B-52

My band fluctuates all the time. Can't put a rhyme or reason to it, it just does. There are days it is tight, where I like it, then there are days it is not. It is always tighter in the morning when I get up, and looser by he end of the day. If I don't eat solid foods for a day or two, just shakes (smoothies), soups etc., it will tighten up also. I'm about to go on a 3 day liquid diet of just protein shakes, right after Labor Day. See what happens after that. My guess is it will tighten up.

Mr Dr. is pretty aggressive. I was banded 7 months ago. Have been in to see him every 4 weeks since the surgery, and have had 6 fills based upon my appetite and weight gain/loss. Yes I did gain!!! Saw him just 3 days ago, and we both agreed I am at a good place. No fills this visit, will not be back to see him for 3 months now unless I feel I need to. I have a good feel of restriction. I am forced to eating only small amounts at any one sitting. If I wanted to, and I have once or twice, can go a full day without even wanting to eat. We went kyacking one day, and other than my Breakfast shake, I did not care to eat after that. (although I did have a few beers on the river!) I am aware of my band being there with every swallow, no matter what it is. It's not uncomfortable, or overly restricted, but I am aware it is there and after a small portion of food, I can not eat any more. Solid foods take a certain amount of time to pass through the band and eating anymore will only cause great discomfort. But be advised, it took me 5-6 months to get to this "Sweet Spot". I have found that most posts here with people freaking out about not loosing weight are those who have been banded very recently. You didn't get fat in one month.

As far as drinking with meals, I respond to it differently than what other people describe. Most people say it will wash the food through the band. With me it's the opposite. I have a good amount of restriction. When I swallow, the food takes a certain amount of time to pass through the band, making me feel full and satisfied faster, and forcing me to eat small quantities at a sitting. (pouch?) I could eat a entire pizza if I wanted to, but it would take me all day eating very slow. Anyway, I cannot drink with my meals, because with the food slowly passing through the band, the liquid has nowhere to go. I have had episodes where it came right back up, as opposed to washing everything down. So I can't drink while eating! Period. The food does sit in my pouch for a while. Have to wait 20 minutes after a meal before I can drink, if I feel I need to. Can't help you with Pepsi or Coke, gave up those type of soft drinks years ago. Why can't you drink beer???? I'm not a big drinker, but I do have a beer or 2, (or 3 or 4) say at a ball game or out on the boat, etc. Just can't drink it fast, and can't drink with any food. Only thing You have to watch is the carbs.

Be careful by what she means by "Crunchy" I love raw vegetables, such as carrots, but they have become a No-no for me. No matter how well you chew, etc, they will never get soft. Potato chips on the other hand, are crunchy but they will get soft and pass through my band easily. Anything breaded and fried is off my list now for foods that I can eat with little problems. I have to peel a raw apple, another one of my favorites. If you are post-op, I would think she meant "solid foods" as opposed to "crunchy"

This is not for me, but I would like some info for my Wife. She has not been banded, but is on a medical supervised weight loss program. She has mentioned the desire for breast reduction, and a tummy tuck in the past. Now that she is loosing considerable weight, it may be something we should pursue. So, I have some questions: What type of Dr. do you contact for the consultations. A general Plastic Surgeon or is there a different field? Is this something Insurance will cover? We have excellent insurance. I have never seen a single bill for my band surgery, Dr. visits or fills. Although I did have to do 6 months of pre-requisite consults, etc. What is the cost? Any other info you can provide would be appreciated. Thanks.

My first was one month after surgery with 4. Followed one month later with another fill, and the month after that.

For 2-3 days I was restricted to clear fluids. Water, broth, tea, etc. After that I went on to heavier liquids, such as soups, shakes, etc. I was given a liquid medicine with codeine. can't remember the name. Someone here will. My surgery was outpatient. Checked into same day surgery at 7am. was prepped and ready to go by 9:30am. Was discharged at 6 pm. Only reason it took that long was the Surgeon wanted to see me before I left, but he got tied up somewhere else.

