Sojourner

Good luck!! Please keep us posted on your progress.

I have found that with approx. every 10 pounds lost results in me reaching another plateau. The stationary scale will not move for anywhere for a week to 10 days, and then it is a steady slide through the next 10 pounds or so. The only thing which has worked for me was to remain compliant with my diet and exercise, and focus on this situation as being only temporary. I know how frustrating this is, but I have had this stall in my weight loss several times, and staying on your path does get you through it. I have read where some others have "jump started their metabolism" by changing things up with their exercise routine. That has not been an option for me, as my physical limitations limit what activities I can participate in. We were banded around the same time, and your weight loss to date seems to be on target. I have yet to have my first fill, and am still averaging loosing 1-2 pounds most weeks. BTW, my most frustrating plateau was at 202 pounds, I also was very anxious to finally to get to under 200 lbs. It did happen finally, and it will happen for you, too!

There are valid reasons to include a psych eval as part of the pre-surgery protocol. It did not used to be required, but I guess they had some incidents which pointed to unrealistic expectations for surgery outcome, and dealing in positive manner with the mood swings which can happen post-op. There area valid reasons for the MMPI and any version of the original test to have the number of questions that it has...and EVERY well informed mental health professional should know the reasons why the test is designed the way that it is. Just saying Buffalogyrl... It's important to just be yourself, and not allow your anxiety to build to unreasonable levels. You will do fine!

Welcome to the forum! I also was "ghosting" on this forum for many months prior to making the commitment to lap band surgery, and finally joining. There are many members who are quite knowledgeable about the band, nutrition, the surgery, and just about all the other topics you can imagine. The decision to make major changes in your lifestyle is the important first step in the "journey" to better health...and every journey begins with the first step. Keep us posted on your progress!

It reads like you may have picked up a virus. Whatever it is, this is a time that you should be healing, so it is important to inform your surgeon what is going on with you. Even if you don't feel like drinking your fluids, keep trying to reach your daily goals. It is both dangerous and it will make you feel worse physically if you end up getting dehydrated.

No, there is no protein is in cauliflower; it's still a great choice for your Fiber carb though. It was one of my favorite mushies!

You did not mention taking any supplements for Vitamins and minerals, especially Calcium. I hope that your diet does include these important and vital supplements. During the 2 weeks of pre-op diet, I was allowed to mix my shakes with 1% milk, which did add some extra staying power to the shake before I would be hungry again, and also have 1 cup of raw salad veggies (I only wanted romaine lettuce, carrots and cucumbers) every day to help with Fiber. Post op, the diet included only liquids. Yes, it can be difficult to manage to get through it all, but that is the time to focus on your goals and stay the course. As an RN, you should have some real understanding of proper nutrition. There really is no need to have a step by step set of instructions. Basically, exercise, make it a priority to meet your Protein goals every day, and stay hydrated. Doctors do vary in their level of instructions they give. You should have a contact person at the surgeon's office to answer any questions you may have. The benefits far outpaced the inconveniences of the liquid diet. I'm starting to feel like I belong in my skin again - priceless to me! Good luck...you can do this.

I was not denied approval for the surgery, however the insurance specialist who reviewed my medical records prior to submitting to my insurance company told me I needed to write a letter to be included with the rest of my records. The letter was necessary to explain the reason why there was no weight recorded for me for nearly 1 out of the 3 years of records sent in. I drafted a short letter, explaining why this crucial number was missing, and was approved with the first letter submitted by my doctor. My BMI was also 39. Any weight related co-morbidity, especially one which requires you to take prescription medication will be in your favor. It's not just your current medical issues that are usually considered, my doctor also included the mention of my very high probability of developing Type 2 diabetes in the very near future (like within the 6 month window of having to complete the 6 month supervised diet). I hope that you don't have your request denied, but be proactive to state your case to the insurance company if you need to... Good luck! Please post on the outcome.

I believe that it is all about both portion control and time management; measure your portions, and allow 20 minutes to eat a meal. Structure your time so that you are having your meals and "snacks" (my surgeon wants us to have either milk or FF yogurt for snacks) at regular intervals. Eating between meals, or "grazing" habits are what packed pounds on for many of us. It's just another bad habit that is better broken than continued. Your mileage may vary...

Well done...congratulations!!

