Desdemona

kentxo5- Thanks for letting me know. It's good to hear. How are you now? Still doing low carb and feeling your pouch? I know it's tiring for several days. What are you eating now?

kentxo5 I hope it helps. Let me know how you make out. Ice and chocolate are my downfall too. If I just stay away --- I'm OK. Once that sugar hits me -- I'm a goner. Ice-cream was exactly what got me going too and once that insulin level surges -- it's extremely hard to get it under control unless you find a way to just go cold turkey for at least a few days (even up to a week). We just have to get those darn hormones back under control. The 5 day pouch test is pretty dramatic and kinda hard but I was disgusted with myself enough that I was able to stick the 5 days out. And I must say --- that ALL of my cravings were magically gone by day 3. I will be thinking of you.

I usually eat 1 scrambled egg in AM and take a cup of coffee w/me in a thermos and enjoy it on the way. Every AM -- I take 1 package of Emerald100 calorie almond with me. There are 2 I love : coco coated and cinnamon coated. I also take 1 individually wrapped cheeder cheese stick (Cracker Barrel). I eat either the almonds and cheese about mid-AM. I sometimes have lunch and sometimes don't ---- depends on how early I get up and how long my work day is. If I have lunch --it would be very light --- like a small salad. But then I also have either the cheese or almond again for mid afternoon. dinner is usually about 6:30PM and is a small amount of Protein with either a small salad or small amount of veggie. Later I have a small dish of sugar free Jello with real whipped cream. So I don't know how to count that as meals. I guess you would say that I have 2 meals and 3 Snacks. I try to also get down at least 8 glasses of Water in there --which isn't easy with all that snacking. Maybe other people eat more than me and lose weight but I just find that if i don't cut back on what I eat, I won't lose. I'm very short and not very active so I need to be careful about eating.

Yes. I was slipping everything past my band again too. Chips, popcorn (with lots of butter and salt of course), ice-cream went down like a charm. On to chocolate bars, Doritos. And then that helped pave the way for some potato, pasta and even managed to get some great crusty bread in there. I could eat it all right through what my MD said was the best safe restriction he could give. I'd eat it all and then get hungry a few hrs later. I also was drinking water, coffee --whatever with my meals. I just figured that the honeymoon was over with the band and that it wasn't working anymore. But when I went back and really reviewed all the info on the 5 Day Pouch Test I realized that most of those foods I was eating were "slider foods" that all go though the band very easily and then I was just washing them right through my pouch as fast as I was eating them. All those calories were going straight into my body. Since my insulin levels were going up on all those carbs -- I was HUNGRY--and since I was washing it down with liquid -- my pouch was empty most of the time. Once I did the pouch test ---BOY! --- could I FEEL that restriction!!! A few TABLESPOONS at a time was ALL I could handle for the first week! LBS poured off of me. Especially when I drank all the water/fluild they told me too. I will never make the mistake of drinking fluid 1/2 before or an 1 after again. I will also not get into those slider foods again.

I want to thank you for posting this. As others have said, it's really disturbing but when we stop and really think about it -- it does make sense that all that pressure against human tissue can damage. I will look for the research articles. Thank you for thinking of us and I will certainly be thinking of you and hoping that all is well.

Yes. I have done exactly that and was off track for months and months. Also wanted to get back on LC and just could not. Sugar, sugar, sugar --- pasta -- larger servings of food, just plain out of control, etc. But then I went back and took a look at that 5 Day Pouch Test for the band online. I was home for a few days and not feeling well anyway -- so I got up the next day and started the pouch test. Fortunately, I didn't have to do much but sit around and watch TV. It worked like a charm. I "found" my band again immediately (for the first time in a very long time). It had all the tightness of when it was new by the 3rd AM - but it didn't feel over tight. It was excellent. That made it easy to get back on LC and it was even very small meals because of the pouch test. ALL the sugar and carb cravings were completely GONE! I lost everything I gained very quickly and am now at a new band low. Energy came back. The last time I was at my current weight was 1988. Try doing the pouch test. Just decide that when you get up tomorrow you are going to only drink Atkins protein for the next 48 hrs, broths, water, tea, and coffee and that's it. Then follow the 5 day pouch choices which are LC. On the 3rd AM I had a mix of cottage cheese and chopped hard boil egg. After that it was protein choices that they give you. Starting with the 3rd day --the food was very filling with the band. I WAS tired during those 5 days and for a day or 2 more --- but it made a world of difference. I did it in the beginning of June and I'm still going very strong on LC. I'm completely confident that I will be at 25 BMI within a few months. Here's the link: http://www.5daypouchtest.com/ Best wishes

