BetsyB

How miserable! Sinus drainage made me so sick preop that I hate to contemplate how it will affect me postop! In the past, the things that have helped me the most, in terms of mobilizing and loosening secretions have been Mucinex (not Mucinex D, just plain), TONS of Fluid, a good decongestant, and saline nasal spray. (I know many swear by neti pots, but just read a report that suggested they remove too many flora and ultimately may reduce resistance to infection, so I stick with use of saline and only while infected.) That, and antibiotics, of course! Did your doctor prescribe a decongestant along with your antibiotic? If not, you can get one OTC---but ask the pharmacist (or your doc) which s/he'd recommend. Some contain antihistamines, as well---which can gunk things up a little.

I have a Realize band, too. My surgeon also uses the Lap-band, but told me he usually reserves that for patients with higher BMIs than I had, going in.

I'm right there with Elfie---Protein comes first, always. This is what my doctor recommends, and in fact, he doesn't recommend adding grains and other carby foods back in until 75 percent of excess weight is lost. I am not sure I'll always stick by that directive, but I can tell you that when I eat adequate protein, then there's no room for the carbier stuff. If you have difficulty with meat, try preparing it in ways that keep it moist---braising, crockpot, and so on. Experiment with different cuts, add a little sauce, and so on. You have to make sure you don't dry it out; rare is better than well done for band purposes. chicken tends to dry out easily; using dark meat helps avoid this. I've found that fish is very easy for me to tolerate---I liked it (but didn't love it and didn't often cook it) preop, but now I really love it---and rely on it a lot. Beans are a good meat alternative; they are carbier than meat, but the "good" kind with low glycemic impact. They also have good staying power. Yogurt (maybe even with a bit of Protein powder added) is good in a pinch. I also continue to use protein shakes. I like the Inspire brand from Bariatric Eating. I have 1-2/day depending on how I've met my protein needs.

It's totally normal! Weight loss doesn't occur in a straight downward line---there are often little plateaus. Immediately postop, your body's still going through lots of changes---be patient & keep working it, and you'll see the loss :frown:

I'm so glad you're doing so well! I've just emailed my doctor's office, asking for a fill earlier than currently scheduled. I'm ready, and as long as there are no medical contraindications, want to move ahead. We have to be proactive!

If it were at all serious, it would be frustrating. But even the phrasing of the poll makes it evident it's completely tongue-in-cheek. And sometimes, funny is a good thing.

You're doing it right! I couldn't feel my port until the swelling receded and I'd lost a bit of weight. It's becoming more prominent with time. I had--and still have, after one fill--NO problem drinking liquids as I always have, and was just fine with pureed Proteins on Day Three after surgery. We're just the lucky ones! It's a good thing :frown:

My doctor recommends three meals a day. It's not doable for me. I add two Protein Snacks. I really think it's important to fuel the fire at regular intervals, and waiting until mealtime not only doesn't do that, but it results in hunger that makes me more vulnerable to making bad choices.

Whey, by far. First, it's more bioavailable. Secondly, it doesn't affect thyroid function (soy can be a problem for many), and finally, it does not present the same high risk of allergy issues.

Well, I'm not going to say you're nuts for wanting it, because really---I think the band will be of far more use to me in maintaining weight than losing. I totally understand your desire to keep your weight at a healthy level by addressing a problem before it really becomes a big one. That said, the band doesn't work on its own. Doctors look for patients who ARE able to lose---because that means they can comply with the band's requirements. Limiting your portion size is critical--banded or no. It usually takes a period of months before restriction is achieved; during that time---and even after, if you eat the wrong foods--it's more than possible to gain. The band is good "insurance" for many of us, but not well-suited for all. That doesn't mean you won't find a doctor to band you, or that it would be the wrong thing to do. But you're going to be expected to do some REAL work on yourself before anyone will go forward. I also think you can expect a great deal of resistance from surgeons you see; most have a particular BMI in mind when assessing patients, and if you fall below it, you'll have to be prepared to put on a pretty strong case. Most want their patients to demonstrate a history of loss and regain. (I am NOT advocating you do this! It would be so much better if you just got a handle on portion control.) You say your mother and aunts gave up. You don't have to. Banded or no, there is HUGE personal responsibility for outcome; if you are not able to exercise portion control now, then that won't magically change with a band----you will still have to use your own judgment to limit portions. Please don't let your thinking about banding be magical thinking. Do your BEST with eating and exercise. Nip the gain in the bud. You might want to attend a surgeon's free seminar to hear more about what banding involves, as well. Lastly, you can definitely expect to self-pay. Unless you have significant weight-related health issues, insurance will not cover banding for people whose BMIs are, generally, less than 40 or so. Good luck---and good for you, wanting to get the better of a weight issue before it's overwhelming.

Were you discharged the same day? If so, I think your experience is typical. You have discharge instructions, and will follow up soon with an office visit. If you stayed overnight, I would have expected a visit from the doctor or his PA prior to discharge---since he'd have to visit the unit to write discharge orders, anyway. Bariatric surgeons form longer-lasting relationships with their patients than many surgeons, so they do tend to be a warmer bunch, IMO. But it doesn't sound as though your experience was atypical :redface: (It's also really normal to feel a little abandoned after surgery--there is such a buildup of anticipation, and then it's a bit anticlimactic.)

What percentage of American physicians are represented in the files you see? Not a very big one. You see the worst of the profession; that does not mean the remainder bears any resemblance to that. Yes, there are a-holes in every walk of life. Most who enter the field of medicine do not do so to make money. There are far better ways of doing that! And let's not forget: each and every one of us who is banded--or will be---ASKED for the elective surgery. No one is inflicting anything on us. While it's wise to educate ourselves to ensure that standards of practice are adhered to, it's important to remember that we are forming LIFELONG relationships with our bariatric surgeons. If you have a surgeon whose judgment you question---find another surgeon. But keeping a jaundiced eye turned toward the profession is only going to serve as a barrier to a good working relationship. And the person whose butt it's going to bite is the patient's.

You're not being scammed. I posted to your other thread, so I won't go into detail here--but there are legitimate reasons for his recommendation. That does not mean his approach is the only one--or that you should blindly agree. It simply means there's no "gall" involved (except as in gall bladder). Not every recommendation made by a physician is money-motivated. Most really do care about their patients' well-being and make recommendations based on that. Remember, you've asked to have this procedure (banding) done. Along with that will come doctor recommendations. You might not like them all--or follow them. But when you seek medical care, you do, in fact, place yourself directly in position to get a doctor's medical opinion. His is one that is common, and commonly accepted.

I try to find things I LIKE to do--so housework? Not one of them! I don't want to feel doubly-punished! Usually, I submerge myself in a good book, work, or exercise.

That's exactly the problem with soda--it HURTS. Not as in causing lasting damage, but the carbon dioxide bubbles just cause PAIN. So yes--literally. It will hurt.

Some coughs just linger. The anesthesiologist will listen to your lungs and make a determination. Chances are, surgery will go forward. The anesthesiologist may administer bronchodilators or other meds to improve airway function for the immediate postop period---but unless you're really battling an active infection, he will likely be okay with moving forward. What kind of cough is it? If it's productive, make sure you're drinking plenty of fluid--combined with the Robitussin, that will help loosen secretions. If it's dry and hacky, fluids help, too---and an antitussive might help. (Check with your doc.) I hope you feel better fast! I know it'd be SO frustrating--but if surgery does have to be postponed, it is to protect your safety.

I disagree. Insurers are, but doctors, for the most part, really aren't.

The biggest don't I can think of is choosing a psych who's not among those recommended by your surgeon. I chose one closer to home--and while he is probably a good enough therapist, he went really far afield in my evaluation. He did approve me, but my anxiety was quadrupled by the extra hoops he had me jump through. Otherwise, don't worry about it too much---even if you DO have some emotional issues (because who doesn't?), they will not likely stand in your way. The point is to identify people for whom psychopathology is a real obstacle to compliance. You'll do fine :redface:

It used to be common to remove the gall bladder at the same time as banding---and some doctors did this whether the gall bladder was diseased or not, because the loss precipitated by WLS very often does trigger the formation of gallstones that necessitate removal. They found that postop infections increased when the two procedures were done at the same time. You already have an identified gall stone. Chances are, you will genuinely require gall bladder removal. The question is whether it must be now, or whether you can wait and see whether it becomes necessary. The problem with the latter approach is that, if you become ill, it can really make recovery from banding --- or getting used to a new band--difficult. Many people do live with gall stones that never become symptomatic. It's very difficult to predict whether you will be among them. So the short answer is no, your doctor is not a scam artist. It sounds like he has genuine concerns about your well-being, and wishes to tackle a problem before it causes you distress. OTOH, it's an approach that might not be necessary. Is he approachable, in terms of discussing the pros and cons of moving forward? If I were in your shoes and did not want to have the cholecystectomy before banding, I think I would let my own doctor know that I was aware that WLS ups the odds of gall bladder disease, and that I knew that intervention might be necessary down the road---but would prefer to approach it more conservatively. If you're well-informed, and know the signs & symptoms to look for, a wait-and-watch approach really may be appropriate (even if it's not your doctor's first choice). OTOH, if he is insistent, I would not feel as though I were being scammed. I might get a second opinion (from another bariatric surgeon), but I would accept it simply as his (acceptable) medical opinion.

I'm would not consider exogenous HCG unless my levels had been measured by an endocrinologist and determined to require supplementation with exogenous hormone. I ESPECIALLY would not consider purchasing "HCG" from a diet promoter---it's very likely NOT human chorionic gonadotropin, or at least not good-quality hormone in amounts that effect a real change. As an obese woman, my endocrine system is already confused. It's more so as I lose weight; body fat is mildly estrogenic, and as it's lost, blood levels rise (temporarily). There's no way on God's green earth I'd add another hormone to the mix without the guidance of a very, very skilled endocrinologist (NOT one vested in promoting a diet and selling the "hormone" to the desperate). It's not something required for loss. You already have THAT wrapped around your body. How are you eating now? How are you exercising? How could you change? (Sometimes, getting past a plateau is a matter of simply tweaking what you're doing; others, it's simply a matter of waiting it out---as hard as that is.)

You went through a self-described hell (preop diet) in order to have a band wrapped around your stomach to help you lose weight. Think about that. You willingly subjected your body to general anesthesia, allowed another human to cut your body open, and had a foreign object designed to limit your stomach capacity wrapped around the organ. Doesn't it seem absurd to abuse that tool so early in the game? Seriously---think about what you went through to be banded. Think about the surgical risk---and the risk your doctor took, taking you on as a patient. (I know that last part sounds odd, but really---think about it. Another human put himself, his reputation, and his license on the line to provide you with this tool; don't you owe it to him/her to at least follow the recommended protocol during the immediate postop period, when your body is still healing?) Aren't there OTHER foods---foods on your doctor's approved eating plan---that would fill your stomach just as nicely as a grilled cheese? This isn't about hunger. Not bona fide hunger. It's about something else. You'll find the strength to fight it when you are honest enough to identify it for yourself. When you can say, "But I really just WANTED a grilled cheese (or cheeseburger or cereal or macaroni and cheese) instead of, "I was so hungry and deserved it after weeks of preop diet torture," you'll find the strength to stop. It's not about what you want or deserve. It's about what your body NEEDS. Give it that. Given what you've been eating, your cravings are very understandable; they self-perpetuate. Give your body a few days of good Protein (it doesn't have to be gross!), listen to it when it says, "I'm full," tell the devil on your shoulder to hush, and just white-knuckle it out until you become aware that, hey! you no longer are craving those things because you really ARE satisfied! (Even without restriction, you will have periods of satiety---and can make good choices when hungry.) (Sorry if it feels as though I applied a 2x4 to your head with my response; it really was done gently and with love; I just happen to be pretty forthright. Everyone wants for you to succeed!)

Even if he were in the United States, I wouldn't expect a windfall from a malpractice case. Medical expenses paid? Sure--probably in triplicate. A little for pain and suffering? Yes. But there will (thankfully!) likely be no permanent disability---so the damages are limited. And that's a GOOD THING! Still, it's lot of suffering to get 3x your medical bills (if you're lucky) in a courtroom. Particularly when you factor in what goes to lawyers and doctors! Still, that's not the real issue. The important thing is that Laura is now in competent hands. In THIS country, where follow-up is only a short distance away.

Some foods are sort of notorious for gas production--Beans, certain veggies, etc. So this may be a contributor, depending on what "normal food" means to you. I found, post-banding, that I've become lactose intolerant. Anything containing milk (except yogurt and cheese; the bacterial cultures in those prevent the problem) makes me terribly gassy. It's my understanding that this is not unusual post-bariatric surgery (but more common after RNY). I also have NO tolerance for sugar; I found this out when treating my just-discovered lactose intolerance with Rolaids---it didn't even occur to me to be concerned about the amount of sugar in a Rolaid, but it caused great gastrointestinal distress. So, two new intolerances identified at once! (Fun.) BUT--the most common reason for gas is swallowing too much air when eating. I assume you're not using straws or drinking during meals, since your doctor probably forbade these both. But also remember to chew slowly and carefully and don't talk while eating. (I don't mean don't talk during the meal--just not between putting a bite in your mouth and swallowing.)

Yes, it's normal--and you're right, it's aggravating!

It's great that you were able to talk, and give some boundaries, while leaving yourself open to other invitations.