RestlessMonkey

Call your doc. It's important to follow the post op diet...no one likes it (at least no one I know! LOL) but we do it because we have to, to heal. Your doc may give you the green light to eat or he may give you a nausea med, but don't just do this on your own. Peristalsis (digestion) can cause your stitches to rip or loosen and you may not know you've hurt yourself until on down the road. I know you don't want that; let your doc decide if it's safe for you to eat or no.

I think, from the little I've read, that yes the AP (advanced platform) Lap bands, small (holds 10cc) and large (holds 14cc) are supposed to be safer. Less slips, less erosion. Less issues. And because they are sized so that docs have a choice which to install, they can be more "custom fitted" to the patient. Because they are reporting issues with aggressive fills (too tight too quickly) like esophageal spasms etc, some docs consider a slow steady conservative approach to be more healthy. It's not a race and long term weight loss is the goal. I'm not a pro here but that's what my doc and my limited internet reading have brought up for me. So the OP who had a slip with her first band doesn't run as much risk of that with her new one. The old ones are still used, although more widely in Mexico than here in the states, and are safe and useful, but the "new ones" are supposedly safer long term. Remember though, if you HAVE an old one, that safer is relative....we're taking 1-2% of all "bandsters". They all will do the trick.

Even if it is "fast" for you, take time to, um, take your own pulse, if that makes sense? It is a big change. It's positive (usually) but even good things can be stressful and if you are doing it at hyper speed your mind may struggle to catch up (counterintuitive, but true!) Just be good to yourself, follow the "rules" your doc gives you, and I am sure you'll do great! :thumbup:

Thank you, TSB! You made my day! :thumbup: I wish you every success with your band!

Everyone is different...you'll learn that the more you read on here. There are no two experiences alike, it seems! But no, I didn't have to do a sleep test, nor did I have to do a stress test and/or get a cardiac clearance, like some do. It depends on the person, on insurance requirements, and on the surgeon. Since I had a normal ecg and no heart issues or symptoms, and since I didn't have anything that would indicate sleep apnea, and I didn't NEED a comorbidity for my insurance, the doc didn't require it. I just had the psych eval, a very quick nutrition eval, and some other medical preop tests...all of which were taken care of in one day at the hospital where my surgeon is head of bariatrics. So it was fast and easy!

I went to a seminar 7/10 and was in surgery 8/11 and am not self-pay so yes it can happen fast! Don't know about that Doc/Facility, but good luck to you!

I think you should probably know the info, in case you're ever in a medical situation where you need to give someone the info (just like you know what you're allergic to, or you know your insurance even if you don't know exactly what's covered etc). Otherwise I don't think it much matters; totally up to you. They all function essentially the same and the "perfect" fill level is different for every person, and it changes for every person too depending on weight, life situation, etc. So it just depends on your personality, besides the basics.

While you'll probably feel ok, depending on your surgeon the post op diet may be a little tricky. By week 4 I was on soft foods, some are still on mushies, some docs let patients advance. AND some docs say no hot tubs (for example) for up to a month post op...this is something you should probably discuss with your surgeon. You'll "feel" fine by then most likely, but other things may make your vacation more problematic than it should be. Good luck!

Honestly you'd be safer not to get a fill and then go on vacation the next day anyway (although your 2nd fill may not do much. Mine sure didn't!) If it is too tight and you need an "unfill" you'd be in deep poo! However I agree that is totally red tape BS!

The Front! :smile: Actually I really was just a little sore mostly in the front...the middle. It wasn't bad though. Tylenol for a day or two kicked it. I think I was really very lucky!

Depends on your doc; you might want to call and ask. Mine says 15 minutes; some say 1 hour or more.

i can believe the lower bmi/need more restriction view point, because I was told, and have read, that as we lose weight often we need our bands tightened because the fat around our stomach is diminished. If you start out with less fat around the stomach, then you need a smaller belt (just like a thin person needs a shorter belt than a heavier person does)

WOW! Thanks for sharing! Now we know yes the body CAN reject the band, rare though it is (lucky you, huh?) Glad it's out; glad you didn't wait longer! Hope now that everything is much easier for you! Take care and heal well

I have wanted the band since 2002 but my insurance didn't cover it, my doc wasn't on board, and I would just talk myself back out of it. This year my doc and the insurance company finally came around! So my doc recommended it, but about 7 years after I first wanted it on my own anyway.

Sounds to me like either you are too tight or you aren't taking small bites and chewing really really well. Are you following the "rules"...small bites, chew to mush, no drinking with meals?

My first fill was at 6 weeks. It seemed like FOREVER though. And it took to fill 5 before I finally got restriction.

I don't blame you. I don't think I'd want one either and people do have trouble adjusting...but say it is miraculous, the change in energy etc. Hate to tell you this but losing doesn't cure all apnea, either! Some "normal weight" people have it. Hopefully yours will go away with weight loss. I guess if your surgeon vouches for the pulmonologist, you're kind of stuck. Good luck whichever you decide.

