RestlessMonkey

May I suggest you ask your surgeon? S/he may prefer you don't. Some believe that "detoxing" is really not healthy because it removes our "good" flora and fauna from our digestive tracts. AND you'll most likely be given a bowel prep before surgery anyway. So check with your doc. If they give you the green light, then "go" for it!

It's individual of course but right now (depending on what the food is) I can easily eat a bite about 2/3 to 1/2 the size of my old one. Some things, like steak, I'll eat about 1/2 the size of my old bite (and I wasn't really ever a "wolf it down" type LOL) but it isn't pencil eraser sized etc...that is too small to even chew! LOL Honestly you'll eat normally enough that, like I said, no one will know you're banded unless you want them to know.

Why on earth haven't you asked your surgeon for help/guidance?

It apparently didn't hurt me at all to go 7 days with only water and broth. I know long term we need a balanced diet but for a short while apparently some surgeons feel that healing, letting the digestive system rest, is more important than nutrition. Of course, we're tested thoroughly before and after.

Please understand that it is individual...for example while I know Cassy obviously put a lot of care and concern into her post, her experiences are not necessarily going to be yours. Some may be...some may not be. Just realize that many of us don't have problems, issues, negativity. You can discuss your concerns with a good surgeon, too...that should help you.

Just follow the diet your doc gives you...I wasn't allowed protein until week 2, for example, others get it from day 1 post op. And I came to in recovery HUNGRY. Not head hunger...HUNGER. But you just have to hang in there and let your band heal in place etc.

I'm 54...I LOVE my band. I am losing more slowly than I hoped but I am losing. It gives me hope that I may actually keep the weight off. I have honestly never once regretted it or wished I'd done something different. I think it is just short of miraculous. I eat less and am happy with that smaller amount. I feel like a "normal" person. I don't PB, I don't slime. I don't hurt. I feel wonderful. The way I eat now, no one would know I have the band if I didn't tell them. I have a friend visiting who wanted chick-fil-a the other day...I ate 1/2 of a chick fil a sandwich and 2 waffle fries and was full and happy. I think that is just wonderful. I wouldn't trade my band for gold. One thing I think that may help...find a surgeon you like and trust, and then TRUST that surgeon. Listen to him/her. Do what s/he tells you, not what you read here. Trust the pro to guide you. The anecdotal info here is nice but it should never replace medical advice and knowledge. And remember people often post their problems. They don't often post to say "Hi just wanted to say I love the band and have no questions".

I didn't have a "preop" diet for my insurance (that thing for 6 months or whatever to "prove" you're serious etc). I HAD a 3 week preop diet from my surgeon to shrink my liver, AND I had a 24 hour "preop" diet before the surgery that was just liquids and included mag citrate to clear out my innards and prep me. So my 2 preop diets were to achieve different goals. I agree you have to take it in context. It may seem wishy washy if you compare yourself to everyone else....my surgeon though has specific things he wants us to do that may or may not be like what others are told. For example my surgeon is adamant about "no snacks". Not all are like that. My surgeon also is pretty strict about following the preop diet; not all are. Just do what your surgeon tells you if you trust him/her; if you don't, find another surgeon!

I have fairly good restriction and as long as I remember to take small bites (not miniscule....just small) and chew well I haven't found anything I can't eat. Even white bread and dry chicken breast both go down fine.

Good for you; you're lucky you have such an understanding team! Mine is not so lackadaisical and was adamant about "no cheating", so I didn't...but I'm sure you're glad to know you're fine.

Many of us are very very hungry post op (not all though; some lucky people have swelling or some other issues that prevent the hunger, but not all of us). Just follow your post op diet/instructions. It will pass.

Honestly because I was so large, I had no problems qualifying. My doc has a person who just submits ins for his patients so I didn't have to do a bit of paperwork and my claim was approved in two days. I knew because I have tricare standard and had met my deductible it would pay at 80% until I reached my catastrophic cap, and that's what happened. It was easy.

