WASaBubbleButt

Ohh, thank you for understanding what I was trying to say. Sometimes you have to know me well before you know what I mean vs. what I say/write! Writing is not my forte. Skinny people on a vacation want to try a bite of this and a bite of that. Fat people want a full serving of each. Skinny people decide what they want to eat at the restaurant. Fat people plan ahead if they have any clue what is on the menu. Skinny people stop eating when they are no longer hungry. Fat people eat until the food is gone or they can't cram one more bite in their mouths. Skinny people don't think much about food. Fat people think about it more than they realize. I am finally learning that I don't do things the "regular" way. I do them the "fat" way. I think fat, I behave like a fat person, I live fat. I want sooo much to live normal. I want a normal life with normal food expectations. The longer I have a band the more I am learning just how whacky my thinking was before. I look at some of the changes I have made and it gives me hope because I look forward and see how many more I have to tackle.

I doubt you'll find a surgeon to do that. The thinking is that the band prevents this very behavior. We are trying to stop the behaviors, not find reasons to continue them. Remember something, you'll still be able to eat 99% of the same things, just in a smaller quantity. This is the time you WANT restriction, to prevent over eating. There are so many things we do that we think of as normal and they really aren't normal at all. This was one of the biggest challenges for me. I used to plan Snacks ahead of time. Isn't it amazing that some don't? LOL That is how I felt anyway. Snacks are IF you get hungry. Yet I'd plan mine. With a band we eat like regular people. It's verrrrry hard for most of us (I swear, especially ME) to wrap our brain around doing things like regular folks. I still find it amazing that normal sized people stop eating when they are no longer hungry. Aren't we all supposed to eat until we are so stuffed we can hardly walk? What if there is still lots of food on the plate? Doesn't everyone stuff themselves just because it is there? I'm not sure I'm making my point clear. It is still hard for me to relearn basic concepts regarding eating and behaviors so I have a hard time putting it into words. But the bottom line is that we got a band to prevent the very behaviors you are asking about. It isn't as though you wouldn't be able to have those foods, it is a matter that you would eat the quantity of a regular person instead of a fat person. My doc told me on the day before, the day of, and the day after surgery that getting banded is the easy part. Life with a band and relearning behaviors is the hard part. I fully understand what he means now.

Most bariatric docs suggest between 60-70gms of Protein daily. There is so much conflicting info on this topic. But I think what it comes down to is that we need to base protien on LEAN body mass, not total weight. Those that say 1.5gm protein per pound of body weight are out of their ever lov'en minds. The people who need that much are professional athlete types that exercise and work out 20 out of 24 hours daily. But when you lose a lot of weight quickly you WILL lose muscle mass, no way around it. It's going to happen. By doing weight training and adequate protein you won't lose as much muscle mass. Personally I hate weights. Hate them with a passion. They are tooooo heavy! HATE THEM! But I do well on my treadmill. I'm getting to the point that I have no choice, I have to do weights. But I don't have to like it!

Who said anything about low carb??????? I reread the thread and I saw nothing about that. The only thing I personally wrote is that 42 carbs per serving is wayyyyy too high for me. Absolutely nothing was said about low carb. It wasn't mentioned, it wasn't discussed, and it wasn't inferred.

Very very true!

I have a hunch his doc would disagree. Some docs have a better track record than other docs. Some are quite inexperienced. Some disagree with others. But the bottom line is that it is important to follow your doc's instructions. The original poster didn't do that. That is the issue. Your doc may be the best surgeon in the entire world but we won't know for a couple of years yet as he is not the most experienced bariatric surgeon out there. As of last week he has done 111 bands. It takes AT LEAST 250 bands to be considered experienced in this procedure. By the time someone has done about 250 bands they have pretty much seen every complication out there, they have seen the films to every barium swallow showing weird things that happen, they have seen every weird anatomy, etc. My point is that your doc hasn't done enough bands to even have a track record. Perhaps after he has reached his 250th band he might change his post op diet instructions, perhaps he won't. Nobody will know until that time comes. But the real bottom line here is that if you trust someone enough to trust them with your life during surgery, you should trust them enough to know they are doing what is right for your care after surgery. As I wrote earlier, at least 75% of slips are due to patients not doing what they are supposed to. With all things considered, I really don't understand why you tell someone that you see no problem with their not following their doc's instructions. I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

Broth!!!!!!!! Yummmm!!!!!!!! Can't say as I miss those days.

Yep, what Carlene wrote.

Band rejection has never actually happened according to Inamed. The possibility of it happening is 1 in 1 million. Someday, it will likely happen but it hasn't yet. Do you think that is your issue or should you call your doc and get an appt? Call your doc, if you have ANY doubts whatsoever get in to see him/her and get a diagnosis.