It is, indeed, possible that he did not understand the situation. It's also possible that he was also caught off-guard and his gut instinct was to PROTECT the practice by acting like it was nothing. They worry a lot about things like lawsuits so they have a tendency not to see or hear problems. However, once they clearly understand your concern and also understand that you intend to stand firm until you get satisfaction, they will start jumping. You're reaction was completely normal and understandable. Keep us posted here. I really want to know how it works out.

Teapot-- I did not end up with a leak but I also had a student who jabbed that darn thing in and out 10 to 15 times and never did find the port hole. He obviously was becoming upset and finally stopped without filling. It was VERY upsetting for me to keep being stuck over and over like that. I was also very upset that I didn't get a fill. I had to wait 1 month before they could get me in to the flouro and my experienced surgeon. When I finally got there --- he didn't see any reason why the student should have had a problem. He did say that, at first, the port can feel a bit tight and perhaps the student was afraid to push down. I had 2 issues with all of this. First, if the students are new to the process --someone should at least be in there with them supervising them and ready to take over if there is a problem. Second, I lost 2 whole months in the early months of my banding without a proper start in fills. I honestly think I lost some the the advantages of early stage post-banding weight loss. I also know that getting a fill under flouro allows the MD to fill it more quickly to the most effective level. You may want to wait a whole 4 weeks before going back to check on it but if I were in your situation -- I'd get on the phone and talk to whoever is in charge and make some noise about what the student did and your concerns that there is a leak. I'd insist on a flouro check immediately to see if the student damaged the tubing. If he did --- they need to repair that pronto! And if they didn't damage it -- then you will have some peace of mind in addition to a more accurate fill. Do not be afraid to call and tell them what you want. What happened to you is simply unacceptable and if there was damage - they need to make it right --- NOW---and they KNOW that--so I seriously doubt they will argue the point with you. Hope this helps.

mousek ---- EXCELLENT post! Thanks!

Sue-- I share your feelings about the emotional impact of being asked to lose weight before surg and I do think there are lot of poorly informed surgeons -- but --there are also some really excellent medical reasons for asking people to lose some weight before surg. For openers --the first several lbs/kg significantly reduces the amount of fattiness around the liver. That means the surgeon can get at the stomach area a lot better to get the band in a good position. Good position makes for a more effective band. Also, asking people to lose a bit before banding can help a good surgeon better assess if a person is, or is not , a good candidate for banding (vs gastric bypass). Finally, if someone is super obese or has certain surgical risks factors, losing some weight can significantly lower their surgical risk and improve their recovery time. The most important thing here is to find a really good surgeon who has lot of experience w/WLS and a good rep. Then you need to trust her/him and follow their directions. There are a LOT of surgeons out there that are turning to WLS for the money but who don't know as much as they should.

Sensa????? I guess I HAVE been away too long. Never heard of it but now I'll have to investigate. Is it chemicals? Should we be concerned? I did finally break down and buy a Body Bugg. I hope that wasn't a waste of money.

Hi All -- I'm glad to see you here. I've been away ---------and bad to the bone ----but I'm thinking of you all. Hey Special -- I dropped in to see what's happening and I'm just catching up with your news. I'm really happy to hear about your new job. Rice diet sounds ---?? Hmm. I wouldn't be able to take the carbs. I have also been on a bad ice-cream and cookie kick. Gained weight! But I'm off it the last few days and plugging away. I hope others from March will stop by and let us know what's happening. I'm thinking of going back to the beginning this thread and reading all the way through. Thought it might give me some inspiration. Penny:thumbup:

I'm very curious about how everyone's family is reacting to our weight loss? If you have been banded for at least 1 year and you have lost a good amount of weight -- have you seen any changes in your kids weight? If so --do you know why?

momlambert- Wow!! Yes! It is definitely the BAND that got you through all of that without gaining! You really deserve a big congrats!! Well -- all I can say I'm adding you to my role model list! I sure do hope I can get to where you are a year from now. OK -- I'll try.

