RestlessMonkey

Most people are hungry early on post op. If you are progressing per your doctor's orders, you're doing fine. If you are eating things before he clears you, you aren't. They call it "bandster hell" and it's because we are hungry and don't have restriction but must follow strict post op diet to allow things time to heal.

This board is great, but honestly most "evidence" here is anecdotal (this is a talk board, after all!) and of course on the "complications" forum you'll get unfortunate people who are having trouble; in other words, it's concentrated. Your surgeon should be able to back up his statistics with research studies you can peruse if you want to. S/he is the safest source for solid info on your band...including pre and post op diets etc! :redface:

I suggest contacting the Texas Department of Insurance to see if you can get her current coverage to step up. Usually the band isn't life threatening...it's either in, or not...it's not that invasive and a person can get the fill removed and be essentially "normal" unless there's slippage. Even then usually an "unfill" will fix it, if not, or if there is erosion, the band is removed. Not that I'm a doc, I'm not. Just a consumer. At any rate perhaps Texas Board of Insurance can help.

I don't know who posted that statistic, nor the source, so I can't really comment on it. I have not heard that. What I do know is that the success rate with the band is higher than with diet and exercise alone, but the rate with RNY Bypass is higher than with the band, per some studies. Other studies show that 3 years out, bandsters and bypassers lose the same percentage (up to 80%) of excess weight. Neither procedure guarantees any loss, and not everyone loses all they want to. The band is only a tool. It is not a quick fix, it isn't even a fix, unfortunately. It is a tool. If you follow the band rules it can help a person lose and keep the weight off. If you choose the wrong food or don't follow the rules, it won't magically "make" you lose, anyway. I do not mean to sound negative. I think the band is wonderful! But it does take work. Your concerns about the success/failure rates may be best addressed with a good surgeon. The band is not for everyone. But it can be a life changer for others.

I too use a straw now. I didn't the first month or two post op, but once I'd healed and the issues from that settled down, I went back to my straws! :redface:

Carbonated beverages are out for most bandsters, because frankly most surgeons put them on the "do not ever" list, and because for many of us they hurt more than they taste good. Once you have a band, and restriction, carbonation doesn't perform like it does for people without those issues. For many of us it causes painful gas bubbles, or if not painful, at least very plentiful. Some don't have this issue, especially as they have the band for a while (year or two, etc) and some will let the carbonated drink "go flat" (eww, JMO) to drink it. There is not the dumping syndrome with the band like there is with RNY Bypass, but many surgeons and nutritionists will tell you to limit sweets because they are empty calories. I know that my surgeon asks his potential patients if we have any autoimmune diseases (of which lupus is one, i believe) but he didn't say we COULD NOT be banded....just that he needed to know about it. Each surgeon is a little different, you'll learn. As to your other issues; of course as you lose weight, anything caused by obesity will likely resolve, and anything made more difficult by obesity will get easier to manage. The band takes work and time, committment to follow up appointments (for fills, etc)...but it can be a lifesaver for some. Only you will know if it is the right course for you to take! This site has a lot of good info but remember it's anecdotal. Attending a seminar or two, and reading from the contingent of "lap band" books that are on the market today, will help you too.

Not all surgeons put straws on the "do not" list. You might ask yours; I can only assume it's because there is air in the straw and when you use one you swallow all that extra air, each time...it can exacerbate gas and so on.

Many overweight people have sleep apnea, it is considered a "co morbidity" of obesity. Of course, if your weight CAUSES the apnea, then losing will CURE the apnea. Most sleep apnics are tired all the time even if they "think" they got a good night's sleep. Over time apnea can cause many problems including heart attack or stroke. Many people, facing lap band, are tested for apnea in order to fulfill insurance requirements. If you do have it, you may be prescribed a cpap machine which will help you keep breathing throughout the night so you can rest well. It will not impact your surgery; you will be intubated and on oxygen during surgery regardless. Post op your doc may want you to bring it to the hospital; it will be up to him, depending on your diagnosis and degree. Not all overweight people have it (I don't) and not all people with sleep apnea have obesity as a cause. Hope that answers your questions.

I just nosed around (very quickly) and that appears to be the case. Inamed originally marketed 9.75 and 10cc bands that held only 4cc's in them. They are the old style bands. Then there was an interim 10 cc band, and now they have the AP (for "advanced platform) bands in 2 sizes...one holds 10 ccs and the large holds 14ccs . Having read this, if I were you, I'd call my surgeon and ask why he used the older style band, and what he suggest you do since you still don't have any restriction? If it only holds 4ccs, then he likely won't be able to tighten it enough to help you. How odd, huh?

