emjay

I'm trying to think this one thru and I would say the cabin pressure could cause it. I used to have a problem with my ankles swelling up and even my hands during flights...I don't know why your stomach wouldn't swell either. An unfill is something to definitely consider if you're flying. I'd hate to go on vacation and be miserable. When I went to Europe it took about 2 weeks before the swelling in my ankles went away. So I'm guessing it will go down with time, just not maybe immediately.

luv2teech - your post really struck a chord with me, because my husband is a "foodie". We go out to dinner alot, when we travel we're always checking out the places to eat, he prepares our meals at home, and our going out with friends mostly centers on going to dinner. I've been following this thread to try and be aware of the potential issues that may come up and I'd be less than honest if I said this doesn't worry me. My husband of 4 years met me when I was at my lowest weight since high school and continued to be supportive of me even when I ballooned up to 300 lbs. But the fact that so much of our lives centers around food is a big concern to me and one that needs some attention. Thanks for the post. You are in my thoughts.

I just donated 3 large garbage bags full of clothes to FISH (catholic charity in the area, sort of like Goodwill). You could also contact a local church and see if they have a clothing exhange. Goodwill is also good. Check with local bariatric surgeons if yours doesn't have a clothing exchange to see if they would take them. When you're changing sizes quickly, it gets expensive! It can be kind of delicate subject to bring up to an individual about giving them your clothes. But homeless shelters, battered women shelters, vocational career centers...many would appreciate clothes like yours that may help someone get a job and/or look professional.

I too was a self-pay...I guess the good thing is I didn't have to go thru 6 - 9 months of nutritional counseling before being approved. It was a tough decision for me too, since we didn't really have the money readily available. Many, many practices include your fills for the first year or two, or have different plans to choose from. But the bright side was I had surgery 3 weeks and 1 day after my initial consult! How about that! I was thrilled, and I know I made the right decision. Do what you have to do and best of luck. You will feel better, look better and have a husband that will be very proud of you. Sounds like our husbands are alot alike. He too said we will find a way to get it done, even though he had reservations at first. If it was important to me, it was to him. Aren't supportive husbands the best?!!!

I'm sorry I can't help you with finding a new physician...and you should definitely find a new one. Violating HIPAA is very serious and you can and should take action against this practice. Extremely unprofessional and unethical to blab to your co-worker about your personal medical issues. You can file with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) with the attached form. Send to the Regional Director as follows for your region (can be faxed): Region IX - San Francisco (American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada) Michael Kruley, Regional Manager Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 90 7th Street, Suite 4-100 San Francisco, CA 94103 Voice Phone (415)437-8310 FAX (415)437-8329 Hold these people accountable for what they did. It was total crap on their part to blab your personal info to a supervisor. Good luck! hipcomplaintpackage.pdf

I did the Atkins diet twice in my life...losing 136 lbs once and 66 lbs. the second time. Gained it back , but if you want the positives, I'll give you another one that hasn't been mentioned yet. I suffered from chronic sinus infections for about 10 years and had sinus surgery to help alleviate the problems. Still ended up with sinus infections after the surgery. The ENT would put me on 800mg Augmentin, 40mg Prednisone, and Wilson's Solution (Rx nasal wash) each time I got an infection. Anyone taking steriods knows it's not much fun. After I went on the Atkins diet, my sinus infections vanished! This is my theory...I had been allergy tested years before that and was found to have allergies from indoor/outdoor molds and yeast. Once I stopped "feeding" the yeast/mold with "sugar" (carbs), my infections went away for good! :confused:

Good for you on getting off the soda! It can be really difficult kicking the caffeine habit and giving up something you've been drinking forever. You will feel better. Don't worry too much about the weight gain at this point. I know it can be very discouraging. But you are improving your overall health by getting off the Dew. Your teeth and bones will thank you in later years! Also, congratulations on your weight loss so far! You are a true inspiration! :wub:

I'm really sorry you are having so much trouble. Sounds like your doctor only wants to work with the patients he deems "successful" and not the ones that have problems (that he may have caused)! I would definitely look into finding another physician - one with a better bedside manner for sure. It seems like some providers don't understand how weight affects us, not just physically, but emotionally, psychologically. Being treated by a petulant physician can wreak havoc on your pysche. You don't need to feel like your a failure simply because you have had some issues with your band. Find a physician that is supportive and sympathetic to your needs. You need the right amount of support and encouragement to succeed. Not to say we don't all need a reality check once in awhile. But, a nurturing environment that focuses or YOUR well-being will be your best chance of success. I wish you the best! :frown:

