JudyAnticola

Bloom, I can not believe you dont think about eating all the time now. You are so lucky, it is all I think about. I am trying to think what was my first whole food after surgery. Hamburger I think and omelets. Now I eat everything in small amounts. Linda, be sure to check, I do not think it is clear liquids after surgery, just liquids, but I could be wrong. I drank protein with milk, banana and peanut butter. I also had the blended soups. Clear would be hard, because you are still hungry at that point. But check your book, I am sure they gave this information in the handouts. Bloom, do you remember? Is it clear liquid? I did like the designer protein. Both chocolate and vanilla, but I mixed with milk, so maybe that makes the difference. Ice too.

There are probably a lot of great surgeons out there, what sets Dr. Hoffman apart is that he is an incredible human being as well as a great surgeon.

Hi want 2 be thin. I will answer some of your questions based on my experience. I am not sorry I did it. It will take about 6 months to get through the whole process. Most appointments are during the work day. You should plan on a week off for surgery and recovery. I do not miss food because I can eat small amounts of everything, so I have given up nothing except volume of food. I do mentally miss being able to eat a whole sub, or a whole plate of spaghetti. If I want to be thin I have to learn to eat less of those things. At least I can still have them, which was not always true on other diets. The hardest thing for me is to chew, and to not drink for 1.5 hours after eating. I actually have to look at the time I stop eating and then wait 1.5 hours by the clock. I have no pain anywhere. I am off my diabetes medications. Hoffman is nice as well as Posner. Posner just does not have the web fan club like Hoffman, so you do not hear much about him. But we all do love Dr. Hoffman. In my opinion you still have to diet somewhat, but it is much easier. You also have to exercise. I would not be losing too fast without exercise. I am losing 1-2 pounds a week, I exercise 4 times a week. We all have different stories and we all respond differently to different foods and fills. So you will have to try to average out all that we say and realize that your story will be different. No question this was one of the best decisions of my life. Good luck in your Quest.

I did have restriction right away after my fill. Some have a delayed response I have heard. Not me! Which I am happy about. Headed back home today which I am also happy about. Dee I am glad you are doing well. Talk to you later when I am at my home computer.

And I was able to meet Vicki (band) for coffee too, so know I recognize her. It was nice to meet both of you! I am glad you are doing ok Donna!

Hello, I am feeling fat and ugly today. I can not find my favorite pair of pants that of course I want to wear. I am using a new CPAP machine to titrate my levels and I slept past 30 minutes of an international teleconference and had to be called to attend by a big boss. Ughhhhh.......:sad_smile::smile::mad2:

Band, I might have to pick up my motor home on Tuesday afternoon. I will call you Tuesday when I know when I will be home (it is only an hour away). Take care.

Band, I have a sleep apnea appointment at 1, so I will not be around until later as well. I am on my own, so just give me a time or call me when you become free on Tuesday.

Band, do you want to meet for coffee Monday or Tuesday this week? Do you work during the day? We could meet after work. I am also available in the late afternoon. Linda would possibly come and we can get her pumped up for her surgery. Linda, we promise, no complaining.

DeeH, I will stop to see you in the hospital Tuesday. Yes, coffee is a must soon.

No fill yet. I think this week.

Ditto. My cpap needs to be adjusted, and am starving always.

Just left you a message Val. Linda wants to meet at 6:30, so lets do that. We will have plenty of time. Sorry you are not rich!!

if you want to make it 6:30 that is ok with me, we do not need to stand outside any longer than necessary, LOL!! Either way, let me know.

Val, are we meeting you at the Juicery at 6 pm tonight or do you want to meet at a different time?

I was going to say I could have gone home the first day, and then I remembered I had cardiac issues and had to have an EKG at midnight. So I am REALLY glad I did not go home. I was going to ask him for a second day so I could be waited on (I am alone at home) but I felt so great the next day I was happy to go. The cardiac problems were nothing, just blips because I had the dry heaves.

I took my own PJs for both days, I changed right after surgery into a gown like thing I brought and then the next day I had regular pjs on. I think it is a personal decision. I just do what I can to feel good when I go to the hospital. I believe I brought books, but I did not really read if I recall. I walked a lot, slept a lot. The second day he sent me home before noon. If I had been there all day I would have wanted a book. I was very tired because they woke me every four hours, and they woke my room mate every four hours which woke me up again, so I was always tired. And the drugs are good anyway, so I wanted to maximize the sleep.

