RestlessMonkey

Yes. From what I've read on here they don't "fail" so much as are required to do some sessions with therapist before they are cleared.

The band isn't for everyone; I've also read on here of people who get it and then freak out and want it removed immediately. (which isn't the only reason the band isn't right for someone, just an example) I guess some therapy sessions would be better than flipping out about the band post op, or turning to something like alcohol, shopping, sex, gambling to replace the food.

I think to not be hungry one day is no big deal, any more than being hungrier than usual one day is no big deal. We're human, our hormones fluctuate, etc. If you consistently aren't hungry then I'd say you have a problem. My appetite varies from day to day but I always eat or have a Protein Shake regardless.

I agree with Mimilou. It's highway robbery. Check around. And call your ins; see what their take is on it.

The seminar is informative, the process here was very smooth. Call Tricare and take it from there. I am Tricare standard and it was very fast and easy

Your digestive system is configured differently. You will probably always burp more than you're used to, but it can slack off a bit. I burp more when I eat too fast or overeat, but still burp more than I used to. It's not as bad as it used to be, though, and I know it's coming and can cover my mouth and excuse myself. It's better than being fat.

I feel for you but realize the band is useless unless you have follow up care (fills)... I really don't want to be the messenger that you want to shoot! But without the fills the band won't help you much.

I know when I went to my seminar my surgeon presented various surgeries. One biggie he said about lap band was that snackers/grazers tend to fail because the point of the band is Portion Control, and snacking negates that. I'll admit I do snack, but I'm an evening snacker only. I can be home on the weekends, all day, whatever and no snacking until after dinner. I don't snack on trips. I never snacked at work. Just the evening. So I went for it. And admittedly I struggle with that still. I am going to a therapist and hope I'm learning new better habits.

I know life holds no guarantees, but I can't just post "OH you'll be fine it's normal to be scared" because I understand and can just tell you it's going to be a battle and you have to be willing to fight it.

I do low carb often because I like it. But when I'm going for sweets, I go for "real" sugar. When I go for fat I go for the real stuff. I think it's personal choice.

Good for you! It's a learning curve for sure!

Sorry! Nada! BUT you are smart, going to the ER, having your surgeon involved. Hopefully it's just something odd that will resolve as you do the liquids and things settle down. And YAY the band isn't slipped! :tongue2:

So hang in there and I'll cross my fingers for you!

Some of these doctors go overboard!!!!! I did ZERO days of clear liquids. I had full liquids then started mushies on day 8. I never got sick, belched, or had any issues. Make yourself a shake and enjoy it. You should NOT have had to go through that....

Where did you get your medical degree? Where did you serve your internship, get your training?

Since you were banded almost 4 months ago, ucdep99, you're in a very different stage of healing from that of the original post. AND many docs say no carbonation! It's great that you know what you're supposed to do and do it, and that you get guidance from your doc. But it's not good for anyone, especially a new bandster who is learning the ropes, to disregard his or her surgeon's advice, especially for "evidence" from we pros here on LBT. :wink:

Not posting this to be a horse's batootie; just to point out we all need to remember we're different, with different docs. When in doubt, we need to let the medical professional advise us. Since the OP was still in pain, that's a little worrisome. I wish she'd post and let us know if she's still feeling poorly or if she's feeling better now!

Motrin doesn't give people ulcers, or at least not everyone...but it is VERY hard on the stomach. All NSAIDS are. Even for non-banders. So it's best to avoid them altogether until/unless your doc gives you the green light to take them. Not all docs ban them forever, so do as your doc suggests.

As I understand it, it usually churns anything you need to chew. Even chewing gum can trigger peristalsis.

Normally by Puree time it isn't as important BUT...1. the OP is still having pain and that's not good and 2. For many, the first 2 weeks are liquids only. And the OP ate the food 2 1/2 days before her post, meaning she was still in liquids when she ate the solids. Regardless of where she is NOW, then she was on liquids and ate solid food.

(understand I mean this to explain, not fuss. We're all human.)

For many, a major cause of slips is eating the wrong foods too soon and tuna, eggs, mayo and Pasta, besides the fact that she ate it too early, is harder to digest than some mashed potatoes.

So; too soon, and the wrong food, and continued pain several days later means she needs to have it checked out. :wink:

My surgeon said from his experience and research the hands down number one cause of slips is advancing the post op diet too soon. So it's best just to stick to the plan your doc gives you. If you're like me, pre-band "cheating" on a diet was almost a way of life as I batttled my weight for years. They should call the post op diet something else like "plan for healing" because if ever you stick to a diet, the pre and post op ones are the ones you should commit to. But many of us don't realize that and unfortunately, sometimes we get caught and the consequences are not too happy.

