Heads Up for New Lapbanders

So yesterday I made the pilgrimage (70 miles one way!) to my surgeon's office to have my first fill.  It didn't happen.  Why, you ask?  Because NOBODY told me not to eat anything beforehand & NOBODY told me that you have to be on a liquid diet for 2 days following a fill!  I was sooooo angry! We depend on these doctors & team members to tell us these things yet mine dropped the ball.  Because I live so far away, I have to plan for these trips...it's not like I can just pop in to their office at a whim.  Fortunately I was able to fit in other activities to fill my time till I had to go pick up hubby from work.  But that won't be the case next Thursday when I will have to drive myself, instead of hitching a ride with hubby (his office is only 5 miles from dr office).  That's double the gas expenditure, & we all know how expensive gas is these days. So, in case YOUR wls team hasn't told you...it's best to go in for your fills on an empty stomach so as not to risk the possibility of entrapping existing food in the newly narrowed tube causing an obstruction.  It's recommended that you do a liquid diet the day of your fill & then you must remain on the liquids for 2 days after, to give your body a chance to adjust itself to the new constriction.  Hindsight being 20/20, I can see the logic in that now...just didn't occur to me yesterday morning.  Furthermore, do not plan on any trips closely following a fill just in case you have a problem at first.  Best to be home where you have access to your own doctor rather than having to rely on a stranger should there be any problems away from home. I'm getting over the anger & frustration of yesterday & just chalking this up as a learning experience.  I just don't want anyone else to be uninformed & inconvenienced like I was.  And thank you Tink for allowing me the opportunity to vent on the phone with you. Ya'll should have heard me...I was sooooo pissed!!!   Ok, I'm off to Curves for my work out then to Front Royal for our cavalry demo.  Those of you attending the post-conference dinner at Joe's...see you there!!!!

Well that has got to be very frustrating.  Sorry you had to go through this Ann.  Glad to know you are informed now and marvelous that you are informing others.  Hope you day is going better and enjoy your weekend activities.

Dr M is my lapband doc too I didn't know about the not eating before --- no one told me.  Luckly the 1st fill was at 8am - and I didn't have time to drive from leesburg to his off and eat too this weeks fill was at 2pm - and I was starving by then I plan to write up a FairOaks Ctr of Exellence and Dr M Lapband guide for them to use -- as the info as been sketchy and confusing at best -- most of it aimed at the Fair Oaks NUTS, but still they are a "team" donna

I just don't understand why this information isn't in the "bible" Dr. Mo sends us all home with, do you?  I mean, this is pretty important information, whether you have to drive long distance or not.  Even for those that are close, most have jobs & probably try to schedule dr appts during their lunch hour. What shocked me the most was that even his STAFF didn't know!  Pam had no idea!  How can that be?  One thing I never asked or checked into is how many lapband procedures has Dr. Mo done?  Maybe they haven't "ironed out the bugs," so to speak.  I don't know, but in MY notebook there was nothing mentioned about what to expect at your first fill.  Or perhaps that's covered in the support group which I cannot attend because it's in the evening & by the time I got home, it would be nearly midnight!  I really feel like this is an important issue that needs to be addressed, if for no other reason but to spare other "newbies" the loss of time, effort, & in my case,  GAS!

Does he have spt gp meetings? or are you refering to the ones the hospital sponsors?  I've been to the hospital's and I am not impressed anyways -- I think for a Center of excellence - fair oaks and the 4-6 doc's in their program need to get their act together. I plan on drafting a "Dr M lapband101 guide" for him to reviewand comment on so I can understand all the rules myself - and then he can put it in the notebook. I friend of mine also had the band with Dr M - same day as me--and we get filled the same times too -- and she is in the dark like we are. Seems if you don't ask, you won't know and how in the heck are we to know which questions to ask?

I'm so sorry this happened to you!! Thank you for thinking of everyone else and posting what happened. I will certainly benefit from your knowledge after I am banded. Thanks !!!

You're very welcome, Yvonne.  Oooh, won't be long now, huh?  Five days & a wake up!  Pretty soon you'll be a big loser too!  LOL