mrsto

Though my pre-surgical training said NO coffee, the bariatric nurse told me months later......that most everyone drinks it, anyway. She herself has a lap band, and also drinks it.

After years of full caffeine coffee drinking, I became sensitive to it long before surgery. I started making ½ caf ½ decaf, which was fine. I stopped drinking coffee all together for about 4 weeks after surgery; hated it! My morning coffee is sacred, and I decided to go back to my one cup in the morning. As the years go by, I become more & more sensitive to the caffeine. Now I grind ⅓ caf to ⅔ decaf, which seems to be the best ratio at this point in time. Rarely, but sometimes I'll try & have a second cup late morning. Most always......it's a mistake.

GNC carries it as well; I know you can buy it online. But check your local store to make sure they carry it.

These pangs are the plication settling into place. I had them, and it hurt.....BAD! Although, after a thick shake, they did quiet down for a bit. I agree with Lisacaron, that you seem to be on track to sabotage all that you just went through. Many of us on here have been through the same thing, and you just have to suck it up for a bit. It will pass, but if you keep doing things to injure the surgery, then I fear that you're dragging it on longer than it needs to go. It sounds like maybe you weren't mentally prepared for this? I'm not trying to beat you up.....I promise. But everyone else and I on this site want to see you succeed. Given that, it's hard to watch you grasp at things that will only hurt you long term. STAY FOCUSED on why you had surgery to begin with. If you have to sip thick Protein shakes all through the day and night, then do it. But diet pills are counterproductive. That road is one we've all been down way too many times. It's one piece of why we chose WLS. Diet pills and surgery don't go hand in hand.

Thanks tmf. I may have to give this a try. At this stage of the game, I can certainly use something to help quiet my hunger until the next meal :-)

tmf - does it say how much caffeine is in each bag? I'm ultra sensitive to caffeine these days (morning coffee is ⅔ decaf, ⅓ caf). Green tea can send me off the deep end if I drink it in the afternoon. Just curious if it's the same as a straight green tea bag.

I've had my band/plication for 19 months without issue. I also feel that the plication is a big part of my success. I liked (and still do) the idea of having two different signals. And my feeling at the time of my decision was, if for some reason I lose the band, I've still got the secondary procedure to help me eat less.

I walk through the hills where I live; about 30-45 minutes, 4-5 days a week. It's working quite well, and I notice a big difference when I start slacking off. Thanks to my border collie, slacking off is rarely an option

Woooow! Amazing job!!

I don't have the sleeve, but I did choose to have my gallbladder removed during my band/plication surgery. I wasn't having any issues with it, but there were some small stones. Given that, I knew it was only a matter of time before I had issues that would put me back on the operating table. I have no issues without the organ, and neither do the numerous people I've know through the years who had theirs taken out.

In my pre and post-training for surgery, I was told absolutely NO NSAIDS. Advil used to be my drug of choice, but I rarely take it anymore. Once (months after surgery) I had such a bad headache, so I emailed my surgeon & asked if it would be the end of the world if I took some Advil. He said I could take it, but to take it with Pepcid or Prevacid; some acid blocker to protect my stomach. The Advil took away the headache, and I rarely, if ever, take it anymore. Bad news with WLS. I'm glad you're feeling so much better. And SO glad you found a bariatric doctor to help you out. I don't think they would have know what to do with you in an urgent care facility.....or an ER.

You should ask your doctor exactly what each test is for. He should be explaining all of that to you from the get go. The sleep test is to see if you have sleep apnea. If the home test showed something of concern, they want to do a full study. High cholesterol in your blood work is very common, and will most likely correct once you start losing weight. Please talk with your doctor and ask him to explain ALL of this to you. It's really important to have an open line of communication, before and after this huge life changing surgery.

SO glad you went, and that you are feeling better already. Good that you hooked up with a new bariatric doctor. It's so important for us to have the right ongoing care

My doctor does an annual upper GI diagnostic to make sure there aren't any issues. He is proactive that way, and I'm glad he is.

GREAT!

I love oatmeal and like it as grainy as possible. However, as much as I love it, I can't eat it for Breakfast. There is something about it that messes with my blood sugar, and always have a hypoglycemic episode within 1.5-2 hours after eating it. Annoying... Even if I have a little bit with an egg, I react to it. Egg alone, no problem :-) It really is interesting how our tastes change over time. There are certain things that I used to love, and now I'm turned off to them. And the other way around.

Whether you're over reacting or not, call them. It's best to err on the safe side. All that vomiting with the band is not good, and you need to be hooked up with an "up and running" bariatric team.

That's great! You are off to a very good start!!

Google your doctor and see what comes up. If he's MIA, then call the next closest bariatric facility & ask if they know anything. Explain your situation. Vomiting is never fun, but it's tricky with the band. And you are right.....chances are that the doctor at an urgent care isn't going to know how to handle it. If you cannot find your doctor, call another bariatric doctor and tell them what's going on. Ultimately, if your doctor has left the planet, you'll need a new doctor, anyway. I hope you feel better sooner than later.

Lab - all of my adult life I've always said that the first cup (and for me, the only cup) of coffee in the morning is sacred.....have it how you like it. I take mine with some original Coffeemate powder and Splenda. I've tried half & half, heavy cream, milk.....but only like it with the (what I call) "death powder" It's my morning ritual, and I savor every single sip.

Hey, whatever works! a lot better than drinking a six pack of diet coke every day.

I'm okay with some sugar free things, but I don't really eat much of it. I use Splenda in my morning coffee, and drink Water the rest of the day. I guess the Quest Protein bars have some adulterated sugars, and I do eat one most days. As for everything else, I do not use fat free anything. When I have salad, I use olive oil and vinegar. If I want something sweet, I'll have a little bit. If I make popcorn, I pop it in the microwave in a brown lunch bag with some butter. The bag absorbs most of the butter, and the kernels have a butter flavor. The fake butter sprays, crystals, etc., are much worse than the real thing. I'm with Shantra.......small servings of the real thing. Thanks to the band, this is now an option without me going overboard.

I think gluten free is good for some, but you're right.....it's a fad. So much so, that some dog foods boast "gluten free". Really? Unbelievable.....

I would call your surgeon and talk to him about it. No matter what your friend or anyone else went through, you need to follow up. If you've got pain that damn near brings you to your knees, you need to let your doctor guide you. I hope you feel better soon. I never had the pain you mention, but I can tell you that things get better. MUCH better!

Too add to my above comments, I was told to go off the blood pressure meds when I became very lethargic. The nurse at my surgeon's office said that I probably don't need the meds anymore; it could happen that fast. And my blood pressure readings confirmed it.