Mary M. Riley

To Postingnut: You have received some great replies to your concern about "not losing weight fast enough" since your surgery at the end of June, and I agree with all of them. I will just add my story for your information, maybe that will help reinforce the message that we are all so different in the way our bodies lose weight and adjust to the band. I was banded on 12/10/02. To date, I have lost 44 lbs., and I have about 45 lbs. more to lose to get to my goal weight. I lost the first 20 lbs. from the liquid diet I followed for 2 weeks after surgery. It has taken me since January to lose the other 24 lbs. I have had 6 fills, and have not had really good restriction until my last fill, which was about a month ago. I have lost 14 lbs. since that last fill, and it was painless (the weight loss, I mean!) It makes a HUGE difference when your band is at the right tightness. You will not be hungry, will eat very little and be satisfied, and will lose weight well. Most people do not need as many fills as I did to get good restriction, but some do. The key is PATIENCE, enjoy the ride! You have this band for life, you do not have to "diet", let the band tell you when you are hungry and when you are full, and don't jump on the scale every day. Focus on making good food choices, drinking a lot of Water, and exercise, and keep getting fills monthly until you are properly restricted. You will know when you are, believe me! I have kept a positive attitude throughout my banded journey, what really helped was reading inspiring websites of banded people, reading the Bandsters boards, and joining a support group of banded people who meet monthly in my area. If you do these things, you will succeed! Mary in Sacramento

I had heard of not eating before fills, and I have followed this, but have never been told or heard of not DRINKING before fills. I'd like to know if this is a common instruction, and if so, what the logic is here. I would think liquids would just go through the stoma and not cause any problems with the fill process. Anyone know more about this? Mary in Sacramento

To Onemoment I admire your positive attitude! That is certainly the best way to think. And your doctor who thinks you should be losing 10-12 lbs. a month is wrong! That is very fast for a banded person to lose. It also sets you up for a feeling of failure if you don't accomplish that, which is very unfair to you. Most banded people lose 4-5 lbs. a month. As long as you are eating properly, exercising, and feeling comfortable and healthy, let your body lose the way it wants to! Mary in Sacramento

To Lori in Oregon: My first two fills were 1 cc each, then the next two fills were .5 cc, then .7 cc, then my 5th fill put me at 3 cc's, then my 6th fill put me at 3.5 cc's, where I finally got good restriction. If you add it up, it would seem I had 3.2 cc's by fill #5, but I didn't, I had something like 2.8 cc's when the doctor removed all the fill at the 5th fill session before he filled me with 3 cc's. For some reason, the fill amounts don't add up, I don't know why exactly, but I have heard this and it was my experience also, something about air being in the band. I would say by far, most people do not need as many fills as I did to get good restriction. From what I have heard, and people I know, most seem to get tight enough by or before 3 fills. The wise, experienced Bandsters say it is best to "sneak up" to the right restriction and do it gradually. This is probably good advice, but everyone is very different in their stomach size, amount of fat on the stomach, etc., so it is hard to say how much you would need. Also, doctors vary in their fill policies. Some customize the fills to how much they think you need, others give set amounts, on a schedule, some allow you to come back in a few days to get more fill if you don't feel any difference under the same price. Mary in Sacramento

To Onemoment: A couple of observations on your plateau: 1. You have lost an average of more than 8 lbs. a month since your surgery, that is EXCELLENT weight loss! Very experienced (years out) Bandsters say an average of 4 lbs. loss a month is good, you are at twice that! I think your body is just resting, adjusting, and will eventually start moving the scale down again after your very quick initial months of loss. I think you just got spoiled and expect to continue losing at the same clip! 2. I know you said you recently had a fill and that is why you are eating mushy foods, but the firmer the food, the better restriction you will have. The most conservative doctors usually prescribe 3 days of liquids after a fill, then solids after that, so the quicker you can eat solids, and the more of them you eat, the better! 3. Your diet seems high in sweets and carbs. Stick to high protein, solid foods primarily, then fresh vegetables, then fruit, THEN carbs and/oir desserts is you have any room left. My story is that I have lost 40 lbs. since my surgery last December, 20 lbs. from the 2 week post surgery liquid diet, then basically plateaued, losing about 8 lbs. from January to July, because despite monthly fills, I had very little restriction. Then, with my 6th fill I finally got good restriction and lost 12 lbs. in about 3 weeks. I am finally on my way, but I hung in there and had faith. You can do it too! Good luck. Mary in Sacramento

Hi Divebadger: Thanks for your response, and you are absolutely right. I guess the only reason I hesitate to get an unfill, even a slight one, is that I had so much trouble getting enough restriction, and now that I have it, it's hard to think about letting any go! I do wish I could drink a little faster, but my food intake, I think, is about right. Anyway, I guess I will just wait and see how it goes! This is sure a learning experience... Mary in Sacramento

Hi Divebadger: Thanks for the update on your unfill results. I am now almost 3 weeks out from my last fill, and am dealing OK with it, I think. I have been waiting for some real restriction since my surgery last December, and with this fill, I finally have it, but some things I didn't expect. Like, only being able to drink very slowly. While I don't think I am dehydrated, I know I am drinking less water, peeing less, and somewhat constipated. I never had trouble with this before this fill. I have to drink a mouthful, then wait a few minutes until I can drink another mouthful. I did not expect such restriction with liquids! Eating solids is about as slow as drinking, not slower, which one would expect. I am able to eat any foods, it seems, as long as I go slow enough. I am still able to get in more than 1,000 calories a day, so I don't think I need an unfill at this point, what's your opinion? I like the restriction with the food, but with the liquid it is kind of annoying, although liveable. I think with me, it may take this to achieve weight loss! Mary in Sacramento

Hi Seaotter and Dee: Our group is organized under Sacramento Bandsters @ Yahoogroups.com. You might want to join to get information about when and where we meet, as it varies from month to month. We meet once a month, usually on a Sunday afternoon, sometimes on a Saturday, the place varies. We welcome any new members! Mary

Hi Divebadger: Thanks for your response. I was wondering, since I also have a tight fill, but I have not had the PB'ing problem you have had. I am able to get food and liquid down and it stays down, it just takes awhile and I guess I am not used to that, since I have not had much restriction until now. It does sound like they filled you a little too much. Good luck with your unfill! Mary in Sacramento surgery date 12/10/02 -40 lbs.

I was banded in Sacramento, by Dr. Bruce Wolfe at UCD Medical Center, December 10, 2002. He is no longer at UCD, he left this month, either retired or moved to another hospital in private practice, I have heard both versions. Were you banded in Sacramento, or are you planning to be? Mary in Sacramento 12/10/02 262/222/170

Keep the faith! Believe in the band! Weight loss WILL continue to happen. It took me 6 fills over 7 months to acheive a good level of restriction. Everyone is different. I lost 20 lbs. from the post-surgery liquid diet. I slowly lost 10 lbs. between fills 1 and 5. After fill 6, which was 2 weeks ago, I have lost 10 lbs., for a total now of 40 lbs. lost since December. I am very happy about this! I am not worried about how long it will take, I know I will lose the rest of my weight. Look at this long term, and have patience! You have this band for the rest of your life. Mary in Sacramento

Don't stress about how much you are eating. That will vary on your level of restriction, the day of the week, and the type of food. Soft food you can eat more of than hard food. Some days you are more restricted than other days. As long as you are losing weight, (averaging 1-2 lbs per week), that is all that matters. Mary in Sacramento

Hi Michelle and others planning to eat solid food soon after being banded: I have been banded since last December, and belong to the Bandster groups. From what I have learned there, most experienced surgeons, like the ones in Mexico, who have done thousands of bands for many years, require their patients to follow a liquid diet for the first month after surgery. The purpose of this is to allow the stomach to heal and the band to set and heal firmly in its place. This is extremely important to prevent possible future slippage of the band. If you start eating solid food too soon, the stomach then has to move around and churn to digest your food, and will not be able to heal properly, and the band may not set properly. You do not need to eat solid food to prevent hunger. You can make many thick satisfying Soups from refried Beans thinned with V-8 juice, salsa, sour cream, melted cheese, etc., blended chili thinned with tomato juice, blended cream soups, bean Soup, lentil soup, blended clam chowder, blended chicken noodle,etc. You can have the soups, Protein shakes, thinned yogurt, Jello, about a hundred other satisfying liquid meals as often and in as much quantity as you need to feel full and satisfied. Just chose soups and liquids with a lot of protein, and blend the chunks to make a smooth mixture. You are only limited by your imagination! Please do not eat solid food too soon! The risk is too great, and the benefit of waiting is too important! Mary in Sacramento

Hi Divebadger: Just wondering why you say you have to have some fluid removed from your band. You just mention the gurgling and noises. Is that all, or are you having trouble drinking liquids and are you not able to eat any solid food at all? Mary in Sacramento

