HeatherO

I wrote a lengthy post and lost it . . . aargh!!! So I will have to rewrite an abbreviated version, lol. I am not a member of the SCA but have attended many events similar in nature. You should be fine going to events banded as long as you are prepared. I would suggest bringing a cooler and other items to help with our post-banding diet. Lots of Protein options, Jello cups, sugar-free pudding cups, cottage cheese, string cheese, some low fat crackers and other band friendly items willl help. If you are still in a liquid stage, you can buy pre-mixed Isopure drinks in a case (maybe $30-$40) that can supplement your protein. Just make sure you have plenty of stuff that you know you can eat with you. If you are purchasing any meals from a vendor, be careful about trying new things that you haven't tried after banding. You want to go really slow and carefully just in case. Also remember that one meal may now be several meals post banding, your food expenses may go way down if you have a means to keep things fresh. Be careful about breads. If you drink alcohol, you want to stay away from beer or other carbonated beverages . . . but wines or mead might be OK in limited quantities depending on what your doctor says (although you want to watch the calories). This might seem gross, but you also want to keep a container, perhaps a big plastic cup, in your tent/yurt/or whatever you are sleeping in for emergencies. If something gets stuck and has to come back up it is best to be prepared. Also, if you are stuck or need to PB, it can take a while to work its way through or out. You don't want to be holed up in a restroom or port-a-port for an extended period. This may never happen, especially if you are careful, but it is best to be prepared. If you get yourself involved in any war related activities, you would want to make sure that you are completely healed from surgery. Also, if you bump your port with any force, it is going to hurt no matter how far out you are from surgery. One good thing to consider is that you will need to think about making, buying or modifying your clothes for the 2010 season. I am sure that whatever you are wearing this year is not going to work for next year . . . and that is the most fun of all the banding dilemmas you may experience :0) Good luck with banding!!!

Thanks :0) I was between 800-900 during the liquid phases. Afterwards I went to 1000 when I wasn't losing any more. Finally I settled between 1100-1300 for the majority of the time and this is where I lost most of the weight. Now I am anywhere between 1400-2000 right now due to pregnancy, and an unfilled band but I have not gained much through pregnancy. I continued to lose in the beginning but am starting to regain over the last two months. I still weigh less now at 7.5 months pregnant than I did when I became pregnant. The sweet spot is real, it does exist. When I am filled and at my sweet spot, I honestly could forget to eat. My hunger completely disspears for 80% of my day at that level. Before banding, I could eat a huge meal with seconds . . . and half an hour later be hungry for snacks. My pre-banding issue was overeating coupled with excessive hunger. The band made all the difference in the world.

Thanks :0) People with lower BMI - or people that are close to goal generally tend to lose slower. It takes extra calories daily just to carry around a lot of excess weight. A person who is 100 pounds overweight can ingest a lot more calories daily and maintain the weight while someone who is of normal weight needs less to maintain. Lower BMI people may lose less weekly as compared to those with higher BMI's, but since they have less to lose overall they may get to goal quicker. As far as losing slowly, I didn't really lose slowly until the last 20 pounds or so. You will find that almost everyone has a hard time with the last few pounds and some are not able to lose it. I did not have a pre-op diet (other than nothing after midnight the day before surgery) so I was banded at 225 on the day of surgery (highest lifetime weight for me was 228). I lost an average of 3 pounds a week for the first month after banding . . . then I pretty much plateaued for several weeks (mushies/solids started and no restriction). After that, it was mostly steady between 1-2 pounds per week on average - which is exactly the range where my doctor wanted me to be. I wasn't slow, I was average on the expected weekly rate of loss for a banded person. If you start off expecting to lose a lot more than 2 pounds per week after the first month, you might be dissapointed in that this is unrealistic for most people. The only thing that wasn't average is that I was able to lose 100% of my excess weight over time rather than the typical 50-60%. I think Jachut was also the same . . . she was able to lose 100% as well. For most of us, as long as we are following basic rules and are not succumbing to excessive emotional eating or ingesting a lot of slider foods, we lose most of our weight in the first six to nine months. After that point, it gets a lot harder to keep it going. That is the time when you have to develop strategies to keep it moving. This involves regular exercising, playing with calorie levels and restrictions, varying types of foods eaten and to keep switching it up whenever you stop losing. I would venture to guess that everyone who has made it to goal would tell you essentially the same thing albeit in different words - keep switching things up when you stall. You will most likely have to do more of this the closer you get to a BMI in the range of the 20's.

