Desdemona

jsja2-- Good luck. I'll be thinking of you. We have a lot in common. I'm only 5 feet tall. I was having the same problems with you --- and also watching people I love die. Good for you. We'll be here for you when you get back.

I agree with the other suggestions re: exercise and fills but you may also want to first do the 5 Day Pouch Test to make sure your band is working well. Here is the website with the directions. Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

Lunabeane-- I also teach and I understand how you feel. I think everyone is different. If I do less than 20 carbs I can barley think or move. I have spent months at less than 20 because I thought it would get better - but it never did. I find that if I just do a few more carbs --- 30 --then I'm fine. I don't do sticks because I know the stick won't turn at 30 for me. It's OK. I still get the benifits of low carb (maybe not quite as fast) but without feeling like a wet rag. There are different low carb diets. Atkins allows 20 carbs in the induction phase and requires ketosis during that time but there are other low carb diets that allow more carbs. Even Atkins allows more if you want to go to the 2nd phase. I have been off and on low carb for years. Now that I'm banded I am doing much better staying on it.

Special K ---WOW! On vacation?! That's great! Speaking of Ice cream --I had a really interesting experience. I LOVE ice cream. I haven't had any since I was banded. The other night I made a sundae for myself out of coffee ice cream--sugar free hot fudge and low sugar (light) whipped cream. It was good and so I did what I ALWAYS used to do before the band. I went out to the kitchen and made myself another one!! As soon as I took a second spoonful--I had a dull but fairly powerful ache in my stomach. I felt really full like I just gorged myself on a Thanksgiving dinner. I didn't feel sick but I just had a funny feeling that if I kept eating that sundae I was going to vomit. All the craving left me!!! I actually didn't want the ice cream. It sat there and melted and then I had to throw it out. Now I just want to say that NEVER --- NOT ONCE in my entire born days have I EVER turned my nose up at Ice cream. I can't even imagine throwing away a perfectly good hot fudge sundae. But---I did it. I also got back on track today with exercise. Did 40 mins on the treadmill at the gym. I also teach college and I have made up my mind to lose at least 20lbs before I go for the fall semester.

Ottilie-- I'm sorry you have a hard time. This sounds very frustrating. You don't give a lot of detail but I'm wondering if you have talked to your MD? What is the advise you have received? Do you go to any local support meetings? I'm thinking that there maybe several reason for what is happening. I think you need to talk to someone local who can really do a very good assessment of your situation. I hope you do not give up. Please see someone because I do feel that you need and deserve an answer and I think you can a solution. Good luck.

Congrats. I remember how happy I was too. In the first several weeks you will lose a lot and you will see results that will encourage you. The first few weeks can be challenging but if you do everything you are told by your MD you will be very happy.

Leah-- Sounds very normal to me. They pump you full of air to blow up your belly so they can put the band in. There are some people who seem to get through this stage fast -- but I don't think that is most people. I couldn't lie down in bed for 2 weeks. Sat up on the couch with my feet on an ottoman all night! Drink Water, take pain pills if they gave them to you --- or pain reliever. It will pass (sos to speak!). If you continue to worry or something really feels wrong --- call your MD. They SHOULD welcome your call and put you at ease. They get paid a lot of money and that includes aftercare. Good luck.

It seems like most people are saying that their MDs usually say 1 of 2 things about setting goals. They either tell them to set their own goal weight or they tell them that studies say the average weight loss is 50% of ideal weight. I'm with the ones who say set your own goal weight. It make sense. It is true that the average person loses 50% of ideal weight in published studies. I’m a researcher and I'd like to point that this statement is not that useful for us setting our goal weight. In any study there is a means. The mean (average) weight loss is 50%. That means that half the people in the study lost less than 50% and half the people in the study lost more than 50%. If there were 1000 people in the study there were people who did very well (at or near ideal weight) and there were also people who did lousy (didn't lose much or maybe even gained weight). All of that is added together to come up with the mean. Just because there are people who don't lose or gain weight or don't much is no reason why we can't set our sites on being one of the people who does better than 50%. We can be one of the ones who does better than 75% or 90%. We CAN set our own goals!

Tammy-- I also belched a LOT after surg. I also had the 10cc APS band and I was concerned about it. They put 2cc in at the time of surg to "prime" the band. I was told that belching a lot after surg was common. It did finally stop. I got my first fill 8 weeks after banding. The bottom line is -- I think it's still too soon for you to worry about. Just give it more time.

