Elisabethsew

You're doing great on your weight loss and that should be the deciding factor as to whether or not you're eating too much. My first fill did not produce restriction so I am be very careful about my choices until I go back on July 6 for a second fill. My surgeon says a cup of food is more the average so it sounds like you're working the program just fine.

I had a very small h. hernia that was repaired during surgery. It did not alter my post-op plans at all so you should do fine.

Test your scale's accuracy by weighing a 5 lb bag of sugar or a 10 pound work-out weight and you'll know which scale is the "true" one.

I had to laugh when I read your post because I said the same thing. The only way I knew I was banded was that I could feel the port. LOL. Like you, I felt no restriction and haven't experienced any of the side-effects that others write about. I had my first fill at exactly 8 weeks (the earliest my surgeon will do it) and really don't feel much differently. Some people here said it takes 2-3 fills before you feel restriction so hang in there.

I was not banded in Mexico but many here were. Do a search for those MDs and you'll find lots of information.

What about a mid-afternoon snack so that you're not so hungry at dinner? A "trick" that the dietician taught me is called "water loading" where you drink 16 oz of water, crystal light, etc., about 10-15 minutes before you eat your dinner. These seems to fill up the stomach and signal the brain that you're full before you over eat. When I do this, I am unable to fit in a snack after dinner.

Happy Anniversary and congratulations on becoming the person you always were.

MANY years ago, using placebos to treat patients was an acceptable practice. I can remember many MD orders that read, "Alternate Morphine Sulfate 4 mg IV with normal saline 4 mg IV every 4 hours." Since about 1990, that practice is now considered unethical and no longer practiced in the hospital setting. It's sad that some surgeons employ this technique and I'm glad you called the MD on the carpet for it, Sue.

You need to up your protein intake in order to get 60-80 grams a day. Ketosis is not a healthy state to stay in.

It sounds like your level of restriction is fine now. If you can only keep solids down for dinner, getting a fill would likely cause you problems.

COngratulations on your amazing progress.

Since the MD is doing your second fill you should be OK. Maybe you can have the fill early and then "hang out" for an hour or so to make sure you don't have the problem that you did last time? Just a thought... good luck.

You can DEFINITELY see a change... a lot less of you. Congratulations!

You should find out when the next open enrollment in the insurance plan is. Most companies offer this once a year or more. It might be possible to switch and get the operation paid for.

I was not told to avoid caffeine... just carbonated beverages.

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!

I had my first fill 9 days ago and, like you, can still eat the same amounts as I did prior to the fill. I'm sticking with the post-op diet but might have to move my appointment for a second fill up from the present date of July 6. I hope your restriction "kicks-in" for you.

Mr. Yo, I give you a lot of credit for sharing your thoughts and uncertainties here. It's nice to get male perspectives and I value "other points of views." My best male friend is in a marriage that sounds similar to yours. He makes a ton of money, has never had an affair, puts his wife and kids before himself, and finds himself stuck in the role of giver. This man has had heart-to-heart talks with his wife and really isn't asking for much... just some alone time with his wife every now and then as well as some recognition that he's more than the financial support of the family. Things MIGHT improve for a few days but then it's back to businesss as normal. The kids are now college age, the wife has never worked but has tons of friends and social outings, they live an upper class life-style yet his wife just never seems to put him first... or second.... Because he loves his wife and kids, he stays in the marriage. Like you, he has never had an affair. Although he has no weight issues, he is now at the point where he is looking to his life 5-10 years down the road and is not liking what he sees. He hasn't made any decisions yet but it would seem to me that if things don't improve in the husband/wife department, he'll explore alternatives. It's admirable to express your feelings and bend over backwards to try and save something you thought would last forever but, when it's only one person giving, it's understandable why relationships fail. Thanks for sharing the male point of view and good luck with your surgery.

I only know of one person who had difficulty because of an enlarged liver. He weighed 370 pounds and did not follow the pre-op diet so he never shrunk his liver. The surgery was performed via a lap approach but he ended up with an extra incision and a drain that stayed in for 1 week.

I have no problem getting pills down so I take my usual medications, vitamins and supplements just as I did pre-banding.

I'm only 2 months out of surgery and am not disappointed in getting banded but I am disappointed that the pre-op information did not adequately address the post-op realities. I was not made aware of the fact that you usually don't feel restriction until after 1 or more fills and I was not told that fills were not performed until 8 weeks post-op (by my MD). So, I am still in a "holding pattern" at this point. The first fill has not produced restriction so I'm again waiting... this time for the second fill which is a month away.

Insurance companies WANT to see that you FAILED medically supervised diets before they approve WLS.

I would see your MD ASAP and not have ANY intervention until you have an EGD (endoscopy) to evaluate what exactly is going on.

The reason that so many people have problems with their gallbladders once they've lost a significant amount of weight is the dietary changes. When you eat a diet high in fat, the body increases its production of bile. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and aids in the digestion of fat. When the body detects a high fat intake, it signals the gallbladder to release bile. Once we switch to a low fat diet, an increased amount of bile is stored in the gallbladder but is not released as often as before the low fat change. This predisposes us to the formation of gall stones, crystals and sludge. A simple, non-invasive sonogram is the first test to evaluate for gallbladder disease. Other tests include DISIDA and HIDA scans as well as spiral CTs, etc. I'm glad that your problem was found and treated and that you're on the road to recovery. I had my gallbladder out 3 years ago and know how awful the pain of those attacks can be. Some surgeons who do RNY surgery are electing to remove the gallbladder at the same time they perform the RNY.

My surgeon discourages alcohol (stimulates the appetite) but does not forbid it. Carbonation is on the no-no list so sodas are history.