no gas pains of any type. Hope this helps. I'm sure all dr's. recommend something else though.

I would never try a colon cleanse post-banding Alexandra, but my paperwork does state once a week Metamucil one tsp. in one glass of orange juice, so not sure all docs are in agreement on this one. They also suggest adding the powered fiber to everything we cook which seems like a great idea. I think the Metamucil is only if you absolutely have to use it and not much at that. What problems do you think it causes. I've so far stayed away from anything except the fiber added to the diet. I would think the Metamucil would be far easier on our body than say a laxative like Ex-lax. Your opinion is appreciated. I will remain adamant that the colon cleanse helped me not have any gas in my shoulder or diaphragm. I could be wrong, but something certainly prevented it.

There is a very good reason why you are one of my favorite people on here. I didn't attack anyone. I was just absolutely in disbelief that they don't have a post-op diet to follow in Mexico. I didn't realize for quite a while I had landed on a "yeah Mexico thread". Enough said. I did know better 3 Loves...and I will make sure it doesn't happen again even though I ate mostly the refried beans. I guess I was amazed I could swallow pills without crushing them. I'll be more careful in the future where and when I post. Thanks for always having my back girlfriend. It was a one time thing and it won't happen again. I am still feeling stuffed from that experience, and still believe I had absolutely no GAS because I did the pre-op diet and the bowel cleanse. People are entitled to their own opinion, but I know what helped me.... I'll no longer respond to anyone on this thread but you. I'm very glad I had the surgeon I did, and he would be disappointed I didn't follow the rules exactly, but I tested the waters and they didn't feel good. I'm no different than anyone else.

I'm no good with this type of thing but my daughter is a computer genie. Give me the info you want on there and she will do whatever you want to help you out. She says she would be happy to help anyone out if she has all the info.

I got a heparin injection in my tummy right before surgery and the day I came home. I didn't have to give myself any at all. I guess all doctors do it differently. I can tell you though I didn't even feel it. It's a "blood thinner".

I used that useless old colon cleanser too and I didn't have a bit of gas, shoulder or otherwise after surgery. My thought...and purely mine...the colon cleansing helped. Hey, whatever floats anyone's boat is alright with me, but we are big girls and can make our own choices and so we did. Glad you were also happy with the results of yours. Thank God...we can really move on now

Crushed ice is the first thing I received after surgery and for quite awhile afterwards that day. It is water by the time it reaches your tummy, and water is good for you.

When I had my open heart surgery Ihad staples for both the chest scar and both legs. To this day I have huge keloids. With my lapbanding I told my dr. about it and he used absorbable sutures and steri-strips and I've had no problem. Talk to your doc about your concerns and good luck to you.

The lapband surgery is nothing to worry about. I just had mine done last Tuesday and it was a rewarding experience. The first few days I wasn't hungry at all. The only residual affect of any type was kind of a "beaten up feeling" that lasted all of a day. I have had no gas pains whatsoever. My surgeon was incredible and I think you can look forward to this surgery. It is always common with any surgery to have some qualms, but look at it as a new beginning. You sound like a super nice guy. One of my best friends is a gay guy and I find them to be compassionate and sympathetic and most of all trusting to a fault. It doesn't matter to anyone on this forum what religion you are or what your sexual preference is. We are all here to help one another in any way we can and give support. Feel free to contact me anytime and good luck to you.

I personally did a colon cleanse the day before my surgery. I've had no gas, and I credit it to that. OK, some say it's a scam and I'm cool with that, so if they feel that strongly don't do it. No one makes anyone do a colon cleanse or makes them believe in it. I personally don't care if anyone downs Mineral Oil or whatever they choose....I just don't care. Thanks Telly for setting it straight. This got so out of control. Hey, if you like colon cleanses they aren't anything that is ever going to hurt you, and my feeling is it was my money....same goes for anything anyone chooses that is best for them. This has become like beating a dead horse on some people's part. Let It Go!! I don't believe the innocent person that asked the question owes apologies to anyone.......

"giggles" you've been here long enough to know the answer to that one. Of course you need the fill. :) It's like a "toothache". The minute you make an appt. with the dentist it goes away!!

I should know I'm not that much different, just sort of amazed that the dr. told me I would most definitely have to crush pills, etc. and I don't. You are right, I shouldn't have let myself get so hungry. Thanks for reminding me.

I didn't even wait a week to begin being really hungry. The first few days were great and today the hunger just kicked in. I have to admit I ate (and it wasn't on my menu, but it wasn't bread or anything like that) and I'm very full without finishing all of it, but I was worried I could eat regular food without feeling the band. I don't have a fill for 5 weeks. I sure hope I don't gain everything back by then. I was really super hungry which I haden't been for about 4 days...and then boom....today it just kicked in. My first fill is the end of August and I surely hope it makes a difference. My dr. believes in being non-aggressive, but I hope some of my problem is resolved. Thanks.

I was banded last Tues. and I am able to swallow pills or eat anything with absolutely no problem. Is this normal? I realize I have no fill, but I feel absolutely no restriction and am quite hungry. I have skipped from liquids and pureeds to solid foods with absolutely no problem. Is this normal? Somehow I thought I would know the band was there, but I don't. Except for the soreness I would never know I had it in there. Has anyone else been able to eat anything they wanted or suffered from hunger. I only ate once today, but I don't think what I ate was on my menu in any way, shape or form. Any help would be appreciated.

