RestlessMonkey

Have you checked other surgeons in your area? They can obtain (legally) your records from surgeon A and maybe get on with your surgery. I would be really TICKED if I were treated that way. The "aftercare" is as important, or more so, than the band itself and if this is the service you get, maybe it's a big old red flag. My doc's office handled my insurance for me and I was approved in under 48 hours, and logically self pay should be moved through MORE quickly because the doc doesn't have to wait on ins. I don't know the whole story of course but think you're being given the runaround. Don't trust yourself to this bozo; find a better doc

I know MY answers to those questions; I'll share with you and maybe that will help you find yours. Obesity is a disease. There are many things that contribute to it. It's hard to lose weight and keep it off (that's why so many people, especially here in the USA, are overweight). Some just gain a little, some a lot, but it's hard. You can't just "not eat" and there are many foods that are hard on some of us. It's not a character flaw, any more than allergies or getting a cold. But since I have this problem I need to deal with it. Some people do just diet, lose weight, AND KEEP IT OFF but it's statistically VERY rare. Odds are you would diet, lose, and regain (plus some) because are bodies are made to keep weight, not lose it. I in fact HAVE successfully dieted over and over, but regained plus some. Our bodies HATE to give up that fat because it's our body's way of storing food for lean times (like a savings) Bodies don't part with it easily; and once the savings are spent (weight is lost) once the food comes back bodies are even MORE prone to store it. Less than 5% of people who lose weight keep it off long term. However, with the band, those odds increase. You want to make the smartest choice for you and the family and getting something like a "pacemaker" for your appetite seems to be the best way. So; because you have a problem with obesity, for whatever reason (and I think it's partly the society, partly some wiring in our brains...) you feel the best chance of controlling it, with the safest outcome, is the band. My epiphany was the pacemaker analogy; if I needed a pacemaker for my heart I wouldn't think I was cheating. Well, this helps me control how much I eat. And it isn't "easy"...I have to watch what I eat, chew well, alter my habits, exercise. It just keeps true hunger at bay. Your daughters will understand and take their cue from you. If you feel guilty about it, they may.

I had 2 Protein Shakes and one very small meal a day. But man the weight fell off. It was great. I don't cook too much now, actually; when you can't eat a lot you don't need to cook much unless its for family! And I have had a burger, for example, occasionally; can only eat about 1/3 of one and I'm full. It freaks me out each time, but it works. The band is life; you make the healthiest choices you can, you watch what you eat, you keep a "clean" kitchen (like you, if I don't have it I can do without it; no midnight runs for chips etc LOL that's why i say I'm not an addict) and you do the best you can. The band really helps once you get restriction (remember that!...you need good restriction and it may take a while to get there but once you do, wowie!) Hang in there! Post often!

You and your wife know your daughters best. At 10 I'd have been horrified to see pictures (LOL) but not all kids are that squeamish (I'm an RN and I STILL don't like looking at the pictures!) Most kids are happy when they can understand a parent is doing something to improve his/her health and therefore be around longer! I'd emphasize that you want it, that recovery will be pretty quick (it is) and that you'll just eat less and be healthy. Pad that as you see fit; but important to them will be the impact on their lives, don't you think? And it will be positive. You may not even be in the hospital overnight (I wasn't!) Good for you, and good for them!

Well as long as you're not too swollen etc I can see how you wouldn't have problems because you are on liquids and "sliders" (Mushie things are sliders...not the ONLY sliders, but sliders nevertheless) Just be very careful to follow the "rules" as you progress to solids (chew things to mush, small bites, no liquids with meals etc) and you should end up losing from the start but not having issues. Good luck!

it could have a leak. It's man-made and you know things can go wrong. If it were me I'd have the doc w/draw it and SHOW ME the 9 ccs. What's happening to you is very rare; he should be trying to figure it out instead of blowing you off.

