Baba Wawa

Lmao!

If you only take half, then go back for the second half, only the first half counts!

So, you're going to have weight loss surgery. If you've never had surgery, the experience might be a bit more traumatic than it was for those of us who've had multiple surgeries of varying types. Here's what to expect:Usually, the first thing is the IV. The IV tech will start a line with saline, to insure you're hydrated and there's a vehicle, so to speak to carry the drugs you'll be given before, during and after your surgery. It doesn't really hurt...I've had them in the back of the hand and inside the elbow. Each bag of saline is about a liter (over two pounds) and this weight will show on your scale for some time. Don't freak out about this... Usually the anesthesiologist will come in and introduce themselves, ask some questions and tell you what they're going to do in the OR. This person is fully responsible for keeping you alive during surgery. They ventilate you, regulate your BP; this is the most important person to you in the OR.The surgeon usually comes by too, to reassure you, ask a few questions, before going into the OR. Once you go to OR, they'll usually have you scoot onto the table off the gurney, make sure your comfortable and then proceed with anesthesia. First, you'll be given 100% oxygen and told to take some deep breaths. Take as deep of breaths as you can, since this O2 is what sustains you while being intubated. Once you've taken the breaths, you get another drug to make you "sleep" followed by a drug that basically paralyzes your abdominal and breathing muscles (pretty much all muscles, but the heart). You'll quickly be intubated and put on a ventilator for life support. The entire process is completed in less than a minute. When you wake up, you'll be very groggy, want to go back to sleep and you may be uncomfortable. Tell the recovery nurse if you're hurting. You might be nauseous from anesthesia. Tell the nurse. Anti nausea drugs can be given thru the IV. After your vitals are stable and you're alert, you'll go to another room to recover. Sometimes, if you're doing great or if your hospital has this protocol, you'll be discharged straight from the day surgery recovery without being moved to a room. For the trip home, you should have loose fitting pajama bottoms, a warm top, robe or sweatshirt, socks and slippers. You'll also want a pillow to put under the seatbelt in the car. You'll want a barf bag too, just in case for a day or two. Once home, you'll be most comfortable in a recliner, though I slept in my bed the first night, on my side facing the edge of the bed. Practice getting in and out of bed without using your abs before surgery. It will hurt, it won't kill you. I've had open abdominal surgery and lap surgery, while still painful, cannot hold a candle to open abdominal surgery. You will live. To get up do the following: Roll onto your side Use your elbow to push upHave someone rotate your legs and feet to floor Push off with your hand to get fully upright...wait a minute to make sure you're not dizzy Stand with assistance. Wait a minute to ensure you're not going to faint. Reverse to get into bed. Always, for the first couple of days, have someone with you whenever you get up or down and while walking. I cannot emphasize enough that your discharge orders and doctor's diet, hydration and exercise orders should be followed EXACTLY. If you have a question, call your doctor. Don't post here. If you get a fever or can't drink water at all, call your doctor immediately. Nausea should subside within 8-24 hours. If it doesn't and you need a medication for it, call your doctor. Do not post here until after you've called the doctor and please state that you have called so we don't all tell you to call your doctor. Another thing...definitions: Clear liquid means you can see through it Full liquid is things like runny cream of wheat, puréed cream soups, protein shakes. NO LUMPS. Mushies or Purees is the consistency of baby food. No chunks., no lumps. Smooth is your friend. As you progress to solids, remember that babies don't go from puréed baby food to a NY steak in one day. Hopefully you practiced your new eating habits for a couple of months pre op to establish them as your new lifestyle. Transitioning from purees to solids is a gradual thing. Add a little finely ground turkey to a puréed food at first. Add ONE new food per day. After you tolerate ground meat, poached eggs, tuna salad, egg salad, etc, you can try cutting your food into 1/4" pieces and chewing 15-25 times per bite. Initially you won't get many calories in...500-700 calories, focusing on protein. You'll gradually get up to 900-1000 or more depending on your needs, per your nutritionist or doctor. Drink your water as directed too.The first weeks post op aren't for losing weight. You might not lose anything, but most people will lose the IV weight and a pound or two a week. Once you're on solids, your weight will go up a pound or two...filling the intestinal pipeline . This is normal. Fills are not the goal with the band...they are another tool to use when your weight loss levels out and/or you're hungry less than 4 hours after eating a meal of 1/2 cup to 1 cup of dense protein and low glycemic veggies/fruits. Go easy on the fills. Being over tight is the #1 identifiable cause of band erosion and slips.Many with the band are so focused on getting fills, they don't realize until they have a little unfill, that their band can work better with less fill. You can go out to eat with your band. Sharing works great. I ask for a small plate and put my food onto it immediately. I cut up everything before taking a bite. I eat very slowly and if my companion is having a glass of wine, I'll have one too, to sip as I eat. I don't do this at home, most of the time. Alcohol was not permitted for 3 months post op by my doctor. You'll get a little more tipsy on less due to abstaining for months. Your band has no affect on alcohol absorption. You probably shouldn't drink on an empty stomach, ever, band or not. I hope this is informative and helpful!

