HI EVERYONE,

I AM READING A LOT OF STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE BEING HUNGRY IN THEIR PRE-OP OR POST-OP RECOVERY PHASES. I AM WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAD AN APPETITE SUPPRESSANT MEDICATION PRESCRIBED.

I AM SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY ON SEPT. 7 AND HAVE BEEN ON PROTEIN SHAKES/BARS SINCE JULY 18. SO FAR I HAVE NOT FEEL HUNGRY. THE REASON IS THAT MY BARIATRIC SPECIALIST PRESCRIBED AN APPETITE SUPPRESSANT MEDICATION THAT I TAKE WHEN NEEDED. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS IS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION (UNTIL I AM ON THE POST-OP SOLID PHASE) BUT IN THE MEANTIME IT SURE DOES MAKE THE RIDE SO SO SO MUCH SMOOTHER.:heh:

I AM LOOKING VERY FORWARD TO READ YOUR REPLY AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

CIAO... FOR NOW.

Don't shout!

No. In my opinion, that is why I got the band, to get away from that sort of thing.

If your doc prescribes it, I am sure he has his reasons, but it was my experience that the post op period is for healing NOT weight loss, so the appetite supressant wouldn't make sense during that phase. For the pre-op diet, maybe it would make more sense.

Again, if it is a part of YOUR doc's program, then if you trust him you should follow his rules. Personally, I hate chemicals (except caffeine, from my AM coffee, and the occasional beverage... of the alcoholic variety), so I don't want them in my system. besides I had bad experiences with them making me jumpy and all.

Talk to your doc about it, and discuss your thoughts on the matter, and then folow his rules to get the most out of your band.

I don't quite understand the need for the appetite suppresant unless you and your Dr both feel that you could not stick to the pre-op diet. Personally....I'm with Paul and everything he said.

Carol

Hi,

I can speak from recent personal experience and 3+ years of being banded. I have a pouch dilatation and I am currently on liquids for 3 weeks to resolve the problem. THere is no way I could make it 3 weeks without an appetite suppressant. I asked my lapband surgeon and he told me to get it from my PCP which I did. I am not a martyr and I dont see any reason to suffer unnecessarily with hunger pangs all day.

My primary reason to take one every other day is to get through this period and be compliant so my pouch can rest and shrink back to normal size. The secondary benefit is that I am losing weight because I am not eating as much. With an empty band I am very very hungry all the time, so the medication does help me but not without side effects like sleepnessless and some dizziness.

I dont get why banded people are harder on eachother and more judgemental about this issue than unbanded folks are. It seems like some people expect that it is a "rite of passage" for a bandster to suffer because we caused on our obesity.

Most bariatric centers of excellence have no problem providing their patients with an appetite suppressant to get through the pre - op or post op stage or to get through dilatation of the pouch issues etc.... But you wont know unless you ask!!

Babs in TX

334/180 ish

-150 ish

Not at all meant to be harder, but if the appetite supressants worked as well as listed, without side affects, then why get the surgery at all? I went for the band as a method to control my quantities, but it does require that I learn to control myself, and relying on drugs for that takes away from my reeducation on how to eat.

I want to learn how to be healthy, and how to use my new tool, without the reliance on drugs or supressants.

I have no ill will towards folks using them with or without a band, I was just stating how I felt about it for me personally.

I lived on ionamin for over 10 years, and was committed to an ambitious excercise regimen and was able to take off 100lbs at age 25 and keep it off. I had gotten obese in high school/college days. When I got pregnant with my first child at 37, I gained 80lbs. and could not take the drug. After that baby, I turned to the lap band and excercise to get back to a normal range.

Pick your poison. They are both good remedies. The ionamin does not work to the extent that the lap band does. It only takes the "edge" off of your hunger. Your own willpower does the rest - if you have willpower and committment.

What drugs were prescribed to you folks?

Personally, Ive been on them all, including fen phen, and am so happy that there are now surgical alternatives. I DO feel much more comfortable without those drugs in my system, BUT people who are diabetic or whatever take drugs every day to control their conditions and to live a better quality of life. I see our drugs/surgeries as the same thing. We undertake these tools to help us live a healthier, better quality of life. If someone needs a prescription to get through a rough patch during their lap band days, have at it!! God helps those who help themselves.

I too am getting banded to stay away from taking meds to lose weight. There is no way I'd take meds before surgery...I wouldn't want to risk it with the anesthesia. Not even doctor prescribed ones! Surgery is risky enough. I wish you all the best!!