Concerned and curious....

Okay, so I went to my followup today with Dr. Shina.  Staples came out, some places are red and irritated but seem okay.  He told me my first fill would be in 8 weeks???  December 18th I go back for my 2nd post op visit, THEN they will do a fill.  Is this normal???   How on earth will I get through the holidays without gaining back what I've lost???  They said I could eat mushies and thoroughly chewed foods now, but to keep my calories under 900?? I'm a bit disheartened.  It was my understanding the first fill would be 4 to 6 weeks from date of surgery.   How on earth can you get by on 900 calories with no restrictions?  Words of encouragement, anyone???

Lisa .... I know what you are feeling.   I was banded on Aug 31, 2007.  I go in for my 2nd post op appointment Nov 14.  Thats not for the fill just to see the doc.  I am not sure when my first fill will be. I was told to keep my calories under 700 per day.  I am really having a hard time at this point.  I called the office today to see if I could get a time frame of when the 1 fill will be or get a date sooner but I just got voice mail.   They should call me back tomorrow.

He had told me 900 calories, then said 700 would be even better, but I have chosen the 1000 guideline myself.  I think 700 calories is VERY unreasonable, especially with no restrictions!  We've already reduced our caloric intake by hundreds of calories-I think this would be unhealthy to expect us to stay at 700 calories for 8 weeks or more. I am questioning my choice at this point, and I truly hate that.  I don't think Dr. Shina is a big fan of the band-I got that feeling from the office staff when I told them I changed my mind from a by-pass to a band.  I am determined to make this work, and plan on going to the support group tomorrow night at Suburban to voice my concerns.  At this time I'm just a bit concerned,  but will continue to do as well as possible and pray for strength :)

Hi girls. Lisa I saw Dr. Shina yesterday also.,, I am really wondering about his guidlines. I will get a call from Holly later this week with the scheduling for my fill. The wait on the fills are due to the fact that he does them under fluoroscopy? spelled wrong I  think, That explanation came from Holly. They have to schedule it with the radiation dept at suburban. He also told me 900 calories and I really have had trouble getting that in till I went to work. My thing was he didn't question what I was eating, drinking, nothing.. Just in and out.. That is what concerned me. I even wondered about switching surgeons, Dr. Gellar's patients are so up to date on the procedures and information. The thursday night support groups are great for lapband patients. It has a lot more than the  Tuesday one.. I am glad I clicked on this board today because I am really starting to wonder about this stuff..   Dawn in ky

Wow-I had the same feeling after leaving yesterday.  My appointment was at 3 pm but I got there about 2:20 or so.  They weighed me, Holly took out my staples and said things looked good, advised me about mushies.  A couple of my incision sites are quite red and sort of look infected, but I guess that's what the abx are for.  Dr. Shina just asked how I was feeling.  Nothing about foods or what i could expect over the next few weeks.  They put steri-strips on my port closure which REALLY took me by surprise because it's about 4 inches long and is NOT under my diaphragm but more to the right and lower than I was expecting!)    I am definitely going to the support group tomorrow night and going to print out my concerns.  I'm just feeling a bit unsure now about what to do next! 

    I was there when u arrived. I sat on the end by the door.  My incisions looked the same way. I had one under my breast that gaped open the next day. I asked Connie( the bariatric coridinator) about it at the support gropu meeting and went to my primary doc and he put the strips on it and shook his head., I has healed closed but it will scar..    Just know you aren't in this alone!! I am a lil confused too dawn

Saw you at the meeting tonight, I could tell you still didnt get the answers you were looking for. I hope you get them soon, I could tell you were frustrated. I am pulling for you.

 

Missy

Missy I saw you, I think?  Cute red head, pinkish shirt?  And Dawn, blondish/brownish wavy hair, blue tee shirt next to Missy?  I just don't know what to do.....I have absolutely NO will power, and if I know I can eat it and nothing is going to happen, then I'll eat it.  I do NOT want to stretch my pouch,  and I do great during the day, but in the evenings, usually after 8 pm, I'm in a hazard zone.   I may start taking my Xenical in the evenings, and am diligently going to try and stick to no more than 900 calories a day.  Holly called me today, she said Dr. Shina had asked her to follow up with me after I left Tuesday because he felt I didn't get all my concerns addressed.   She answered some questions I had about the incisions and about the intake, but I am still fretting over not having any restriction right now.  I'm not going to buy any snackie items for the house-I'm telling my boys and hubby that if they want something like that, they'll have to get it away from the house because it's too tempting for me to have around.  If it's not around, I do fine.   I was going to stick around some and find out who was who, but I had to get home-I have my grandson right now and needed to get him ready for bed.  I enjoyed the group emmensely though! 

Hi Lisa., Yes I was the blurnette next to missy. Was going to come sy hi but you had left. Holly called me today and really put my mind at ease. I sent you a personal pm with some of the specifics Holly and I talked about. We talked for about 20 minutes. I go for my first fill on wensday, which will be he middle of my seventh week.    I have some restriction, I Barely eat the 900 calories most days. I drink a protein drink in the am which has about 30 grams of protein, then I eat a Kroger carb buster yogurt, it has 12 or 14 grams of protein, or two sausage patties, for breakfast,  the a meat grilled for lunch or I eat alot of chili,  spaghetti with meat sauce for lunch, even hamburger helper with ground beef, Then dinner I eat off a entry plate and use a measuring cup to dip things out on to it. BUT  I eat a cup of food not a 1/4 of a cup like that wonderful woman at the support group meeting last night.. I  have bad days, I have good days, I just tr to eat as much protein as possible and I carry a cup in my hand like a alcoholic. I use decaf tea and no cal drink mixes from walmart to get my fluids in.  I have a horrible time getting them in though!! I have yet to hit 64 ounces...    Good luck!! If you need me I usually lurk here and lapband board..    Dawn

I have a protein shake in the morning which is about 27 g of protein, then for lunch I usually don't eat anything, but today I had 100 calorie jerky with 18 g of protein.  It's the evening that kills me.  I go way over my calories then. My 2nd visit with Dr. S is on Dec. 18th, which is NINE weeks and 4 days AFTER my surgery, and still no fill that day.  I'll have to make an appointment to have the fill done after I see him that day.  I'm really very very uncomforatable with that-it's not at all what I was led to believe the course of action would be.   I agree your thoughts also.  We'll see what happens.  Thanks so much for the words of encouragement.!