1bunni4me

I know what you are talking about! I can definitely screw up by listening to my body and not listening to my body! I can almost eat anything if I am not adjusted properly or just having too much liquid with meal or after, and sadly things like wedding cake slide right down when a nice piece of broccolli won't! So if I listen to my body I will overeat at those times or eat improperly...and the more sugars you eat the more you want and that is no wive's tale. Secondly, I get no warning signs when I have overeaten or eaten the wrong thing. I have never had a second of nausea. I just suddenly wish I could throw up! It is a feeling like nothing I can describe and a few times I have even asperated...is that the spelling? In other words, the food affected my breathing. On that note, I may not feel too bad while I am eating it but I get back and side pains later, sometimes for days. I have also caused enough irritation, like after a broccoli incident on Mother's Day, that I can taste blood and it feels like I have been adjusted again for a few days. Interesting not there is I gain 3-5 pds during those screw ups because everything is rushing to the irritated site to fix it and its swollen. You'd think once would be enough to stop the choices but I have lost 40 pds not my free will. The answer...and it's hard for people like me...use visual portion control. You know what you are supposed to consume. Great I can eat almost a whole sandwich before wishing I could breathe and find myself hanging upside down for relief or before realizing I have not lost in 2 wks...but should I? NO! So, again I remind my self...It is a tool, not the cure. It all begins and ends with me, the tool user.

Ok...how do you know it slipped? I am having bad back pain and some on sides. I blew it last week. Ate broccoli on mother's day and then champange at a wedding a week later. I have done so good. What the heck is wrong with me, risking the slippage for a darn piece of food?????

Every day is better and better. First few days suck! Then less and less. Then you put on a pair of pants you couldn't wear before and they are baggy and all seems balanced! My question is why is it some doctors are detailed to the extreme and some just let you go with no knowledge? I have a booklet my center gave us and it is dead on the money with each of the days and what to expect. The only thing they did not suggest is the heating pad for my sore back and that came from you all and I thank you very day! Also the diets pre and post op are so varied. Could it be those that rush back to heavier foods faster suffer more? First week only Clear liquids for us and then 3 wks of thinned, creamed liquids. NO SOLIDS FOR ONE MONTH PLUS THE 2 WKS OF LIQUIDS PRE-OP! Then mushies...Also a nurse told me yesterday a good motivator not to push yourself physically the first 4-6 wks (excluding walking, etc.) is because it can cause a build-up of scar tissue. That was interesting to me.

Wow! My composition professor would be appalled at my beginning anything with that but January was so insane for me that I can only begin with a Wow! I prayed, I researched, I posted here, I poured over everything I could find on obesity and gastric surgeries. I watched an all day long marathon on the morbidly obese on Discovery Channel. As always, I overdid, I over-thought, I drove myself crazy. I was in church on a Wednesday evening and could not set still. I finally went out into the lobby and called the insurance company. I was so hoping I was denied and then the searching for a decision was over. The man's voice on the phone told me differently. I was approved. By Friday I had my date. Jan. 31, 2007, with my liquid diet beginning on Jan. 17, 2007. In a week and a half my whole life was changing. The only thing I could compare this to was my pregnancies but this time it was all about me. Was I selfish or rather self-caring enough to go through with this? The idea of waiting on approval had actually caused me to go for the cokes and the caffeined sugary drinks even more and my sedentary job was just helping with the weight gain. I knew I had to quit the sugar now or forget the surgery. Guess what the Wednesday evening services were on all the month of January? A personal trainer/ pastor gave health lectures and focused on fasting! When I decided to fast God had the whole church fast! I actually began liquids and protien shakes every day until the 17th followed by a healthy evening meal. I am truly blessed I did because I would not have made it through the two weeks of liquids 24/7 before surgery if I had not began to prepare weeks ahead of time. My next entry I want to share what those two weeks of such a limited diet did for and to me mentally and physically. I learned about me and what I am vulnerable to. I also learned how strong I can be.

