Sojourner

It's difficult to say...I had to submit 3 years of medical records, most of which of that time I did not even have my weight recorded. They placed alot of "weight" (please excuse the play on words...) on my physician's letter of medical necessity which stated that my weight issues had been present and steadily have gotten worse during the time he has been my doctor (around 9 years). Do you have any weight related comorbidities? When I was approved by Aetna for my surgery, my BMI was under 40, however I had several weight related comorbidities.

Any food processor or blender that can puree foods will suffice... It's important to begin making the better food choices now; limit carbs to ones which are not immediately converted to sugar by the body. I pureed home made chicken, egg and tuna salads...and strawberries, blueberries and cantaloupe. Don't forget to track your Protein grams...initially I was not able to come close to meeting my daily goals with protein, so usually had to have one shake a day to maintain proper nutrition.

Though the questions on the "test" may seem redundant, there are several measurement scales built into them...mostly to measure for emotional stability, honesty in your answers, to identify any possible underlying mood disorders, and to assess for a history or current substance abuse or drug addiction. Some surgeons will not do the procedure on someone who has a history of addictions...as that population usually has a chaotic lifestyle and does not do well with the structured lifestyle of someone who needs to measure portions and stay on a schedule with meals and diet compliance. The evaluation does want to assess you expectations about the WLS, and be certain that they are realistic. The evaluation is also used to assess one's ability to manage stress and motivation to make the lifestyle changes required for post op weight loss success. Really, it is not anything to worry about...though the stigma of dealing with psychological issues prevails in our society in general, so many have expressed negative feelings about this pre op requirement.

Back in April, I ended up in the hospital with what was diagnosed after the fact as a mild case of pancreatitis...and if mine was a mild case, I pray I never have a more significant episode. That resulted in a series of tests(abdominal ultrasound, MRI, HIDA). After a number of tests, ending with the HIDA scan, it was determined that my gall bladder is not working...at all. My symptoms were atypical for gallbladder...as I was experiencing problems with my pancreas. There is a relationship between the two, and if the gallbladder is not healthy, the pancreas may become inflamed as a result. In addition to the severe left side pain, I had waves of nausea, and my enzyme levels were not normal. Gall bladder pain may be a "referred" pain...where you experience the pain is not the point of origin for the pain. It is also common for gallbladder disease to be discovered when an individual has lost a significant amount of weight. Though I have been advised to have my gall bladder removed, I have decided to do some "watchful waiting", and see what happens. No one has any idea when my gall bladder stopped working...and I really don't want to have a third abdominal surgery in less than a year. Like you, I experience some tolerable pain, waves of nausea, and my stomach does hurt from time to time. Based on your symptoms, I would want to have my physician evaluate the problems. The real issue for me is that not everyone who has their gallbladder removed has relief from the gall bladder related symptoms. The odds are definitely in your favor to feel better, but like all surgical procedures, there are some risks and possibilities of complications. I just don't feel ready to have any additional surgery unless it is deemed essential. My general surgeon was alright with me waiting to see how I feel in a few weeks or months. Best wishes...I hope we both feel better!

Yes, you nailed it...because of our relationship with food, many of us gained weight and became obese. So, if you're motivated to loose weight, that relationship with food needs a complete overhaul. It can be difficult to say goodbye to old friends... I was in the same place of indecision, until I had a chance encounter with a woman at the Southern Women's show 2 years ago. She put everything in perspective for me by asking me which was more important...to eat whatever I wanted in the quantity I wanted for a few minutes a day (meaning mealtimes), or to regain my health and well being for the rest of the 24 hour day which is the majority of life. It then became a non-issue for me to make my decision. What you are describing about the indecision and the fear of failure are all quite common in the bandster population...you are definitely entering uncharted territory with any WLS. Try to clarify your motivations and goals...that way you will know what is the best direction for you to choose. Best wishes as you "weigh" your options...

One "fib" usually leads to another, and so on...I guess I am brutally honest with others...and have not made any excuses for the way or what I eat. You're allowed to be on a diet, or change up the way you do things without having to explain yourself to them. My two closest friends know about my surgery, and are very supportive. I just believe in having well defined boundaries with others...you tell them only what you feel comfortable with disclosing. Initially, it may create some passing awkward moments, but ultimately if you prefer to not disclose to others you have had a band placed, you should honor your own feelings first. On this topic, stay in your comfort zone. As the very old saying goes..."to thine own self be true". I live by those words...for me it helps to keep things simple, the way I prefer them to be! I hope you enjoy your trip!

And the advice you were given is the same that I have received from my surgeon...good words to follow. Best wishes to you as you get back on track!

Still laughing...too funny you two! I won't be entering or have any hope of winning the annual July 4th timed hot dog eating competition at Coney Island, NY!

