RestlessMonkey

Some people do turn from one "bad habit" to another but it's rare. That's what the psych eval is partly for, believe it or not, to try to catch those with issues (so they can be helped pre banding). I honestly believe it happens more with bypass but can't back that up with data LOL Anyway tell your mom you had a psych eval and that won't happen to you. If you become a gambling drinking sex-crazed maniac, you can just get a slight unfill LOL (teasing really) She's just worried about you. The psych thing should put her mind at ease. :w00t:

It's disney world! I'd just do the best I could...I'd chew chew chew, not snack, not drink with meals, but enjoy myself. Even counter service at disney often offers healthier choices....you can do it. Have fun!

I don't know where you heard that you "shouldn't" be hungry but that is BS for most of us. SOME patients don't have much of an appetite for a few days post op due to swelling etc because of abdominal surgery. For many of us, that is fleeting if it happens at all. That's why they call the first weeks post op "Bandster hell"...you can't eat (you might damage your band placement etc) but you are HUNGRY. All I can tell you is to tough it out, it will pass. It's important to follow your doctor's orders to set you up for success. So call your doc if you are miserable, see what you maybe can add in, but know that you aren't alone. Most of us suffered and struggled but you get through it somehow and it's worth it afterward. Follow your doc's advice, though, not just what you read here. Bands are different, surgeons are different, and post op requirement are totally different, so you need to follow your physician's rules. Hopefully he'll let you add in something to help. Mine didn't even allow Protein shakes for that first week post op! :w00t:

She should have access to his notes about your surgery...maybe not what he charted in the hospital, but at least what's in your file at their office. So it's possible she can answer more than you realize and again, if not, she can either get the info for you or have him call. You have every right to wonder and ask about this stuff; they won't resent or be bothered (shame on them if they were, but they won't be!)

Most successful surgeons (any doc actually) are busy. And honestly many surgeons don't have the greatest bedside manner...but so what...you want one who's good in the OR, not hand holding. Having said that...bariatric surgery is different from many types; follow up and after care are CRUCIAL to success. If I were you, I'd write down ALL my questions (So I won't forget) and then call and ask to speak with his nurse. She will probably know the answer to many/most of your questions. What she doesn't know, she can ask for you, or have him call you. Realistically, I love my surgeon but he has a great staff and they can answer many of my questions. And...it can be hard to ask intimate questions of anyone whether you "know" the person or not. You aren't being overly sensitive, but it is your body and health (mental, emotional, and physical!). Since they didn't address it with you, call and ask. The nurse should be more approachable. Just tell the receptionist you need the nurse and ask her to call you at her earliest convenience. Please understand I do NOT mean that you can't or shouldn't approach your surgeon with ANY question related to the band, your surgery, and your recovery. You are paying (or your insurance is) a good chunk of money, not just for his expertise in the OR, but for that follow up care I mentioned. Since you seem uncomfortable approaching him, however, his nurse should be a good buffer for you. Good luck. Advocate for yourself. They may be busy but if they are as reputable as you feel they are, they want you to recover and have every success. Help them help you.

If you aren't diabetic, then the ketones aren't a worry (unless they are SUPER high) because eating a diet high in Protein low in carb will cause "ketosis"...a by product of the body breaking down fat for energy. Of course, regular "diets" cause fat breakdown too but in Ketosis it's accellerated. When I was on my preop "liver shrink" diet I was "in ketosis" and that just meant the diet was working; I was burning fat. Be sure the doctor requiring the tests knows about your diet. If you are diabetic, then ketosis can be dangerous (different type/reason) As to the bilirubin, sorry but I don't know. Are you getting enough sunshine? I know it indicates jaundice in babies; in grown ups it can be serious, or not! I wouldn't borrow trouble, though; wait to see what the retest means. Blood work can be skewed by many things; it could be "normal" next time.

You should tell your surgeon about these symptoms. GERD (which it sounds like you might have) can literally erode your esophagus. Stomach acid is very caustic and if you have reflux, it needs to be treated or stopped. Various things can cause it; best bet is to tell your surgeon your symptoms and see what he says. If it IS GERD, the sooner you resolve it, the better. It may not be...so let him decide! Good luck!

I agree call your surgeon. Depending, many have to follow a liquid diet post op and to me, that was harder than the preop diet. Tell your surgeon how you are feeling now, and see if your diet can be modified.