Lol, I never thought about that but I bet it would work perfectly. :biggrin: I am also trying not to sleep on my back, but it is because of late pregnancy and not apnea. I keep ending up on my back . . . probably due to discomfort and an inability to sleep on my stomach any longer, lol. When I wake up from sleeping on my back I feel like I can't hardly walk due to stiffness and sciatic pain if I have to go to the restroom. Why is it that I never sleep on my back until the one time that I am not supposed to do so??? Life is strange that way.

I agree . . . a day or two with lower protein won't really affect you. It also seems like most hospitals have no idea about eating after WLS, probably due to lack of exposure to people with specific dietary needs as a result of WLS. It is nice to know that they would have been able to modify the diet if you had stayed longer. I hope you are feeling much better and are back to normal.

I guess I should add one last thing. I did not lose extremely fast, my average was between 1.5 to 2 pounds a week during the most rapid phases of weight loss and it slowed way down at the end when I got close to goal. I drank plenty of Water and ingested the suggested amounts of Protein and Vitamins. I exercised somewhere between 30-60 minutes daily and incorporated both aerobics and weight training. I think all of these things together really helped me to get good results and allowed my skin to shrink back to a more normal size.

It is hard to tell what you will look like after you lose the weight. Genetics play a big role along with the amount of weight lost, length of time overweight, age, exercise and rate of weight loss. In my case, I am 5'3, was banded at age 32 and went from 225 (BMI around 40) to 138 (BMI around 25). I have a pear shape and have been overweight/obese for around half of my life. I have almost no excess skin. The bottom of my belly is a little poochy but you can't see it at all unless I am completely undressed. I also haven't lost any breast size or become extra saggy. I am not swim suit model material of course, but I can feel confident in a swimsuit with nothing to hide (I wouldn't wear a string bikini). I was also worried about this at the beginning of banding but have been pleasantly surprised with the results. I don't need plastic surgery and I am really happy about it. Our height/weight/BMI's are not very much different . . . . so you may find yourself in the same boat as well.

It is true that we all do wrong in life. However, I could see almost everyone in jail or prison using this same argument. Maybe I want a porsche . . . I could go steal one if i had the skills needed to do so. It would be a wrong choice and irresponsible on my part and I would most likely bear the consequences for my actions. My family would suffer in the lack of my presence in the home and income in the household. Would I be crazy for making such a lousy decision . . . yeahhhh, absolutely. The law would punish me for stealing from others in such a blatant way. The law could not punish me for using my womb to do the same thing - take away resources from others due to my own selfish desires. I could argue that what she is doing far worse than stealing a car . . . because not only is she blatantly taking from other peoples resources, she is also taking away the ability for each child to have their fair share of attention and nurturing to grow successfully into adulthood. She has raised her own needs well above any one of those children who are all deserving of love and attention . . . who will suffer a lot more for it over their lives than someone who loses their porsche for a week or two. So if she is not crazy . . . well then who is??? Those that don't understand the consequences of their actions, are they the crazy ones? If that is the case than I feel that she is far worse than crazy since she knows what she is doing but chooses to do it anyway.

