WannaBeHealthy

Hi! I am three years banded and no where near my goal. I needed to lose about 100 pounds when I was pounded. I slowly lost 50 and recently gained 15. I attribute my slow weight loss to hypothyroidism, menopause, lack of exercise, unhealthy choices and emotional eatting issues that I have not overcome. This past fall, I decided to join Nutrisystem, thinking it would give me a push. Somehow the opposite happened and I gained weight. So, I am trying to get back on track. I've set up an appointment to be evaluated by my surgeon just to make sure that everything is ok. I am frankly a little embarassed to see him since I am not an overwhelming success. I joined a gym and have been going to waer aerobics 2-3 times a week. Now I am refreshing my memory about what we are supposed to eat. I would love a mentor to advise and support me. I really want this year to be the year I lose the weight!

I am definitely part of this club and very happy to see you all! I was banded in january 2006 and have lost less then 30 pounds. with another 70 - 100 to go (depending on the goal of thin or average) it seems along road to go. I've had two fills and it seems that right after each fill, I drop a few pounds. then i get to a point where nothing budges. then I get frsutrated and then the band seems to open wide and let it all in! I'm going for my third fill later this week so I am hoping for some loss before the holidays! What really kills me is that the only person who sees the weight loss to date is my primary dr. He tells me I look younger, that my blood work is indicative of a healthy person. Last night, I was at a family event. A cousin dropped 10 pounds counting calories and they were all practically slapping her on the back with congratulations. me? no one notices. EERRRR

I was banded in January 2006. I threw up after the first five days. All that came up was Water (I was on liquids) and a loud roar (assuming trapped air/gas). It made me feel SO much better! Prior to my first fill, I used to get lots of pain in my shoulder. I had to learn that the pain came when I was either hungry or ate too much. I have a much better handle now on just what and how much I should eat. and I rarely get shoulder pain anymore. But learning is a continuous process. Just yesterday, I made a Peanut Butter and jelly sandwich - toasted weight watchers weight bread, fake (soy) peanut butter (less fat), welch's grape jelly. Usually toast is ok for me, but about half way through I was SO sick, in pain etc. (not sure if I was eatting too fast, too big bites or what). I stopped eatting, even tried milk to make it go down. I ended up making myself vomit in order to feel better. What came up was alot of slime, followed by a grey mixture (sorry for the description). I stuck to liquids the rest of the day and I am a little afraid today to eat.

just wondering if anyone is planning on doing the Walk From Obesity? http://www.walkfromobesity.com/index.php

Hi there! I get it too! I just posted a question about it too. I get it after I eat a meal. My surgeon says it is a signal that something is stuck in the pouch. If it is, then I hate this signal! The only way that I get rid of it is to allow my body to belch. I pace, move my arms around and the belches roar. After a couple of hours of this, the shoulder pain goes away. Pretty miserable feeling. I wish I knew if it is associated with eatting too much at one sitting, or what we eat.

I think I might be eatting too much but I am not sure. A week ago, I could go to Panera and eat the Soup, salad and roll with no problem. THis week I think I am making healthy choices (grilled chicken with steamed veg) and soon after I eat I get a horrid shoulder pain along with belching that lasts for hours. My surgeon thinks it is my sign that something is stuck in my pouch. I am not sure that I can take a lifetime of shoulder pain as my signal. It hurts so bad I want to tear it off! Any tips would be most appreciated. Could I be eatting too much at one sitting? I'm 6 weeks post op with no fill yet. How much am I supposed to eat at one sitting? Thank you

I've added a similar post under a different topic. But I thought I'd add here too. I am desperate for help. I was banded on Tuesday, and felt horrible the next day - nauseas, tight, belching. The following day was better and then the diarhea hit. I assumed it was my body's way of getting rid of the gas from both ends! Anyway, this morning, I felt great! Even after a night of being up with the big D. So, today I went to the next phase and added a shake and yogurt and skim pudding. Late this afternoon, I started to feel horrible! The tightness in the center of my chest has returned, along with serious belching. and a few times this evening, I've been hit by a wave that wants to me throw up badly. I know that I haven't gotten in enough Protein. But I just can't get anymore in. I don't know if this is all due to swelling, the gas, maybe the band doesn't like my yogurt choice? But this is awful! Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Thanks! Now if only I could get rid of this gas! This morning, I felt great (day 3 home). and today was the day that I am supposed to add skim milk, yogurt, protein shake. Well, I'm not hungry so though the day, I forced in a half shake, two yogurts, a broth, a pudding (made with skim). If I add it up, it is far from enough protein, but I just can't get anymore in. Plus, now that it is evening, I feel awful! It's been a couple of hours since my last bite of yogurt, and my chest is heavy with gas (which is painful) suddenly a horrible feeling came over me as my body was preparing to vomit. What is going on? Any advice would be great. Thankyou. :cry

