Cleo's Mom

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has new guidelines that remove the 8 glasses a day of water recommendation, saying that healthy adults may use thirst to determine their fluid needs. That's what I've always used. We are told to listen to our bodies about food and not eat when not hungry, and I believe the same is true with thirst. Furthermore, the article goes on to say that for years drinking water has been recommended for weight loss - despite the fact that fluids generally satisfy thirst and not hunger. Barbara Ross, PhD, an expert on thirst and satiety, points out that thirst and hunger are regulated by entirely different mechanisms. I never believed that saying "when you're hungry - you might be thirsty" I always knew the difference. But all this said - if drinking all that water works for you - go for it.:cursing: But for those who struggle, know that there is no scientific evidence to back the 8 glasses of water a day. You also get water from foods and other beverages.

The report didn't say to give up water. It said there is no scientific evidence that says we need 64 ounces a day. And it says you can get water in food and other beverages. Before bottled water was readily available, people didn't go around sipping water all day. When they were thirsty, they drank. And like I said, if it works for you - then do it. But I suspect a lot of people struggle to get that much water. I don't want to spend the day in the bathroom.

Do you have anything in writing where they said the amount you owed would be $3000? You say "about $3000" which to them could mean $5000. Every health insurance plan has some type of complaint system if you don't agree with a bill. Use it. Plus the hospital should have some type of patient advocate. Call and find out and use them. Need need other resources on your side. Good luck.

How much do you have to lose? How much did you lose before surgery? You might need an upper GI to see what is going on. Maybe your band has a leak. Do you go back to Mexico for your fills? You need to discuss this with your doctor.

I don't get the same full sensation as pre-band either. I was banded about a month before you and other than the weight I lost with the 2 weeks post-op diet I have not lost any weight. I am about 182 now. But I had already lost 60 pounds pre-band.

Yes, after two fills what I experience is the inability to eat more because of pain/pressure. But I am not satisfied and am still hungry and when that pain/pressure feeling leaves, I am still hungry. I can feel the emptiness of my bottom stomach. My nutritionist said that the band makes you feel full because with a normal stomach you feel full when the food reaches the top. And the band is at the top. But I think more is going on between the stomach and the brain and the signals each sends and I think the bottom stomach still plays a role in all this.

The tv ad for the lapband shows a lion roaring and the woman saying "That was my hunger before always telling me to eat, eat, eat. Then I had the lapband" and then it shows her before and after pictures and a kitten. She says "that is my hunger now". Well, based on my experience and that of many on these posts that is not true about the band. It doesn't reduce hunger. I am hungry most of the time but can't eat due to discomfort and I have only recently had my second fill. Many others share my experience. They are losing weight because eating is uncomforable. Also - when people post a question - they want some suggestions or answers, not a lecture. Too many on these boards have a superior attitude and a know it all attitude. But what goes around comes around.

I was at the lower range of weight when I got the surgery - 34.8 BMI so with the pre-op liquid diet I was 196 going into surgery. After the surgery I lost about 13 pounds and yes, I could feel my port after about 2 weeks. You don't want anyone but a medical professional who is experienced with fills to do them. Do they hurt? My first one did because he couldn't find the center of the port. The second one didn't - he found the center right off. You will get fills on a schedule that relates to your weight loss - if you are losing you will not get another fill until you stop losing or reach goal. I just got my second fill. I have not lost any weight since my surgery. Maybe this second fill will help because now I cannot eat much - it just hurts to eat. And I am eating soft foods and liquids. Be prepared to give up: carbonated drinks, any drink with calories, caffeine, bread, pasta, pizza, raw vegetables, some fruits, popcorn, sweets and snack type food. I am not saying all of these will cause problems for you. For some they don't. But you need to know in advance that they might for you and you might never be able to have them again. You also can't drink with your meals or for an hour afterward and have to be committed to at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Hope this helps and congratulations on taking the first step. Good luck.

