RestlessMonkey

You shouldn't get frequent headaches, for one! :thumbup: You need your primary to check that out! You may need glasses, or have an allergy, or some such. AND NSAIDS (like aspirin, motrin, aleve) can irritate the stomach in any person. Once you are banded and have restriction, the pill CAN sit in your pouch and really mess it up. Some docs say no NSAIDS, some don't care, some say proceed carefully. So you are right, you need to ask your surgeon. Tylenol should work for your headache and not mess with your pouch. It should be safe, depending on your health status, as long as you don't overdo it. Seriously though, get those headaches checked out.

In the seminar (way back at the beginning of this journey!) my surgeon said (I'm paraphrasing but this is the jist of it) Most of you will lose a lot of hair, around month 3 to month 6 or so. You can take supplements, make sure you have enough Protein, or not do anything, and you will still lose hair. I have done over 1000 procedures and only had one patient who needed a wig; coincidentally she owned a wig shop. For the rest of you, it won't be that drastic, it will stop, and your hair will grow back just fine. That's what happened to me. Starting about 2 1/2 months in (but then I had 2 surgeries in August) I lost hair. The loss lasted about 2 1/2 months, then quit. It is all growing back fine and full. And even my beautitian of 20+ years never could tell I'd lost a bunch (but it was a bunch!) so I guess my surgeon knows his stuff. You can take the supplements to make yourself feel better but I don't think they will stop or impact the loss. I did look into Biotin during month 4 because I was starting to worry but the stuff I read said biotin took up to 3 months to work. So I didn't spend the money (or mess with the pill). So supplement or not, you'll probably be one who loses hair, then it will stop and all grow back!

I think you should probably not worry about it and just follow your doc's advice, even though I'm someone who didn't get the band at first because of my liver size. Unless your surgeon saw an indication that you have an excessively large liver (and blood work and ultrasound should indicate this) then you are fine! Just be sure to brace for all liquids AFTER the surgery; that was harder! :thumbup: Good luck!

I agree 100000% with Macmadame! Your stomach churns to digest the food and that can really mess with your band placement. It's something my surgeon addressed in the seminar! He said if we couldn't follow the post op diet of liquids, etc, then do NOT get the band. Many of us are very hungry post op. I was! You just have to tough it out for a few weeks! Please call your surgeon on Monday and let him know; he may want to do some tests to make sure you're ok.

I know what you mean! BUT stick to your preop diet to the letter (and even more importantly the first 6 weeks or so of the post op diet)! Don't cheat...it's just for a little while and then you should be able to eat most foods again, you'll just (as you get restriction) be able to eat less. This is the hardest part but hang in there so your liver will shrink and you will have a smooth operation! :tongue_smilie:

Good luck! It's a process, getting the fill level "just right". But when it is at the correct spot, it works marvelously! Don't give up! :tongue_smilie:

I apologize; I meant that for me, honesty is the best policy. Yes, I cheated on the preop diet. Did I get away with it? NO. Do others? YES. Am I up front about it now? YES Would you know if I didn't tell you? NO. If I were, say, to say "I am having a hernia repaired" instead of telling about the band, then BAM I'd need a hernia repaired and people would wonder why since I JUST HAD it repaired. As I think I made clear, that is MY personality and MY karma. If I try to get out of an appt by saying my car battery died, then I know it is a rock solid fact that the darn thing WILL die within the next 2 weeks, usually when I am due at an appt with the people I just lied to. See my point? Some can get away with that type of thing; I can't. So I told. Would you point out to me where I called you a liar? I think you chose that name yourself. I think I said FOR ME Honesty is the best and easiest policy. Maybe you feel guilty? Don't know. But chill out. The only person doing any name calling here is you.

I've told people I got the lap band. I'm proud of it. I'm happy to have it. I think that it is my best chance for a healthier life. I've been met, unfailingly, with support and interest (many people say they have a family member who wants to have it, or some such, and are pleased to have someone to talk to about it). No one has ever been rude or told me I should try something different, but then, my personality is pretty open. For me I've learned, from the time I was small, that honesty is the best (and easiest) policy.

What did your doc's directions say to do? For about 99% of us, we are NOT to eat, but rather have liquids only. You need to follow your surgeon's directions.

Slider foods are foods that are perhaps inappropriate for weight loss (cookies, milkshakes, mashed potatoes with butter and gravy) but that "slide" through the band easily. This becomes important if someone has too much restriction or fill in the band...because then the tendency is to pick slider foods rather than the healthy ones.

What exactly are you afraid of, or is it just general nerves?

What exactly do your instructions from your surgeon say? It is important that you do exactly what YOUR doc tells you to; all diets are a little different. Tell us what yours says and we can maybe help you...

Your band is too tight. At least, that's what we're taught. You should be able to eat SMALL bites well chewed of just about any food. If not; you're too tight. Why do you think you've only lost 5 kg (11 pounds I think) in all this time? Have you been exercising? making healthy choices? avoiding the "slider" type foods that go down easy? I think you need to maybe get some saline removed and review what you need to do to use the band; it's just a tool, doesn't sound to me like it's been working, or that you've been working it....? but you are suffering and can hurt yourself (esophageal problems etc) if you let this go on for long.

I do know there are different cultures, and I know there are many reasons to overeat. Shoot I am the queen of rationalizing even when there isn't a reason. I get that! And as I said it is your life and your decision. I could get an unfill to go on a cruise because of the buffets, or to travel to Vegas because that's the only chance we get for 5 star dining, or whatever. Or because I'm going to Grandmas for thanksgiving and it will crush her if I don't eat like I used to. I DO understand all that better than you realize. I didn't get to be MY top weight by ignoring food and all the emotions etc that go along with it; not to mention cultural pressures etc. I think, still, you can just say no. Eat less. Perhaps they will understand more than you think. If you are determined that it would crush your "european" family if you can't eat huge amounts, then you have your answer! That's all! In a similar situation, I would opt not to have my band loosened. If I were that worried about hurting someone's feelings, i'd pass on the visit. That's how I would do it. What are they going to say when you go back in a year or two and have lost a big chunk of weight, will they think you are sick and dying? rude? you know them best. You know if you can explain it or not. If i couldn't explain, I'd avoid them. That's just what I'd do.

