Sojourner

I also have never read of a medical practice which required a patient to keep a food record or journal. This seems excessive and unnecessary. The State of Florida has a web site powered by the Florida Dept of Health; called MQA (for Medical Quality Assurance); you can look up the official record of any medical licensed professional in the state to find out if they have had any complaints, official discipline from their medical board, or judgments rendered against them for the past 10 years. I use this site often to help me choose doctors. Check to see if your state has a similar site...and stay clear of professionals who have faced discipline or have judgments on record.

12 pounds of my total weight loss was from the pre-op diet... I would not wish anyone to have the complications I have experienced; I have been hospitalized 2 times since my band surgery. They are still running tests to determine if I will need to have another surgery related to my weight loss. The sad irony to this is that I chose to have the Band surgery because I wanted to improve my health. I have been in the hospital more times in the past 3 months since my surgery than I have my entire adult life!

You did not mention how much you were eating, or how often. Without that information, it would be impossible to say if you are eating too much. I hope that you met with a registered dietitian pre op to educate you about proper food choices and the amount you are allowed to have at each meal. For me, I was instructed that every meal was to have 3-4 oz of lean Protein and 2 oz of a Fiber carb. I am also supposed to be having either 2 cups of 1% milk, or SF and FF yogurt every day. I have not been able to meet my daily Calcium requirements through the dairy products, so I was told to increase my calcium supplement. Though every doctor approaches their practice a bit differently, if you have not been provided with clear guide lines to follow for your meal planning, it would be helpful to get some.

My surgeon routinely will do a patient's first fill about 6-8 weeks post op, and then every 6 weeks until you arrive at your "green zone". It has been 3 months since my surgery, and due to medical complications, I have yet to have my first fill. The doctor admitted to me that my weight loss percentage is well above average for his patients, but he also said that I need to loose at a faster rate. Every doctor approaches their practice a bit differently, but you should have your concerns addressed. I am also scheduled to have my first fill on June 6!

I as of now have no experience with fills...and you and I were banded on the same day. I had some medical complications which delayed my first fill. I can write about your concerns about the lack of communication with your doctor...I am an advocate of the patient taking a very proactive role in their health issues. If you have a doctor who does not have the time or does not make an effort to provide you with answers to your questions or concerns, then it is time to locate a doctor who will. As for a surgeon who does not incorporate the use of band restriction as part of the treatment plan for their patients, I have never heard of anything like that before. It's important to remember that you are paying your surgeon for his expertise in the field; they are not donating their services to you. As an informed consumer, you have a right to have your questions answered, and your concerns addressed. If the practice gives you the "brush off", they are not providing you with the standard of medical care you have the right to expect. And I would be looking for another doctor.

I have never really gained much weight in my legs, and really believe that they are well out of proportion with the rest of me...well, at least used to be...the proportions are changing for the better now! The boots are made for the slim figure, no doubt. Yes, I am able to wear them, but have always believed that for the average woman, especially the ones who have built a healthy amount of muscle on their calves would have a very tight fit in them. As others have mentioned, we are all unique, and there are numerous other choices you can make to be your own unique and fashionable you! Congratulations on your weight loss!!

I never saw your original post...and I can only imagine how you may have felt without any replies when you were reaching out to others... What I will say is that your situation is very complicated, to say the least...and that the Band is not the best WLS solution for everyone. It is possible that your physicians are correct with their assessment of what they believe to be the preferred course of treatment for your obesity. I would explore this issue with all of them...and then evaluate your options. It is clear that what you have done to this point has not been successful. We cannot expect to change the outcome of the situation unless we change our approach to solving the problem... Don't give up on yourself...but do initiate a dialogue with your doctors to make some changes which will benefit you. It would also be helpful to seek treatment with a therapist who has a specialty in eating disorders, because there is a psychology behind the self sabotage you mentioned. Best of luck to you...you can be successful if you choose to be!

One particular concern I would have is to be aware of what type of organism is causing the rashes in the dark and often moist folds of skin. It's very important to stay away from all powders which have corn starch in them, as the rash causing organism may thrive by being fed with the corn starch. This was part of the information I received from my primary care physician. Just a thought...I also hope you have relief from the rashes very soon!

