HilaryInRC

I had my band removed and a conversion to RNY on June 9th. So, I'm about 6 days post-op. Since my drain came out two days ago, my belly has developed huge bruised Patches around the belly button that are sensitive and itchy. Is this normal - like maybe where the Fluid is going now? Should I try using an ice-pack on it? I think I am also more swollen now, which my doctor tells me is normal. Thank you!

I'm 2 weeks out and stuck at being down 12 lbs. I haven't lost anything in three days. My plan is to increase my Protein and try not to panic until my period is over (started today, ugh).

I had my surgery on June 9th. I have lost 12 lbs. But, I haven't lost anything in about three days. I'm starting to freak out a little, but I did start my period today. Could I be retaining Water? Also, I'm having issues with getting my Protein in. My meals are so little they only have a few grams of protein in each (even if I choose greek yogurt or beans). I've been still having to have a few Protein drinks a day to get anywhere near 60-80 grams.

Today is day 10 post-op. My bruising is going down a tiny bit now, but I still often get moments where my belly starts itching like crazy. I have tried hydrocortisone, argan oil, lotion etc and none of it is helping. However, an icepack on my bells takes the itching away. I'm not sure why the skin on my belly is so itchy! Otherwise, I'm doing great. This surgery seems way easier to recover from than when I had my band placed. So happy. :-)

I can understand you anxiety about this! However, you will be fine. I'm a week postop and I can definitely handle rolling a suitcase. It isn't fun, but it isn't impossible. So, by 4 weeks you should be fine. Also, at Day 11 my doctor allows us to move from full-liquids to soft/smooth foods. On my approved list of soft/smooth foods is: eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, Beans, tofu, banana, unsweetened applesauce, cream of rice, thin oatmeal, crackers, melted cheese, mashed potato, mashed sweet potato, creamy Peanut Butter, and hummus. So, here's what I'd do at UCLA - get eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, refried beans (if mexican is an option), soup, and mashed potatoes. I'd either pack or buy bananas, crackers, creamy peanut butter, and hummus. Now, I'm still on liquids, but when I try to eat Jello, I can already tell that my pouch is teeny tiny. So, remember that you will only need about 2 teaspoons of food to make up your meal. Also, by week 4, my doc says I can also have ground meat, deli meat, low-fat cheese, corn tortillas, toasted bread, and some Cereal. So, that is even more varity for you! You could hit sandwich place and ask for slices of deli turkey and low-fat cheese (my dr. says full-fat may cause dumping). Still concerned? Call you nutritionist for ideas. She should be able to help you think up some good ideas.

I had surgery on the 9th. I found that on day 3 the gas started and it hasn't stopped! Walking helps get the gas out for me. Good luck!

Has anyone tried the Celebrate brand Protein powders? I'm curious about the tomato Soup flavor. I love Unjury's chicken soup Protein powder, but am looking for additional savory options. Has anyone experimented with high protein soup packets? Thoughts? Thanks!

I take my Calcium throughout the day and then take the multi and Iron before bed. Just be sure NOT to take your iron and calcium at the same time.

A lot of little straws for me: Knocking things over more because I don't realize I'm that big As a teacher, not being able to fit into the desks at school Never letting anyone take your picture When your boyfriend wants to do it with the lights out Not fitting in the rides at Knott's Berry Farm Having to push the table over to fit in a booth Having trouble shaving my bikini area because my belly is in the way Back/hip/knee pain and stiffness Wearing a bra with tripple Ds on it Going on dates, and having them offer to train me and help clean up my diet = humiliation Not being able to eat with a tray in my lap because my belly is too big Having to wear a CPAP (which equalls never staying the night at a boyfriends house because that would be embarrassing) Taking cholesterol meds Taking beta blockers Having trouble tying my shoes, doing ankle buckles etc...I basically live in flip flops and crocs now My calves cramp up when I try to walk for fitness I have back fat, belly fat, extra chin, knee fat, thigh fat, arm fat, fat fingers...I think my feet are even fat. Having to buy bigger underwear...again How light my body feels when I hold up all of that belly fat and pretend it isn't there. Biggest straw: Looking myself in the mirror every day and feeling shame and sadness.

