RestlessMonkey

I'm confused as to what "Lap band solutions" had to do with your "relationship" with your doc and your insurance, but I'm sure it makes sense! :smile:

I understand your reticence. Do you like the surgeon? Do you trust him? Has anything else given you pause? If not, then go on...maybe in the "vast scheme" Weds is the right day for you, and not the other two dates. However, if you've been unsure about the performance of your surgeon or the hospital etc, then pause and rethink it. Not going through with a surgery that doesn't seem right doesn't make you a quitter, in my book.

That is VERY VERY absolutely true. And once you have restriction you'll just PB if you gnaw off too much so it's best to just leave it be! :Dancing_wub:

Many docs have different post op regimens. They (gasp!) prescribe what works for THEIR clients/patients :smile: Docs have different "touches", different surgical techniques, different ways of suturing, etc. If your doc tells you "have a cheeseburger on the way home" then if you aren't a vegan, go for it! But if he tells you "stay on Clear liquids for 4 weeks" then you'd better do that. To judge your band experience by someone else's is just about impossible. We're always best to follow our surgeon's advice...and if in doubt, ask him/her for clarification/rationale/help.

I think you were very very smart to tell your doc! And apparently he didn't take it lightly because he checked you out to make sure you're still ok! AND...he gave you some tips to help you stick with the diet but not gnaw your own arm off in hunger! You slipped up but caught it, and are back on the "path". I know it was hard to call your doc but be very proud of yourself for seeing your error and correcting it instead of being flippant and thinking "oh well it didn't hurt me so I am fine" or whatever. You will make it now! :smile: Way to go!

I can only speak for myself, of course. For me, I had done SO MANY diets, and either, it seemed, I was ON ONE or "cheating" or "should be on one" that cheating on a diet ALMOST became a way of life. Because, eventually, no matter how strong, how sure, how dedicated or committed I was, something happened and I cheated. I am sure most of us have done this, or something like it, or we'd be at goal, most of us, and not need the band. So, given yet another "diet" by my surgical team, and then reading on here of posters who "cheated" and were fine (or so they thought)...I figured, "why not me?" I did my OWN post op diet, lost 15 pounds, didn't get the band. That was a wake up call, a steep learning curve. I began to ask my doc WHY...and not in an obnoxious way, but because I wanted to know. WHY stick to the preop diet, WHY stick to the post op diet...WHY avoid caffeine, WHY avoid carbonation. Because once I know why I can, as an adult, make an informed decision. My doc, in the seminar, said don't cheat on your post op diet. I had a patient eat a tuna sandwich and was back in immediately with a slip. I thought that meant immediately post op, I didn't know it meant FOLLOW THE POST OP DIET TO A T. I learned that though, after my own foolishness during the preop phase. I think many cheat not because they want to hurt themselves, but because they don't KNOW why it's important not to, and because like so many of us, "cheating on a diet" is almost built in to our lives. Diets are HARD. We forget the preop and postop phase is finite, we don't know why it's important, we read of others (many many others) who CHEAT and are FINE and we think "why not me"? It's not a consious (or unconscious) desire to hurt ourselves or derail the process; we just don't know how important it is. I think once most people realize WHY they are doing it (preop to shrink the liver, post op to allow the band to heal into place without a slip, and the stomach CHURNS to digest even if you don't feel it so stick to your diet as ordered) then they will comply. Just my take on it. It's why I cheated, and why I subsequently QUIT cheating and became a big old rule follower for my surgeon. I paid a high price, though. I didn't get the band the first time. Maybe people will learn without having to go through what I did, or a slip, or some such. So we do help, support, and EDUCATE on this board.

The post op diet is hard when you are just living "normal" life. To try to do it on vacation must be hellacious! But it really is important....not like in the past if you "cheated" on a diet like weight watchers or atkins. Hang in there; do what you're supposed to; and next vacation you'll be healed, able to eat, and thinner! :smile:

I think you need to call your doc and get some direction. A MAJOR cause of slips is eating "ahead" of your post op diet. You may feel fine but your band, that is sewn into place and needs to heal there, may not be. You know your stomach churns to aid in digestion...(you don't feel it but it does it). Well...that churning action can loosen/rip your stitches, cause the band to move, set you up for a slip down the road (and then you'll post "Why me?") Not to be harsh, just up front with this. You may or may not be fine. Call your surgeon, find out what he says, not what we say.

HolliJ I used to use Carmex until a good friend pointed out that it's really intended for cold sores (which I don't have) and it has ALUM in it, which is a drying agent! No WONDER we have to constantly reapply it! She got me off the Carmex and on to "Soft Lips" which is moisturizing (more than chapstick which just coats them in wax as far as I can tell) and protects them. Give it a try.

DONT spend a lot of money on "liquid" stuff. You may not need it. I didn't. Please understand that you get the band and may be swollen for a couple of days post op (that's normal) but then the swelling abates and unless the doc has filled you a great deal, your band will be open and it will be as if you don't even have it. Swallowing pills and food won't be an issue. Post op you need to follow the diet as given so you can heal. If you are on liquids for a while you don't want to take a multi Vitamin anyway because it can irritate your stomach. As you start to heal and feel better, you'll have a better idea of what you can take etc. I take my normal 6-pack multi and 2 HUGE potassium pills (they are the biggest pill I've ever seen and I'm a nurse) and no problems. And I am at my sweet spot. So save your money for smaller clothes! :wink2:

No, honestly for me, no. My motivation has changed. Now I try to pick foods that will keep me full longer as opposed to those that don't. But I still like the same old food I ever did. I could pretend I have changed, but if I'm honest, not a bit. That's ok, though....I have the band and that's the important change. I believe now that I can lose and KEEP it OFF. I know I can't overeat like I could. So I have changed a good deal, but my "tastes" are as they have always been.