Sharon Thanks for the note back. THis gas is coming out of both ends - belching and passing gas to the point of having diarhea. The belches start with a very heavy feeling in the middle of my chest that eventually turn into a belch. it happens whether I am drinking something or just walking (not drinking anything). I bought Gas X but I heard that this won't help gas from the surgery.

Thanks all for your words of advice. Day 3 (banded on the 24th) and I feel so much better. Truthfully, the last two days were dreadful! THe gas was causing me such bad pain. The nausea was scaring me. and last night, the diarhea set in. Kept me up most of the night! It seems like my 'plumbing' is getting accustomed to its new attachment! Today I am starting to feel like my old self, except for the feeling that someone is sitting on my chest. I've learned that if I walk around and move my arms, I can get my body to belch in unbelievable waves! and today, I am cautiously adding skim mik and Protein to my liquid diet. I had hoped to breeze through this but it's been a rough one.

I was banded on January 24 here in NJ. Day 1 was not pleasant. I had tons of gas and nausea and pain. The nausea really upset because the last words the surgeon had for me was 'your job the next month is to make sure that you don't throw up'. Today (day 2) seems a bit better. I stopped taking the pain meds and hope that that will ease the nausea. I have a question about incision care. I think the nurse at the hospital told me to take off the bandages. I did after I showered. Underneath are the little steri strips. I bandaged them up again. Should they be bandaged? I am afraid to take a shower with the little steri strips, afraid that I will harm them or make them come off too early. Thanks!

Gentlespirit, I am also scheduled for the 24th and my emotions are like rollercoasters. One minute I am excited, then I'm nervous, then I wish that I didn't have to lose weight this way. I'm also wondering if I should be doing more to prepare. I've read that some people are on liquid diets for weeks before. My surgeon wants a liquid diet the day before. I wonder how long I will be out of work. I see some people are out for a few days and others are out for weeks. Anyway, I know what you are going through.! Best of luck!

I am to be banded at the end of January. I am taking antibiotics to eradicate the H Pylori bacteria (has been know to cause ulcers). The surgeon tested for it and prescribed the meds. Anyway, I learned yesterday that I have a bladder infection and am now taking meds to get rid of it! So, two questions - does anyone know if the first antibiotic (prevpak) can cause the bladder infection? and if a person is prone to bladder infections, is there likely to be a problem with infections around the band? (I ask this because I have a friend who gets yeast infections and they tend to collect themselves onto foreign objects, so she is on constant meds to make sure that the yeast doesn't get to her band.)

Hi all, I think I've shared before that I will be banded the end of January. I've decided not to share this with my co-workers of my family (my mother's reaction when I first told her of my surgeon's appointment was 'how un-natural! why do you want to get involved with that <expletive>?' So, I am doing this for me and will keep it to myself. except for the person I've been dating for two and half years. He knows about my date and plans to drive me that day. Recently though, I shared with him that Banding (the emotion,the insurance battle, finally the decision) is THE most important thing in my life. He thought about this a few days and told me that he was hurt. That I should say that 'WE/US' is the most important thing in my life. Then last night, we went out for a nice dinner. When he came to pick me up, he arrived with a huge cake along with ice cream for dessert (even though I have told him that I am trying to lose a few pounds before the surgery - he's told me that's not necessary). And then at dinner, when I said that a year from now, I'd only be eatting from the appetizer menu, His response was 'that's not true'. Anyway, I am starting to see these as signs of sabotage. Anyone agree? and if so, how do you deal with it without sabotaging yourself?

I too lost an 18 year old pal a little over a year ago. Coming to the decision to help him leave behind his pain and illness was very difficult, but necessary. I know fully what you are going through and wish you all the best.