Wow! My composition professor would be appalled at my beginning anything with that but January was so insane for me that I can only begin with a Wow! I prayed, I researched, I posted here, I poured over everything I could find on obesity and gastric surgeries. I watched an all day long marathon on the morbidly obese on Discovery Channel. As always, I overdid, I over-thought, I drove myself crazy. I was in church on a Wednesday evening and could not set still. I finally went out into the lobby and called the insurance company. I was so hoping I was denied and then the searching for a decision was over. The man's voice on the phone told me differently. I was approved. By Friday I had my date. Jan. 31, 2007, with my liquid diet beginning on Jan. 17, 2007. In a week and a half my whole life was changing. The only thing I could compare this to was my pregnancies but this time it was all about me. Was I selfish or rather self-caring enough to go through with this? The idea of waiting on approval had actually caused me to go for the cokes and the caffeined sugary drinks even more and my sedentary job was just helping with the weight gain. I knew I had to quit the sugar now or forget the surgery. Guess what the Wednesday evening services were on all the month of January? A personal trainer/ pastor gave health lectures and focused on fasting! When I decided to fast God had the whole church fast! I actually began liquids and protien shakes every day until the 17th followed by a healthy evening meal. I am truly blessed I did because I would not have made it through the two weeks of liquids 24/7 before surgery if I had not began to prepare weeks ahead of time. My next entry I want to share what those two weeks of such a limited diet did for and to me mentally and physically. I learned about me and what I am vulnerable to. I also learned how strong I can be.

5 minutes before being wheeled in for surgery my doctor informed me that during the upper GI the week before they had found a hiatal hernia. News to me! He repaired it and I definitely can tell the pain level is different than I expected...or should I say more discomfort level...but very much in keeping with a hernia repair procedure. Added a few more weeks to recovery and lifting but I am grateful that it was found and repaired. I have many friends whose doctors won't risk surgery to repair, so we are doubly blessed since they are already in there. It just insures an even better result.

I am 5 days banded plus I had a surprise 5 minutes b4 surgery. I had a hiatal hernia they repaired that I think has caused some added pain. So, I am in pain and have no appetite. Oh, I hear my stomach growling but I am not interested in the Clear liquids that I have to stay on until Wed. (then creamy for 4 wks). Stayed off pain meds today to see if that is affecting me. Did well except for the mildly dagger like pains in my upper abdemon! The thought of swallowing that much Tylenol is gagging me worse than the pain! :hurt But I have only had about 50 grams of protien since Tuesday night and when you figure I was on a 2 wk liquid diet b4 surgery that also became undesirable, I am concerned about healing with no protien. I know I need to just force it down. Isopure is as good as gets for protien. It's full of it. I just need to swallow it and shut up I guess! =):violin:

It is as good and bad as I thought...and about the Tylenol vs. Ibuprofen...my center says no Ibuprofen ever again. Only liquid Tylenol. I have had 3 C-sections and a gallbladder. I could not imagine having this and not have had so much experience with abdominal surgery. Worse than gallbladder but better than C-section. That may be due to I had a little surprise as I was getting prepped. My tests showed I had a hiatal hernia they had to repair? What? =) Who knew? :omg:

I cannot remember the last time I had so many mixed emotions. I am being banded on Wed. 1/31/07...I have been on a full liquid diet for 11 days...lost 16 pds...but the first days were horrible. Bad mood swings. Lack of my sugar fix and the anxiety of "what if?" and "should I?" running through my head day and night have been the culprit. They should put you on the diet and then give psych eval the 3rd day! I do well at work but leave me alone at home and I start the old habits of looking for something in the form of carbs. Just like anything else, including gaining weight, 1 day at a time.

I started my "liquid" pre-op diet on Wed. Jan. 17 and am to be banded Jan. 31. My options are protien/glucose control drinks (boost, etc.), broth, diet drinks, water (can be flavored like Propel), sugar free Jello, pudding and popsicles, and lowfat yogurt. The choices don't seem bad but I felt so bad the first few days I didn't want to eat. Sugar withdrawal? Then the choices were so unappealing that I would rather not eat at all. Some problems with drinks causing...well...diarrhea...so added to disinterest in drinking them. Today I forced down 2 Boosts, a pudding, a broth and water. Maybe 600 calories. I would rather go to bed than eat this stuff. I have dropped a dozen pounds quickly but between this drastic diet change and the concerns I have over not freaking out over this choice I am making my moods are being effected. I will make it. I have past the birthday party, graduation party and buffet meal with a group of friends with only a jello and a pudding, so I know I can do this but I cannot believe that for weeks after banding it will be even more of less of this! Is there anyone else out there who went through this. I am not a moody person, pretty much the same day in and out and usually laughing too much! It has even made me not want food!!! I have developed quite a swing this week!

