sandi67

Hi. I was wondering if there was anyone still active on this site from the Galesburg area. I had my surgery 01/13/2010 and am slowly losing weight (very, very slowly right now) but would love to get into a support group locally that maybe meets on weekends, as I currently work 2nd shift. Also, would love to find a workout - or walking partner around here.

I don't think your surgeon will cancel your surgery because of this as long as you explain that you had to have pacemaker repair. After all, losing weight is the ultimate goal of gastric surgery.

talk to your doctor about this - he/she won't fill the band anymore as long as you have good restriction. I'm not able to eat a lot of meat myself - some chicken - steak is a no-no, but fish is always good as long as it's cooked right. Everyone is different for when they feel restriction - I was fine for a while, but now need another fill because I've hit another plateau and I'm 2 years out from surgery. You may feel that at different times of the day, food may pass through easier.

Clear liquids only 2 weeks preop and 2 weeks postop. (lost most of my weight here), then advanced to full liquids for a week, then mushies for 2 weeks, then solids in week 6 postop. Surgeon and office staff PHENOMENAL!!!! Followup care was amazing - fills were good - doc had me drink Water while he was filling it so he could measure when it was too full. (I'm currently not in the green zone, but can't afford another fill for a couple months) the only thing I don't like so far is the slow weight loss since my band is a little under-filled.

Have you been checked for gallbladder problems? I had some small stones and was nauseous a lot for a while. I drank over 2 days quite a bit of grapefruit juice and that seems to have taken care of the gallbladder issues. I only occasionally have nausea now.

I'm almost at my 2 year anniversary (Jan 13) and have not lost much weight in the last year. I no longer have insurance to be able to see my surgeon, so I can't get fills. I'm frustrated with the lack of weight loss myself, but I can only do so much...so as of today, I'm back on the liquid diet for the next week or 2. I'm hoping that jumpstarts my weight loss again.

You should not be in pain and you need to see your doctor.

I'm curious - if you're on a liquid diet preop, your doctor is allowing you to eat solids for lunch? I had my surgery 2 years ago and when I did my preop liquid diet, it was clears only. No food, no shakes, no nothing.

I've been banded since January 13, 2010, so I'm going to my 2 year mark and have not lost much weight in the last year. I've also been quite hypothyroid (had thyroid cancer in 2000 and total thyroidectomy), so I struggle with weight loss from that, too. Tomorrow I'm starting the pre-op liquid diet again - though when I did it 2 years ago, it was Clear liquids only for 2 weeks - and this time I'm doing full liquids and Protein shakes only for about a week & see what it does. My goal for this year is to lose 7-10 pounds a month (or at least try to) so I can hit my goal weight.

I have been using Flintstones Chewables Complete 2 a day - they work well for me & don't taste too bad, as long as you wash them down with a little water.

I used to have problems with bananas - then I tried using frozen bananas in Protein smoothies - it's not quite the same as eating a fresh banana, but you still get the taste. As for chicken, I don't have a problem with it and I can't eat steak from a restaurant anymore (Used to love Applebee's)...though I don't have too much trouble with steak & chicken fajitas. The first time I had any Subway after my band I suffered - their bread is too doughy and always gets stuck - I'm not much for their meats either, so when Jimmy Johns came to town I was in heaven - I have them cut my sandwich into 4 pieces and have it for 4 meals - their bread rarely gives me problems unless I get dumb and eat too fast. Tortillas usually give me problems, so I have a half of one with my fajitas and eat it very slowly. I can't remember the last time I had celery. pizza is ok as long as I only have a couple small squares of thin crust.

I was banded on 01/13/2010 and since then have lost 65 pounds. I have not lost very much over the last year because I am also dealing with hypothyroidism and that causes me to gain weight. I don't have health insurance anymore so I can't go back to my surgeon for a fill to give me any more restriction, so now I have to make other changes to start the weight loss again. I have just under 80 pounds left to lose, my 44th birthday is today and my gift to myself this year is that I plan on losing 7-10 pounds a month for the next 12 months.

I agree - it's the most horrible feeling to have food stuck....I've had that happen to me with lunchmeat as well, so I avoid it now ~ along with a lot of other foods (steak is horrible when it gets stuck). I have found that when things get stuck and you can't move them easily with water or something carbonated (a no-no but sometimes the bubbles help), I was advised to do "downward dog" yoga position. It helps most of the time.

if you're going to do protein shakes - make sure you watch the calories...those can add up quickly ~ but a good idea if you're unable to eat your 3 meals because it causes you trouble, because you'll still get your nutrients that you need. Another idea is getting chocolate or vanilla protein powder and making your own protein shakes - that way you have more control over what you're ingesting.

I go through the same thing when food gets stuck. If you're having this problem all the time, then you've been over-filled and you NEED to get some of the fluid taken out - it could become a life-threatening problem if something gets stuck and can't be dislodged. As much as it costs to get fills and have some taken out of the band - your health is worth so much more than that