You need to go see a doc. If you are weak and have pain, you may have an electrolyte imbalance and trust me, that's more than a banana or two (or gatorade) can fix. You can mess with your heart, among other things. Two weeks is too long to go unable to eat, especially since you are more slim and don't have fat stores to call on. If you think you can wait, call your surgeon and/or Primary tomorrow ASAP. If not, go to the ER. Don't ever let yourself get so low just because a doc on the phone says "it's probably a reaction" ok? You need medical intervention now.

als4...I don't think it works. Once our skin is overstretched (much like a balloon or a rubber band, except skin is alive) it's overstretched. Surgery is the most effective solution...removing the extra. Sorry!

You might want to read in the "lap band complications" forum, and I THINK there's one pertaining to life after lap band.

And.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :smile: If it was your 21 you deserved a blow out. Don't let the guilt suck the pleasure out of your day!

What size band do you have? I have a 14cc band and didn't even feel a HINT of restriction until 4.5 ccs...and it took to 6.5 to get to my "sweet spot". I'm now at 7.0 ccs Even 10cc bandsters often take 3-4 fills (or more) to really "feel the love". But you're right; you need to get control of yourself. Just don't assume that you've hurt something because you aren't restricted. AND fyi things like chips and cake are "sliders"...they will always go down way too easy, unless you're so tight you can't drink liquids, and then you'll dehydrate. In other words, willpower will always be required for those foods; the band can't really help us there.

I was going to when I found out literally days before my seminar that my insurance had started 7/1/2008 covering the band retroactive to 1/1/08. Some things I've learned since that might help: 1. SHOP AROUND....balance cost/benefits offered for cost/surgeon. Surgeons offer different benefits like 1 year free fills, lifetime free fills, (or none!) etc. Fills are VITAL and they can be pricey. 2. If you go away from home (to the next county or the next country) line up local aftercare. Fills are what make the band work, but aside from that, you may have issues that are easily treatable if caught early (like GERD, or a mild slip) and you'll need quick easy access to a surgeon. If you have to get time off work and fly 1000 miles to see if you have GERD you may put it off and many issues with the band, if caught quickly, can be easily resolved but if left untreated can cause a cascade of caca! and 3. Whichever surgeon you choose, research research research him/her, the facility, the band. There are threads on here that help. Lastly; if you have ANY insurance, see if it will pay for complications/removal. That is something horrid we don't want to contemplate but sometimes the band isn't right, or we have a medical issue non-band related, or some such and you want to make sure you can get quick treatment. Realize too that things can happen like ports tilting/flipping, bands leaking (very rare but possible) and so on. Make sure you're well informed, and find out what your surgeon will do if, say, your port tilts within the first year and you need a revision. Will s/he cover it? Just some things to think about, that I know would've NEVER occurred to me before I got the band and spent a year on this board, reading and learning! :smile: Good luck!

I'm not diabetic but was "pre"...in fact 7/08 my PCP told me "do something or in 3 months you'll be on diabetes meds" my glucose was 126 which is just over the 125 threshold...but rather than getting retested etc I got the band. At 6 months post op (and about 30 pounds down) my blood sugar was 112. I go in a couple weeks for my latest checkup; now at almost 70 down (and after finding my "sweet spot" in May) I am anticipating a glucose level at/under 100. So for me, it saved me from developing Diabetes II.

Gain weight! Seriously though, while you can build and tone muscle UNDERNEATH the skin, skin is it's own organ. It will shrink for a year or so after you have lost, then what you see is what you get. Sorry. People may say "exercise" and that's good for you but again, it will build muscle (or tone) and if you build enough muscle, it will fill up the skin like the fat did (if that makes sense?) BUT...if you don't want to buff up to take up the slack, you're left with surgery.

Some people say having a sip or two of water (or liquid) can help make the "stuck" item come back. It just makes me more miserable.

Many of us don't know that when we eat, our stomach churns to digest food (even a bite of vegetable or chicken. If you have to chew it, your stomach churns to digest it). If you think it through, then, it's logical that you need to be cautious. Because most likely your lap band is sewn into place....and if your stomach thrashes and churns (and it does, if you digest. You don't feel it, but it ALWAYS moves around some to aid in digestion) it can rip loose a suture or two, or loosen them or move the band enough that it doesn't heal properly. I've been taken to task for "scaring" new people, but honestly what I've said is what happens. Don't risk it. Some docs are comfortable advancing their patients sooner but each surgeon has his/her own style, etc. So do what your doc says. You aren't the first to be VERY VERY hungry and if we can make it then I KNOW you can make it!

It's very important to follow your post op diet plan as written. Advancing your diet too quickly is a major cause of band slippage, either now or down the line (if it doesn't seat properly) Please ... just because others "cheated" and got away with it doesn't mean it's ok. If you are too hungry call your surgeon on monday, but don't cheat. This time it really is only yourself you'll be hurting.

Thanks for answering; I always wonder about "national" type health care...pros and cons, you know? I appreciate your post! :cursing: Good luck!

No panic attacks here. However, while you may have diarrhea post op (anesthesia and liquid in/liquid out) you should discuss that with your surgeon and it can be forstalled. Otherwise most bandsters have the opposite problem, as you might imagine. Eating a high protein/low fiber diet usually leads to the OTHER end of the spectrum, not diarrhea. Again a talk with your banding pro will help guide you through this.

Welcome. Because the USA is going through "insurance" pangs and countries like Canada are being hailed as "wonderful" because of your socialized medicine (and I'm sure Canada is wonderful anyway! :cursing: ) I thought lap band was covered "up there". Is it not? Or is your "copay" (or whatever it's called) too high? If this is too nosy please forgive me. And either way, I hope things work out for you!