The best of luck to you. I also had my surgery done in Cincinnati recently and am very happy with my decision. Diabetes is very strong on both sides of my family and I felt "destined" to have it too if I kept up the same lifestyle. Congratulations on your decision to have it done and know that there are so many people on this forum that can help with any questions you have. Wishing you a quick and pain-free recovery

I'm new to for 40's forum...banded 04/10/09 and have lost 31 lbs so far since my initial consult. Feel great! Saying a big HI to all the 40 somethings out there.

If it is causing you that much pain, maybe you should try and get a slight unfill yet today if possible. It may subside over the weekend. I have found that I tend to loosen up a couple of days after a fill. Some people actually get tighter up to 2 weeks after a fill. But there is no sense being in any pain. Sometimes a very small amount can make a world of difference. You may be very sensitive to fills and need to get smaller fills to get to your sweet spot. I sure hope you feel better...

Friday weigh in...first thing in morning after going to the bathroom, as little clothes as possible...226, yipee!!

I hate to say this...but what the h*ll are you doing? You're not even supposed to drink soda! You have had an extremely successful weight loss and are sabotaging it by drinking sugary laden soda - full of empty calories and very unhealthy. Sorry - but I see you doing so well. You need to discuss this with your doctor and see what options you have. I'm sure he/she will not be happy, but you really need to get some help with this issue and try and kick the Dew habit. I drank Diet Coke 3-4x per day for 25 years and haven't had a soda since 2 weeks prior to my surgery. Do I miss it? Sometimes, but overall I don't want to jeapardize my band and feel better about getting over the caffeine addiction. Please talk with your physician. They need to be aware of what you're doing so they can help. I wish I had the magic answer for you, but this is not my forte'.

Count me in too. Info posted on spreadsheet. Let's go all!

The very best of luck to you. Obviously, the lap band was a great choice for you. You are truly ahead of the curve in terms of weight loss! It has to feel absolutely great! I too looked to the forum for quite awhile before I had the band put in. I guess I always came back to - what is it that makes people come to a forum? For me, it is seeing the issues that can arise and the little tidbits of information I pick up, understanding full well that every person's journey with the band is different. For many, it is support, guidance, online friendship and answers to the issues that may come up along the way. I keep in mind that not all "bandsters" are on forums and that many simply go by the advice of their physician. So do we get an accurate idea of how the band will really work for each of us from this forum? Maybe, maybe not. But it does really help to know there are others out there that have the same problems and concerns that we do.

Ultimately it is up to you. Be as informed as possible about each type of WLS. Many doctors recommend gastric bypass for patients that are significantly overweight because of the initial rapid weight loss and maybe due to other factors such as co-morbidities. You need to be aware that some doctors have their own motivation for the type of surgery to recommend. Maybe they only do lap band, or get better reimbursements for gastric bypass or other types of surgery. Maybe your insurance doesn't cover certain types of WLS. There are many reasons. Make sure the one you choose is YOUR choice. Take the doctors advice into consideration, but really, you know yourself better than anyone. Which type of surgery do you think you will have the most success with and which one do you think you could tolerate the best?

Just relax...you are doing everything you should be doing. You are in "bandster hell" right now. Many people actually gain weight between their surgery and their first fill. You either have very little or no restriction at this point. One thing that may be causing this plateau is the fact that your caloric intake is pretty low and has been for awhile. Your body may be conserving calories due to the lack of intake. In essence, you are in "starvation mode". The advice given to me was to keep caloric intake between 1100 - 1300 calories per day to avoid this. Give it a few more weeks and discuss this with your physician at your fill. I will tell you I'm not a medical professional...just letting you know what I've been told so far. Please don't get discouraged and keep exercising. You're going to look great!