There are hidden carbs just about everywhere...even in milk and vegetables. My surgeon advises to make good food choices, and avoid anything "white" ( bread, sugar, and essentially anything which is over processed). I have become a label reader even worse than I was before my surgery. He also wants his patients to avoid anything which has added sugar in the list of ingredients. There are naturally occurring carbs, such as the ones you find in fruits, but as those carbs are occurring naturally, they are OK to have, but in moderation. While on mushies, I used the food processor for just about everything...tuna (packed in water), chicken (I added a small amount of plain broth for flavor), sweet potatoes, cantaloupe (amazingly refreshing when pureed!), strawberries, banana, cooked carrots, and broccoli. eggs I only scrambled, and chewed very well. I remember I was allowed a small amount of all natural applesauce and low fat cottage cheese. Beans and lentils, along with oatmeal are considered "complex carbs", and I am allowed only one serving of these carbs a day. I hope that this information helps...every meal will seem like a banquet!

My surgeon has advised that not having enough calories daily will slow your weight loss. Also, he advises us to never count the calories, only to measure the volume of your Protein and carbs for every meal.

We have much in common; I also was involved in a serious car accident around this time last year! I did want to share that I received a call from my pharmacist son, who shared that a common reason for pain in that area is acid reflux. I thought that reflux would present with more stomach discomfort, but not according to him. I will still keep my appointments with my doctors next week...and I do feel that you should consult with your doctor as well, as only a medical professional can make a determination as to the cause of your condition! Good luck...and I would be interested to know what you find out about your pain. We could compare notes!

I agree with Mis73; we are all individuals, and no two of us will have the same experiences during this weight loss journey. There are several things which can slow your weight loss down, 2 of the key ones are 1. Not getting enough Protein every day, and 2. Not consuming enough calories daily. My surgeon has told me to focus on the measured volume of all the foods I eat, with every meal consisting of 3 oz (by volume) lean protein, and 2 oz (by volume) of a Fiber carbohydrate. One carb serving every day can be a "complex carb". To use my surgeon's formula really simplifies planning my meals. Keep up your great work, and also focus on your goals!

Just about everyone caves into temptation at some point along the weight loss journey; for me it was with a piece of chocolate cake over the Easter weekend. I got back on track the next day, and have been compliant ever since. Your weight loss is good for the length of time since getting your band; my doctor says you should average 1-2 pounds a week, which it seems you have exceeded. I do have a question though...100 grams of protein daily seems too high...My daily protein goal to reach is only 32 grams daily, a number given to me by my dietitian. I have yet to have my first fill, and there are times that I do get hungry between meals. I use the hunger as my cue to start drinking the fluids I need daily. It does help to stave off the hunger until the next meal. Until I structured my time to include drinking fluids, I had a very difficult time remembering to drink them all. Now, I am meeting both my fluid goal and protein goal daily without any problems.

Amazing that you would post this today...I was released from the hospital just this afternoon after complaining about the same pain in the identical location 2 days ago... You should speak with your surgeon about this, which I did, and I had to undergo a battery of tests to rule out a heart attack and blood clot in the lung. So much better to be safe than sorry; peace of mind is a priceless commodity! It required an overnight stay in the hospital, but now I know that the major issues are ruled out, and will follow up with my primary care physician next week.

Yes, your anxiety is definitely running away with you! Some have made the point that it is usually the rare complications which are written about. But the odds are way in your favor to have a positive and uncomplicated surgical outcome. You have to look at the risk/benefit ratio to really understand the positive side to having this surgery. You did not mention your age, but if you have never had to undergo surgery before, it is very anxiety to think about what surgery does entail. I had to have abdominal surgery BEFORE I was allowed to get medical clearance for the lap band surgery, so all of my anxieties were much lower. You will be under general anesthesia for about 45 minutes. I never even saw the inside of the OR; then I remember being in recovery. I was in the car traveling home from the hospital 5 hours after arriving for the surgery. Be certain to have prescriptions for pain and nausea in hand before your surgery. I never needed the nausea medicine, and took the pain medication only 2 times total. The pain for me was just about totally gone within 4 days, and I relied on liquid Tylenol for most of my pain management needs. I have 3 small incisions (1/2") and one which is about 1.5" inch, as opposed to the 4 " scar from my other surgery. I healed quickly, and now feel wonderful! The best advice I can share for managing your anxiety is to use distraction; you can control your thinking with being aware that you are fixating on the surgery, and to intentionally STOP your thoughts from being focused on the surgery; do something else. Go for a walk, clean out a closet, have a conversation with a friend...just do something which involves physical activity. If you catch yourself thinking about the surgery, repeat the same drill...this does work if you refocus your thinking. It takes some practice, but is totally "doable"! Accept that you are creating a belief that this takes on a "larger than life" appearance with the surgery, and focus on the thousands of individuals who have successfully had the surgery done, and are using their weight loss to regain the health that their obesity has taken away from them. Good luck with your surgery...you'll be fine and be glad that you did something so positive for yourself!

