Froggie D

I am definitely an emotional eater. I ate when I was happy, sad, bored, angry, etc. I liked big meals, lots of carbs and sweets, etc. Since being banded, I am not craving and obsessed as much as I was. When I have better restriction, I do not think much about food. With less restriction, I start thinking more about food, but still find avoiding carbs and sweets easier than it used to be. It all seems to be about restriction for me. If you are still not really restricted, don't expect too much yet. Keep going in for your fills and it will happen. I don't think cravings will ever go away, but restictio makes a lot of difference in your ability to not fall into old habits. Good luck to you!:ohmy:

That is so wonderful!!!! It feels great doesn't it?

I was pretty nervous too but it was nothing. My doc does not use floro or use numbing. It is over in 3 seconds and I am out of there.

It is Monday evening and I am thinking about you. Did you have your surgery today? How are you doing? Anxious to hear from you when you feell like posting.

I am so glad to hear your leg pain was not a clot. I was worried about you. I am also glad to hear you are doing better. Hang in there - the emotions come and go for a while, but you will get to feeling really good again!

The liver hold stores of glycogen (the most readily available sugar for energy) and in us obese people it can hold a lot of glycogen. Going on a high Protein, low carb liquid diet uses up the liver's storehouse first. Then it is less likely to be damaged by moving it to put on the band. It also gives you and your doctor a chance to see how committed you are. It is not easy and every surgeon has their own expectations. I looked at it as a challenge to see if I was really ready to make life changes. I really wanted the best chance of an easy surgery.

My first step was to call my insurance and find out what was required and then talk to my primary doctor. My insurance walked me through getting a surgeon who met my insurance requirements. I went to a seminar and followed what they required. They called my insurance and they worked together. Along the way, I was on this site every night reading and posting questions. There was no one thread that told me everything. I asked for a mentor and have had two really kind and helpful people who private messaged and emailed me. I learned so much here. People have been very supportive for the most part. I went back and read old posts on many things. By the time I actually saw my surgeon and the dietician, I had a pretty good idea of where I was headed and what to expect. I was required to do a psychological consult with testing, a dietary consult, a pulmonary consult as I have asthma, and a cardiology consult as I have high blood pressure. Some people have to have an upper GI or scope, a sleep study (I am already on a C-pap machine) and various other studies. I had what was required by my insurance (giving proof of a structured diet plan with failure to lose weight) but some have to do a 6 months supervised diet with their primary doc. Be prepared to jump through a lot of hoops and be patient. Every insurance plan is different. It is long and stressful getting approved, but it can be done and it is so worth it. Good luck with your journey. If you would like to ask more questions or I can help in any way, feel free to Private Message me. I would be happy to share. We are all in this together!

I was banded April 7 and it was whirlwind. I was there at 6:30 and banded at 8:30. Was home at 1:00. The incisions were somewhat painful, but not bad. Mostly could not roll over in bed for a week. I had some pain in my shoulder from the referred pain and walking helped that. I started walking the very first day - a quarter mile. I only took pain meds for one day then switched to Tylenol. It was easier than I expected. Day six I went back to work. I was tired all week, but did four 8-hour days just fine. I was not humgry for over two weeks. I did what I was supposed to do as far as liquids. Was told to get as many fluids in as possible so I would not end up back at the hospital on IVs for dehydration. I know you are nervous, but it will be fine. My mentor told me to "keep my eye on the prize". Just remember where you are headed, to a new life. The first two weeks I had some ups and downs emotionally, I think partly due to the trauma to my body, partly due to anesthesia, and partly due to the heightened emotions before surgery. It was roller coaster ride for a while. don't be surprized by that, but it probably will hit you when you least expect it. Now the good part - I have already lost 50 pounds, am down from a size 2x to a 16, and off my diabetes meds, high blood pressure meds reduced, and joint pain much reduced. that is where you will be before you know it! Good luck to you tomorrow. You are off on a big adventure! :scared2:

Robinbare, How is your leg pain?:scared2:

That is the beauty of the band, as you change, you can have it changed. It is adjustible. I have only been banded a few months, but I feel like I am eating "normally" for the first time in my life. I eat well, actually far healthier than I was before my band. Before my band, I thought there were only two choices 1). overeating and feeling stuffed for a while and doing it all over again 2) depriving myself and being hungry. With the band I find there is another option - eating healthy and feeling satisfied until the next meal. It is not 100% and takes work, but now I can do it! Your PA should focus on giving factual information, both pro and con, and not sharing so much personal opinion. Not very professional in my estimation. Good luck to you!

I was banded April 7 and I was pretty worried if I was making the right decision. I had every emotion in the book the few days before surgery. I was not worried about the surgery itself, but about the loss of my ability to eat and sooth myself. Well I am 50 pounds lighter now and feeling good. I do sometimes miss my "old friend", but mostly I focus on how far I have come. I will not say the journey has been easy, but with a commitment, it works. The band has really changed my appetite and my obsession with food. No it is not 100% but it is enough to keep me chosing the right foods and not feeling too sorry for myself having to give up my "old friend". I have gone from size 2x to 16 and am off my diabetes meds and cut my blood pressure meds. My knees no longer ache all the time. I am not embarassed to be seen in public. For my birthday, I am joining a gym and have talked my husband into joining too. Good luck on your surgery and congratualtions for taking a really positive step in yor life!

