needtorecover

@@Djmohr - My mom had a full hysterectomy at 39 because she had unbearable cramps (which I was lucky enough to inherit) and she said it was the best decision she made, too! I've heard menopause is a bear I thought it wasn't supposed to last longer than a year but maybe I'm wrong? Do you get crazy hunger spells too? That's one of my least favorite parts about PMS (that and the cramps). My cramps are so bad that they're similar to labor pain when left untreated. I got to 8 cm before I asked for an epidural and thought "Wow, this feels about like my worst cramps without medication." They leave me breathless and they're relentless. I've been tested for endometriosis... nothing. I just have a miserable, hateful uterus.

Yes, there's a reason these "real" women made it into People magazine - because losing 100 pounds (or more) without WLS is so excessively difficult and rare that these ladies get attention from the media. And meanwhile it makes other women feel bad about themselves for looking into bariatric surgery because "If these women did it, I can do it, too!" Then they get motivated and lose a couple pounds but eventually lose steam after a couple months and then regain the weight and then some. I know because I used to be one of those women More than anything, those stupid articles are damaging for giving people false hope. I had WLS and I'm proud of it! Anyone who gives me flack for my decision can shove it where the sun don't shine. Modern medicine exists for a reason. Why lose weight struggling with the misery of constant deprivation when you can greatly reduce your suffering with bariatric surgery?

So here I am in the midst of a 3 week stall. I eat much less than I used to, and certainly at enough of a deficit that the weight should be falling off week after week. I know this is normal, and I know it will pass. But it has got me thinking about how I felt in the past. In the past, when I ate like this (bird-like, half portions, healthy choices) it was sheer misery. I'd count the minutes to my next meal or snack and fixate on the empty gnawing of my stomach. Then I would see the scale just SIT. STILL. No changes, no loss, nothing different, and then I would completely give up. Get in the car, drive to McDonalds, and get a 2 cheeseburger meal supersized with a coke and a chocolate shake for dessert. I am ever so grateful for my lap band because not only is that type of binge absolutely out of the question, I don't feel miserable It's quite peaceful, really. Even though my loss is stalled it doesn't mean it's the end. It doesn't mean I've failed and it doesn't mean I have to go back to my old ways because it's useless living a life a deprivation with no results. As much as I'd love to see the numbers fall on my scale, at least I know it will pass and I'll get through it, and I don't have to suffer from the white-knuckled denial I used to experience. Just an observation. WLS is truly a game-changer.

Oh wow, I'm kind of impressed you were able to get quesadillas and rice down the hatch one week post op! I was still gagging on my watery Soup at that point. I will say, though, don't do that again. Even though there's no actual cutting of the stomach, there is an incision that's hooking your stomach around your band on one side to hold it in place and if you eat too much this early on that incision could be damaged. Just be careful. Follow your surgeon's guidelines - typically Clear liquids the first day, full liquid diet for 2 weeks, purees for 2 weeks, and then transition to normal food.

Yes, I have the band and would advise seeing the doctor even without insurance... A fill is $150 at my doctor's office (out of pocket) and the results are well worth it, IMHO. The only way the band will work is if it's full! If you remember what fill your previous band had, ask for that amount of Fluid and see how you do. I fell into the "carb" trap during an intense bout of PMS recently so I hear ya. It sucks how easy it is to keep downing sugary foods because they slide through so easily. My best advice: eat Protein first and then see how you feel. Protein is what fills me up the most (and what keeps me satisfied the longest). And of course, drink your water! Good luck!!

You can take a stool softener for now to get things moving and less painful. When I had the post-partum poops, Dulcolax helped a lot. I'm pro-prunes, myself. They taste good enough and really help with regularity! Plus they're just healthy in general. I give my babies prunes (or prune juice) when they have constipation, too.

Good luck! I'm glad you don't have any serious problems such as slippage or dilation. Makes it easier to trust the band moving forward. Obesity is a bear - one we can put in a cage but never kill, unfortunately. Hope you get to good restriction soon and see some weight loss.

