RestlessMonkey

Ask your surgeon and/or nutritionist for some guidance. It depends on what your "liquid" diet is. They'll help you figure it all out...and they are your best and safest source for info.

The diarrhea will pass (no pun intended!) in a week or two. It's partly your diet (liquid) and partly post op effects. (some have the opposite though if they take an opiod pain killer for more than a few doses). As to the food...don't eat ANYTHING that isn't on your surgeon approved post op diet. That's very important as this is a time for your band to heal into place. You don't want your stomach digesting and shaking it loose. Many of us are STARVING post op but you can get through it! And just a thought...if you want the banana for it's anti-diarrhea effects, you're better off to call and ask your surgeon for a prescription medication, if it's bothersome. It's best to just let it take it's course, truthfully, unless it is so much that you can't remain hydrated etc. Your surgeon will know what's safest for you!

I THINK there's something a little fishy about this poster...ALL The posts by "her" (LEAH?) say the same thing. It's illegal to advertise here...unless you PAY for it and it's obviously advertisement. I would take this info with a great big grain of salt. I'm going to report it, too, but it's weekend and not sure if/when they'll address it. And of course my apologies if there IS a "leah"...but she should post about something besides her great 5500 doc.

At 54, never "feeling it" when others said "I stuff my emotions with food" etc (my problem is NOT keeping my emotions in...more the opposite if anything!) and so on I finally went through a year of behavioral therapy. I found out I AM a reward eater (I made an A on that test I deserve not to cook supper I'll stop by Sonic...for example) I guess that's "emotional" in a way, but not the traditional way. Regardless, however, we've all had SOME type of issue (loving food too much, rewarding ourselves too much, "stuffing our emotions", whatever) to bring us to the point of the band. I agree though; I think it's tacky to lump everyone into one big stew!

Honestly you're safest to take Iron when the doc says you need it; most modern diets have enough and too much is as dangerous as too little. Ask your doc what he suggests; are you getting a balanced diet...enough Protein (60 gms) enough fat (yes we need some!) and so on? Are you maybe just a little bit depressed? AND honestly you should be getting 8 hours of sleep each night; we Americans are chronically tired, or so I've heard. There could be many reasons for your malaise; your surgeon would be a good place to start finding out why (this of course assumes you USED to feel differently! )

you'll have to ask your insurance but it sounds like it would to me! I didn't have to fill that req but your records sound very thorough.

Ask the Phoenix surgeon what happens if you have a problem...how is it handled. If he gives you a good answer, I'd go with that. The "Dr. Kirschenbaum" answer is a good one, too. AND...have you checked neighboring states? Don't know where exactly in AZ you are, but what about New Mexico? Utah? Yes, aftercare for at least 1 year is VITAL. And all those labs can be pricey. I just had blood work done my doc wanted(standard stuff plus thyroid and b and d vitamins...just for info, not because I'm sick or anything!) and it would've cost me over $650 out of pocket, had I not had insurance! Good GRIEF! I'd just plan on a jaunt to Phoenix every other month...treat it like a mini vacation.

I'm a nursing student (graduate this may) at the Univ of Tex Health Science Ctr in San Antonio Tx. Here's a link our president sent to us that may help you: Swine influenza and Severe Cases of Respiratory Illness in Mexico | CDC Travelers' Health Media or not, our school is taking this threat very seriously. Locally several DISTRICTS have closed schools for the next week or so...it's not just hype to make "news". Vitamin D won't help prevent it and the flu shots from this last year aren't really helpful either.

Gall bladder is on the right, not the left. You definitely should ask your doc...in fact I'm shocked you haven't already! The band is for weight loss, not suffering and torture. Plus you may have an issue that needs to be treated; you could be hurting yourself beyond repair. For example, GERD left untreated can erode your esophagus. Call your doc tomorrow...if not lap band, then your primary.

