MoxieDO

Oh yeah, I was an eater! I think its funny when the waiters give me the "that's ALL she's gonna eat" when I order from the kids menu or get a box to go...it makes me chuckle! The waiters get a little offensive when I shoo them away from my water glass too. I havent had my first fill yet, so I'm starting to eat a little more each day. I'm using will power to keep it under control, but for how long, who knows. I don't know how to cook and my mom has left, so now its back to shakes and soup :/

Walking around and squeezing your calf muscles will decrease your chance of a DVT. Infection is a possibility that goes with being alive, hahaha. Just keep your incision sites clean, i.e. dont pick or touch them very much. Watch for redness, warmth, and thick, perfuse drainage.

Does your doctor have support groups? Maybe you should go to one of them and see what people around you say about their band. People who attend these groups regularly tend to have a lot of success and less problems. They are probably the best people to ask about everyday life w/ the band...here is great, but sometimes a real person talking to you is better.

Got nothing to add, but this thread gets more hilarious as it goes on...

I did those protein shots...they dont taste very good, but I can tolerate a few sips of them for the amount of protein they have. When you get to protein shakes, try diet V8 splash plus your protein powder...it def is better than just water and protein powder and I will take the extra calories (which are not that many) if it means I will get my protein down.

I think everyone has already made the valid points. I would just add that you really don't weigh that much (if I'm reading your counter right). You might not drop weight initially as quickly as some of us heavy weights. 1-2lbs weight loss a week is what you should expect anyways. If you are doing as much activity as you say you are, you just might be building muscle as well. From what I understand, the post op period is what is most difficult for everybody...I've hit day 10 and I see my weight loss slowing down, but I've also started the mushy part of the diet as well. Best of luck and dont let the scale dictate your life! You have made steps to being a healthier person and let those steps be your focus.

The more weight you have to loose, the faster it will be in the beginning. The are a lot of factors as to why this happens, the main one being that larger people burn more calories to function than smaller people...think of it this way, you expend more energy to move a 50lb weight than a 10lb weight. There is a period, I think it's referred to as "bandster hell" when you exit the liquid stage and start on mushy and real foods, where your weight loss will slow. This is probably the body adjusting to the new influx of calories from its previous deficiency (if you follow the post op diet). I think I'm entering this period right now...I lost 32 lbs in 3 wks and now I am not dropping the couple of pounds a day I was. The suggested safe weight loss is 1-2lbs a week. I think if you keep a healthy diet and exercise, this can be increased, but I wouldnt expect extraordinary weight loss every week. Good luck!

I think this just about sums it up. I am self pay too, so I definitely know the added pressure of having to finance the whole process. Know what you are getting into, take a deep breathe, and go forward to whatever WLS you choose, if you choose it. :juggle:

The studies show that lap band and bypass have have the same amount of weight loss at 5 years. The only difference is bypass is faster. I think I would also add, that unlike bypass and the sleeve, with lap band you "keep" all the nutrition you eat, so the band requires you to have more accountability about what goes into your mouth. With that said, all of the available options have their complications and set backs. I began my journey at 347, lost 20 preop, and 13 lbs since banding last week. Good luck and make a choice that is best for you.

I keep a bottle with me all day and just sip it. If I gulp a lot, I will keep some of it in my mouth and make it into two swallows. The first few days, I used a teaspoon to sip everything and thats really what has helped with getting things into perspective of how much i should drink.

P.S you can sugar free popsicles!

Once you have gotten all the sugar you need, the rest of it is turned into fat...so if you start eating a lot of sugary things, you are just defeating your end goal. With that in mind, some sugar every once in a while is ok, you're human. The post op liquid days were not so bad for me...I wasn't very hungry. Just stick to the diet so your band doesnt slip. good luck!

hello back! I think I started around the same BMI as you, though 2 years older, hahaha. It's not an easy journey, but I think it's worth it. 3 weeks ago, I weighed 30lbs more...its all just unbelievable. Unfortunately, I have crappy student insurance, so I bypassed all the stuff you are about to go through and funded it myself. Best of luck!:tongue2:

wow, just read this and got inspired. Congrats on the success. I hope to have somewhat of the same story too. I cant believe 3 weeks ago i was 30lbs heavier. :tongue2:

25 and banded july 22, woooo!

ugh, i have gas pains and constipation :laugh: guess we all gotta go through this together. :thumbup:

I'm self pay too and I completely understand your hardship. However I have to agree with your doctor to get cardiac clearance. Your age+morbid obesity could equal disaster on the operating table. Add a history of heart palpitations isn't helpful either. Your stress tests really only looks for ischemia in the heart.The echo takes a look at the valves and how well the blood flows to different chambers of the heart. If you have sleep apnea or have ever had a bad illness in childhood, these could be affected. these tests can usually be done together, I dont know why you have gotten the run around, but the point is, you probably need these two tests. If you choose a different surgeon, be sure to collect the records of these tests, you have a right to them.

0k, so i guess I'm the only one who didnt mind the barium-kinda a mint chalk taste I had it done 2 yrs ago for potential ulcer etc...umm post op did you guys have to lay on your belly, cause i think that will really hurt, or did u just do the standing swallow test?

I think its awesome you already took initiative to make a schedule. Moving around (within reason) is really what will help you heal and also prevent things like clots and deconditioning. I think its important to advise that you make this (exercising, diet) part of your life, but don't let it become your life. You are going to have a lot of wonderful adventures coming your way, dont miss them. I wish I had this opportunity available to me at your age and the maturity to take it. The only way I could parallel this is that I let getting into med school take up a big part of my life when I was that age and now wish I had lightened up a little more, I still would have gotten in. Just as you will still reach your end goal, even if you take on a job or an extra class. Keep focused and Best of luck!

yay! good luck! mine is July 22, Wednesday. :wink2:

P.S. dont do the slim fast shakes, they have lots of sugar and will do nothing to help you. I have protein shake in morning followed by 2 snacks: either cheesestick or protein shot. For lunch or dinner I usually eat a soup of some sort (my preop diet is a full liquid diet, so I can). At night I might have a sugar free popsicle or sugar free pudding. Somewhere in there I have starbucks something or other, cause I gotta stay awake to study. I also eased into my diet by taking the first 3 days and gradually adding or subtracting one thing of another...helped me to not go crazy.

So far I have lost 19 lbs so far and its day 12 of my preop diet. I have a really busy job, so I am on my feet and running around most of the day. I'm usually too tired to do a traditional workout (I know, I know...I will start after surgery) but I add things in my day like taking the stairs if its only 1 or 2 flights or parking far.

well, every "body" is different. It's probably Lovenox and it is to reduce your chance of developing a DVT (deep venous thrombosis). Your chances are increased if you are significantly overweight (most of us are...) and if you are going to stay stationary for a long time. I would suggest contracting your calves post op to help prevent this.