Sojourner

I've only had one fill to date, and will get my second in 2 weeks. I was given my choice of 3 or 4 cc for the first fill, and chose to be conservative with 3. Every doctor has their own approach to the amount of Fluid and how often they will do a fill. The amount added does depend in part on how long after a meal you begin to get hungry. My doctor will only do fills 6 weeks apart. I felt no nausea or any discomfort after the fill... in fact I had to remind myself that it had been done, with the exception that I did initially feel some restriction while eating. You will do fine, and appreciate the assistance the fill gives with managing your appetite.

All surgeries have associated risks, and WLS comes with their specific ones. Another consideration to keep in mind is that morbid obesity also comes with health risks if weight is not lost. I'm not trying to instill any fears, only to share the realities of obesity. I chose the lap band because it was minimally invasive and reversible if there was ever a need in the future. As one gets older, it is common for comorbidities to develop, and I had several serious weight related comorbidities which prompted me to move forward with my surgery. Others have stressed, and I will too, the extreme importance of having accurate understanding of how the band works, and also having your mindset in the right place so you will be able to have a successful weight loss journey. The band is a tool, which if used properly and consistently will allow for weight loss. It requires a daily commitment to maintaining diet compliance and an overall healthier life style which does include some form of exercise. Having "your head in the right place" in part relates to understanding that you will need to change your relationship with food...that you will need to eat to live, and not live to eat. Food can no longer be your response to stress, boredom, or to cope with other emotions. Successful weight loss with the band also requires mindful eating, and awareness that you will have to make a lifelong commitment to portion control. Also understanding that many of the foods you had in the past may not be allowed on your diet...mostly the unhealthy empty calories of over processed junk foods which caused the pounds to add up. However, on the positive side, you will eat healthier. Foods which are unhealthy may be eventually allowed in very limited quantities (ie a teaspoon of ice cream versus a scoop) if you don't have an addictive personality and are able to self impose limits. Loosing weight means you will be healthier...Yes, I have had a few complications, but these pale in comparison to what I would face with a heart attack, stroke, debilitating arthritis, etc. You need to do your research, and decide if you are able to make the changes in your lifestyle which are necessary for successful weight loss using the band. Your success, or the lack of success with weight loss will be within your own power to choose. I also encourage you to ask questions, read past posts, and attend an information seminar to gather as much information to make an informed decision. Best wishes as you "weigh" your options! Good luck with whatever you choose!

Keep drinking...mostly Water between your shakes. There are sensors in your stomach which liquids will "trip", and send the signal to your brain to turn off the hunger signal. I am still using this technique to successfully manage my hunger as I still have minimal restriction in my band. I usually have upwards of 90 oz of water a day...but it works! Also, there is real hunger and "head" hunger. You need to be able to differentiate between the two. As a bariatric patient, often we believe we are genuinely hungry, when it is really feeling "hungry" from habit, boredom, stress, or many other reasons. Best wishes as your journey continues...

The most important ingredient in your Protein powder is that it needs to be 100% whey Isolate Protein...the best nutrition for bariatric patients. My doctor advised to only use shakes which had a minimum of 20 - 40 g of protein per shake, and only whey protein. I get mine at GNC, the Wheybolic Extreme, and use only 1.5 scoops of powder mixed with 8 oz of 1% milk. each shake has 37 g of protein. chocolate is my favorite flavor, and Cookies 'n cream is a close second. I also like to include an ice cube or two in the blender to make the shakes as creamy and thick as possible. Especially post op, you need to get as much protein from each shake that you can.

The number of days of the week, and the duration of recommended exercise varies widely from what I have read. Generally it also depends on your level of fitness. Some are able to do an hour a day for 5-6 days a week...others say 30 minutes 4-6 days a week. I have many issues with arthritis, and can only exercise in the pool...so I try to get a minimum of 1 hour 3 times a week. I know that is really not optimal, but it is the best I can do for now given my physical limitations. Best wishes as your journey continues...

"Onderland" is the name bandsters have given to the place/time when your weight finally falls below 200 pounds...from 199 and lower. It's quite a happy milestone to achieve...and place to be!