It DOES impact anesthesia...here's an article I found. Just google it. Trust me...almost an RN here....and a former smoker. It impacts oxygenation and that definitely impacts anesthesia. 1: Anesth Prog. 2000 Winter;47(4):143-50. Links The effects of cigarette smoking on anesthesia. Rodrigo C. Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Cigarette smoke contains over 4000 substances, some of which are harmful to the smoker. Some constituents cause cardiovascular problems, increasing the blood pressure, heart rate, and the systemic vascular resistance. Some cause respiratory problems, interfering with oxygen uptake, transport, and delivery. Further, some interfere with respiratory function both during and after anesthesia. Some also interfere with drug metabolism. Various effects on muscle relaxants have been reported. Risk of aspiration is similar to that of nonsmokers, but the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting appears to be less in smokers than in nonsmokers. Even passive smoking effects anesthesia. Best is to stop smoking for at least 8 weeks prior to surgery or, if not, at least for 24 hours before surgery. Anxiolytic premedication with smooth, deep anesthesia should prevent most problems. Monitoring may be difficult due to incorrect readings on pulse oximeters and higher arterial to end tidal carbon dioxide differences. In the recovery period, smokers will need oxygen therapy and more analgesics. It is time that anesthesiologists played a stronger role in advising smokers to stop smoking. Either way, the safest course for the OP is to tell the surgeon and let the pro decide what is or isn't important to that surgery.

I think if you want the band and your surgeon prefers bypass you'd be better off to find a new surgeon. Three years out weight loss is similar for each option, or so I've read and been told by MY surgeon. However the band needs maintenance..fills, etc. You want a surgeon who is GOOD at the aftercare and committed to it and to you. If you have one who thinks you "should" do bypass...well...I wouldn't think that type would be in your corner if you get my drift. Find a new surgeon.

Nicotine may be gone but by products (like conitine) remain for weeks. If you smoke, tell your doc. Tell him how much. He can determine if you're at risk or not. And if he wants you to quit totally, do that... you don't want to not get surgery because of that. OR get surgery and have issues with anesthesia because of smoking. (even one cigarette can mess that up) So you're safest to tell your surgeon and see what he says. Please realize he's not your daddy or the boss of you! LOL You will tell so that the two of you can determine your healthiest course, not so he can fuss at you for an occasional cigarette.

Call your doc!

I agree...if your insurance doesn't cover lap band, it doesn't. But if it does cover it but you don't meet the requirements, that's a different matter. Please understand too you can have the surgery done in the USA for less than 18K...you just have to shop around and so on. And 18k sounds like a lot but we spend that much on cars...you are worth more than a kia, don't you think? (not to diss kias lol)

Call your doc! That's what he's there for!

most people don't have complications. Those who are happy aren't as prone to write about it as those who aren't. That's just human nature.

You need to check with your insurance. Mine does.

It's normal to be hungry. I don't know if the "hard upper abdomen" is normal; I didn't mash mine. And YES it is too soon to start mushies unless your doc prescribed post op diet says you can have them day 2.

I have ALWAYS taken pills. In fact, the prescription my surgeon sent home with me post op was for a pill! (Darvocet). I take HUGE potassium pills with no problems. You know, even if you are very tight most pills dissolve. You maybe should re-confirm with your surgeon if you feel every single pill must be crushed. I always say to do what your doc says but aside from the fact that some pills should NOT ever be crushed...many really never have an issue with tablets, capsules, etc.

Frankly I'm glad my doc required the "crazy" liquid diet rather than 10%...for a 250 pound person that would be 25 pounds, for me over 40. It's way harder to lose 40 pounds than to follow a strict diet for a week or two, IMHO.

Why are you not taking zyrtec? It is available OTC... and when you say you take it "along with OTC pills" you don't mean all at the same time, do you? You can cause a rebound effect if you do that. Anyway there are lots of smallish (like claritin) Otc pills out there.

Did your doc say you could have the grits?

I think it might...but if it does, it will be for your protection and safety. I don't KNOW, so don't take this as "gospel"...you are safest to check with your surgeon.

You're probably just tired. Rest tonight and see how you feel tomorrow. If you didn't lift over about 15 pounds any one time, you're most likely fine! :laugh: AND...the odds of your band coming loose just because you did what you described are astronomical. It might slip or loosen if you ate the wrong foods too early (becaused of the churning of the stomach during digestion) but not because you just "carried" the food in! :thumbup: If you still hurt tomorrow by all means call your doc; otherwise take some tylenol and rest tonight and you should be ok!

It depends on you, your situation, your doc! I cheated because I read on here about person after person who did and "got away with it". But OOPS I didn't get away with it. I had to have my surgery re-done because my liver hadn't shrunk sufficiently. That was really vile. SO Probably you are ok (especially since you have longer to go than originally planned) but for your peace of mind, tell your doc what you ate and when...make sure it's ok. AND for post op...don't cheat at all. The restrictions are there to allow the band to heal and if you eat the wrong food too soon you can either rip your band loose OR more likley set yourself up for a slip or erosion on down the road! So good luck! You're probably ok but check and make sure!