My surgeon will be Dr Bertha. I want to attend a support group. The last time I had planned to attend, the date had changed and I hadn't noticed it on their website until the new date had passed. Anyway, I notice that according to their site, there is a meeting this Wednesday. Is that accurate? Also, does it start on time? I am coming afterwork from and am likely to arrive a few minutes late.

As I was throwing away the cake from last night, something else occured to me. At dinner, he told me that I was obsessed with the band, that I should look at it as not something that is going to change my life, but as something that was going to be added to my present life. Something about this doesn't sit well with me. Then, later when I asked him to take the cake and ice cream home with him, he said No. and added that I can eat the ice cream a spoon full at a time (I assume he means post band). I've also developed friendships with a woman who was banded in Sept and another who is having gastric bypass in a few days. When I tell him about our conversations, he says 'oh you tell a perfect stranger!' And I know he will freak when I tell him that I plan to go to a support group meeting at the surgeon's office. I guess many S/O don't get it. I have a friend who was banded in Sept, she's lost 25 lbs. Her husband tells her that he can't see why she couldn't just follow the plan of eatting a little instead of getting the band.

Thanks for the response. My guy is on the heavy side, but unfortunately weighs less than me:eek His weight goes up and down. When I first started to look into WLS this past summer, he decided to go on Optifast. He lost 30-40 lbs, and had more to go. He told me afterwards that he went on Optifast to show me that weight can be lost without surgery. As much as I've told him that I have faced the fact that I can't do it alone, he claims it can be done. (He was furious at me when I was considering gastric bypass. But then I met a bandster at a surgeon's open house, and decided that this was the way to go). P.S. My guy has since gained all the lost optifast weight back.

I am thinking about dusting off my treadmill to get ready for post op band (date 1/24/06). How much exercise can a person do initially? and what about situps? lifting weights? Is there any type of activity that can hurt the band? or the port? Also, I have two dogs, one's 20 lb's, the other is 30 lb's. THe larger dog PULLS unmercifully. I plan to leave them at a friend's for the first two weeks post op. But I am concerned that the Puller will hurt me when he comes home. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi JJB I am ALSO scheduled for Jan 24th! here in NJ. I am excited and scared all at the same time. Emotions are to be expected I guess. But I do not want to continue carrying all this "baggage" around. I appreciate the information that is on this site. I personally know more people who have had gastric bypass then the band. But I was too afraid of GB. Anyways, good luck on the 24th! Will catch up with you on the other side!

Thanks to the folks who responded to my question for how long to expect to be out of work. I will be banded at the end of January (happy and scared all at the same time) and am trying to determine just how long to tell my boss that I will be out. The doctor's office said to expect to be out 2-4 weeks. But so far, your responses indicate less - a few days to 2 weeks. WOW! That's incredible!

I am about to schedule my date (after many appeals and finally success with an external appeal! but that's another post entirely). My question is how long should a person expect to be ut of work? My commute is two hours one way. I travel into NYC every day. My day is spent at t desk. I know a person who returned to work after three weeks. I've read some posts of people who return to work within the first week. So, I wonder what is reasonable to expect to be out? Thank you!

Give your lawyer another chance. I thin I worked with the same lawyer. I found him on the obesity sites and he was also recommended by some of my Chat buddies that I have met on these sites. My insurance denied. And the attorney helped my with appeals to insurance which were upheld. The attorney then helped me with an appeal with the state. The state then overturned the insurance company and it looks like all systems are GO! I have a feeling that we are talking about the same attorney. I would highly recommend him. Give him a chance.

hi! I know exactly how you feel. I too was denied, by Healthnet. They wanted 6 months of a physican supervised diet. and although my doctor recommends me for the procedure and have two years of notes - they are not in 6 month consecutive format. I sobbed when I heard about the denial. I really thought that the band was the only way that I was going to save my life. Since I was denied, I found an attorney who specialized in cases where insurance has denied WLS. I sent him all the notes from the doctor and surgeon and hope to hear that he is able to get the denial overturned. No one around me truly understands how I feel. My mom is thrilled because she was scared about the procedure. ANother friend has decided to race me and is losing weight on Optifast. another friend gave me a lecture about being a survivor. Yet, no one truly understands how intense the decision is and how upsetting it can be to have insurance in the way.