Well, Chuck, you were lucky to find such a doctor. They should clone him. I can't even get in touch with my surgeon after hours - I would have to go to the ER and they page him. And yes, my insurance company took my doctor's "word" (read: forms) for my weight and BMI. I only got to that lower BMI from losing weight on the 6 month pre-surgery diet. I was going to be damned if I was then going to be punished for it by being denied surgery. I would gladly have put on a few pounds to get me to 35. But the insurance approved it. And the 6 month pre-op diet, a psychological evalutation and 35 BMI with one co-morbidity was required by the insurance not the hosptial. That's all they required for approval. All the other tests I endured were doctor required. I just had my second fill on Tuesday and right now I am eating soft foods and liquids only and it is still not pleasant - pain and pressure. I'm hoping that will improve over time.

You've done so well on your band journey. What caused you to pb? I would go to the emergency room and if you can't drive - call an ambulance. That's what they're there for. Don't be timid and in pain. If you don't hear from your doctor soon, call the ER and see if they have a doctor that can do an unfill.

I didn't know that the BMI eligibility for banding was done by hospitals, I thought it was done by insurance companies. Since your insurance required 35 (as did mine, although I was like 34.8 at time of surgery) was it the 6 month requirement of pre-op diets you didn't like? Because if you're paying cash, I would think any hospital would do it. But then there's all those pre-op tests that wouldn't be covered either. Anyway, removing all the fills might help. I've seen posts to that affect. Did they give any reasons for the pouch stretching? Are you a STEELERS fan? I don't follow football but hope they win. Good luck!

Chuck - just curious. Since you live in Pittsburgh, why did you go all the way to Detroit to get this done when there are excellent hospitals in Pittsburgh that do thousands of bariatric surgeries? (Yes, I'm from Pittsburgh). Also - GO STEELERS!!!

In addition to all of the above suggestions I have also seen posted taking a sip of carbonated drink. Somehow the bubbles can dislodge the stuck item. But it could also make things worse. I've been stuck twice and the last time was 1 1/2 hours- the last 15 minutes being the worst and then -BAM- in one second it was gone. Just like that.

Your doctor is a little more generous than some with allowing you to start on mushies from day 3 after surgery. I was on clear liquids for 2 weeks post op and then onto mushies for a week, then soft foods. Try calculating your calories. That might help.

di1138: I agree with you about chicken. I buy a rotisserie chicken, remove the skin and chop up the chicken into small pieces. I cook it with fat free gravy (15 calories, no fat) and put it over mashed potatoes. I have never found - before or after banding - that protein keeps my hunger at bay. Carbs do that for me - but everyone is different. In other words, if I ate a breakfast of bacon and eggs I would get hungry soon but if I ate pancakes I would stay full for a long time. I will try chicken again soon - but I was just filled yesterday and am taking it easy with slider foods.

NOPBJ: I can TOTALLY understand what you are going through. I share your feelings. Prior to starting this lapband journey I dieted and lost weight - then lost more with the 6 month pre op diet and then the liquid pre & post diet. Total loss was 60 pounds but none of it was due to the band. I am about 183. I was banded 4 months ago and have not lost any weight since then. I have had two fills - one in Nov. and one yesterday. I only have 3 cc's in a 10cc band. After my first fill, I got stuck twice but was always hungry, never felt satisfied and I'm sick and tired of people telling me it's head hunger. I know what feeling satisfied feels like and what being hungry feels like. I'm 58 and have had to deal with a lot in my life so I'm not receptive to hearing about head hunger. Did I eat more calories than I burned. Yes. But unlike so many posters, I did not eat junk food. If I was hungry I was just as satisfied with Cereal or whole wheat toast. But healthy food has calories, too. I have been exercising for the last 7 years. Walking and treadmill. But I SO agree with you that eating with the band - for me - is reaching a level of discomfort where I can't or don't want to eat anymore. It has nothing to do with satiety. I still feel hungry and not satisfied but know I can't eat more. So, this is the way I look at it. The band works not because it reduces hunger - it doesn't for me - but by making it impossible for you to eat more. To me, that is the worst of both worlds - still being hungry, not satisfied, but having something that causes stuck food, pbing and vomiting. Wiring your mouth shut would work in much the same way. Those who are happy with the band are those for whom the change in diet to healthy foods and eating smaller amounts has made a huge difference in their weight and health problems. They are so happy with the physical changes and the new thinner appearance that they are willing to put up with the side effects. To date, I have not had any benefit from the band. My 60 pound weight loss was all willpower and being hungry. And no, no one told me this either. I also thought it would curb hunger and I could eat pretty much the same foods but smaller amounts. Now there is a laundry list of forbidden foods. Yesterday my doctor said no beef, pork or chicken. What's left? Fish, I guess. Like you, it's not what I thought it would be. Good luck, anyway, to you. Know that you are not alone.