Wow, I am so sorry you or others were offended. I believe I posted this about bypass a very long time ago, and didn't mean it the way it sounded at all. I've been going through a horrible time with a girlfriend who had bypass and is gaining weight back. I should NOT have judged all by her results and I apologize. I'm so sorry you "cringe" at everything I say, because I have tried very hard to be nice to everyone. Please find me one post where I EVER considered bypass surgery, because I didn't. My cardiologist would never have allowed it for medical reasons, and I never thought about it. I will try very carefully to word things so that they don't aggravate anyone, and thought I had learned a long time ago to do some. Is there some recent post I've made that is bothering anyone...please let me know. This was a very old post, and you are right, I definitely should not have made it sound like all bypasses failed or all lap-bands work. Again I apologize and will try and be much more careful. I am now banded and need the support of this forum and will in turn try to be supportive, so please overlook the misrepresentation I made here. I would greatly appreciate it. I should never have made a blanket statement, and again apologize, especially to you Donna who seemed really offended. After re-reading I can't say I blame you, so please fogive. I have not even thought about bypass or posted about it in a long time. Whatever works for anyone is fine with me. I try to be extremely careful with what I post anymore and be supportive of everyone. I don't think there are any recent posts could be construed as negative in any respect. If so kindly point them out to me. You are swelling on a post from early June when I was unfamiliar with a lot of things. It is now the end of July and time to let things go. You can only apologize so many times. Thanks and God Bless,

I made sure my surgeon would personally be doing all my fills. I don't want anyone else doing them. Perhaps this is just me....

Leener, Medicare knew long ago they were going to change over to Centers of Excellence for surgery, and so did the docs. You should have been forewarned you couldn't get fills anywhere else. You surely have centers of excellence in NJ that can accommodate you. That's a big state. Check out Centers of Excellence on google and your fills will be free. You just need to find some transportation.

I love my Clark Shoes for dress, and my New Balance for walking or everyday wear. Clark has an awsome insole. I like them lots better than birkies.

If ever there was a butt ugly shoe, it is Crocs!! I'd rather wear old lady shoes then look like a duck with webbed feet.

Oh Elizabeth, I feel for you that you were alone. That must have been tough, although if I had stayed in Idaho I would have been alone also. I am with family and had my daughter and grandson with me in Nashville for the surgery, and lots of help from all of them, including my son-in-law when I got home. It is a great feeling to have supportive family around. You are very brave and very determined to have done this alone. God Bless,

I was banded on Tuesday and the port pain is the only pain I have and that is controlled with my liquid pain meds or just Tylenol. The first couple days I felt like I had been run over by a freight train...sore, but it has completely gone away and just the residual port pain is left. I can't yet sleep on my side, but I can comfortably sleep on my back. Getting up is a bit of a problem, so I've learned to kind of roll out of bed. The pain gets better each day and is very common from what I'm told. If this is the worse it gets I've got this thing beaten Best of luck, God Bless

Welcome to the forum. I to had a lot of problems, mostly cardiac related, and needed to jump through lots of hoops to get clearance. I had 5-way-bypass surgery 5 years ago, and lots of dr's. want no part of bypass patients. I am lucky to have a cardiologist and a PCP that thought I was a great candidate for the band and would do even better with my heart if I lost weight. It took me a yr. to get all the tests done from psych to sleep eval to echocs, ekg's, thallium scans, etc., but finally the go ahead and a great surgeon willing to take the chance. I had my surgery on Tuesday and feel great. I've had no gas pains at all and I am not hungry. I had knee surgery just one week before the lap-banding so the walking is kind of an issue, but I'm doing well with it. I also had a carotid artery bruit which held things up as they thought there was a blockage...turned out not to be. Faith kept me going, as I'm sure your's will too. Please keep us posted on your progress. I'm 64-years-0ld and would do this over in a heartbeat and fight just as hard for it I left the state to get my surgery. I am originally from Idaho but came to Tennessee to have my surgery on Medicare at a Center of Excellence with a surgeon I loved immediately. You didn't say where you were from, but let's hope you find someone just as wonderful.... God Bless,

There are great denistry colleges in the US also that do work for a very decent price. I would look into all my options and then just follow your heart.

I was just banded on Tuesday of this week, but I too woke up telling my daughter that I had begun a wonderful journey and was thrilled (this despite the pain which is common). I lost 10 lbs. on the pre-op diet of Carnation Instant Breakfast with some Water, tea, and a little broth snuck in, and have lost 4 lbs. since being home. I am not the least bit hungry but am keeping up on the Protein and the water. I am taking my multi-vitamin and Calcium and feel great today abeit still sore. I had a friend who had RNY and cried for 2 weeks afterwards wondering what she had done. I had absolutely no misgivings and am so thankful to have had a wonderful experience in getting the band...great surgeon, hospital and staff, and great support from this forum and my family. I am 64-years-old and had a knee surgery a week before this. I already feel younger and am up to the challenge. I'm so glad the band was an option for me and I didn't have to do anything drastic. Good luck in your decision, God Bless