leroyspuds
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Everything posted by leroyspuds
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I was banded on 2/22 and will have my first fill on 3/31. I've been dieting during this time to try to lose some, but my doc says this is time for healing not major weight loss. I get real hungry (stomach growling hunger, not just head hunger.) So I eat more than three 1/2 cup meals per day, but I'm eating healthy foods and limit my calorie intake to 1,000. I'm still on the pureed stages and eat: 3/4 cup skim milk-soaked cheerios for Breakfast 1/2 cup pureed chicken or tuna or scrambled egg for lunches and dinners with something to dress it up like salsa, lo fat cheese, etc. three 8 oz. unjury in crystal lite Protein drinks (20 grams pr. each). I also eat a mid-morning, mid-afternoon and mid-evening snack of things like 1/2 of a small banana, non-sugar pudding, non-sugar Jello, or non-sugar popsicle. This keeps the hunger at bay and I'm slowly loosing pounds. When I go on soft foods in a couple of days I'll add some veges at lunch and dinner. I lost 8 pounds during a one-week pre-op diet and have lost another 10 pounds since surgery. That's 10 pounds lost in four weeks since surgery, about 2.5 pounds a week. My understanding is that we're only supposed to lose a pound or two per week even after our fills. The fills will help keep the hunger down, but no matter what I think it will always take some self-discipline to stay on course. It's not been easy but I love seeing those pounds come off. Your 15-18 pounds lost is nothing to sneeze at! Keep up the good work! :laugh:
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I was banded on 2/22. A couple days after I got home from the hospital I got bronchitus. As of today, 3/21, I still have it. A recent chest x ray showed that I might even have pneumonia. I've been coughing all this time. I called the surgeon and after asking me a few questions he concluded that I didn't have a band slippage. I've been taking anti-biotics all this time which cause some nausea and diarrhea. What fun! Have you seen your regular doctor to be treated for the bronchitus? It's probably best to try to keep it under control and ultimately get rid of it!
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Hi There, I'm doing great. I'm down 18 lbs and have a few more days to go on pureed foods. I plan to start walking daily. I think everyone is different and weight loss varies. What I've learned is that before the first fill the band isn't really working. Once we get restriction we'll lose more and not be very hungry. I'm hungry all the time now and I'm looking forward to my first fill on March 31st. When do you get your fill? No pains, aches, or stomach upset. So, everything is going well. Are there any foods you're having trouble with?
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I think each insurance company has its own criteria. You may want to look it up on your ins company's web site. Mine is Aetna. They'll do 40 BMI no problem, but between 35 and 40 you need one of the comorbitities on their list. They are uncontrolled hi bP; diabetes; and sleep apnea. I was 37 BMI with sleep apnea. They each have their own set of steps to take to qualify. For mine I had to have three months of seeing a nutritionist and supervised exercize (class or personal trainer.) Once I completed that and the surgeon sent in all the paperwork they approved me immediately. Good luck!
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What was your "That's it" Moment?
leroyspuds replied to TracyNYC's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
My sister had a bypass about five years ago and lost 100 pounds. She no longer has high BP, sleep apnea, back pain, or reflux. I've contemplated the band for about three years but kept chickening out thinking I could do it on my own. I had previously lost a lot of weight on diet pills and protein drinks and gained it all back plus 20 pounds. I also have the health problems my sister had, plus a family history of diabetes. My moment was coming to the realization that I was an out of control food addict and needed some serious help to achieve a better quality of life. -
I'm three weeks post-op and I do miss food. I think part of it is I've been on clear, then full liquids, then pureed for a month (counting pre-op). I'm hoping that when I move on to more regular foods and have my first fill it won't be so bad. I started grieving for food as soon as I made the decision to have the surgery. Food makes me happy. I'm definitely a food addict. I expect to be able to enjoy food again soon, but believe this tool will help me feel satisfied with smaller portions and deter me from gorging on junk food. Let's face it - huge portions and junk food was killing us. Eating smaller portions and dropping some foods won't!
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Aftering being banded, how much weight did you loose until the first fill??
leroyspuds replied to mears06's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
since being banded 2/22 seven pounds in two weeks, been eating pureed since 3/3 during pre-op eight pounds in one week total 15 pounds first fill will be 3/31 -
I'm 14 days out now and remember well how uncomfortable the gas was. The first few days I think the gas was the CO2 from surgery. The only thing that helped was to walk, stretch, anything to move it out. It didn't last long. Then I started getting gas from my stomach everytime I ate. I felt like I had to burp but couldn't. I had pain under my sternum and ribs. I took gas x for that and it helped somewhat. Then one day a big burb happened and I was thrilled. The doc's office said once the band area swelling went down it would get better and it has. As to the strange sensations in my stomach I also had a tough time identifying them at first. Mine was definitely hunger and gas pain. My doc's office told me to have as much liquids as I needed to keep from being hungry because they go "below the band" anyway. He said don't worry about losing weight, just heal.
