RestlessMonkey

You can "tell" or not...if it will help you relax about it, then tell your surgeon but I bet he'll say you'll be fine (you're a ways out, now!) To quote Remnant98...calm down! It was just 3 spirals of pasta, not a side of beef! :tongue2: Just follow the doc's instructions, call on monday, tell him about the pasta IF YOU WANT, (can't hurt) and tell him about the conflicting info. He won't give you grief for doing what he said! Chill, chickie. You'll be fine! :cursing:

Good for you pursuing it until you got a clear answer! :tongue2:

Tomato soup is very acidic and can be problematic for many post op, until healing is well along.

Follow the booklet your surgeon gave you until monday. Don't eat any more pasta or foods that are "ahead" in the timeline of your post op diet! Hang in there; they call it bandster hell for a reason. It's hard, and the conflicting diets they gave you can't make it any easier! So do what your doc says and call on Monday and hang in there until then. Don't feel guilty, but don't eat any more pasta (for now, until you're in that phase)

Do what your surgeon says to do. Mine gave us guidelines but I felt pretty good and could eat a fair amount...like a can of pureed split pea soup, etc. He didn't seem to faint or fuss when I told him...liquids and mushies go through fairly easily and as long as you aren't putting foods back in too early (follow your timeline you were given) I think it's ok if you have a little more; check to be sure. Just realize this is a time for healing, not losing. Don't flip out if you don't lose, or actually gain. It takes a while to get restriction and move forward.

I don't think you SHOULD be eating anything you have to chew. It's not impossible, but unlikely, because many surgeons put patients on a post op diet of Clear liquids (ranging in duration from 1 day to 6 weeks...it is variable! LOL) but very very few allow people to eat for at least the first week or so. Confirm that, ok? As to drinking, I could drink fine from the time they handed me a nice cup of iced Water in the hospital right after recovery. That was DELICIOUS!! I was so thirsty! It's safe, as long as you don't chug or "swill" it down, to drink at a normal pace as soon as you feel like it. It flows through your stoma fairly smoothly. As you heal and any swelling you have shrinks, you can drink more, and more quickly. So just advance your liquids as you can tolerate.

I ended up NOT having to pay (insurance did cover it, they had just started LOL) BUt it was going to cost me 15k locally. There's a surgeon in Denver who is highly regarded on this board and who does it for just under 10K i believe...:tongue2: Bypass scares me to death. I am a nursing student, DH is an RN, we went to the seminar and my surgeon fairly presented many surgeries (he does bypass and the band) and STILL bypass scared me! I don't want my innards rerouted, the thought of my stomach snipped, sewn shut, then left inside me to still produce acid etc but not "work"...heebie jeebie time! LOL Plus DH worked in a GI lab and saw an awful lot of bypass patients. Initially he assumed they all had a couple of really cruddy surgeons but he came to understand that stomach issues are kind of the nature of bypass...(kind of like we get gerd if we're too tight) Both surgeries have pros and cons and I DO understand bypass patients feel it's right for them (and I certainly don't presume to know better! RNY Bypass can be a life saver for many people!) I just would've never ever EVER gotten it. I love my band. I didn't have to pay, but I can tell you if I had, it would've been well worth 15k I haven't lost a TON yet but I have hope and I know it will actually happen. That's worth the price of a small car, to be free of food woes the rest of my days! :cursing: You'll find a way to do whichever is right for you, be it bypass (seductive with that rapid weight loss!) or the band (it's reversible, adjustable)...

PB is "productive burp"...happens when food comes back up

Although as you know this site is geared mostly towards "bandsters" if you go to FORUMS and scroll WAY WAY down there is a forum for "other weight loss surgeries" and you may find some info there. Good luck! When I thought my ins wouldn't pay for the band, only bypass, I decided to figure out a way to self pay the band.

Mom7010 the reluctance to allow us to take it isn't just operative concern. NSAIDS are notoriously hard on the stomach and can cause bleeding and ulcers. We with the band have slower motility to begin with; docs don't want us to have a couple aspirin or motrin sitting in our small pouch (where there is no stomach acid) eating away at things. So depending on your restriction and when you eat etc, they may be contraindicated. Safest bet is to ask your doc what is ok for YOU to do.

Frank: Go to "HOME" (tab at top). On the left hand side of the screen is a list "FORUMS" Select the forum (like a heading, or title, or general category) that is closest in nature to your question or area of interest. CLICK on that forum. There will then be a tab saying something like "New thread" or "start a new thread" That's where you can start a thread with your question. TO answer the rest of your question....again in the "forum" section, there is one entitled something like "Age specific questions" (or something like that....) CLICK on that. You'll find an area for bandsters over 70! CLICK ON THAT! :tongue2: and you should have some info, anecdotes, etc. Good luck!

I'm so sorry I have no info about Dr. Ortiz! I think there are many here who've used him and are pleased, however, and I'm sure you'll find the answers you need. You might want to check in the "doctors and hospitals" forum for more information. One small caveat: If you go anywhere for surgery (even one county over LOL) make sure you have good local aftercare lined up, or plan to travel. One thing many of us learn is that the aftercare (fills, unfills, access to surgeon for band-related questions and issues that arise, nutrition support, etc) is as important, if not moreso, than band placement. AND many surgeons are reluctant to take a patient that another surgeon banded. Again...regardless of whether you got your band in Mexico, or in the next state, surgeons don't like taking other surgeon's patients. Make sure you have your after care lined up and finances in place because without it, it's like buying a car with no way to put gas in it or get oil changes and repairs as needed. Good luck to both of you!

Mrsteacher... they don't have data specifically on the band, because it's only been in use here since 2001 (I think eighties, in some form, in other countries) HOWEVER they do have other medical implants that they can use to compare. Because of the material it's made of, it's lack of battery or moving parts, etc it is placed with the expectation of lasting a lifetime. This won't be true of everyone, of course (nothing is absolute) but for many of us it will last us throughout our lives.

Are you a teacher or a student? I had a REAL easy surgery but I have to say after my friday operation I was glad I only had class (student here) that tuesday afternoon for 1/2 day. My problem was as much weakness from hunger (not a drama queen but when you only get water and broth, you do get a little hungry LOL) as it was recovery. Can you wiggle out a couple days off?

I'm glad I went home; I felt great, had no nausea, no vomiting, and slept MUCH MUCH better in my own bed. HOWEVER....we should all do what we, and our surgeons (both!) think is best. If you're in doubt, unsure, worried, a little nervous, by all means STAY overnight! I didn't need to but not everyone is good to go right away!

Call the insurance company. Find out what surgeons are in your network. Get from the insurance company exactly what they will cover (psych consult? nutrition? what preop tests? overnight stay post op? etc) and ask them exactly what they require, when, what format (more info is better here...many like to deny on small technicalities) once you have that, pick a surgeon and go to a seminar. OR pick a couple and go to a couple seminars. Once you find the surgeon, his office can help you take it from there!

Best bet is to check with your surgeon.

If you are in pain or scared you should call your doc asap, not post! Call now, describe your symptoms!

Call your doc! If it's been 2 hours!

I hate to say it but I do agree, just hang in there. It IS hard! But there's a reason they have us do this in a certain order and time frame...it's to heal (not torture, not "prepare" us, just to heal. At least that's what my doc says) I was hungry too. If you think "it's just 2 days, not THAT early"...well the flip side is "it's just 2 days, you can do it" :tongue2:

See! You're a perfect example of why it's best to ask your surgeon and do what he says! You'd have gone thru torture for nothing! :tongue2: I unfortunately DID need 3 weeks of preop. I'm so glad you don't!

Respectfully, a post op fever isn't normal. It DOES happen when the body is starting to develop Fluid in the lungs. We don't really feel it at the early stages, thus the incentive spirometer. NOT to contradict your surgeon! I know my limitations! LOL But I did just go over your posts with my husband (who's a bsn RN with over 20 years experience in med surg) and he said a fever post op isn't normal and you need to watch it, deep breathe, and walk (LOL) So please keep on doing both those...even though your lungs feel clear, if when you breathe deeply you cough up "stuff", then they are NOT clear! :tongue2:

I'm a teller. I've told everyone. It's just not in my nature to be secretive or "on the QT" about it. I understand some people don't want to tell, but that mindset is pretty foreign to me. They can tell I'm fat just by looking! I've invariably gotten positive feedback from everyone, and have never regretted "telling". I will say this...those who know me know I'm pretty smart and independent and when I make up my mind to do something, they know I'm doing what I think is best for me. So I didn't figure anyone would try to talk me out of it or second guess me. However, since I am pretty smart and independent, if they had, it wouldn't have bothered me any, either. The only person I felt needed to be "on board", besides me, was my husband. (we're a team and he's kind of in it with me) Otherwise, I told, not really caring if anyone approved or not. Guess that may be my "secret". :biggrin:

My nutritionist said Pasta is ok as long as it's well cooked (and it usually is in a frozen dinner) so you should be ok. Also post op most people don't have much restriction yet so unless you've had trouble swallowing certain foods, you'll probably be ok. Yes it's normal not to lose or not to lose much. You aren't restricted yet. It takes time.

If they told you how to deal with it, apparently they've had diabetic patients and that worked. Why not try it?