TinaM

hello all - my surgeon's nurse told me I could take a stool softener or something along the lines of mil of magnesia on day 3 post op. i had experienced difficulty with bms after other surgeruies that required anesthia

great job!

fritty go for 20lbs I'm in for 12lbs down by the fourth!

it doesn't last forever so calm down what i did was send someone to a restaurant to get french onion soup they brought it home and strained it for me the change in having that versus broth right out of the box was mind numbing next meal I sent him to get homemade chicken noodle soup for me and did the same thing the extra spices, whatever made a big difference for me My doc also cleared me for Jello and applesauce on day 5. hang in there

My ins didn't require weightloss but after the ultrasound of my liver showed it was fatty my surgeon put me on liquids immediately. He explained that if he went in and the liver was too fatty/big it would be too dangerous to lift it to put the band around the stomach. He explained that in two occasions last year the patient woke up in recovery with no band for this very reason. I did the liquid diet for 8 days and lost 12 lbs and had my surgery as scheduled. I would suggest speaking with your nutritionist about what you are eating so you can get some weightloss in before surgery.

I was actually scared of getting something stuck - now that I have some experience with it - not scary (and it was on food not pills) The pain medication I was given right after surgery were horse pills because the ONLY liqud pain meds I am allergeic too - now that was fun. Every day I chew two multivitamins in the morning, take a VitD and VitB1 supplement and two prescriptions. I don't have any problems swalling them here at 6 months out but I'm 'full' for a few hours. Also you may want to ask your surgeon about supplements right after surgery. Mine had me double up on multivitamins for 4 days before surgery knowing I wouldn't be taking them for at least a couple of days after. If you have any additional questions feel free to ask.

I crushed mine until about 2 months post op - mixed with applesauce was ok'd by surgeon. The next 2 months I diced them in fourths.

good for you

thank you all for your re[lies - I g next week for another checkup. I also posted ion social groups about vitamin deficiencies

anyone tighter in the mornings? I emailed my surgeon this question but his nurse called back and said he was leave and she told me to stick with mushies in the morning some people have this problem After I've been up and about for about 4 hours things are fine but I can't wait 4 hours to eat! Let me know delights- t

So, we are all banded and started a New Year, a New Decade and on the way to our somewhat 'new' and improved selves. To keep us all motivated and moving in the right direction (down on the scale) thought I'd throw out a challenge. Now we already have a Valentine's Day challenge going and that is just 6 shorts weeks a way! so let's keep it rolling. I'm going to try for 40lbs, yes I know its a lot but me and Mr. Treadmill/Stationary Bike were reintroduced this week and well I believe I've started a love affair. No sign in required http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AjNypE3FM5sgdHNDd2ZYNTFxa09XMG0xTWh3aGxkVFE&hl=en

carmen - watch the rice - it expands in your tummy - you don't want to stretch your pouch talk to your nutrionist for foods you should avoid

definitely a call to the doc is needed

hi there- i'll try to answer your question but if I miss one just message me. The time from phone call to surgery really depends on insurance self pay - you really get it doen fast ppo usually 3 month process hmo usually a 6 month process and this is after your 1st official weigh in the part about calorie restriction- the band restricts the amount of food you put in the tummy - it doesn't pick the kind of foods you eat - you still do - so if you want want to eat choc mousse, ice cream and red velvet cake - hmm you are eating way more calories than you ned to. So you still need to make the right food decisions it really quites the hunger as others have said. i looked at rny and sleeve and band - the decison was 100% mine my physican and his team gave me all the facts they had, i walked in wanting the band and 6 months later it was still my choice. This may sound strange but for me it was still being somewhat in control. Yes, I'm a control freak. During my reaserach I found that at 5 years the RNY and Band have the same % of weight loss - RNY drops faster of course but slow and steady was fine for me. The major difference between the other surgeries and band is the amount of work you must do - the band does require significant follow up care - fills, unfills until you get to your sweet spot. The others are more of a set it and forget it with exception of daily supplements. A few suggestions- 1. Attend as many support groups for WLS you can during your decision process. I was fortunate enough that we had a micxed group of pre and post op patients from all WLS surgeries. 2. Take all board comments with a grain of salt both the good and the bad. You are a unique person so follow the advice of your medical team. 3. Know regardless of your decision - its the 'right' one for you:blushing: good luck-

hi natalia first page and first post has a link to a spreadsheet fill free to put down your goal