Usually any numbness or tingling involves the nerves. You might have a pinched nerve or something. Obviously you need to see a doctor about this.

You have lost almost 40 pounds. For every 10 pounds we lose, we need 150 fewer calories to maintain that weight. Yes, it's like getting punished for losing weight!! But that being said, you need 600 fewer calories now to maintain your current weight than you did at your highest weight. So to lose weight you need 600 fewer calories than before minus another 500 to lose a pound a week. That's 1100 fewer calories than you were eating at you top weight. Do some calorie calculations about what you used to eat and then do the math. Also, there are some very good internet resources that will calculate your current weight, etc..and give you your resting metabolic calories burned and how much you need to lose what you want. Try Web MD. But there are others. Good luck.

When is your first fill scheduled? Can you call and ask if you can start solids a week earlier? You need to see how your body handles solid foods before a fill. Plus your doctor may not require full liquids after a fill. I just had my second fill today and he said to take it easy the rest of today - cream soups, etc..add scrambled eggs tomorrow and then gradually add other foods. But I would call if I were you.

Jachut - you always have good posts. You have obviously been very successful with the band. I agree with everything you said but it doesn't apply to me. I was banded 4 months ago and after the two week post op liquid diet ended, I have not lost any weight. I started dieting on my own over 3 years ago, then started this banding journey and overall have lost 60 pounds. I am about 183 with one fill and my surgeon is not happy about my not losing any weight. I am hungry all the time, have about the same capacity for food as pre-band but have had two stuck episodes. My nutritionist has a long list of forbidden foods so variety is not in my present or future. I pretty much eat the same foods over and over and because of the stuck episodes am afraid to eat new things. I go for another fill today but unless it changes my hunger or capacity for food I will continue to have the worst of both worlds - a band that causes stuck foods without the benefits.

Some insurances will pay for a second opinion. Find out if yours does. And if so, get one. Even if it doesn't- find a way to pay for it - it is that important. Try to go to a center for excellence where they have done many, many bandings. Go online to find such places near you. You are jeopardizing your health with so much vomiting. In the meantime, try to drink protein drinks and other healthy liquids - creamy soups, etc.. Good luck.

Did you have the band drained because of the vomiting? Did your doctor do a barium swallow test after it was drained? If so, what did it show? It's possible you might need to have this band removed or replaced with a new band. Another possible test would be an endoscopy so that they could see right down your esophagus and into the band to see what is going on. Insist on having this problems solved - you do not need to live with this. It is unacceptable. Your surgeon should be concerned. If not, find another doctor.

It sounds like you are too tight. How many fills and cc's do you have? Talk to your doctor about this - because it is not normal and you are not getting proper nutrition. Also, make sure you are eating the right foods and chewing but two years out you probably know that.

Baylee - since you were banded so recently your shoulder pain is probably due to gas. I had that too, but it went away after a couple of weeks only to return on the day of my first fill. I had my upper GI this past Tuesday and the doctor (radiologist) asked me if my surgeon explained why this could be happening. I told him no. He said that the diaphram is right there by the band and if it is irritated then the pain goes to the left shoulder (I guess that is referred pain). He also said the hiccupping that I had when I got stuck is due to the phrenic nerve being irritated. He seemed much more knowledgable than my surgeon. Anyway, I go for my second fill on Tuesday and will discuss this with my surgeon and do a follow up post.

I get soft chewable omega 3 (fish oil) from GNC - orange flavored. I chew Centrum multi-vitamin. I get calcium from Viactiv soft chews and use a chewable vitamin D (children's - 500 IU)- I order them online. I don't take any B's.