RestlessMonkey

Propofol is kinda frowned upon now - and too short acting to do you any good - I guess you'll have to use good old alcohol (make some delicious 'ritas!

Alcohol is dicey (unless you mean Isopropyl?)

may just make 'em party all night.

Working on it! Got something I can knock the inlaws out with?

A brick?

Or PTF PRN (pillow to face, as needed)

I'm so sorry for you! I think I truly understand.

I know people say "food was my friend" Well, I NEVER thought of food as my friend. If pressed I'd have to say I felt it was a harsh cruel taskmaster who kept me on a short leash.

My FRIEND is the band! It keeps the taskmaster, the "boss", the mean control freak, at bay. My band gives ME control of my eating. If I lost it, if it had to be removed, I would mourn it almost like a lost loved one. It would devastate me. I can also imagine that others around me, while supportive, wouldn't understand my grief.

So I feel for you. I'm sorry!

I have "the big picture" goals of being more slender, healthier, more able to get around. I have a LOT of traveling, for example, that I want to do, a DH who's on board with that, and the funds to do it. What's stopping me? Too fat. I know, don't let your fat hold you back yada yada yada. Well, it does. Frankly, honestly, it does.

Short term, though...First I wanted to lose 10% of my weight. Then, I wanted to "get down" to 335 which I last weighed in Oct 2003 when I had my gall bladder renmoved. THEN I wanted to get to 328 (almost!) which would be a 2nd 10% lost. After 328 I want to get to 290 which is what I weighed in 1995 when i was 40 and quit smoking. After 290 I want to get to 265 which is my "Disney World" weight (Love Disney world but heavier and I don't have as much fun) then 245 (just cuz it's under 250!) and so on.

I have/had SO MUCH to lose if I look at all of it, it is overwhelming. So I set those smaller "milestone" goals.

Clothing; when one is this large it takes a lot of weight to drop a size. I was 5x tops, 2x bottoms at 405. I'm 3x tops, 1x bottoms now. Not a LOT of difference yet. But I know as I get smaller, less weight will mean more, size wise. I'll also be ecstatic when I can go to a local store and buy clothes instead of ordering on line.

So my motivation is my desire to be healthy (I was borderline a LOT of things, most frightening, Diabetes II. I've backed away from that cliff and never want to get so close to it again) and active. I have a lot of life I want to live, and every 10 pounds gives me more energy. It feeds on itself that way. My mini goals are how I mark my progress.

It's the lap band "post op" liquid diet.< /p>

If I knew what you know this would be SO much easier (LOL)

Post op must haves for me: Tylenol (they make adult liquid but after one sweet gicky dose I just took the pills and did fine) "Soft lips" (chapstick thingie) chicken noodle Soup (drained it for the broth, regular chicken broth was just salt Water with yellow dye, IMHO) Something to entertain me was paramount (good new books to read, a few videos I hadn't seen w/my fave actor etc) House cleaned before I went

For me recovery was easy and fast I had surgery on Friday, was back at school (student) next Tues. So I wasn't house bound.

Questions...by the time I got to surgery I didn't have much to ask my doc. You MIGHT ask him if he removes all the gas he pumps in before he closes you up. That can REALLY impact recovery. Otherwise, most of my surgeon questions relate to earlier in the relationship, like "what is your fill philosophy" and "on average how many fills do your patients need before they are in the green zone" and "have you ever had a patient die" that type of thing you've probably already asked

Perfect! Then you know what you're supposed to do and you are doing it! :blushing:

Don't fret that you aren't miserable! You're just one of the lucky ones. In fact, most (not all, but most) don't struggle post op getting fluids in now that they have a variety of band sizes to choose from. Just relax, heal, and plan your new wardrobe! :biggrin:

You shouldn't choose a WLS by geography.

The band helps a certain type of over-eater, bypass another. They aren't "one size fits all" and you should get the surgery that fits your needs, personality, lifestyle. For example if you have a big sweet tooth, bypass is probably "better" for you because of the dumping syndrome. If you graze or snack, again bypass is better for you because if you graze or snack then the band can effectively be made to fail (depending on what and how much etc) Conversely, if your problem is huge portions, the band is the surgery for you. Research and soul searching are indicated!

Having said that, there's a forum lower down about how to research a surgeon in Mexico. I'm sure that, like here in the USA, some are competent, and some are just WL mills. I personally wouldn't go across the border but that's just me.

Also if you decide to go, pick an area that is relatively crime free. Perhaps those of you who live farther north in our great country don't realize the drug strife that's going on down there right now, but it's real. I grew up in El Paso (across from Juarez) Juarez was just another seedly sleepy border town, baking in the sun shine, when I grew up. Now it is the most violent city on earth, or so our local news said. Even allowing for hype, it's dangerous. BUT not all cities in Mexico are hot beds of unrest and crime! Again, research is in order.

