ParrotheadCathy

Surgery 2/20/09. As of today, down 79 pounds. I've just come through several weeks where I was lucky if I lost a pound a week, but now this week, I've lost almost 5 pounds. Go figure! But 79 pounds is just over 7 months makes me deliriously happy since that averages out to around 10 pounds a month. Yeah, I was pretty unhappy when the scale seemed like it just wasn't moving but when that does happen, you have to remind yourself that IT'S NOT GOING UP....something we're all familiar with.

You're 2 days post-op. While I felt pretty much completely normal almost immediately (the next day after surgery), that is defininately not the most common experience. You have to give it a few more days. Anesthesia needs to get out of your system completely, you need to re-hydrate fully, rest as much as you need to, move around as much as you feel up to it (to help get rid of gas) and you really should be bouncing back in another couple of days.

I'm with Restless Monkey .... don't hope for improvement. Call your doctor now and tell them your problems....the discomfort, the pain, the pain meds not effective. You may still be swollen and that could be causing some of your discomfort but no doctor wants his patient to suffer! Call now and tell them you need relief...

My guess is that the chicken was a bit on the dry side and got stuck and, for whatever reason, you didn't PB it and it had to move on its own. Now it's moved on but your esophagus got a bit irritated. Take it easy on what you eat today....keep it on the mushy side and the irritation should go away pretty quickly.

I would wait for the results of the endoscopy before I think it's totally in my head. But realize that as obese people we've all got food issues and even if we lose the weight we don't necessarily lose the food issues. Consider counseling with a doc who specializes in food/eating. I'm sure your surgeon can recommend a couple you can choose from.

I'll probably take some flak for saying this BUT losing weight will not directly make you happy. Living your life well will make you happy. If you chose to sit in the house until you're at goal weight, you're not going to be happy; you're going to be miserable. And then you'll suddenly be faced with learning to live your life. It's much better to work on LIVING RIGHT NOW. Start walking every day, building up how far you can comfortably walk at one time and then how much more quickly you can walk that distance. Then take that and do something you've never done. I go on a cruise every year. Just over a month after surgery, on a cruise, I went on a 16 drop zip line through the jungle in Roatan, Honduras. It was something I would never have contemplated "before". Even if you don't buy new clothes right away, after you've lost say 25 pounds, go try on everything you think will fit. See how much better you look. Don't get on the scale every day. You'll only be setting youself up for some mad mornings when the numbers don't cooperate. Better to pick a day of the week and say "on _____day I will weigh myself" and stick to that. I use Monday because I feel like that holds my feet to the fire a bit over the weekend to keep me strong. Go out with friends, learn to eat out and enjoy the company more than the meal. Take up a new, more active hobby like gardening (which if you really get into it can take up hours of your Saturdays and Sundays and have you moving around so much). If you have young children, become an active soccer mom or baseball mom. Be the mom who is at every game, volunteer to be a team mom (bringing the Snacks and drinks to each game). My daughter did that for a couple of years and is now [gasp] a soccer COACH. Think of all you'll miss if you stay at home waiting for your band to make you happy......

I gained and lost the same couple of pounds at least twice but never got on the doc's scale with a gain. But it was VERY frustrating to have the band and not see pounds falling away steadily.

