LowPSI

I was banded a week ago and was allowed to progress to "Mushies" today. So...I made some canned chicken with a little low-fat mayo. I also decided that a cracker would go really nice with it. (It always used to!) WRONG! I actually though I didn't have any real restriction. HaHaHa In some ways, I'm glad I got stuck (took about 15 mins to resolve.) so that 1. I know what it feels like; 2. I know at least one thing NOT to do and: 3. I know I don't want it to happen again! LOL

Awesome! Now that you're where you want to be weight-wise, what, if any changes are you making to the Band. ie: how much, if any, restriction do you have or want?

Mine is about 3 inches above and 6 inches to the (my) right of my "origianal" port.

My doc said that the band is usually "tighter" in the morning. Something to do with the combination of not having been expanded since the day before and laying down for an extended period of time. Based on this info, when I start getting fills, I will schedule them for the afternoons.

My guess is that your doc will be more upset if you are still in pain and don't tell him! Call him now, why suffer if you don't have to? Besides, he may want to have you come in to make sure evertyhing is OK. Let him earn his pay!

In case no one had noticed, guys can sometimes be real jerks! As a guy, I'm sorry your other band is having issues. (Maybe you could wear a "fat" suit during sex?) Even when guys are fat, we still fantasize about thin women, so I'm not sure what his problem is. My wife is also losing (not with a band) and I look forward to both of us banging our bones together soon! LOL

Just had my first "meal"...SF Jello and a bottle of water with Crystal Light. The swallow test went fine, I actually didn't mind the taste ofthe yuk. Doc told me he installed a 14 cc band and filled it with 4 cc, so I have some restriction. In the swallow test, I coups see the yuk gather before the band, then drain through. Pretty cool to watch. So far this has been about as painless and comfotable as I could have hoped for. (Did I mention the proceedure only took 20 mnutes?) No shoulder pain, no nausea, pro lem gettng in and out of bed and walking. Only issue has been a sore throat, but they have been giving me liquid Tylenol and Chlorasptic spray. PS I'm really glad I brought my iPhone. It's been great beng able to check in with everyone while still in the hospital. I hope everybody has a great day!

The Lap Band is usually installed empty, with the first fill a few weeks later. The Realize band s usually filled with 5cc's when installed. (At least that is what my Doc told me.)

I was banded yesterday (11/10) also. I guess I got lucky, no nausea, no shoulder pain, no gassy feelings. I'm here (the hospital) for 23 hours and the only issue. Have Is with my throat. It's funny how dilauded eases surgical pain, but can't touch a sore throat! They say the proceedure only took 20 minutes. I'm surprised that I really have almost no band-related issues. Fingers crossed! (did they really install the band? LOL)

Doc says everything went great. Had two docs and installation only took 20 minutes!! Feeling great, pain is a 3and no nausea. liquid Tylenol for a wicked sore throat is working. Staying the night (23 hour short stay). I'll save my phones battery and try to post later. This forum has really been a great help to me. So glad I found it. Hope everyone else banded today is ALS doing well.

Doc said the installation went great. Pain is no problem, though my throat is on fire. Just got some ChlorAHseptic and have some liquid Tylenol on the way. Ice chips feel good, but offer little in the way of pain relief. I guess I'll be moving on to the "other side" soon. Good luck to all. God bless and God speed!

Yup, 20 grams of protein. Fortunately, I'll be "on the other side" in 4 or 5 hours, so I'll be on to 60 -90 grams with the band.

I'm on day 7 of my pre-op (Band goes on tomorrow!) and I was not given a calorie goal, I have been limited to 20 grams of protein per day. (A Carnation SFInstant breakfast with 1% has 13 grams!) Amazingly, I'm OK, and I've lost 19 lbs this week.

Day 5 of my starvation, er, pre-op diet and the scale says I've lost 17 lbs! If you'd have asked me 6 days ago if I would be able to stay on this "diet", I honestly didn't think so. In fact, I had asked my doc, if I felt weak, could I add a little Protein. (No!) So now I'm thinking, what if I lose the 100 lbs by Wednesday? Do I still get the Band? LOL By-the-way, am I the only one to notice just how many food comercials are on TV? Amazingly, few actually appeal to me right now.