I use Bariatric Advantage chews in lemon, raspberry, and caramel. Bariatric advantage also has a chewable lozenge/wafer in cherry that is really tasty. All of these are delicious.

I had the Mirena for over two years. My two big issues with it: 1) My partner said he could feel it. Those "strings" that hang down were always scraping the head of his penis and it hurt him. I even went in and had them clipped shorter, but he could still feel them. 2) Acne. It gave me horrible cystic acne. One month after removal, my skin was crystal clear again. Google it, I'm not kidding. I'm thinking Nuvaring...

I am having my band removed and RNY done in a week. I have a lot of experience with Protein powder. I prefer unjury. But, nectar is also good.

Hi there, I have posted on this thread on and off for years. I had my band done back in October 2008, I was about 200 lbs then and never got below 170. I currently weight 228 lbs. I did, however, have almost all of the Fluid in my band removed last fall because... I'm having revision surgery. I have met with my surgeon and have made the decision to have my band removed and gastric bypass done. I was never successful with the band. And, frankly, I'm pissed off! I did not fail my band. The band failed me. Enough is enough. It isn't working, it never really worked, and I'm done. I'm sick of beating myself up over this stupid band! I'm planning on having my revision in June. I'm a teacher, so I need to wait until school is out. This time my insurance is covering the whole thing. Let me just say, I'm excited. I'm excited to look forward to the results and experience that I have expected for the five and a half years since I had my band done. Even my surgeon admits that he rarely does the band anymore because it has such a high failure rate. It isn't you. The band just doesn't work for about 60% of the people who get it (surgeon's statistic). Period. So, this post might make me unpopular. But, think for a bit. Did you really fail your band? Or, is it that your band hasn't been all it's cracked up to be? I've learned a lot about myself, my habits, about living with weight loss surgery, about discipline, food, and exercise. So, it hasn't been a completely invaluable experience. But, the results just aren't there long term. I've made up my mind, and I'm finally happy. Ladies, don't let your band beat you up emotionally!!! The problem is the band! -Hilary

I'm rooting for you! You CAN do it! You will SUCCEED! Check in here with questions/concerns as you move through the process. Let us know how you are doing and I'll try to answer any questions you have. :-)

Also, you say you are eating high protein. You should try for a few days eating 75% calories from fat, 20% from protein, and 5% from carbs. Basically, you are going to be eating a lot of fat with a little bit of protein and a touch of very low-carb veggies like spinach, avocado, asparagus. You should aim for 25-30 percent combination of carbs and protein. If you eat any higher than that your body will not go into ketosis. 70% fat is the threshold. Also, if you eat more than that 30% in protein, you body will convert the protein to glucose and burn that as fuel, not ketones. The whole point of low-carb is burning ketones. For more details, check out the book. :-)

Well, the advice that my physicians assistant at my band doc's office did nothing for me to lose weight. I wish what he said would have worked, but it didn't. Wearing my cpap has made me more energetic, perkier, and I am getting much more restful sleep. My body is thanking me for it. However, it did not cause any weight loss. What I eventually did was go in to see my gynecologist. He put me on thyroid medication, an appetite suppressant (phentermine 37.5), and told me to eat as few carbs as possible. In his words, "This isn't a low carb diet, it is a no carb diet." Well, I took it a step farther and read a book that I think is very good and responsible for the small amount of weight loss I have had. It is called, "The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living" by Drs. Phinney and Volek. While following their approach, I was able to drop 10 lbs very quickly. I need to ratchet down what I'm eating a bit more and add more fat into my diet and I think I'll start losing fast again. I think for me, as soon as I cut out sugar and carbs, I get in control of my eating again. And, for now I'm eating very little. My most recent set-back is a slip up and also my love affair with Atkins candy bars. Jeesh! I need to just say no. I think if I go back to a "cleaner" low carb diet (20g or less net carbs) I'll be back in good shape. Let me know how it all goes for you. -Hilary