Susan - I can't tell you how disturbing it is to hear about the state of your marriage. To me, it seems like it's the little things in your marriage that can be the glue. It's not the $$ or the "stuff", but the validation and acknowledgment that you're important and worthy in the eyes of your loved one. I'm a newbie at marriage - only 4 years out after getting married at the ripe old age of 41. I was 164 when I met my husband, 210 when we married and 300 a year or two after that. He's stuck with me all the way. When I stalled on my last "diet", I discussed with him the lap band procedure. At first, he didn't like the idea, but when I brought it up a few weeks later, he said he would support me whatever my decision was - even offering to help me pay for it. I could have cried! My point is - I don't think many people understand just how all-encompassing a weight problem can be and how much of an effect it has on a person's life. I hate to even give you my 2 cents, but if you have any feelings left for your husband and even want to give your marriage another try, find a good counselor that can help you both. If he doesn't want to go...go yourself. At least you can say that you've given it a shot and maybe you will be able to find the answers that you need. You have to get at the bottom of why he feels like he can be so dishonest and distrustful with you. I really feel for you.

Jaytee - you've got to be kidding me! Those instructions are ridiculous and Bandster Hell for sure! It sounds worse than actual "dieting" to lose the weight. I'm not sure what your doctor's intentions are, and I'm certainly not one, but it sounds like he's being overly cautious and possibly setting you up for a "pig out" at some point due to all the deprivation of not allowing you to eat solid food. My physician suggests to stay on liquids for the rest of the day after a fill, then start with mushie foods the next day and see show it goes. If you are not having problems, then he says you can test solid foods. Those are just plain crazy instructions. No wonder you're going to be losing weight! How does he expect you to not get hungry?

Recently banded in April, and just wondering if anyone has had any problems with frequent diarrhea? I usually have 2 bouts a day of it and it's usually 15 to 30 minutes after eating. When I'm at home, it's not a problem, but when you're out and about, well you know. It can happen after Protein shakes (for breakfast), and it will even happen if I have shredded chicken and a few bite of cottage cheese. My stomach just sounds like it's turning over and then I know I need to get to the bathroom quick! Anyone else have an issue similar to this? Any suggestions? I know increase the Fiber, but is this common? :cursing:

I wear one "just in case". My doctor never said anything about it, but if it can keep someone from causing me stomach problems or causing problems with my band, it's worth it. I found some great ID bracelets at www.laurenshope.com. I ended up finding a gold bracelet there and then bought a gold charm from another place so it would not "look" like medical ID jewelry. It is a personal decision, apparently some physicians recommend them and some don't mention it. :cursing:

Right now, there are quite a few doctors that can do the surgery within that time frame with the economy the way it is. From the time of my initial consult to the day of surgery was 3 weeks and 1 day. Just get a physician with experience in doing the procedure. Best of luck to you!!!

Please add Dr. Brad Watkins to your list for West Chester, OH. Website is: www.cincyweightloss.com The address is: 7798 University Court, Suite E, West Chester, OH 45069. PH: 800-979-6573 or 513-939-BAND. Thank you!!!

Lean Proteins - approx 3 oz each meal. My guideline was to get at least 60 grams of protein a day, but they were not keen on it being from Protein shakes unless your band is tight in the morning. Limit drinking for 30 minutes prior to each meal, and no drinking for 1 hour after meal. At least 48 oz of liquids per day, preferable 64 oz. Meal size should be approx. 3 oz of protein and enough vegetables about the size of the palm of your hand. No snacks between meals, a proper fill should leave you comfortably full for 4-5 hours. Caloric intake should be around 1000-1200 calories per day to limit your body going into "starvation" mode. You should try to keep your caloric intake steady - not 600 calories one day and 1600 calories the next. Until you get to your "sweet spot" and are able to lose 1 1/2 to 2 lbs per week, if you feel hungry between meals, I would suggest a sugar-free pudding, s-f Jello, cottage cheese or a warm/hot beverage to tie you over. And, like always, start exercising! 30 minutes a day. Hope this helps!!

I lost alot of hair on the Atkins diet...but found that Biotin seems to help. I use the 5000 mg capsule and pull it apart to blend it in with a Protein drink in the morning or skim milk instead of swallowing the capsule. More than likely you are going to experience a bit of hair loss to some degree, but make sure you are getting a balanced diet, your required Proteins, and aim for 1000-1200 calories a day in order to keep your body from going into "starvation" mode. I'm not in the medical field...just giving you some info from what I've learned from my doctor's office and others.