I am 57 years old, had gall bladder surgery with a scar and drain hole (looks like a big exclaimation point on my stomach :smile2:). I thought I was too old for this surgery and I posted almost exactly the same post before my surgery. I had my surgery April 7. I have lost 50 pounds including my preop diet and I feel great. I am off my Metformin. My A1C was 6.8 on my meds and now is 6.3 on NO MEDS. My blood pressure used to run 128/85 so when it got to 112/60 my doc cut them back. I am no longer using capsaicin ointment on my knees. I do not have pain in them like I did. I have gone from a size 2x in the women's section to an extra large in the misses department and size 16 jeans! I am no longer embarassed to be seen in public. Wednesday is my 58th birthday and I am joining a gym for a present to myself! Go for it!!!!!!! I feel 10 years younger. You will too!

Congratulations and good luck to all of you getting ready to get your band! I was banded April 7 and I did not have real hunger for several weeks after my surgery. Like your doctor said, don't worry about weight loss - this first month is the time for healing. Just work on getting your fluids in - you do not want to be dehydrated and have to go back for IV fluids! I had a lots of gas for over a month and used a lot of GasX. It really helps. Don't fret about weight loss early on. You have to get healed up, get some fills and do the steps in the right order. Take it a day at a time. We are pulling for you!

Best of luck to all of you waiting to get banded. I jumped through hoops and waited for 18 months, but was finally banded April 7. I have lost 50 pounds now and the time has just flown by. I am so happy! I love my band!:smile2::w00t::thumbup:

If it is stuck, it is stuck and liquids will not push it down, only make you hurt more and probably make you vomit. Just do not put a glass on the table for yourself at meal times. If you are in a restaurant tell the waiter to take it away. You can't drink it if it is not there! How long have you been banded? It does get easier to do - you will find that it is not so easy to swallow unchewed food without a drink, so you are forced to chew better. That is a good thing.

monkeymama, I am inspired too. I was banded April 7 and have lost 50 pounds total, but two weeks ago I got sick and with the heat have just not getten myself off the couch to walk anymore. I am a slug. I have not lost weight for two weeks. So today I went and checked out a gym that is really nice and my husband said he would join with me! We are going to sign up n Wednesday, which is my birthday. I figured out how to put an exercise ticker on - it is on the same site. I did mine with minutes. I plan to do 150 minutes per week until September 1 - a total of 1200 minutes. By then I hope to have made it a habit and lost a lot more weight!

That is normal, as the previous poster said. It comes off pretty quick in the beginning. Just don't expect it to always be that way. Drink everything you can to begin with. Getting dehydrated is easy and not good.

Congrats to both of you! Keep up the good work!

Good luck on yor surgery tomorrow! I was banded April 7 and have lost 50 pounds all together. I had surgery at 8:30 and was home by 1:00. Pain meds the first day and Tylenol after that. If you are prone to constipation, be sure to talk to your dietician or doc about Fiber supplementation. It really makes a world of difference. I use dissolvable fiber every day in my Protein drink - can't taste it. I walked half a mile on day two. You will just have to see how you feel. I was pretty spacy for about 4 days, though. Went back to work on Day 6. You are about to begin a great adventure. Fasten your seatbelt. It is quite a ride. Wish I could have done it sooner!

Why can't you eat?

I was banded on April 7 and have now lost 50 pounds total, but I had terrible moods swings the first few weeks. I was blue and cried, but for no particular reason. IT IS NORMAL! Do not be alarmed and just do something nice for yourself - no food of course. Read book, go to a movie, call a friend. Start looking at styles on the internet because you are going to need to buy new clothes sooner than you think! You can do this, and you will be glad you did! Leg pain is not a good thing - call your doctor immediately! Could suggest a clot. Can't hurt to call, as another poster said

You want things to slide through after surgery so you do not irritate your stomach. Just remember, they cut you open, moved organs around, lifted up your liver and stomach, wrapped a strange object around your stomach, and sewed the object to it. You want to baby it, let it heal and keep hydrated. Weight will fall off later. Just focus on healing! Be kind to yourself and your body. You have been through a lot of trauma. It gets better every day. Good luck to you!

Protein helps keep your appetite under control. If you eat protein, you will have fewer cravings, but not all of them. You could try making a deal with yourself. Eat an ounce of protein and wait 30 minutes. If you are still craving, you can eat a small amount of what you are craving. Try eating a sting cheese (they come low fat) or an ounce of 98% fat free deli sliced chicken or turkey - it is finger food with no cooking so it is ready NOW, just like Cookies, cake, all the stuff we are trying to stay away from.. I find this gets me through sometimes when I am thinking about grazing. It add extra protein, limits the calories and fills me up for a while. You will be better after a fill or two. Just remember, the band doesn't work without fill - it gets better! Good luck!

Sounds like a great place to start. Good luck to you!

My dietician said to be very careful of the Protein shots as some of them are made with inferior protein and do not contain all the amino acids that you have to have to get a complete protein. Be sure to check out the label and research complete Proteins. I am allergic to dairy also so I use soy Protein Powder from the healthfood store. It is grainy and has an odd texture, but fortunately I don't mind that. You all are doing great! Keep up the good work!