shortgal

In an effort to try to help Ceradad's explanation on why BMI is just one measurement of healthy weight, I took this quote off one of the pages on a BMI calculator: BMI is not always an accurate measurement for very fit people with low body fat. More often I think men fit into that category becasue they naturally have more muscle mass than women. BMI charts are a good measurement for the average adult. The chart totally applies to me... all jiggily and all! Part 1: Assessing Your Risk According to the NHLBI guidelines, assessment of overweight involves using three key measures: body mass index (BMI) waist circumference, and risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity. The BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height and waist circumference measures abdominal fat. Combining these with information about your additional risk factors yields your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases. What is Your Risk? 1. Body Mass Index (BMI) BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits. The limits are: It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build. It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.

If you can eat during the day but get tighter at night, that is your pattern. In order for that to change, you might have to accept a small unfill and be careful of overeating during the day. Even a very small unfill can make a difference. Reflux is not fun, it hurts and if the band is tight (even if it's just at night) that is not a good thing for the band or your esphogus. Are you eating softer foods during the day and that's why food goes down earlier in the day? Are you eating solid Protein at night?

Well, it has been the easiest way that I've ever actually lost weight, but having to take such a drastic step as surgery to do that and living with the possible future complications of a band inside me, is not so easy. We all watch TV ads, that say lose 30 pounds in a month with some supplement or magic tea etc. and people buy them, knowing they won;t work. Why? because they wanted to lose weight the easy way. Lots of diabetics could control their diabetes if they lose weight, but they don;t, they take a pill instead. some peole with HBP could control it by losing weight and reducing sodium but continue to eat salt and take a pill instead....Did they take the easy way out? We just do what we think is the best thing for us at the time based on what's available. That's all we can do.

you can ask the pharmacist if your meds come in liquid form and ask your surgeon about the size of each pill. some can be cut in half if they are large and some can't like capsules. your surgeon will advise if you ask.

The dr. should have prescribed something for the nausea.

It's not unusual to be able to eat more than you thought you should. After initial swelling goes down after surgery, your band is not working until you start to get fills, so some people are as hungry after surgery as they were before surgery. Just try to follow the Dr's post op food stages. I would avoid cheating on carbs, becasue they will only make you more hungry and you'll crave carbs again. An extra piece of cheese or higher Protein food would be a better choice. Carbs will also slow down the weight loss! Be patient and allow the whole band process to unfold and happen!

I've had seven small fills all with 3 months time. I do not pay for the fills so my Dr is not trying to make more money. some dr's use Floroscope to do the fill and that can help get you to the first level of restriction faster than Dr's that do the fills without Floro, because they can see watr going through the stoma.( and that could be why you'll get a variety of answers from people). So it helps to know which way they give fills, but to say outright that two is the exact number and if you need more it's your fault for not following the diet, seems wrong to me. We all all different and our stomach inside is different. We are humans not machines with the same size parts. Perhaps check out some other Dr's and there are lots of recommendations under Doctors and hospital section on the forum.

If you feel full quickly on small portions of solid food and stay satisfied for several hours between those small meals, then yes, that is good and that is restriction! Generally, as you lose more weight and fat around the stomach inside, then the band will loosen and you'll another small fill to get back to that same restriction. Your level of hunger in between meals, is usually a good indication if you're ready for another fill.

I gurgle if I eat yogurt, I think it just goes through the stoma slow, like sludge! Just drink or eat slower, that helped me. My stomach makes lots of grumbling noises, all the time.

Welcome. You'll find lots of info here on the forum. Just look around and read different sections. Once you're banded you can join the group that are banded in the same month. It's helps to tlak with people in the same phase as you, as well as talking to some ahead of you.

My Dr recommends full liquids for two days after a fill and then two days of soft food in case of swelling after a fill. If after five to six days, you can't get solid food down (yogurt is not solid) then I would say you're too tight. But a day or two after a fill might be too early to tell, UNLESS you can't even get Water down, then you're too tight. Our levels of restriction can vary throughout the day. some people are tighter in the a.m and find warm liquids best then.

I was on a hormonal patch for a while and my surgeon did not mention it but I knew I wanted to get off it. I started it becasue of bad and frequent hot flashes. I left it off a few days before surgery and never went back on. you started the med when you were pre-menopausal age, now that you are menopausal age, what does your gyn recommend? I figure no matter when I stopped them, I would go through the hot flashes at some point, so why not now? I would ask your gyn for advice.

I don't disagree with weighing often to know where you stand, but a fill becasue you gain ONE POUND? That is crazy. One pound could be too much salt in last night's dinner or not having a bowel movement in a day or two or a period is due or because someone is too tight and is drinking high calorie drinks. A fill should be given if we are able to eat solid Protein, or even bread, Pasta etc. in high quantity. Now this person might need a fill, but to suggest a one pound gain is reason to get a fill, is in my opinion, bad advice. If she is too tight already, it could lead to further problems.

