fabfatgrl

Oooh... you're looking skinny Have you tried Profect for your Protein??? Little test-tube thingies that have 25 grams of protein in only 3 oz. No idea how they taste, but as I hate all Protein drinks, one I could get down in a few swallows would work for me. www.profect.com

LOL My fan club! Sadly, my journal was lost forever when Diary-X went down. I was very bummed, but hey... I guess it wasn't meant to last forever. Robin (CoffeeWench) lost hers as well... I loved her blog. Very interesting about the difference between the DS and the Band. Thanks to you both! I totally think the DS is underrated as a WLS tool, my issues with it have to do with the fact that I had irritable bowel syndrome pre-Band (the Band helped for some reason), so in general, I'm supposed to avoid any of the malabsorptive operations as it will probably make my condition worse. I'm very unthrilled with my Band right now. It is sooo hard to go back to fills and PBs and stomach snot after 3 years of not having to deal with that stuff. I think another issue is that before when I had the Band, I was single with no young'uns.... now i have two kids and a husband to feed. Makes it more difficult. Sigh. I rejoined WW, but can't seem to get into it. Still, WW is my only choice until my youngest is weaned. Karla

They used to do a larger stomach that was the same size as the DS stomach, but now most surgeons are doing a smaller stomach using a 33 french bougie to form it... which typically leaves a 50-100 cc stomach. Gagner uses a larger size... I think he favors the 40 French Bougie... but it still leaves you with a much much smaller stomach. Much smaller than the DS stomach. Orginally it was viewed as part 1 of a two stage operation... with the DS coming later after the patient lost some weight and the operative risk was less. Now days it is being done as a stand-alone surgery. (Why most decreased the stomach size as there was no malabsorption to count on. I think that if it is done as a part 1 of a DS, they still do a standard DS sized stomach.) Dr. Baltasar estimates that only about 20% of patients (his patients, of course) end up needing the DS part. As for eating around the operation, one can usually eat around most WLS... although I would agree that the DS is the least likely to have that issue. But with purely restrictive operations, oh yeah..... just drink your calories Question for you Sue: With the Band, there are certain foods that go through quite easily... for me, crunchy foods, Cookies, etc. Never ever get stuck. With the DS, there is no stoma to go through... so are you saying that you're limited with pretty much all foods due to your stomach size? Not sure if I phrased that right. http://www.lapsf.com/vertical-gastrectomy-weight-loss-surgery.php Pet-peeve... a lot of people say one of the advantages over the Band is that there is no foreign object... well, what do you call six rows of titanium staples?? I don't think those come with the standard stomach.

I've read conflicting reports about the sleeve gastrectomy as a good solution for people whove had band troubles. If you were successful with the Band and had it removed for erosion or slippage, you may do very well with a VSG. I believe that they typically remove close to 85-90% of your stomach, not 60%. I've seen some incredible weight loss among people who've had it, but they all seem to be on low-carb diets and are much more restricted from the get-go on what they can eat. (Getting liquids in is a problem for many immediately post-op). Still, it's being done more and more in the States... LapSF.com, Dr. Rosenthal at the Cleveland Clinic in Miami, Gagner in NYC, etc. all do the VSG as a stand-alone procedure. Originally it was only done on high BMI patients as a first step before a DS. Baltasar is also well respected world-wide... he's in Spain. For self-pays in the States, seems to run about $18,000 although Gagner is closer to $30,000 I've been told. Disadvantages would be it is restrictive only and not adjustable... so if you out-ate your Band, you'll probably out-eat this. Also, the level of restriction is set based on your surgery... and will not change (except for to get a bit larger as time goes on). I'm assumign this was a real post, by somebody who may be interested in this surgery... and who may not speak English as a native language. I know if I tried to post on a board in any language but English (even though I've studied French for a gazillion years)... it would probably read much worse! I think it is a real alternative to people who may want a Band, but won't be able to be as diligent as necessary with their follow-up. Bands don't work without regular fills. Period.

It depends on the degree of the PB and my hunger level. If it is bad, I may try to do liquids or at least purees for the rest of the day. If it was just a quick cough/spit of something that got stuck, then usually I continue eating... although I may avoid whatever food that got stuck.

I had a great experience in Mexico. I was banded 5 years ago this month by Dr. Rumbaut. He still ranks as the best medical professional I've encountered. Since that time, I've been in US hospitals twice (both top teaching facilities) and I had much better care in Monterrey, Mexico. There are unscrupulous docs everywhere. If the criteria for placing a Band is a BMI of 30 or 40 (now they're researching it for BMI's in the 30-35) range.... and you ahd one placed with a lower BMI and found a doc willing to do so... then those are your issues. There are unscrupulous money-hungry docs everywhere... there are ophthalmologists who will do LASIK on anybody... regardless of corneal thickness or vision stability. Does that make all ophthalmologists bad? Or LASIK a bad procedure?? No. But one has to be a smart patient in choosing one's doc.

