Sojourner

Your issues with PTSD definitely need to be treated asap, even if you were not going through the approval process for the surgery. You really should seek the services of a qualified professional in the counseling field, and perhaps one who also has a certification in hypnotherapy. The goal for this type of counseling it to assist you to reframe the meaning of the trauma which precipitated your condition, and to help you to feel safe again. Often depression is a co-occurring disorder with PTSD, and post op you will be experiencing hormone gyrations which often precipitate mood swings. Add unresolved PTSD to the mix. and this is not going to be an easy set of circumstances to cope with. Along with the post op phase are many adjustments which will challenge you, so get stronger in the area of your mental health. Best wishes to you for a complete recovery...

Yes, I agree with Mis73. If up until now you have not been a nutritional label reader, now is a great time to get into the habit. You will be surprised what you sometimes discover about what's in the package. There are hidden carbs and increased levels of sodium in many processed foods. As part of my healthier eating habits, I try to stay away from processed foods, as the additives read like a chemistry book. Fresh fruit, fresh veggies, and basic lean Proteins are my focus. I only shop the periphery of the grocery store, in the produce, dairy and meat sections, skipping the bakery. That way I know what I'm eating...

Walking is the best thing you can do at this point...congratulations!

Even .5 cc of Fluid can make a major difference in restriction, so starting out slow is not unreasonable. My surgeon prefers it that way; he really dislikes unfilling a band that was over filled. I've found that "baby steps" with increasing the amount of fluid in my band has been the correct speed for me.

Welcome to the forum... One of the major topics you will notice through time is that different surgeons will have their own preferred treatment protocol. The instructions given to their patients will vary. It's always the best idea to consult with your surgeon for questions. Best wishes as your journey begins...

You need to be able to have a higher level of confidence in your own decisions. Other people, especially cashiers at the store have no clue as to your motivations for WLS, or any of the medical conditions which contributed to your decision to have the band placed. Others you may encounter along the way are not qualified to render medical decisions, period. I'm also happy for you that you have a supportive husband who understands this. Get back in touch with your initial reasons for why you chose to have band surgery, and let them be your guide. If you have genuine doubt about proceeding with your surgery, then postpone it until you are sure and have done some additional research. I rarely mention that I have had WLS, and am always polite when I hear negative feedback from others. I simply ask them to list their medical credentials for me with a smile. That usually gets the point across...they are not qualified to give an opinion. Best wishes as you begin your journey...

While I have never yet experienced an official "stuck" episode, I did get some early warning signs. It felt like my band had suddenly become very tight with a very mild pain. I stopped eating immediately, and the feeling subsided in less than a minute. I concluded that I had been allowing myself to eat too fast, and have since made a conscious effort to slow down. Result, no additional issues. As others have mentioned, if you are conscientious to follow the bandster rules of eating slow with small well chewed bites of moist foods, you should have nothing to be concerned about.

This was an interesting thread...and another example of the differing medical opinions on how to address the gall bladder problems. I don't know how many of you facing gall bladder problems had a HIDA scan, but that was the gall bladder specific test to determine that my gall bladder had ceased to function. It did make me feel quite ill for the rest of the day. My bariatric surgeon, who missed this diagnosis and did no further investigation into my abnormal lab results while I was in the hospital for the pancreatitis advised me that because I did not have extreme pain during the scan I did not need to have my gall bladder removed. He also apologized to me for missing this diagnosis, but I hold doctors to a higher level of accountability and find that a missed diagnosis unacceptable. I consulted with my PCP who had ordered the additional testing done because he was suspicious that there was a significant problem with the gall bladder explained that I was fortunate that my early attacks had been relatively mild (for both the pancreas and the gall bladder), but that they were progressive in nature and preferred me to avoid an emergency surgery situation. He was also concerned because the abnormal lab results were like a "red flag" and definitely should have been investigated while I was still in the hospital. We need to become proactive to address medical issues and be certain to understand our conditions and treatment options. This entire series of events has served to strengthen my level of trust with my PCP's opinion, and place him in the role of "gatekeeper" to advise me on the treatment protocol I should follow. Other's mileage may vary...

I'm not an advocate of removing perfectly good body parts unless they need to be removed. It is true that significant weight loss can aggravate the gall bladder, especially if you have gall stones. Three months into my weight loss post op, it was determined that my gall bladder had stopped working entirely. I don't have any gallstones. This was a result of the weight loss, and not the band. The symptoms for my gall bladder were to develop mild pancreatitis first (very painful, ended up in the hospital), which then evolved onto the more traditional presentation of problems with the characteristic nausea and upper right side pain. I am scheduled to have my gall bladder removed next week...and hope that the continuing pain and nausea will then cease.

Yes, there are wide variations as to the surgeon's pre op and post op instructions for their patients. My doctor was quite strict with his expectations, including my weight at my pre op appointment. When in doubt, or have questions that relate to your medical condition, communicating with your surgeon will be the best place to get the accurate information you need.

The other big piece to the weight loss puzzle is to get your exercise in at least 4-5 days a week. I can be compliant with my diet, but if I don't burn the additional calories, it does stall my weight loss. Never forget that this is a journey, and not an event. Patience will help you get through... Best wishes...

I would see your PCP...I had a similarly placed pain, and some hospital lab results which prompted additional testing. Through the journey of weeks of those tests, it was finally determined that the precipitating cause of everything was my gall bladder. I'm not a physician, and am not suggesting at all that this may be your issue, but my PCP (internal medicine) caught the diagnosis of my gall bladder that my bariatric surgeon apologized to me for missing while I was in the hospital for a pain similar to yours.