I had the same dilemma during the mandatory 6 month medically supervised weight loss program my insurance made me take. I was loosing weight, and was approaching the cut-off point. But I have been on many diets before and they did not work. I needed something more permanent like surgery. I am almost 60, and also felt that this was something I needed to do now before I got too old. (?) However, close to the end of the 6 months I started to gain weight back. Not intentionally, just that diets don't work and bad habits came back. BTW, like you, I also had co-morbidity's that you have described. Diabetes, cholesterol, triglycerides, angioplasty, etc, etc. That put me on a different BMI scale than other people. Does that not apply to you also?? I remember having a face to face with my primary. He said if you loose the weight, all these things will go away. He Was Right!!!! When I was going through my pre-testing, people would comment "You? You don't look like you need this surgery. A good diet is all you need" They don't know the full story, my (and my families) medical history. I remember my first interview with the PRN at the weight loss center. She asked me the standard opening question: "Why do you feel you need this surgery?" My response was "Because I don't want to die" So yes, IMO, I would gain the 15lbs. It's a small trade-off for the better things to come.

I would say, from experience, that these people must have been banded recently, within the last 4-5 months, and have not reached that "sweet spot" with their fills. I know, I've been there. As far as cheating the band......I am at that sweet spot where I can only eat small amounts at each meal, and most of the time do not feel all that hungry to eat much to begin with. I've also learned the hard way, from being stuck many times, that there are foods I need to avoid, and also I need to eat slowly with small mouthfuls. BUT Old habits die hard, and even though I can eat only small portions, there is nothing to stop me (except myself) from eating every 30 minutes, so to speak. AKA "grazing" This is not due to being hungry. It is more addictive, compulsive behavior. Does not have to be a lot, just almost constant small snacking with things like potato chips, dip, Cookies, etc, etc. You have to learn to listen to your body, not your head. Drink plenty of Water, and get your Protein in. It may sound strange, but I am learning that food is not really that important in my life anymore. I ignore it.

For what reason did she get put on blood thinners?? There is a big risk for blood clots post surgery, (thrombosis) more so for some than others. That is why they put the pressure splints around your lower legs during surgery. You might not have been aware of that. I am on Blood Thinners - Plavix - but due to Cardiac Issues following a Angioplasty and Stent placement.. I also take a Beta Blocker to prevent any irregular or rapid heart rate, which makes me work twice as hard at getting my heart rate up to cardio levels on the elliptical. Kind of ironic. How long this will go on I do not know. Not for the rest of my life though. I have had friends tell me they were taken off after 2 years. I have not heard about anyone being put on thinners as a routine post-op practice. There must be some underlying reason, risk of blood clots? Elevated triglycerides?

I have never been a big Breakfast eater, but now after being banded, for breakfast I make a milkshake in the blender using "Muscle Milk Lite", along with some fresh fruit for 25gm of protein. I also take liquid Protein (3o ml) which equals 15gm. So for breakfast I have 40 gm of protein. That keeps me going for the entire day with plenty of energy, and no appetite. For lunch....I'm on the road all day so it varies as to where I'm at. But it is usually something small, perhaps a Wendy's Chili, Tuna salad, etc. But with the protein I get for breakfast, I could, and have, gone with little or no lunch. Just plenty of Water throughout the day. Then for dinner, I will have either fish, chicken or beef as a entree to get my remaining protein, along with veggies. If I need to snack, I carry Protein Bars with me in my briefcase. I keep "lean Cuisine" or similar frozen dinners in the freezer for those quick meals on the go.

My evaluate took about a hour. She covered everything, And if I answered a certain response in a given area, she would explore it more thoroughly. For instance, I was a teenager in the 60's! Know what mean? But she kept coming back to it. Talked about my military service and my time in Vietnam. Talked about my parents. She was using a program on her laptop and the questions were part of it. She would type in the answers which I quess would trigger additional questions if answered a certain way. She did not ask me much that I felt was from her and not the program.

I do not like posts such as these, or at least I do not like it when people start to compare with one another. People who are new to being banded can get the wrong impression. You need to do what your Dr. recommends. Everyone is different. A while back people were bragging that they had less of a fill than others as though it is a contest. That can distract and discourage people from getting what they need, thinking it is a bad thing to be filled too much. The band is designed to be adjusted according to ones individual needs. Would you do this if you had Cancer and compared your Chemo doses??

I had a one week post-op appointment with my Dr., just as a routine follow up to check incisions, etc. I asked him then if I could go back to the gym and he said "No problem, just don't get carried away" Before that, I walked a great deal. That's the only way to relieve the gas pains in chest and shoulder.

You need to print this post, pin it to your wall, and come back and read it say, around mid November ! Then you're going to have a story to tell!