Why WLS? You actually answered your own question when you said "all of my efforts to lose significant weight have either failed or yo-yo'ed". The band is a tool to help you avoid that outcome. I've read about the restrictions after lap band, and some of them are simply the restrictions that any diet should have: avoid sweets, avoid white, bready foods, chew slowly, stop when you're full, control portion size, exercise lots, and so on. Additionally, there are some WLS-specific restrictions: NO (?) carbonated beverages (there goes my love of Diet Coke), NO alcohol (I'm not a lush, but I love a summer beer or vodka cocktail), NO (?) caffeine (so I can't even have coffee?), plus a lot of scary things about how for instance taking a whole pill can lead to chain vomiting. A lot of docs actually allow carbonated beverages after a period of time with the band. But each doc is different. But soda is bad for you, period, so if you do without it for a period of time, you may not feel compelled to drink it again. I was NEVER told that I could not have alcohol or caffeine. I drink (damn, I'm a PARROT HEAD! Do you think I'd go to a Jimmy Buffett concert and party in the parking lot without a good rum drink?????) and I have caffeine (I love a big steamy mug of hot tea in the morning). I have 5.8ccs in a 10cc band and I can take two Tylenol at once with no problems. All those other meds I was taking for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are all things of the past -- which is why I did this in the first place. I have NEVER vomited, post-banding. I've PB'd but it was my fault for eating too fast every single time. Second question, what are the real limitations? I have read so much, conflicting stuff. I know you can't shouldn't eat, for instance, Snickers' bars (and why would I want to sabotage myself that way), but what about coffee? Carbonated beverages? Alcohol? Do I have to give up all of life's little pleasurable vices for this goal? See my comments above. Getting a band is NOT going to prison. You are still able and supposed to enjoy life. The only beer I really like, I can't buy in the States (Belikin, which is brewed in Belize) so no beer is not a question I've ever really had to address except when I was in Belize just over a month after surgery. Yeah, I had one but I had to drink it slowly. I've eaten birthday, a few M&Ms, I don't like coffee but I LOVE hot tea and I drink it. I don't miss Diet Coke. I stopped cold turkey and never looked back -- except that I mix it with rum, which pretty much takes the fizz right out of it. But, I reiterate, it is ALL THINGS IN MODERATION. If you pig out on anything, your band will stop you from going too far. If nothing else, no more food can get into the pouch and you will feel very uncomfortably stuffed and will have to stop. Believe me, you only have to experience that too-full feeling once and you'll remember you want to avoid it. It's like you ate 3 plates of food at Thanksgiving dinner and one of every dessert. Ugghhhhh. I've read a lot about things getting "stuck" in the stomach pouch if you eat to fast, or if you swallow a large pill, or something. What does this mean? Vomiting? Discomfort? A stomach pump? Along with being obese (BMI of 41) and having sleep apnea (a comorbidity; if insurance companies weren't so difficult, I'd be a shoo-in for the surgery), I'm a hypochondriac. What are the real RISKS post lap-band, versus just discomforts. Discomforts I can live with (assuming, of course, the benefit is worth it -- see my first question). Stuck is exactly that...it sits in one place and you wish it would move. Occasionally, you will cough the stuck bite back up (productive burp or "PB") and when that happens, if's actually a relief. But it IS NOT VOMITING. It is regurgitation of that stuck bite or two. Vomiting is when your stomach muscles force all the contents of your stomach back out. Two very different things. Lose the weight and all your aches and pains will disappear and you won't want to be a hypchondriac any more...you'll be too busy enjoying life. The risks are somewhat minimal. Slippage can occur, though not often, and many, many docs actually stitch the band into place to prevent that (mine did). If your band gets too much fill, you can develop a night cough and acid reflux, all of which is easily remedied by you admitting you have the problem and getting a slight unfill of even as little as .2 cc. I remember some posts from a man who turned out to be allergic to one of the components of his band and had to have hit removed. That was one person. Risks of anesthesia and surgery itself are separate things and your docs should advise you of those risks, but they are pretty small percentage risks. Finally, some health-related stuff. I know most/all here aren't doctors, but I have a fatty liver (diagnosed w/ultrasound) and quite possibly a duodenal (not gastric, that's important) ulcer. Am I disqualified from the surgery on medical grounds? Fatty liver ... the pre-op diet is designed to reduce your fatty liver. Stick to the pre-op diet and you'll be fine. A duodenal ulcer needs to be treated but shouldn't keep you from surgery unless it's not responsive to treatment. I will say unequivocally that getting the band has not compromised my quality of life in any way or amount. On the contrary, it has improved my life immeasurably. I think most people here would agree with me. Go to a seminar and ask the presenters your questions, too. (Many seminars have a patient or two there you can talk to as well. i've done this for my surgeon.)