Hello Ladies, I've been gone for a few weeks I think. I got pretty stressed out with school last month and a health issues popped up and reared its ugly head, but life is less stressful now. At least for a few weeks anyway! Well, the combination of thyroid meds, appetite suppressant, and low-carb diet has been doing me well. On March 30th I weighed 213 lbs. By May 2nd I was down to 202 lbs. Last week was finals and I fell off the wagon there for a few days (Friday - Monday). I ate two pizzas, cinnastix, a box of sugar cereal, and a mcdonald's cheeseburger with a small fry and a regular coke. After eating all of that crap over the course of week (Friday night - Monday night) I got on the scale and had gone back up to 208! Boy was I pissed with myself. But, I've gotten back on track with my low-carb diet starting on Tuesday and am back down to 204. It might have been water weight from all the salt in the fast food/pizza. I feel strong though and I'm gonna keep on truckin with my plan! I was supposed to go weigh in on May 15th with my doctor, but I'll have to move that appointment until the following week. I had wanted to do what the doctor had recommended and get down to 199 by then. I think I can do it even though the appointment has to be rescheduled. So, 199 is my goal for next Wednesday! Although, I am happy to say (that after a few hard fights last week - also leading to comfort pizza eating) my boyfriend and I are taking a little vacation next week. I'll be going down to San Diego to see him for a few days. I think we are going to go to the San Diego Zoo which is a great zoo (I'm such a big animal lover)! Plus, we will do movies and dinners and stay in a nice hotel. I'm thinking I'll be having salads with chicken and blue cheese dressing, burgers wrapped in lettuce, or seafood and veggies. For snack, I am going to take a little cooler (if there isn't a fridge in the room) and take string cheese, as well as nuts, and my little nori packs. -Hilary

I have kind of a very personal question. Have any other bandsters found that after sex, with all of the cruched up contorted positions, that you have pain around your port the next day? The rest of my abdomen feels fine, but it really hurts right around my port. It makes me wince anytime I have to twist, bend over, get up, or walk around. Should I be worried or is the abdominal muscle just irritated? Has anyone ever experienced this after an intense ab workout or any other activity?

Thanks! I feel so relieved. :-) I've been putting an ice pack on it every so often. I'll call the doc on Monday if it hasn't significantly improved.

Suzie, I was excited to read your post when it popped into my email. So, I logged on just for you! Please tell us how it went at the band doc's today. Other than having to eat a some rice pasta to settle my stomach with a big migraine I had over the weekend, I'm doing well sticking to my low carb diet. Since March 30th, I've lost 9 lbs. Other than my first few months with the band, I don't think I've ever lost that much in such a short amount of time. :-) I have a quick question for you bandsters. If you do certain activities, like abdominal exercise, do you ever feel sore around your port? Yesterday, I did some ab work. Most of my abdomen feels fine, but when I stand and walk, I am *so* sore around my port. It is painful and I hope it goes away soon. Sometimes, I notice this also happens after...shhhhh, don't say it too loud...sex. Anybody else experience this?