I know you're frustrated, but sleep apnea is a bona fide problem for many, more than one "visit" isn't uncommon, and although I understand your anguish, not all docs are essentially businessmen first and foremost. There are some money grubbers in medicine as there are in anything on earth, unfortunately, and for all I know your surgeon is one, but if you think that's the big issue, find another. seriously! I don't have sleep apnea but from reading here and another "weight loss board", and knowing a couple people who have it, the cpap can revolutionize your life. I hope some people w/apnea will post for you, but I can assure you that it takes getting the right mask, machine, setting etc to properly treat it. If you want the band but don't trust your surgeon, switch docs. If you want the band and trust your surgeon but just are frustrated, then hopefully someone can post and help you deal. But your problem isn't an uncommon one. Many have to have several sleep apnea tests pre banding.

You know, Jacqui, I think you're the bee's knees! But I believe the newest thinking is you can pull fat specifically from the liver, at least the way my surgeon very patiently explained it to me not once, but twice. Extremely low fat diets seem to make our bodies go to the liver first. I did lose fat, not just water, at least assuming his pricey pricey tanita scales that check body fat, body water, etc are any indication. I would've agreed with you about 1000% (and actually I did...that's why I did my "own thing" for my first "liver shrink") but I think that at least the diet my doc gave me does some internal magic. Ok not really magic, but it works.

I can't offer any help or advice but I did want to tell you I think what has happened to you is pretty awful! I do think your doc should not charge you his fee...or work with you on it somehow. I feel for you!

My doc had me get EAS Carb control AdvantEDGE...they have 17 g protein, 110 cal, and are low fat low carb. They taste like it, too! BUT they are great for what they do. Good luck! :tongue:

I apparently had a fatty liver...doc said it wasn't diseased (yet, I'm assuming, because it isn't healthy) and I had a low carb, low calorie, low/no fat diet I was on to shrink it. Not a doc here but I think you're right to worry about the carbs and fat in the diet the doc gave you, if the point of it is to shrink your liver preop. The diet my doc gave me (and they all tweak them a little) was 2-3 low carb low fat low cal high Protein Shakes a day, 64 oz at least Water a day, and 3 oz lean fish chicken or turkey a day in one meal, plus some green veggies. period. I cheated and did a more atkins type thing the first 3 weeks, (atkins allows more fat) and while I lost 15 pounds my liver was too big still. After that horror I did what doc said for 17 days, lost 17 MORE pounds, and that time he placed the band fine. I always say trust your doc but if you're worred about it I don't see how cutting out some fat can hurt you any! Especially for just a few weeks.

All the rest aside (name calling etc..) It's easy to think someone's just whining about the sky falling until it really falls. I'm truly a question authority type, believe it or not. However I think when people post they too are putting it out there, open to all sides. If I take a more conservative approach that's my right; no one has to do what I advise. I'm not really a "band nazi" (I find that offensive actually) and I'm sure the other poster knows that. I came here, new and uninformed, last summer. I read over and over about people "cheating" on their preop diets. I figured "Why should I be different" and cheated. I truly came to in recovery without the band. May I say that was not my most fun I ever had? It sucked, actually. I had an "epiphany" then. I realized that for all those people urging cheating, and surely they weren't all trying to be mean....that I wish I hadn't done it. I'm that tiny voice saying "Wait...what if this happens" because sometimes you don't get away with it. Sometimes you eat a sandwich 2 days post op and tear out your stitches. Sometimes you cheat on a preop diet and your liver doesn't shrink. Sometimes you puke so much your band slips. Sometimes you get so constipated you get impacted and someone has to dig it out manually (and as a nursing student I was actually taught how to do this. not fun for either person, believe me) If you don't want the "this could happen" skip my post. I also tell people they are doing well because I also assume that like me, people come here wanting to get the truth, wanting to get all sides, wanting to make the best choices FOR THEM. You'll note I often say "ask your doctor what s/he thinks is right for you". I would never want to encourage someone to do something that eventually caused pain or damage, like what happened to me. I'd rather be seen as "gloom and doom" (easy to disregard if you want) than someone who encouraged an earnest poster to do him or her self harm. I guess it's all a matter of intent. I don't mean to hurt any more than most of the "you'll get away with it" posters do. And people who post need to read and filter the answers, regardless of their content.

Of course the best thing is to do what your doc says and you know that. But if I were you and TRULY couldn't either cut the hours or do the work on the protein shakes (and honestly are you sure 2 weeks off is enough? Many of us have lifting restrictions beyond 2 weeks...) then I would eat lean protein. eggs....chicken breast, turkey, fish. No fat, no breading, etc...(no sandwiches) but I'd supplement with the lean protein....something almost like an "atkins" type thing but no red meat unless it is super super lean. I'd just do enough to get by (especially knowing now what I didn't know then...I cheated on my preop diet and my liver was too thick. I came to in recovery w/out the band, the 1st time)

I have a few questions if you don't mind...how much do you weigh, how long and what is your preop diet, and has your doc told you what he wants from your preop diet (ie shrink your liver, drop 10% of your weight, etc?)