RestlessMonkey

Research has been going on regarding Leptin since 1995. It helps mice but not humans. They can't give it to humans effectively; it doesn't cross the blood/brain barrier. So it's all hype...so far. Maybe in the future, but not yet. If/when it works you'll know; you'll hear it on the news!

Depending on how you work the band, WW and the band aren't really compatible. WW requires you get the 8 healthy guidelines in (or at least, it did) but I've been told with the band to eat Protein first, then veggies, THEN fruit, and if I STILL have room (implication being that I won't) to have grains/breads/pastas. However if you do WW as a general guideline and not verbatim, I'm sure it can be helpful (the support, getting weighed weekly, etc). A point used to be roughly about 50 calories. More Fiber could move that up a bit, more fat down a bit, but 50 is a good average. Althought they've just recently changed the diet again, I think that's still a good average. So 1000 cal would be 20 points a day, and you'd want to get those mostly in lean meats, then veggies, then fruits. Maybe that will help give you a starting point! :scared2:

Think of the preop diet as a kind of "prescription". Not everyone needs one, and there are different ones. That's why it's important that you pick a surgeon you trust, and then TRUST him/her to do right by you. As long as you do that, and follow YOUR instructions to the letter, you'll come through fine!

I spoil myself fairly regularly. But I have "big" bonuses like when I get below 300 we are going to Vegas for a few days. When I get to 250 we are going to see my Beloved Mickey Mouse. So Travel is what I'm after...but only when I'm smaller and can enjoy it

It's hard but you need to be strong. If you advance your diet too fast you can cause a slip (or set yourself up for one later). Just tell yourself that the "hell" is only for a little while. As you get restricted you won't be able to eat a bunch of inappropriate foods anyway and will be full and happy with way less; then it won't be such an issue. So be strong now! Just leave the room/house when they eat if you need to!

I wasn't ever really sore there.

Talk to your surgeon. A HUGE concern is blood clots. That's a potential on any plane flight for any person and becomes more so on us obese people post op. The doc may give you instructions like "get up and walk for 5 minutes every 30" or some such. It really is not an optimum time to travel. Even a week later would be better You probably won't need to saran wrap your torso (most docs don't restrict showers beyond 24 hours or so) but you will be sore, you will be hungry and must NOT eat ahead of your post op diet, and you may be "not all there". Just think; the combo of no food, pain meds, surgery etc can alter the old mental status a bit. And if you are one of the unfortunate people who have severe gas pain etc for up to 2 weeks post op, you'll be in misery. It may go off without a hitch but I'm a "girl scout" type...I would move the surgery or cancel the trip.

Yes this is a question you need to be asking your insurance.

If it were me and I WANTED to go I'd go. I'd just drink Water or whatever, and say I wanted to support XYZ cause but can't eat. I'm a "teller" so most people know I have the lap band and I'd say "I can't eat today because of my band". If you aren't comfy with that say you have a stomach bug.

I am a nurse...get checked regardless. It IS a sign of diabetes but can be a sign of other issues as well, especially if it happens after every meal. Tell your doc!

The swelling is, I think, your stomach etc swelling a little because when you get a fill the band tightens a little and agitates it! You don't notice it usually but it can impact how "full" your band is so most docs say to just drink liquids (no food) for a time after a fill to give the stomach etc time to settle back down. The doc knows where the port is because, as the NP in my office says "He put it there". Seriously, they remember, plus good operative notes give them guidelines Mine has never used fluoro on me and found it find. He does use lidocaine to numb the area and that stings a bit (not as bad as a bug bite) then I feel....nothing! It's easy.

I have to say that if I thought for one small instant my husband was trying to hold me back because he wanted me FAT so no one else would love me...I'd leave him. I don't understand the mind set of forgiving someone who wants to keep you down. I do understand we're all different and try not to be judgmental! But really ladies think this through. That's not love. That's posession. If the other team member in your marriage wants to hold you back how will you ever ever grow/change/achieve? Different strokes for different folks and I don't pretend to understand anyone's dynamic but my own....but to me, love means a lot of things but it doesn't mean "keep you in the dark so no one but me can have you"

you shouldn't be sleepy just after eating unless you are very tired before every meal. It's a sign of diabetes (among other things). Are you getting too many carbs? ARE you getting enough sleep? Don't mean to be alarmist but unless you are running on no sleep (or only 5 hours or so) a night this shouldn't happen to you EVERY TIME. If it is, call your primary and get checked out. Something's up.