Hi Robin: Thanks so much for sharing the pictures! I can't wait to also get a TT, (and a few other things) when I am done losing weight (50 lbs. to go), as I also have the C-section hangover, and my side view looks just like your before pic! Who did your surgery? Did they remove the port? Congratulations on your awesome weight loss and makeover! Could you please list your website address, I would like to check it out. Thanks! Mary in Sacramento

Hi Robin: Thanks so much for sharing the pictures! I can't wait to also get a TT, (and a few other things) when I am done losing weight (50 lbs. to go), as I also have the C-section hangover, and my side view looks just like your before pic! Who did your surgery? Did they remove the port? Congratulations on your awesome weight loss and makeover! Could you please list your website address, I would like to check it out. Thanks! Mary in Sacramento

Hi Robin: Thanks so much for sharing the pictures! I can't wait to also get a TT, (and a few other things) when I am done losing weight (50 lbs. to go), as I also have the C-section hangover, and my side view looks just like your before pic! Who did your surgery? Did they remove the port? Congratulations on your awesome weight loss and makeover! Could you please list your website address, I would like to check it out. Thanks! Mary in Sacramento

Are sure the instruction is 40 days of CLEAR liquids? Or full liquids? There is a big difference! Most doctors require a month of full liquids post surgery. 40 days of CLEAR liquids I would call torture, and unnecessary. I would recommend you try blended Soups high in Protein, such as Bean with Bacon, Lentil, Split Pea, Cream of chicken, etc. if you like those. Or make your own soups, either with milk and veggies, or legumes for protein. I would recommend you definitely NOT eat crackers or melba toast! Mary in Sacramento

I like Bush brand of canned Beans. They come in a variety of flavors. And yes, they can be frozen if you don't finish the can. I think they would keep OK in the fridge for up to a week. With regular pork & beans, I jazz them up by adding some catsup, mustard, and worcestershire sauce before I heat them. Mary in Sacramento

I wasn't required to do a 2 week liquid prior to surgery. Some doctors require this to shrink your liver so the surgery is easier and safer. I was just required to do a clear liquid diet on the day before the surgery, and that was hard enough! If you are having such a hard time with this, you should call your doctor and discuss it, see if it can be changed. Since not all doctors require this, that is a possibility! Good luck! Mary on Sacramento

I would go for the fish, definitely. If the stuffing is made with bread and that is a problem for you, just don't eat it! The stuffing may be made with other seafood rather than bread, in which case that would probably be easy to eat. Mary in Sacramento

Hi Larry: I don't blame you for being hungry and bored, if all you are eating is Slimfast, Jello, and yogurt! Slimfast is not a good Protein drink for bandsters, as it has a lot of sugar. Try Designer whey or Spirutein, avaliable at GNC, Rite Aid, and other stores, if you want good Protein Drink mixes. You can also have bean Soups and cream soups, like Bean with Bacon, Lentil, Split Pea, Cream of chicken, etc. You can even blend chicken noodle soup. If you want to eat chili, blend it until smooth and add V-8 or tomato juice or salsa to thin it out. You can also thin out a can of refried Beans with tomato juice or V-8, heat, and add sour cream and/or cheese. I would recommend you buy the low fat variety of chili and refried beans, all brands are good in my opinion. If you like to cook or someone is cooking for you, any homemade soups blended until smooth are fine. You can get as creative as you want in the liquid phase of the post-surgery diet. Just keep an eye on your protein intake! Have fun... Mary in Sacramento

Jerry: I know of two people who PB'd a lot and they had to have all the Fluid removed from their bands to give the esophagus a chance to heal, as it had been damaged by the PB'ing. Once in a while a PB will not hurt you, but usually it's a message from your body to slow down, take smaller bites, chew longer, etc. Check with your doctor on this, but I would advise being careful of PBing. It's not the harmless thing it appears to be!

My story is that I needed 6 fills over a 7 month period to get to a good level of restriction. It is good to get fills once a month until you get properly restricted. If you are not properly restricted, most people have trouble losing weight. I know I did! If your fills are going to cost you a bit of $$$, you might want to budget for the worst!

Hi again Divebadger: One last comment and then I'll let this go! I wanted to respond to your statement, "I know how important solids are". They really are not that important. The banding "experts" say that as long as you can keep liquids down, you are OK with a fill. It is up to you, of course, but depending on how much weight you have to lose and how fast you want to lose it, and how you feel, you really don't "need" to eat solids for a long while. You will probably be able to eat solids relatively soon again. It is your choice, of course. Take care, Mary