I'm guessing you did not encounter any ill side effects from eating solid foods that soon after surgery...that's good. Remember, this time is to heal...and Peanut Butter is not easy on the stomach. The information I was given regarding my post op diet reads that peanut butter is not allowed for the first 6 months post op... I would get in touch with your surgeon and discuss how you are feeling. It is too early post op for you to be eating solid foods...perhaps the physician would allow you to move onto mushies or soft foods a bit earlier. They call it bandster hell for good reasons...this time is to heal, and not become obsessed with your scale. I believe that just about everyone has had to cope with major hunger at some points along their journey. I still get hungry, and drink Water and distract myself to manage it.

One of the few things I refused to give up when I got my band was my morning glass of iced coffee at home; sweetened with Splenda and just a dash of half and half. My daily limit continues to be what it always was: one 12 oz glass a day. I stopped adding chocolate syrup years ago. My surgeon doesn't know, and I'm certain he would definitely disapprove of my "habit". Starbucks is now offering a sugar free lite mocha...I had one the other day when meeting a friend for the afternoon. I could tell they used a SF syrup, but it was quite good. I go to Starbucks on the average of once a year... Caffeine has a reputation of being an irritant to the stomach...so monitor yourself in the event that you begin to feel anything like heartburn.

The band is only a tool, and it will not assist you to loose weight if you do not use the tool. Simple as that. As Mis73 stated, just because you can eat to excess, definitely does not mean you should. It requires motivation and determination to be successful to learn how to eat healthier foods in much smaller portions. I understand hunger and the band...and I drink upwards of 90 oz of Water a day to help me manage my hunger. You identify ways to manage your hunger, and understand the difference between authentic hunger and head hunger. I agree with others who have written that you need to have a consultation with your bariatric surgeon, and understand why you are not scheduled to have another fill done. Also, consulting with a dietitian would be helpful to identify unhealthy eating patterns and substitute with better food choices. It's easy to become discouraged, but if nothing else, this journey with my band has taught me a life skill which eluded me for years...patience. And tomorrow does come with a "Reset" button...

I believe that it is only a coincidence, and I have never read anything about a persistent cough doing any harm to a band. Coughs can linger for months after the initial infection is long gone. If this is bothering you, I would definitely discuss this with your surgeon... I hope you feel better...

As is often written on this forum...the band is only a tool. And it will help you with portion control, but only if you learn how to use it properly. You have to change your relationship with food; emotional eating, eating from boredom, all of that has to change. To be successful, you have to eat to live, not live to eat. And yes, you can eat around the band...you could eat small bites and maybe have it take an hour or longer to feel full, but bandster meals are not supposed to last longer than 20 minutes. The band is very self empowering...because you determine the degree of how successful you will be on your weight loss journey. And that's determined by how compliant you are with following your diet. It will take a good amount of will power and behavior modification to get you through the first few months. It can be done, but you have to want the results strongly enough to stay with the diet. I have had complications, but not from the band, only weight loss related complications. Still, I have been hospitalized 2 times since my band was placed. It sounded to me that you need to do additional research into the band, how it works, what it's limitations are, and understand how strongly you are motivated to implement the life changing rules and diet for the rest of your life. Best wishes...this is a great place to ask questions and learn!

My port is about midway between my sternum and navel...to the right of center. I asked my surgeon his reason for choosing this particular location...he said it was basically a physician preference decision. The general surgeon who I had a consult with last week felt my port, and commented that it was in a strange location for a port to be placed...

Hope you were not injured... I have never had any complications with a fill...and not all doctors use Lidocaine to numb the area around your port. All you feel is a pin prick, like getting a shot. You do need to follow all of the physician instructions, and these can differ from doctor to doctor. My physician's instructions: nothing by mouth for a minimum of 3 hours before the fill, and then my doctor wants his patients on a liquid diet for the rest of the day AND the day after, then back to soft foods for a day. I don't really enjoy the liquid diet, but I feel he has his reasons for his directions...

Everyone is different...I still have fresh fruit every morning at Breakfast...melons, especially cantaloupe are my favorites. I have tolerated all fruits well from the pureed stage and on...you do need to be aware to chew the fruit well...

I tended to stay with basics and pureed everything except the scrambled eggs...scrambled eggs, tuna salad, chicken salad, turkey salad with lite mayo. For the carb choice, I stayed with mostly fruits, which appealed to me more. Strawberries, blueberries, honey dew melon, my favorite cantaloupe, and overcooked cauliflower and broccoli florets. While my doctor is very low carb, there will be some foods in which carbs are naturally present...including fresh spinach leaves. I've been advised to avoid anything which has added sugar...naturally occurring sugars in fruits are totally in keeping with the diet, as long as the advised portion size is followed. If you have never been a nutrition label reader, now is a great time to do so...you will be surprised at the amount of hidden carbs in many processed foods...I only shop the periphery of the grocery store...the meat, dairy, and produce sections. Best wishes...

