sma102205

How are you doing post surgery??

Thanks all for your stories,honesty and encouragement. I am now a week away from surgery and still hopeful but also still vulnerable to the unexpected. My band has been empty for a month now and very rarely are any foods getting stuck. I just need to get thru this surgery and really owe it to myself to take care of me and do my best to make good choices. I know it's only a tool but I just hope it sustains my motivation to take the best care of me for myself and my husband. I appreciate the heads up on some of the changes and challenges experienced, I wish everyone the best!!!

It's been over a year (5/2012) and I'm "only" 40lbs down... And still have a way to go! I would like to lose a minimum of 70lbs more however I'm not seeing that scale move! I get an adjustment like clockwork every 4wks and the scale will go down about 3-5lbs and either stay steady or regain about that much by the time the nxt adj comes around. I feel restricted and my diet primarily consists of salads, soups, yogurt, protein shakes, chili, fresh fish and veggies...every once in awhile I will have some wine or ice cream (again...periodically).. I exercise 3-4x a week for 30-45 min intense tabata, kickboxing, strength training type regimens buuuut collectively it's NOT WORKING.. I'm really scared and desperate bc I keep thinking I didn't go through this journey of Lapband to only succeed 1/4 of the way! My MD and staff just keep saying workout harder, eat differently and I don't know how to do anymore of both.. My body is clearly stubborn (always has been in weightless w PCOS) and it seems to have adjusted to the band and this is it!! Pleeeease if someone can share if they've had a similar issue and eventually had a breakthrough I would appreciate some ideas and stories of hope!!

Thanks to all for chiming in!! For those who have surgery scheduled this month all the best and please please keep us posted.. For those whom have had success with revision thank you for sharing it is encouraging to hear about your journeys. And for those whom are skeptical of people who use WLS a a crutch.. I see your point but I can only speak for myself and say am I fully in control of my efforts, no..I'm always the first to admit it but the effort I need to put towards any kind of weight loss is 3x more the norm due to my PCOS and after battling this for so long and having that delay things like building a family my BIGGEST demon is to not feel sorry for myself day to day, to not feel like a failure and all I can do is try try try to focus on what I DO have and what I HAVE achieved and hope that in time my body will cooperate..

@phatkat..sorry to hear about your struggles and fears! I just logged back in due to needing to take a break..many of the posts were confusing me.. And making me feel worse.. Not much has changed on my end since last August.. I've lost a few more lbs but still can't ingest solid healthy proteins besides some flaky fish.. Even eggs are a no go.. However I'm looking into sleeve revision surgery and have to do some research..have you looked I to some options like that for yourself? I know it's expensive but I was curious.

It's been over a year (5/2012) and I'm "only" 40lbs down... And still have a way to go! I would like to lose a minimum of 70lbs more however I'm not seeing that scale move! I get an adjustment like clockwork every 4wks and the scale will go down about 3-5lbs and either stay steady or regain about that much by the time the nxt adj comes around. I feel restricted and my diet primarily consists of salads, soups, yogurt, protein shakes, chili, fresh fish and veggies...every once in awhile I will have some wine or ice cream (again...periodically).. I exercise 3-4x a week for 30-45 min intense tabata, kickboxing, strength training type regimens buuuut collectively it's NOT WORKING.. I'm really scared and desperate bc I keep thinking I didn't go through this journey of Lapband to only succeed 1/4 of the way! My MD and staff just keep saying workout harder, eat differently and I don't know how to do anymore of both.. My body is clearly stubborn (always has been in weightless w PCOS) and it seems to have adjusted to the band and this is it!! Pleeeease if someone can share if they've had a similar issue and eventually had a breakthrough I would appreciate some ideas and stories of hope!!

Can you consult with another surgeon? He doesn't sound supportive with your situation!