Try adding avocados or Peanut Butter to your shakes. The healthy fats and Protein will help. I apologize for being cross but your original post sounded ridiculous without any background. Too often I see folks on these forums wanting to drop weight as fast as possible even if their methods are self-destructive. In any case, stalls do happen. My strategy is to eat more for a couple days, then eat less for a couple days, and oscillate the pattern until the weight comes off. Unfortunately, our bodies do not want to lose weight. We need to trick our primitive brain into thinking there's enough to eat so it doesn't alter metabolism into starvation mode.

If you're truly eating 800 calories a day and then burning 1000 calories during exercise, you're doing your metabolism a HUGE disservice... Look, your body NEEDS food to survive. Your brain alone uses 25% of your energy consumption. Digestion and respiration use a good deal of energy as well. In order for your body to operate, you need a minimum calorie allowance of usually 1200 calories. MINIMUM. If you drop below that minimum, your body WILL panic. A panicking body slows the systems down so they require less fuel. You do this long enough and your body will start to think it doesn't need as many calories after all and your metabolism TANKS. This isn't good. It's starvation, and your body is fighting to survive. If your NUT approves of this sort of extremism, you need to find a new doctor. Try increasing the amount of food you eat and cut back on the exercise, slowly, over time. In a few weeks when you get to a sane eating and exercise pattern you should see the weight come off. Do it soon before you do any serious damage to your body. Your lap band should NOT be a tool to make you drop weight in 7 weeks for a stupid reunion. What you're doing is irresponsible and unhealthy.

I was in a wedding and we went to the Golden Corral for the reception. We're high class in Indiana. I have no shame - I asked for the kid's price. I filled a plate with prime rib, shrimp, and veggies. Ate slowly and enjoyed it!

I have bad PMS - mood swings, cravings, bloat, the works. I *always* gain weight right around my period so I try to stay off the scale until the last day of my period or later. Just not worth the discouragement! Also try to consider if you consumed food that was saltier than usual the day before, or if you had a glass of wine. Alcohol and foods high in sodium lead to Water retention.

Glad you're back on the "band"wagon Quitting smoking does volumes for your health even if you've gained weight. You'll get your stride back and it'll be your new normal before you know it!

Hooray! I was wondering how you were coming along after debating whether or not to go through with surgery Congrats, and see you on the loser's bench!

I'd probably trust the ER doctor more than strangers on the internet! Take some antibiotics and see how you feel. Call your surgeon for an appointment if you're worried about your lap band. I'm afraid none of us are qualified to diagnose your issue.

I, too, find it problematic that you're starving yourself and then eating only when you can't handle the hunger anymore, only eating once or twice a day. That's not a healthy weight loss strategy. Anyway, I'd talk to your surgeon about how you're feeling and let him decide whether or not you need another fill. I'm assuming you're seeing a NUT. Take your food journal to your next appointment and they can better advise you on how to eat properly to lose weight without wrecking your metabolism. I have a lap band and I eat several times a day because my stomach cannot hold much food. I'm not losing rapidly but I'm losing steadily. I expect my complete weight loss journey to take a couple years and I'm okay with that. I would love for this excess 130 pounds to fall off in a few months but that just ain't gonna happen. The lap band is not intended for rapid weight loss but it WILL work over time. Patience, my friend.

Congratulations!!! I get elated just seeing my scale drop a pound a week so I can't imagine how thrilled I'll be when I reach onederland in the hopefully not so distant future I hope you treat yourself with something nice to celebrate!

I've noticed as I get lighter, I walk faster. It's hard to walk quickly with so much excess weight.

I used to be worried about losing my ability to overeat. It felt so good to come home on a Friday night and eat 3/4 of a stuffed crust pizza, drink 3-4 beers and have 2 or 3 brownies for dessert. I thought I'd miss it and spent some time mourning my ability to inhale food. Turns out, I don't miss it nearly as much as I expected! It feels much different after WLS. If only we could show people that. It's really hard to see loved ones continue the self-destructive habits we used to have. I have a friend who does that thing where she breathes hard just by standing up from a seated position. It's really sad. The whole excuse of "eating healthy is expensive" is absolutely not true! I've saved a lot of money on groceries and eating out simply because I CANNOT eat as much as I could've before. Maybe she'll change her mind in the future when she reaches her breaking point. All you can do is serve as a good example!