What may be happening is that the 4cc band (which is an older style) won't GET tight enough to give you restriction. 4cc's is just how much it HOLDS, not how big the stoma or opening is. Have you discussed that with your doctor?

As long as you don't need the prescription pain meds, then yes you're realistic. But you don't want to do any kind of work (unless you're a rock star on tour LOL) while taking opiods. So it will depend on your pain level and if extra strength tylenol, or taking nothing, controls it. I had very little pain and was good by day 3 for what you describe, but we're all very individual about our pain threshholds and experiences.

You know, I slept in my bed from day one and I know people think I was nuts (or in denial LOL) but I did take prescription med, I used a pillow to prop up my abdomen etc, and I have a bed with posts and that helped me pull myself up the next morning. (A person would work, too! LOL) You might want to try that tonight; the pillow helps kind of "protect" the surgical sites and it made it, at least for me, easy to fall asleep (and sleep WAY better than I would in a recliner or on a couch!) Good luck!

Sorry I didn't get the email note that you responded....I hope by now you're feeling way better. I think it's easy to forget that, once we have the band, we can still have digestion "issues" that aren't band related! Like catching a "bug" or eating something that disagrees with us. My NP at my surgeon's office game me a prescription for phenergan so I wouldn't have to worry if something came along; you might want to ask for something like that.

Confirm the time with your doctor...mine originally had us waiting an hour but has since revised it to 15 minutes. Do what your surgeon says, of course, but you might want to reconfirm. I think average (at least as posted here on LBT) is around 30 minutes post meal...but you need to do what your surgeon directs. Having said that I find 15 minutes hard...I'd die if I had to go one hour. I feel for you!

I asked the NP at my surgeon's office and she gave me a prescription for phenergan....told me to get it filled and have it on hand in case I get nauseated.

Mushies are foods that are soft and easy to digest like mashed potatoes, for example. So for mushies I had pureed foods. Aside from refried beans, I put stuff in my little 2 cup food processor and pureed the, well, you know, out of it. I don't like cottage cheese and couldn't imagine living on yogurt for another week, but things that are baby-food consistency are ok for most docs. OF COURSE.....check with what your doctor and nutritionist said and don't contradict their orders, regardless.

Good luck. Whether tricare approves you easily or not depends on how overweight you are. Good luck! :thumbup:

Hugs to you HeatherO! I know you must be worried! Could your nerves about it all be playing a part? I know I've read that when we're tense (the old fight/flight thing) it can cause tight bands to restrict further. Makes sense because blood is shunted away from things like "digestion" and into legs etc so you can RUN if necessary. You are normally calm and level headed (at least on here!) but have you tried just clearing your mind, doing deep breathing, centering yourself, not worrying about it? And can you stay on Clear Liquids for a while, calmly, drink something warm, relax, practice some guided imagery, and see what happens? It's possible you needed an unfill for your pregnancy but if you can make it until the weather improves and your normal doc can see you, you'll feel better about it, I'm guessing. Try thinning the slim fast with some Water. It won't taste good, but shouldn't be vile either. Once you "know" you ARE getting some nutrition in, maybe that will help too. If you've tried all that, or if you "know" it won't work, I guess you could try the ER. I've read that it's really dicey about whether or not they will be able to help you, at least not without a lock of ruckus.

Dumping syndrome is caused by the "rerouting" of the intestines so no, lap band patients don't have that. Otherwise I have no idea why you feel ill.

Yes. i gained 16. It came right back off.

It's a blood thinner, less likely to cause bruising than heparin, and a longer half life (I think) I'm sure it's just extra insurance to prevent clots; you may ask your prescribing doctor why s/he feels you need it. It' s not common, but not unheard of!

Each person is different, each doctor is different. You can't take what you read here as necessarily applicable to you. It depends on your insurance requirements and your doc and his/her experience, plus your medical history.

Personally I don't believe in lying like that, but it's up to you of course. If I didn't want to tell anyone about the band, I'd just tell a "little" of the truth....that I had elective (or abdominal) surgery but am now on the mend. That can also explain your post op diet, if that is necessary (if you lunch at work etc)

As you can see from the varied answers, ask your doc. Regardless of what s/he says, of course, you should NOT drive if you are taking narcotic pain killers! For me: I had surgery on Friday and drove to school that next Tuesday.

I agree..."we" can't tell you what "you" should do, except to say that what you should do is exactly what YOUR doctor tells you.