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"My banding was on Wed. 2/24 and I am defintley more uncomfortable than I expected...gas pain, burping, port pain. I hope I get used to all of it....I hope I don't burp this much forever. I have felt alot of regret the past few days, wishing I had none done this to myself, wishing I would have been able to loose the weight on my own.I can't wait to move off the liquids and onto the soft foods in a week! " Hi Nikki, I was banded on 2/22. I've felt much like you but it does get better each day. I bet you're about to turn a corner on much of that. Now 7 days out I still ocassionally feel a tight painful feeling in the middle of my chest. It feels like I need to burp but can't. It also feels a bit like acid indigestion so I might be having some reflux. I think what we're feeling is normal and will eventually go away. I have also asked "what have I done to myself?" It's not just because of the discomfort but also from feeling a profound loss. I daydream about the way I used to be able to eat. In two more days my doc says I can move onto mushies and I hope that will help. I try to keep in mind that in a few weeks I'll be able to eat more normally again, just in much smaller portions. I too wish I wouldn't have had to be banded, but after many failed attempts at weight loss over the years this tool may be my last chance to get healthy again. The band will help me conquer my sleep apnea, high cholesterol, borderline high blood sugar, bad knees, and GERD. So, I'm telling myself to be patient and that this sacrafice will be worth it. So, hang in there girl! :wink2:
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Just take this time to heal up Jasmine, the weight loss will come for sure. Go easy on yourself.
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Congrats jmunks! I'm glad everything went smoothly for you. I was so scared too but the surgery wasn't bad at all. I'm now in the process of getting used to all the new sensations in my stomach, some of which aren't the most pleasant, but nothing unbearable. Let me know how you do on the diet in the next couple weeks. :cursing: Hey post-op February bandsters -- how are you all doing?
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3 Days Post-Op and I'm Hungry!
leroyspuds replied to giggles&curls's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Count me in as a member of the diarrhea club! :eek: My pangs were definitely hunger. Some people don't get that feeling though - lucky for them! Best of luck to you. -
Hi Jasmine, hope you're doing well. You had asked how long I would be off work. I was off Mon and Tues for surgery and took the rest of the week. I just do desk work so it should be OK to return Monday. I'm lucky and have a home office so I won't have the challenge of not having access to my kitchen to get the foods I need. How do you plan to deal with that?
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My hunger is awful. I never expected that. However, the doc (and other bandsters' docs) apparently think it's OK to eat as much as we need of the full liquids to keep hunger down. Mine said the three meals a day only applies to more solid foods. So, I'm not messing around with it anymore and will eat liquids whenever I'm hungry. Heck, two ounces of liquid is only a few calories and I don't see how we couldn't lose weight on a 500 calorie diet! I'm on to mushies next Tuesday. I can't wait!!
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3 Days Post-Op and I'm Hungry!
leroyspuds replied to giggles&curls's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Question for everyone on full liquids: How many ounces of full liquids do you put in your pouch at one time? Even putting in two oz. can give me that tightness in my chest that must be my "new" feeling of fullness. I also seem to bloat up with stomach gas whenever I eat which can be uncomfortable for a little while. (Don't think it's the CO2 gas though.) It kind of feels like indigestion too. Anyone else feel that way when they eat? Whatever uncomfortable feelings I get in my tummy seem to be mostly relieved by walking. Walking is my new friend! -
3 Days Post-Op and I'm Hungry!
leroyspuds replied to giggles&curls's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Some of you are concerned about gaining weight if you eat extra small servings of liquids to keep hunger under control. So, what are the effects on calories of consuming more than three? I had 5 servings of full liquids today and tracked my intake. The effect of adding two 2 oz servings of full liquids was an increase of only about 60 calories. Our goal in the first few months is 600-800 and my calories were a little over 400 with 5 servings. Protein was 66 grams and 29 oz's of fluid(need more.) It helped to track my intake today to see whether I was within the guidelines for everything. So long as my pouch is comfortable and I'm within the guidelines I'm going to continue to add a couple servings of clear or full liquids to curb my hunger during the day. Hopefully the hunger pangs will subside once other foods are introduced and stay in the pouch longer than liquids. (This is merely my opinion and the bottom line is to comply with "your" doctor's orders.) -
That's great! I had the same experience. Very little pain and discomfort. Took a little pain med in the hospital the day of surgery and the day after, but none (not even Tylenol) Wednesday or Thursday. Amazing! Gas pains weren't a huge problem though I did have some that were relieved by walking around. Well, good luck with your recovery and your liquid diet stage. Let me know how things are going.
