RestlessMonkey

Usually shoulder and neck pain is "referred" pain caused by trauma to the diaphragm (like it gets moved around a little during surgery and that makes it cranky) One thing that helped me was having my husband rub my neck muscles. The PAIN isn't in there, but they respond to the signal and cramp. Rubbing usually helps release the muscle quickly. Maybe it will help you guys too.

Good for you! I know I personally often forget food isn't something else...one of my big ones is using it as a timer, like: "I'll eat this snack and then I'll clean the kitchen" LOL There are way better timers than a handful of cheezits. Why can't I learn that? LOL I don't like cake but I LOVE buttercream icing, so I do feel your "pain". I don't really have a typical day (that's life, isn't it?) I'm in school and each day brings a different schedule and different demands. I too struggle and am trying to not eat snacks, make "healthy choices", and watch my portions. I don't have proper restriction yet either and am starting to get frustrated. SO...my post to you? Save it and you can post it back to me from time to time! Except change the "cake is my friend" to "food is my timer and substitute for sleep" LOL I can't get another fill until Feb 5 so I'll hang on if you will. I know it's hard to get time off on a new job but do what you can. We both need the band to provide us with that restriction....it's what the band DOES and we're not getting the benefit yet.

Yes, she did edit it quite a bit! LOL She ate salad and muffins and was in great pain. And I didn't "rip" her (believe me, I can go off on someone, and that wasn't ripping her!) I asked why she was eating muffins and salad because, per the info I saw on HER profile, she is supposed to be on a very different diet. I thought maybe she didn't know how important it was to follow that diet so I asked "Why are you eating muffins and salad?" If that's ripping her, we're all doomed! However, she, as we all, can eat what we want. We're grown ups. I don't know her and don't "care" if she wants to eat foods not on her doc's diet! It's her prerogative.

After I burst into tears and cried because he surprised me with a totally inappropriate (but favorite) meal he cooked for me...I told my husband that I wished I didn't have a problem with food, but the truth is, I do. I said that I need to be in control of what I eat all the time...and that while an occasional treat wouldn't bother most people, food surprises can be very dangerous for me. He said he'd just make sure his surprises weren't food any more! I think it was much harder for me to tell him than it was for him to hear it. I told him I wouldn't always make the right choice, but the onus had to be on me, and he was fine with it. Maybe a heart-to-heart with your husband is indicated. Apparently he has learned, in the past, that food is a good gift for you. You need to tell him things have changed! It's only fair. He wants to please you so help him do that!

good luck! The protein shakes count as fluid, too...so add them in to your "count" for the day. I'm sorry you're so tight you can't get your fluids down! If you're comfortable doing so, will you post and let me know what he says and if you're doing ok?

I'm not a doctor, ok? But you can become dehydrated VERY fast. How much Fluid are you getting in? I'd hate to encourage you to go to the ER if this isn't really an emergency but by the same token, once you get dehydrated things start to dive pretty fast. If your doc has a 24-hour number you might should call it and let them know average how many ounces you're getting in, how much you're urinating. They can decide if you need to be seen right away. I don't mean to alarm you but if this has gone on since Monday and you really are getting a little bit down, you may need IV fluids. AGAIN..I'm not a doc. I don't know for sure so don't panic, but see what your doc says.

No your stomach doesn't churn unless there's a bolus of food (like salad greens) in there. But you are a grown up and can do what you want, even if it isn't what the doc told you! You don't have to follow his rules. So to respond to your thread as you meant it: After not following the diet and not getting my band on the first try, i've been pretty good about following my doc's orders and fortunately haven't had anything bad happen!

Ok did you call and tell them you can't? Because you know if you don't take in enough liquid you can get dehydrated. Are you still urinating? Is it clear or concentrated?

Depends on your surgeon. According to mine, yes.

Ok I see you're supposed to be on pureed/blended foods. Why,then, are you eating muffins and salad? You do know you have that postop diet for a reason? Your stomach churns to digest...and your body isn't really ready for that yet.

Hi! Didn't you just have your surgery like a week ago, or am I insane? (either is equally likely)

Call your surgeon. The very real danger is blood clots from being seated so long. You'll need help to get through it safely...

