Brooklynqueen77

Well to me that depends on how bad you eat now. I had my band put in on 4/28/08 I was 236lbs. Monday I am now having gastric bypass. This is due to the yo-yo dieting the band has you on, I am once again 236lbs. I even got up to 245 last month. I told my doc before surgery I eat about 1000 calories a day, and after band you are still able to eat the same amount of food, a couple of weeks after you get your band filled. Since my doc is famous and it was so hard to get appts with her, I ended up waiting 6 weeks 8 weeks for fills and what they don't tell you is that you need a fill every 4 weeks! for it to be effective for me. When the band expands you can virtually eat anything you like, it just takes a lil longer to eat it. I got down to 216lbs had personal trainers, joined kick boxing, but it is still a struggle. You only loose about 20% of your body weight on band which I did, I was still technically obese. However at 4'11 I needed to loose 100 + lbs. I feel everyone needs to see a shrink after surgery which I plan to do to really get to reason for my over eating. As well as work out which I will do as well. There are alot of staffers at my doc office who had band and they are still obese??? Even Rex Ryan the Jets coach, who had the band, he was done by one of the docs at my docs office at NYU, He even gained weight back! I recommend band for people who need to loose a little weight, and gastric for major weight i.e. 100lbs or more. Side note: When I was at one of my LB group sessions do you know who was there, the grandson of the Weight Watchers founder! So that tells you something. Good Luck with your decision. I hope the surgery goes well and gives you the assistance you need to loose weight. BKQWN77

Hello, I am new to this site and I am happy I have found it. I plan to have my surgery in next 2 months once I get my date. I do have concerns about... PBing... what exactly does that mean?... What can I do to not loose all of my muscle tone? How much pain are you in the day after surgery, i live upstairs and want to know can I climb them. what is the real recovery time.. can you really go to work in 3 days. ( I have a desk job). My BMI is at 50 and I am 4'11 / 232 will they force me get the gastric bypass, or should the 2 week liquid diet beforehand help? how bad is this gas, and does acidophillus help? I see alot of people take activia... also what exactly is w/ the pain in your shoulder.. does that last forever? I mean are the sife effects really worth the weight loss? I have my consultation with my Doctor next week and I have Oxford health insurance, does anyone have them, or has anyone been banded by Dr. Christine Ren? from NYU Medical Center??? She was on Oprah. I would love to know more about her.. Thanks in advance

Hello All, I felt like you drained and tired, until i called my doctor... she said start drinking gatoraide and broths... stop the mashed potatoes, because there is no sugar in those and you need more liquids ... also to everyone suffering constipation.. my doctor recommended colace and benefiber... I add the benefiber to everything.. since I can't drink the 64oz of Water, due to being soo bloated. Good luck to us all on that one..and I hope us all will feel better soon!

Hello, Don't worry It will pass, I asked the same question to my doctor and she said to drink energy drinks and more broths... I was only doing Protein shakes and Water and tea... this helped... the extra sugar and liquids gave me a boost... I was banded on Monday and today was the first day I was able to stay up all day... without napping.. LOL! Try a little gatoraide tomorrow see if that helps...

Yes Gingercat I am going stir crazy too! I was banded too on 4/28 and tired of these 4 walls... I did venture out to buy more broth, because I found out from my doctor that I was not drinking enough broth after surgery, mostly Protein shakes.. I'm still a little tired and not really ready to go back to work on Monday but gotta do it.. I will just take it slower... I am glad this gas is subsiding for the most part. Haven't lost anymore weight but I know it is really do to inactivity... those vicodin kept me sleepy...lol. I've switched up to the jr. tylenols instead 160 mg ea. melt aways... so that I can drive soon, pls really don't need the vicodin. My incisions mostly itch..lol. I'm glad that everyone is doing so well, and wish us all continued success!

Hi Yes, I was banded at NYUon 4/28 too. My doctor told me 10 days liquids and then 10 days mushies. I am not hungry and I am not pushing it.My shoulder and chest pain subsided at hospital, just a little back pain now from gas.. I'm feeling pretty good too! no weight loss yet but... any day now :smile:

Thanks ladies for the tips. I went to buy shoes yesterday and found out that my feet have already shrunk on the liquid diet.. craigslist is pretty good! Good Luck!

Well, since I can relate to having no energy because your body is not acting normal and feelling like you are going to die, to me it is a control issue, a person controls whether they still want to continue to suffer or take the necessary steps to improve their quality of life. Which is one of the reasons, that I am being banded Monday. One thing I have learned is that some Doctors can be very closed minded. Not learning new techniques, trying new drugs, etc. Only sticking with what they learned 15 years ago in Med school. They may not continue their education, just figuring that they have a degree and that is enough. I have family in the medical field and they seek 2nd, 3rd, and 4th opinions if necessary. A person should have options, and it is obvious that her doctor is not listening to her othewise, he would have completely unfilled her.

Honey, Please seek a second opinion, I had a doctor like that who refused to perfom a previous surgery on me, even though I was a miserable mess due to 5 tumors. I sought a second opinion and it changed my life.. you are in control of you, not your doctor. Take care of you!

Thank you for the list. The BBQ tongs scared me too.. I will just have to deal w/ pain. I will grab them for being able pick up things. I am worried that my bed is high and I drive a jeep, the pain i will deal with getting in and out. I brought some of the things on the list, the heating/cooling pad/ tums/ etc. But I am a little scared since I live alone.. I'm being banded in 2 days...

Yes, I am being banded Monday too... My mom is still trying to talk me outta it, but I know my quality of life, will improve after I get it done! I am tired of looking like i am going to keel over at any minute! I lost 12 lbs already on the liquid diet (3 - 4 ensure's and broth w/ veggies per my doctor). I wish us all the best of luck and prayers for a speedy and painfree recovery:thumbup:

Hi, Yes, My doctor put me on a two week liquid diet.. the best shake besides my own w/ fruit is actually Ensure.. (Chocolate) 4 of those per day are great!.. My doctors pre-op info. also says that you can have raw veggies, or cooked (no beans, potatoes, peas, or corn) or you can have salad w/ vinegar.. so I have made this delicious meal outta veggie broth and green giant, just for one's brocolli and carrots, ( only 60 calories) combo the two and it's a great soup. I also have hot and sour soup from the chinese restaurant, This really helps! still shrinking the liver and chewing at same time... 1 more week till surgery whoo hoo.. my date is 4/28.

Thank you April 21, so when did you have your surgery? How much have you lost so far? How did you feel immediately after Physically and emotionally and how do you feel now? Thanks again!

I thought about that today as well, as I was trying to start figuring out my menu today.. even though I won't be banded for another 7 weeks.. LOL! I would love a cookbook as well... if you could send it to Brooklynqueen777@yahoo.com I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance! Wanda

Hey Darlene, Good luck w/ your surgery.. I am in NEPA and will be banded in NYC on 4/28 .. maybe we can be band buddies.. I am sorry I don't know anyone in PA.. but hopefully we can find someone? BTW I love purple too. :tea:

Help, I am a dope! I finally had a chance to meet my surgeon today, and I got my surgery date of 4/28 and there were questions I forgot to ask her. How much pain will I be in after? Does someone need to take care of me afterwards? since I live alone!!! Will I be able to move at all on day 2 after I am released from hospital... Will I have diarreha? after surgery? Will I loose more weight, since she decided to use the smallest band? She said it was due to me being small.. 4'11/ 232 lbs. BMI 47. I chose the date of 4/28 so that i can enjoy my favorite foods one last time and learn more from you other banders... sure I am scared too.. But this is my 3rd major surgery, so I am an old hand at this.. LOL! Any info you can give would be great!

Thanks for your info TSKelli... goodluck w/ your weightloss as well... you are doing pretty good so far!! Keep it up!

Hello There, My tip after a couple of colonoscopies.. is to drink it w/ Cold Sprite, then follow w/ tons of Water.. The sprite kills some of the saline taste, but not all... Good Luck!

Thank you very for your information. Good Luck with your weightloss!

Hello All, I am new to this site and I am happy I have found it. I plan to have my surgery in next 2 months once I get my date. I do have concerns about... PBing... what exactly does that mean?... What can I do to not loose all of my muscle tone? How much pain are you in the day after surgery, i live upstairs and want to know can I climb them. what is the real recovery time.. can you really go to work in 3 days. ( I have a desk job). My BMI is at 50 and I am 4'11 / 232 will they force me get the gastric bypass, or should the 2 week liquid diet beforehand help? how bad is this gas, and does acidophillus help? I see alot of people take activia... also what exactly is w/ the pain in your shoulder.. does that last forever? I mean are the sife effects really worth the weight loss? I have my consultation with my Doctor next week and I have Oxford health insurance, does anyone have them, or has anyone been banded by Dr. Christine Ren? from NYU Medical Center??? She was on Oprah. and she has done thousands of procedures... I would love to know more about her.. Thanks in advance

I am Sorry, That sounds awful... Could It be a hiatal hernia, I have one and plan to get it fixed during my band surgery. I take medication that helps w/ it called protonix, given to me by my gastroenterologist. and it helped w/ reflex immediately and I hope it works after.. I wonder does it have to do w/ all the gas?