Keep in mind one issue. When people have bypass many (most?) lose a LOT of weight quickly. The thing that doesn't come out is that within about 5 years the body starts to compensate for the loss of intestinal tissue and it makes MORE! Not all malabsorption is forever. The body replaces SOME of the "removed" tissue. So within a few years you'll be back to diet and exercise. With the band if you start to gain later, you get another fill. No big deal. If I could lose weight and KEEP it off via diet and exercise, I wouldn't NEED any type of WLS. But maybe you are different. The first few inches of intestine absorb Calcium and Vitamin B12. Does it make sense to you to have to take a great deal of suppliments since your body no longer absorbs it naturally? If that makes sense to you, have bypass done. Look at the stats. When people have revision surgery they aren't typically going from band to bypass. But they ARE typically going from bypass to band. Perhaps the 2nd question you need to ask yourself is how many weight loss procedures you want in your life?

All these docs see patients they did not band: Arlington Fort Worth Area Dr. Dobson & Dr. Peterson 972 660 3188 Dallas Dirk Rodriquez 877-TXBRCTR Paris TX Dr. Clifford 903-785-8521 Walter Dobson 972-660-3188 drwalteradobson@<WBR>swbell.net Nova Body Solutions 972 665 2639 Dr. Cynthia Jones cynthia@newyouwmc.<WBR>com 214-956-9999 Decatur Dr. Snow 940-627-1707 El Paso Dr. Castro & Applebaum 915-351-6272 Houston Obesity Surgery Specialists 1-800-664-9177 Tomball Jason DeMattia 866-345-5872

On 11/6/06 I discovered there was such a thing as the lap band. My insurance would cover it but it required a six month medically supervised diet. I researched docs in the US and Mexico and after extensive research I realized I could go to a doc I didn't really care for in six months or I could go to the doc that had everything I was looking for in Mexico. On 12/1/06 I scheduled surgery and on 12/6/06 I had surgery. I wouldn't change a thing about how I did it.

What city/state are you in? I'll look on a list of docs and see what I can find in your area if you wish.

Here: http://lapbandtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5

There is no way anyone would push me into bypass... not a chance. I'll keep my parts.

Keep in mind that we aren't looking to feel "full" but instead satisfied. That's a challenge for most of us, I think. Every few bites stop and think through this, are you still hungry or are you satisfied? If you are satisfied put the food up and you can have it later when you are sincerely hungry. I have noticed that feeling "full" feels different today vs. pre-band, but I'm not sure if that is the same for everyone or not.

I have realized that the longer the sig the less I read. If it is short, simple, and to the point I read it. I'm naturally lazy.

We all need a bit of encouragement from time to time. This is a really hard time, you have this cool tool for weight loss and you can't really use it the way you want yet. It will happen. Bandster rules take time to get used to, this is a great time to practice.

Are you keeping Protein up? At least 30gms and better yet 60gms daily? Don't worry about weight loss/gain during this time frame. This is called Bandster hell for a reason. You have a band and no restriction. It's like driving on a flat tire, you won't get very far. Don't worry about weight loss right now, instead focus on bandster rules such as pea size bites of food, chew 30 times, swallow, wait a bit, repeat. Don't drink with meals, just practice. Your portions are going to be larger now vs. when you get a fill but right now is not about weight loss. It's about healing. Weight loss will happen, patience... grasshopper.

A lot of times "feeling like crap" is a blood sugar issue. If you can drink some Propel (sp?) water, that has just a verrrrry small amount of sugar so it won't make your blood sugar jump up and down like grape juice or something similar, yet it often times does the trick. The older the bandster the more blood sugar might play a role in this.

I completely relate to what you are saying. I've hit my first plateau and where am I stuck? 190! I expected a plateau but just hoped it wouldn't happen. So I've bumped up exercise time, I'm running more, and I am backing down on calories for a bit. I'm going from 600 daily to 500.

He didn't say a month of clears. He was talking about 2 weeks of clears and 2 weeks of the next step up including Protein Shakes. The reality is that the longer people stick to clears then full liquids then soft food before solids, the better their band will heal into place.

Lisah25 is correct. Many newbies think that if it doesn't hurt they are okay and this just isn't true. The more solid your food the more your stomach has to churn and work to digest food and push it through unlike clears where your stomach really doesn't have to work. It just drains through your GI system. If one is going to cheat they need to understand the consequences that can happen and those consequences may not be immediate, they may happen long after the rules were not followed. Most docs seem to agree that at least 75% of slips are the fault of the patients by not following basic instructions and bandster rules.

Obesity is one cause of hiatal hernias. So they are pretty common for us folks. I didn't know I had one either until my doc told me he found one and fixed it during banding. It usually just requires a single stitch, it's no big deal at all. It shouldn't add much to recovery.

Jill... Keep in mind that lots of people can't eat much during the day. They have to stick to liquids during the day and solids in the evening. Not sure that is the best way to do it but some docs do fills with this in mind. They think it is okay to be tight during the day and eat solids in the evening. I *think* (could be wrong) but I think it was Dr. C who said he doesn't have a problem with this. Be verrrrry careful with canned chicken soup. Often times the chicken is over cooked and dry. That will easily stick.