Marisol- At 234 at 4'11" is a 47.3 BMI. That qualifies you for banding. Anything over 40 BMI qualifies and 35 BMI qualifies if you have obesity related medical conditions (H B/P. sleep apnea, diabeties, etc.). However, your insurance co still has to approve it. Some companies don't pay for it --- some do. Even when they do pay for it - each insurance co/plan has it's own guidelines and policies. The best place to begin is to call your ins co and find out if your policy covers it. If so -- find out what their guidelines are. If that's a go-find an MD in your area that does the surg. Make sure you find someone who is certified in gastric banding becasue surgeons who are certified and have more practice at it -- have better outcomes. Good luck.

Good for you!!!! Go for it. If you are nervous -- go into Pub Med and look at the outcome studies for "gastric banding." You will see that this is a safe and effective way to lose weight.

I agree with what HeatherO said---and I'll add something. I am a researcher by profession. I researched the band -- the bypass---and non surgical weight loss methods for 1 year before I got the band. The bottom line for me was -- the thing that scared me LEAST was getting the band. The thing that scared me MOST was continuing on the sure path of death via obesity. I tried non-surgical methods for years --- I would lose some then gain it back. As the years went by I just got older and sicker. Bypass was too radical for me -- especially since I had "only" about 100lbs to loss. There is not a lot to be afraid of in the band. Nothing is a guarantee but it's been a very weight loss good tool for me so far. Good luck.

WOW!! And I'm complaining about my recent experience! You have me beat! First---I encourage you to hang in to see if this most recent adjustment does the trick. It sounds like the port surg was very recent? If so--I sure hope you find that the MD can do a fill soon. If he still has trouble----see someone else! I just got done reading some advise that says that they shouldn't keep trying after 3 misses because it increases the chance that they'll put a hole in the tubing. When they keep missing -- it probably means something is unusual about the port and they should be finding and filling it by X-ray. You don't give the details of your ordeal but from what I have seen -- most people with turned ports do NOT need resurg. Usually they can just locate the hole using a fluoroscope (x-ray machine). My MD couldn't get the needle in on my 2nd fill so he has scheduled me for a fill with a fluoroscope. I have to wait 4 weeks for access to the lab but at least they'll have a clear picture of what's what. Hang in there and keep us posted! Don't give up! If this doesn't work --- get someone else!

Sue-- Can I ask you something too? I'm in Westfield (Exit 3 on Turnpike in Western MA). I used to work at BU and still drive in to Beantown frequently. I was banded March 19 and need to lose a total of 100lbs. I lost 20 pre and 23 post surg. They gave me the 10cc APS band and put 2cc in at the time of surg. I was stalled for a number of weeks and now am at a CRAWL in losing. It's driving me nuts. My immediate problem concerns fills. I had my first post-op fill four and a half weeks ago. They put in an additional 2cc to make a total of 4. I returned last week for another. He tried about 10 times and said the port was turned. They will do it with a fluoroscope. I see that you had your first fill with a fluoroscope so they can locate the hole. I'm wondering if I should just ask them to keep using a fluoroscope from now on so I can get and stay at a sweet spot faster. Did you continue getting fills that way? If so -- do you think the fluoroscope helped you achieve your fast weight loss?

Fenton-- I know you have a goal of waiting to be banded but the increased eating could be a sign that you need a fill. It started for me with an increased appetite and then it got worse. I don't think I even realized how quickly my appetite had increased until this board really got me to reflect on it. Also---I meant to ask you earlier about taking the low dose aspirin that you mentioned a several pages back. My post-op instructions say no aspirin for the rest of my life. Did anyone else here get those instructions? it may well be that their are different views on this and it could also be a different need depending on individual medical conditions -- but I just want to mention it so people will remember to check with their MDs before using aspirin. Fenton -- I tip my hat to your friend! More---errr---power to her (sos to speak)! It's at times like this that I wonder if I wasted money on an education. She probably makes more than I do and ---quite frankly---it sounds like she has a lot of fun.

