Lap-Band Procedure

Hello everybody! My name is Melissa, I'm 22 and from Alabama. After several months of trying, I'm finally approved for the lap-band surgery. I go see the person who is doing my surgery on the 30th of this month and we should be putting in a date for surgery on that day.

Does anybody have any suggestions/comments they would like to give me such as what to do before the surgery, after, any questions I should ask the doctor? I'm new to all this.

I'm new to lap but a veteran for surgery! Take Chapstick, a pillow to cover your tummy if you cough (ouch) slip on shoes...have your house stocked with clear liquids like chicken broth and sugar free jello, and buy some unjury protein.

Good luck!!!!

Edited to add: You may want to ask your surgeon what is his/her revision and complication rate, hopefully you shopped around for a surgeon? Ideally a band surgeon nowadays should have at least 300 or ideally 500 bands performed, ask about their aftercare program, how often do you get fills, ideally your first year should be every 6 weeks or as needed until you reach a good fill level, for many it takes up to 3-5 fills before you reach optimal restriction, so be mentally prepared for this.

The ideal fill level should allow you eat about 1/2 to 1 cup of solid food, you can eye ball it as a pixie cup of food, you should always be able to eat solids after your fill process starts and after 6 week post op.

Most have post op diet of 1 week of clears, whi*****ludes popsicles, broth, jello, water, crystal lite. The second week, most have protein drinks, thinned out soups, and the same food as first week. The third week for many are mushier foods such as blended tuna, egg salad, pureed bean dip w/salsa cheese etc.

Some surgeons require pre op liquid diet and many don't, there really is not much to prepare for except making sure you are medical cleared for lap band surgery, which involve several tests, and hopefully your surgeon has done that already.

Here are some general post op guidlelines that helps many lap banders post op, but use these as a guide and follow your surgeons instructions since we don't know your health history. But many of those guides are helpful to most lap banders post op.

What helped me was having a heat pad, gas-x for the gas pains, Lortab for pain, and you may need some type of PPI for any acid from the surgery itself, walking helps moves the gas pains as well. Keep all your liquids room temperature at least the first week to prevent vomiting, most people don't have nauseau after lap band surgery but some people do, if you do ask your surgeon to give you some anti-naseua meds to prevent you from vomiting, you do not want to vomit after surgery if you can help it, this could cause early slippage and you want your band to heal properly to prepare you for the fill process at 6 weeks, if you need one.

 

Medicine Dose Comments

1	Prilosec®	Take 20mg once a day for four weeks	Open one 20mg prescription capsule OR two over-the-counter 10mg capsules into pureed food.
2	Lortab® Elixir (Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen)	Take � - 2 teaspoons of the 7.5mg/500mg (in 15ml) elixir every 4 to 6 hours as needed.	Once your discomfort lessens, change to Extra-Strength Tylenol® every six hours as needed. Take 2 tablespoons of liquid (equal to 1000mg) or two tablets (crushed).
3	Multivitamin with minerals	Take 2 children's chewables every day.	You can choose another form/type. Check your diet booklet.
4	Calcium		Check your diet booklet to choose a form/brand and to find the amount that you need to take every day.
5	Vitamin D	1,000 IU every day	At your first follow-up appointment, your Dietitian will tell you when to start taking your vitamin D.

 

Medicines to avoid!

Do not take aspirin or aspirin-containing products. Do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, etc.) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve^®, etc.). They may cause ulcers in your pouch.

If you need to take any of these kinds of medicines, even once, call the Weight Loss Surgery Center. You may need a medication to protect your stomach, or a different prescription.

How do I care for my incision?

Remove the bandage 3 days after surgery if it is still on. Leave the Steri-strips^® [strips of tape over the incision (cut)] in place; they will curl and fall off. If they are still in place 2 weeks after your surgery, gently peel them off. You can do this in the shower. The incision (cut) may itch during healing; this is normal. Do not scratch the area.

 

Can I shower or bathe?

It is OK to shower with soap. Pat the incision dry after showering. Do not take a bath or soak in water for one month.

 

What kind of activity is allowed?

Do not drive until your pain is resolved and does not require medication. Pain can make it hard to move quickly. Stop any strenuous activity if it is uncomfortable during the first month. Walk as much as is comfortable for you. Your goal for the first 4 weeks after surgery is to walk 30 minutes per day, 7 days per week.

 

How do I manage constipation?

If you do not have a bowel movement within 5 days of surgery, try Milk of Magnesia^® (2 Tablespoons, twice a day). If this does not work after one day, try a Dulcolax^® suppository or Fleets^® enema. If none of these measures help, call the Weight Loss Surgery Center.

 

What do I do if I vomit?

If you vomit, you have probably eaten or drunk too quickly and/or too much or the food may have been too solid. Wait four hours and then try one ounce of liquid that doesn't have sugar. If this liquid does not make you nauseous or vomit, then take only liquids until the next day. Then you can try pureed foods again. If vomiting continues, call the Weight Loss Surgery Center.

 

May I become pregnant?

We recommend that you avoid getting pregnant for 18 months after surgery. Rapid weight loss increases fertility. Birth control must be used correctly and all the times to avoid pregnancy, even if you were not able to get pregnant in the past.

Congrats on your approval! I would add that you will want to wear something very loose to the hospital so that you will be comfortable going home. You will be both puffed up from the surgical gas and the IV fluids they will give you. I wore something that was actually a bit large on me and it was a bit snug going home. I was so puffed up that I didn't have any other clothes that didn't bind my abdomen so I had to borrow some too large draw string shorts from my neighbor. Thank God she had them, I borrowed them again after my revision.

Gas Ex strips or simethicone drops they give infants may be your friend. Having a heating pad on hand is good, too. Warm drinks usually feel better than cold so you may want to have some on hand. If you haven't started exercising yet I strongly suggest that you begin walking a bit a couple of times a day. You will need to walk the gas off and you might as well make it a part of your routine. I had to begin at 5 minutes at a time before surgery but within a week after I was up to 1/2 hour twice a day and really enjoyed it.

One other thing i did was to have a whole bunch of meals prepared ahead for hubby so that I wasn't dealing with cooking or cleaning up when I was starving, myself. i deliberately chose things he liked and I wasn't excited about. Get some broths to have on hand because they sometimes seem a little more substantial. I also strained soups when I was off clear liquids.

Good luck

Be sure to find out how much fills are if you have to self pay for them. I expected to have the same insurance coverage as long as my hubby worked at the same place, wrongo! They can add or drop whatever coverage they (the employer) wants anytime they want. I ended up having to pay $225 for fills and unfills!! Well needless to say add that to the fact that my band never really worked and it didn't take long to decide to get it emptied when it started tightening with no fills. I've been empty for over 2 yrs and had maintained my weight that I had lost on my own until I started on prednisone earlier this year. Even a band can't help long term prednisone use. So good luck to you but be aware there are many challenges with the band.

Practice not drinking with meals.  You should stop drinking 30 min before and after eating.  Practice cutting your food into eraser size pieces and chewing each piece ~30 times each.  Try losing as much  pre-op as possible as every pound makes surgery easier/safer and recovery easier/faster.

If your center state which protein shakes you have to use before/after surgery, try many kinds to find ones you like.  But, don't get to much as taste changes after surgery.

I spent over $1000 on protein shakes and have tons left.