The swelling around your stomach from your band should be gone, but other abdominal swelling can take 3 weeks or so! And is it OK for you to eat now? Week 2 I was just getting to move from liquids to mushies...is that where you are? I don't think any of us really like to feel hungry (unless in a perverse way because it means you are dieting or whatever) ... that's one reason it took me a long while to start losing once I was through the post op diet phase. I could and did eat too much. NOT as much as preband, but too much to lose. However now that I'm finally restricted, I stay full longer. I do still have a snack issue that I wrestle with (I keep telling myself NO! as if i were a stubborn toddler or something LOL) Anyway Hang in there. It will happen.

Yes. Once you're well healed, and you can ask your surgeon if you have doubts as to when that will be, there isn't any sport I know of (except maybe competitive eating LOL) that is off limits.

Ok you may be mildly dehydrated (50 ounces isn't much, considering that you aren't eating and we get a good bit of liquid from food, too) but you probably aren't in danger tonight! Unless you start to feel other symptoms...dizziness, change in level of consciousness, heart palpitations... Yes call your doc first thing, unless you can call tonight? Even if they DO have to unfill you, it will be ok. Good luck and let us know!

Yes it is VERY normal. The first 6 weeks are for HEALING, not losing. And for some it takes a while to get to the proper fill level. Proper restriction makes a world of difference, but the NP in my doc's office says it takes some people up to 6 months or more to get that good spot. So be nice to yourself and remember it is a lifestyle, not a diet. It takes a while to heal, get to the right restriction, and learn the new way to eat! AND don't eat ahead of the post op diet your doc has given you; you may be starved but stick with it. It's to protect your band and again allow for healing.

When he put the second fill in, did he remove all the first fill? You may very well have a leak. 9 cc's in a 10 cc band should be providing you SOMETHING. I don't understand how your doctor can NOT understand. Is he a moron? (ok semi joke there sorry) And does he HAVE to do it under flouro? Mine doesn't thank God...too pricey. As his NP says, he put it in there, he knows where it is. ANYWAY with the gain your doc should KNOW something is wrong. Go demand some help. If he won't, get your records and go to another doc.

Ok just read your post about your PB. Why didn't you call your doc today? Actually johnsonsnickers may be right if you had similar symptoms yesterday; you probably should've called today. You can dehydrate REALLY fast. And FYI a slip doesn't necessarily mean doom; sometimes an unfill and some time to heal/calm down will take care of it. So call them as soon as you can.

Congrats! I'm glad you had a good surgery! Just hang in there now (as I know you will) and follow your doc's post op directions and you'll be golden!

I know it does! It seems like FOREVER but it passes. I got so hungry I almost could've chewed off my own leg but I was too fat to bend that far down! !!! And it wasn't on the "approved" list. It will pass and you'll have lost a good bit and feel marvelous!

I agree with Crzytchr! I'd give it 24 hours after your fill, though, so if you had any swelling or agitation it will have "gone down". When my doc gives me a fill he thinks will restrict me, in fact, he tells me to do liquids for 2 days before advancing to mushies. I felt the Water go down at first on the last one, but I felt I was also a little nervous/excited to be FINALLY having good restriction. By the next morning and my hot coffee, it went down fine. So just use your judgment; being tense can also cause you to be tight. You have time to get some taken out before the weekend, if you need to!

Is this all the time, or just after you've eaten or had liquids? I do that sometimes when eating; I think it's my body's way of saying "you're getting full and if you keep on I'll make you SOOOORRRY" LOL However if it is fairly constant, or not tied to something you can control, you should call your doc

I hope you're ok! But it is important to stay hydrated; the liquid shouldn't be HURTING you. You may already be hurt but the liquid won't make it worse, in other words. I hope it is just that your stomach is in a tizzy. Good luck...and you're very smart to call the doc tomorrow if you don't feel better in the AM.