No, you are definitely not alone with your struggles to be successful with dieting and maintaining a stable weight. You did not mention why you chose to have a band over other WLS methods. I would encourage you to both do some additional research into how the band is effective for weight loss and the other options you may have which possibly are better suited for you...AND, I would also schedule a consult appointment with your surgeon to discuss your history with diet compliance and concerns about remaining compliant post op. The Band is only a tool, and it is (pardon the expression) not a "cake walk" to be successful with using this tool. One has to be aware and mindful every day to be compliant with both your diet, and the steps you need to go through to be successful with weight loss. I hope that you will move towards your procedure with both inner peace stemming from being an informed consumer and an authentic self determination for success with your weight loss. Best of luck!!

How about advising the readers that they should consult with their individual physicians prior to modifying their practices with drinking fluids? Anything short of that, in my view, has the very real potential to compromise the weight loss success for the patient. From what I read, your statements lack the citations and depth of research necessary to validate the evidence that it is permissible to eat and drink at the same time, whether it is waiting for a minute after a bite of food or not... "5) These recommendations are far from reckless and have research to support them." If your above mentioned research does in fact exist, you should have included it in your article, so that we all could learn more about your perspective and why you wrote this article. Also, it seems that your highest level of education is a master's degree, not an MD. As such, I strongly believe, as a dietitian your writing in this article goes well beyond the scope of your professional practice, though you do cite your professional affiliations. I also hold a master's degree, and have remained accurately aware of the scope of my practice, and respected the additional training and credentials of the many doctors I worked along side through the years I was in active private practice. It does seem to me that spirit this article is to challenge the professional opinion of many physicians, who I believe are far better qualified to render a professional opinion about drinking while eating a meal. The article you wrote should have advised the readers that they needed to consult with their physicians before changing their use of fluids. Anything short of that is what I would term a violation of professional ethics.

And my surgeon is nationally recognized in his field, and his practice is located at a hospital which has been "named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic Surgery for its documented record of exceptional patient outcomes. We are the only facility in Central Florida to be honored with this designation and among a select few centers in the U.S." I believe my surgeon can be trusted to know the best way for me to approach my weight loss journey. It's very important for you to have a good level of positive regard for the professional competence of your surgeon. As for "modern research", ALL doctors need to be informed of the research in their scope of practice. Their level of experience is not always commensurate with their level of competency. The doctor's approach their practice with their beliefs about what is effective and safe for their patients will vary. I feel that new is not always better, and that I will listen to my doctor when it comes to diet compliance. I would need to read the actual journal articles and review the statistical analysis of the data collected on the control groups before I would agree with the idea of eating and drinking at the same time creates the best positive outcomes for the patient!

I understand that...AND if you read my post in it's entirety, I wrote that there are differences in medical practices...AND that one's mileage may vary. That is reference to the realities that a doctor's approach to their practice in medicine will have variations. Also, we are all individuals, and our individual experiences will not be identical. Your experience was different from mine...I wrote based on the reality that from reading this forum for over a year, there are many differences of note between between doctors, the level of nutrition education given to patients pre-op, and that every insurance company has their unique policies governing their approval processes...

I believe that the proper adjustment for one's band may be elusive, as I have read many posts from others who have had too much restriction and suffered consequences. Definitely good communication with the doctor is essential to avoid having the band too tight, and hopefully this could be discovered prior to leaving the physician's office. Diet compliance is entirely another matter, that is up to the individual and the choices they make every day. Some individuals struggle with this more than others...we are all unique, and will not have identical experiences with compliance. For me, it's about how motivated I am to be successful, and staying in touch with that awareness...every day.

I was not attempting to quote elcee's statement...I was wanting to quote the magazine article author, Helen Bauzon. It was a hiccup on the part of my computer... I still believe that Bauzon did not cite enough clinical studies to make the statements she did, nor did she rely on the statistical validation required to modify the approach to diet compliance. If she has no training or medical credentials, it is reckless to tell others to modify their approach to diet compliance without consulting with their doctors. That was the message I was trying to convey...

