RestlessMonkey

I went in for my 2nd fill today and asked my surgeon. He hesitated, then told me "Sure, just take it right after you eat (when we're "allowed" to drink again) and be very careful with it; any symptoms of erosion, bleeding, etc let me know immediately" I did tell him I just took it occasionally, not daily. So maybe Travelinsnorkel will get the green light from HER doc, too!

I agree the different rules drive me NUTS. Sometimes they make sense (like I NEEDED to do a long preop diet for my liver, not everyone does, or if you have a lap band it's important to stick to the post op diet so it can heal properly) but even when they make sense they are poorly explained; so many just tell you "NO ADVIL" and no clue why! LOL Lucky you working for your primary; you can get a good 2nd opinion any time you need one! Good luck, ok?

I didn't mean to sound negative if I did...I do get exasperated because it seems so many surgeons and centers kind of, um, rush people through? If you have issues and NEED an NSAID (and lots do! People with arthritis, for example...tylenol doesn't work as well) get run through like cattle and then say "Uh wait! I need my meds" and find out they can't take them. It makes me angry that their health care team didn't have something lined up for them. Maybe your doc feels it will be ok for you to take them later; I sure hope so, since you need your advil! Getting the band doesn't magically cure us of needing any/all pills, but some docs act like it does! Anyway didn't mean to rant and rave, either. I just get frustrated at the lack of education about the band. They make us go to the seminars and appointments out the keister...and my surgeon is great! but lots of them just seem too greedy, i guess. I hope you get the go-ahead!

I agree with Slim-n-tn...check with your surgeon. I'm shocked it didn't come up for you preop! We were told very clearly NO NSAIDS. They can do damage even to "normal"digestive tracts, let alone we bandsters with our unique configuration.

I can think of a couple reasons you'd be told no...1. it can irritate your stomach, especially when you aren't supposed to eat 2. It can hit you much more quickly than you are used to (especially when you aren't supposed to eat) 3. it can impair wound healing 4. It lowers inhibitions and can make you hungry, and if you eat prematurely you can reallly do some damage and of course 5. if you're still taking any pain med it can react badly. You just had major surgery so please do ask your doc. I don't mean to sound like a prude or someone who thinks any alcohol is bad; to the contrary I almost didn't get the band because I really LOVE an occasional beer and can't have it any more! LOL So please know I just mean this in a "good" way.....take care of yourself. And hopefully your doc will say "SURE having a couple will do you good" :thumbup:

I don't think you will find an unbiased site but if I were you I'd buy a few books and read up on it. I bought several from Amazon.com that were very informative, plus went to a couple different surgeon's seminars. I will say if you are going outside your home area for surgery (regardless of where you go) make sure you're prepared to go back there for fills, emergencies, etc or have a lap band surgeon lined up Locally who will accept you. Many of us bandsters don't realize pre-surgery that having the actual band placed is only one step in a multi-layered process. The band is almost useless without good aftercare. This site presents many opinions and anecdotal testimonials, but the "bad" stuff can scare you. Just remember many people only come here when they have issues or questions; when things are going smoothly they are out living their lives! So read some books, nose around this site, go to a couple seminars. It's a lot to learn! :thumbup:

Ask your surgeon. If you truly can't, it will be for a valid, good reason, ie erosion of your stomach. In that case, you'll be informed and can choose. It's possible that losing weight will help immensely with your arthritis and you'll only need tylenol later. But DO talk to your surgeon. He needs all the information about your health and what drugs you're taking. To intentionally lie or omit that info (assuming he's asked you what meds you are taking, and he should. They ask me EVERY time I go) is unfair to him and to you. Give him a chance to work something out with you!

I feel you should ask your doctor. He may have special guidelines for you to follow so you can take it safely.

You REALLY need to ask your surgeon about this. For example, mine won't even clear us for PROTEIN drinks until week 2, and he has his reasons. Rather than do what people here tell you (and we are all different, as are our bands, doctors, bodies, recoveries etc, so not that anyone would ever intentionally steer you wrong!!) do what your doctor says. It's possible he'll say no big deal! I hope so! But its not just the alcohol; how will you get around not eating in front of the other couple?

I don't know about GEHA. I Know tricare required a "Center of Excellence" surgeon and it was easy to find one. I'd suggest finding a center of excellence per your insurance requirement....

I would call tricare and ask what that means. ASAP.

She's a grown up. It's her body. If it were me, the more you bugged me, the less likely I'd be to do something. You know her best; you probably know what's best to do for her, whether it be bug her or leave her alone about it.

My surgeon says it happens to all his patients, it's apparently a reaction to the trauma of surgery, that it hits at 3-6 months, and then resolves, and that none of his patients ever needed a wig. Mine's been thinning but I know it will pass. He also told us not to bother with supplements, excess protein, biotin etc...just take our vitamins, get "enough" protein and water, and wait it out. Some swear by protein bullets, biotin etc but I am trusting my surgeon.