:help: I just got my surgery date of 1/31/07 and it is reality time...I am secretly freaking out. :omg: People are bombarding my family with horror stories and one is the level of pain involved. I have had several women tell us that it was much more painful than the gallbladder surgery they had..ok I can handle that...but they are saying that their C-Sections were nothing compared to the pain of this surgery. Now, I have had 3 C-sections and have a really hard time believing that much is more painful than that, so can someone please give me the truth? Not only am I low threshold for pain but I have to go back to work soon after...:help: ???

My doctors require 14 days of low fat liquid diet before surgery and they like to see 10 pds off (& at minimum no weight gain). All this is due to fatty liver dangers. Surgery is 1/31/07 so I have to start all liquids on Wednesday. :hungry: I started this week during a liquid fast all day with a meal at night and not only do I feel better but the mystery pain in right side has gone. Since I don't have gallbladder I bet it was my liver hurting this past few months...hmmmm...

Every person living or dead that I have known in my grandmother's line thru my mom and daughter and all my aunts, uncles, cousins have hypothyroidism. I have about every sign and symptom of it but other than antibodies attacking it confirmed thru bloodwork, my thyroid functions. Several doctors have told me that if I lose the weight (being banded 1/31/07) that I will greatly reduce my predisposition to this crazy health risk...I hope so. Did you know they used to put people in mental hospitals who were just hypothyroid victims? Yes, I read too much!

Our doctors are putting us on a 2 wk liquid diet for 2 wks b4 surgery. Is this standard? It is to lower fat in liver. I feel I am blessed with the best doctors but it sure puts a damper on that last binge party the night b4 we all joked about!

Thank u all for replying and yes I do know about 30 -40 people who have had gastric and lap band. The company I work for has about 30 there and growing because of insurance. About 6 more in the next 2 months that I know of. We live in an area, also, that has one of the doctors and center who helped bring the band to America, so we are very blessed. Well, if it hurts too much I will be back here whining during my recovery! :nervous

I am being banded on January 31. Now that it is real I am freaking out. Suddenly, everyone is coming out of the woodwork to scare me with their horror stories. It's really hard on my daughter because she thinks this is a ridiculous decision anyway. A woman at church told her terrible things about hers even though she lost 87 pds., including about a death and that she is taking hers out. Not a good thing to tell a kid. Also can someone tell me how to get those ticker things on to my posts? I tried it thru the website but I am doing something wrong.

I hate boring exercise and biking gives me a stimulation you can't get in a gym. There is scenery and destination. You can bike to and from a point. It is also not traumatic on your joints. :clap2: This is what I can tell you about biking and the sore butt syndrome...It really hurts but it goes away! Do not be tempted by wide seats. They make the pedaling less efficient. There is a reason those pros have tiny seats. The seat covers with gel help but can also be a pain when they slip off. After a few weeks of biking regularly the sore butt is gone. There is also gel seated shorts you can get but not easy to find in large sizes. Get online or go to a bookstore and read up on beginner biking. That is what I did. Good luck! Oh, and if it's been awhile...it's not true you never forget! I scared the heck out of my family when I got back on one after years. I had forgotten the balance and the steering! =)

I am tired. Physically, mentally...you name it. It's all tired. I know what I have the opportunity to do here. I just can't find the jumping off point, the selfish self-caring button inside me to get motivated to care for myself. I have been blessed with a job that has an insurance company that will most likely pay the majority of the bill for a surgery that I can use as a tool to help shed this other layer of body that is encasing what I should be. I live where one of the best centers and doctors for this surgery happens to be. There are many things to consider. The mere fact of another abdominal surgery is a tremendous one. 3 c-sections and a gallbladder removed has already left enough trauma to that area. Having a permanent device implanted is causing a bit of a phobic reaction. Normal fears of surgery, allergies to meds I have experienced, etc. have all surfaced. The fact that I have a painful disability in my heels that cause me to have limited exercise ability. Also a torn miniscus in my knee that needs surgery, ironically caused from the physical therapy to my heels. My addiction to carbs and sugars is causing me to consider whether I can make this worth it. It is so serious that I have considered going to a physician for some kind of anti-compulsion meds to see if this will curb the cravings. It may be my lack of energy because of sleep apnea that leads me to sugar and caffeine. I seldom want protiens, maybe this is why the vegetarian lifestyle is so easy for me. There are plenty of healthy vegetable protiens but I only seem to want carbs, even after a detox or a fast. So much to consider. It is so obvious to others that I need to do this. Even my dad, who is anti-everything, is supportive of it. I have at least a month to make the decision. If I cannot get my sugar problems under control I don't see how this will work.