Lastly if you do get the lap band and do go out of country, make SURE you line up aftercare locally or plan to always go BACK to Mexico for fills and follow up appointments. The lap band requires adjustments and attention during the first few months to one year. If you don't get the fill level right the lap band doesn't work. Some lucky people hit that in one or two times, some take much longer. It is imperative to have handy care nearby (or the funds and time to hop a plane or into a car to go "back" if you have surgery done away from home)

This isn't just a "Mexico" thing either. If you have surgery done in another city or county, most surgeons in your home won't treat you. They don't want to inherit (and potentially be liable for) someone else's work or mess.

So...If you go to Mexico choose who and where carefully. Line up local fills and aftercare before you go.

If you are unsure about bypass vs band, then do research and decide which (if either) is right for you.

Good luck!

It's very normal. Probably you're a bit swollen still from the surgery. (not everyone is! we really are all different!) You've been reconfigured internally, the ability to burp will come back but it will take a while. Right now try to minimize any swallowed air (don't use straws now)

The uncomfortable feeling should diminish and vanish over the next few days. Just take it easy on yourself!

If you aren't in pain, don't worry about it. Before the band, if you went days without "passing gas" would you have freaked? Probably not!

Be glad you're pain free, relax, and enjoy!

Diarrhea isn't uncommon; it's caused from your diet, the anesthesia, etc. Don't worry about it; mine lasted about a week. It's not fun but it's better than being constipated! If you're still worried on Monday you can call your doc but you should be fine.

As to the burp, that isn't uncommon either. Don't drink with straws (if you are) and take some liquid tylenol (or whatever your doc adivised) to help. I wouldn't take gas x unless he told you it was ok, but the simethecone should break down the gas.

The surgery reconfigures you internally. Until your body overcomes the surgery etc it isn't uncommon to be unable to burp. Believe me, the ability will return! Oh boy will it return! :blushing: Hang in there

Not everyone feels miserable post op. The new, sized bands, individual reaction to the bands (ie how badly you do or don't swell), your surgeon's skill, your mental attitude, whether your surgeon fills you during surgery or not, MANY different things all contribute to a patient's post op status.

And until you are VERY restricted liquids should flow through easily. So relax, follow your docs advice, and you'll do fine! Don't add in extra Proteins etc unless he's told you to do so.

wah!

sleep well! and fast!

I must be too old. To me, Hendrix is a Jimi. Rock on.

You are in fine form tonight! LOL

what else would you like to make snorkle

If you can get 420 oz honey, go for it.

I'm effed up. And DH is making midnight stuffed peppers.

Oh good grief that one is just TOO easy!

You'd be surprised - people here at LBT are not what they seem - full of surprises and other less savory substances....present company excluded of course!

What she said.

I especially like that "less savory substances" line.

Beth school is draining the life out of you

it always hurts to eat. As a result, I have become seriously maladaptive. I still have a massive appetite and eat until I feel truly full, no matter how long it takes or the pain I have to endure...... Is there a chance the endoscopy could find something that could be overlooked in an upper GI, or should I resign myself to the notion that the problem is mental?

I think the odds are it's both medical and psychological. It should not, if you're unfilled, "always hurt to eat". Something is wrong. Maybe your band is too small (I think you were banded before they sized them, and if so it's possible even unfilled it's too tight for you) or maybe you have a slip or erosion, or maybe some OTHER issue (like esophageal spasms). I doubt it's in your head.

Eating until you are truly full no matter the pain...that is, as you said, maladaptive. That's "emotional" and I'd think you need to address it. Why didn't you go to the doctor when this started? If it was to lose weight, then did it work? If not, why are you doing it still? I think maybe a little counseling is in order, just my 2 cents.

It's referred pain from your diaphragm, an agitated phrenic nerve. So relaxing the muscle (and the nerves) will help it. If you have someone who can give you a neck massage (a strong one!) and get the muscle to relax, that'll help.

Does liquid tylenol help?

I've also read of people who, if they lie on their sides and raise their left arm up over their heads it helps.

mine fortunately just hurt if I breathed too fast (like when I moved LOL) so try to keep your breathing slow and even and not too deep, see if that helps relieve it. Don't pant though or mess w/your breathing too much (Deep breathing is good to keep your lungs clear!) I mean just mess with it a little to see if it will calm down.

This link should help:

Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum - FAQ: Lap-band Abbreviations

Here's a tutorial that may help you:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

There's two kinds of gas post op...one is the kind we generate and unfortunately there's a LOT of that, even on broth and liquids, I guess because of our new internal "configuration". For something like that, Gas X or something with simethecone will work wonders!

However there is also gas in the abdominal cavity that is pumped in during surgery to spread our organs apart and make surgery easier for the surgeon...and ultimately for us! If the surgeon doesn't remove all or most of that it can HURT when we're closed up and it's still in there. And unfortunately gas x doesn't TOUCH that because it's outside of our digestive system. Until the body absorbs it and moves it out, it can hurt like the devil.

Walking helps both types! And Gas X helps the type we make. Asking your surgeon to remove the gas (for those reading this who haven't been banded) will help the other.

Hang in there!

I don't know but I hope not! Doesn't seem like you should be penalized because your doc went on vacation. Why not have him write a letter saying he was unavailable at the end of June and you were scheduled ASAP in July. That's what I'd do...include it just to be sure.