Everyone is so awesome!!! Thank you for taking the time to read and respond...really means a lot! To answer some questions: I do consult with a nutritionist once a quarter and do track my food online through WW and mostly stay within points, though Im sure with this plateau I'm probably not tracking EVERYTHING... As far as food, good point about the bananas and yogurt..I do eat Greek yogurt mostly plain w fresh fruit and almonds and I also eat bananas bc I feel those are the only foods that i can get down without throwing up..oh and hummus too..I can eat small amounts of Protein like chicken, turkey, shrimp etc but most of the time I wind up throwing up bc it gets stuck... You would think after a yr I would be used to taking smaller bites..hahaaa... But bc I can only take about 2 oz of protein at a time I wind up getting hungry quickly... So on average I need to eat every 3-4 hours.. I can't eat sandwiches for two reasons: if I were to eat any bread the only kind I can get down is flatbread but I don't eat it often bc it will get stuck.. But also a no go bc I can't eat things in layers.. Take a sandwich for ex.. I have to pull it apart eat the meat/protein first, one veggie at a time after that.. Same goes for all my meals, can only one thing at a time bc mixing foods = face in toilet time.. Thanks for the strength training tip.. Will focus on that for a month and see how that goes.. Finally, PCOS is a b***h! Gives me a hard time all around including infertility so right now my body is a big jerk and I hope with some additional nutritional guidance, your support, lots o' patience and even more prayer, hope and faith the needle will move and babies eventually!

Hi everyone! I was banded in May 2012. Weight loss has been slow but hoping to jump start it once I'm restricted a bit more (currently 2.75 cc).. Anywho since May I've been getting these really weird moments 1-2x per month of 30 sec panic attacks.. It starts out as a weird feeling of déjà vu and my body goes completely numb then I'm fine within 1-2 minutes. Granted my job can be stressful but I've been working there for almost 2 yrs and have only had these panic attacks since the surgery. I'm not sure if the panic attacks are a result of residual long term stress or maybe something I'm doing or not doing with diet etc... Has anyone ever experienced such a thing???? PS..I am going to the md nxt wk to discuss..

HiI Everyone! So I went to my nutritionist today to ck in and it'll be 3 months since my surgery nxt wk. Ive had a 1cc fill about a month ago and I've lost 10lbs (I was careful to NOT say ONLY 10 lbs bc it's a loss nonetheless!) anywho in reviewing some bloodwork I did about a month ago she said my thyroid is out of control...(hypo).. I'm going back to see the MD nxt wk to see if medication wb required but I've been diagnosed before (2010) as "intermittent hypothyroid" most annoying diagnosis ever.. However THC levels have only gotten worse post surgery.. I read that having surgery, stress and other factors can trigger the hormonal imbalance.. Has anyone else experienced this? Where you put on meds? Had surgery to remove thyroid/did it help? Change of diet? Any info would be helpful.

I was just banded on May 3rd and am healing well. I don't have much discomfort except near the incisions and experiencing some gas. While I know we are recommended to stick with a liquid diet only I called the nutritionist the day after my surgery bc no matter how much broth, Jello, Popsicles and Protein liquids I was consuming I had no energy and still remained hungry. I know it sounds quite premature to call her after 24 hrs post op crying bout hunger but its a very new feeling! She suggested more protein, try shakes but that's it. This wknd I just added a little puréed Soups and hummus. I don't have any discomfort swallowing these foods such as nausea but I can feel the food going down to my esophagus and theres a bit of discomfort in that respect, which in turn causes gas. Though I eat and get full quickly (positive), I get hungry about every 2-3 hours...fm what I've read in other posts so far sounds like I need to increase protein ie shakes etc to curb the hunger and always more Water.. Right now I'm drinking Isopure and EAS shakes throughout the day. Another positive is that so far I'm not craving the heavier foods ie steak or burgers nor sugary foods.. And dairy seems quite daunting to try and consume. What have you guys done to get through the first week to stick with liquids? I have my follow up appt this fri and thought I wb getting my first adj that day but after some reading that doesn't seem likely. I'm anxious to not work backwards, my body is quite resistant to weight loss due to PCOS, so I'm quite nervous. When will I know it's time for my first adj? How long after surgery did you wait to get your first adj? I know I must be patient and I'm sure I will have many questions answered at my consult at weeks end but I thought I knew what to,expect and after joining this community an hr go I realize I have a ways to go to be educated!