Band, if it keeps raining I will not be going camping and perhaps we can grab a coffee. I will let you know if I will be around.

The hair loss would not be from this surgery, but it could be from something you are not getting in your diet. I take Biotin which is a vitamin for hair loss. You could also go to the Vitamin shoppe on Walden, they have many hair loss vitamin suggestions. You do need carbs for energy, so if you are working hard, you might need some good carbs. What are good carbs? I am the wrong person to ask. Whole grain (not whole wheat) bread is one. I think the low glycemic diet book can tell you what are good carbs. Sweet potatoes I think. My opinion, most Americans do not eat well, take the vitamins. We do not have hair loss or vitamin deficiency from the band as the band does not affect vitamin absorption (the by pass does). That is why Dr. H. does not push the vitamins. The guidelines we get were written for bypass patients and have not been updated for the band. I just remembered, I think zinc can help with hair loss. Bypass patients do not absorb zinc so that is why their hair falls out. You are not a by-pass, but maybe you are low on Zinc for other reasons. Biotin and Zinc.

Bloom, I also experienced a slow down a few weeks after the surgery. You went back to work early as did I, I think that contributes a little. I also felt like you that I was not getting enough protein, so I try hard to do that first. I have to write down what I eat as I eat without thinking. You sound great. I will try to go to the support group but I have a flight in the morning, just depends on if I am packed or not. I will probably walk th 11th, not sure if I will try to squeeze one more day at camp or not. Take care.

Band, maybe you should go to phase 2 or three, maybe your body is slowing it's metabolism because you are eating too little. I have heard this happens. You can eat carbs after the band. For me I am not eating enough vegetables.

My guess is that even if you get filled all the way, you will still be smaller than you were without the band. I can not imagine eating the old amounts with the band in. So I guess half that weight off with the band full is still better then no band and huge. Maybe we are relying too much on the band. I am thinking of going to weight watchers in the fall, just to learn to eat healthy. And yes, I agree, Rain is beautiful even now.

Band, I do not eat it all at one sitting of course, LOL!! But I have had some of all of that throughout the last two months. The difference is, on any of those things I can only eat about 1/3 of what I used to eat. I just wanted to let the worries know that there is life after lapband. This is so much easier then say Nutrisystem, when you could not eat what others are eating. That was very hard socially. For me at least, no one would really know from what I eat that I have this. I do have some bad habits that I will have to give up, beer-Dr. H. is not in favor of that. I have banana bread with peanut butter for breakfast every day--I think that is too many carbs. I will have to adjust when I plateau and may have to break some other bad habits as well. I think I am due for a fill, as I am eating more at a sitting then I would like. I guess we will see at the weigh in. The thing that distresses me most is "I THINK OF FOOD EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY". I hate that. Sounds like a lot of us will get a boost next week since so many are seeing the doctor. How can he handle all of us in one day????

Linda, yes you can run out of fills. The band that BGH uses hold 10 ml of liquid. Some of the girls are up to 7.5 ml. there is a 15 ml band that they probably use on really big people, not sure about that. But, after 10 ml they can not fill you. I was always very hot, could never wear sweaters etc. After my hysterectomy I finally cooled down and I LOVE it. I can wear sweaters and barely sweat. Why do you keep saying you are saying goodbye to your favorite foods? And you talk about a week without eating? You are reading all the books but perhaps misunderstanding them. This surgery is so that you do not have to give up anything, you just eat less. You are working yourself up over a misperception. Hoffman maintains that we do not have to diet, this will restrict the amount we can eat. I am still losing. I can not think of one food that I wanted that I could not eat. The only thing that gives me trouble is chicken and hamburg. And I can still eat them sometimes. I have eaten pizza, wings, nuts, brownies, ice cream, cake, sandwiches, banana bread, chips, popcorn, bagels, drink coffee, french fries, rice, Soup, seafood. Not sure what else I can do to convince you that you are going on to a good life, not a miserable life. I just spent $79.00 on dinner last night in NYC. Does that tell you that you can still eat? I had to go slow, and I brought half back to the hotel which I had for lunch. Last week I ate in a French restaurant. I have beer and wine and bloody mary's. As long as you eat small, slow, [protein first) and exercise 4 times a week the world is yours girl. Think happy not sad.

Yes, that concerns me too. Not sure what happens when you run out of fills, back to weight watchers I guess. the doc will probably not let that happen, he will find a way to get you back on track before that. I think LLL is 75% filled and she did not seem worried. Dr. H. just keeps telling me to exercise more which is good advice. Take care.