LAURIE290

Ohh please look into the possibility of a hiatal hernia. I have not done the research, but spent the majority of my life taking "Tums" for constant heartburn prior to my lapband about six years ago. The surgeon found the hernia and removed it during the procedure. He did tell me it was the cause and I could not believe the difference!! I wish you ALL the Best!

I also thank you soo much for telling your story!! Reading many of the positive posts on this site, I have held back my own roller coaster experiences. I truly started to believe I was the only bander eating Ben & Jerry's! As disgusting as it is, I have actually spent over a year eating only alone next to my "puke bucket" throwing up every other bite. I was banded almost four years ago, lost 50 pounds in the first six months, gained it all back, and finally woke up to my horrible choices very recently. I am now down 60 from my original 290 and still have many "rules" I've yet to follow. Now knowing the dangerous possibilities, I believe I've been scared away from continuing my self-destructive ways! Thank you again!!

Oh, the lunch thing...ham, egg, tuna, chicken salad with a piece of fruit, cottage cheese or Greek yogurt with fruit, shaved deli meat or cubed mixed with fat free cream of cheese soup?

I'm not sure, but it sounds like you are a lot like most of us...a "black or white" type of person? All or nothing? What I'm trying to say is I learned the hard way that jumping in with both feet at once (sort of like having to force yourself to follow the liquid diet) without having to be accountable to someone like the Dr. who's about to perform your lapband, is soooo difficult!! Not sure if you're looking for help with starting back up or ideas on which foods to go with your routine so I'm going to respond to both. Through my too many personal "back on track" experiences, what finally worked was fixing one or two defeating behaviors per week. Like, throwing out the ice cream the first week all the way to restarting my fitness routine over the next couple months. As for the food ideas...Muscle Milk has been my savior for getting in a quick 32 grams of protein, 220 calories, and a fast meal (Amazon sells it much cheaper, in bulk, ready to drink, and even on a regular monthly basis.) My nutritionist suggests a daily intake of 60 to 90 grams of protein, a fruit with one meal, veggies with 2 meals, and no more than 30 grams of whole wheat carbs packed into around 1200 calories. So I eat mostly eggs or egg beaters (faster), marinated chicken thighs or drums, shaved deli ham, tuna, hamburger usually mixed with a sauce/gravy or as meatloaf, marinated pork tenderloin, cooked carrots, spinach, yellow or butternut squash, sweet potatoes... Don't know if all my babbling helped, but I hope it may have at least somewhat! Good luck to you!

Same here as well! I think I have finally realized that the band (as one woman replied) controls the quantity, while you control the quality. The band is definitely an amazing tool, but there are ways around it! At one point, I thought having it as tight as possible would solve the problem. I then spent about a year eating whatever I wanted only to throw it back up in between 3 or 4 bites (disgusting, I know!) It was a good lesson for me in the end because forever eating alone alongside my "puke bucket" became exhausting and helped me to make myself take the smaller bites, chew forever, etc... I believe overeating and indulging in "bad" foods can be just as much a "disorder" as bulimia, anorexia, or any other. The band is not a fix-all tool. You also have work to do!

I'm also a stylist. I've suggested and now use Nioxin professional hair products for over 17 years. I also take Biotin in chewable form (found at Walmart) twice a day. Both have helped, but after a bit over 3 years being banded, my hair has gone from thin to thick and back many times. Finally, I realized my PROTEIN intake makes a Huge difference! I try to stick with 60 to 90 grams of protein a day. If I slack, the hair begins to break and come out in clumps in the shower. Hope that helps!

I am looking for someone who is at least a bit more experienced in post-op than I am. I was banded at the end of March 2010. I still have trouble figuring out if I am satisfied, getting into exercise, and finding the "right" frame of mind. I am happy with my choice, but often discouraged. Is there anyone who might be able to lend a hand? Thank you

I've just recently had my first fill, but I believe there is a huge difference for me between "full" and "satisfied." Satisfied is when any hunger pain or discomfort is gone and I eat very slowly to find that feeling. If I get to a full feeling, it is uncomfortable. I feel bloated, slowed down, and of course the feeling of restriction due to the band. According to my surgeon, the key is to learn to stop eating when you are simply "satisfied." It has helped me to count my calories and look at the amount of food I am eating for each meal. I usually feel good with about 1 cup or sometimes 1 1/2 cups of food. Hope that helps some. Good luck!

