WASaBubbleButt

That much Protein isn't going to hurt anything short term and if you are keeping protein up you'll be able to stick to the diet more easily. Lots of protein, no white carbs... it's a dobable plan for those of us with food issues. Long term that much protein might be a problem so please check with your nutritionist for long term answers. Your doc may have a specific reason for that much protein. Congrats to you for your upcoming surgery!!!!!!

Dear Abby says... dump the loser.

Not really. RNY folks have trouble absorbing food as you say, due to malabsorption. The amount of protein that can be absorbed is the same for everyone regardless if they had surgery or not. Your body simply cannot absorb huge amounts in protein in a single sitting. Typically you want to stick to around 25gms, no more than 30gms at a time and wait about 3-4 hours until your next protein intake.

You are welcome to read it but please understand, I write like I talk. I never shut up. Do you want me to PM or email it to you? Yes, I did see my GP for the problems and he was at a loss. I went to a GI surgeon and he misdiagnosed the problem. I went to another doc that is a friend and he gave me all the wrong drugs for it. Since I live driving distance to Mexicali I prefer to go to my doc for follow up care. Finally went back to Dr. Aceves and he figured it out. It took trying a couple of drugs but the last drug works like a charm. I wouldn't trade my band for anything now. Had he removed it when I asked him I'd be without a band now. He kept telling me there was a fix and we just needed to find it. He was right. Luvox, as far as I am concerned it is band candy.

No, you don't have an excuse. I have a digital camera and I can take your photo when you come back here in December. Denise looks half her age and is even more sweet in real time vs. on line!

I've been meaning to call you! I have been thinking about you the last few days. Still planning on watching? (Neveragain is a medical student and he's going to be in the OR watching my plastic surgery). Will you be in Phoenix anytime in the near future? Like for a fill or anything?

I did not have to do a pre op diet, I ate about 400 last meals. After surgery I was ill so I stayed on Clear liquids for a full three weeks so I lost quite a bit but I'm not sure it is fair since I was on clears. Had I been on full liquids I wouldn't have lost as much.

Hunger is something we all "feel" not hear. When you are first banded you discover that you swallow air a lot more than you realized. Your stoma almost acts like a one way valve, air goes down but it doesn't come up easily after passing through your stoma. When you hear those sounds it is air in your stomach or intestines. Sounds don't cause hunger, what you feel determines if you are hungry. Since you just had surgery it is really super important that you keep pushing fluids. Drink until your teeth float and then drink some more. Keep hydrated, keep your Protein intake up, and most of all, avoid sugar and carbs. They will mess with your blood sugar and then you'll learn what hunger is in a big huge way!

Brian & Savery... While I respect your doc's honesty and ability to be bloody blunt you have to understand that he has to tell you folks the worst possible scenarios. Hypertension is a problem if it is not under control at the time of surgery. Is Savery on high blood pressure meds? If so, may I ask which drug(s)? If it is well controlled that part shouldn't be an issue. Sleep Apnea, the key here is to make sure that you bring your C-Pap to the hospital with you. There will likely be extra orders written for the PACU nurse regarding breathing issues. As long as they know what to look or it shouldn't be much of an issue. If they did not know about sleep apnea that could be a little un-nerving but since they know, the necessary precautions should be taken. Hiatal hernia or a wide hiatus... not a biggie. It does not affect surgery unless it is so huge that they have to do that repair first and the banding another time. However, if your doc knows about the hernia he already knows how large or small it is. He already knows if he can fix it at the time of banding or not. I've only heard of one case where it was a consideration to fix the hernia and do banding at a later time and they ended up doing both at once. Obesity is a big cause of hiatal hernias thus, many of us had them. Most docs will fix it while they are doing the banding. It usually requires 1-2 sutures, it's not a big deal in the least. Most people don't even know they have a hiatal hernia or a wide hiatus until they are told after banding that it was fixed. Diabetes... that is certainly something that is a consideration before surgery. Again, if the docs know about it up front they take the required precautions. There is currently a great deal of hoop-la regarding WLS and diabetes. I would encourage you to read the following study. This is not the full study, I have read the full study and this is just the beginning of the study. It applies to banding as well as bypass but with banding, diabetes improves with weight loss so results end up being the same: Welsh Medics To Examine How Surgery Can Cure Diabetes Stopping weight loss... many people have a slight unfill if they have reached their goal and they wish to maintain vs. losing. It's just a matter of increasing caloric intake a bit. Longest anyone has had their band, I honestly don't know. I don't recall when the first adjustable band came out. There was/is a non adjustable band that has been around longer and it had horrible results, but remember, it was a completely different band and non adjustable. Complications from the band can be immediate or years down the road. No way to tell. However, they are not common. Slips are 3+% and erosion is 1.3% per Inamed. Coffee... most can, a handful cannot. Coffee can be an irritant to the stoma and some people swell after drinking it and others end up with reflux but for the vast majority of people they are fine with coffee. Soda... that one is up to your doc. Docs differ on that one. I can't/don't drink it because it ends up being very painful but docs have differing opinions on this one.