Wanted to add, at 3 weeks post-op you're better off drinking a milk-shake than eating anythign low-fat (or not) that makes you PB. Seriously. The first 4-6 weeks are not about weight loss. They are about healing. Your stomach needs to heal. Scar tissue needs to form around your Band. You have a lifetime for weightloss with the Band.

LOL...could be me. I paid $650 for fills back in 2001 with Dr. Ponce... plus airfare and hotel. Now I pay around $350.

I agree. I also think you need to look at averages and ask yourself, will you be happy if you only lose xyz% of your EW?? I think, though, what happens is that we become greedy as we get skinnier. OK, I started at a 30, and now I'm a 16, I really really want to be a 12 or a 10 or wouldn't it be cool if I was an 8. I also think you need to look at maintaining as a success. Yeah, it's great to lose 130 lbs and keep it off for 2 years. BUT, wouldn't you rather lose 90 pounds and keep that off forever?? OK... maybe not, but I would. Even as annoyed as I am with having gained 45 lbs after two pregnancies and three years of being unfilled, there's an ever bigger part of me that says "WOW! I kept off 50 pounds with no fill for three years and through two pregnancies... I actually learned something!" :confused: (For the record, I never ever lost weight pre-Band... well more than 10 pounds...... and never kept it off for more than 2 weeks. SEriously. In my life.)

I think that if you're losing weight... and not PBing or getting stuck... then you're doing O.K. There is no set "right" amount of food. It will all depend on you, your Band, and the amount of fill you have. When I was first Banded but before my first fill, I probably ate about 3/4 of what I did before Banding. After my first fill, about 1/2. And then depending on the fill, probably about 1/4-1/3 of what I did before Banding. When it was time for a fill, I probably could eat more... which was when I knew I needed a fill. What did real eating with good restriction translate into?? Bfast was usually hot chocolate... made with Organic milk and Godiva Hot Chocolate (4 g. Fiber :confused:) Around 10:30/11:00 a.m., I'd usually have cottage cheese and fruit. A sample lunch would be 2 or 3 chicken nuggets and 2 or 3 french fries. That's it... adn I'd be stuffed. Or a small chilli from Wendy's... which I may or may not finish. Possibly a mid-afternoon snack, possibly not. Could be a piece of string cheese, a cookie or two, fruit, whatever. dinner was often bean or lentil Soup... maybe a Lean Cuisine (would feel totally stuffed!) And dessert (yes, dessert!) would be 1/2 to 1 cup of ice cream with 1/2 a banana or some fresh berries thrown in. (Adds bulk so it doesn't just flow through the pouch.) I was totally full and satisified eating that. BUT I wouldn't have been right after being Banded... or even after my first fill. Fear of pouch packing is one reason to get fills done with fluoro... it allows the doc to check on your pouch and see how it's doing.... and do something about it before it becomes an issue.

Just remember that your first 4-6 weeks are for healing not weight loss. You may not lose any weight until after your first or second fill... or you may only lose a few pounds. You may not feel any restriction until then.... remember, your Band is just loosely around your stomach... it isn't tightened. If you're PBing already, you're body and Band are giving you some warning signals. You need to sloooow down your eating. You need to stop drinking with meals. Nothing before for an hour, nothing after. You need to try and chew every bite until it is liquid... 20-25 times. I'm not sure how you're eating anything at 3 weeks out that can make you PB... but if you're on mushy food, maybe you're not blending it enough?? Try adding a bit more liquid and blending. If you do PB, go on liquids again for a day or two to give your Band and body a break. It's been a long time since I was Banded (over 5 years!), but things that I liked in the early post-op stages were... Carnation Instant Breakfast... made w/ Hot milk chocolate Milk blended with banana Blended Bean Soups Blended chicken, Rice & Broccoli casserole Cottage cheese w/ FRuit (Breakstone Doubles) Yogurt Blended tuna or blended egg salad smoothies Veggie Soup (loved the Soup in Hand? thingies) Applesauce Also.. be sure you're eating without distractions (no TV, no reading, no stereo)... so that you can feel when your pouch is full. If you're having trouble with this, try eating only 1/4 cup of food at a time... and seeing how you feel after. Wait 5 minutes, and then try some more if you're still hungry. If your problem is hunger, then look at what you're eating. Are you getting enough Protein? What about Fiber? Be sure to add some blended fruits and veggies or soups.