Wow! You people are BUSY on this board! I went away for several days and had to read like crazy to catch up with you when I got back! A LOT has been going on with you! DIVA????!!!!! Are you lurking out there??!!!!! PLEASE come back!!!! Congrats Lisa! I'm losing hair too but not as much as when I did total liquid Optifast diet a number of years ago. It freaked me out then but now I know that it will grow back. I'm very interested in knowing if the people using Wii Fit feel that it is helping them with weight loss. I'm seeing some reviews say that it really is more about toning than weight loss and I'm wondering what you all think. MEANWHILE---I've had quite the experience with an attempted second fill! It couldn't be done! The M.D. stuck me at LEAST a dozen times and was not able to get the needle in. :teeth_smile: It was hard on the nerves for both of us and I think I felt worse for him that I did for myself. The port is twisted and he kept hitting metal. There were no problems with the first fill. The nurse says that the port could be in a different position every time we go in. What was even worse is that they couldn't schedule me in for a fluoroscopy fill until JULY 10th!!! So I had only 1 fill 4 weeks ago and now I can't get the second one until July 10. The only positive spin I can put on this is that since he will be doing it by X-ray I know he will be able to precisely see how much fill I'll need. Hopefully, that will mean that I can get to my sweet spot more quickly. I guess it also means that I'll also get up to date verification/reassurance that the band is positioned right etc. Sigh. Anyhow--the scale says I have FINNALY (6 weeks!) begun to lose again after a stall. I have to admit that even though the scale has only gone down 3 lbs in the last 2 months I keep going down in clothes size. For some really odd reason that I just can't understand I started looking like Charlie Chaplin in my size 14 jeans last week and I am now into size 12. I just don't get it. We're only talking 3 lbs. I switch to 14s only 3 weeks ago and they were snuggish. Now I could swim in them. Of course women jean sizes are smaller than our regular clothing sizes but at least I know something is happening. You are all doing well. I really noticed a difference in your progress in the 7 to 10 days I was gone. Keep up all your hard and wonderful work.

I have to admit that the last thing I ever wanted to do was exercise! But -- I have lost and gained the same darn lb for the last 4 weeks. I have gotten in SOME walking but: 1) not nearly enough, and 2) walking won't raise my metabolism. I know I have to get myself on the move! Today I joined a gym (which is a sure sign of true desperation coming from ME). When I meet my new PT at the gym tomorrow I'm going to ask her to help me design a program that will give me the best possible metabolic increase and weight loss I can get over the summer. I know there's a link on the board for exercise but I thought perhaps other Shrinking Shamrocks would like to really chat about what we are doing --or want to do---or are having a hard time doing to raise our metabolic rate so we can get unstuck. What are other people doing? I guess I thought we could talk about what's working and what's not working to see that helps any of us.

I agree with both of you about "training." I don't mean to be on a downer but to tell you the truth --- I find that we are living in a world where every field CLAIMS to have highly trained/professional people but quality is lacking all over the place. For the last week I have had a LOT of pain in my mouth. I began a root canal procedure in Boston (at a highly regarded dental center) and the dentist caused serious ulceration in my mouth. It seems that they use bleach (yes---that's right----bleach---as in Clorox!!) to flush out the canals. In this case, the bleach was mishandled. When I tried my best to "silently scream" with pain as the bleach proceeded to burn my mouth and throat --- the dentist minimized it and continued. I just saw my primary care who says it will take about another week before the ulcers and pain will clear. Even my sinuses and ears hurt! Now -- I ask you---if we can't even trust dentists at a world renowned research/teaching facility --- how can we trust personal trainers who get FAR less training and medical specialist. It seems that we are all just so darn busy and stressed out these days that no one really has the time anymore to LEARN well or slow down long enough to be thoughtful and careful. I guess the GOOD part of this story is that I can't eat much!! LOL!!

Sadie-- what a terrific post!! Loved it! I'm going to copy and tape it right next to my list of reasons for wanting to lose weight. Thanks!

SHARONCRIST1955-- That sounds odd to me. I hope you call your MD in the AM. If it gets worse or painful tonight -- or if you get even more nausea - I hope you go to the hospital just to be on the safe side.

I'm updating on this pain so others that come after us will know what to expect and not get over worried about it. That particular type of pain is gone now for me. I have a NEW pain. I started at a gym and OOOOHHHHHH(!!!) my port area HURT!!! It started with strengths training and then got worse when I did cross training on a cycle. I wasn't even working that long. I talked with my MD. He said -- it's absolutely normal to feel that way because the port was anchored in a muscle wall and now I'm working on tightening that muscle. There's nothing wrong and he told me to keep training. He suggested support for a while---not becasue I had to have it for safety but only to ease the pain until the muscle firmed. I began using an old ace bandage I had around the house and it worked fine -- but after a week I went out and bought a firm cloth belt with Velcro on it to quickly fasten over my mid-section for $10. It works great.