So what if you are breaking a TOS rule. I don't know that you are and I for one, don't care and I'll bet a dollar every other member feels the same way. You need to do what you need to do. I seriously doubt any mod here would think twice about this. Let's face it, we are all in the same boat regarding quantities of food. Some work through it faster than others. I still have my days, I think we all do. I think the key is what you do when you have one of those moments. I have a friend that I can call (Julissa) and she totally gets it. She gives me a verbal kick in the butt, tells me how it is, gets me back to this reality, and I'm good to go. For me I just need to get through that moment. Once I am beyond that moment I am good to go but sometimes I need a little help getting through the moment. What if you had a person that has been there/done that kinda thing that you could call to get you through your own moment? Someone that won't judge you but really cares? Someone that relates to the same thing? Someone that struggles with the same food issues? You can call me any bloody time you want. Just PM me and I'll give you my number. I keep my phone with me 24/7 most of the time. If you can get to the phone before you get to the food, it makes a world of difference. If not me then find someone. I doubt there is a person here that wouldn't take a similar call. We are all in this together, right? (((HUGS)))

I was an idiot when I had surgery. I was so focused on which doctor and such that I didn't stop to research exactly where it was. I flew to San Diego and it was faster and easier to drive to Mexicali from where I am. So I flew and it was no big deal. Pack light, you don't need a bunch of stuff. Bring broth powder (can't take liquids on the plane, bring powder ask for hot water) and you'll be fine.

MMMMmmmmmm.... I have two favorites. I have a HUGE lemon tree in my back yard. Best lemons in the world. They are the size of grapefruit, weird buggars. Fresh Lemonade made by me and only me with a bit of Bacardi. Yum. When in Mexico (we go for group fills, anyone in Phoenix goes at the same time) and we go to the grocery store, buy mega cheap Bacardi, order room service for freshly made pineapple juice and oh my goodness, that's some seriously good stuff. Never was a beer drinker and that's good. Carbonation hurts, some can do it and I'm not one of them.

You are very sweet, thank you so much! Wendell is right, I don't have any before photos. I was too ashamed and I was (and still am) the one volunteering to take the photos so I am on the correct side of the camera. Wendell can verify I do exist <g>, he's seen some photos as of about 10lbs or so ago. I've tried to post them, I just can't bring myself to do that just yet. Maybe after another 10lbs and some plastic surgery! I don't have much of a journal. We were encouraged to start one but after surgery I pretty much dumped the idea. I just never got around to it. I only have my hospital experience and I send that to people if they are interested in surgery out of the country so they can see what it's like. But posting it? Yikes, I'd have to take some of the swear words out of it first.

No, I didn't say coffee is bad, it's an irritant and you are a newbie. My personal opinion is that you are not ready for solids if you are three weeks out. But that is an opinion and you need to do what your doc says, not anyone else. I asked my doc about coffee once. He said he HAS to tell people it is an irritant however, the truth is that most do just fine with it. He serves coffee in his office and doesn't think twice about giving it to banded people. But, it does affect some people in a very negative way after banding so he has to warn them. If they end up drinking it and doing fine with it, he's fine with it. But he does have to warn them of the potential problems. You are still a newbie, you are having your fun filled TOM, you have restriction... so I mentioned the coffee. Some people find they are more restricted with it, some find it opens them up, some suddenly have mega heartburn and reflux. Each person is different.