It's amazing how our perspective on food changes within a few months of being banded! Congrats!!

I really appreciate all my band has done for me. Not that it's been easy, I did the work, stayed focused and exercised discipline. Unfortunately, my heart (and GI tract) are telling me its time to quit fighting and wave the white flag. Time to see my band surgeon and seriously discuss my options for removal/revision. I've lost 90 lb, but my digestive system just isn't working correctly, 9 months after having all fill removed. Time to make the call and determine the next step.

Having a large hiatal hernia repair is difficult surgery. I had mine done when my band was implanted and it was very hard to breathe for days. I was diligent in using the spirometer, which helped. I even coughed up bloody mucous for a couple of days. I'm sure your mom will feel much better having gotten this taken care of.

Thanks! I think that for many of us, abuse, neglect, etc at the root of our obesity. I know I used my fat as a shield.

Who I am now isn't so important as how I came to be this person, wife, mother, grandmother, sister. The history is what formed me, challenged me to overcome, compelled me to do better than those who came before me. I was born near the mid-point of the last century, in a large western US city. My parents married because they had conceived me when my mom was 16. My birth father was 19. As it turned out, he was a violent paranoid schizophrenic and a pedophile. My mom was later Dx with Borderline Personality disorder. I won't go into detail, suffice it to say that my earliest memories are horrific. My two younger brothers and I suffered the abuse and neglect until I was 9 1/2 years old, when a neighbor girl was assaulted by my birth father, he was arrested and sent to a state psychiatric hospital for treatment. I was taken in to protective custody for four days, while my mother was investigated and cleared of complicity in my abuse. He was not allowed within 300 miles of me, upon his release, 4 years later. When I was 14, he committed suicide. My mom had remarried in 1960 to a wonderful man I refer to as Dad. He earned my trust, respect and love. They had two more little boys in the two years following their marriage. My Dad died of sleep apnea in 1978, we were all devastated and heartbroken...it was the undoing of my mom and my dearest brother. My mom turned to scotch for comfort, inviting my 17 year old brother to be her drinking partner. My mom died 8 miserable years later of pancreatic cancer. Those 8 years were awful, watching my mom decline, my brothers suffer. She raged constantly, told me often that I had no idea of her pain, her suffering. She made life a living hell for her family and circle of friends. She was diagnosed and died in 12 short weeks later. My brother died 14 years later, the victim of a predatory female who took advantage of his alcoholism, a recent injury, subbed his Rx pain Meds with extra strength Tylenol. Took him 3 weeks to die of liver failure, on our dad's birthday. My heart was broken. This brother was the first male I had in my life who loved me unconditionally. He was born when I was 11 and he was like a son to me. He was my husband's best buddy, my kids favorite uncle, everybody loved him. Yes, he was an alcoholic, very high functioning, but losing him was the saddest event of my life to date. My brother has been gone for 12 years...I think of him every day. I remember my little grandkids running up to the car when I'd arrive at their house, all four of them would climb in the car hugging me, asking me "...is you sad? Did your Brubbie die? Sorry *****, usses loves you! ". They did this for months, until I finally told them I felt better because they healed my broken heart. I have 8 grandkids 6 teens, 2 in their twenties. The youngest 4 are all the same age, 3 identical girls and a boy. I am blessed. Of my four siblings, two have passed. The oldest, died at age 51 as a transient. He inherited the mental illness genes and I never saw him after my mother's death. The next oldest lives in NM, his mind ravaged by years of alcohol and drug abuse. We have minimal contact thru FB. The youngest has never been able to form healthy relationships with anyone...I see him once per year when he comes to visit. He misses his big brother too. He tells me that his true home is wherever I am. I wish my mom had let me take him when he was 15 and she went on her 8 year binge. So...this is my emotional history, in a nutshell. The other stuff doesn't matter, except to say that my family is healthy, successful and happy. We celebrate often, mourn together when the time comes and love and support each other faithfully. My kids have all been married to their HS sweethearts for over 20 years each. We have done better than the generation before us...the bar was low on my side, but my husband and his family were great role models. I'm thankful every day for their love, support and example. I miss them painfully.