It's great to hear everyone's success as I just posted a similar thread yesterday.. I was banded in May and have only lost 15lbs but also noticed loss of inches.. The slow weight loss is frustrating but I think I need to be adjusted more. but I went to my nutritionist yesterday who reviewed bloodwork that I took a month ago (2.5 months post op at that time) and she said my thyroid THC levels were the highest they've ever been which is quite worrisome and much more frustrating. I'm going to my md nxt wk to see if I need to be put on meds. I'm just hoping to control it ASAP, and hoping by getting that under control will expedite weight loss.

HiI Everyone! So I went to my nutritionist today to ck in and it'll be 3 months since my surgery nxt wk. Ive had a 1cc fill about a month ago and I've lost 10lbs (I was careful to NOT say ONLY 10 lbs bc it's a loss nonetheless!) anywho in reviewing some bloodwork I did about a month ago she said my thyroid is out of control...(hypo).. I'm going back to see the MD nxt wk to see if medication wb required but I've been diagnosed before (2010) as "intermittent hypothyroid" most annoying diagnosis ever.. However THC levels have only gotten worse post surgery.. I read that having surgery, stress and other factors can trigger the hormonal imbalance.. Has anyone else experienced this? Where you put on meds? Had surgery to remove thyroid/did it help? Change of diet? Any info would be helpful.

Hey everyone.. I was trying to find a forum to post a ques re: the title above.. Not sure if this is the most relevant if anyone has other suggestions please let me know! Question is I rec'd my first fill last wk and feeling comfortably restricted, however this is the first time I'm feeling the effects of excess stomach acids and having it bother my throat. I had surgery on 5/3. The MD prescribed prevacid immed post op.. I took it for several days and stopped bc I felt fine (yes I understand prevacid is for preventative measures). Now w this restriction, I started taking the Prevacid again however I've been reading any discomfort due to this should be alleviated with an antacid..ie TUMS.. So: A. Is taking TUMS OK? B. Are there foods that can help minimize this feeling? C. Are there foods to exacerbate this feeling? D. How long should this last before I reach out to the MD or nutritionist? Ps.. I also have a cold so I'm trying to work thru that before calling th MD. Thanks in advance!

Thanks everyone!! Turns out it was heartburn and a pretty bad cold I. Still trying to get over!! I appreciate all your support!

I AGREE! About the Clif bar!! I had a chocolate coconut one last wk which was really good and filling.. I had it in halves.. I just bought the Chocolate mint one.. Haven't had it yet! But now excited to try it..

I've found chilean sea bass, mahi mahi, orange roughy and even swordfish are not fishy if prepared correctly and with simple ingredients..

I've had trouble with bananas ever since surgery.. Only now if I take small bites can I get it down but not easy.. The easiest fruit for me is watermelon.. Small bites but it's so refreshing.. Most other fruits I've tried have been ok (berries etc), have yet to try oranges and peaches.. How has that worked for others?

HI everyone! I'm getting my first fill on Fri and wanted to know what I need todotoprep? Should I stick to liquids and broths tomorrow, at least at night time (dinner)? Also should i take it way the first few days of inactivity?

Glad to hear it was painless! I had surgery May 3rd and have my first fill sched for 6/22.. I hAd to wait bc I'm traveling for work and didn't want to be on liquids only while traveling.. Did you fee any post uncomfortability? Any new physical symptoms? I'm just trying to figure out what to expect?

Tomorrow will be one week at that I was banded and this wknd is th first time I shall face some friends and family. Of course my closest friends and closest family members know about my operation. I'm not afraid or shameful to tell people but I do prefer subtlety as I don't want 12332122 questions from ppl I don't converse with often. I'm also not one to lie about anything so what is your approach to who've you shared your news with and what do you tell them exactly?