TexasT
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Everything posted by TexasT
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new to this -- band or sleeve????
TexasT replied to LydiaHough's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I lived with a band for 3.5yrs and was miserable. I lost about 50lbs right away, then stopped and gained about 10 back. My surgeon told me that "most" band patients end up having complications with it eventually 3-5 years out. The area where they sew the port into your body is never the same. You can feel it under your skin and it can get caught up under your ribs after you lose weight. Lots of the people that are revised to the sleeve end up with hiatal hernias in the area around the band. That happened to me. In my opinion, bands are bad news. I love my sleeve and have had nothing but successful weight loss since I got it in January. -
My favorite mushy was refried black Beans pureed with my stick blender. It's got Protein and Fiber. Put some shredded cheese on top and warm in the microwave. I also loved me some Cream of Wheat with cinnamon and a touch of brown sugar. I know it has tons of sodium, but I also ate a couple of small cans of Deviled Ham, just a few bites at a time. Also had creamy Peanut Butter, lots of yogurt, and pureed tuna salad.
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Vitamins/hair loss/healing
TexasT replied to Austinmom's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I take the Bariatric Advantage Cinnamon Calcium tablets and they taste amazing. I got some free samples at the hospital, tried a few other kinds, then bought these. I got mine on www.dietdirect.com. Their prices were better than the Bariatric Advantage site. They also sent me some free samples, which caused me to send them another order. I'm getting BariWise protein bars and hot chocolate too. But that's another topic - sorry to digress! -
Glad to hear you're doing so well girl. My favorite thing to eat on mushies was refried black Beans. I would puree them with my stick blender until completely smooth. I LOVE Mexican food, so I this helped me deal with my "salsa withdrawals". Black beans had more Protein than regular refried beans, plus I just like them better. Towards the end of the mushy stage I put a few small bits of jalapenos in also and blended completely smooth. Gave it a great flavor. You can also top with a little cheese and warm it all up in the microwave. My "comfort food" at that time was Cream of Wheat. I used to eat the heck out of it when I was a little girl, so it's just one of those warm foods that make me feel good inside.
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I started eating tiny salads as soon as I was off mushies and have had no problem. I don't have anything but lettuce and a few shredded carrots (as far as veggies go) right now. I'm going to wait awhile to add back the broccoli, etc. I put on a tiny bit of shredded cheese and lowfat dressing and feel like I'm in heaven! I had a lapband, and wasn't able to eat salads for 3.5 years. That was something I missed so much and am so happy I can eat them again! :confused1:
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No clue about the insurance - you'll have to ask your future hubby to check his policy. They're all different. I also had a band and was self-pay for it and the revision surgery. You're lucky to be in TX, as we have plenty of great bariatric surgeons to choose from. When I had the band, I lost all of my weight in the first three months. Then I too put some of it back on. It's too easy to "eat around the band" by eating high-calorie "slider" foods. As long as your tummy is still the same size as before, you can slide a lot of queso, ice cream, etc. down that small hole and keep those pounds on. I love having the sleeve now as I don't have a choice about eating too much or not. Also, since getting it, sweet things like colas and ice cream nauseate me, so they are no longer on the menu and are one less thing to worry about making me fat again.
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Thanks for the photo comment. I do have some loose skin under my neck since the fat is gone, but it's not any worse than other women our age. My tummy is almost flat now, but after two C-sections, a hysterectomy, a lap-band, then this past surgery (lap-band out, hernia repair, gall bladder out, then sleeved) I'm not exactly in the run for being a swimsuit model - ha! I could use a mini-tummy tuck, but can't afford it nor want more abdominal surgery unless necessary. I don't have a huge flap of skin hanging down and can fit in a sz 10 pant, so at my age I'm happy with how I look (and so is my husband). So far, I've not had any issues with hair loss - either with the band or the sleeve. But I've always had tons of hair anyway. Maybe the thinner your hair is before surgery the harder it might be to hold on to it after, but I don't know. I just know you have to keep at that protein and not get behind. Good luck with your surgery - I'm sure you'll do great!
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My favorite has been the Isopure Ready-to-drink bottles. They are a clear liquid with 40g of protein per bottle. They taste like watered-down Kool-aid. GNC and Vitamine Shoppes have them in a cooler so you can buy one of several flavors to find one you like. I tried about 4 flavors and found one I like the best. They are 1000 times better than the bullets. Those made me gag! I tried the powered Isopure, but didn't care for it. I'd rather pay a little more for something I will actually use.
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Sleeve vs. Band please help!