Dody: This is completely biased and inaccurate. I went to Mexico before the Band was even FDA approved. I did not need a sleep study (nor would I have needed one here with the surgeons I know)... but I did need a slew of other pre-op tests. Also, my surgeon Dr. Rumbaut does not have a high erosion rate at all. He is, in fact, one of the most respected Band surgeons in the world. Period. Also, you mention having an excellent surgeon in the U.S. Well, at the time, Dr. Rumbaut had done over 2500 bands. The average U.S. surgeon, if he was a FDA trial doc, had done maybe 50. 100 max. Which would you choose?? Are there unscrupulous Mexican docs?? Sure. But there are unscrupulous US docs as well. Don't be so naive. US does not always equal best. Karla

A friend's wife was Banded and never needed a fill. She was a lower BMI person and felt a lot of restriction even with no fill. She's the only person I know of that happening to. I spent probably $3500 on fills my first two years (including air fare, when required.)

Never had an issue with popcorn. When I go to the movies, often choose the kids pack with a small bit of popcorn, small piece of candy, and small drink (lemonade or Water.. no carbonated beverages). NOrmally couldn't finish it, but it's a nice treat. Of course, now that I have two kids, I haven't seen a movie in a real theater in ages. Thank God for Netflix!

I've been banded for 5 years and this has been reported at least that long. Nearly every Bandster I know is super tight in the morning....and loosens up as time goes on. Also, for female bandsters, we tend to be tighter during that time of the month. Just the way it is. What worries me is that your doctor may react that way to somebody who doesn't have a Bandster support group to validate their reaction with... and as such.... who knows how the person may react.

When I PBed, sometimes it would take 3-4 times to get everything unstuck... but I never had to resort to putting my finger down my throat. (Don't even know how to do that... to be honest.) I think this occurs because you get suck, and don't immediately realize it... or think it will pass or whatever.... so that by the time you PB, you have to first get rid of all the stuff that's backed up behind the original stuck piece.

Good luck Are you going to do it as a two part procedure... with the sleeve gastrectomy first... or all at once?? Reason I'm asking is that the weight loss with just the sleeve is supposed to be quite good... might mean that you don't need the malabsorptive part of the operation.

I'm in Brooklyn and would travel into the city for a meeting... as long as I can arrange it for when my husband can watch the young'uns. Am about to call Dory Ferraro tomorrow and try and arrange a fill. My first refill was only 1.3 ccs (guy wanted to go slow) and I've felt zero restriction except for the days when I had my period. Anybody know what subway stations are near their NYC office?

Splenda is made by McNeil...which is owned by J&J. Very very proactive in terms of consumer safety... remember when they pulled all the Tylenol off the shelves back in the 80s??? Went to splenda.com...and found this. Don't think Splenda is going anywhere anytime soon: McNeil Nutritionals, LLC Highlights Strong Clinical Database that Supports Safety of SPLENDA® Sweetener Products FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., (April 4, 2006) — McNeil Nutritionals, LLC is committed to developing innovative nutritional products, such as the SPLENDA® Sweetener Products, that provide important health and lifestyle benefits to consumers. The company is extremely proud of the strong clinical database that supports the safety of sucralose, the sweetening ingredient in all SPLENDA® Sweetener Products, and we recognize that this strong safety evidence is one of the many reasons why SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener has been the number-one low-calorie sweetener in the U.S. marketplace for more than three years. The safety of sucralose is well documented in more than 100 scientific studies conducted over a 20-year period. In addition, sucralose and, specifically, the safety data on sucralose, has been reviewed by the U.S. food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other national regulatory agencies, as well as by international health authorities such as the World Health Organization, and found to be safe for use by all consumers, including children, pregnant women and people with diabetes. Sucralose has been available in international markets for more than 13 years. The FDA first approved the use of sucralose as a nonnutritive sweetener in 1998 and expanded this approval in 1999. Currently, sucralose is permitted for use in over 80 countries and it has never been required to carry any safety information or warning statements on its labeling. Yesterday's press conference by competitors is the latest effort to make false and misleading statements designed to injure the reputation and goodwill of the SPLENDA® Brand and our company. These inaccuracies about the SPLENDA® Sweetener Products are a great disservice to the millions of consumers who safely use and enjoy the products every day. Also see http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article355837.ece "The company pointed out that a press conference to launch Citizens for Health's petition had been promoted by Qorvis, the public relations firm hired by the Sugar Association to set up the website and to run the anti-sucralose campaign. The petition is "another tactic in a long chain of orchestrated events led by organisations representing bodies with clear commercial interests", a Tate & Lyle spokesman said. Mr Turner said Citizens for Health had not been funded by the Sugar Association, although it did support the use of sugar and other natural products in preference to artificial sweeteners. The FDA said it would review Citizens for Health's petition, which opens up a regulatory front in the increasingly bitter marketing battle over sucralose."