I've lost 75 pounds since my surgery (2/10/09). Horror story? No way! This has been the best thing I ever did for myself. I no longer take any medications for ANYTHING, I have boundless energy and feel better than I can remember. Is this the easy way out? NONONONONO. You still have to make the right choices about food and you have to change how you eat...that is, smaller bites, well chewed, no drinking during your meals. It is possible to ignore how you should eat and not be successful, so remember that the responsibility lies with you; the band only helps you Without my band, I know for a fact I would have falled off the wagon and started regaining long ago. That's the difference, Unaided, your old habits can and likely will resurfaced. With the help of the band, you have a sort of built-in stop signal.

I guess I am nervous about not knowing what to expect and if I will be sick, have hair loss, how many vitamens and supplements I will need to be on if any. Just the unknown. I definatley know I need and want to do this just not knowing what to expect after surgery. You shouldn't be sick. Some people do have a little nausea post-op but most docs write a prescription for pain and a prescriptio for nausea for you to have on hand for if you need them. I take a performance Vitamin every day (all the Bs, C, D, E, Calcium, Biotin, magnesium and zinc) and a lot of people actually buy the gummi-type Vitamins because they are chewable. Some do experience hair loss but most don't and significant hair loss is not common at all I don't think. I wonder if there are foods you can no longer eat. I know pop is one but that is no problem for me. Really you should be able to eat anything IN MODERATION. I do have problems with soft bread, but not always, and toasted ALWAYS goes down fine. I have no idea why, LOL. And, I didn't miss Diet Coke at all even though I thought I would. Is it hard to wait 30 min after you eat to drink something? I drink right up to the time of my meal and, really, don't usually have a problem with waiting for 30 minutes after.

Spend a little time on line reading menus from places you like to go. Look for things that will be reasonably easy to eat -- even a little bit toward the "slider" types of stuff. Pick a place, what you want to eat and plan a dinner out. A nice sit-down dinner. Order what you planned, which would be things that you eat without any problem. Once you have a dinner or two out without issue, then you should be fine because I really do think you're over-thinking it and getting yourself totally stressed out. I go out to dinner at least once a week. I've been to pretty much every kind of restaurant and know what foods work for me and what I can order at any given place. Broiled/grilled fish with mashed potatoes and and overcooked green vegetable is such a common menu combination and it all works for me. I don't eat any of the bread that is served with meals out because I never know when bread will be a problem for me. And, heck, I don't need the bread anyway. Check the appetizers closely at places you know serve large portions because you can get an acceptable portion for less money and I've found a heck of a lot of appetizer items that I would never have ordered otherwise to be really yummy. I was always guilty of ordering the big dinner and ignoring the appetizers. Good Luck

It's totally normal to be nervous, even if you've made up your mind this is absolutely the right thing for you. But let us know what questions you have and perhaps we can alleviate some of the nervousness just by letting you know what our experiences have been with those issues!

I am not making any suggestions or recommendations about counseling since you seem opposed to it BUT let me just say that even though my degree is in industrial and occupational pyschology, I had my share of the "other" side of it in college. Counseling is designed to do many things. One very important thing, regardless of the problem, is helping to identify the problem and to develop coping skills for that problem. So don't write off counseling for good .... a counselor who works with eating disorders could offer a lot of assistance. I WILL recommend journaling. Do it this way.... write down every bite you eat and WHEN you eat it/what you're doing. After a week or so, you may learn that there is a discernable pattern to your eating, that certain activities (or lack thereof) can trigger idle grazing/snacking. If you do find a pattern, you can change things around to not create the situation and reduce the bat eating habits.

It was clearly laid out for me at my first visit with my surgeon that pills MIGHT be a problem, especially if they are large. I have not taken any medications regularly since surgery, per my doctor's instructions. My Vitamin dissolves in a glass of Water, so that's no issue. I have taken Tylenol a couple of times and swallowed 2 at the same time without a problem. You just need to be aware that you could have a problem. If you do, some medicines can be crushed but you need to check with your pharmacist before doing that because some meds don't work the same if they've been crushed. Many meds are available in liquid. If you are pre-op when your doc gives you a prescription for pain meds post-op, ask for it to be for the liquid form JUST IN CASE. And when you fill that prescription, ask the pharmacist to flavor it and they can offer you quite a choice of flavors.