Hello everyone, Just checking in this AM. Busy, busy, busy day for me today . . . it is not even 10 AM and I am already feeling like I could go for a nap, lol. Welcome back Haydee . . . I will send you my email address :0). I am on facebook too but haven't been for very long and don't have many friends yet, lol. I would like to add a few of you, I will have to start looking you up. :0). I finally have a baby bump to post, which you couldn't really tell even a couple of short weeks ago. It is now growing out instead of just up so I will have to post a couple of pictures. Who would have thought that I wouldn't really show until 7 1/2 months??? For the first time yesterday, someone who didn't know I was pregnant patted my belly and obviously thought I was. For the last couple of months I looked like I have been hanging out at the local dunkin donuts more than being pregnant. Instead of having a belly just to the front . . . I had the spare tire look going where it was bigger in the front and at the sides as well (picture reverse hour glass, lol). I was starting to look like I was carrying a bit o' baby in my butt as well, is that even possible??? I was actually worried about my lack of belly during the last ob appointment but the doc said not to worry, we are both healthy and I am just having a small baby. She said the baby is in the 21st percentile but perfectly healthy and active. My son was perfectly healthy, born on his due date but was only a six pounder as well. Perhaps it is a hereditary thing, lol. I asked my dh how big the babies are in his family, would you believe he doesn't have a clue??? I am sure it is only the women who a.) care much about or b.) openly discuss the birth weights of our babies.

Pregnancy takes some getting used to . . . but you will feel more comfortable over time. Also your band is still there for you when you are ready. So many of us have had to get unfills during pregnancy because everything would stick. Congratulations and good luck :0)

ejmdiva, how'd your ob appointment go? Did they do the rescan to get the extra information. I have my 30 week appointment tomorrow. Now I have to go every 2 weeks for the next few visits and then it is weekly. Hard to believe I am getting to the final home stretch. Now all I have to do is wait . . . and wait . . . and wait a little more, lol. :0) Congratulations!!!! I am so happy you will be joining our happy little group.

Jpet, thanks for the advice. It was much needed and appreciated. :0)

Welcome back . . . it has been too long. Your new pic's look great. :0)

I chose a goal weight of 140 which put my BMI at 25 which is right on the edge between overweight and normal. When I reached goal, I found that I was wearing a size 8 with a comfortable fit on the bottom and medium tops. I think this was perfect for me because I feel good, look good and still have some curves. Now that I am there . . . I like who I am best between 130 and 140.

I am not vegetarian or vegan but I think you should still be able to get enough Protein in with an alternative diet. It will be a lot easier to get the protein in if you are vegetarian but can consume some dairy products like milk and cheese (eggs are also an excellent source of protein as well). Perhaps you can test this out on paper first. Look at consuming between 1/2 to 1 cup of food 3-5 times a day. Look at how much protein you need to imbibe and try to come up with a diet plan which includes those items you want to eat with the minimum amount of protein suggested by your doctor, while still maintaining the calories within an appropriate range. This can help to give you some idea of how workable the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle can be once banded. One thing to keep in mind, although I feel silly mentioning it. Gas issues are compounded by being banded . . . if you combine that with a diet heavy in foods like legumes that can contribute to gas, the gaseous effects may be multiplied.

We are not required to fast at all. However, I usually don't eat the morning of the fill so I know that my stomach is empty. I don't want food sitting in my pouch causing me to get less of a fill because the water does not flow with food in the way. I prefer fills on an empty pouch.

I had this too and found out that there were two primary causes. 1) The relationship with food has changed. If you used it to sooth yourself in the past or if it was just something you looked forward to throughout the day . . . you have to adjust to do something different. It is hard in the first couple of weeks. 2) Hormones are stored in fat and are released when you go through periods of rapid weightloss. This puts many of us on an emotional roller-coaster and even affects are monthly cycles in strange ways. Hormone fluctuations are one of the most common culprits of mood swings in the early months after banding which is also a time of rapid weightloss. It gets better. You will be feeling normal in no time :0)