What did your doctor say about hydration? I didn't have any trouble drinking (many don't any more, I've read, with the newer lap bands) but he did stress we were to stay hydrated. He also told us no protein during the 1st week. We're all different.

That's uncommon with a BMI over 40...that's a bummer. I suggest calling them and explaining your situation. Are you sure you never went to a doc 5 (or more years ago) who might have a record of your weight? If not, you can ask if there is any circumstance where that requirement is waived. Good luck!

Since you're being honest, I will be too. Cake isn't your friend. Really. It's just food, it's a choice, you won't hurt its feelings if you don't have it in your home. Good luck finding a fill center. I am unfamiliar with the distances between Hackensack and Far Rockaway, and you say where you work and where the doc is but not where you live (not that I'd know that either!) but may I suggest taking a day off work and going to your surgeon to get another fill? In the interim you can exercise and make smart choices. With three fills you're probably getting a little help from the band, but you need to keep at it. And remember...cake isn't a friend, not to anyone. Neither, for that matter, is green salad or grilled chicken. It's just fuel and some work better in our bodies than others. You're just choosing to put the bad stuff in your tank, that's all. You aren't the only one, but you know it's dangerous for you...help yourself stop.

Does YOUR insurance require a 5-year history of being overweight?

I'd go to my banding physician. Since you can't do that (not to be nasty but another reason not to get banded away from home...whether next state or country...) anyway that was for "newbies" and researchers. For you...I'd find a lap band surgeon, pay his fee, and go to him (or her). You may need it removed or revised, or there may be something else going on. Good luck and what happened to you is a potential threat to ANYONE, not just people banded in Mexico (or whereever!)...just that if you are banded away from home and then have medical issues, it's hard to find help! I hope you feel better really fast and can find a sympathetic lap band surgeon near you who can help you find a better solution than just having the band removed. You don't need judgment from an ER physician who doesn't know you or your struggles.

If you read through for a while you'll see that sliming refers to your body producing a lot of mucus (slime) if/when you have a bite of food stuck. Not everyone gets food stuck, so not everyone "slimes". It's the body's reaction. Just make sure you follow your doc's orders.

My surgeon is another who says NO to carbonation. Weren't you told that preop? You should have been advised...

I WISH I weren't hungry but I came to in recovery hungry and thirsty (no nausea thank Goodness)! I was so parched I drank 32 oz of water before I left the hospital. However, the fear of messing up my band kept me on the "liquid" diet.

Call your insurance company and complain. If charging that fee is illegal (ie, contrary to their contract) they'll let you know. IF it is "legal" and you were forced to change coverage by an employer, I'd then complain to the employer's HR department.

It depends on the person, the surgeon, how stretched it is, etc. You may need to have it removed, wait, and then start over, or sometimes they just "unfill" and things even out. It will stretch a little (how else would we be able to eat 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food) as we heal etc. If you're worried about stretching it, talk to your surgeon and s/he can tell you how it's handled in their practice.

I think you're rationalizing. I "cheated" on my preop diet and didn't get the surgery. Trust me; you'll get real food again (once you've been through the liquid phase post op) so don't think you'll never have food again. You wanting the chicken is probably just nerves. Tough it out, 2 more days (think how proud you'll be of yourself) and then you'll just have post op to get through. Very nice, well-meaning people on this board posted about how they cheated (or only had 5 days diet, or whatever) and I assumed I could to. I was wrong. Don't risk it; do what YOUR doc tells you.

I'm a senior...thank goodness! I will say that, at least in my state, (so maybe not true in yours?) by law we can only miss so much clinical time and anything beyond that, they MUST fail us, even if we're at top of the class. So I missed skills lab (4 hours...pediatric stuff) but didn't ever miss a clinical. Just plan it to have as much time off as you can, or as much "easy" time...lectures etc.

No kidding! Honestly I had my pedicatric class right after my surgery and that helped during recovery... this semester I have 3 days of clinicals each week and that "surgery on Friday, back in class the next Tues" thing wouldn't have worked for me! If you recover fast from surgery and are in pretty good shape otherwise I think you can do it! I was worried about staying hydrated BUT fortunately never had any problems drinking Water, so that wasn't an issue (because there's no "keep the water with you and sip" during clinicals, is there? We're lucky we get to use the restroom, let alone any leisurely water sipping!