Suzie, Listening to my band...I'm not even sure how I feel about that. Sometimes I purposefully eat through my band because the food tastes so good. Other times I feel left out when other people get to have larger portions and I take a smaller one...makes me feel weird and like some sort of food outcast. Sometimes I even wonder if I have a band in there at all or if this is all in my head. So, so much of the band is mental/psychological. I was NOT prepared for that back in 2008 when I got the band. I think that is part of the reason I've had such difficulty over the past few years. I was not ready for the band. I didn't understand what I was up against or the changes I would have to make. I really did just think it would be magic. I guess I was not "mature" enough to deserve a band at that time. Now, almost 5 years later, I'm finally starting to get the committment involved. And I am trying to grapple with the mental games I play with myself, like head hunger, this diet or fill in the blank is going to work this time, I've made a slip on my plan so I should just give in and binge, I feel happy/sad/mad/depressed/anxious so I should eat to celebrate/calm down/feel better, etc, etc. Sadly, the band isn't magic and I still have to deal with my food issues. Last night I was reflecting that I've been on some sort of diet or other since about 1999. That is about right after I graduated high school. I've been battling my weight for my entire adult life. You'd think I'd have it figured out by now! Your walk made me smile. Not the image of you soaking wet, but just the whole situation. :-) Too funny! I think I've finally gotten the low-carb diet my dr wanted me on figured out. So far this month I've dropped about 7 lbs - 4 of them since Monday morning. I hope it continues to work. Part of me is afraid that saying it out loud will jinx it and it will quit working. Getting off sugar/starch was a BIG deal for me. I am such a sugar addict! Seriously, I feel like this eating plan is like sugar rehab, exactly what I need. Have you ever taken a sweet food like icecream or Cereal and poured sugar all over it? I have...a lot. That is how bad I can get. Well, that is all for now. Big hugs to all the ladies in this thread. Being able to come here and post and let it all hang out is so important and beneficial to me. And everyone is so supportive. I love, love, love this thread and thank you all for being here with me! -Hilary

Hi Everybody, I was reading a magazine this morning and it mentioned two new sugical treatments for obesity seeking FDA approval: Aspire, and EndoBarrier. Personally, I think Aspire is kinda gross and would never ever consider it. Just my opinion though. The EndoBarrier seems like a neat idea. I could see EndoBarrier being used in combination with the band at some point to create a replacement to RNY. Anyway, it is very interesting to learn about the new technologies out there and what is coming on the wave of the future! Hilary

"They haven't dealt with their head issues and feel that cutting out their stomach will fix everything..." Wow! Even though I'm not a very successful bandster and often feel angry at my band and myself, I couldn't imagine if I had lopped off a big chunk of my stomach and then felt frustrated and angry with that decision too. I'd be beside myself with regret. Once your stomach is gone, its gone...

Oh, one other thing. I saw some pictures of myself on this campout. I have never seen myself look this big. It made me kind of sad. I don't even recognize the girl in the pictures. Really? That is me?

Hi Ladies, It has been a while since I've posted here. So, two weeks ago I started thyroid medicine. I haven't really noticed any change in anything other than being extra tired lately. Two weeks ago, I also started a low-carb diet that my dr. recommended. Well, the first week was pretty much a cross between failing to get my carbs low and detoxing off all of the sugar/starch. I was having really bad sugar cravings. Then, the second week I pretty much slept for a majority of the week. But, the good news is that I'm feeling good now. The craving are gone and I actually don't have that much interest in food. That is good. I remember feeling like this the last time I did a similar type of diet. I've gotten my sleep schedule back on track after destroying it last week. And, I've been wearing the cpap every night for 6 weeks now. I went in to see my doctor (gyn) today and I've lost about 3 pounds in the past two weeks. Not bad considering I wasn't fully onboard with the diet for that whole time. He started me on 1/2 a phentermine tablet for the next two weeks, then I am to move up to a whole tablet. He would like for me to lose more than 10 lbs in the next month. Hmmm. He also says not to worry about exercise for now, that we will incorporate that in next month. So, I guess I will just continue with my walking/occassional aerobics video when I feel like it. We'll see what happens. This weekend that we just finished was a fun one for me. I went camping my the Boy Scout Troop that I volunteer with. We went to a Boy Scout even where they got to do many different activities like archery and climbing and hatchet throwing. I was jealous that I couldn't do it! When will somebody start Adult Scouts?!? LOL! However, I did walk up a few hills about a zillion times. The campsite was down in a valley, but the bathrooms and food hall were up on the mountain. So, for me, having to pee as much as I do, I found myself hauling butt up the mountain a lot! Then, all of the activities were on the mountain on the other side of the valley, so I had to walk up that a few times a day as well. I didn't wear my fitbit because I didn't want to lose it, but wow, I think I got a decent workout. :-) -Hilary