mrsto

Wow, Jim......your wife's friend clearly hasn't had a life long struggle with food addiction. Those types of comments always amaze me; the ignorance of it. As Bob Dylan wrote in The Times They Are a-Changin.... "don't criticize what you can't understand". But people do.....all the time. How could someone say they don't "believe in" something that they have no clue about? Say that you "don't like the idea of it", but.... Okay, I'm going off on my own mini rant....I'll stop here

I like moo shu pork, but I don't put the sweet sauce on it, and don't make the wrap. I just eat the shredded pork and veggies. And I eat only a fraction of it (compared to before surgery), and eat the rest over the next few days. Certainly, it's higher in fat than I normally eat at home, but based on the amount I consume, it's not an issue.....on occasion. Wendy - most all Chinese restaurants will steam an order on request. In past diet times, I would get steamed chicken and veggies, and have a little cup of black bean or other type of sauce on the side. That way I was omitting all of the oil, and was able to control the amount of sauce. But I would always (and still do) stay away from the breaded and fried dishes, like orange chicken (which I love). If my husband orders something like that, I'll have a bite. But those dishes are calorically lethal, so I stay away from them all together.

I agree with the above posters. WLS will not force you to do anything. It's just a tool, and you will still have to do the things that you say you are not motivated to do; exercise and eat healthy foods. When you got discouraged about exercising, were you dieting at the same time you were walking? Exercise alone will not make you lose weight. Portion control, healthy foods AND exercise work hand in hand to bring the desired results. Without knowing you, and just taking your post at face value, I don't think you're ready to take this huge step. I say this because you clearly say that you're not motivated to do much of anything that will help you lose weight and get healthy. With surgery, YOU have to do the work. The surgery is not an easy answer, but it is effective as long as you live by the rules. I'm with the posters above.....educate yourself on exactly what is involved with the band or any of the other surgeries. Many people lose a lot of weight, but gain it all back......even after WLS. If you don't change your "mind", this will be a very costly venture, without the desired results. I wish you the best.

I'm in the green, and don't measure my food. I never really did measure, as my doctor did not set those guidelines. The key is and has always been, to take very small bites, chewed to a pulp, and let it go down before taking another bite. At the 20 minute mark, stop. When I do measure out (lets say chili for instance), I manage about ⅓ cup.

I noticed that my port moved up from its original spot, about 7 months after surgery. My doctor said it's absolutely fine, which I was relieved to hear. My port feels like it's an inch higher, because of the fat loss.

Sandy - I like that...."Simon....Simon says". Perfect :-)

Whatever you doctor says, you have to go with the choice you can live with. I was scheduled for a bypass, but freaked out and cancelled it 10 days before surgery. The thought of rerouting my God given plumbing didn't sit well with me. And my next door neighbor had the bypass, and after a few years, ended up having the band put over it. My sister's coworker had the sleeve, and is slowly gaining a lot of weight back. She can't eat much at one time, but grazes on crap all day long. Imagine doing that after have 75% of your stomach removed. Scary stuff! I'm not trying to push you in any one direction. Only to say that compliance is key with any of these surgeries. Many of us are really good at it in the beginning, but as life moves on, old habits rear their ugly face. Banded, bypassed, sleeved.....whichever, we still have to fight the fight. Do as much research as you possibly can, and make an educated choice on the one you can live with. It is true that the aftercare on the other surgeries is nil compared to the band. But then again, the band is reversible, and the choice is available to revise to something later, should unrepairable complications set it. It's a lot to think about, but it's most important that the decision be yours, and not what someone else "thinks" you should do. Good luck!

FastFazer - your story is so typical of many of us who chose WLS. I went through the exact same turmoil getting to the point of going through with it. I actually joined Weight Watchers for the gazillionth time, two weeks before scheduling surgery. My weight had slowly creeped (back) up to 225, which was my highest high. And I'm under 5'2". I knew with every shred of my being, that at 57 years old (at the time of surgery), I was headed for a major catastrophic event; heart attack, stroke, etc. I was on blood pressure meds, my cholesterol was high, and so was my sugar. Now, 10 months later and 63 pounds lighter, that entire picture has changed. I'm off the meds, sugar and cholesterol are normal, and I walk up the stairs without feeling the need for the cardiac care unit waiting at the top to revive me - lol. I no longer wake up each morning with dread. So in answer to your question about regrets? Not a single one! I would do it over a hundred times. Just know that what you are going through is perfectly normal. I did not tell everyone in my world that I had the surgery; only the ones closest to me. They've all been very supportive, and now I just go about my life; the surgery and banded life isn't at the forefront of everything. Nor does it define me. It took a very long time for me to come to terms with that whole "I'm such a failure....can't lose weight and keep it off on my own". I don't feel that way anymore. Coming to this site has helped a great deal with that part. You are certainly not alone, and bravo to you on taking a huge step toward better health

It does put it into perspective, and when anyone says "I've only lost 20 pounds", I say.....go pick up a 20 bag of dog food. Hard to believe that we carry so much extra on our bodies. No WONDER all the health issues! It's been a long haul, but I'm glad to say that I've got about another 10 pound bag to go

I checked her prior posts and she was sleeved a little over a year ago and lost about 80 lbs? Obviously she's lost but no matter what kind of WLS she had I suppose we all suffer from the same calamity? So true.... There isn't one day that I feel "cured", and even with the band/plication, sometimes the intense need to EAT wins over any amount of restriction. Thanks for the info, tmf.

