RestlessMonkey

I'd consider the source, honestly. I have a BFF who's been my friend since we were 6 (and that's 48 years now! LOL) and if she told me I was obsessed about something, I'd have to listen to her. She's always had my back, never ever tried to undermine or hurt me, and loves me like a (good) sister. So if she said I was obsessed, I'd know she'd struggled and worried about it before telling me, and I'd have to talk to her and find out why she feels that way. I have some (more short term) friends who are more competitive and if they said I was obsessed, I'd probably still ask them why, but just to chuckle to myself about their opinion. So only you know your friend and your aunt and your relationship. My friend isn't overweight and has never been...but she loves me and wants me healthy and happy. In the final analysis, only you know the answer to this. If you live and breathe weight loss, maybe they are right. If you've just changed, they need to get on board...maybe just talking to them about it (and their own struggles) is what's indicated. You probably are changing, and they are both probably a little scared (or at least put off) by it. Help them see your side.

Call your doctor. We aren't physicians and can't diagnose you...we can feel for you, but you need your doc's advice on this one!

Welcome! If I were you I'd contact my insurance to even see if the procedure is covered, and if so, attend a seminar. There are also some really great books out there...check on Amazon or your favorite book store. And finally, look around this site and others like it. It's a big decision...but a good one for some of us!

As you can see there are various reasons. Ask your surgeon his/her thinking on the subject. Mine wasn't worried about anything except the appetite stimulation aspect and since it does NOT stimulate my appetite (as I say, apparently one of the few things that doesn't) I did go without caffeine for 2-3 months but now enjoy my unsweetened iced tea and 1 cup of coffee daily. (FYI decaf coffee can be as hard, or harder, on the stomach because it is generally more acidic). Find out what your surgeon says and discuss it.

What will likely happen is you will "stick this through" and end up in the emergency room over the weekend! Call and get a slight unfill now! You can get dehydrated fairly quickly!

I have only bought travel insurance in conjunction with a specific trip...and in that case everything is pre-existing. I guess things are just different over here in the USA! My medical insurance covers me when I'm in the country anyway...but when I ever travel abroad I'll make sure I have something that would cover the band.

I'd go with experience. Just because you can play an oboe doesn't mean you can play the flute. And aftercare is more than fills. What if you have a weird pain by your port...your surgeon won't know if that's common, if it's kinked, infected, leaking, or in your head! Sure people have to learn sometime...but are you getting a big discount since you're a guinea pig? I'd pass, and get someone with experience.

I don't count calories, not everyone does. I just try to eat a healthy diet, and I'm losing well now that I have restriction!

I didn't drink coffee (or my beloved unsweetened iced tea) pre op or about 2 months post op. Now I do.

Mine won't. It's too early. This isn't bypass....you need to heal first. It will happen!

The ONLY thing I'd have done differently...is to follow my doctor's instructions precisely from the start. I didn't and had to have 2 surgeries because he couldn't place the band the first time. So my advice is to do what your doctor says, not what a friend says, not what you read here, etc! And I don't know about a post op stool softener. I had a preop bowel prep (as most of us do) and it wasn't that bad. It's important that you be cleaned out before surgery...it's for your safety.

The initial time is to heal, not lose. Hang in there. This is the band, not bypass....you are on track! Eat per your doctor's instructions. As you get fills and start to exercise (once you are healed) you'll lose.

I've only heard of a six month waiting period in conjunction with diet and exercise...documented by a physician. I'd call tomorrow and get clear info on why the waiting period and what's expected during that time. Did you go to a seminar? They have lots of great info.

I think you should call the doc. You're just 2 weeks post op...probably you're ok but it's really safer to just ask! He gets a LOT of money...I'm sure he and the staff won't mind at all! :thumbup:

I was told 1-2 pounds a week and that's what I'm losing, now that I have restriction.

If I were you I'd just CALL my surgeon. Depending on placement of your port, port pain shouldn't signify a slip. I'm no doc however and even if I were, I'd suggest you contact your surgeon. Your surgeon knows your case and should be able to tell you what to do.

Whatever isn't an insurance requirement, you'd need to ask the surgeons (both at Day One and Loyola) what their rationale is. There's nothing wrong with asking; I never have a test done unless I know the "why" of it.

Now that I am on food...if I have a shake, it must replace a meal. Nothing with calories in between. And like I say, I do better that way...but I think it has to do with blood sugar and insulin.

Funny the different advice we get. My surgeon is adamant that I DO NOT SNACK and have only 3 meals a day, protein first. And honestly when I do what he says I lose better and feel better. I think this just reconfirms how very different we all are! :mad2: I'm glad you got information to help you!

Call your doc now! Don't wait. It may be nothing, it may be something...it may be something that requires quick treatment. Your doctor will NOT mind a phone call about this! If you were fine and then had pain 5 days after the surgery, that warrants a physician's attention.

I know you're impatient but if you have diabetes it can impact your recovery, so they need to know about it. The abdominal ultrasound is something I did, it's no big deal...Hang in there!

I wasn't that sore. And honestly I'd think trying to use tongs etc would be worse than just "doing it". It is GOOD for you to bend a move a little (not do aerobics or something, but move) because that way internally you're less likely to get adhesions. You'll have pain meds at home...

I have a scale at home. I weigh whenever, actually...usually Thursday is my weigh day but it's no big deal. Oddly now that I have the band I'm not worried about it any more. I'm not dieting, I'm just living. I've "said" that before but now it's really true...and I know that if it isn't down today, it will go down tomorrow or the next. It is a wonderful feeling.

I agree with the stuff for your lips (but I use softlips, not chapstick LOL) And I love t-shirts and used those. And the pillow. You might want to see if you can get your pain med prescription today and get it filled now. And shoes that are easy off/easy on so you don't have to bend and tie them. Gas X is for gas and some people swear by it but I think honestly that's a placebo effect. The gas pain is from gas pumped into your abdominal cavity to "spread" out your organs and make surgery easier. Gas X doesn't even begin to touch that type of gas. Most surgeons try to remove as much of it as they can before closing you up so you may or may not have much discomfort from it. I didn't. I was sore from surgery but not too bad. Good luck!

If you can't get water down, call your doc asap. You don't want to get dehydrated. He can do a slight unfill....that's WAY better than you ending up in an emergency department later in the week.