RestlessMonkey

Was your surgeon UNABLE to sew it into place, or did he choose not to, or did the stitches come loose?

You don't have enough fill yet. You need to be patient is all. I have a 14 cc band and I didn't get restriction until fill 5 which happened 7 months out. Unfortunately it was during the last half of my last semester at nursing school and I freaked out. I choked on EVERYTHING. So I had a slight unfill the next month. Then my next fill (and after finals) I finally FINALLY hit the green zone; a mere 9 months after surgery. I have lost over 2/3 of my weight since that day. Many docs feel slow fills are preferable to aggressive ones (you can google it if you want, partly related to esophageal spasms) and while the debate is ongoing, I can say that my doc and his philosophy worked well for me. The band isn't a race...I plan on keeping it for a long time. So the problem is with your expectation and I understand that. I thought we'd get the band and hunger would be gone. It doesn't work that fast, though. And hitting the right "fill" level is a process. But it will happen. You just need to let it.

I am sorry no one has answered your post yet; I know there are quite a few diabetics (type II) who have had the band and had good success but don't recall PN being specifically addressed. However, while waiting for someone to answer your questions (and you've probably already thought of this) a reputable bariatric surgeon may be able to help you decide. A surgeon with a broad patient base (mine had done 1500 surgeries as of last year; I'm sure that's increased considerably by now, for example) will be able to address both the published scientific research AND anecdotal evidence of his patients. I do know that as a cure for DMII, bypass is most consistent. You know that, however. Perhaps a good surgeon can give you some insight as to which patient type has increased or exacerbated PN. There is most likely some factor that causes it; odds are it isn't random. And if it isn't, knowing whether or not you fit in the "at risk" category can help you decide. Good luck at any rate, and hopefully someone will see your post and respond. Remember though this is just anecdotal; a good surgeon (or two! more info is good) can also help you with this hard decision.

I let my surgeon decide too. He uses the lap band because it's the brand he trained with and the one he's most familiar with, but he told us at seminar he'd install either one if we had a preference. They all work in essentially the same way. I have an AP Large lap band that holds 14ccs and am pleased as can be with it so far. (you know if you pick Lap Band your surgeon will choose which size to install in you; you won't make that decision)

Yes, call your doc NOW. Don't wait. If you can't swallow water you'll dehydrate quickly and just get tighter and tighter (plus all the other issues of dehydration) You'll end up in the emergency room. Easier to call your doc now and get it attended to.

Odd that tylenol nauseates you but hydrocodone/tylenol doesn't! We're all unique, aren't we? Just keep walking and distracting yourself. You'll feel better soon!

I know I had some fears and misconceptions that have pretty much dissolved into mist for me... For one thing, I can eat anything. I know this isn't true for everyone, and I had my time to grapple with things like "can I really REALLY live without bread?" Well, I don't have to. Not everyone has a bunch of food issues; some only have one or two things they need to avoid, some don't have trouble with anything. So as my granny would say, don't borrow trouble. My doc said his goal was for me to be able to eat anything but in smaller portions, and I kept repeating that to myself when I'd read horror stories. Something worked because 1 year out, at my "green zone", I can eat any food I want. Things like "don't drink while you're eating" may sound horrible. "Take pencil eraser sized bites". Yowza. OK.. I don't drink when I'm eating any more because it HURTS. It's an easy habit to get into, easier than you'd think. My doc lets us drink 15 min after a meal (all are different so follow your doc's guidelines) but now that I'm in the routine and get my 64 oz of Water in each day, I'm often not even thirsty after a meal and will go an hour easily before drinking. Eraser sized bites? Too tiny to chew! I take a bite about 1/2 to 2/3 my norm. I chew it to mush (I counted a few times, being of a scientific mind LOL and for me that's generally about 40 chews if it's something like steak or chicken) That becomes 2nd nature too. Your body learns how a bite "feels" before you swallow. There's a learning curve but it's not bad. I don't know what if any of the rules or life after is giving you pause, but odds are that it may not be as harsh, or hard, or onerous as you think. Personally for me the BIGGIE was no carbonation, because I like beer. I don't drink very often any more, maybe 2-3 times a year. I had to really look at it and think hmmm...keep beer and be fat? If someone with power came to you and said "give up beer and I will make you slim" would you do it? Well, yes. So that became a non-issue. And then, to my happy surprise, my doc last time told me that now that I'm healed if it didn't hurt me I could have an occasional beer or soda. Oh yay! :biggrin: Again not all are the same, do what your doc says. But things can and do work out well with the band.

Exactly. That's why a surgeon can tell you if a "cheat" hurt you or not, not posters here. No matter how well intentioned.

