RestlessMonkey

I didn't need a referral; not everyone does.

The burping isn't from the operative gas. They pump gas into you to spread things out a bit and make surgery easier. That gas dissipates over a week or so (if you don't have a good surgeon who removes most of it for you). The other...got news for you. It will be around a while. That's one reason they say early on to not use straws (you swallow air, and that means burps etc) Buy Gas X...and try to get used to it. I've just NOW gotten to where I don't sit around and burp for an hour or two after meals. I STILL burp if I eat a little too much. It isn't wonderful, but it's do-able.

Welcome and good luck. Just remember you aren't your sister! You may have less pain, you may have more. You may not have a sore throat from the breathing tube, and so on! It's good to know you two can support each other but don't hold each other up as rulers, ok? You'll each have your own journey! Good luck!

A bariatric surgeon will NOT tell you to go "diet and exercise". Your first step is to see if your insurance covers Lap Band, and if it does, select an in-network surgeon/surgical center. You may not even need a primary referral; again that depends on your insurance. Good luck!

The major difference is stomach bile/acid, and when you VOMIT your stomach spasms. A PB...no bile, and usually just the esophagus is spasming (as you know, it's a one-way conveyor belt and doesn't like it when things STOP...it wants food to move on through) I know some will tell you they PB all the time but depending on how far out you are post op and how often and how violently you PB it can cause issues. The occasional PB shouldn't cause a slip, but if you are so tight that you PB often, tell your doc.

This isn't that uncommon. Don't tug it, don't put new skin on it, and call your doc on Monday. He may just have you clip it, he may want to see it...at that time, ask him if it's ok to use the new skin

I can't imagine that it would be an issue. Why does she think it would preclude her surgery?

Beats me. I've never heard of that, some title with BCBS I'd guess. Call and ask them what it means!

I had a GREAT surgery, got to go home that night (my doc usually keeps his patients overnight but after I begged he let me go!) the hospital was great, the nurses were all WONDERFUL, no trapped gas after (thanks to Dr. Cavazos who, I'm sure, removed most of it, as all of them CAN do but few actually DO!) It was great. And it cured my sciatica, no kidding.

I'd say "right away" but last night I ate, felt fine, starting burping a lot and 2 hours after dinner, hurt like the devil! And then PB'd. So I guess it depends. Ticks me off though; you'd think that by now I would recognize the signs better, and I usually do, but the one last night snuck up on me.

I was indecisive for years, from 2003 until I FINALLY got my band in 2008. I had gone back and forth about it but since Ins didn't pay for it, it was easy for me to not get it. I tried EVERYTHING to lose. I even tried hypnosis, I went to a behavioral therapist for a year. I did WW about a million times. I tried nutrisystems. I tried all liquid diets. I did Richard Simmons Deal a Meal. I tried Atkins, I read about South Beach but figured it wouldn't work for me. I tried it all. I am very smart and not muc refuses to yield to me once I make up my mind but I could NOT lose weight and keep it off. I finally realized that if I kept doing what I'd been doing, I'd keep getting the same results. For me, lap band was the answer.

A hiatal hernia is different...they are the type most surgeons will repair during surgery (literally your stomach is being pushed up into your chest through your diaphragm...GERD is a symptom of this type of hernia. They are fairly common in people who overeat). A VENTRAL hernia is more around the belly button, often happens after surgery when the omentum is cut (like my gall bladder surgery in 2003). Once I've lost weight, the omentum will be more likely to heal intact...a hiatal hernia would respond more to a person who quits overeating. I have to quit overeating for a long time! :frown:

I have a large ventral hernia (not the same as a hiatal hernia!) and my surgeon told me at my banding weight (372) that it would just pop back out if they repaired it then. He said once I've lost a good chunk of weight, I'll have a better outcome. You don't say how much you weigh though; so yours may be repairable now?