What others have shared is also my experience...loosing weight on your own through portion control and exercise is doable. The difficult part is to maintain the weight loss through maintaining a change in lifestyle. I chose the band because I was running out of time...the diabetes time clock was ticking, and I wanted a long term success with adverting diabetes and reclaiming at least some of the health which my weight was stealing from me. The band is only a tool, you have to comply with the diet to be successful. That also requires a life long lifestyle change, but having the band does make it easier for me to remain compliant with a healthier lifestyle and portion control. Good luck as you "weigh" your options!

I was advised to measure all foods by volume after being cooked. Each meal consists of 3 oz Protein, and 2 oz of Fiber carb. I have several measuring cups and glasses which give measurements for percentage of a cup along with those for ounces by volume. You have 20 minutes to eat your meal. It's important to recognize the signal from your body that you are full, and not eat another bite, regardless what may be left on your plate. Different doctors will have slightly different instructions about portions...and there have been heated discussions about this topic previously on the forum. It's important that you follow the instructions given to you by your surgeon, or direct your questions to their staff. Best wishes to you as you continue on your journey...

The pre op and post op time was the most difficult time for me...and I had to be on a liquid diet for 4 entire weeks...2 weeks before the surgery, and 2 weeks after. This time taught me patience...and to take a day at a time. This will be a time to heal... I wanted to share that white potatoes are not a good choice for cheating or mushies...they are a carb which quickly gets converted to sugar by the body. Those kinds of carbs often lead to craving more carbs...a poor eating pattern which caused many of us to gain weight in the past. My surgeon advised that a white potato may be a carb choice for meals, but only after 6 months post op. Another valid point shared by others is that if you begin this journey by giving yourself permission to "cheat"...you create a poor mindset for diet compliance. Cheating on your diet will become easier, and before you may even be aware you may become one of the individuals who gets discouraged with their lack of weight loss. Now is the time to redefine your relationship with food...understand that it is not your friend. And that there are foods which you will have to strictly limit or even eliminate from your diet entirely. You success will be determined by your level of motivation to be compliant with your diet, and how much you want to loose your excess weight. Best wishes...

Thank you for sharing the information and your experience with band erosion...I've never read any posts to discount the reality of that situation. It's information which may be helpful to others... There are so many "if's" in the series of events you describe that you did not convey. At what point did you first notify your surgeon that you were having the complications you listed? Were you ignored, or did you make efforts to "tough it out" in the hope that the situation would improve or resolve? Did you not believe that something serious was wrong when you returned to a liquid diet? My concern is that we all go into this surgery with the understanding that there are risks...both in the surgical process and the history which follows on. Your surgeon is limited in the scope of what they can do to assist a patient if there is no communication. Was your surgeon affiliated with a "Center for Excellence"? Centers of Excellence have a history of positive outcomes; they stress patient education and encourage communication 24/7 if the patient experiences anything which they have a concern about. Did you not have that type of support post op? I'm truly sorry you have had to endure this painful series of events...and I also understand that we are all unique individuals. No two of us will have identical experiences. For every individual who has a negative experience, there will be many more who will not have to cope with band erosion. And though I also have a high tolerance for pain, I know myself well enough to recognize the difference between something that is a dip in the road versus a real problem. Toughing things out, especially when one is deteriorating and in genuine distress is not a good choice. Yes, I have had some complications with my band, and so far have been hospitalized 2 times since my surgery. I have also maintained a dialogue with my surgeon's office and my PCP. I have an appointment for a surgical consult on Monday...for a situation which is band related. I would never have allowed my situation to deteriorate to the degree which you describe. I'm not trying to be, as you phrased it "snarky"... but this is an open forum for sharing information and emotional support among individuals who have chosen or are contemplating band surgery. The information you shared does have merit, but it is your individual situation, unique to you as an individual and the choices you made, or did not make along the way. I hope that others can recognize that, and continue to be informed consumers as they make their own decisions about what is the right direction for them to choose. Best wishes...

The activity which helped me the most was simple walking around the house...and making a concerted effort to not stay in my recliner more than an hour at a time during the hours I was awake. Walking during the initial 4-6 weeks post op also significantly lowers your risks for developing DVT.

Most likely it is scar tissue forming. I have used Mederma in the past, which is a skin therapy for scars. After the incision is closed from initial healing, you gently massage the gel into the incision site. The massage, over time does break down some of the scar tissue...at least it did for me.

