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Posts posted by RestlessMonkey
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I went to the mandatory seminar 7/10 and was scheduled for surgery 8/11. I didn't get the band because my liver was too thick and I didn't follow surgeon's preop directions to the letter (shame on me) but there was no 6 month waiting period. That depends on surgeon and insurance.
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Honestly? I did not get the band (liver too fat) but my surgeon told me the pain I felt postop is how I'd feel after the band, too. I got 2 mg of morphine in the recovery room and that was it.
Doc prescribed lortab but I didn't realize it is hydrocodone and tylenol; it makes me vomit so I can't take it. SO I've been on tylenol. The tape over my little "insertion sites" hurt more than anything and that was minor!
I do recover quickly from anesthesia but I think if you don't expect to be in pain you won't be. My doc says he has people back at work full time in 1 week...just no heavy lifting. I feel great and would feel greater if my liver hadn't been too thick, but am rescheduled for 8/29.
It really doesn't hurt; I've stubbed my toe and it hurt more than this!
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Much to my great shame, I only "kind of" followed my doc's preop diet. I did lose 15 pounds in the 3 weeks but didn't shrink my liver enough and he did not place the band. So 8/11 was a sad day for me! I am rescheduled for 8/29 and believe me am doing EXACTLY what he says to shrink it; plus I'm exercising to help that along. I felt miserable when I woke up and it wasn't done, but lesson learned for me; I'll do what he says instead of what I think. I mean, I am paying the man for his skills, experience and expertise!
So just do what your surgeon says and you should be fine!
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Mine was a questionnaire (long one, part of the MMPI questionnaire) and then a brief 15-20 min interview. Some try to "bypass" this but I think it's important; if I'm going to wake up with the band in place and be miserble I would rather not do it! I "Think" i'm a good candidate, but I want that seal of approval, you know? The whole thing was non-threatening and easy. Passing it made me feel stronger about my decision to go with the lap band. It's just another info tool.
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I had my 1st lap band surgery on 8/11 and much to my chagrin and dismay, my liver was too thick for the doc to properly place the band. He has me (again) on a diet to shrink my liver (which I have learned to follow to the letter this time, as I said, shame on me) and will try again on 8/29.
Besides doing what he's said to do (2 - 3 Protein Shakes a day, 3 oz lean chicken turkey or fish, 1 cup green veggies no oil, and at least 64 ounces of Water daily) does anyone know of anything else I can do to make sure that sucker shrinks some?
Exercise? Anyone have any tips?
Thanks...
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Sure! To be depressed "about" something and to have clinical depression are two very different things. I'd ask for a different therapist just in case there was some, um, "miscommunication" between you two, you know? Because really, if you truly are clinically depressed (and sometimes people can't tell they are; it's kind of like a can't see the forest for the trees thing) then a therapist can help you even without drugs. But if you are just down because you are overweight, then that should just help motivate you to be compliant with a new post-op diet!
I think you should pursue it because to my mind you are win-win. If you are depressed you'll get help with it and if you aren't, you'll get your surgery sooner rather than later.
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I feel for you! I was supposed to get banded today but my liver was too darn thick; they closed me back up! Now I have a special diet etc. and they'll try again in a bit. So I understand your disappointment. BUT, maybe it happened for a reason? I'm 200+ overweight and not depressed so I don't agree with the weight always causing it. Maybe a little therapy or whatever could position you in a better place for the lap band to help.
I know you are in shock (like me!) so I hope this doesn't sound harsh cuz I don't mean it that way; just be gentle with yourself and see what another therapist says. And in the long run? They ARE human; the first one is possibly totally off base and a "new" one will have a different take. If not, they can help you.
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HI! I'm Jeff (but I'm female) and I'm a nursing student in San Antonio TX. I'm 53 years old and this was a HUGE career change. I'm getting banded tomorrow, Aug 11, by Dr. Sonny Cavasos. I have gone from a little chubby kid to a starved teen to a little chubby 20-something to a morbidly obese 50-something. I have wanted the band since it came out and finally insurance and everything have aligned to help make it happen.
I have no kids, one lazy cat, one great husband I've been married to for 25 years this year. Like many of you, I want a more active lifestyle and have tried "diet" upon "diet", able to lose and then slowly regain what I lost, plus another 20 or so. I'm planning to work the band 10000% and I know if I do that, it will help bring me the success, and maintenance, I've looked for for 20 years!
Good luck to all!
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I'm so excited I'm almost grumpy! LOL I have researched and thought about and soul-searched for years and now it's finally here. I'm to be at the hospital at 1230 central time for an approx 2pm banding. I wish I didn't have to stay in the hospital overnight but otherwise its all good!
I need to do laundy and pack but am sitting here on the computer....
Good luck to all getting banded tomorrow!
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Hi all! After years of struggling and researching various types of weight loss surgery, I am getting the lap band on Monday Aug 11 provided all my pre-op tests are within parameters. I'm so excited! Just wanted to say hi and introduce myself (53 yo female student nurse)
Good luck to us all!
Introductions.
in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Posted
Hi All! My starting BMI was 67.someodd, at 5'5" and a weight of 405.1
I got down to 390.5, had surgery on 8/11 but my liver was still too fatty so I'm back at home on a (religiously followed this time!) preop diet till 8/29 when we try again.
It's nice to find this spot with us larger people being banded. At our WL seminar the doc said that in Australia, results 3 years out were similar for WLS and banding, but in the USA we bandsters fall short of that figure. I hope to be one to help get our averages up to more "Australian"...80% of excess lost instead of 50%!
I think with support and fortitude the band will be a wonderful tool for all of us!