RestlessMonkey

Wow you sound like a "take charge" woman. I'm impressed! I know the weight will come off....but I know how frustrated you are. :smile2:

Call your doc and ask. It varies from doctor to doctor. For example, the 1st week post op we don't even GET protein shakes.

Why are you nervous about that specifically? I'm not banded but I had the surgery 8/11 and my liver was still too fatty, so I'm doing liquids (and 3 oz of protein ... chicken, turkey or fish) until 8/29, then will have 2 weeks of liquids. Maybe I can help explain or allay your fears?

For starters, it depends on what you do, and do you usually recover quickly from surgery/anesthesia, or not? I was back up and around in 3 days and never needed post op pain meds except some tylenol; just read about a poster who was nauseated, stayed in bed and got blood clots. Your best bet is to ask your surgeon or his staff what is average for his practice!

Did your surgeon tell you which one to buy? Mine was very exacting about exactly which brand and which one within the brands...and it is VERY low carb. The low carb part, I think, is what helps your body pull glycogen from your liver and helps to shrink it preop. Best bet is to get exactly what your surgeon has told you to buy.

I feel your pain big time. I've been meaner than a hornet. LOL BUT...it's worth it, like you said.

I think that's very smart! You may need more fill, or maybe just adjust your diet. We were also told to not eat for more than 30 minutes....that while we need to chew chew chew and eat slow slow, we can graze our way through too much food. AND no liquids during the meal (you know all that I'm sure!)

Jennifer, I was told the lap band would aid SLOW weight loss of 1-2 pounds a week, and 3.5 in 2 weeks is right in that groove. PLUS...just because you CAN eat cheese with abandon doesn't mean you should! They warned us we could "eat around the band" by doing liquids, shakes, soft foods, etc. Did you have a consult with a nutritionist? If you do have restriction with many foods, I'd think that you need to look at what you're eating. I was told that some day I wouldn't have to be as picky but initially to eat lean Proteins, then some veggies and to take great care with my nutrition. Are you doing that and still hungry?

Good grief your stomach just had something wrapped around it, then the doc took part of your stomach, brought it up around the band, and sewed it into place! It needs to heal! I know you are suffering. I've been doing a "mostly" preop liquid diet (I get 3 oz of chicken a day and let me tell you, it is not a bacon cheeseburger) for 4 weeks, have a week to go, and then my doc requires 2 weeks of liquid post op! BUT it is worth it. Hang in there and give your body a time to heal and get ready for your new lifestyle!

Each doc is different. Mine doesn't add protein shakes until week 2. Rather than listening to all this conflicting advice (it's interesting, just not professional LOL) call your doc and ask what to do.

Hi! I"m in NW San Antonio, A Tricare Standard Patient, and am fortunate to have found Dr. Sonny Cavazos at Texas Bariatric at Northeast Baptist Hospital. They really worked with me to rush me though because of school obligations, but I don't feel my care was compromised. And Northeast Baptist has a coordinator that took care of getting the insurance approve. All I did was give her my ID card info! I'm on a preop diet now to shrink my liver (he tried to band me on 8/11 but my liver was too fatty, shame on me for not doing what he told me the first time) so he's going to place it on 8/29/2008. Any more San Antonio area bandsters around?

OH and it has lots of anecdotal stories from various people who have gotten the band, spread all throughout the book. I don't read nonfiction much but this is informative.

After having a "bandster" on this site recommend one, I went to amazon and searched for "Weight loss gastric band" in books and a bunch popped up. Right now I"m reading 'Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band" by Robert W Sewell and Linda Rohrbough. It's an easy read and VERY informative. I am truly enjoying it and wish I'd read it before I ever went to my surgeon. It covers lots of territory. You might want to try that and find some to your taste...even if you don't want to buy from amazon you can get some reviews etc and buy some used....

I'm so glad to find this post! Tomorrow I'm on the prowl for baby oil!

Debski's probably right, but call your surgeon anyway, to be sure, ok?

OH I forgot! Good luck on your surgery! My date is 8/29!

Doesn't your surgeon tell you which to drink? If not, you are LUCKY We are supposed to have EAS Carb Advant EDGE or isopure from GNC, and one other one that is at a store on the other side of town so I don't remember it. IMHO they all taste kind of icky. When I'm HUNGRY I want food, not sweet icky stuff. I haven't tried the isopure tho....it's just for post op.

Have you called your doc's office? It really shouldn't still be bothering you, and shouldn't have traveled like that. Better safe than sorry!

Sounds like maybe an esophageal spasm. Were the liquids hot and cold? If so, try something room temp...a little sip (don't drink it , sip it) and see how that does....

No but I just read about it in the book I bought on another bandster's recommendation....said you should be ok (you can vomit with the band) as long as it's only a day or so. You don't want to get dehydrated. If you are worried, call your surgeon and see what they recommend!

Everyone is different. That probably didn't blow it but don't let it escalate between now and the 25th. Get right back on the preop program your surgeon has you on. I followed my own modified preop program and lost 15 pounds but didn't do as my surgeon asked (he didn't know that, of course!) and when he "went in" he couldn't place my band because my liver was too fatty. Let me tell you, no food is worth the misery of waking up and realizing you didn't get the band! Now I'm on his program to a T and am trying again on 8/29. So no, you probably did NOT blow it. But don't relax, get back with it!

What I did...google Lap Band and read up on it (there is a website) I went to a seminar I read several local surgeon's web pages I am reading the book "Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band" I've thought about it since 2001 when the band hit the market I tried all other avenues I could think of, including a behavioral therapist for 10 months. It's a HUGE decision...

Things I've bought that ins didn't cover....lots of protein shakes for my preop diet (and baked fish and chicken)...but that cost way less per week than I was spending on groceries. I'll buy my surgeon's chewable vitamins and protein powder (probably about $100 for 3 months if I remember right)....and I splurged $40 on a mini food processor for when I'm doing mushies. Will save me dragging out the big one, and it was pink and too cute to pass up! LOL Otherwise, nothing. Is that what you meant? My ins has covered everything else, subject to it's deductible, copay etc.

LOL DH and I are moving west in a couple of years. I don't know if we'll make it as far north as Montana, but we will do love it up there! And you're right; time will fly.

Kat I'm glad you brought up the allergy to antibiotic ointments...my sister is allergic to neosporin and has a dreadful scar where she broke her foot several years ago and used neosporin on the site (per her doc) SO...if you are using an antibiotic and it doesn't help, try a different one! So sorry you guys had to deal with all that!