TinaM

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

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

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-

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.

you can call and find out but don't forget to check the anesthesiologist as well you have no idea what type of surgery was involved or if it was ateam of doctors involved make the call and check the surgeon and the anesthesiologist

Once I got aproved for the band I start shopping reseale shops. I gave myself $20 a month to shop. I now have a mix of old clothes in my closets in varous sizes and some new pieces.

Its a Taylor body fat analyzer I paid $35

I picked up my digital scale from Costco does weight and body fat - reads the eaxact same as my doc's.

Beans, beans i LOVE beans - i had a bowl of great northern beans with ham tonight and I have in a pinch had the taco bell pintos and cheese for lunch. I haven't had any problems with beans. Like another poster said I really limit salad and I wasn't given the green light until 1 month post op. If I have salad I order a chopped salad. No problems on either but I chew, chew, chew

oh boy i'd be extra mean

Executive for a credit union Instructor for University of Phoenix

Becky - I can so relate that's what I am aiming for too 299 here I come!

deuce- i had my 1st time sunday night reheated chicken breast and broccoli - 4 bites in I felt it immediately jumped out of the chair moved to the sink for a brief moment I pondered 911 - the pain was so intense and I was alone ( i need to add a big fear is dying at home alone and no one knows) so I coughed very, very hard a few times and had the mini vomititus of the last bite I had taken never, never again will I eat leftover chicken (too dry) and I will eat slowly darn it once was enough it will never happen again!:smile2:

good for you

okay if its situational food concersn I have run the gamit in 5 weeks and managed fine - I usually get aplate, put a small spoon of offered foods and take tiny, tiny bites I have been to a wedding (I asked for a vegetarian meal said my tummy was upset) they were serving steak and i was early post op 3 birthday parties pizza/pasta/salad/mexican - I have managed it all and no one noticed I wasn't chowing down like I used to so its about moderation/quanitity and smart food choices on the pizza I actually ate the toppings - i was concerned the bready crust would get stuck so I didn't even try it

Paula- I had lap band surgery Dec 15th and went thru the same thoughts you are having. I ultimately went with lb becuase if I had any other type of medical problem in life the band could be unfilled and I could receive treatments. The sleeve or RNY both have restrictions I just couldn't handle. I'm probably overly concerned as various cancers run in my family and I just want to be able to 'battle' any disease w/o worrying about a surgery decision I made years ago. My thought is the band can be unfilled or removed if need be and once well, it can be filled or I can have surgery to reinstall one. The vomiting - I am a BIG freaky gagger - I mean freaky as in I can easily start to gag and lord help me if I have to vomit - I totally freak. Here I am 6 weeks post op and I had one episode where I ate to fast, I knew it the moment it happened I stayed calm, had a strange feeling and up the bite came like a big burp. Now that, that happened I am so cautious, the word didn't come to an end but at the time it did hurt - but I did it to my self. as far as food restrictions - what is it you think you'll miss? I have eaten many things and not had issues. I do heed the advice of no soft breads but I haven't missed them. Are they foods that got you here? Now something you didn't address is the amount of work each one involves on your part. The band - it doesn't do it for you- you have to follow the 'rules'- exercise, get 70 - 90 grams of Protein in and 64oz of fluids a day with less than 1k calories. So you have to work at it change your habits. Protein/Produce then starches So its a tool but you have to use, not abuse it and you will be successful. the sleeve- a perm change, an alteration to your body - but you can be lazy - it only restricts your food for you so if you put in poor food choices you can still ramp up the calories (just like the band) and still fail (just like the band) but now you are missing 85% of your stomach. In my research I found that at 5 years out the band and rny have similiar weight loss and maintanence. My reading on the sleeve said altho slightly comparable to band it is equal to RNY. In the end it comes down to what is best for you, be very honest with your medical team especially your surgeon and pysch. They should be able to guide you. My surgeon would not say 'yes do this one, not that one' - he gave me every ounce of info I could get my hands on and answered a lot of questions (I called 2 or 3 times a week for 4 or 5 weeks) Also you may want to post this on the board for gastric sleeve - as I'm pretty sure since most folks on here have the band - they may be slightly biased :smile2: Good luck in your decision. tina