The majority of negative posts, IMO, come from people who have recently been banded. They are not sure what to expect, or are seeking immediate results from their surgery. They freak out when they gain weight, have post-op pains, fear getting stuck/slimed as though it is a bad thing. And when nothing goes THEIR WAY, their band must have slipped!! To all of those, I say PATIENCE! For me, the first month was nothing. 2-3 months after that, with 2-3 fills, it was a roller coaster getting on the scale. I was convinced I must be doing something wrong. Then, one day it all fell into place. I have been stuck more times than I can count. Is that negative??? NO. Did I run to the Dr.? NO. It was, and is, a learning experience that changed the way I approach food. I've learned and currently learning a new way of eating! It's tough after 40 years of being a glutton! But I have nothing negative to say about it.

Perfectly normal. Your body is healing / healed from the surgery. After 1 month post-op, the maintenance of the band will begin. Took me a few months to get it working for me. I know it's frustrating, but you did not get over weight in one month, and it will take a while to get on program that you feel is a positive direction.

It's true, you may be over filled, but before you jump to conclusions; ask yourself if you are eating very small bites, chewing well, and slowly. I'm fine where I'm at right now. But, sometimes I forget I'm banded, and all I have to do, for example, is eat one cracker or one swallow of tuna fish like I did in the old days, and I'm stuck!!

I'll throw something out here with a different slant. Getting stuck is a good thing. what I mean is, eating foods such as steak, that will get stuck easily, can be good. It teaches you a new, better way to eat. Rather than being a "Pig" 1) It forces you to eat the small pencil eraser size bites, chew very thoroughly, and put the fork down between bites, in order to get through it. 2) When eating something like steak, I can only eat a very small portion. Maybe 1/4. Fish or tender chicken, I can eat 3 times as much because it is easier. So which is better? Knowing the fears and feelings of being stuck many times, I have become conditioned to a new way of eating, rather than the old way. First sign of pain or discomfort and I either slow way down, or stop altogether. Now if I can just figure out Ice Cream! BTW, IMO there is only one kind of stuck. The mild will lead to the first if you push it. How do I get rid of it? Go in the bathroom, stand over the sink or toilet, and drink Water. If you are stuck, the water has no where to go and will right back up, usually bringing the food - slime with it.

I know what you mean. When I first started this, people (Dr.'s) would ask me what my goal was, what I would like to weigh. I really could not give them a straight answer because it all seemed so impossible. During these interviews they would ask what I weighed in High School. High School? When I played football and ran track?? That was back in the 60's!!! I could not even imagine being under 200 lbs. again, let alone anywhere near a "Normal" BMI. But now, when I did reach 199lbs., Yes I was very pleased with myself, but at the same time I was, as I am now, not satisfied with 199. I want more! I won't be happy until I do have that normal BMI. So, reaching that point under 200, as big as it was, passed very quickly! Now I can't wait to get out of the 190's into the 180's!

Along with the 6 months pre-surgery diet, I had to do the following within those 6 months: 1) Psyc. eval 2) Pulmonary workup - clearance by Pulmonologist. 3) Nuclear stress test - clearance by Cardiologist. Then, within 30 days of surgery, a Endoscopy that was performed by the Surgeon. The standard pre-op blood work, x-rays, etc., done by the hospital where the surgery was to take place. (pre-admission) Then finally, clearance by my Primary.

My insurance wanted a very detailed report, with progress notes. They rejected the first report. The facility had to re-do it. They gave me one complete with graphs to accompany the progress notes, and a detailed cover letter.

Comparing number of cc's or levels of restriction in ones band to another is a very dangerous road to go down, IMO. There are people here who have life threatening disorders due to being morbidly obese. The band was made to be adjusted, and is done so to fit the individual by the Surgeon. Everyone is different. I would not want to see people feel like a failure because they have had many fills, comparing themselves to someone who has never had a fill. It would be like comparing "Chemo" doses between cancer patients. You got to do what works for you, under your Dr.'s advice.

I think I bought the same large bag of Fish Sticks at costco you are referring to. I am not a calorie/carb counter. With me and my band, how much I eat is very limited. Yesterday I cooked 5 of these fish sticks, along with some mixed veggies as a side. Out of 5, I could only eat 2-1/2. Ate 1/2 the veggies, and that was it for dinner. Had yogurt with fruit later for dessert. I don't count calories, but I do count my Protein intake daily. So the foods I choose to eat are based upon that. And if I'm looking for high protein foods, there is no room for junk food.