I really do place MOST of the blame with the doctors, their seminars, and the nutritionists we (or our insurance) pay big bucks for the experience of. I nosed around and found some books but people should not have to do that....not when there are seminars etc out there. I'm successful...so far! This is hard, it's drastic, it's no quick fix. Even as well informed as I was (and I do believe my surgeon and my own nature combined to cause me to know a LOT about this going in) I didn't follow the preop diet to the letter because while I "kind of" knew it was to SHRINK my liver, I didn't really know what that meant and why a special type diet would DO that. Ergo, TWO surgeries for me. I totally empathize with anyone who says "BUT I didn't KNOW" I believe. I understand. But once you hit that, it's time to educate yourself. Learn about the band .... grab control. Don't expect it to "just happen"...We are each in the driver's seat here...we have to use the tool for it to work.

If I were more faint of heart your post would almost make me feel guilty for 1. Expecting to be hungry when I can't have any food, just liquids, for several weeks, 2. Expecting the scale not to move right away since I was told AVERAGE 1-2 pounds a week loss once one has restriction 3. Not feeling at all depressed since I knew going in to the surgery I wouldn't have the same "relationship" with food that I did before. I feel that it's all a part of education....I had a long time to talk myself into and out of the band before my insurance paid. I read several books in addition to going to my surgeon's seminar, and I asked him tons of questions. I am NOT saying everyone should do that. We're all different. But I paid a big chunk out of my own pocket to cover deductibles and catastophic caps, plus I was having an artificial device placed around my stomach, so I wanted to KNOW as best I could what to expect. When I was told that the band is just a tool, I believed that...not that it would miraculously make me drop pounds like Water, not that it would be easy, not that I could eat everything I ever did and lose. I think many people are being rushed through...psych consults are a joke, nutritionist the same, surgeons must gloss over the hard parts. I think that's a darned shame. I'd hate to think anyone got the surgery under false pretenses, and it is vile to think people are out there hungry and depressed when they truly didn't expect such a drastic change! That isn't right! It helps to have an idea of what to expect post op BEFORE you let your doctor go in with the band. Surgeons can have their own spin, in my opinion. I understand why it was important that I not eat chicken during week 2, I knew why my doctor said no caffeine and why he didn't want us even having Protein until the second week. I am the type to question authority, so I got good answers before I complied. But most surgeons/clinics need to do a MUCH better job at education and preparation. That's my take on it.

Have your mom go with you to a seminar. Surgeons hold them all the time, they should be free. My husband was VERY against the band but went with me and came away a true convert. The surgeon took 30 minutes after his very informative seminar to answer extra questions my husband had. I think a good seminar can help calm your mother and convince her it's a good option for you. Then she and you can "out vote" your sister.

I "went out" at 735 and woke up in recovery at 9 am. So my surgery was under 1 hour 25 minutes....It's not bad at all.

I quit smoking in 1995 and for me it was VERY hard. I used the patch. They didn't have chantix then or I would've used it, too. Back then smoking was more "legal" and I could smoke at work so I smoked between 3-4 packs a day. (Now I couldn't afford that even if I WANTED to smoke that much!) just to give you an idea of my situation. Some say it's easy. For me, I cried, I yelled, I fretted, but I didn't smoke, and each day got a little easier, but it took a while. I am so glad I quit, though....because I did "come out" the other side and can't imagine smoking, now. People say "I still want one and it's been 5 years" etc...well, not me. Once I got through it, I was through. That was a big plus. I was scared I'd crave them forever, but it went away. SO hang in there; use the patch, use Chantix, use whatever YOU think you need to, to quit. It's worth it!

Welcome and good luck! It isn't easy, but it beats the alternative! My favorite thing about my band is that I finally finally have "hope" again...that I can actually lose weight and keep it off for good. That alone is almost worth the price of admission! :thumbup:

First of all you need to realize that people usually post when there are PROBLEMS! :thumbup: That means that the 10's of thousands of "happy" bandsters are out living slimmer lives and not posting. Not to belittle those who do have problems, of course, but realize they are in the minority. Being fat also has issues, drawbacks, problems. Please read these boards with a grain of salt, both the good AND the bad. If you want to keep researching, amazon has some great books on Lap banding that you can read. Your surgeon probably wouldn't mind you going to a support group meeting or two. I won't try to talk to into or out of the band. I love mine, I'm 8 weeks out. I will tell you that GERD is usually a condition of being too tight and then stretching the pouch (not always, just usually). I will tell you not everyone has nausea, vomiting, sliming, PB'ing (productive burping where stuck food comes up) etc. Most of those people don't come to post because they are busy living life! So realize that while those very real side effects can and do happen, they don't happen to everyone. There is often a cause that can be "fixed". If you are willing to follow your doctor's rules, change your eating style (not just what you eat but HOW you eat, chew chew small bites, no liquids with meals, etc) then odds are good that you either will not ever suffer any of those symptoms or if you do, they will be mild and transitory as you adjust. I've never done any of that. I didn't even have nausea post op. I feel great. I wouldn't change my band for anything. But that's just me. Remember, every story has 2 sides. Decide what's right for you!