Every insurance company and every medical practice are different; there is no "one size fits all" or to anticipate that just because another forum member had a fast approval turnaround, you will also. I did not see anyone mention the 2 weeks of liquid diet required by many doctors prior to surgery...which would not start until you had your approval and a firm date for your procedure. Many physicians also require you to be under a certain weight to move forward with your surgery...do you have that number yet? Have you met that requirement yet? I'm not trying to place a damper on your enthusiasm, I only want to share the realities that there are more factors involved with scheduling your procedure than just picking a date based on the requirements of your work schedule. Your mileage may vary...

Gee...I have never experienced pain from eating. I have only used unprocessed foods in my diet from Day 1 as I returned to eating foods, both pureed and regular...fresh fruit, fresh vegetables which are sometimes steamed, and basic Proteins, such as eggs, chicken, fish and turkey. What "pain" are you referring to? I have never experienced pain from eating...I just follow my doctor's instructions and have no complications. Eating should not be painful if the band is adjusted properly and the patient is compliant with their diet.

That's quite a leap and reckless to write about this...I believe it is not advisable to challenge the instructions most every one of us have received from our individual doctors about NOT eating and drinking at the same time. I would challenge your statements and say that it would take many more studies on this same topic to statistically validate the accuracy of the information you shared. Anyone who has a background in statistical evaluation knows that ALL studies are flawed in one aspect or another. ONE study which publishes their findings is not the "gold card determiner" of the accuracy of the rules as we know them to be. Please validate your writings with citing additional sources and studies prior to telling ALL if us to change the rules...BTW, when and from what university have you earned your MD degree????? I will also continue to follow the instructions given to me by my surgeon; he seems to be quite knowledgeable on the topic, and most importantly, we get good results with weight loss if we adhere to those instructions!

That's quite a leap and reckless to write about this...I believe it is not advisable to challenge the instructions most every one of us have received from our individual doctors about NOT eating and drinking at the same time. I would challenge your statements and say that it would take many more studies on this same topic to statistically validate the accuracy of the information you shared. Anyone who has a background in statistical evaluation knows that ALL studies are flawed in one aspect or another. ONE study which publishes their findings is not the "gold card determiner" of the accuracy of the rules as we know them to be. Please validate your writings with citing additional sources and studies prior to telling ALL if us to change the rules...BTW, when and from what university have you earned your MD degree????? I will also continue to follow the instructions given to me by my surgeon; he seems to be quite knowledgeable on the topic, and most importantly, we get good results with weight loss if we adhere to those instructions!

Anyone considering WLS owes it to themselves to thoroughly research their intervention options. It is evident that many who post on this forum have not received adequate education from a dietitian to know how to approach using the band as the tool that it was designed to be. And to be successful with the band, it DOES require long term commitment to change in lifestyle which should last a lifetime if success is to be maintained. And you realize this, based on your own success with the band. I believe you missed the point of MIS73's post...she was only sharing some basic information of your responsibility to yourself if you want to be successful. If you choose the band, then you will need to do the work to be successful. I agree that the band is not the solution for everyone; usually individuals who have a less difficult time with managing their appetites and have an awareness of internal "signals" about their eating seem to be better candidates for the band. Why are you posting on a WLS site which is devoted to individuals who are on a weight loss journey using the band to assist them? You seem to be promoting negative thinking on a forum comprised of a community of supportive individuals who share their experiences and ideas to improve the quality of their lives. We're positive people here, who both value and Celebrate everyone's individuality. And I believe you can agree that we stress that we are all individuals, and one's mileage with this journey will and does vary...

Well, everyone seems to have been more conservative than I was. I wanted to wait until all of my incisions were closed and well in their way to healing. As I recall that was only around a couple of weeks. My belief, based on my own experience is that no official medical release from the doctor should be needed; what matters is how you are feeling, and the degree to which you are healed.

I like your sense of humor!