Then why ask? You've made up your mind and apparently feel they will be insulted if, since you are fat, you don't overeat. You know them, I don't. It's your life, your diet. Do what you think is right.

Chill out and give your stomach a chance to calm down. If you can't even drink Water by tomorrow morning (and I was told to just do liquids for a day after a bad PB) then call your doc. And never say never! chips are usually a slider; while they aren't the healthiest choice, you don't have to avoid them forever! Just for a few months, then try again if you want to. Your stomach and esophagus are riled up from all the drama; let things settle a bit.

I think that is totally against what the band is all about. I was told to go into it thinking it is forever...not something you put on to lose and then take off when you're done. Unless there's a true medical need, the band should stay, functioning, in place. I don't know about your surgeon but mine has taken a LOOOONG time to gradually fill me, so if I did what you are suggesting it would set me back 6 months. And honestly, you should be at a spot where you can eat just about anything but eat less. Why on earth would you feel you "have" to eat 3 to 4 times what you can eat now? Think of how much less "fun" the trip would've been when you topped the scales at close to 400? I don't mean to sound like a priss, lord knows. I have my days where I eat way too much, and I refuse to diet and count calories. I'm not perfect so I hope I don't sound that way. But I think you need to just suck it up and keep your band filled to a good spot, where if you chew well and take small bites you can eat anything but way less. Enjoy the scenery, soak up the history, enjoy the people, and put food in it's place; just part of the trip, not the big reason for going.

you need to follow the diet recommended by your surgeon. The first 6 weeks or so post op are for healing, not weight loss. Once you have healed you can count calories etc if you WANT to (you don't have to) and remember the average weight loss with the band is 1-2 pounds a week. I think you are expecting the losses to be like bypass and they aren't. You are doing fine; just relax, follow your docs orders, and heal.

Respectfully not true for everyone. I have yet to dissolve a single pill and I have pretty good restriction (in fact going for a slight unfill next thurs). I take HUGE pills just fine. But some do need to dissolve them, not sure why....guess it's a difference in personalities, swallow strength, docs, and esophageal force and structure.

you need to talk to your surgeon ASAP. eating ahead like that MIGHT have done damage to your stomach where the band is sewn in (assuming you have a lap band; if it's realize, I think it's clamped, either way you ate too soon) It is HARD to eat right; most of us have that problem or we wouldn't be here. HOWEVER you pull it together and tough it out for the few short weeks you have to, in order to heal properly. You may be right, you may not be ready. however it's a little late now; you have the band. Talk to your surgeon monday and see what he says. I'm sure you aren't the first, maybe you didn't hurt yourself at all, and maybe he (and the psych and nutritionist) can get you back on track. I am not an avid dieter and I don't think you'll burn if you eat a burger instead of grilled fish. BUT I know how vital it is post op to heal properly and you aren't giving your "innards" even a fighting chance. Do what you are supposed to from here on out until monday, call your doc. Please. I'll cross my fingers for you but you need to step up.

I really hate to tell you this but you have a problem then. Because post op (in recovery) the odds are high you will be awake but have an oxygen mask on, and will really REALLY need to keep it on to help keep your oxygen sats up and clear your lungs of the anesthetic. You'd better talk to your surgeon about this before it happens and you have a bad incident in recovery. I don't know if they can keep you tranquilized or what; you may need some therapy before you can proceed. I don't mean to belittle you at all either; I am scared of spiders and wouldn't want one crawling on me for any reason, but fortunately tolerating spiders wasn't a condition of this surgery. Wearing a mask may be. Talk to your doc.

Each doc is different; mine is 15 before, during and 15 after, but often I wait longer than the 15 after because the one time I forgot and drank I thought it was going to kill me (this is once I had restriction. In the early stages not so much) Especially in light of all the conflicting advice, your very safest course is to CALL YOUR DOC and ask. Period. That way you will be doing exactly what s/he thinks you should. This board is a great source of advice and support but never ever do something that contradicts your doc's orders, and if in doubt, go to the source...your surgeon.

Seriously, anyone impacted this way should go to primary (or gyn.) and get some bloodwork done. Losing large amts. of weight can definitely mess with your hormones and cause problems. Go get checked out; they need to be regulated properly for reasons beyond sex drive. :smile2:

thanks, just banded! But...honeydiva may be able to eat carrots if she wants to! I can! We all just have to find our own trigger foods and hopefully if we chew well and take small small bites we'll be ok. I can eat cooked carrots, and I can eat raw ones if they are grated (slivers). I wouldn't try to just bite of a chunk of a raw one, though!

Restriction refers to the feeling you have when your band has enough "fill" (saline) in it that it slows your eating, or prevents the ingestion of certain foods. Everyone wants good restriction so that we get full quickly, but don't want to be "overfilled" (too restricted) so that we can't eat many foods. Hope that helps. Oh and that list gave a quick def of PB...when you take too large a bite of some foods (once you have restriction) or you don't chew well, the bite of food (called a bolus) has to go somewhere. Since it is too large and can't go down, it comes back up. It is like vomiting, but without the stomach acid and "violence" of normal vomiting. It is VERY painful before you "burp" up the food and not pleaseant, so people try to avoid it by choosing foods we can eat, taking small bites, and chewing VERY well.