The needle doesn't hurt at all - abdominal skin is not very sensitive, I've come to learn! It's over quickly and yes, you drink water to see how you feel. The first couple fills I didn't notice anything when I drank the water but at my last fill I noticed the water sat at the top of my stomach and I felt the cold filter in slowly, like a funnel. It's safe to say I'm "green" now. I advise going in on an empty stomach to see how the cold water feels.

That sounds very, very tasty never thought of that before but I'm definitely going to try it! Following this thread for more ideas, too!

You should qualify for insurance but like others said, don't try to lose any more weight. WLS has proven to be the most effective treatment for obesity and insurance companies are starting to see that the costs of comorbidities of obesity exceed the expense of a 1 time surgery. In days of yore it was considered a cosmetic surgery (lose weight and look good!) but now it's an excellent choice for better health (lose weight and dramatically decrease your chances of serious health problems!). It is wise to have the surgery while you're young. I'm not much older than you (34) but the wear and tear from obesity has hurt my joints already. My knees get sore easily. My dad had to have knee replacement surgery in his late 50's and that would be my fate in my late 30's if I didn't get a handle on it now!

I had my baby in February 2015 so I met my deductible and out-of-pocket which meant surgery would be 100% covered if I could do it by December 31st. I had my first appointment at the end of July last year and the woman who handled insurance claims said there was a slim chance I could get my surgery done in December and said it was likely I would have to wait until 2016. That was disappointing news because that meant I'd have to pay roughly $5K to have it done but it seemed worth it so I moved forward and kept my appointments for the 6 month period. I had my final appointment in mid-December and the insurance lady told me she'd do her best to push it through for approval. Lo and behold, both she and my surgeon advocated for me and got it approved so I could schedule my surgery for December 28th! Kind of took the fun out of my holidays but it was completely worth it. Tell your surgeon and whoever processes the insurance at the office about your situation and they may go the extra mile to advocate for you! Sorry you're dealing with so much stress but don't give up just yet. Things have a way of working themselves out.

As a newbie, I find the vets' information very helpful and motivating. It sucks when you don't really know anyone else who has had weight loss surgery so I come here to read and ask questions. Or just complain because no one else really gets it. My friends who are fat are happy to stay fat, and my friends who are thin don't understand what I'm going through. I get a lot of "Yay, you go, girl!" type of comments but that's about it. It's a weird mix of "Wow, this is so much easier than dieting!" and "Ugh, why is cake so easy to eat??" Very hard to explain to anyone who hasn't had WLS. Plus we deal with a boat load of ignorance that other people just don't get. There are days when I just say "screw it" and think my lap band will never get me to where I want to be and then I come here and see others who have made it to the other side and I feel motivated again. Just saying. This online community is relatively small compared to others and the loss of good members hurts. Not trying to guilt you into staying, of course, but I hope other vets know they are appreciated and wanted here if they're thinking of leaving due to blatant stupidity.

I have this problem, too. When PMS comes it's like the band vanishes Yeah, unfortunately I've learned all I can do is try to distract myself through it. Drink Water, chew gum, take a walk... all the usual "tricks" we used during our pre-WLS days and just remember you'll be back to normal within a week! Oh, and stay away from the scale until you've started your period. I don't know about you but I gain a good 5 pounds when I have PMS. Very discouraging after seeing the scale on a downward trend all month long!

I picked the weight I was happiest at. I felt good at 160 pounds. Light, energetic, but still had a healthy amount of fat on my body. I felt confident in a 2 piece swimsuit and could bend, stretch, and run easily. That's where I want to be again but I'm not 18 anymore so we'll see how that goes! I have quite a road ahead of me so I'm just going to have to play things by ear.