jen120

What a great analogy. But unlike my marriage, my band is going to work!!! Good Luck with Surgery. Let us know how things go on the "Post Surgery" forum.

Some doctors have specific weight limits in order to perform the surgery. The only thing my doctor requires is that people weigh less than 400 pounds. I have heard that some doctors require a certain BMI. It all depends on the surgeon and hospital.

For me, my nutritionist said not to start my Vitamins until 2 weeks after surgery. The Protein shakes I was drinking had all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals covered. I dont know about fish oil, but you should to switch to a chewable calcium and a chewable multi-vitamin. For the calcium I take the Viactiv chocolate chews. They taste like candy and are a treat to me. For the multi I take Scooby Doo kids chewable. I did a quick search and you can find fish oil that comes in small capsules that make it easier to take. I even found chewable, but the reviews weren't great. One day after surgery, my prescriptions were all able to be taken. There was one that was a little big and I was able to break in half (it was scored). I had no issues taking one at a time, drinking Water, waiting a few minutes and then taking another.

Most of us have referrals because that is what is required for our insurance. It depends on the kind of insurance you have. If you are self pay, then you just go directly to the surgeon. If you dont have medical records because you havent gone to the doctor, then you dont have them. I don't think that is a big deal.

Congratulations on your surgery! Dont worry too much about the amounts you can get down right now. You are still swollen and it will take some time to go down. I hope you have a smooth recovery!

See this article for a full explanation... Everyone experiences hair loss on a daily basis. Normal hair loss is barely noticeable, amounting to less than 100 hairs per day. However, the stress of a major surgery can cause hair loss to accelerate up to three times as much in both men and women. It's the body's way of reacting to the trauma of the operation. The Facts During a normal hair growth cycle, hair grows, then enters into a resting or "telogen" period and eventually sheds. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, "telogen effluvium" is a term used to describe hair that has been rushed into the resting state after the body suffers a shock due to major surgery. As resources are redirected to help heal the affected surgical area, the body temporarily shuts down hair production because it is not necessary for survival. Identification Telogen effluvium related to surgery can be distinguished from other forms of hair loss in several ways. Individuals typically begin to notice the increasing hair loss two to three months after the surgery. hair loss after surgery is uniform, noticeable on the scalp but never excessive enough to cause a patchy appearance or complete baldness. In addition, the shed hairs all exhibit a specific pattern at the root, which resembles a white bulb. Time Frame Hair usually resides in the telogen phase for a period of two to four months before growth resumes. Individuals don't begin to notice the increase in hair loss when showering or brushing the hair until about three months post-surgery. Although the resting hair is being pushed out of the scalp by new hair that is already growing, it can take anywhere from about six months to a year for the hair to return to its normal fullness. Gastric Bypass Surgery Individuals who have undergone gastric bypass or other operations of the digestive tract designed to reduce obesity are more prone to hair loss post-surgery. This is due to the reduced intake of food in the weeks and months immediately following these procedures. The body needs an adequate amount of Proteins and Vitamins to maintain hair production. Protein-enhanced shakes are often recommended for these patients as a substitute until solid food can be better tolerated. Proper Diet Hair loss related to surgery typically reverses itself without any medicinal intervention or the need for over-the-counter hair loss tonics or treatments. However, maintaining a diet rich in Protein and Iron is believed to help promote and speed up healthy hair growth. Suggested foods include salmon, Beans, eggs, spinach, broccoli, nuts and whole-grain cereals. Avoid foods that can inhibit hair growth, such as those that contain high levels of caffeine and fat. Read more: Losing hair After Surgery | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...l#ixzz1QtFeANl3

I assume your Protein shake has lots of Vitamins and minerals in it, but maybe take a multi-Vitamin as well. Good Luck!

My surgeon won't make an appointment until you attend the seminar even though I already had the referral.

Distraction is the key. I often come here and read posts and answer if I have any words of wisdom to keep myself on track. The worst thing for me is to watch TV. Call a friend, go online and plan a vacation to a dream destination (you dont have to go just plan like you have unlimited funds), read, organize a drawer or closet, meditate. Come up with several ideas and keep a list handy so that when you have times like this you can check out the list and keep yourself busy. Good Luck!