No, not for me. I know that I cannot eat as much and I have to eat slower and such but that's the EFFECT of the band and that's what you want. Do I walk around AWARE of the physical band? No, not at all.

Unless they can prove that it is stipulated in writing, I'm note sure they can enforce it. Go ahead and call the insurance commissioner's office and ask. IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK.

Kimo, solid food takes a different process to digest. Liquids simply pass on through the pouch and through the rest of your stomach sort of "at will". Any solid food requires your stomach to "churn" it....and that action can cause complications INCLUDING SLIPPAGE. Call your doctor's office, tell them about the bread, and ask for help with what you can have to help satisfy your hunger. I was on liquids for 10 days, mushies for 10 days, then added solid foods slowly. But while on liquids, I could have as much as I wanted when I wanted...double check that with your doc! Pudding, jello, broth, soup (puree the ones that have solids in them), yogurts, popsicles, frozen lemonade, make stock from scratch (it has a lot more flavor). If you need to know how, private message me and I'll pass it on. I've posted it on here so many times I'm just going to offer it if you want it.

And I have BCBS of Georgia and my policy has a written exclusion regarding ALL weight loss surgeries. Every employer negotiates their policy based on what they are willing to pay and getting the best coverage for the amount they are willing to spend. So, your policy requires the 6 month supervised diet. You don't HAVE to lose a significant amount of weight to be approved. Like the poster who said she lost a total of 5 pounds in the six months. During the six months, you can do all the pre-op testing they require (nutritional visit(s), psych evaluation and as you get closer to surgery, sleep study, upper GI, the blood work whatever. Then, at the end of the 6 months, your package is submitted with everything all ready to send in and surgery shouldn't be too much further in the future at that point. Yeah, I understand not wanting to wait but that's the way it is. Your alternative is to self-pay the whole cost and you can probably have surgery within 4-6 weeks. Your choice, but $$ is a big factor.

Haagen Das makes a chocolate sorbet ..... low fat, light on the calories. I'm gonna get some and see ....

You're fine....sounds like it irritated your esophagus. Not to mention the mental impact, LOL. Heck, my first PB the food shot out of my mouth like a cannon ball. Thank God I was alone when that happened! You should be fine to eat mushy food or whatever goes down comfortably. It will go away pretty quickly.

I had a period of a couple of months where I was too tight and didn't want to admit it to myself. During that time, my weight loss pretty much skidded to a halt, and I got stuck every time I ate, often more than once in a meal. I finally got just .2cc removed and I've gotten stuck just ONCE since then and it was all my fault for eating the one thing I know beyond a shadow of a doubt will cause me to get stuck....soft bread. I ate a bite of a biscuit and it nearly killed me, LOL.

Depends on your insurance company. They will likely have a threshold BMI that you must reach in order to be qualified for insurance coverage. The threshold also depends on if you have any comorbidities. The comorbidities they accept are diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea. Your insurance company will have it's own requirements of some, all or none of the following: sleep study to rule out sleep apnea, cardiac clearance, upper GI, chest X-ray, a visit or visits with a nutritionist, psychological evaluation, 6 month supervised diet, 5 year history of weight problems/ documentation of attempts to lose weight. I see you're going to the seminar today/tonight. The surgeon's staff should be familiar with the requirements of your insurance and will guide you BUT if you have any questions at all, be your own advocate and call your insurance company and ask them yourself.

People are reluctant to discuss weight loss. They are afraid that they will say the wrong thing.... like, what if you DIDN'T lose weight and they ask you how much? Or if they somehow make you think you look good now which might imply you looked really bad before.... Eventually, they will say something. You can even open the door for them, at least those you'd like to have acknowledge the loss so far....let them "catch" you pulling up your baggy pants or go out and buy something new that really shows off your loss!

That's la BMI of 43, which should be well over the threshold for coverage even without comorbidities.

I'm free to drink up until my meal. Just not during or for about 30 minutes or so after. Not drinking during or after makes complete sense to me, but when I heard some patients are told not to drink for a half hour (or even longer sometimes) before a meal, I got a big question mark over my head. It just doesn't compute.