Ashli, You certainly have had a difficult road to travel. From your writing, I am concerned about the level of communication and understanding you have with your doctor. I am a strong advocate of each person taking a proactive role in their health and well being. If you doctor is not one to discuss your concerns with you and give you a response which is understandable and provides you with the medical advice you need, then it is time to find another doctor. You did not mention the kind of foods you were advised to plan your diet around, or what you do to assist with your self care. Both are extremely important for your well being and your success with weight loss. You wisely write about your anger and extreme frustration with your current situation, it is therapeutic to write about the things which make you angry. My question to you is "What can you do at this place in time to improve your health state and the way you feel?" Taking action in this direction is self empowering, which it seems to me is something you are lacking now, and no wonder with all you have been through. It is common to become so caught up with your feelings of anger and frustration that we loose sight of the power we have to manage our lives, if we choose to use it. Become proactive to address your health issues by being appropriately assertive and ask questions about your treatment plan with your doctor. I hope you will get some answers soon, and also hope that you will feel better...

Jess, you have already accomplished what some people never do: you are aware of your triggers, and understand how your faulty beliefs have created an emotional dependence on eating. Build on that awareness, because in addition to having an emotional dependence on eating as a coping mechanism to manage stress in your life, now you are engaging in self blame, anger, and shame. All of these are incredibly negative thoughts, which set you up for a cycle of unending self criticisms and anger at yourself. You need to break the cycle... To break this cycle, it is essential that you do a reality check; if you could have lost all of the weight you needed to without the band, why did you not accomplish that? It is necessary to change your perspective, and re-frame your thinking so that you are not engaging in allowing your flawed thinking to generate negative thoughts of anger towards yourself and the world in general. There are numerous coping techniques you can use to distract your thoughts, and it does, to some degree involve "mind games". Only you control your thoughts, and we all, to varying degrees, have some automatic thinking, which is subconscious. Looking at ways to change the messages on those tapes of automatic thoughts will be a core issue for you and your therapist to address. The mind, like the band, is a powerful tool; learn how to use it to your advantage. Give yourself permission to be patient with yourself. Your thoughts did not get to their current perspective overnight, so understand that it is unrealistic to expect immediate results with anything which involves a process of change. Change, whether it involves mindful thinking or behavior modification is a process, and not an event. I do recommend that you seek treatment with a licensed therapist; though understand ahead of time that psychotherapy only works if the client is receptive to the therapy and the insights to be gained from that different perspective. You should approach working with a counselor with an open mind. Too often, if the client is not ready to engage in an honest self inventory to assess what the core issues really are, the therapy is destined to fail. I did read some of the other posts, and most contained valid insights. I encourage you to be your own person, and think for yourself. You know yourself best. It is unfortunate that some of the participants on this forum engage in writing in terms of gross generalizations; that is their perspective of a "one size fits all" solution. We may share some basic commonalities, but for the most part our path to here was as unique are we are. There are many reasons why a person may become obese, and certainly genetics can play a major role, along with the family relationship dynamics and home environment. I vehemently disagree with the belief that "we all have an eating disorder", as another individual has written in response to your original post. Emotional dependence on eating as a coping mechanism does not qualify as a diagnosis for an eating disorder. There are so many factors which contribute to one's weight issues. In my own case, it was medications which caused the weight gain, coupled with a metabolism which due to age sort of went into hibernation. Being angry at the doctor who prescribed the medication does nothing constructive to alleviate the problem; taking positive action to loose weight under medical supervision provides a solution path to improved health. Self inventories, which you are already in the process of doing, as evidenced by your writing about your new awareness of how your flawed thinking is a major contributor to your eating, can be difficult. Many people choose to live in denial rather than accept that their thoughts need to be modified. Give yourself the credit you deserve to have gotten to a place of awareness. I sincerely hope that you will continue on your journeys...both with the weight loss and with your awareness that you hold the keys and the power for your success. Only you will hold yourself back! Good luck!

I seem to reach a plateau about every 10-12 pounds lost. It usually takes about 7-10 days before the scale moves again.