TexasT replied to chrissysodapop's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
In my opinion they should "Ban the Band!" - ha! It is such a nightmare, and many of us don't know how it has messed up our insides until we have it removed. I also had an undiagnosed hiatal hernia. When I went to my surgeon to check my band and make sure that's not what was causing my pain, he told me that a lot of band patients start to have issues with it 3+ yrs after surgery. That's when he explained the sleeve to me. I also needed to have my gall bladder removed, so I made the decision to have it all done at once. The pain I had a year before my sleeve surgery is now gone, and even with getting a hematoma in the area my band port was in after my sleeve surgery, I'm completely happy with my decision. One of the things I'm enjoying now is being able to eat fruits and salads again. Do people realize they can't eat them with the band - NO! These are healthy foods that I wasn't able to eat for 3.5 years - something about that is VERY wrong. Go with the sleeve and you won't have any regrets. -
Hunger...It Really Does Get Better
TexasT replied to Keys Pirate's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
I'm also on Nexium, but still feeling hunger. I didn't have it right after surgery (done on 1/8/10), but it seems to be getting worse instead of better. I'll keep the faith that it might eventually get better. At least I can eat a couple of bites of something and it will be gone though. -
Denosia, glad to hear all went well. Did you let them know at the hospital or Dr. B's office that you were nauseated? They will give you meds for that. There's no reason to suffer if you don't have to. I hope you feel better soon. Dr. B fixed a hiatial hernia for me also. Guess they are more common for those of us that had bands. How did you like Forest Park? Were they nice to you there? Tell your relatives here in Texas to take good care of you - ha! I'm sure they will. When you get back to MS you can tell everyone that you got snowed on in TX - crazy weather, huh? When you go in to get your staples out next week, be prepared for a wait in the office just in case. I usually bring a book when I go there. Sometimes they get pretty backed up. You will see Dr. Thompson for follow-up. His wife has a sleeve, so besides working with patients he lives with it every day. Very knowledgeable guy. So, what did you think of Dr. B? Cutie, huh?
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Frustrated! Not losing!!
TexasT replied to suryfer's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Unfortunately I DO feel hungry, which I was totally shocked about. Right after surgery I had no hunger, but now I have it all the time. So I guess for some of us, that's normal. As for carbs, I don't have an answer for that. My doc didn't talk to me about it since I was a revision and so close to goal already. A lot of people had to talk to dietitions and they had guidelines for that. Hopefully one of them can offer some advice. -
Frustrated! Not losing!!
TexasT replied to suryfer's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
This is completely normal, and I understand your frustration. Remember that our bodies are programmed to hold onto fat - helpful in times of scarcity and/or cave-man days, but un-needed in this day and age. Your body will fight you to keep what it thinks are essential nutrients to prevent it from starving to death. When you drastically cut down on calories, your body goes into overdrive to hold on to what it can. Increasing your Protein intake usually helps (this helped break me out of a stall), along with increasing excercise. Even light exercise EVERY day will help. Your sleeve is working fine as long as you're not in pain. Your body will eventually "get on the program" and know what to do. You've made great progress so far. Most likely this will not be your last stall, but just know that you will keep losing at a slow and steady pace. One day you'll hop on the scale and be shocked by what you see. Just keep doing what you're doing and try not to be a slave to the scale. Good luck! -
I was revised from band to sleeve on Jan. 8. I'm down 20/lbs and walk on the 'dreadmill' about 2 miles a day. Feeling great. My weight loss has been slower because I'm only 10/lbs away from goal.
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I echo the thoughts of everyone else and say don't let your age get in the way of living the best life you can! And that means using the sleeve to help you reach your weight loss goals. Losing that excess weight will help you look and feel much younger also. I'll be 49 this month and feel better than I have since I was in my 20's. The only negative thing about losing weight at this age is noticing that my fat was "filling out" some of my wrinkles. Now that the fat is gone, the skin sags a bit here and there. But that's a small price to pay to be in better health. Go for it!!!:001_tongue:
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I meant WLS in general is hard, not the sleeve. Be prepared to deal with others and their reactions. Will they be jealous, proud, resentful, etc. What do you tell people about your weight loss? Challenges to eating out - what to order, how much, what to tell waiter asking if food was bad since you only ate a few bites. Be prepared for liquid diet. Before surgery you'll get hungry, but realize with sleeve hunger hormones will be less, so it's easier to do liquids. Expect to get to the point of thinking "if I have to drink ONE MORE protein drink I'm going to gag!"
Living with the sleeve is easy compared to life with a lapband. The hunger is still there, but MUCH less. All of my co-morbidities previous to WLS are gone. I walk about 2miles/day and feel great. All the mental and physical challenges leading up to this have been worth it.
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Questions! Questions! Questions!