Sweet potatoes, along with peas, lima Beans, and I'm certain at least a few other veggies fall into the category of "complex carbs". Though it does take the body a bit longer to break down these nutrients, they still basically are converted to sugars, and raise the levels of sugar in the blood. Many people also use the over processed instant mashed potatoes. You may as well go and get a sugar bowl and start spooning in your carbs as sugar. No need for the body to process it, as they are already sugar. I was not allowed to have any complex carbs for the first 6 weeks post op, and now am limited to only 1 complex carb choice per day. The band diet has to be about making healthy choices for the foods we do eat...and complex carbs, along with all carbs need to take a back seat to Protein. That's why most of us have been advised to eat the protein first at meals...if you're not full after eating the protein, then have the carbs.

I'm aware that I notice others who are obese while in a restaurant, and especially last evening when we went to a candy/ ice cream shop not far from home which I had not been to since late last year. My husband wanted a scoop of the real thing (still a 34" waist, normal weight range)...and I had a spoonful. I savored that spoonful. I admit I enjoyed it...but the one spoon was my limit and I honored it. The one thing about weight loss is that for success, your motivation needs to come from within...others who are overweight or obese have a variety of reasons for why they are the way they are. It's a sensitive topic, to say the very least. Many people don't care about being overweight; many others are aware and frustrated that they have failed at diets before, and may have given up. Though I was in one of the "helping professions" for years, I understand that all of the talking to, cajoling, and any other means of communicating that loosing weight would be a huge health benefit to others will not make a difference, and may even make for some nasty responses. The motivation has to come from within the individual...if it's not there, perhaps it may be in the future. There is nothing you can do to motivate someone else, with the exception of planting some seeds of an idea for them to think about.

Well done...and inspiring! Enjoy your journey as a mom...as well as your weight loss!

At some point pre op, before you began your liquid diet, you should have been given a number of protein grams to target as necessary to have every day. If you don't know what that number is, you should to find out. Once we begin to eat solid foods again, we are supposed to rely on our diet to provide the needed protein, but there will be days when that's not doable. That's the reason our protein choices need to be lean and high quality. The protein shake can be used to supplement your protein intake on the days you don't reach your target of protein grams. You will also likely need to return to shakes and a liquid diet for at least a day following a fill.

Perspective and interpretation is everything...and elcee nailed an excellent point. Looking at the percentage of body weight lost places a better perspective on how successful we are with this journey to date, instead of looking at the number of pounds lost! 25.2%

I have used Mederma, an over the counter gel for healing scars. I believe it has helped...not just for this surgery but my previous one also. Whatever you choose to use, I was told by my surgeon that gently massaging closed and healing scars will help to break up the scar tissues which often develop at the incision sites.

I was emphatically told that I was to avoid all alcoholic beverages for an entire year post op...

What you have written in this post about the individual looking at ways to "bend" the system (in this case, the recommended diet) can also be said about other addictions as well. I spent years working as an addictions counselor for a county drug court program, and it was amazing to witness the lengths some people will go to try to manipulate the "system" (in this case the treatment center and the court) to bend the rules to accommodate them. I could also predict, virtually from week 1 who would successfully complete the treatment program. I once had a client come to my office late on a Friday afternoon to request a treatment compliance letter for court on the following Monday morning. If he did not have the letter, he was going to go to jail. I asked my client how long had he been aware that he would need this letter, and he said for several weeks. My reply was that I could have the letter for him on Monday afternoon...and that his lack of planning did not constitute my emergency. It was a common treatment issue for a "population" dealing with addictions...manipulate the system instead of changing choices and behaviors. Many of us had/have an addiction to food...emotional eating to cope with problems, stress, or boredom. And I agree, I have been amazed by the threads I have read that discuss which alcoholic drinks you can have shortly after surgery...how many calories, and so on. Also posts discussing ways to continue to have the carbs many have gained weight on, instead of recognizing that their relationship and understanding about food and the emotions which are associated with it need to change, if they want to have a successful and lasting weight loss journey. Alright, I do see a valid reason for sugar free throat drops for sore throats or coughing...but sugar free chocolate candies? I had to give up chocolate if I wanted to even hope to loose weight...and agree that if I continued to believe that it was alright to have chocolate as before, I would only be setting myself up to fail with weight loss. An occasional piece of chocolate is believed to be healthy...but if you have an "addictive" personality, one piece is too many and a hundred is not enough. There will be a number of others here on the forum who will disagree with my beliefs about the process of change as necessary for success, and manipulative behaviors as a predictor of failure, but success or failure is directly related to changing our choices and our behavior. What we were doing before with failed diets did not work...and to expect a different outcome if our approach to solving the problem does not change is not realistic. This quote "Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results" appears in the Basic Text of Narcotics Anonymous. I'm not implying that we are drug addicts, only that some of the same behaviors packed on the pounds...and change in beliefs and behaviors is the only way to success with loosing weight. IMHO...your mileage may vary. Best wishes to all of us for success...

The insights you share are so accurate...having the band surgery has destroyed a friendship of over 40 years for me. My former friend tried to talk me out of the surgery (she had the original gastric bypass over 10 years ago)...and apparently decided that if she was going to be obese, and I was not, then the relationship was not worth enough to maintain. Initially, this hurt me; but after developing a better understanding of the situation, I understand that she is the one with the problems. There's nothing I can do about that...still a sad situation. But still no regrets for having my surgery and feeling better!

I was feeling a bit "chilled to the bone" reading about how your bariatric surgeon lightly attributed your symptoms to other things besides those that could be directly related to the band...my surgeon did the same thing, and my PCP was quite annoyed that the lipase reading was essentially ignored by him. I had to "jump through the insurance hoops"...with first an abdominal ultrasound, then the abdominal MRI...before they finally would approve the HIDA scan, which was the only test which could determine that my gall bladder had stopped working, and therefore explain my symptoms. My surgeon has told me that I needed to "get with the program" because my first fill was delayed to 14 weeks post op, due to the other medical issues I have had going on (2 hospitalizations since band surgery)...though he did admit that my rate of weight loss to date was well above average for his patients. I also have felt that he was insensitive to the core issues of WHY I was having these problems. I hope we can both feel better fast...this is getting very old...

I was diagnosed with pancreatitis about 6 weeks after my surgery...the really scary part was that the bariatric surgeon attributed my pain to a simple pulled muscle. When I was discharged from the hospital, I was advised to follow up with my PCP (board certified in internal medicine). A good thing that I did...because he took one look at the lab results run during the time I was in the hospital and noticed my lipase level was significantly elevated...which indicates inflammation in the pancreas. As per my PCP, there are generally only 3 reasons for this enzyme to become elevated - 2% is medication induced (quite rare), ~48% is from excessive drinking of alcohol, and the other ~48% is from gall bladder issues...not only related to gallstones. There is a significant relationship between rapid and significant weight loss and gallbladder disease. In my case, my gallbladder essentially has ceased to function entirely..as diagnosed by my HIDA scan. My PCP does not attribute this entirely to my weight loss, but was exacerbated by my weight loss to the degree where I can now feel the nausea and pain. He felt eventually that the symptoms would have appeared, the weight loss just sped up the process. I have a surgical consult scheduled for next week to determine when or if I need to have my gallbladder removed...this drill is getting old. If I need to have this surgery it will be my 3rd abdominal surgery in less than a year. But, I still have no regrets about having my band surgery. Best wishes to you...feel better!

Hi Kells, Too many of the participants on this forum to count have expressed their self doubts about the band surgery...after the fact. Myself included; the morning after my surgery I remember asking myself "What the h%#& have you done to yourself?" If anything this weight loss journey is self empowering. You are the one who decides how successful you will be...and I speak from experience when I write that we don't know the depths of what strengths we possess until we are tested to tap into them. This journey will be a catalyst to discover and learn more about yourself. For me, I have learned the value of patience...and to take a day at a time. Some days will be more challenging than others...and that's ok...tomorrow will come. To be successful does require change...and specifically that you must change your relationship with food and how you think about it. Incorporating exercise into your life can be a real challenge. I believe we can all be successful if we are motivated to be. If you believed in your abilities to be successful prior to your surgery...those strengths are still there. And as others have written, the journey does become easier with time and getting to the green zone. Best wishes as your journey continues...

I used to suffer with plantar facitis...and the remedy which worked the best for me , as prescribed by my podiatrist was to get a glass Coke bottle(the one with the curves in it), and on a carpeted surface roll the bottle with the bottom of my foot on the floor. You're supposed to put some pressure on your foot, not your full weight. The pressure on the bottom is designed to stretch out the tendons on the bottom of the foot...and any mild pain you encounter while doing this actually feels good. Go figure... Doing this simple exercise has not only relieved my initial symptoms, but also resolved the pain from periodic flare up inflammation through the years.