Sharon
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Aetna approved me within a few days of my doc submitting the paperwork. I had surgery on 2/22/10. Though my BMI was less than 40 I have sleep apnea, so they qualified me. I did the three month nutritionist and exercise visits. It was easier than I thought. Aetna assigned a bariatric nurse to my case and he makes regular calls to me to find out how things are going. I must say Aetna has been pretty good to me.
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3 Days Post-Op and I'm Hungry!
leroyspuds replied to giggles&curls's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I'm 4 days out and my hunger pangs are excrutiating. Besides my Protein drinks I'm only having three 2 oz servings of full liquids (Soup, yogurt or pudding) per day. I'm starving! I thought I wasn't supposed to be hungry and then figured out that the liquids don't stay in the new pouch long enough to help you feel full. That won't happen until we progress to post-liquid stages and even more so when we have our first fill. So, I called my doc and asked the same question as you and he told me I could eat at much liquids as I needed to keep the hunger down. He said it's not until I progress firther the diet that I need to keep the meals down to three a day. Thank goodness!! So, if I'm feeling hungry I eat a tablespoon or two of full liquid stuff and that kills the hunger.:smile2: -
Hi There, I'm on day 4 and I'm having some sensations that I'm trying to figure out. I believe a lot of it is hunger pangs. I didn't think I would feel hungry right after surgery but I do. I would like to be able to have four instead of three meals so I don't have the hunger pangs as bad. I plan to ask my doctor about it. Last night I experienced the sensation of being a little too full after drinking a bit too much broth. It was a tightness in the middle of my chest along with a little heartburn. I'm taking care to limit my full liquid meals (yogurt, Soup, pudding) to 2 oz. I sometimes feel a tightness in my stomach which is relieved by expelling gas. I'm not having a lot of gas at this point though. These are some of the sensations I've experienced. I guess it's all normal, but it does take some getting used to. Good luck to you!
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It's official. Had surgery yesterday and I'm home today. Had a little gas pain Monday which I burped up while walking the hospital floors. No gas by Monday evening. No nausea at all. Incisions are sore, particularly the port, but nothing above a three or four. Had cotton mouth really bad. Started taking liquid Lortab for pain which is making me very drowsy. So, I may just try tylenol instead. Everything went great and I'm so thankful. Wednesday I start 7 days of full liquids then on to puree. Everyone's body is different, but this surgery was pretty much a cinch for me. Good luck everyone and I hope your experience is as good as mine was.
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I'm getting banded the 22nd, Monday. I started the pre-op diet last Monday and have lost 5 pounds in four days, with three days to go. The first two days were hell, but pretty soon I got used to it. Eating non-sugar jello, non-sugar pudding, broth, skim milk, non-sweetened juice, non-sugar yogurt and Unjury protein powder with Crystal Lite. Also had some leafy greens with non-fat salad dressing and raw carrots. This week I was super anxious about the surgery and life with the band, but I seem to be more calm today. I was most worried about pain and discomfort after surgery, but you can get through anything for a couple of days I guess. When I found out I was approved for surgery I was excited and depressed. I imagined "I am breaking up with food." Get lost cheeze doodles, candy bars, and Klondike bars. You've not been good to me so I'm breaking up with ya. I'm about to enter a healthier relationship with food, which is what I need to stay alive and well. I've tried many times before but now I'll have the band to help protect me from going back to my bad relationship. Well, good luck everyone. Hope you all heal quickly.
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Hi Folks, I'll be having surgery by Dr. Rohrer on 2/2210. I'm filled with both excitement and apprehension. Wondering if there are any bandsters in Helena? Do you all have any experiences or advice you could share with me?
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#1. Surgery date? scheduled for 2/22 #2. State you live in? Montana #3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Rohrer, Benefis Hospital #4. Insurance or self pay? Aetna insurance #5. Age and height 57/5'1 #6. Current weight and goal weight? 196/130 #7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? Family history of diabetes, sleep apnea, bad acid reflux, knees hurt when I exercize, high cholesterol, back pain, shortness of breath. Want to fear better and ensure higher quality of life as I get older. #7. Do you have the support of family and friends? Yes. Spouse had bypass and lost 100 pounds and feels great. #8. Concerns and questions? Worry about feeling ill the first couple weeks after surgery, reflux, gas, PBing, and complications. Still willing to take the risk and endure some discomfort in order to benefit from this tool. :thumbdown: