Sojourner

Today I'm feeling frustrated...kind of dark and stormy like the weather. I've not been able to get some exercise for a week due to surgery last week...and will still have to delay exercise for another week after more surgery this week. Other than that, I greatly appreciate the ability to be more active with less pain. I'm focused on the future, and the possibilities to continue to improve my health. That's important to me...as by this time next year, my husband will be retiring and our plans of moving back to the mountains will be realized, God willing. I'm going to be ready and in shape to enjoy this journey.

I still purchase the Celebrate brand chewable Vitamins from my surgeon's office. They are actually less expensive there. You should be very aware of the nutritional values on the labels on every brand of Vitamin, Protein shake/powder, and foods that you eat. Bariatric patients do have specialized nutritional needs, especially when it comes to supplements...so read your labels and compare!

Even a small unfill can make a dramatic difference in how you feel...I'd discuss this with the medical staff who will do the procedure.

Sending you positive thoughts and prayers for uncomplicated surgery and recovery!

"Medical orders, etc." should never need to be "confirmed "Medical orders, etc." should never need to be "confirmed" by another physician...regardless of their origin. If you are licensed to practice medicine, then you pass your board exams with the ability to practice general medicine. There are basic, global principles of standard medical knowledge and care a patient has a right to expect from their physician. If the physician then chooses to specialize in a specific area of medicine, it requires additional education and residency time. Every physician becomes a fully qualified and educated medical doctor before they can become a specialist. A medical doctor who chooses to become a specialist should still have adequate diagnostic skills to render an accurate differential diagnosis to their patient. My bariatric surgeon, though well qualified in his specialty failed me as a physician when he did not follow up on obvious specific markers, which as standard treatment protocol should have been explored. Many physicians would be offended for you to insist on "checking their work" by requiring their orders to be confirmed by another of their peers.

Congratulations...well done!

I agree with Maddysgram...you need to be evaluated by a doctor. And I'm not talking about your bariatric surgeon, but an internal medicine specialist. My gall bladder also gave me issues...to the extent that I was hospitalized for pancreatitis. It was a "missed diagnosis" to my bariatric surgeon who told me I must have "pulled a muscle", and I told him pointedly no way. My PCP took one glance at my lab results taken while in the hospital and immediately began testing to identify why I had gotten pancreatitis. Elevated pancreas specific enzymes pointed specifically to the "missed diagnosis" of my surgeon. The PCP could not believe or understand why the red flags of elevated enzymes had never been followed up on. I later confronted the bariatric surgeon about this after I had a definitive diagnosis of biliary dyskensia, and all he could do was apologize to me for his oversight of what he agreed was an obvious diagnosis had he read the lab results. Bariatric surgeons have a very limited scope of practice...I believe you need to see a specialist to get some accurate answers.

Your profile is almost identical to mine...and to have doubts about one's ability to be successful with making the life altering decisions and then self enforce the lifetime diet changes is normal. There's no way to sugar coat the realities of the band...it is only a tool to help you loose weight...you still need to do the daily difficult work and comply with your diet and exercise to be successful with weight loss. The band has helped to diminish my hunger, but it does not eliminate it. It does nothing to help manage "head hunger"...you need to get an understanding of what that is, and enforce your diet compliance. With fills over time, you will get restriction, and then you will have negative consequences if you eat too fast or don't chew your food thoroughly. Some people report that they get to a level of restriction where they no longer get hungry, but my bariatric surgeon has advised me that in reality very few achieve that level of restriction and hunger control...it's still up to us to enforce our diet. I've got restriction...and I know that I could easily get food "stuck" if I'm not aware and careful during meals. And I still get hungry, though usually not for 4 hours after a meal. I was racing against the Type 2 diabetes clock, which pushed me into action to get the band. I have never thoroughly investigated other types of WLS, so I can't render an opinion about them. I only know that I did not feel comfortable with the thought of rearranging my GI tract. I believe that you need to research WLS, and be certain in your level of motivation and resolve to be successful with what you choose to do. Peace of mind is a priceless commodity... Best wishes as you consider your options...

I got cravings for salt a couple of times, and was very thankful to have chicken broth to satisfy that craving. This is the time that you have to be kind and gentle with your stomach to heal. You do need to get your required amount of Protein daily for proper nutrition...and I got very tired of the sweet shakes also. I just toughed it out, and looked forward to the mushy stage. You may want to contact your surgeon for their possible additional instructions to help get you through this stage. Best wishes...there is an end to this.

If you are going to get the type of cardio and weight exercising necessary to loose weight and improve your health and fitness level, you are going to need to get wet...whether by perspiring or in a pool. I am physically challenged to get the amount of exercise I need to maintain progress with weight loss, so I can relate to your concerns. The only safe place for me to exercise is in a pool...and I attend Water aerobics classes at least 3 days a week. I would consult with a dermatologist for ways to treat your eczema...there are many options...

I believe there's more than one way to interpret this...your interpretation of your husband's "look" may not be accurate. My husband is very supportive of my band surgery and efforts to loose weight, and sometimes he seems to take on the role of my "food police". I accept this as one of his ways of showing concern and support. Men and women actually use different parts of their brains as they approach problem solving and express their emotions. Check with him to be certain that your "interpretation of his look" is accurate. Best wishes...

You need to be listening to your body to help you identify how much exercise is safe for you to engage in. My surgeon recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio/weights daily for as many days of the week that you can do. That's fine for people who are fit, but starting out to become more fit and active, that schedule is not necessarily realistic. If you feel pain, EVER, you need to stop immediately your exercise. This is about increasing level of fitness, not about injuring yourself. Over time, you will no doubt be able to increase your time and level of difficulty for exercise...but begin with realistic goals.