stellabella--good for you for losing that LOSER!! enjoylife -- I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself because I'm suffering from complications from a root canal this week! You're difficulties provided me with an attitude adjustment! Christine---That's great! It feels REALLY good. So far -- I'm still not losing weight but I have say that I made a really important discovery yesterday. I'm losing inches. I started with tight fitting size 18 jeans. Recently I moved to a size 14. Yesterday I decided to pull a joke on a friend who wears a size 12. She has been supportive but also a bit worried about herself because she is gaining weight. To be funny - I tried on her jeans. I expected that I'd get them up to my hips and stop but --- lo and behold---they fit!!! I actually zipped them up!! They were too snug but they FIT!! So then I tried on some of my other smaller clothes that I KNOW didn't fit me 2-3 weeks ago. They FIT!!! So --for those of you who are not losing weight ---try on some clothes. I'm taking Fenton's belt lead. I got a man's belt and have been marking it off even though I'm not losing weight. I'm down 4 holes.

Well ---so far so good. I have managed to do at least something every day even if it's only a little. The trainer at the gym told me something the other day that I have found helpful. She said having good days and bad days is part of being a human being and it's OK to be a human being. She said that there will be days that I won't feel so good ---that I'll be weaker---or tired. She said that she is a physical fitness nut and she still has plenty of days she isn't up to a full routine. On those days it's OK to cut back a little (but still do something). Yesterday was 1 of those days for me. I'm struggling with a very painful dental problem this week. I just feet tired. cranky and and very low energy. I had been at the gym the day before and I was embarrassed because I only had the strength to do 1 set (out of 2 sets) of the very light weight lifting routine that was set-up for me. I also could only do 20 mins of the 30 mins of cardio part of the program. For a minute, I thought ---"oh, I'll skip the gym." Then I thought about what the trainer said and I thought more about my "resistance" to going to the gym. I decided to do SOMETHING even though I felt like doing NOTHING. I decided to go out and just make sure my pedometer was set correctly. I measured out .5 miles with my car and then got out and walked up and back to my car (1 mile). It wasn't right so I walked another half miles to get it right. Other days I can walk 3 miles and feel fine but I gave myself permission to do the 1.5 I was still tired but I did notice that I sort of enjoyed it a little and I did feel proud of myself for not just blowing off exercise that day. As I'm thinking about all of this today -- I'm wonder if part of my tiredness and resistance to going to the gym yesterday was because I was embarrassed and a bit demoralized when I needed to quit in front of several younger and physically fit people who were around me at the gym. I ought to know better than that type of stinkin' thinkin' at my age! They are NOT concerned with me! They are there for there own health! If they even noticed they probably thought "look at that heavy older lady trying to take care of herself --- that's cool" And if any of them were looking down on me --- then why should I care about what someone like that would think in the first place. the gym is closed for the holiday today but I'll go back tomorrow. Now I'm heading up to a little local tourist town about a half hour drive from my home. I'm going to do a brisk walk around the town and stop at the local lake. I'll stop in at Subway and get a salad with tuna for lunch. Come on gang! Let' do this for US(!!!) because we want our lives back ----Because we are sick and tired of being sick and tired!!

Fenton-- You have hit a really important benchmark. Good for you!!!! I know what you mean about it feeling really good not to belong to a certain class of obesity anymore. It's a really good feeling and a nice way for us to mark our weight loss. Have a safe and happy weekend everyone.

Actually there is quite a significant body of research that does indeed demonstrate the health benefits of low carb. Anyone can just go to Pub Med on the internet -- a government site that contains research abstracts from thousands of major medical and health care journals -- and to read the abstracts. Just enter the terms "low carbohydrates" and whatever else you want (i.e. "health," "blood pressure," "cholesterol," "weight loss," "heart"). Most recently some studies are finding a relationship between lower rates of prostate cancer and low carbs. There are studies going on now to determine if it's also true for other types of cancer. The thing about science is that research can never prove something is true. Science can only prove that something is not true. It takes a lot of research over a long period to actually build a theory. There is also, unfortunately a political problem with research. Those with political influence to push their own agenda do tend to get the biggest share of research money. The best way to think about any research is to do an awful lot of reading about the different results and then watch for trends in the studies. That's how I decided to do the lap band versus getting a bypass. I just read it all and then weighed it out. We don't know any more about low fat or low carb than we do about bypass and lap band. We just have to do our reading, think about our own experience and then try to make the best decision for ourselves.