Just after surgery and for the first 2 weeks I was following the diet perfectly without any hunger or cravings. I can't say that I've cheated. I mean, no carbs (outside of veggies) or sugar of any kind. But I'm fitting a good cup and 1/2 of food even when chewing slowly, taking so much time, etc...just to get that "no hunger" feeling. I'm assuming my first fill will change things for the better, but what can I do in the meantime? I have continued to lose, but now very, very slowly over the past 2 weeks. I feel the hunger especially now that I am exercising. Any suggestions?

First of all, Congrats on your weight loss!!! Secondly, I just watched my father and my aunt lose about 80 pounds a piece after surgery. I almost thought the same thing (they might be losing too much.) But, then I realized that it was because I had never seen them thin and they do not look like the same people I know at all! Imagine watching a good friend slowly, but surely change the look of their face. I don't know about you, but my face has always carried an awful lot of weight. I believe if you do not look like the same person, you may look unhealthy to them. They're so used to seeing a whole other you!

I'm only a little over a week since the band, but I am experiencing some pretty bad upper and lower back pain. I thought it may be related to the "gas" thing, but I'm not so sure. Maybe the chiropractors have a good point there.

My surgery is set for 3/29/10. I'm excited and it just now occured to me that I am completely unaware of the pain or recovery time afterwards. I could really use some info on others' experiences. Thanks!:smile:

I quit when I became pregnant with my first child 4 years ago. My advice would be to keep a mantra going in your head. Mine was something extreme, but it worked. I would constantly think "If I smoke, my child could have a serious illness." If you are doing this surgery with a "Do or Die" mentality, you could use that as a mantra and motivation. I was a 2 pack a day smoker for over 10 years. I completely understand. But, just like this surgery, I constantly remind myself that having a cigarette, cheating my diet, etc... is not an option unless I want to die. I know it sounds harsh, but it worked for me. Also, I wonder if the medication "Chantix" is an option for you at this point? I know many people who have had great luck with it. I wish you lots of luck with this. I know how difficult it is, but it will probably save your life.

That is so neat! Maybe we can talk back and forth about ideas, experiences, etc... Makes me feel so much better to talk to someone with the same doc. Other people have amazingly different experiences. Anyway, I was so incredibly lucky as far as the appointment timing. I went to the preop, talked to Tishler for about 10 minutes...basically just about any concerns I may have. The nurse came in just after and said "well, we actually have an appointment open 11 days from now. I pretty sure my jaw dropped! Alba had let me know that the norm would be about 2 to 4 weeks after preop for surgery. I was so excited and suddenly scared out of my mind at the same time. Only because I was not prepared to hear that and you do go for a physical with your primary care doc as well as a quick, no fasting blood test within the week before surgery. And, of course, I suddenly realized I need to go food shopping, grab a heating pad, hibiclens, get babysitters, start the liquid diet and so on and so on. Anyway, I hope you get just as lucky! I'm all set now and happy to be getting it over with sooner rather than later. I should tell you that you really do get used to the liquid diet pretty quickly. It wasn't as bad as I thought and two nurses have called from the hospital to make sure I have all questions answered and everything ready. One of them was so nice and we talked for over an hour. She really put my mind at ease about the surgery, etc... Any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask. You're welcome to email me directly too: LAURIESMAILBOX2@GMAIL.COM TY for the support!

I'm getting banded in 3 days and my weight loss program only offers a support group once a month. I'm hoping to get in touch with more people in similar situations. Even if it's just through email, it helps to know someone nearby is fighting this battle. Also, if anyone from my area (Windham, CT) knows of another support group, please let me know!