I have been with men who: 1. Have low self esteem themselves 2. Think fat chicks are less work...a.k.a. easy 3. Think fat chicks are disposable 4. Have a Saviour complex 5. Want someone that is abusable since it appears we already abuse ourselves I have also been with men who say they like me because I am funny, comforting and have "such a pretty face"...was this any better? Nothing seems to feel right because it all pointed out the obvious. I would like to just be with me for a while and like me just because I am, not because a man validated me. Unfortunately, we are not really like that for most of our lives, if ever. It takes much maturity and sometimes pain to get to that point.

Also, what is too spicy? I love the chili oily at PF Changs. Is this too spicy? What abt garlic? Sorry. I have to have as much info as I can b4 I make a decision.

:help: I understand I will never have another coke. That is a hard thing for me, even though I only have abt 2 a week. But on a healthier note I LOVE rice. Is it as bad as they say? What about rice noodles like Ramen?

This is one of the issues that I am painfully working thru BEFORE I have this surgery. I wish that it was a perfect world of acceptance and forgiveness of flaws...but it isn't. And, I wish that this didn't bother me so much. I am angry at the human condition. I am angry at the people who think of me as the jolly friend or their mother just because I am overweight. I don't want to be angry at them for something that is mainly my own fault. When I have been at my thinnest I used my body to get what I wanted. Was I any better than the people who are only attracted to me when I am thin? I sometimes think I built this wall of fat around me to keep people away. I want to be sure that I am as mentally healthy as I am trying be physically healthy. There is no surgery for that. This is going to be quite a journey...

I am tired. Physically, mentally...you name it. It's all tired. I know what I have the opportunity to do here. I just can't find the jumping off point, the selfish self-caring button inside me to get motivated to care for myself. I have been blessed with a job that has an insurance company that will most likely pay the majority of the bill for a surgery that I can use as a tool to help shed this other layer of body that is encasing what I should be. I live where one of the best centers and doctors for this surgery happens to be. There are many things to consider. The mere fact of another abdominal surgery is a tremendous one. 3 c-sections and a gallbladder removed has already left enough trauma to that area. Having a permanent device implanted is causing a bit of a phobic reaction. Normal fears of surgery, allergies to meds I have experienced, etc. have all surfaced. The fact that I have a painful disability in my heels that cause me to have limited exercise ability. Also a torn miniscus in my knee that needs surgery, ironically caused from the physical therapy to my heels. My addiction to carbs and sugars is causing me to consider whether I can make this worth it. It is so serious that I have considered going to a physician for some kind of anti-compulsion meds to see if this will curb the cravings. It may be my lack of energy because of sleep apnea that leads me to sugar and caffeine. I seldom want protiens, maybe this is why the vegetarian lifestyle is so easy for me. There are plenty of healthy vegetable protiens but I only seem to want carbs, even after a detox or a fast. So much to consider. It is so obvious to others that I need to do this. Even my dad, who is anti-everything, is supportive of it. I have at least a month to make the decision. If I cannot get my sugar problems under control I don't see how this will work.

:help: I am still waiting insurance approval but I have been reading posts to prepare and make my final decision. Because our insurance is more weight loss friendly, at my job there are several dozen people who have had lap band and gastric done. All success as far as weight loss, so hearing the bad stuff is a wake up. My fear is I have a difficult time with cardio due to a serious problem with my short achilles tendons. Thought process was the surgery would take some weight off them and help but, maybe not. :hungry: Can someone please tell me some clear details of what to expect with hunger and cravings? Added to the exercise issue, I am afraid that I will never curb my sugar/ carb addiction without meds or something! Maybe this surgery is a waste of time and money for me and the insurance company, along with all the other factors that go along with surgery. :frusty: Trying not to get discouraged...anyone have some insight on people with disabilities and the lap band?