Special -- that's great! I was looking at my arms this AM and doing some very wishful thinking --- but I really do think that it's not really handing skin ---it's fat!. I wish I could just have the rest of it cut away! I'm not taking in much calories but I'm not getting out there to do the exercise either. I got to get moving.

cactusmon-- Wow! First of all --- THANKS for posting your story. I was banded in spring 08 and I probably would have responded the same way you did. Now -- I will be more careful if I see a sudden change. I'm also thinking of you getting your second band. Best to you.

elcee-- LOL! Now that'S what I call a growing boy! I know what you mean about how much boys eat at that age but I do think that they seem to need a lot of calories with all the growing and activity at that age. I wonder if Aussie is just doing a lot better with child/teen obesity than the U.S. We have a serious problem in the U.S. -- especially with lower income families. Our children are developing some very serious medical problems. So far it sounds like --you, Juchut and rafa have strong histories of healthy family cooking/serving. Loving Everyday -- Thanks for your thoughtful response. I don't want to put any words in your mouth (sos to speak!!) but it sounds like you might be seeing see some changes in awareness and behavior in your loved ones because of the changes in YOU. It does make sense -- doesn't it? And I just think that this is a very interesting question because it's about the people we love and their health. How about other people? ARE YOU SEEING ANY SIGN THAT YOUR CHANGE IN WEIGHT OR CHANGE IN EATING IS HAVING SOME KIND OF IMPACT (FOR BETTER OR WORSE) ON YOU FAMILY?

Thank you Diana-- It sounds like he is being more mindful of what he's eating.

Hi Jachut- Thanks for the response. You gave a really interesting answer and made some good points. One of the reasons I asked the question is because in the U.S. we are seeing very serious childhood obesity problems. Are you seeing that in Australia too? True -- your kids are young and you're right about having less control over what they eat as they get older. But we are also seeing overweight young children -- and then it gets worse as they get older. In some cases the family eat healthy (like yours) but in other cases it begins with what they eat at home and then it gets worse as they are teens. I was just wondering what is happening for kids when their parents have lost a lot of weight and make big changes in what they eat. I wonder if the banded mothers (like you) become more conscious of what the kids are eating - or are more likely to notice weight and eating habits in their kids. I see your husband also got banded so now both of your kids parents have lost a lot. I just wonder if and how parental weight loss and change of diet (even activity level) impacts kids or the family in any way.

elcee----HA! Good one!! Well --- if it will make you feel any better I saw her on the side walk outside the theater the other day and she doesn't look like Catherine Zeta Jones either!!!

I have been off the board for quite a while and I see a lot of new people here. momlambert -- I noticed that you got your band exactly 1 year before me. It looks like you have done GREAT. I did very well in the first year but have not lost since (although I'm THRILLED to say that I haven't gained either). I don't think I need a fill but I"m just not doing whatever I'm suppose to be doing to get it off. Did you find that you had a really slow point?

Hi All --- I have been off the board for several months now. Just finished up some school work and thought I'd check in. Special!!! I'm SO glad to hear that you are feeling good! See what I mean? Wasn't anywhere as near as bad as it sounds -- huh? Makes a world of difference. Meanwhile -- I still weight the same as I did a year ago. I started back dieting 2 days ago. I know I need to get out there and exercise -- but I sure don't like it.

Christine-- I'm perplexed over the VSG. I keep hearing about it but I don't understand specifically what it does. What is the benefit for someone who has a band? jencys--can you give us more info on what HCG is? I was stalled for eternity! But then I began losing again the day after Christmas. I basically went back to low carb. If I eat soft food, sweet food, or very many carbs -- I get both hungry and I also get craves. When I stay from all of that and eat low carb solid meats (chicken, steak, fish etc) with veggies, nuts, cheese, etc -- then I find that I get full easily and I stay full a pretty long time.

ifyourstomachoffendsyou --Thanks. That is a great story. I will check your blog. It's hard for me to think of someone who maintains a blog as having ADHD because I could never stick to doing a project like that. I have also found the low carb to be very effective when I use it. That's how I'm shedding with the lst couple of weeks. I also like the dark royal.