Sounds like you have had it rough lately . . . we all go through these phases. I have spiraled out of control myself a few times and I have three suggestions for getting out of it. 1) Start over but don't think about what you did or did not do in recent times. Let go of guilt, don't worry about it. Just focus on today and let the past fade into history without dwelling on it. Too much guilt = too much pressure = too much fuel to go on emotional overload = continued stressing and eating. 2) Chart every bite you are eating, good or bad, 1,000 calories a day or 3,000 calories a day. Just make sure you get every bite posted online (dailyplate or fitday, etc.), or in a journal . . . whatevery your prefer. You might just find that you would rather not eat something then to have to commit it in stone to your daily intake. It also helps you to take more ownership of your choices. 3) You already mentioned going on more of a liquid diet for a little while to get back in control. There is also a five day pouch test diet that really helps to get back in control of your eating. If you google five day pouch test, you will find it easily. We all fall off the wagon from time to time. It is accepting it for what it is (a temporary hiccup) and climbing back on that gets us to goal. Good luck and try not to beat yourself up over it.

I am jealous. I love Melissa Etheridge, lucky you. I had a restful, lazy, lounge around in your jammies reading good books or watching movies while it rains/snows outside kind of weekend. It was lovely and I really needed it :0). Happy Monday everyone!!!

Everyone has different pain tolerances so what is really painful for one is no big deal to another. It is difficult to judge how bad the pain feels from the post. However, now that you are a few weeks out from surgery I think it is unusual that you should have a lot of pain at this point. Discomfort, sure and maybe lifting or bending might make you sore but this sounds like more pain than that. Do you have any additional redness or swelling around your incisions? Do they feel hot to the touch? Are all incisions closed up by now with no discharge? These are all questions you need to consider in the case of possible infection. Definitely call your doctor one way or the other. Especially if it is getting worse instead of better.

By the way, I like V8 too. It feels strange popping the top on a can when I was a diet soda addict prior to banding and haven't imbibed in so long, lol. Sodium doesn't impact me too much so I have a couple of cans a week.

I weigh myself daily too and had that happen a few times. I agree with what everyone said about possible causes. For me it is typically one of two things . . . either my tme of month is coming in the next day or two which is always an instant 2-4 pound gain which stayes for a few days to a week and dissapears, or just Water retention. If it is water retention, the best way to combat it is too drink more water. That might sound counterintuitive, but it flushes out your system and allows it to let go of the excess. Good luck and don't stress too much. I got to goal with lots of these little hiccups and found that it was nothing to worry about at all so I don't take it too seriously.

You probably just have stomach swelling from the first pb. This makes everything tighter and then you are more likely to keep pb'ing. I would definitely suggest you go on liquids for a day or two and afterwards try a mushy before you try a solid. You have to give your stomach a rest. One word of caution, if you already have a little swelling (it sounds like you do), if you keep testing what you can eat and keep eating and pb'ing . . . your swelling may get worse to the point that you need an emergency unfill. When that happens, it can take a long time before you may get refilled to your current level depending on how conservative your doctor happens to be. Good luck, take it easy and you should be fine in no time. If it ever gets to the point where you can't ingest liquids, call your doc right away because you will need a very fast unfill.

Your doctor requires that you use it for a few weeks but you are saying you absolutely refuse and will keep it a secret. My opinion is that it is non-compliance and if you also are not truthful about it, you may not be ready for surgery. When you choose to be blatantly non-compliant regarding a direct request related to your health such as this one it raises questions about whether or not you can be compliant in other areas of care that will allow you potential success with the band. This is something to be considered as well. I know other posters have said in the past that they were required to bring their machines with them to the hospital. If you are required to bring it and don't bring the machine, or if you bring it and the card shows that you never even used it, or if you did, did not use it as the doctor prescribed, the doctor may refuse to perform surgery on you due to non-compliance. No matter what you say to the doctor, it can be easily verified. If apnea wasn't important, they wouldn't have made you do the sleep study prior to surgery in the first place. It is the same with other pre-surgery testing as well . . . they need to make sure you are in the best health and any issues are addressed prior to surgery. Are you really willing to risk your health or the opportunity to get the band just because you are embarrassed to wear something at night?

If I could suggest anything, it would be to have it taken out before you have an emergency situation and have to have it out immediately. Why suffer any longer or any more than you have already when it can be addressed? Also, it is only a matter of time before you will have to lose it . . . so why not schedule it at a time that is more convenient in your life.