As long as you can get ample fluidcs down, I'd wait a little. Your throat is most likely swollen from the strep anyway. By Monday/Tuesday if you aren't able to eat mushies then I'd call the doc, and by next Thurs if you still can't eat solids then for sure call. NEVER get so tight you can't keep liquids down! NEVER! But since you can drink liquids I think you're ok over the weekend and it will probabl resolve on its own.

Each surgeon seems to have his or her own way of directing their patients, both pre- and post-op. Once you find a surgeon you like and trust your safest course is to....TRUST that surgeon! Do what s/he says! They have different styles, different techniques, and they know what works for THEIR patients. Never take something you read here over what your doctor tells you! So you can see that your questions are only going to raise more until you pick your doc. Generally, you need to follow their instructions to the letter preop and post op (for the healing period). 6 months down the road, one year down the road...how you eat will largely be up to you. You will decide how tight (how filled) is "just right" FOR YOU and you will decide what you can and can't eat. SOME people have problems with white bread, white chicken, stringy beef. Some like to be so tight that they almost can't eat, but that tight can lead to slips and erosion. You'll decide. I guess it's like "being in love". Until you're there and you feel it it is hard to describe! :scared2: You'll figure it out. Again...just pick a surgeon you trust, and you'll do fine!

Don't confuse soft foods with mushie foods. Mushies are things like refried beans, mashed potatoes. Or BLENDED meats. Soft foods are things like baked fish, or crumbled meat (ground turkey, ground beef) Regular foods are things like chicken breast. Besides, each doc has a different preop diet and it is VITAL that you not eat ahead of your diet. My surgeon says that is the number ONE cause of band slippage; patients advancing their diet ahead of doctor's orders. I know you get hungry but it's just a short while. Hang in there with the diet your doctor gives you. If you just can't, call and ask what you can eat. Since you are still feeling pain you should let your doc know what you did. You may have hurt yourself, you may not have. He'll be the one to make that call! Good luck and quit cheating on your post op diet! Even if you don't hurt yourself now you can set yourself up for a slip later on! I know you don't want that.

I wouldn't want one either. Maybe you have to have it because of getting the sleeve. You run an increased risk of infection. I'm glad I didn't need one for the band!

Find out first if your insurance covers the surgery. If so, then you'll need to go to an "in network" provider. (most likely) If not, THEN you can start pricing. The cheapest I've heard of in the USA is around 10K

The band is meant to be in place indefinitely. The LAP BAND has been in use in the USA since 2001 but a version of the band has been in use since 1985 (in Switzerland). MOST people who have it removed (for whatever reason) regain any lost weight. Erosion is a problem for less than 1% of all banded people, so its something you don't need to worry about. Slippage is more common and happens for various reasons; the one you can control is scrupulously following your docs post op diet (don't advance food groups earlier than you are cleared for them) Both issues are rare.

Preop clear liquids generally mean anything you can see through....tea, coffee, jello, water, clear broth. Not protein shakes. You can have grape juice. I'd avoid the protein shakes (including isopure) because they have nutrition and you don't really want that now! (husband's an RN; I just clarified with him)

I think its imprudent to make fun of anyone's fears, no matter how unafraid WE may be of whatever it is. We're all different. Tolerance is always a good thing, especially on a board like this. If you don't belittle things, you don't run the risk of being misunderstood.

My doc prescribed/strongly suggested a certain brand. Quite honestly, I didn't "like" them (when I'm hungry I want food, not a fake-sweet thing) but I drank them. It was just for a short time and I wanted the goal, so I did what I needed to.

What specifically would you like to know? The lap band impacts a lot of things; it would help to narrow it down! :grouphug:

Ask your doctor. Many ban NSAIDS, including aspirin, forever.

I've only had lap band (twice) and gall bladder (once!) LOL None of them were bad at all. I have honest to goodness had dental procedures that hurt worse and for a longer period of time. I didn't answer your poll because "it was a breeze" wasn't an option!