I think this: if you don't "trust" your surgeon to guide you through the preop phase, how can you trust him to band you? To effectively give after care? He may or may not be right: I honestly don't know. I know that I had a big liver, I didn't follow MY doc's diet, I "cheated" but in 3 weeks lost 15 pounds and did NOT get the band because my liver was too large, so I came to in recovery with the scars but no band. I then, chagrined, did EXACTLY what my surgeon said, lost 17 MORE pounds, and got the band 19 days later. What are you going to do post op when you have to have only liquids? It isn't a matter of "need to function" but a matter of "need to heal properly". My surgeon required a week of liquids only....no Protein shakes, no supplements, nothing. What if yours requires that? IF you eat ahead of yourself, peristalsis and the concurrent movement of your stomach can literally rip your stitches loose. Worse, actually, it can loosen things so that you don't know it happened, but in 6 months, or a year, or down the road you'll have a slip or erosion and wonder "WHY ME?" So while I feel your pain I think you need to really question this. If your doc is wrong (and he may be?) why do you trust him to operate on you? If he's right (and he may be) why don't you trust him to guide your diet? You said his nurse is "sympathetic". Does that mean she said "you're right; you must eat" or "I know it's hard but hang in there" And what good is 500 cal a day actually doing you? Why can't you just stick? Why didn't you tell him "I can't go 2 weeks on just water; I have kids; I need to function" Only you can answer these questions for yourself. I don't really know the "right" answer. I hope you find it.

You should tell your surgeon...because you MIGHT have hurt yourself. Usually by day 14 we're on mushies but the fact that you vomited MAY (note I said MAY) have hurt you a bit. You are safest if you call your surgeon and ask! Not for him to fuss (he's not your mama) but to decide if you need an x-ray or something to check your band.

I take pills with no problem and have pretty good restriction. Why not just try 1 and see? I take a potassium pill that's pretty darned big and it goes down. Plus my surgeon gave me pain PILLS for post op! :thumbup: You can call your doc to be sure but I think you'll be ok.

I had to do an upper GI which I think is similar to what you had to have. It checks your esophagus. It was no biggie. Actually the abdominal ultrasound I had to have was more miserable!

Yes but it will get better. Hang in there; stick to your post op diet. Many (not all, but many) of us are unfortunately HUNGRY. It's important that you heal, however. If you're still in misery on Monday, call your surgeon. Just realize if we who've gone before can do it, you can surely do it! :thumbup: It's wroth it.

You might ask them....or your surgeon would probably know.

Can you possibly BEG your surgeon and move your surgery up a week or two? It is SO important that you follow the post op diet exactly as you're told (however that is) because how well you heal now etc will help control what kind of band experience you have a year or two or more down the road. While you certainly COULD go, you'll be more easily fatigued (drinking your meals does that) and it will be hard to hang in there...around that time is usually when "bandster hell" comes to call...you'll be hungry but still having to really watch it. I would think it will be very hard on you...but a week or two later and you'd be good. Ask your surgeon, if he can't move the surgery forward, what tips he has to help you.

Jaffa Steve it's commonly called "PCOS" or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Here's a link to a gov't site about it... please realize that 1/2 of all women with PCOS may be overweight, but 1/2 of all overweight women don't have PCOS. However, if your daughter has it she'll be glad to be finally diagnosed, I'm sure! Polycystic Ovary Syndrome << Frequently Asked Questions << womenshealth.gov

If you are truly truly that worried, go see a dermatologist. I've been told that how saggy/wrinkled we will end up depends on many many factors: our age, our gender, how fat we are, how long we've been at our top weight, how elastic our skin is, our skin tone/texture, our genes, our early diet, etc etc. Truly skin is an organ and exercising can tone the musculature UNDER the skin but it doesn't really impact the skin itself. Same with moisturizers; most just impact the top layer. A good dermatologist will be your best source of info, however.

I'm surely no doc but per the chart on MY doc's wall the proper fill level is: full on up to 1 cup of food, stays full 5-6 hours, losing 1-2 pounds a week. That isn't you. I think you need another fill. I have 6.5 cc in my 14 cc band and finally FINALLY have restriction; let me tell you it makes 100% difference. Call and get another fill. Good luck!

If you catch it before it hurts you, she can just do a small unfill. If you let it go on too long (GERD, reflux, dehydration, malnutrition etc) she'll probably think medically she should remove more. You're in pain for goodness sake! Call and get some taken out.

Mine does but it won't help you...tricare standard.

fakeDIY ... my post op diet was very restricted, only water and broth for the first week. No protein, no nothing. If your diet is as strict you might want to call your doc and tell him about the dizziness. In fact, you might want to call and tell him anyway; just run it by them. The pain sounds pretty normal (you did just have surgery there) but keep breathing deeply because it is so good for you! Good luck!