Hi All, I've been away for a bit...... I read a few negative comments on here and I just got so frustrated - not with our thread but some people's inability to accept responsibility and think the band is the easy way out. Well, I'm back, tomorrow is my first fill but I have a funny story that's really why I'm here. Yes I've dropped a couple of sizes and I'm still shopping 'within' my closet. I even had someone not recognize me - it was so funny, she turned and said hey are you new to our volunteer group? ahhh nope been here every Monday for 20 weeks, maybe its the ponytail thowing you off tehe, tehe. But that isn't even THE story. I've been walking my cute little dog 5 miles a day - we break it up in 2 or 3 walks but it gets done. Sunday was a beautiful day so I pushed that to 7 miles. I brought the dog back home and decided I would go to this walking/hiking spot that I see people at and hear people talk about how beautiful it is once you get up the big hill. So I walked just over a mile to the entrance and started up the hill - it came to the fork...... left a more challenging route (steep) or right - flat route. Feeling super human I chose left. Oh yeah about 20 minutes in - WHAT THE HELL HAVE I DONE!!!! :scared2: My legs started shaking baaaaddddd. I took a break and decided with the just over a mile walk back home I better turn around. I didn't see the awesome view but hey I tried. I could not walk come Monday morning (10 miles remember) - soaked in the hot tub and went for a massage. I actually called in to work people -I was hurting very bad. Note to self - you are still a chubby girl:wink: - you are doing GREAT but let's not conquer the world in one day:wink: let's work up to it!!:thumbup:

so at 4 weeks post op I thought I had a cold and called the doc I was told benedryl childrens liquid and I would suggest the grape and I took liquid tylneol(adult 3 hours after) then by day 3 I was much worse - confirmed h1n1 i was taking liquid tylenol adult - 2 hours later liquid motrin(childrens) directed by doc to break fever plus crushed mucinex d - mixed with yogurt i got the tamiflu but it didn't help at all- after 2 rounds of amoxicillian and a zpak I was back to work after 20 days it was hands down the sickiest i have been in my adult life I gues what I am trying to say is your immune system is weakened so if you aren't feeling well jump on it fast and get your docs input.

so a year ago I attended my info session and like you I was the tallest and youngest in the room -a lady in her 60s told me I must carry my weight well. I just smiled and said I'm 'firm packed' The bottom line is I was 6 ft tall and weighed 378 - no matter how curvy the hourglass is - I'm still overweight You will have nay sayers but it sounds as if you have done great research. Only you and your medical team knows what's best for you. I must say the period you start the program with the surgeon to the tme surgery is scheudled is very much a vetting period - to see if this is what you really want. Don't get fristrated its all for your benefit.

well... you certainly wouldn't win any lawsuit as it in reality is your fault this isn't working. Sounds like you didn't put in the time to do research before hand. Most of us on this website understand the band isn't a cure all, it is a tool that requires maintanence and need you to hold up your end of the bargain. I agree its major surgery and having major surgery requires you know the risks, rewards, get a second opinion and do some research. Sounds like you were in awe of some commercial and thought you would wake up skinny. I agree with the others here that you must get back on track with your eating and exercising and save money for a fill. Good luck in your journey - there are many people that have been very successful with the band I hope you can become one of them.

i think you should continue this hardwark approach with the next fill for at least a year before you consider the sleeve or rny

I'm 7 weeks post op and went in today ... doc said no fill needed I'm losing well on my own at this point 30lbs gone. He said a rare few can go 3 - 4 months with the band and not need a fill and even a rarier number never need a fill. I have kept my postion the same as that right after surgery and worked closely with my nutritionist. Good luck-

oh and I noticed folks haven't been updating their status on the spreadsheet - don't forget http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AjNypE3FM5sgdE1ZR0J6UV80YUpzRVlMUlRKVzhDa0E&hl=en

so i wasn't able to keep my 5 week appt due to the flu so i went in today, just 1 day shy of 7 weeks and down 30lbs the doc said no go on the adjustment/fill since I am doing so well. That of course is a double edge sword - yay I'm doing well but I want to continue that..... I'm down 1 size. I'm happy, very happy

so my doctor had me taking 2 Multivitamins a day during the pre surgery diet. The reason he explained was that the first week after surgery was hard on the body and he wanted to make sure I was well equipped(vitamin/nutrient wise) to handle it. I was taking one in the morning and one in the evening plus my usual calcium. During the first week post op - I was given the okay to mix the crushed Vitamin (or pain pill) with applesauce to make it easier to take, I'm sure you can get the same okay. I'm back to my regular Multivitamin and calcium as my regular routine.

once my surgery was scheduled i asked for the name of the anest. I just called my doc's nurse and asked for the name.