Ah Renee you don't need a kick! The band is for life and hey, at least you're still down 40-45. It is HARD to take care of yourself when you have so much going on! Can your husband get some therapy? People heal (mentally and physically) at their own pace but after a year, seems like he should be able to poke his head up out of any sadness. I would strongly urge you to urge him to get help, any way you can. That's a long-term solution, but you need an intervention there, I think! As to the other; do what you can. How much are fills? Will the doc give you a break on price? Can you save up? Fills are the cornerstone of the band; without them it doesn't do much. Ask your banding doc if there is anything they can do to help you. Then, take it slow. Take one or two things each week and work them into your current life. Are you getting enough Water in? Are you snacking too much (or as my doc says, at all? he feels ANY snacking will cause "band failure"..) Forget the exercise at first; just work on one or two "life" modifications, like getting enough water each day, that you think will be easy to accomplish. THEN...add some exercise. Do you have time to, say, go for a walk with the kids each evening? Or go play in the yard with them? And in the interim, park farther from work, take the stairs when you can, and so on. Once you get back into the habit of taking care of yourself (not just your husband whom, it sounds like, needed the help initially but now needs to step up) then you will perhaps find it easier to go back to whatever diet worked for you before. And just a few words of wisdom here; people CAN lose without exercising by dieting, but you can't just exercise and lose. So don't feel bad, don't feel like a failure, just move as much as you can and get your water in, get your Multivitamin in, get your Protein in. And call your doc. If he won't help you, is there a "fill center" or some such near you? Lastly, see if you can ask/cajole, whatever works to get your husband some help. Eventually, he'll be glad you did.

I LIKE to be right! :crying: Just check w/your doc if, as you progress foods (I assume you do liquids to mushies to soft etc like over here in USA) you have a lot of pain. Otherwise I'm sure you are doing fabulous!

I THINK what's wrong is, after a PB, you need to go back to liquids for a while to let things calm down, and you didn't do that but kept eating. IF you still have trouble tomorrow afternoon, especially keeping liquids down, call your doc. But give it 24 hours on liquids (Soups, Protein shakes, water) and then try something you've eaten successfully and chew it really really REALLY well, small bites. You should be ok. And of course after the 24 hours of liquids, if you still can't eat "food", call your doc. Don't worry; you're learning a new way to eat. It takes a bit of trial and error!

I think that it is very common, when a newby, to worry about the band slipping. However please realize that (at least, per my doc) what usually causes slips besides doctor/placement error and "just because", are patients advancing their diet too quickly. So if you'd vomited because you ate food, then maybe! And not the vomit, per se, but the digestive action of your stomach. How many times and how violently DID you vomit? And if you are worried, why not ask your doc? He/she can check you out if needed, and reassure you.

Just remember that it can take a few fills. My doc would NOT do any less than 4 weeks apart and was very conservative; feeling that slow gives patients a chance to adapt. Maybe? Anyway it truly took me 4 fills (to 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 then 5.5) to FINALLY feel it some...and to 6.25 to actually have "good restriction". (I have a 14 cc band) Now I'm at 6.5 and think I'm darned close to perfect. I had gotten in the habit of snacking but am working on breaking it (my doc is ADAMANT about no Snacks, 3 meals a day ONLY) Of course my schedule is unique to me; we're all very different. Some feel restriction post op with just the band. (lucky people!) So aaysia1974 don't feel bad if it takes a while. This is for life, it's not a diet, it will happen but it may take some tinkering. Just hang in there!

Then after 8 days, if the doc (or nurses at hospital) didn't tell you to LEAVE it...you can very carefully remove it. Stop if it hurts your wound. It probably will hurt the skin AROUND your wounds a little. However unless you are just insane with the itching, I'd suggest waiting until tomorrow and calling your doc to make sure it's ok to remove them. The doc may prefer you leave them and take benadryl etc (you know itching is a normal part of healing) ANYWAY once you're cleared to remove it, just tug it up gently, then leave it alone and let the area settle down. It may be red and you may have some adhesive left on your skin but you need to leave the area alone until you're well healed. Your surgeon can give you the best direction for this; he's the one who closed you up and knows how long it should take you to heal! Hang in there!

Shiny? Like clear? or like Metallic? Sorry don't mean to be dense; just trying to figure out what it is so i can help...

When were you told you could remove it? And is it tape (adhesive, or paper?) or is it the "steri strips" they use to help seal the wound? If they told you you could remove it and it isn't steri strips, unfortunately there's no easy way. Some prefer a fast RIP, others like to have it gently pulled off. You do NOT want to saturate the adhesive with anything, especially if you don't think you're totally healed. Don't want to get anything into your wounds. The steri strips, if that's what you have, need to stay on until they fall off.