Yes you can damage your band at any time but odds are one stuck episode won't do it.

I have no idea why you have pain but it's possible the agitation in your stomach agitated your diaphragm and THAT agitated your phrenic nerve and THAT is translating as left shoulder pain. That's why many bandsters have left shoulder pain post op.

However left shoulder pain can also be a sign of a heart attack. I don't know your age/status etc and wouldn't presume to diagnose over the 'net (or at any time actually! not a doc, just a brand new nurse! no diagnosis here, just some advice! ) but you know yourself best. It's probably the irritated diaphragm.

As to the other, buy papaya enzyme. It is chewable and works better than your home remedies! :wink: I've read that once you have a bad episode you should go to liquids for 24-48 hours, then mushies, etc (much like a fill, or like an accellerated post op diet) This allows your traumatized and angry stomach and esophagus to settle back down. Eating regular foods too early can re-irritate some.

If you stay on liquids till Monday and still feel unsettled, call your doc.

You MAY have slipped your band but I don't mean to imply that. It can happen and does happen in singular freak accidents, but usually one bad PB episode won't cause a slip unless it was already "in trouble" from earlier episodes etc. So odds are good you're just irritated (or rather your upper digestive tract is!)

I was told no nsaids (like motrin) because they can cause stomach trouble.

It's possible you're ill and it has nothing to do with the band. Just make sure you get Water down so you'll stay hydrated, and/or other liquids per the diet your doc gave you. You can go without nutrition for a few days but not without hydration.

If you don't feel better by Monday, or if your symptoms worsen, then either call the answering service back or go to the emergency dept.

They do make adult liquid tylenol; you might try that unless you have liver issues.

If you're sick it makes surgery WAY more risky, partly because your body is already compromised fighting off the infection and partly because if you're congested it makes anesthesia really dicey.

Safer to have it postponed a little than to risk your life.

Just remember don't add Protein in until your doc okays it! :wink:

Ok, here's a silly question. I think I"m almost there with my fills, this last one has me chewing very well and eating slow, but I can still eat way more than a cup. What does full feel like?

I was told not to go for "full" but rather satisfied; that if you get FULL it is too much.

For me I am hungry, then not hungry. It is subtle.

You might want to try getting a cup of food, eating that, and then waiting a few minutes to see it you are still hungry (remember it takes a body 20 minutes to register "done now)

If you are still hungry, eat a little more.

Also I get satisfied better on Protein dense foods like steak or chicken. I can eat less of those and go longer.

Ok. How are you feeling today?

Each surgeon has different skills, a different education, different experience, a different client base. Furthermore within that practice one client may need a different post op diet than another. For example a person severely overweight and with Diabetes may heal more slowly than a person who needs to lose 80 pounds and has no co-morbidities.

To go against your surgeon's advice because a web site lists a different regimen, or because someone from his office didn't do it and was fine, is not the rational thing to do.

Believe me because I did exactly what I'm advising against. I did my own preop diet after reading on here about patient after patient who had a shorter/easier/none diet and so I did my own thing and lost 15 pounds but didn't get the band the 1st time.

You MAY be ok if you do your own thing. Then again, maybe not. I always say if you don't trust your surgeon to guide you properly throught the preop phase and the post op healing phase, then don't let him cut you either. Think of the post op diet as a prescription for healing and do as you're told. IF you find it onerous or faulty, discuss it with your surgeon. That's the adult thing to do. I learned the hard way. Hopefully you can learn from my mistake.

I'm not a very compliant person....way too much strict upbringing in school and home.

I TOTALLY understand that "cut off your nose to spite your face" mentality! :wink: For years I refused to quit smoking because everyone agitated so much for me to do it. TV commercials, the doc, you name it. The more I was bombarded with "do not smoke!" info the more I smoked. BUT one day I finally had to realize that regardless, I didn't want to smoke. It was finally MY choice, and the reason wasn't because of any of that noise, either. (can you say hard-headed? LOL) That's why I always question band rules so that I can understand the rationale behind them. If it's solid, I do it, because it makes sense, not because I was "told" to. You may want to try that trick!

It's actually good for you to gently stretch and move as normally as you can. As long as you aren't really REALLY vigorous your sutures will be fine. So move and stretch as much as you can. Using a pillow to brace your abdomen will work wonders for the pain, too.

The sooner you act and move normally, the sooner you'll feel normal. :wink:

I used the premixed shakes so I never even got my blender out. I used my little pink (so adorable LOL) mini food processor for everything during the full liquids phase and for a lot of stuff during the mushie phase! :wink:

My diet was similar to yours. Just hang in there! Its only a few more days; you've made it so long! Good for you doing what your doc has told you to. Later when you aren't starving you can be really proud of yourself! WTG!