I like to make home made quiche...and then only eat the inside of the quiche and leave the crust. The egg inside has more of the consistency of custard...and has never gotten stuck. I usually add spinach, a small amount of Swiss cheese and onion. Though I realize this may have some additional calories from other choices, it does keep me from getting hungry for 4.5-5 hours, and works for me.

No, this diet requirement is not a move by the insurance company to deny you approval for the procedure. Generally the medically supervised diet is to substantiate your claim that your repeated attempts at weight loss have not been successful or sustainable. You also need to show your level of commitment to adhering to a diet, and have this documented by your physician. My PCP included in his letter of medical necessity that I had been his patient for 10 years, and during that time I had not been successful to both loose and maintain a lower weight. You need to show that you are not capable of maintaining the degree of weight loss necessary to improve your health. You did not mention any weight related comorbidities you may have...these are also important to be stressed to the insurance company, as in the long run, they will save money if you are able to loose the weight which contributes to them. Though my BMI was "only" 38 when my letter of medically necessity was submitted, I was approved because of my 4 weight related comorbidities. If you only have to do a 3 month diet, you are fortunate...mine was 6 months. I did loose some weight, but not enough to improve my comorbidity issues. Best wishes...

Getting obsessed with one's scale does contribute to unnecessary negative feelings imposed on oneself...depending on what the almighty scale says. Trying not to weigh yourself everyday is healthier...and your mood doesn't need to reflect any negative thoughts of no progress or even a small weight gain. Small fluctuations in weight are normal, and if you can accept them for what they are that's great. I've read too many posts from individuals lamenting about their lack of progress or weight gain when it was only a small fluctuation and not indicative of a trend. Other's mileage may vary...I just feel it's important for one'e emotional health and well being to stay on the positive side of thinking.

I agree with elcee...menopause does not need to include weight gain, despite the gyrating hormones and possible feelings of depression. What can easily cause weight gain during this phase of life is antidepressant medications and a lack of exercise due to the depressed mood. Menopause is another phase of life...accept it for what it is...I experienced daily hot flashes which caused my skin to get flushes and my hair to become wet from perspiration within a matter of only a few minutes. HRT did help, though I was only on it for a minimum amount of time. Try to continue your daily structure of exercise and monitor what you eat. Any mood changes you experience will be tied to the chemical changes in your body. It's going to become even more important for you to get your Calcium daily.Likely your metabolism will also be slowing...so look for ways to keep that as active as possible. Menopause is life changing, but it doesn't need to be weight changing as well... Best wishes...

As some additional thoughts...just prior to my surgery, after over 20 years of being dormant my asthma flared up again. I was experiencing significant airway restriction, and my PCP did mention that this could force a postponement of the surgery. He treated it aggressively, and though I was by no means "normal" by my surgery date, I did not have to have the surgery postponed. Drinking plenty of fluids will also help with breaking up some of the congestion. Best wishes...

I agree with you...though I have had only 2 fills to date, I needed to learn how to eat again after each of them. We do need time to adjust, both our eating patterns and the tissues near the band. I've also learned that both feelings of stress and the outside temperature will tighten my band (high outside temps = tighter band). The post fill adjustment is like a learning curve to me; as you mentioned the more experience you have, the more you understand your body and your band. A valuable opportunity to learn, if we choose to take advantage of it. This transfers some additional responsibility for my weight loss to me, however I'm willing and able to accept it.

My surgeon will refuse to do a fill more frequently than every 6 weeks...no exceptions.

It's very important to know what your daily Protein goal is, and try your best to meet it every day. A protein shake is an excellent substitute for a meal if you do not feel like eating. Another concern is eating more food at night...night is not the time to make up for what you have missed during the day. That would definitely be the time to have a protein shake. You need to have the protein to avoid loosing your muscle mass.

I've never hear of that brand of shake...and also never heard of a bariatric surgeon not requiring their patients to be on Protein shakes during some portion of their time...i.e. for liquid diet phases and/or post fills. It's essential for proper nutrition for you to have some protein daily...and while you are on a liquid diet how else could you manage?? A bandster will need to be on a liquid diet from time to time. Protein shakes are not necessarily only for body builders...I need them occasionally to make certain that I reach my daily protein goal. And they are not necessarily considered to be high in calories...especially if you consider that they serve as a replacement for a meal.

I've not experienced a band that is too tight, but this does sound like what may be going on with you. I'd get in contact with my surgeon ASAP and let them evaluate your situation. Not only is this situation possibly interfering with your nutrition and hydration, but you may also be harming your band.

There is an entire psychology behind understanding the automatic thinking we engage in, versus the reality of what is. I recently wrote a post about it...the Psychology of Size. I've had a difficult time to stop shopping in the plus size section in clothing stores...and my sister has actually had to physically steer me away from purchasing the same item in plus size that fit me in misses sizes. I have a difficult time believing that the smaller size is the correct one for me. We see the same dynamic at work when we work with anorexic eating disordered patients...you ask them to draw a life size image of their body and then compare their actual size versus their "psychological" size...invariably they see themselves as larger than they really are. I believe that the head does catch up with the body...it just takes time and awareness of the automatic thoughts which keep us a different size in our minds.

I was advised by my surgeon to stop drinking coffee, and if I must have coffee to make it decaf...no way could I do that. He said it was because of the potential of caffeine to irritate your pouch that you should avoid caffeine. So, I still have a glass of iced coffee every morning (yeah, I know that's odd, but in the South we drink iced coffee...when I lived in Seattle I drank hot coffee), flavored with dark chocolate Stevia and a splash of 1% milk. It really tastes just as good as the sugar free options Starbucks offers now.