My surgery was at 10:00am and I was home by 5pm. I decided to leave at 4pm, by the time they removed my IV and found someone to wheel me out it was 4:30. I needed to do 3 things to be able to leave. Eat jello/drink broth, pee and walk around the unit a couple of times. I spoke to someone today who had her surgery at 10:00 am and she was home by 3pm. Find out what are the requirements to be discharged when you have your pre-op appt and then meet those goals. Good Luck with your surgery!!

Where it says "You are signed it as " there is a drop down. Choose "My settings". Then choose "profile". Then choose "Change Avatar". This is where you can load a picture to show every time you post.

What are you hoping the phentermine will do? Are you hoping it decreases your appetite? You said that your band seems to be at a good fill. So are you hungry in between meals? Phentermine can temporarily increase your metabolism, but you could probably do that by working out more consistently and increasing the intensity and the number of days you work out. How many calories are you eating per day? Are you tracking everything? Do you measure your portions or just eye ball it? Are you focusing on good nutrition, high Protein, lower carbs and fats? Have you talked to your primary doctor and have you had your thyroid checked? These are all questions I'd ask myself before I decided to try any drug to lose weight especially after being banded. If I had a plateau for that length of time, I would do a 2 week "boot camp". I would focus completely on my eating and exercise. Track everything. Measure everything. Do high protein, low carb. I would drink tons of Water everyday. Workout 6 out of 7 days. Take my Vitamins. Do everything you are supposed to do. If after that time you still dont break the plateau then perhaps try the drug route. Good Luck!

I'm sorry the band didnt work for you. Good luck.

Way to go!

Hi, I have the same issues. food addiction. It sucks. I truly believe food addiction is harder to kick than any other addiction because you have to eat. If you were a drug addict or alcoholic you could give up those substances and never have to take them again. But with food, we are faced with it every day. I definitely recommend therapy. Get someone who specializes in food addiction or eating disorders or is a cognitive behavioral therapist. Also, there is a good book that I have read. It is called "Shrink Yourself" by Roger Gould. It talks about emotional eating and gives step by step instructions on how to identify and deal with emotional triggers. Shrink Yourself They even have a web site with a 12 week online class to deal with emotional eating. The main thing is, you need to decide you want to change your life. You need to make a plan regarding how you are going to make the changes. Your band is a good tool. Do you need a fill? I know that with a proper fill the amount you eat should be limited and you should feel full. Perhaps you need to see your surgeon. Good Luck. I wish you much success!

To me it sounds like it is some type of gastro issue. Activity at both ends definitely sounds like some type of virus or other bug. I had a coworker who recently went through something similar that lasted for about 2 months. He was eventually diagnosed with colitis. I would definitely talk to your nurse and doctor. Also, be sure to track all your food, the times you eat and when you get the nausea and other yucky feelings. This will be helpful to bring with you to the appointment because it might shed some light on the problem. I hope you feel better soon. ps...congrats on your fantastic weight loss!

Wow! What an amazing story! So glad you are doing well and that your daughter and grand daughter are ok too! Let's hope their are no more "adventures" in hospital-land for a long time. Other than work of course!

What an amazing accomplishment! Way to go!

For non-meat protein I eat... Cottage Cheese Light Cheddar Cheese Edamame Almonds Eggs/Egg whites Beans

I've seen it before, so I'm not sure it is new.

LOL, when you wrote sx, I thought you meant sex. Then I realized you meant surgery. Congrats on your progress!

Congrats on your success! You have done an amazing job and should be very proud of yourself. Like others said, the sizes will drop. Have a great day!

Dont worry...I had scrambled eggs about 4 days after surgery. I posted a similar post to yours worried that I ruined something and feeling guilty. You will be fine. Just get back on track and follow the doctors instructions. The crazy thing is that every dr. seems to be different in their post op instructions. Some people are cleared to eat solid food after a week. Get back on track and you will be fine. Congrats on surgery! I wish you much luck in your journey!

I'm not sure when you had surgery, but having pain in your side and the gas pain is completely normal after surgery. Even over 2 months out, I still get side pains from time to time.

No need to worry. Our bodies are not that fragile. I dont think you have anything to worry about the band slipping. Hope you feel better soon!