Actually with my APL lap band I could drink Water normally from as soon as they'd let me have it in recovery. It didn't hurt my band because I had no restriction yet (no fills...just "prime" that they have in there for surgery) and wasn't swollen, or at least not enough to restrict my drinking. Make sure you get 64 oz a day in at least. If you don't feel restriction or "full" with sips, try maybe one regular sized "swallow" and see if that goes down. If in doubt, always call your doctor! I too was told to sip but my surgeon told them to go ahead and give me a nice big glass of iced water in post op and let me drink it at my pace, which I did....I was so thirsty it was like nectar or something!

Just follow your doctor's guidelines. If you have the new lap band you may not have restriction post op, or not as much as people had in the past, so liquid will go through much more easily because the stomach isn't as traumatized and therefore not as swollen immediately post op. Do NOT advance to mushies or solids or full liquids faster than YOUR surgeon recommends, regardless of what others on here may do, per THEIR surgeons! But as to how much clear liquid? I don't think you'll hurt things yet because you aren't restricted until you get fills and the band begins to be tightened. Safest bet is to ask your doc.

Why would you not? By next summer you'll weigh less so you should be healthier and enjoy it more; that's the only change I can imagine. I don't golf, but people do things like skydive with the band. I can't imagine that golfing would be more grueling! :laugh:

I had to attend a seminar before my first visit. You need to know some background before you know what to ask! If you have the time and are the research type, in lieu of a seminar, buy a book on gastric lap band and read up. Then you'll have an info base and will know what is important to you! Half price book stores etc should have an array, as well as places like Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

You need to follow your doctor's prescribed diet, not anecdotal advice received here. When we eat "food" our stomachs churn to digest it. If you have a band that is sutured or sewn in you run the risk of ripping out your stitches. Or you may loosen them and run the risk of slippage and erosion later. There is a reason docs put us on specific pre- and post- op diets. I KNOW its hard. I sat and held a can of refried beans and CRIED for goodness' sake. But, I didn't eat them. You need to do what your doc says.

Although there is no surefire way to tell if your surgery will go well, I personally prefer a surgeon who has done a LOT of a type of surgery. For example, I'd rather a surgeon who had done over 1000 Lap band procedures, but still also does RNY bypass, than a surgeon who only does lap band and has done 250 of them. A good surgeon will have done the procedure over and over and hopefully encountered all the "exceptions" so that when it's your turn, there won't be any surprises. My general surgeon who removed my gall bladder had done thousands of such surgery, but he also repaired hernias, removed appendixes, etc. So just because a surgeon does more than one type of surgery isn't as important as how many he's done. Ask what his success rate is. Ask if anyone has ever died during or after surgery, and if so, why. Find out about what complications you may expect. Ask about after care. (most of that you can get from a good seminar) Then decide. In the final analysis, you need to feel that the surgeon is approachable and knowledgable. The surgery is just a small part of the whole lap band experience. Without fills and follow up, it is almost useless. The surgery, in other words, is just another step along the way. You need an accessible surgeon or center who will be there when you need them, and a surgeon who has the experience to successfully place your band and guide you through healing and learning your new way of eating. Go to the bariatric center near you; attend a lap band seminar, and see how you feel.

You might get more answers if you post this in the "Food and Nutrition" area...I'd give you "tips" but I'm just eating normally.

OK I know about ventral hernia LOL I have a big one. Doc told me I needed to lose weight before repairing it or it would just come back. SO I have band...once I'm smaller I'll get it fixed.

Then do that. "Kick" the habits. Seriously.

I agree, do what your doctor tells you. Carbonation can cause big problems. If you truly have to have diet mountain dew or diet pepsi, don't get the band. Period. Caffeine...in a non-carbonated form, may fit back into your life if it doesn't stimulate your appetite, but carbonation hurts and can cause damage. By the time you may be able to safely drink carbonated beverages (if ever) you'll be over the addiction. And I'm not being facetious or mean about giving it up and if you can't, don't get the band. It's a big decision that requires a lot of lifestyle changes and is not the right choice for everyone! I only drink beer about twice a year but it was "important" to me; I had to decide if giving up those holiday times was worth it. It was dicey for a while but the band won. You need to think it through carefully! Good luck to you!

When were you banded? If you are suffering through a post op diet, that's one thing. Once you've healed and are getting fills, that's something else. If you've healed and are more than 6 weeks post op, try going to a different support group meeting. If your brother is in the same city, can you go to one of his? Why did you pick the surgeon you did? Do you trust him? Have you talked to him about your concerns? You have to decide what's right for you. I will say personally I'm with the bandsters who want to QUIT thinking about food. I don't weigh and count and journal and fret. That would drive me (and did drive me!) nuts. I plan to eat way way less of "normal" food.

Discuss this with your surgeon. Do you have ADHD? If not, stop taking the adderall. You may not think you have a problem, but popping pills and binge drinking every weekend aren't "normal". I was 23 once, too. Trust me. You're headed down the wrong road, Dude.