I have an AP large. (and yes I plan to lose as well as those with AP small LOL) My doc told me not to borrow trouble and that odds were I could eat essentially anything I did before. He said I MIGHT have trouble with white bread and stringy red beef, and then again, I might not. So far with 1 fill I have no issues, and don't really think I ever will.

IMHO it is ALWAYS too soon to vacuum. LOL As long as you didn't lift over 15 pounds and just stretched etc, you're probably good to go! Of course you're tired; you had surgery just a few days ago etc. But you are right, the exercise is undoubtedly good for you! :thumbup:

KathyV you're welcome! 2 things...if you are shakey etc call your doctor and see if you CAN add something to the mix! and...post op bandster hell is hard, too, but you are right you DO get through it and it's worth it. The misery is easily forgotten! But don't get shakey and faint; check with your doc. :thumbup:

Kathyv my doc required a specific protein shake (2-3 a day), 64 ounces (minimum) of water, and 3 oz lean protein (fish turkey or chicken) and 1 cup greens a day. PERIOD. no butter no ketchup no cheese no condiments etc. It was hard. I'd rather have gotten 5 shakes and SF jello! LOL My diet was about 600 cal a day. I cheated the 1st time by eating differently; I had a "last meal", I had cheese, I had beef. (I'd done atkins before; like many of us I'm a diet professional!) I lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks so he didn't know I hadn't done exactly what he said. The next 2 1/2 weeks I followed his diet TO THE LETTER and lost another 17 pounds (much to my amazement) and then my liver had shrunk enough. Some liver shrink diets allow fruit etc so I thought I'd be ok eating the cheese etc the 1st time. I was wrong.!! So .... stick to what your doc says is the best advice. I know you must feel pretty cruddy. I did! But I have to be honest and tell you it feels way way worse to come to in recovery and not have the band because your liver is still too fat. That is one low low low feeling. Hang in there! It's worth it! :thumbup:

Your best bet is to go to a (free) seminar! A good surgeon will cover all your questions (and then some) to help you decide! You want that type of info straight from the horse's mouth, not anecdotal! :thumbup: ANd if you go to one seminar and don't like the doc, go to a different one! Good luck! I LOVE my band; I hope you decide it's right for you too!

Tell your doctor. I didn't do my "three week" preop diet exactly as prescribed, partly because of reading posts here about how people didn't have to do it (their docs didn't require it) or people who were supposed to but didn't, etc....and my doctor was unable to place the band because my liver hadn't shrunk. Not that the other people were wrong...for them! LOL (that disclaimer is very important) SO call your doc and tell him/her. It may not matter, for your situation, or it might make all the difference! Don't feel guilty, though; we're human and life happens. Just tell the truth and let your surgeon make the call! :thumbup:

Yes. Smoking constricts your blood vessels. Can you quit again? Since it's only been a week? I KNOW it's hard to quit (I quit in 1995) get the patch...get chantix, do whatever to STOP! You can do it; you already did it once! :thumbup:

"Most of the time"? I think that may be part of your problem; eat slowly and chew well (and no liquid per your doc's instructions) at every meal. Like the other poster said, if certain foods still give you trouble, avoid those foods! My doctor says avoid them for a few months, then try them again. 21 pounds in 10 weeks is 2.1 pounds a week. Since I think most of us are told to expect 1-2 pounds a week average loss, you are .1 each week ahead of the game. And I agree with the other poster, that mucus is called "slime" in band world but it is your body providing lubricant to move the offending bolus of food either up or down, anywhere but where it is hung. PB means, in bandster-speak, "Productive burp" which is when you burp up a bite or chunk of undigested food that is stuck. I agree, also, with the "check with your doctor" thing, about all of it. When in doubt, that's what s/he's there for, to provide you with solid medical advice! Good luck!

Congratulations! Just follow your doc's instructions and you'll be fine! What a great fall gift you're giving yourself!

My doc is liquid for 24 hours, then advance as we can tolerate. :eek: