WantTheBand

Hello All. First time posting and new member. I'm going through the 'process' of visiting the other doctors before my surgery date is scheduled, but I had a question. I'm a guy and I was wondering if other guys who have the band could reply as to whether or not they had a catheter during the band procedure. Dont ask me why, but I can handle almost anything but the thought of a catheter. Thanks!

I've been reading and reading this forum for months now and have not really felt the need to post, until now. I'm a 6'1" male who was 324 lbs upon the start of the 2 week Protein shake diet. After the 2 weeks I am down to 297 lbs, which feels great. So now I had the thought that I had lost that much weight in that much time running through my head. I've done the same yo-yo's that the majority of you have and although I know that I would never be able to keep this much weight off, I've also never lost that much. Period. I never thought I would have elective surgery on myself for any reason. Then I saw the lap-band commercial and started researching it. It seemed like the perfect solution for me. The planning started and as time went on I couldnt help but question my decision. After the realization that I just need to proceed with this surgery that I've been planning for months, I went to the hospital yesterday (1/15/07) morning. I had mixed feelings because I was so nervous about having surgery, but I got up the nerve to do it. To make a very long story short, after changing into the gown, having all the vitals taken and an IV put in, the anasthesiaologist noticed that I had some congestion in my head from a cold last week and she suggested that it would be wise to wait a few days until I get rid of it. She let my wife and I make the ultimate decision, and we chose to wait. Mentally I am crushed. To get so close while being so uncertain and then to fail is devastating. I was very nervous, wondering if having the surgery in the first place was the right decision. Then to actually get prepped and have to cancel was unbelievable. My question is- am I the only one who was sitting on the bed subconsciously noting the building exits before they could put me to sleep (in case I wanted to run, haha) or does everyone go through this? Now that I have to wait 2 more weeks I fear that I might have second thoughts. I am terrified of having any surgery in general, not just bariatric. Anyone else have similar thoughts? How did you overcome? :help:

Wow, what a flashback. I can honestly tell you that the lap-band has changed my life sooooo much for the better. Since January 1st, I've lost 110 lbs, lost 8 inches in my pants size, and gone from a XXL shirt size to a Large. I know the band isnt for everyone and that it definately is not perfect, but I am a huge fan. It is as much a mental change as a physical change. If I can help anyone out with my experience, please feel free to ask! :clap2:

I dont think I would do it the day before. Maybe a couple days prior. You dont want a full system the day of your surgery. I had the same thought before my surgery, but what I decided was that it was the first major act of my own will power to not have that binge meal. The other thing is that after you get your band, you can still eat a reasonable amount, you just cant over-eat. So we still go out to our favorite restaurants and eat the same meals, just way less of it. Before you find your 'fill zone' you will be able to eat more than you should because you will have limited restriction. That's where I am now- I need a 2nd fill because the restriction I was experiencing has diminished a little. The wild thing is that 'over-eating' for me now is 1/4 to 1/2 of what I used to eat pre-band!!! Good Luck!

Thanks. I'll try to brush my tongue before I eat tonight to see if it helps.

I had the same concerns. Fortunately for me the doc said he would not use a foley catheter unless there was an absolute need for it. I did not get one after all! :clap2: I thanked him repeatedly. He also said if I could not urinate after the surgery they would need to put one in. Thank god for natural urination.

Have you or anyone else experienced a slight loss of taste? Even my most favortie foods have tasted a bit bland over the past couple weeks. It's actually a blessing in disguise, but I dont know why it's happening. Jeff

You can do it! The band can really change your life. I know that looking back I would never do it any other way. Jeff

Phil, It does get easier after the surgery. Those of us that have already been through this process know EXACTLY what you are talking about. What really makes the difference is when you start seeing the weight come off. As much as I love food, there is no comparison to feeling this good. While on the pre-op diet I actually got used to turning down real good food in favor of my shake! Jeff

I was fortunate to have lost 35 lbs on my pre-op diet on the Protein shakes. Due to illness my surgery got postponed so I was on the Protein shake diet for 4 weeks total (it was only supposed to be 2 weeks originally). Since then I have been mainly concerned with protein in the foods I eat but also watching out for carbs/sugar/fat. Making an effot to eat healthy has paid off for me. Plus my portions are less than 1/4 of what they were prior to my surgery. A daily menu might consist of: Brkfst- either a scrambled egg w/cheese or a protein shake. Sometimes I get the big Breakfast from mcdonalds and just eat the eggs and sausage. Lunch- a frozen 'south beach diet' dinner or a frozen 'lean cuisine' dinner. I always get a chicken based one except for a pork 'south beach diet'. Dinner- I cook either fish, shrimp or chicken in many different ways. However, on the weekends we often eat out if we're out running around. I always go for the healthier stuff on the menu and I can NEVER EVER finish any meal at a restaurant. Jeff

The only thing I can say is that I NEVER could have riden in a car for 2 hours straight (let alone 22 hours) the day I was released from the hospital. Every little bump was agonizing. Everyone is different, though, and you might be able to cope with it, but it would be bad to get stuck in that situation to find out you cannot!! Good Luck with your decision.

Glad you're feeling better. I still have the same feeling when I burp so I think its normal. Congrats on the 16 lbs! :clap2:

I am not a doc by any stretch, and he/she should probably be your authority on these questions, but from what I remember in the information that my doc gave me you can do both when it doesnt hurt to do so. I know that my soreness prevented me from sleeping in any position but on my back. About 4 weeks out I was finally able to comfortably sleep on my port side. I could sleep on the other side about a week earlier.

You will be real sore for a week and then it should slowly start to go away over the next week or two. That incision is the worst one, but they all hurt for a while. Jeff

My stomach was also very vocal so I wouldnt worry about that. As far as being able to drink large amounts, yes. When the band is put in, there is no restriction at all, other than any swelling that occurs due to the band. So until you get that first fill, your restriction will be zero. I also could drink whatever amount I wanted without problem, until that first fill. In fact, the way that my doc tested me afterwards was to have me drink a small dixie cup of water quickly in the waiting room. I felt it build up to the point that it felt like I could vomit, but then several seconds later it was gone. That meant I finally had some restriction, but not enough to keep fluids from draining quick. Hope this helps!

A thong in March, no way!

Thanks Andrew. Yeah, I do look like I'm melting away. Maybe tomorrow I'll post a picture of before/after. I took a pic about 20 lbs ago and did a before/after comparison .jpg and it's amazing. I'd rather post a more updated one though. It's ok for a guy to post a pic of himself on the internet for a bunch of other guys, right? haha. The crazy thing is that even though my appetite is still supressed and I'm losing 1-1.5 lbs a day, I think I'm due for a 2nd fill. My appetite is definately increased from when I got the first fill. The surgeon actually fit a "regular size" band on me and I'm the first male he's ever done that to. He said that it was due to the amount of fat that I lost before the surgery. He said that it gave me slight restriction right away so my appetite was immediately less, and that meant that I would get a very small first fill. I need to ask him how much he put in the first time. I actually had more problems with vomiting before my first fill, which is why he was afraid to put in too much. I'm not going to force my opinion on anyone and I know this is not the cure-all fix for everyone, but it sure has changed my life with little or no consequence. Except a $15k loan payment! Jeff

Thanks Bruce. You're on par for the same results!! 47 lbs in 2 months! Nice Job. Someone I was talking to the other day was asking in-depth details of my progress and they finally told me that they thought that at the rate of my weight loss that I could have done just as well without surgery if I would have changed my eating habits to what they are now. I laughed and responded that if I could have changed my eating habits like that, I would have never been 325 lbs!!

Unfortunately I have only been doing limited cardio. Had I been following the prescribed routine of 30 minutes per day of cardio I would probably be down a few more lbs, but I've only been doing it a couple days a week. I do plan on kicking it up a few notches and doing it daily!

Nice to see the dudes thread is still going strong! I've been so busy with work that I havent checked in for several weeks now. Looks like the majority of people are doing awesome with the band!! Congrats!! I'm rapidly approaching the -75lb mark and life is good. Nice to see everyone again! It might not work for everyone, but the band has changed my outlook on life. Wow.:welldoneclap: Jeff

I'm only 2 weeks post-op so I'm not the authority on this topic, but my doc says that the largest pill that I take, Allegra 180, should not be a problem even after I get some fills. Allegra is about the size of a Tylenol capsule. Time will tell..

Dont give up. Although I chose to self pay for my procedure, I submitted EVERYTHING that was pre-op to my insurance company and they paid about 99% of it with the exception of my normal deductable. Everyone I saw said they would submit it anyway and if insurance doesnt cover it then I would just have to pay it at that time. I did not have any classes that cost $$, just doctors visits.

I wanted to make sure that everyone here was aware of this link http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3190472028990485080&q=lap+band&hl=en to view the lap-band procedure from the surgeons point of view. It's graphic, but it really shows you how minimally invasive this procedure is. Weak stomach's should pass it up, but those who can take it might find it extremely interesting. There is alot of commentary by the guy who is not in the operating room and the video is an hour long, but watching it really helped me understand how the bad works. I cant take credit for discovering it, that goes to ousooner (Neal).

No problem. I personally think it should be a sticky because it is so relevent to anyone considering this procedure!

This morning I was thinking about our shaving conversation. Last weekend I went to a relatives house and one of their friends is an RN. When I showed her my incisions, she noted that the hospital shaved me, but not down to the skin. They left about a 1/16" of an inch of hair. She pointed out that the reason they do that is to not cause an infection accidentally. I guess by shaving down to the skin right before the surgery, there is a risk of something from the surgery causing an infection. Fact or fiction- I dont know. But check with the doc before you shave! It's probably one of those "one in a thousand" things, but why increase the odds against you?