If you need food that goes down easily, then you might be too tight. The band is meant to work with solid food as that's what stays in the pouch and keeps us full, to prevent grazing. Can you eat chicken, if you take small bites and chew them well? You may have gotten one fill too many and started get food stuck, so you resorted to soft foods. You do, as others, suggested, need to figure out waht you are doing differently in the last months than what you did early on.

Even though you can drink when you leave the office, sometimes you can get some swelling after a fill for a few days, so they like to be careful, not to overfill. You might not be tight enough or you might feel a difference ( of varying degress) once you start eating solid food. Just go slow trying foods to see what goes down well, to be sure you don;t get stuck. They probably told you about the port, so if anything changes you'd be aware and ports can move a bit as we loose weight, so they might be waiting to see how that goes. Revisions to ports can be made. I've seen posts about it on the forum, I don't think it's a big deal, if that have to do that.

Try some liquid Tylenol. That might just be enough to take the edge off. Between day 5 and 7, you should be feeling well enough to not need anything. I used pain meds only one day at home.They can be constipating and one more problem was not what I needed at that time. Are you getting enough Protein and Water? The protein will give you more energy, tha you need to take care of your baby.

Have you had an x-ray? That would seem to me the best first step to see if your band has slipped or eroded. The raw veggies might be tough to get down, but you should be able to eat yogurt. I would think a follow up visit with your surgeon is in order.

Welcome. Glad you are doing something for yourself. Please be sure you have a plan with your Dr. for aftercare and how you will get fills in your band. Will you go back to Mexico for those? Be sure you have a way to get a hold of your Dr. if you have any problems/questions once you get back home. If you are not close to Mexico, that has been the biggest obstacle for others posting on the forum about Mexico. Good Luck.

Feels great doesn't it? We control the food, not the other way around!

You have obviously been in pain for awhile to get to this point. I'm disappointed for you that some x-rays or tests were not done sooner to determine if there is a band problem. If your band is slipped or eroded, removal will help. Good Luck with the removal.

Try looking up Dr. Fielding in NYC. There are many on the forum that have used him and have been very happy. You can do a search on the forum. Go to the very top (right) of the forum page to "Advanced search". It's above the google search box and type in his name and to the right choose ,Doctors and hospital forum section, you'll find lots of previous posts about his group. You can find there web site and see if they have a seminar coming up, that you can attend. Before being banded, I had tried so many times to lose weight, I could never get much off or it would go very slowly and then I would regain the weight. I was becoming miserable and avoiding social situtations becasue I was worried I would overeat at them and be more miserable. Let's face it almost all social situations involve food. I am now banded just over 3 months and have lost 30 pounds. For a 56 year old, short woman, that is a big difference in my size. I was worried I wouldn;t eat normal food again after surgery, but that is not the case. I don't feel deprived and I am so happy, I have control over the food instead of the food having control over me. I would also suggest you call your ins. co. and ask their requirements for weight loss surgery. Ask if it's covered by your policy. There is also a men's group on the forum, you might want to check out. Look on the main page and scroll down and you see various groups on the forum, such as higher BMI, or age related (people in twenties and thirties).

I only suggested it because I misread your post. I thought it said, you were NOT happy about losing one pound, when it said you were not UNhappy! Sorry! Four pounds since the start of the challenge is great. I guess we have to expect that we will not lose at the same rate we did in the beginning. At least that's what I'm expecting.

Don't understand that thinking. Who would want the same surgeon that screwed you up, to try to fix the problem? Then you might have two problems! I would seek legal advice right away, even while you are still seeing the original surgeon. Ask a lawyer these questions. I'm sure the original surgeon has to treat you even if you are bringing suit against him.

Surgery, A "quick, easy fix????? Yeah, ok. I think you need to talk to a surgeon first. As I mentioned, while the band CAN be removed, Dr.'s don;t want to go in and do another surgery, unless the band has a problem. You seem to be already stressed out and handling a lot. Understandable in your situation. If you get a lap band, without your husband around, that will be one more burden to handle. Who will take care of you for a few days, while you recuperate? You'll have to fix your own lap band type meals as well. Will this be one more stress? you'll have to get fills in the band, so more Dr. appts. Another stress? you do not sound like a candidate for lap band, I think what you want is your jaw wired shut. You'll lose fast only drinking liquids and then the Dr can unwire you! Temporary, quick. Guarantee, you'll gain it all back! Just my opinion!

Just be careful with limiting the calories, too much. Remember, I am older than you and not very active, so while 1000 to 1100 is good for me, it might not be enough for your body. I would suggest you start with 1200 calories and see how that number works for you and the scale. And track your Protein. You need 60 to 80 grams every day. good luck!