Excellent post, I completely and totally agree with everything you have written. I have to admit, I've been tempted to stop where I'm at now and say this is good enough. But then I reconsider and realize I went to go all the way. The point is, it is my decision and it will always be my decision. I could stop now and deal with it or I can continue and reach my goal. It's up to me.

I predict you *will* overeat and you *will* be in pain and then you *will* barf. I further predict you'll think twice the next time. There is something to be said about being physically unable to binge the way we used to. If you are dead set on finding a way to eat around the band, you'll do the same with any weight loss surgery. But I think you need to give yourself a bit of a break. Usually people that are willing to have surgery to achieve weight loss want to change things. The band helps us do what we cannot do alone. I'm probably one of the people that had the most complications and problems with my band yet still have their band. I wouldn't do things differently in the least. Three months ago I begged my doc to take it out, I wanted it out that day. He declined, he said he wanted to try one more treatment and it worked. OMG, what if he would have agreed? I'd be... bandless and gaining fat. He was right and I was wrong. You have to want thin, you have to want it more than you want most anything else. You have to be willing to give it your best shot, you have to go into this with a positive attitude, you have to be willing to follow the band guidelines. Mostly, you just have to want thin. This will sound silly but I'm asking you try it anyway. I want you to get a photo of a reasonably thin person. Not a movie star type anorexic person but just your average normal weight person. Then get a photo of your favorite food. Sit and look at those photos and be absolutely honest with yourself. Which do you want more? Do you want thin or do you want your favorite food with no limits? The answer might not be the same for everyone, there is no right or wrong answer, there is only your answer. If you can honestly tell yourself that you want thin more than you want that particular food in limitless quantities... you are likely more ready for surgery than you realize. But you have to be honest. You don't have to tell anyone your answer, you only need to be honest with yourself.

I have a Magic Bullet, it's been in the box since I got it. I keep meaning to use it but I'm a naturally lazy person. I use bottled Water. I drink half the bottle of water so there is 8oz left. Then I add 2.5 shots of Da Vinci Raspberry S/F syrup and 1 scoop of Matrix 5.0, shake and drink. Haven't needed the bullet yet so I haven't even opened it yet. I should just ebay it or something.

Might want to avoid coffee for a few days if possible. I know it's hard. Coffee is an irritant to an already irritated stoma. TOM can make you more restricted, it's a Fluid shift and that can cause all kinds of problems. For me I'm hungry, craving every food on the planet but too restricted to eat solids. We feel for you.

WOW! That's a LOT of protein. I'll bet you do have stomach pain. I'll bet you get diarrhea soon as well. Careful, your body can only absorb so much protein and the rest you have to burn or it turns to fat. It is also very hard on your liver and kidneys. Most docs tell you to consume about half that much. If your doc told you to consume that much protein, then he must have a reason. Just make sure that's what he wants.

Very cool, Edie! I'm thrilled for the both of you!

Everybody adores Jack. I don't think there is a person on the boards that doesn't look forward to his posts. He is funny, has a way with words, puts things in their proper perspective, tells it like it is, he's honest.. he's everything good in the lives of the banded.

I used to work somewhere where our job was to take care of her "results". I personally would never go to her.

Nope, my shoe size didn't change when I gained or when I lost. I'm still a 7.5 US size.

V8 is fine for FULL liquids, it is not okay for Clear Liquids. So it depends on what your doc has you doing. Soft foods are essentially anything you can squish between your tongue and the roof of your mouth. If you don't need to chew but they are soft enough that if you had no teeth you could eat it, that is fine for soft foods.

Seems to me the higher risk a patient is for surgery, the more they need it. Their risk is only going to continue to increase without surgical intervention. Without surgery they will die. And let's face it, only we fatties understand that it is not as simple as diet and exercise. As for whether or not you should contribute, I don't think that is something any of us can offer opinions on. That is your choice. Her weight alone is not a huge indicator if she needs surgery. However, her weight indicates she likely has serious comorbidities such as DM, PEs, etc. So her weight is not the issue, or it shouldn't be. My doc has done people with a BMI of 100. It wasn't easy but he did it. 378 isn't all that unusual in the states.