If you read through the thread and see what Betsy had to say, it makes sooo much sense. Sounds like whatever you choose ought to be high Protein, low carb, no sugar, and lots of Water. Well, similar to the post-diet, really. The more I've heard about other's pre-op's, the better I'm liking mine!

My surgeon's liquid diet includes: - 3 protein shakes per day - Any clear broth, sugar free pops throughout the day - Up to 2 cups of either = Lowfat cottage cheese, Lowfat Yogurt, Fruit Juice, or up to 3 servings of regular jello, pops, or no sugar added fudgsicles I have heard that other doctors add veggies and some other choices. I am 6 days into the liquid diet and STARVING! Has anyone else had a similar or completely different diet given to them? :thumbup:

Now that you mentioned it, I can't understand why they would put something containing sugar on that diet either! I know if I go about 2 weeks without carbs/sugar, I have no craving for it. Do they not understand that real sugar will continue those cravings and add carbs to the diet? Weird. Well, I actually havent had any of those choices. I'm happy for it since you mentioned it. Thanks

Thanks for the suggestions, Aquarius! I've actually been mixing my own shakes that are sold on the "Bariatric Advantage" site and I mix them with 1/2 water, 1/2 vanilla soy milk (fat free, sugar free.) The shakes are really good! They even cost me less than buying the Atkins or Boost that was recommended. I'm also able to add two scoops of a powder form of Calcium w/ Vitamin D. And you are all right about the cottage cheese. That and the chicken broth are pretty much saving me. I am so sick of all this artificially sweet tasting stuff. I don't think I'll touch sugar another day in my life! Today I cheated a little and added some fresh brocolli to my broth. It wasn't much, but it totally filled me right up. I was able to skip the cottage cheese. I amazes me how different the pre-op diets are. Guess there's more than one way to get the "fat" out of the liver!

Wow, Betsy...you've done your homework! Thank you so much! That actually makes me feel much more motivated to get this done correctly. I have not strayed and do not plan on it, but knowing exactly why it is neccessary makes a world of difference. Hope you don't mind if I ask you one more question...Is it really true that you don't feel the hunger after banding? I feel it now, of course or I wouldn't be going through with the procedure. I am hopeful that the diet to follow feels a bit easier without so much hunger. Thanks, again! :Banane20:

Well, my husband works a lot of hours and is able to take only 3 days off...the surgery date and on. I will have some help from my mother in law for a couple of the following days. I suppose I will just have to hope my experience is better than some others! I'm hoping my hospital gives me the patch. How about the other medication you mentioned? Sorry, so many questions! :Banane20:

Thanks for responding guys. I'm am very confident in my surgeon. My father as well as 3 friends have seen him and had wonderful results/experiences. I'm not really questioning his pre-op diet so much as wondering if others are also concentrated so much on Protein. Mine seems to be very similar to an Atkins type of plan. I am curious as to what the reasoning is behind that. I can understand it completely if it is being used as a jump start to preparing oneself for a high protein lifestyle. My doctor mentioned the reason for the pre-op change is to rid the liver of some "fat." I wonder if this is sending my body into ketosis and if it will slow my metabolixm down to have so few calories. What is the nutrion content of "Optifast" shakes? Are they also high protein, low carb and is that part of you post-op diet as well?! If so, I must say I am very sorry!

Hey Jax, Good advice:thumbup:. I'm not familiar with "Loratab." Is that a prescribed med or over the counter? Also, were you referring to one of those patches for nausea? Are those over the counter? I'm definitely taking your advice on the heating pad over the shoulder! Ooooh, washer door?! OUCH! :thumbup:

Thank you all so much for your responses! I am a stay at home mom so I do have the oppurtunity to sort of "take it easy." Although I do have a one year old and a three year old. I do suppose we will all experience some different outcomes. I am also concerned about lifting my children after surgery and just how much walking around is safe. Can anyone shed a light on your experiences there? I truly want to get up and walk asap as Betsy explained...not sure how much house work, etc...would be safe. Thanks again, guys! Laurie