Just remember while you're newly post op with the band, just because you can doesn't mean you should. :frown:

Right now...because I want to lose, I am (w/my doc's blessing and oversight) doing a modified version of the preop diet he had me on. I have 2-3 Protein shakes a day and then some meat, poultry, fish, whatever and veggies for dinner. Some days I have lunch too...just depends. I lose like 10-15 pounds in a week, then hold for a week or two, then drop 10-15 and so on. Odd, huh? My doc is adamant no Snacks (works for me) and the shakes are a meal, not a "filler"...but it isn't good to do this without your doc's approval. I don't get many cals most days. Of course, too, I'm 54 and post menopausal. That makes a diff, unfortunately! Last night I had fried chicken and some peas. :frown: I know fried chicken isn't a great choice for weight loss but I didn't even eat an entire thigh, so I guess it's ok! You certainly CAN diet right now while you're waiting for that wonderful thing called restriction...lots do. I didn't. When I calorie count, or weigh, or measure, i get obsessive. (tell me I can't and of course I immediately HAVE to. LOL) but it works for some. I honestly feel better and have more energy when I eat a more low carb diet (peas are a little carb-ish but they were awfully good, not to mention the coating on the chicken!). Some people, though, don't function well that way. What has worked for you in the past? Why not try that now? Restriction will happen....and until then if you don't want to just wait, you can revisit an old "diet" that worked for you before.

NNNNOOOOOOOOO!!! if you in a post op all liquid phase, DO NOT please DO NOT put pills in bread or cheese. Seriously! ALL LIQUID means just that...ALL LIQUID. Not all liquid except for a little cheese. It is really really important. The advice is fine other times but not post op lap band, ok? If you can't get it down as it is, don't take it.

As I said, it's a process. Depending on your band size and the aggressiveness (or lack!) in your doc, it may be a while. It will happen. My doc is a conservative one (and the literature I read backs up that approach but not all agree) so it took a LONG time in my 14cc band to hit the "green zone" or sweet spot as they call it here. But it was worth it. I rarely PB, I can eat anything, I'm losing. It will happen, just let it!

:frown: Some docs don't do much education, so you never know! LOL

Here's a ticker tutor I think helps...I don't remember how I did it but found this one later http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

Welcome and congrats! Just make sure you follow his post op diet...don't advance foods too fast, and you'll do great. And no, you won't get restriction until the band is tightened. For many of us that takes a while.

Your doc is apparently conservative, as is mine. You are on liquids for the very reasons I wrote to Commish....your band needs to heal. Some surgeons are less conservative and feel less time without that digestive action is ok; I've read of some docs who have people on clear liquids for 4 weeks. Seriously. No, they don't want you to starve. It isn't punitive. It's to let you heal properly. I had clear liquids for a week and didn't even get Protein drinks and lived through it, without doing murder or some other mayhem. I'm sure you'll make it too! :frown: I will say at almost 1 year out I have pretty much (knock on wood) no issues. I can eat any food (even white bread), no GERD, no Vitamin deficiencies, am well restricted and stay full 6 hours on my cup to 1 1/2 cups of food I eat...so I'm VERY glad I did what my doc said. You'll be glad too if you hang in there! And I have tried to educate myself on this process...that's my nature. But my advice, here or anywhere, should NEVER countermand your own good sense, or what your surgeon has told you to do. They are they pro's, you paid for that expertise! With that caveat, I'm always glad to help if I can!

If you're dizzy, just be careful standing etc..but hang in there! :frown: Very important to stick to your post op diet, let your band heal into place well, and set you up for a great experience!

Neek Neek...your band won't fill with phlegm. It is a closed system; the only thing in it is/should be sterile saline. :frown: But yes if you have allergies and have an allergy med you prefer, take it!

If you are working out too much you may need to eat a little more. Why not bump up your cals 100-200 a day for a week and see? AND I'm sure you know...change what you eat. Our bodies get into a rut. Mix up the menu, up the cals, see is you can shake it.

One caveat: Don't just take something like immodium without your doc's approval. Usually we have diarrhea FOR A REASON...our body is trying to expel something. It's the digestive system's way of getting rid of bad stuff and if we STOP that, well, the bad stuff is happy and really gets to thrive. So sometimes diarrhea is a good thing, sometimes not. Let your doc make that call.