drr45

Whether you end up with the surgery or some other means to get your weight under control, you sound at least partly motivated for the proper reasons. Believe me, 6 months sounds like forever when you're in the position you're in. I was delayed more than once but perservered. My surgery was last December. Today, 7 months and 87 pounds later, I'm glad I followed through. Please stop calling this a "diet" and begin calling it a "lifestyle". Please don't think the band will force you to eat properly. That's something you have to do yourself. And you stated "a commitment for life more or less"!!! What??? It's a commitment for life...period. There's no "more or less" about it! Part of the whole process you're experiencing will indicate how determined you are to make a change in your health. If you get on track, the best advice I can give you is to follow the program perfectly. It's like the adage "Practice makes perfect" That's is so wrong! "PERFECT practice makes perfect" and nothing else. In other words, if you're told by the doctor or the nutritionist to stay on a lquiid diet for a week or 10 days, DO IT! Work you way back into "real food" on the schedule they give you and no sooner. I did it but I can't really remember going through the process. It's not even a memory that I can pull back into my mind. I did it, it's over and now I'm changing my life-style to follow through for MYSELF. And don't fail to get as many fills as necessary to get you to the point of satiation with the well balanced diet that's prescribed. I feel 50,000% better, no more high blood pressure or sleep apnea. I can tie my shoes!! And I'm no longer wondering what day I'll be having my inevitable heart attack. Instead, I wondering how many granchildren or great grandchildren I'll get to meet!

My advice is to forget the surgery and try something else. NOT listening to the experts and doing your own thing is dangerous! I've used a CPAP for a number of years and I didn't know how bad I was until I started using it. Instant gratification. But forget that. You're not interested. You don't have anything to compare the feeling of a deep, satisfying, rejuvenating sleep. Sure, you THINK you're sleeping all night. The onset of apnea is so gradual, you've just gotten used to your condition. It will get worse! And also, I'm sure your doctor would disagree with you and has the clinical proof to stand behind. As far as the surgery is concerned, when you decide that YOU want to do this or that differently, it sounds like you'll take the same route by lying your way to blaming the surgeon on your failure at weight loss. So, save yourself a lot of grief and save the insurance company a lot of money and cancel your surgery. That will allow someone who cares enough about themselves and who can listen and follow the program to get banded in your place.

The best advice I can give you is 1) FOLLOW THE DOCTOR'S ORDERS and 2) FOLLOW THE DIETICIAN'S PROGRAM. You sound like you're still on liquids or pureed foods. Hang in there. Real food is out there somewhere for you! Once you start on solids, cut tiny pieces and chew, chew, chew.... Then when you're done chewing, chew some more. This will get old quickly, but if the solids you're putting down don't get through your stoma, they're coming back for a second run at it. Also, drink something about 10-20 minutes before you eat and then don't drink ANYTHING while you're eating. You want the food you've just eaten to keep giving you that full feeling as long as possible. Wait about 20 minutes to drink anything after a meal then sip slowly. I can brag that I followed the program to the letter: measuring or weighing everything, pacing myself throughout the day and not deviating one iota. I've been a little easier on myself in the past few weeks, but I've dropped over 70 pounds in 3 1/2 months. One last thing to mention. If your surgeon's office offers support group meetings, go to every one you can. Listening to problems other people have experienced and listening to the advice they get is invaluable. You'll also get a chance to brag or gripe and get support for either. Good luck!

From what I know, the gas is normal and can be painful. Walking worked for me and soon it shouldn't be a problem. I used to chew gum until I found out that chewing gum can cause the problem to get worse! I'm 3 1/2 months post op and I've lost 70 lbs. Even though I've had a few problems, I'd do it again in a heart beat. I might not have said that in the first couple of weeks! But that's the way I feel today.