To puree something does not make it runny enough to drink, unless you add too much liquid to it for additional moisture. To puree something is only to make a softer paste, without the lumps which might be irritating to your new band. My doctor specifically advised that peanut butter is a complex carb, and tends to rest heavy in the stomach. I was advised that it was a food to be totally avoided until at least 6 months post op. The tuna can tend to be dry, and dry Proteins are not your friend...they tend to be great offenders of foods which get stuck. The tuna would be better tolerated if it was moistened with mayonnaise, like chicken salad. My doctor is also very low carb, and he advised that potatoes, especially white ones which tend to have less nutritional value are not listed on my approved foods list until after 6 months post op. Remember, for this stage, everything in the way of a vegetable needs to be overcooked...green beans could be stringy. Broccoli or cauliflower florets seem to be better tolerated. I was asked to weigh everything by it's nutritional value...if a food was lacking in nutrition, then it had to come off the list...which included all soups (especially cream soups which tend to have empty calories). Different doctors have some different instructions, and I would encourage you to discuss this list with your dietitian or surgeon. Best wishes as your journey continues...

Choose your Protein powder based on taste and nutrition,,,I was advised to use only 100% whey Isolate Protein shakes, and like the Wheybolic Extreme from GNC. I find that the shakes taste better if mixed with milk...and you can throw an ice cube or 2 into the blender to make the shake thicker. I've not yet discovered a ready mixed shake which has the same nutritional value as protein powders, but the Atkins premixed shakes seem to have a fair amount of protein (though it is not all whey protein), and to me are more palatable than most I have tried.

I was basically a diabetic, though was just keeping my A1C levels down under the diabetic threshold with diet and exercise...then came the near fatal car accident, multiple fractures and the months of intense physical therapy which seriously restricted the amount of exercise I could do like I had before. I had other comorbidities which I coped with, but could never wrap my mind around being a compliant diabetic. I was facing the diabetes related complications...so the decision to have the band became a no brainer for me. No regrets! My A1C levels have returned to normal...

I hope you received some suggestions from your surgeon about how to manage mushies and soft foods stages... I stayed with the basics, and structured meals like I was going to have to do with returning to regular foods. Everything went into the blender to get pureed! I got Protein from moist roasted chicken or turkey...and added chicken broth. I had pureed home made chicken, egg, and tuna salad. I pureed fresh fruits...strawberries, and my all time favorite cantaloupe. The only thing which did not get put in the blender was scrambled eggs, though I waited until I was through the mushies stage to try them. You still need to be aware of the carbs in your diet...and understanding that for many, eating carbs leads to craving more carbs. As you continue to heal, try to continue the diet rules you learned about before the surgery...high protein, and smart Fiber carb choices...limit fats, and nothing with added sugar. If you have not yet done so, now is the time to become a nutrition label reader...many foods have hidden carbs, especially "processed" anything! Best wishes as your journey continues...

Gas X never helped me to feel better post op...what helped me the most was to walk around the house for several minutes for every hour I was awake. Moving yourself around the house will help things inside return to normal faster...it literally helps everything inside you to get moving again! I also had the same instructions post op while still in the hospital for a different surgery...and it really did help me feel better. Best wishes to feel better...

I'm not an expert on possible nutrition related withdrawals...the only one which I have experienced is one from caffeine which happened years ago when I had to stop all caffeine suddenly for medical reasons. Literally, it felt like a small person was in my head with a sledge hammer swinging it from side to side...for several days. I would want to get some feedback from my doctor on the way you have been feeling...and I do believe that the switch to a liquid diet while continuing to work with your position may be a contributing factor for feeling unwell. Best wishes to feel better fast...

No, it is not...it is a symptom indicating that you may be dehydrated. In addition to your Protein shakes, continue to sip Water or any other sugar free and fat free beverage of your choice. I mean, continue to continuously sip fluids. Dehydration is a serious medical condition...so if you are not starting to feel better within an hour or 2 at the most, you should contact your surgeon's on call service to ask for medical advice. I ended up in the hospital with severe dehydration which I did not recognize...my only symptom was nausea. I felt better after IV fluids and drinking alot of water... I hope you feel better fast!

I have read that both heat and feelings of stress will cause the band to feel tighter. I am most aware of feeling my band tight when I am driving...which for me is stressful since being in a near fatal car accident last year. Being away from familiar surroundings may also cause some stress...though the tightness you describe seems more than what stress or heat would cause. I would definitely focus on staying properly hydrated, as dehydration is more common in hot environments, and that would create some emergency medical issues. Sip on Water or another SF/FF beverage constantly. If you can purchase or make your own Protein Shakes, that may help also. If the tightness does not resolve when you return home, definitely let your surgeon know what is happening. Hope you feel better...and can enjoy your trip!