My kids decided to eat out tonight. Thanks...I think! The scale says 13 lbs. I would never have thought I could "eat" a diet the doc has me on, but now I'm curious to see just how much weight I can lose in 7 days. (Yeah, yeah, I know a lot of it is water - but so what!)

I'm coming to end of day 2 of my 7 day pre-op liquid diet. (My surgeon refereed to it as a "starvation diet". (20 grams of Protein per day, no solids whatsoever.) On the plus side, the scale says I've "lost" 10 pounds. The downside is that I almost stole my son's McD's fries! So...how's your day been?

I too was addicted to DC. (Once an addict...) I had to go on a clear liquid diet in September for a colonoscopy and had to go 2 days without DC. The headaches were crazy-painful. I soon realized that I was going through withdrawal from the caffeine. Knowing I was going to have to give it up anyway for the Band, I switched to caffeine-free DC. I don't like it as much, so I've been drinking less and less of it. By 11/10 (my banding date) I'll be off completely. I have spoken to my doc and nurses about carbonation and have researched it online for months. As far as I can tell, one of the biggest reasons to stop drinking DC is that its an old habit. It was something we did while eating the bag of chips and/or the triple Whopper. It was our friend through all of our bad eating habits. Alcoholics should avoid bars, we should avoid DC. (And all the places we used to "sin".) FYI...When I say I was addicted, on a hot day, I could easily go through 4 or 5 52oz DC's from 7-11, during the day, then another 2 liter at night.

I was recently diagnosed with apnea (49 x hr). I use the nasal pillow and I crank-up the humidity level and have the temp set at 75. I found that by increasing the pressure, I was able to overcome the occasional "suffocating" feeling. It takes a little getting used to, but waking in the morning without feeling like I hadn't slept is great.

My date is also November 10. I start my pre-op diet on Nov. 3. Low-fat, low-carb, low-taste and 20 grams of protein per day. The same diet for 2 weeks post-op, with 60-90 grams of protein.

My surgeon charges a $500 program fee. They say that its to cover the costs of the meetings/dietitian/counseling and a "White Light" body scan. (See my avatar) Having now gone through the process, (surgery is 11/10) I think that it is designed to "weed out" the tire kickers. They want us to have a personal investment in the program.

My doc prescribes a patch for behind the ear. I'll wear it prior to and for a few days after banding.

On a hot day (I work outdoors) I can (could!) drink upward of 2 gallons of Diet Coke per day...and have for years. I started each day at 7-11 and filled two 52 oz Extreme Gulps and would refill them. In addition, I would drink a 2 liter at home. I "realized" I was in trouble when I found out that bubbles and caffeine were on the no-fly list. I took the opportunity of having a colonoscopy 3 weeks ago to break the caffeine habit and am working on breaking the bubbles habit. I have always told people that I was allergic to Water, but I am much more allergic to being fat, so I'll figure it out in time for my 11/10 banding.

I am now scheduled for 11/10. The decision to have it done prior to the holidays was a no-brainer! Why would I want to put-off the very thing I have been jumping through hoops to get for 6 months? Not to mention, why be fat a day longer than I have to? The Lap-Band was my first choice (no plumbing work) but I was really hoping to be able to convince BCBS Anthem to allow a Sleeve. They won't, but the Band really is the least invasive procedure and will allow me to return to work soonest. (I wash houses for a living.) Also, we've maxed-out on our out-of-pocket for the year, so the the whole procedure will cost us $0(!), so whatever I get, it needs to be before 12/31.

As long as you keep tour O2 saturation in the mid to upper 90%, you won't need your CPAP. I use one too and had to bring it when I had my colonoscopy 2 weeks ago. Its a just-in-case thing.

I've not been banded yet, but I have had 10 surgeries in the last 2 years. (Car accident - NOT my fault! lol) I can assure you, once you get past the first needle stick for the IV (and they usually numb that first with a really small needle) you won't feel anything until they wake you up. Your Doc and everyone else in the OR want you to stay asleep so they can get their work done, so they control the level of your "sleep". If they detect you "waking", they bring out the mallet and whack your noggin to keep you dreaming. (If you wake up with a bump on your head, you'll know you woke during surgery! Seriously, you'll be slightly sedated just before they wheel you into the OR. Until they have you situated on the table, they want you to be able to help with the transfer. As they prep you, the OR team will probably be cracking jokes, trying to put you at ease. Relax and enjoy the nap!