Can you please provide us with some information about you? Your profile doesn't mention any type of surgery, etc.

10 months, 63 pounds lost.

To clarify, they do not fold the stomach in half. They push the greater curve inward, and put two rows of sutures.

Correct - the band and plication are both done with sutures only.

Okay, I'm a banded plication person, but I have to respond.... In your WILDEST dreams, did you ever see yourself trying to figure out how to STOP losing weight??! I love it!! I can't wait to have that problem Good for you - I know you feel fabulous!

The other thing I was told not to do anymore, is chew gum. I tried it a few weeks after surgery, and it didn't go well. Now, no problem whatsoever.

The other option, which we don't hear much about in these forums, is Greater Curvature Gastric Plication with the band. Or, alone. By folding and stitching, they make the stomach the shape and size of the sleeve, without the permanence of removing 75% of the stomach. It has also been shown to reduce typical complications with the band alone. I had it done with my band, and I'm thrilled. If something goes wrong, I can undo it, or revise. To jump right into such a drastic alteration of a major organ, was something I couldn't live with. The way things are now, I have options.....if it ever comes to that. But I agree with all above, that everyone needs to do what they're comfortable with. Just do ALL your research, be compliant with whatever you choose......and hope for the best.

Is it just me, or does this read like an advertisement? Yep - I think so, too.

Thank you so much! I feel absolutely great

I live in So. California, so I've never experienced this. However, I do hear many say that they start their day with something hot; coffee, tea, etc., to loosen the band. Don't know if that helps, but thought I'd mention it.

There are certain initial "rules" my doctor has backed off on since I started out. One of them being, the amount of Protein I need to eat daily. I was expressing to him that I can barely eat any vegetables after taking in protein. He said that he's fine with me eating 40 grams of protein, and getting in those veggies. He also told me that the reason they push hard on protein, is because they need to break most patients from heavy carb habit/addiction. I would venture to say that most all of us didn't get to the point of WLS, from eating too much protein. Now.....I'm sure many here will balk at that recommendation, because it goes against the list of band rules. But as B-52 says, as you move through banded life, some of the rules are no longer a "one size fits all". Sure, some of the basics remain....like small bites chewed well. Stop eating at the first signal of satiety, make healthy choices, etc. But as my doctor gets to know me, my body and my progress, he adjusts/allows as he sees fit.

Every doctor is so different with their pre and post op plans. I went through many post-op diet phases, slowly adding back different foods. Some doctors have their patients on Clear liquids for two weeks post op. Thank God mine wasn't one of those! Anyway, do what your doctor says, and make sure to go VERY slow. Even though he's allowed you back on full foods, it's probably a good idea to start with mushy food; chew small bites until it's liquid, and wait for each bite to go all the way down. The key is slow and careful. You will find your way......

I was told the same thing, but have zero issues with straws. I've been using one since very early post-op. I've always used straws to drink all my Water, and it's really the only way it's going to happen. I believe the reasoning about the no straw rule, is to avoid taking in too much air, which creates bloat & gas. Knowing this, I never suck the last itty bitty bit of Fluid at the bottom of the glass. For me, that would be the only place any extra air is getting in. Other than that, using a straw is no different than drinking straight from the glass (for me).

Honest - is it possible that the faster heart rate is from anxiety? Just a thought.... Sometimes anxiety isn't obvious, and manifests in different ways. My heart rate increases, but also (this one freaks me out), I can hear my heart beating in the middle of the night. It's a thumping, and many times I get up to see where the sound is coming from. It's me! That one really freaks me out, but my doctor said that it's not abnormal. I'm glad your doc is keeping a close eye on it.... Hopefully everything will normalize sooner than later :-)

Like B-52, I leaned on the narcotic pain meds to get me through. Along with the gas and all else, it hurt to simply breathe in and out. If you have pain meds, don't be afraid to take them. And it's best to take them at the intervals prescribed, to keep the severity of pain at bay. Don't wait until the pain is so bad to take them. As each day passes, it will get better. Walking is good, and a heating pad might be soothing. But time is the real key. Hope you feel better soon. And congrats on your surgery! Believe me when I say, this part will pass & be nothing more than a distant memory.