YAY! I think so many of us, especially if we dieted, hear "water Water water" so much that it becomes like background noise! But when my surgeon told me "bands that are tighter in the morning, or tight at odd times, that's usually related to hydration. Dehyrated people have tight bands" a lightbulb went on for me because of my friend. (I get my water...one of the few "healthy" things I've always tried to do LOL) I am SO glad that it helps! If you are too tight all the time, it's probably fill. One poster was fine but then went camping and by the end of her trip could barely hold down a Protein shake...her problem was WATER because while camping she quit drinking it. So of course this won't fix every tight band issue but if it seems to come and go, if it isn't tied to anything you can figure out, what can it hurt to get 64 oz in?

Isn't it funny how much it can help if we just re-establish our routines? I am sure it won't work for everyone, but for a bunch of us, if we act normally we feel normal much more quickly! I'm glad you felt better so quickly!

Why, thank you! I miss the old style too. It seemed easier to navigate. :biggrin:

Sooverit, I just saw this, sorry I missed it when you posted! Anyway I sent you a PM, and will gladly chat about it if you're interested. Health care is a great field right now; we baby boomers are getting older but we aren't planning on going easy! LOL

Very true, Georgia Girl, good point. And many "sweets" are sliders, so the band is no help. Also many of us have if not diabetes, metabolic syndrome and it's easier to avoid that type of thing generally. Plus when you're in weight loss mode, instead of maintenance, I'd rather get the kick from something lower calorie than "waste" it on something that might make me want MORE and doesn't give me much nutrition or energy for the caloric investment! And I personally have never had AN oreo. :thumbup:

Actually that sounds more like pregant than post op side effects, at least to me! :thumbup: Apparently sometimes the combo of anesthesia, entubation, trauma etc can cause some people to have an altered sense of taste but it is temporary. no lasting change to taste buds. So I think my first answer is still good...although there's an exception to every rule. That's life, isn't it?

Shoot if that worked I'd get me a big iron skillet and make some money! :thumbup:

Sure! I am really HAPPY to help! And about the taste bud thing; I know a blow to the head can cause them to really be altered or to change (happened to my husband...a cracked ethmoid bone. I know TMI LOL) and it isn't really the taste buds that change, but our sense of smell, but don't think that type of thing happens in surgery or with the band so I don't think I steered you wrong. We are pretty adaptable and can get used to healthier things. or so I've been told LOL

Welcome and good luck! Some companies approve really fast (mine was one) so I hope it happens as quickly or slowly as you want! :thumbup:

See when your doc clears you for alcohol; it's (like everything else, it seems!) different for all of us! Now that I'm a year out my doc gave me the go ahead for beer (my personal preference for general everyday drinking LOL) but I generally avoided it until he told me "ok now". I don't like wine, but I did have vodka and orange juice, and some cocoanut rum and crystal light lemonade (odd but strangely tasty)

If you want something specific then I agree with Jachut...go for it (or at least some of it) but if it's a vague generalized "now I want sweet" then substituting can work. There are many posts on here about altered taste buds, changes in perceptions and preferences etc. In the past if I wanted sweet a diet green tea w/citrus would've just gotten in my way on my path to "real sweet stuff" like cake, pie, candy, Cookies, whatever. Now it exactly fills the bill. SO if you want an oreo, HAVE one. If you want "a sweet", nose around, find something lower cal (even fruit?) that fills the bill.

May I paraphrase what my doc told us during the seminar? He said Almost ALL patients, whether bypass or band, male or female, will start to lose hair at around 3 months out and it will continue until about 6 months out. According to studies we've done, taking supplements like Biotin, extra Protein, extra Vitamins, doesn't help. I've only had ONE patient in over 1500 need a hair piece and she owned a wig shop. No kidding. It grows back. So be ready for it, don't freak out, and just be patient. It's apparently related to the trauma of surgery and is a natural reaction. It happened to me exactly as he said. I was really worried because I had TWO surgeries just under 3 weeks apart but I never went bald and in fact my long time hairdresser never could even tell the difference. It's all back to normal now and quit falling out at about 5 months post op. SO take supplements if you want, and of course take them if you have a proven deficiency, but otherwise just hang in there. It'll grow back.

Just keep the faith. You can go from wide open (or seeming to be) to tight tight TIGHT in just a few 10ths of a cc. Really. So don't despair!

Hmmm I'm 5'5" and female, but I did weigh 373 on surgery day. I think they just use whatever they feel is appropriate.

It's great you are doing so well! :thumbup:

I like an occasional sweet and have found Lipton Diet Green Tea Citrus flavor to do the trick for me. I've also heard that an occasional small piece of dark chocolate can kill the craving without doing much damage.

I realized that after I posted! LOL that'll teach me to speed read! Anyway the help should be fairly quick. Good luck; let me know!