RestlessMonkey

Seriously, go buy some Papaya Enzyme. Mine is the "NOW" brand formulated with cellulase (for veggie matter) and lipase (to emulsify fat) as well as papain (to digest protein) but I'm sure any brand will work.

Papain helps break down dead tissue so it won't erode your living stomach/esophagus. And IT WORKS. It's even used medically to debride (removed dead skin from) wounds in some instances. Don't mean to gross you out, just to tell you it does the trick.

If something is stuck like that, chew some papaya enzyme and give it about 5 minutes. It has never failed me and saved me from an hour over a sink trying to vomit, or hours of pain. I LOVE that stuff, I'm tempted to buy stock in it!

Have some on hand so that the next time something like this happens you won't have to be in misery for hours!

YAY they let me halve them and the allegra do in thirds. Thats good enough for me. Thanks all!

Great! Conservative but flexible. A great trait in a surgeon! :biggrin:

You know, some of this really puzzles me. If you have a small amount of time (like say over a lunch break) to get in, eat, get gone, then yes I can see the trouble.

But if, say, you are meeting friends for a social gathering (lunch or dinner) then honestly, who cares how fast you eat? These things, at least in my experience, are generally filled with laughter and lingering over food etc. No one would even notice if I only ate 1/3 of my meal, except maybe to ask if I didn't like it. To which I could say "I've been talking too much" or whatever!

A good friend once said "It's about the company, not about the food" so if you're in that kind of situation, well, don't sweat it! If you ARE eating with people who will watch your every bite and comment on what you're eating, how you're eating it etc, then WHY are you with those people anyway? I mean, unless you're 11 and they are your parents.

Good for you! You feel better physically AND you can be smug about it! :biggrin: LOL

If asked I always tell people to TRY to sleep in their beds from the first night. For one thing, you still have anesthesia on board (probably) and that helps. AND...the sooner we ACT normally, the sooner we feel normal. Plus, the stretching helps you internally (gentle stretching, nothing vigorous) AND the pressure if you lie on your side, with a pillow bracing, can actually help if you're still bleeding a little.

Most are afraid they won't be able to get up but again, with a pillow bracing (and some help!) getting up is no big deal.

So for anyone reading this who hasn't had surgery; try it in your own bed from the start, if you have someone to help you up the next am. Take your pain med, brace your torso. That good night's sleep is priceless. :biggrin:

And WTG Slumberdream!

I just remember Doug Henning's hair. THAT was mesmerising.

Good luck! :thumbup: I hope they relent and let you try it! :smile2:

I KNOW they can't just sit there, truly, because I'd be spitting pills like a machine gun by now! :eek:

I'm glad you told him! I've read so many different doc's reactions; some do x-ray, some just tell patient's to watch it (sometimes sadly there IS a slip) some don't seem to care. :thumbup:

You are LUCKY you! :smile2: enjoy, chew well, and good for you telling him. Now you don't have to worry.

I think that obviously some people can take pills without any problems, just like some of us can eat white bread or dry chicken (or whatever).

Whether one wants to try it to see which category he/she is in is personal. I am grateful I was told I could take them without crushing etc, and that I can and do take them that way.

If you are one who WANTS to just take them, ask your surgeon if you can try it. If you are afraid to risk it, crush 'em. Simple.

Obviously though crushing/melting/halving isn't a "must do" for all of us.

Honestly; unless you've fasted before, you're probably just not used to going without food. You have stored fat that is providing your body with energy; and even people who are not overweight can go a good while without nutrition. I'm not a doc, but I'd say you know yourself best. If you are REALLY bad, go to the ER (like the on call doc said) Otherwise, I'd just wait and drink my Protein shake on schedule.

I had 7 days of Clear Liquids, weighed 375, am older and shorter (female) and made it through nursing school during that 7 days when all i had was Water and broth. Not being pissy! LOL Just to let you know it can be done and doesn't do harm. If you are really in bad shape, a Protein Drink won't "fix" you. If your body is just rebelling, well, it will get over it and you can have your shake on schedule, if that makes sense?

So I would say (again, not a doc, alright?) either go to the ER if you really feel bad, because sh*t happens and something may be going on. If you think your body (and that little voice that convinces us it's rational to cheat on diets etc LOL) is just fussing, wait till tomorrow. Either way just drinking the shake now won't really help.

And what will you do when you've had shakes and want food? Important to let your band heal into place!

Hope that helps a little...either go to the ER (and you may very well have an issue that requires attention!) or just hang in there, drink more gatorade, have your shake on schedule.

Just my two cents; in the end, you need to do what you think is right for you.

Are you diabetic? What time/date was your surgery?

If you have a cold (caused by a virus) you shouldn't be taking the antibiotics. They only work on bacterial infections.

If you have congestion they may very well postpone; too dicey for the anesthesia. Since lap band is elective (ie your immediate life doesn't hang in the balance) it's best if they let you heal. Plus you don't want surgery if you have an infection running around internally.

Hope it feels better! Only other thing I can think is do you have any prescription meds (like for blood pressure) you aren't taking right now? I'm sure the on call doc thought of anything I could, and more. :thumbup:

Just DONT cheat on your post op diet. Follow it exactly like your surgeon tells you to. Eating the wrong food too early can cause a slip or other issues.

PLUS you'll be able to eat later! Don't obsess about it! :thumbup:

It's an urban myth (lol) that you won't be able to eat once you have your band. I'm having a grilled cheese for dinner tonight in fact. (I'm just eating 1/2 and didn't use any oil or butter, but the point is I can eat it) Last night I had part of a rib eye steak. Some have a food or two they can't eat, some have more issues, and some don't have any trouble. :thumbup: So hang in there; you'll do great!

And you'll enjoy food again; just once you have restriction it will be MUCH smaller portions!

Hey Diana! I didn't do anything but reiterate what you said! Call the doc; good you called the doc! :thumbup:

A good "goal" is 64 oz a day minimum of liquid and you look like you're on track for that. You don't really need to worry right now about not getting enough "nutrient".

And it's good you called about your numbness! :thumbup:

It sounds like you're on the road then. That's great! Lap band may or may not be for you but until you check it out, you'll never know. And I hope I didn't insult about the hypochondria; it does take all kinds to make the world go round. I just think for some people the band would be more of a worry than a help. In other words, it isn't psychologically suited to everyone. Thank God we're all different. I, for instance, can't imagine ever having the fortitude to get bypass surgery because the thought of having my stomach cut up, sewn up, but left in place, closed and making gastric juices, gives me the heebie jeebies! :thumbup:

Best of luck to you!

I think it's more about being ready and knowing what you want than it is about who's paying. When I was 17 my parents paid for me to go to college. I was too young, had no idea what I wanted to do, would rather have gotten to work and knock around a while first. They were quite firm about "now or never" So I went. I got 100 hours, didn't finish. Later I wanted to go back but couldn't afford it because life has responsibilites we grown ups have to meet. Eventually in my late 40's I got a chance to go back and did. It wasn't because my mommy and daddy paid for me that I blew it off. But because I wasn't ready.

Had I been the one to pay for college when I was 17 I wouldn't have gone. Why? Because I DID NOT know what I wanted to take/learn/be yet. See?

The "it" factor is readiness, dedication, how well do you know what you're in for, how mature are you...not "who paid".

You answered WHY WLS in your sentence "I've been obese almost my entire life". Why haven't you just dieted and exercised? Huh? Or have you, and then you relax and it comes back? WLS because for over 90% of the overweight population, diet and exercise doesn't work.

If you needed a pacemaker for your heart would you get it? Or would you think "no, that's too easy that's the chicken's way. It should beat fine on it's own".

Well, many of us need a pacemaker for our appetites. Simple.

Real limitations vary from person to person. Caffeine is on the do not list for some, not for others. I'm 13 mos postop and drink caffeinated coffee and tea whenever I want it. In fact at 1 year check up doc told me I'd healed and was doing so well that in his opinion as long as it didn't HURT me physically, I could have carbonated beverages. Again, that's individual. I also haven't found ANY food that I can't eat. White bread, dry chicken, whatever. It goes down.

Finally yes you need willpower. If you overeat because your portions are too large the band will help. If you eat for emotional reasons (whatever they are...reward, sad, bored, because you LIKE chips and feel 1 bag a day is a god-given right, whatever) then the band won't help at all.

It helps you feel satisfied with less food. You are not physiologically hungry. For some that's all the assist they need. For others, it does no good.

A good surgeon and seminar will go a long way towards educating you on the basics. I suggest you attend one or two. Mine wasn't hard sell but rather informative and low key.

Risks...there are risks. Acid reflux, a slip, erosion. There are also risks to obesity. You'll have to weigh the odds, look at yourself and your personality, see if it will work for you. It doesn't work for everyone. But for some of us it's nothing short of a miracle.

And as to the fatty liver and ulcer, probably won't disqualify you. Your surgeon can guide you. However if you really ARE a hypochondriac, the band may not be for you. Some see ever little muscular twinge as a slip, some can't even swallow their tiny little pills (I can take my potassium horse pills just fine) because they are worried about being stuck, etc. It takes all kinds but for a person who is more, well, nervous about being well, I'd think the lap band would be almost like signing up for torture. There are probably better options for that type of person. Again, a seminar and a surgeon can help.

One big thing about the band that I think I "knew" but didn't really understand before I got it is this:

The banded person has a large degree of control over his or her banded life.

How tight you are filled is in YOUR hands. I can eat a cup of food; my doc said that is perfect because I am losing. I get satiety (one doesn't go for "full", just satisfied. And honestly for me, full hurts! LOL) on about 1 cup of food, I am losing weight. I could be tighter, but why? Then I probably would need to sip, I could only eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup (or whatever) and certain foods would be off limits.

As I am I can take all my pills without crushing them, I even (at one year post op the doc actually told me "do it as long as it doesn't cause you any pain) can drink carbonated beverages and occasionally have a beer!

Could I be tighter, and more miserable? Sure. Do I want to be? No. I got this for life. It's my tool, not my warden. Life is good, it's grand. And too tight, a person always risks eating the wrong foods because they go down more easily, and thereby gaining.

I don't mean to imply that anyone who has a food intolerance is too tight, ok? I don't mean that at all. BUT WE are in the driver's seat. How your banded life goes is largely in your control. You DO have a band around your stomach. You will need to make good choices, stay hydrated, be responsible. But most of the choice is yours.

I guess actually if I decided I wanted to go on an eating spree I could even do that. I'd need an unfill but once unfilled I really can go to town. It's all my choice.

So yes, 1 cup of food. You may find that's good for you, or too much, or just right. But you'll get to tinker with it and make it work for you. I love that about it.

Just read KLZ's post (before mine) and her doc's goal is 1/2 cup, 3 meals 3-4 hours apart. Mine wants 3 meals 5-6 hours apart, and he said a cup is just perfect. And I do NOT drink with my meals. Not sips. NOTHING. It hurts me, and I feel it's not productive. So you see? There's no hard/fast RIGHT way to do this. Some very successful bandsters snack, too. I do better if I don't, but not all are like that. It's really really individual. Love it.

Check with your doc to be sure but generally yes. However try to get at least some Water each day too.

And you may want to ask your doc why caffeine is banned. Mine banned it because it was an appetite stimulant. When I told him it didn't have that effect on me (I think I had iced tea in my baby bottle LOL J/k) he gave me the all clear to drink it. I do get 64 oz of Water in though.

Call your surgeon. Do it now. I'm shocked you've suffered this long. S/he can change your pain meds.

Make sure you follow the post op diet; but tell him you have trouble (if you do, it sounds like you do) getting the daily liquids in. Very important that you stay hydrated; dehydration can start with a headache and progress from there.

And (sorry if this is TMI) if you've been taking an opioid based pain med (like vicodin, hydrocodone, lortab) then you are probably constipated. If that is a problem for you tell him THAT, too. Even though you've only been on liquids, something should be moving on through. Ok?

Hang in there. We're all different.

Just follow your postop diet as given to you by your surgeon. Don't add anything that isn't approved without clearing it first. For example I was on Clear Liquids week one and that meant NO Protein. NO fruit juice. Mostly just broth and Water and Decaf tea or coffee.

We have fat stores so as long as we're hydrated, (and if you're diabetic, as long as your blood sugar is controlled) going a while with little/no calories won't hurt you.

If you are weak, well, you just had surgery. Even laparoscopic, it is considered "major abdominal surgery" Give it time. You'll feel better each day.

And again, check with your surgeon before eating or drinking anything not on your post op diet. I know many of us don't think too much of "cheating" on a diet but the post op one is VITAL to your recovery; think of it more as a prescription for health.

And remember right now you are healing. Dont' worry about calories, weight loss, etc. Just let your body recover and get used to the band.

And most importantly: Congratulations! :thumbup:

I drink normally. I don't chug but don't sip either.

And my doc is one who says 3 meals only no Snacks. The point of the band is portion control; if you graze you can effectively bypass that and cause "failure". Some do snack, but many others are told not to.

If I eat a healthy meal (and I can eat up to about a cup) I usually am full for about 6 hours. So no need to snack. When I want to it is 99% "head hunger", not because my body needs the fuel, but because I "want" the snack for whatever reason. The band doesn't make that go away (just the true physiologic hunger) but knowing I an not REALLY hungry helps.

I'm also one of the lucky ones who can eat anything. White bread, red meat, dry chicken, whatever. As long as I take small bites (and for me that's about 1/2 to 2/3 of a normal bite size; it is NOT pencil eraser sized! LOL) and chew well, I am fine. It's great. Not everyone is that lucky, but it does happen!

I had my both my ovaries removed last year and didnt have to drink that horrible stuff so I hope not!!

Do you know if they weight you the day of the operation, mine is on 16th October, I am a bit scared I wont of lost enough weight?

If your doc tells you "you must lose 15 kg before surgery" then I would figure you will be weighed to make sure it happened. If you're afraid you won't lose it, call your doc and ask for help! There are drugs, and/or diet plans they CAN give you to help!