TexasT replied to geniseg_2000's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
First of all let me chime in with my hatred of the band - I'm shouting from the rooftop to all who will hear - DO NOT GET THE BAND!!! You can search my other posts for the reasons if you want. Now, let me jump off the roof and change topics. There - now regarding sleep apnea. I also had VERY BAD sleep apnea before WLS and was on a C-PAP machine (it's not a very sexy look at bedtime, is it? But at least it keeps you alive). After getting the band and losing weight it totally resolved and I no longer suffer from it. Losing weight is the best thing you can do for this condition. Continue seeing your doctor and let them decide when you can wean off the machine. Good luck! -
With that formula, I would end up with a BMI of 27, which is still considered overweight for my height. My doc wants me to have a BMI of 23-24, and I think that weight will be good for me. I'm almost there...I can see that light at the end of the tunnel.
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Hello Julianne and welcome to the board. I won't go into it now, but whatever you do DO NOT get a band. That said, I used to have sleep apnea also, along with high cholesterol and triglycerides and depression that I took meds for. Now at 70/lbs less I no longer have ANY of those problems and am off the C-PAP machine and meds. I feel great and am so happy now. You'll love the sleeve. It will change your life!
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Isopure has a ready-made bottle in lots of flavors that has 40g in 20 ounces. It's more expensive that powders, but tastes better to me. I use both (powders and bottles), but the ready-made Isopure is kind of like watered-down Kool-Aid and quenches my thirst unlike the thick drinks.
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pre pre-op diet.....
TexasT replied to HEARTONMYSLEEVE's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Protein drinks are never really "fun", but at least after surgery the "hunger hormones" are much less (if not all gone) so you're not hungry and may not even care if you eat or not. So I guess you could say it's easier than pre-op that way. Look at the food section of this website to get lots of ideas of things to add to your shakes to make them taste better, etc. Having a variety of shakes (thick, thin, pre-made, etc.) will help make it more tolerable. I found some protein hot chocolate that's pretty darn good from a company called BariWise. I only have to drink 8oz for 15 grams. It's quick, easy and tastes good. They also make a shake/pudding mix that's not bad. Good luck! -
Vitamin Shoppe will also let you return items if you don't like them. I buy their ready-to-drink Isopure in bottles that have 42g of Protein in each drink. I tried the powdered Isopure and couldn't handle it. I do like the nectar brand - I have vanilla which you can mix with just about any fruit, extract, etc. As for a hot drink, which feels so good after surgery too, I use BariWise hot chocolate mix. It has 15g of protein in just an 8oz serving. I buy mine from the Diet Direct website, but other websites also sell that brand. It tastes even better to me than regular hot chocolate mix. They have a Variety box with all their flavors in it. I've tried them all so far and the Cinnamon is my favorite. Since it's the end of the season, these are on sale at a pretty good price right now.
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I needed my gall bladder out and was also having vague pain in the area near my port. My surgeon, who put in my band, told me about the sleeve and suggested I go ahead and have it done all at once if I was interested in the sleeve. I really hated the band, so once I did my research I was all for it. I ended up having a large hiatal hernia in the area near my band. My surgeon is Dr. Wade Barker.
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Checking into the Sleeve Surgery
TexasT replied to Sleeved and Relieved's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
It drove me crazy at the New Year to see all the Lapband commercials on TV - I wanted to scream DON'T DO IT!!! to anyone considering getting one. I had a band for over 3.5/yrs. For the last year I was having vague abdominal pain that 4 docs couldn't figure out. An ultrasound showed I DID have gall stones, but that wasn't really where the pain came from. I went to my band surgeon to make sure it was OK and not the cause of my pain. He told me that most people start having complications from the band at 3-5 yrs post-op and suggested the sleeve to me. After doing research, I decided to have the revision done. During surgery, the doctor discovered a large hiatal hernia right by the band and close to the port. With the band gone and hernia repaired I feel like a new person. DO NOT GET THE BAND - whatever you do. I feel that sewing the port into your body like they do is very damaging and can cause a lot of issues. I ended up with a large hematoma that burst open after my sleeve surgery because removing the port left such a big open hole in my body. I'm very happy with my sleeve and wish it had been an option 4 yrs ago when I got the band. -
As for the hair loss - I never had it with the band, and I haven't had it with the sleeve. I've got plenty of hair and it grows like crazy. As for the hubby, I'm lucky that mine has always had my back no matter what I've done. When I had my sleeve in January he took it upon himself to change his eating habits also and has lost 15/lbs. He also started on the treadmill too. I think he wanted to look better for me since I looked better for him (although, that's not the reason I did this!). So many people need a little counseling to learn how to live with their different bodies, eating habits, etc. after WLS. It would be great if your husband could talk to someone with you to see why he's not happy about your decision. You're doing something to make yourself happier and healthier, and to have an even longer life WITH HIM. He should be happy about this and not resentful - it sounds like he has some issues himself that a counselor could help him deal with. I wish you the best!