Yes, I do believe that you are having issues with your body image. From what I have read and researched, goal weight should be determined by your BMI, taking into account your age. At age 21, when I was married, I weighed 115 and was 5'6". Now, nearly 40 years later, I am 5'4", and my goal weight is 140. Initially, my doctor said that my goal weight should be 145, but the BMI for me then would be only 1/10 of a pound below the "obese" range. I added 5 more pounds to my weight loss goal to make it 140, a healthier range for me. I have a small frame, so a few pounds less weight should not make me look unhealthy. This is something I would discuss with my doctor or surgeon to make a decision about...

I would thank the individual(s) for their concern for your welbeing and welfare, and then politely tell them that you are an adult and perfectly capable of making your own decisions about your weight and all other matters relating to your health. It's all about having healthy boundaries with others, even family members. You should not have to feel as though you are required to defend your choices. If you empower yourself to set those boundaries, then you are being appropriately assertive with others, and you should not feel defensive. I hope that this information helps...

Some things are just meant to be...I don't believe in coincidences. What a fantastic emotional support system you are starting your journey with...best of luck to you both!

I am still waiting for my first fill, and have not had a cold recently...but I have read that feeling "tight" may be alleviated by sipping a hot drink, such as tea. Another reason may be that your band is too tight. Either way, I would call your surgeon's office and ask for some advice. Hope you'll be feeling yourself again real soon!

What I have discovered (don't ask me how I know this...) is that this far post op, nausea may be a symptom of dehydration. You really need to start drinking your fluids, even if you don't feel like it. If you don't have a prescription for nausea, call your surgeon's office to ask for one. The first few weeks are a time of healing and adjustment, so I would say that if you are following your diet as advised to by your surgeon, every day should be a little better. But, each of us is an individual, to no two of us will have identical experiences. Another consideration is that with being banded, we go through a series of hormonal adjustments as well as psychological adjustments. These adjustments can cause mood swings, which can also impact the way you are feeling in general. I'm a bit longer than 2 months post op now, and I am feeling great! I hope you will feel much better fast...

Are you Day 9 post op? If so, I would be concerned if you were healed enough to be on solid foods again. I had to be only on liquids for a full 2 weeks post op prior to even starting on mushies. Then it was mushies for an additional 3 weeks. Sausage is definitely a solid food, and at over 2 months since my surgery I still have avoided any of the foods which are known to be higher risk foods. "Dry meats" are notorious offenders in this category. I have not tried any breads or ground meat. My surgeon was very specific that these should not be attempted until 6 months post op. Give yourself an opportunity to finish healing. When you have these higher risk foods, be mindful as you are eating them; small bites, alot of chewing, and eat slowly.

I have not yet experienced a "stuck" episode, and hope that I never do...what I have been advised to do also is to walk it off, and initially for a few hours give your GI tract a rest. Liquids only for several hours sounds like a good conservative course of action. I agree with Mis73, you have to eat the foods which are prone to cause "stuck" episodes with what I have heard referred to as "mindful eating". Eating slowly, taking small bites, and being certain to chew your food excessively to mush will all help to avoid getting stuck. Last weekend was the first time I tried eating brown rice since being banded. I could really tell the difference having this type of food. I felt full after only 2 small bites, the feeling of fullness lasted for well beyond 4 hours. I also don't plan on giving up on some of my favorite foods, but I know that I have to be mindful when I do eat them. I should mention that I have yet to have my first fill, so I am uncertain if I had any restriction with my band if I would have been able to have the rice at all.

Yes, I also have experienced the pain of plantar facitis. Through the past few years, it has resolved on it's own with an exercise my podiatrist advised me to do. I'm certain loosing weight has helped as well... I was told to get an empty small glass Coke bottle (the kind with the curves in the shape of the bottle), and roll my bare foot on the bottle on carpeting. It stretches the tendons in the bottom of the foot, and it feels amazing!! It did take a few weeks for the pain to resolve, but I no longer have any signs or symptoms of the condition.