I believe I read recently that the port's membrane is semi-permeable... so a bit is lost over time. Not a lot, mind you... but some. I think you need to accept the possibility that at least once per year, you may need some sort of adjustment... be it adding or removing. I was getting fills constantly well into my 2nd year of Banding. Had I not become pregnant, and been totally unfilled, I probably would still have needed them. As for having all of one's fill removed and maintaining... well, I maintained a portion of my weightloss over 3 years with no fill (67 lbs through my first pregnancy, down to only 47 lbs with my second pregnancy.) I have to admit that once I was unfilled, there was this total free-for-all mentality. Ohmygosh, I can eat bread again. Ohmygosh, I can drink soda (diet, but soda nonetheless). Yet... it was weird. I missed being satisfied with small portions... so I think that had I continued with a filled Band, I probably would have decided to keep in some fill, some restriction. Ask CoffeeWench. She's been banded about 6 years.

I know a lot of us feel more restricted when we have our periods... so I was wondering if anybody timed their fills to not coincide with that event. Just thinking here that perhaps having a fill during your period (or premenstrual) might not 'last" as long.... Any ideas?

Hi All: I'm looking for a fill doc in NYC who will fill mexican surgeon's bands. Any info (as well as costs) please post. Thanks

Nykee: Don't beat yourself up about the calories... they were all fluids (mainly) and your body needed them if you'd been having issues keeping fluids down Weird question... in your calorie totals, do you count the stuff that comes up?? For me, it always depends on how quickly it comes up and how much comes up.... I'm impressed that you can even attempt Pasta and sandwiches... for me, those never worked. chips, crackers, anything crunchy... went down fine. chocolate was never an issue either. But I bet the crunchy kissables coating would help it go down even easier Bread, pasta, rice (usually)... did not work. Although with my recent new baby fill of 1.3 ccs, I can eat it all. OK off to bed... got my period, so it will be interesting to see if my no restriction fill all of a sudden becomes an issue in the morning. Glad I have carnation instant Breakfast and milk for hot chocolate.... NIght all :notagree

hi babyjane: I had the best care of my life with Dr. Rumbaut, his staff, and the staff at the hospital. Can't say enough nice things about him. First rate care... first rate experience. I'd recommend him again in a heartbeat. It was a bit weird for me, as I went alone... and don't speak any Spanish except Dora-the-Explorer Spanish.... but still I was fine. I stayed at the Hampton Inn and the van took me everywhere I wanted to go. Right behind the Hampton Inn is a shopping mall... with a gigantic supermarket that was great for buying Water, juices, etc. (Although Dr. Rumbaut provides you with a care package of juices, broths, and this runny hot Cereal for post-op.) Everybody at the Hampton Inn spoke excellent English and took good care of me. It was also easy to change money at the Hampton... and the rate was comparable to the local banks. You can request a room with a recliner in it for when you're post-op...and that is a big help, as it was tough getting up from the bed myself without a railing for support. Of course, if you have a friend going with you... you won't need that. Best thing about Rumbaut is that he has a Band... and has had one for years. Totally understands. Of course, also that he's done more Bands than pretty much any doctor in this hemisphere doesn't hurt either Email me/PM me with any questions.

I think you've hit upon the biggest struggle of being banded... head hunger/emotional hunger vs. actual hunger. It can be really tough to give up food as a comfort mechanism. (Well, you can still use food as a comfort mechanism, but vastly smaller amounts. ) There's also the pleasure of eating... which is normal. I sometimes felt bulimic with my band when I was PBing a lot. I hated PBing... although yeah, sometimes it feels like a relief! I don't know how common it is, but my guess is it happens to a good portion of bandsters. Some find ways to deal with it.... others continue and either suffer from band damage or lack of weight loss. (Note: I'm not saying all who have band problems or slow weight loss have caused this themselves.) I think you need to sloooow down your eating. That might help you experience more satiety from the food you are eating... as well as more enjoyment. Eat without distractions (no TV!) Try setting a timer or looking at your watch, and only taking a bite every minute (or longer). When you feel that first hint of fullness... put away your food. If it's a binge food, throw it down the disposal... pour salt on it... whatever. Brush your teeth. Only buy single servings of problem foods. Consider attending OA meetings or working through a Compulsive Overeating or Bulemia Self-Help book if you can't afford professional counseling Exercise. Go for a walk. Tell yourself you only have to do 5 minutes of an exercise tape before you can have more food... but do something. Good luck I'm sure it happens to more people that will admit it, so know you're not alone. Learning to stop eating for emotional reasons is something we all have to face.