Things are a bit better. Thanks.

Good attitude! Tomorrow's a new day

My husband loved me at 112 lb and at 290 lb. I tended to be insecure, like you, but went to counseling to deal with some of the emotional issues that contributed to my obesity. It might be something to consider. Hang in there!

May 2010 Realize Band implanted, hiatal hernia repair, uneventful recovery Aug 2010 fill 3 cc March 2011 fill .5 cc Summer 2011 began to have epigastric pain at night. Sept 2011 stomach virus Sept 2011 pain upper right quadrant, duration 2-5 hours increasing, then subside quickly Oct 2011 barium swallow, band fine, slow esophageal emptying Oct 2011 upper abdominal ultrasound positive for gallstones Oct 2011 gallbladder removal Feb-May 2012 increasing GERD symptoms, nighttime epigastric pain radiating to shoulder, neck, jaw, back. Palpitations gradually increasing in frequency May 2012 had cardiac work up, stress test, echocardiogram, negative for heart disease. BP was elevated, so new drug Rx, resolved palpitations/hypertension. Epigastric pain persisted. June 2012 upper GI with barium shows stoma at band is nearly closed. Barium drips through, but no stream. Barium is backed up into esophagus. PA removes all saline (3.5 cc confirmed, clear, no sign of infection). Under flouro, barium is still in esophagus, emptying slowly. PA and Radiologist are concerned, but decide after I drink 8 oz water to schedule me for follow up 5 @ weeks. July 2012 follow up, lost 4 lb. still having problems eating anything fibrous, but able to eat, at least. Barium swallow shows smaller than expected stream thru band, but also shows slow esophogeal motility, but not so slow as to require follow up. PA states that since I'm tolerating food, losing and have a bit of a motility issue, she won't fill me, but cautions me to stay on the band diet and if I'm able to eat everything and quantity increases over 1 cup, to come in for another evaluation. Oct-Dec 2012 In early October, became very intolerant to most foods and started having nighttime pain again, GERD symptoms. Symptoms subsided for two weeks, then returned. Taking PPIs for GERD, probiotics and experiencing extreme constipation. BMs only every 8-10 days. Bloated miserable, having pain, feeling like food is stuck. November, saw GI doctor and he ordered EGD, soft low fiber diet. December EGD negative for Hpylori, celiac, erosion, Barrett's. Prescribed Amitiza for constipation. Antispasmodic for GI spasms. Symptoms improved. Feb symptoms (intolerance of meals, feeling stuck, etc) returned. Consult with GI doc, schedules GES. Results normal gastric emptying times, but abnormal esophageal retention. GI doctor follow up in 2 weeks. March 2013: barium swallow:Dx achalasia, severe esophageal dilation due to LES failure to open in response to swallowing. Discussed options for removal/revision and further testing. April 2013: esophageal manometry test to determine if achalasia is primary or secondary. If secondary, band IS the problem and it will have to come out. If primary, surgery may exacerbate the condition. Update: GI doctor has done all he can for me. I'm scheduled in late May for evaluation with one of the top esophageal surgeons in the nation to discuss band removal, redoing my HH repair and looking to see if my vagus nerve has been damaged. High weight 290 lb Surgery weight 281.5 Band emptying weight 225 Current weight 202 Goal weight 170 At all times my PCP, Gastroenterologist, Cardiologist and Bariatric Surgeon were in communication. Procedures, records and test findings were shared. Preexisting IBSd. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, GERD. Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction/Spinal Stenosis Left knee osteoarthritis-replacement recommended Still taking all medications I was taking pre-band + amitiza, antispasmodic and additional hypertensive drug

Very good post

My gastroenterologist has mentioned diagnostic lap as well...if they're in there, why not just do everything?

I feel your pain, Kime! I had to retire on disability 6 years ago due to spinal stenosis and SI joint disfunction and knew going into my surgery that I would not be compliant with the exercise part of the equation. I also have a knee that is in need of total replacement. I've lost 91 lb and not in the way I imagined. The first year, I lost about 60 lb, second year, 10 +- lb and in year 3, so far almost 20 lb. In the second year, I was basically maintaining, away from home for extended periods of time and enjoying a wide variety of foods, and living life. I also started developing some problems and at the end of my second year thought I was going to lose my band. In this, the third year, I've learned some important things about band related complications and being proactive, seeking second opinions and sticking with my band friendly food plan, with modifications, even with no fill...I'm still losing. One of the things you might consider is increasing protein calories, change your diet up for a few weeks. This is a tactic my nutritionist taught me. I don't lower overall calories, just add a protein snack mid afternoon. Things don't always go according to plan. That doesn't mean we're not successful, it just means we're on a little side road, enjoying the scenery while others are on the interstate, zooming to their destination. Enjoy the journey

I hope you get an answer soon. It's no fun having these sort of problems. I'm seeing my GI doctor this afternoon to find out what options I have for this motility disorder I've developed.

It's very normal to stop losing, even gain a bit as solids are introduced. You will lose again as you add more lean dense protein and low glycemic veggies to your food plan. Keep it up, you're doing great!

Even if you DON'T overeat, you can stretch your esophagus and pouch. The pouch is designed to hold a couple of ounces of food, about 1/4 cup. The reason we are told to eat slowly is to allow food to pass through the stoma into the lower part of the stomach, making room in the pouch for the rest of your meal, 1/2 to 1 cup. If the food can't pass through the stoma, even if it's chewed properly, it will stretch the pouch and back up into the esophagus causing it to dilate, even when eating per the "band rules" and not overeating. This is what I experienced, and after a complete unfill, I have lost 8 lbs because I can eat healthy foods, rather tan depending on sliders due to a too tight band. BTW, I only had 3.5 cc in my 11 cc band.

First off, the Beans are fine, but some of us have problems with the skins...it's a great recipe and you can make it up and purée it for that stage, post op. I do use Soups, after having a stuck episode or just in the days when that sounds good. I eat the broth first, the the solids...that way I'm still following "the rules". I love soup...being banded doesn't mean giving up all the foods you enjoy, just enjoying them in a different way. I would sub pastina or stelline for the macaroni, since they are smaller and more band friendly. Adding some Protein is a great idea, chopped chicken, beef, etc works....good luck with your surgery, I'm sure you'll do fine.

Yes, it's fluid from the IVs you had at the hospital, 6 lb is just about right. They want to make sure you're well hydrated prior to discharge, just in case you should have difficulty getting in all your fluids the first few days home...don't weigh yourself for at least a week.

What's the difference between a second surgery to put in a new band and a second surgery to revise to VSG? That is a perfect example of the medical system's complete lack of common sense!

Getting stuck and sliming is not something that should happen frequently. It could mean you're too tight (need a bit of fill removed), not cutting food small enough, eating too fast, or as in my case, your stomach has developed scar tissue under the band creating tightness even without a fill. If you're having frequent episodes you should see your band doctor.