NWgirl

I have heard for people coming from a sedentary lifestyle to trying to be more active, it's a lot easier to ease into exercise. The recommendation is still 30 minutes a day, but to break it up into manageable chunks (10 minutes, three times a day) so that it's not overwhelming. Start out in the AM with a 10 minute walk around your neighborhood, take a 10 minute walk on your lunch break, and a 10 minute walk at night. As you become more active, you can gradually add more time til you are at a level you feel comfortable with.

It's very common to not feel restriction til a few fills in. This period is called bandster hell and if you want to lose weight now, you will usually need to do some traditional dieting. As for food, you usually do liquids 24-48 hrs after and then transition back to real foods.

Make sure to take your pain meds on time for the first couple days- if you wait til you are sore, it is harder to get relief.

I definitely sympathize with you here, but you need to ask yourself if this is a new thing, or if they've always eaten like this and now you're super aware of it? Sometimes I wish families got it and understood the need for a little more discretion, but they don't always see the problem. Especially if you are expecting them to change because you have...

If you are physically restricted more than me, that would be why. I like my band looser so it is just helping control hunger and not so it's cutting out food groups.

I started practicing not drinking with meals a couple Weeks pre-surgery, so now I don't have any desire to drink and eat together. If you need to, push the glass far enough away that you have to mindfully retrieve it when you want to drink. As for the statement "I get thirsty when I eat," I used to as well. It has taken practice and I believe a dietary change- I usually eat moist foods, not the crap I used to eat that dries out your mouth.

I maxed out my $3000 OOP doing all of the pre-op testing.

I actually have them bring me a Water when we sit down so I can sip before food comes. I've found the waitresses also harass you less if you have something to drink. I've tried no drink and they constantly come by to see if I've changed my mind. It's really annoying.

I have taken a biotin supplement since surgery and make sure to get 60+ grams protein a day. Both these are reasons for hair loss.

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There is surgery for everything. I would guess they would do skin removal, which would leave scarring below the breast line. Hopefully another man will respond with this... I know I've seen a few on the board who got reconstructive surgery afterwards.

The only time I tried to push an obstruction through by force of liquid was not pretty. I am very conscious of bite size and when I do have a stuck episode (or the time I PB'd), it's because I was in too big of a hurry or distracted while eating. If I have a normal stuck episode, it will pass in a few minutes. Some say they have had episodes that last a good hour or two, but sooner or later the food goes through. Lastly, I did read about someone who had to get an emergency unfill because the stuck had not resolved itself after a long time (8+ hours if I recall right). Moral of the story: Chew food well every time. If I don't, I get immediate feedback.

I have also asked someone I worked with and had not seen in a good year when her baby was due... Needless to say, she was not pregnant and I felt like a real a-s-s-h-o-l-e. She wasn't fat or anything, just had a bigger belly (she had already had three children).

People can be really ignorant about the different types of WLS- don't let their uneducated responses take you down.

Mio is definitely good. Vitamin Water Zero and Sobe Lifewater's are also good. I also enjoyed diet snapple.

I'm guessing you didn't do any damage, but it's best to avoid the trigger foods right now because I know for me, some leads to more or an obsessive craving until I fullfill it. As for restriction, no, you will get to that when you get to solid foods and when your band is adjusted properly. Just make sure to follow your post-op diet plan and work the band correctly.

It's funny how people vary so much... I tried it and thought it was disgusting- it had a protein taste and smell, so it didn't taste like ANY chicken soup I'd ever had. It is also only supposed to be made with warm Water, not hot, because it won't come out right otherwise. I know unjury sells a sample pack online of a bunch of their flavors, that may be the best bet to see if YOU like it. If you just want something hot to sip post-op, Lipton Cup of soup creamed chicken is delicious, but no protein. I finally settled on the costco Premier chocolate because I tried so many flavors/brands and could not find one I liked. If I get bored of the plain chocolate taste, I add sugar free syrup or Peanut Butter or banana to switch it up.

I also don't like going to someone's photos (mostly on social networking sites) and seeing literally a picture of their face taken 50 times in 50 different outfits... I just want to ask them how full of themselves they are.

I hope you enjoyed your seminar and found a lot of good info

My surgeon suggests liquids for 48 hrs afterwards. The last two fills, I did not follow to a T. This Monday is my third fill, and I will follow the rules because I already have a little restriction and know I will have more after the next fill...

It looks like there was more than just a fill- barium swallow, fill under fluoroscope? I agree the bill seems high, as my barium swallow and surgeon fee was about 8-900 dollars...

Keep the appointment and let the surgeon help you decide. I would say if you are staying full for 4+ hours and not white knuckle dieting, you are probably okay with no fill. If you are hungry but are pushing through, then probably a fill would be good.

You can probably find another Dr to do plication if you really, really want it. I'm sure your supervised diet can also be transferred.