Clynn

You can cause trouble by drinking too fast, but you'll know instantly that's what it is because it'll either come back up or cause immediate discomfort (as in you won't vomit but you'll wish you would). Gas pain occurs commonly in the shoulder and presents as an ache. Nothing to be concerned about at this stage of the game.

We can't tell either. Please include details Oh wait, can you tell or can't you tell? I am just a sea of confusion lately! *reaches for vitamins*

Usually they'll do that if they have a spot open up that day, but it's not particularly common as I understand it. If you really want to do that you can always call Lori and ask if it's possible.

If you're going to get a fill far from home it's probably a good idea to have a little extra money set aside for a few weeks after in case you need to get back down there for an unfill. I had to get an unfill recently but wasn't having problems until almost a week after my last fill. Being too tight is a miserable experience and I'd hate to think what would have happened to me if I'd been stranded away from a fill center because of lack of funds.

If I remember correctly they give you a tube with a small device attached to it. You then need to blow into the tube as hard and as long as possible while the device takes measurements. This is to ensure that your lungs are strong enough to get you enough oxygen while you are under anesthesia.

Do you mean the fill center at the clinic? If so, it costs about $300 less for me to get a fill there than an equivalent fill locally. Course that doesn't include airfare.

Some clinics or doctors simply will not fill patients who were banded outside of the country. You can call the fill centers in your area or contact a local support group for referrals.

Did they specifically say you had to lose the weight or your surgery will be canceled? Or did they say lose the weight or your surgery MAY be canceled? In most cases, working hard to lose the weight is as important is actually losing the weight. The idea of the pre-op weight loss is to decrease the fatty tissue around the stomach and shrink the liver as much as possible which makes it easier for the doctors to work in there. You may be achieving those ends, but at the same time gaining muscle mass and water weight which would negate anything the scale says. Keep up with your exercise routine and pre-op diets and in all likeliness you'll be just fine. Oh, and if possible stop stressing, because stress is a huge barrier to weight loss.

Here is a complete list on TSA's website of what you can and cannot bring through security. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/pro...ited-items.shtm. The general rule for liquids is that they are ok if they are in containers 3 oz or less.

Probably too late for you since you're less than a week out but for others who are looking at the pre-op diet with dread; if you start working to lose weight as soon as you decide to get the surgery Dr Miranda may let you do a less drastic pre-op diet. I lost about 25 lbs in the three months before my pre-op diet was supposed to start by doing Atkins and was allowed to dump the protein shakes in favor of glucerna meal bars and lean cuisines.

Actually you'd be surprised at some of the questions I've seen on here that clearly should be directed towards doctors. Reading back I think my reply came across a bit harsher than I intended however, the advice behind it still stands.

Some pills are designed to dissolve and be released slowly into your system. By crushing these pills you can cause an overdose. You should talk to the doctor who prescribed these medications before you do anything.This forum is populated with patients who are unable to give medical advice.

Don't fear, it gets easier as time goes on. If you really need to chew something, get some sugar free popsicles or fudgcicles. They'll be liquid by the time they reach your stomach. Now is also a good time to take up a hobby or other task to distract you from your head hunger. Remember, the post-op diet is designed to let you heal. If you cheat you are putting your health at risk, not just your diet.

I think the point people are trying to make is that the answer to your question above is irrelevant. It is for the patient and their doctor to decide, no one else. I would also like to take this moment to say to everyone that yes, you are entitled to your opinions. However, by extension everyone else is entitled to their opinions of your opinion. Thus we have discussions about (mostly) important issues. Unless I missed a posting, magpel at no point did anyone call you names or tell you to be quiet. From the tone of your replies it seemed like you were feeling like you were under personal attack. I hope this is not the case, though I can only speak for myself and not for others. I hope that was not their intention as that would diminish an otherwise important tool for people going through the process of surgery and recovery. Goodnight everyone, and have a pleasant weekend.

I think I am a bit confused. If you feel up to doing extreme skiing, but it's not like anything you do now, it may be time to re-evaluate your abilities. That stuff is hard. However, if you do downhill skiing now and thus have some idea what you're capable of, you should be able to go back to the slopes once you get past the 6 week mark. I really can't think of anything that's off limits once you get healed up, especially not anything an trained personal trainer would have you do. It's not like a hip replacement. As for the port, I can feel it if I push my fingers over it, but it doesn't hamper any physical activities. Sometimes after I've lost some pounds quickly it can get sore if I slouch, but making myself use proper posture takes care of that until my body adjusts. Other than that, I really don't think about it.

No heavy lifting or anything that works your abdominal muscles for six weeks, otherwise you can cause a slip. Other than that, it's pretty much whatever you feel up to.

Questions for your question: Have you had a weight problem your entire life? If you try the Optifast are you confident you can succeed and keep the weight off or have you done that dance countless times before? Are you having any health problems associated with the excess weight? Have you talked to your Primary Care Physician or OBGYN about this? If so, what do they think? My first impression is that if you believe you can lose the weight with the Optifast (and a balanced diet of course), what do you have to lose by putting the surgery off? It is a BIG life change for people who everything else has already failed and not to be embarked on lightly. Your fears about developing alcoholism are not unfounded, though your awareness and vigilance makes it less likely to happen. Besides that, you're not even a year out from your pregnancy. My understanding is that the body doesn't fully return to normal hormonal-wise until about 2 years out, especially if you are breastfeeding. You can always give the Optifast a shot and put the money you would have spent on the surgery into a 12 month CD. Then when the CD matures and you still haven't lost the weight (or gained it back), the surgery money will still be there with a bit extra. Those are my thoughts given the information you posted, though your answers to my questions may change that.

Drop the sugary drinks, that stuff will kill any diet and the band has no effect on them. After that see what happens. If you're going to eat around the band then no amount of fill can help you.

Many people find they can no longer eat certain foods. The most common problem foods are bread and past, but you'll have to learn through trial and error what works for you. Carbonated beverages are forbidden until at least six months after surgery. Even then, it's not particularly pleasant.

The incisions pretty much take care of themselves. Scrub them gently in the shower to keep them clean. As the glue comes off it may sting a little as the incisions have to start relying on themselves to stay together. I just put a big band-aid over them to help hold them still as I moved around and that took care of it. As far as do not do, ummm, don't pick at them, don't put tobasco sauce on them, don't hide loose change in them, don't reenact that scene from Alien . . . . The list goes on and on.

Ok, due to the amount of loose (snowbird!) skin on my stomach, this picture may not be suitable for children & pregnant women. It's pretty blurry since I had to hold the camera out at arm's length. Oh, and I added the red circle so you could find the darned thing. As you can see, it's about the length of the end of my pinky finger. http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s61/clynn17/belly.jpg

Profile is accurate, I've just hit a plateau recently weight-loss wise. No biggie, it happens. Had my fifth fill on Wednesday so hopefully I'll be able to update it in the proper direction shortly.

The port looks like the end of a stethoscope that the doctor puts up to your chest and lies just under the skin. You cannot see it without x-ray vision.

What people can and cannot eat is different for everyone. What you can and cannot eat will change often as well. You just have to go slow, listen to what's happening down there, and know when to let go of something.

You can, and should, drink lots of water. Once you go back on solids you should not drink anything for an hour after eating, but other than that there are no restrictions water-wise.