Try to Celebrate your progress yourself...not everyone will notice or will mention you look like you've lost weight. This is a good time to become reliant on yourself for the positive feedback...because in the long run, only you will understand the positive changes your weight loss presents to you. I reward myself with spa days or a new shirt in my smaller size. If no one who I have not seen in awhile doesn't notice my smaller size, it doesn't matter to me, because I'm making myself happy and healthier. At the end of each day, that's what matters the most to me...

You will discover that tastes vary, and physician instructions vary also... For post op, be certain to already have filled any post op prescriptions given to you by your surgeon so that you have them when you get home. And be certain to take a chap stick or other lip balm to the hospital with you. I prefer the GNC brand "Wheybolic Extreme" Protein powder. It contains the whey protein which is the recommended gold standard for protein needs for bariatric patients. I prefer the chocolate and Cookies 'n cream flavors. I got cravings for salt a few times during the liquid phases of my diet, and was thankful I had plain chicken broth in the pantry. Swanson's has a low sodium formula that is also 99% FF. Other than that, SF popsicles, flavored Water, decaf tea, crystal light, and "Mio" drops mixed with water were the liquids I relied on. Best wishes as you begin your journey...

No, I did not experience any additional anxiety as a result of the pre op diet...or the surgery. Are you certain that it is an authentic panic attack you are experiencing, and not possibly explained by any medical condition? The anxiety you write about is being generated in your mind, and as such, you do have some control over it if you learn the way to regain control over your thoughts. First, identify what it is about your evening meal that triggers your anxiety. This is literally a "mind game"...and to overcome anxiety without taking any medication, you need to "desensitize" yourself to the thoughts which flip your switch for a panic attack. You must tell yourself that the thoughts which trigger the panic are irrational and not grounded in accurate thought patterns...it does take practice, but is totally something you can accomplish. The most important thought to keep in the front of your thoughts is that panic attacks never kill anyone... Best wishes...I know that this is not easy to cope with.

Your frustrations are valid...and never doubt the therapeutic value of writing about your feelings. And for the record, it is much easier for most men to loose weight then women; their metabolism is just tuned that way. You are wise to be motivated and proactive to gain control and loose weight at this stage of your life...it doesn't get any easier as time passes. Many on the forum share similar frustrations, so this is a great place to vent and have a positive support system. Best wishes for approval for your surgery...

The more time you give yourself to properly heal post op, the better you will feel. Everyone is correct; we all have a different level of tolerance for pain and heal at different rates. Sometimes you just have to take a time out and take good care of yourself... Hope you feel better fast...

Thanks for sharing your inspirational success story...it does have a positive impact on others. Best wishes for your continuing success...

Yes, I would agree that it does read that your blood glucose level may be low. The other consideration is that your body is in the process of looking for alternative sources of energy, and the common fast converted carbs are not there. You did not mention if you are diabetic...if so, this is a good time to pay additional attention to your blood glucose levels. As with other adjustments that band surgery will bring, this too shall pass... Best wishes as you begin your journey...

I believe that the concerns which you wrote about are valid and as with other life changing events, the IP (identified patient) does inevitably place some stress on the entire family as they move throughout the process of changing many of their daily routines with exercise and eating patterns. Inherently people don't cope well with change; unless they are the one's initiating it. Though my husband has been incredibly supportive of my WLS and journey, I do appreciate how this has impacted our relationship. And, family members of the IP at times will be in need of some emotional support and answers. It was nice to read your post...this is a great place to come for emotional support and to learn about life as a bandster, and life with a bandster. Best wishes...

Yes, the band, and all of the need to be aware of the choices you make with food and how you eat (slow, small bites, chew very well...) are all worth it. And the part of your journey that you are coping with now was by far the most difficult time for me. Please pay special attention to the amount of fluids you are getting; my being nauseous at this stage of healing ended up being diagnosed as severe dehydration and landed me in the ER. My intention is not to alarm you, only to ask you to be aware of trying your best to take in sufficient fluids. It might be a good idea to notify your surgeon how you are feeling...their practice should have evening coverage by a physician. Best wishes...and I hope you will feel better fast...

My surgeon is fairly strict with his diet guidelines, and as per the nutritionist who is associated with his practice, they don't deliver the best nutrition for the amount of calories they contain. To be honest, I've not even looked at the nutritional value labels for any of these bars...my surgeon wants his patients to have 100% whey isolate Protein, and the best way to get that is through protein shakes mixed with FF/1% milk. If I've not met my daily goal for protein, I will have a protein shake in the early evening. Every surgeon has their preferred treatment protocols for their practice, from what I've read on this forum, mine has some of the most strict rules.

My surgeon is fairly strict with his diet guidelines, and as per the nutritionist who is associated with his practice, they don't deliver the best nutrition for the amount of calories they contain. To be honest, I've not even looked at the nutritional value labels for any of these bars...my surgeon wants his patients to have 100% whey isolate protein, and the best way to get that is through Protein shakes mixed with FF/1% milk. If I've not met my daily goal for protein, I will have a Protein shake in the early evening. Every surgeon has their preferred treatment protocols for their practice, from what I've read on this forum, mine has some of the most strict rules.

My surgeon advised that protein bars of any description were on the list of foods to avoid...