ElfiePoo

It's normal to have 'cold feet' before any life changing event. I'm 16 months post band and am getting my band out in a couple weeks because I'm one of those who has constant and severe enough shoulder pain (phrenic nerve pain) that it's affecting my life. Not trying to scare you since there are many people who never get this pain or who get it and it goes away. However, I do not regret getting my band. Over the last 16 months I've developed some very good habits that, despite my complete unfill in preparation for surgery, I'm still doing automatically (small bites, chewing well, eating slowly). Also, I know it's scary to think of giving up all your 'favorites' (like McDonalds) but (1) you really don't have to give them up completely, although you might find some items a little more difficult with the band (like the top bun or both buns); and (2) 16 months down the road you may find they aren't favorites anymore...as I did. Plus...it really is a mind altering event. It changes how we look at food...or did for me. On the way back from getting my unfill last Monday, my son wanted to stop at Joe's Crab Shack. For a second my mind went "ooo yum" and thought of all the things I couldn't eat with my band...but as we sat there looking at the menu, I realized that I really didn't want those things anymore. I just kept thinking of the progress I was making and decided to go hold the chowder and appetizer and just go with the crab legs. Definitely progress from a year and a half ago when I would've had the chowder, an appetizer and an entree complete with fries and several drinks! So have your cold feet...it's normal...and move forward confidently. .

I don't know that it does any good trying to explain. These people have no clue what it's like to be hungry all the time. They eat a meal and the hunger goes away for several hours. Their belief that we can do it just by eating only when we're hungry, eating less and exercising is rooted in their belief that fat people are lazy slobs who lack self control and discipline. If I lacked self-control and discipline, I'd weigh 600 pounds. The *only* reason I don't is because I've spent my life dieting and starving. When one of my relatives said I just need to suck it up and be hungry...cuz all it takes is self-control...I told him let's have a challenge. We'll both eat 500 calories per day (cuz it doesn't matter to me...I was hungry eating 500 calories or 2000 calories) and see who 'breaks' first. He already knew he wouldn't last a day because he was supposed to be on Clear Liquids the day before his triple heart bypass and didn't make it until noon...and that was with tremendous motivation and knowing it was only going to be one day. (Yes, they cancelled his surgery.) People who don't deal with constant unrelenting hunger, don't 'get it' and I don't think they ever will. .

ROFLMAO! .

For many people, hunger is the driving force that makes them eventually go off their diet. Hunger batters at a person and no matter how great their will power, they'll usually cave. The band *should* take care of that and when it does, we have a greater chance at succeeding. That's the 'tool'. To be honest, I think people downplay the 'will power' aspect because it does take will power to *choose* to put down the fork even when the food is so scrumptious that we want seconds. It takes will power to *choose* not to eat that favorite, but bad for us, food even though we want it soooo bad. It takes willpower to continue to make those right choices even when we don't see the weight loss as fast as we'd like to. If you can do a 2 week detox and go on weight watchers successfully...and stay on it despite the hunger, then I'd say 'do it'. Don't waste your money on the band. My .02 after 16 months with the band and no physical restriction despite being overfilled at one point (and *many* people never get physical restriction)...if hunger isn't your problem, don't waste your money on the band. With few exceptions, the band won't stop you from overeating. It definitely won't stop you from making bad choices. It won't stop you from grazing all day. .

And once again you believe it is your right to tell others what their opinion and beliefs should be. I said "in my opinion"...and in my opinion, being fat is better than slicing and dicing my insides. If someone else believes differently, then that is their right. Just as it is my right to have my opinion. In my opinion, there are worse things than being fat...and that includes the potential for a lower quality of life...which *many* bypass patients have as a result of the problems related to malabsorption. Someone else may not feel that way. *I* do. Since it is my 'opinion'...is is neither ignorant, nor incorrect. Back you go on my ignore list. .

Great news! Glad to know the problem was fixed and it wasn't as bad as it was originally thought! .

My surgeon said I'd know if my band slipped because there would be pain and I'd probably start throwing up. It may be different for everyone. .

Most nutritionists still believe caffeine is dehydrating but research shows it's just a myth. Medicine.net and other sites have the related data. They say caffeine also stimulates the appetite but, again, there's no evidence to support this. Caffeine does, however, have an effect on insulin production so if you have hypoglycemia or diabetes, it may increase appetite/cravings as a result of that blood sugar swing. I gave up caffeine years ago because it caused massive blood sugar crashes to the point where I thought I was going to pass out. In my seminar, people asked whether they had to give up caffeine. The response was "only if you have a problem with it". .

I also answered this in another thread, but it sounds as if you need an unfill. My surgeon said if I can't eat the things I need to (protein & vegies) and I'm following the rules, then I have too much fill. That way leads only to constant stuck episodes, which leads to swelling, which leads to even more problems eating the things we need too...and falling back on the sliders (junk food which seems to have no problem at all with the band). If you weren't hungry, why did you get the fill (just curious)...since no hunger means we're at our sweet spot. My .02...I'd drop back down to the previous fill level and be kind to the band while the swelling goes down. .

This was me last summer...right before a complete unfill so my band area could heal from the swelling due to constant stuck episodes. According to my surgeon, if I was following the rules of small toddler sized bites, chewing well and eating slowly...and no drinking with meals...and still unable to eat protein or vegies, then I had too much fill and each stuck episode caused me to swell further just exacerbating the problem, leading me to eat sliders - sweets, chips, etc. So he took all the fill out and let me 'rest' for 6 weeks. Then we started putting the fill back in. I ended up with almost 2cc less. My .02...get some fill taken out and be kind to your band while the swelling goes down. .

You all are cracking me up...because I've 'been there done that' when I started low carbing. My husband wanted to stick me in a padded closet and throw away the key. I felt like a crack addict going through withdrawal...and that's when it hit me...I *was* going through withdrawal! I've done low carb on and off over the years but I always thought of it as a diet. This time, I'm treating carbs the way an alcoholic treats alcohol...and I've been much more successful because it's shaped *how* I think about them. They aren't just something I have to give up for a time...they're something I have to avoid completely. If you can go cold turkey and cut your carbs all at one time (and not kill everyone around you), then do it. If you don't cheat even a little bit, by the beginning of week two, you'll notice a lessening of the cravings and you'll start to feel better. By the end of week two, you should feel pretty good and energetic. If you cheat even once, you're starting the whole process over. If that's too much, then do it in stages. It's better to do it slowly and be successful, than never get through that induction period at all. Week one - cut the sugar. I also cut out the artificial sweetener because that sweet taste in my mouth makes me crave sweets/carbs. If you can get rid of it, do it...but if you can't, don't stress too much about it. Same with caffeine. If you can get rid of it, do it...but if you can't, I know many low carbers who won't give up their caffeinated coffee, tea or diet drinks. Caffeine tends to stimulate cravings so if you can cut back or eliminate, all the better. When I first started, I drank decaf tea and coffee and the Crystal Lite cherry pomegranate drinks. Now I only do the coffee, tea and water. Week two - cut out the wheat products. You can still have rice, potatoes and beans...but no wheat, not even 'whole grain'. By doing this, you'll automatically be bringing your carbs down. Week three - eliminate all carbs except those found in vegies. Again, your carbs will automatically reduce. Week four - drop your carbs to at least 60gm. After that you can lower them as much as you like, but 30-60gm is considered low carb. The only trick to doing low carb successfully is understanding that even *one* cheat will get those carbs into your system and start the cravings all over. Most likely due to the insulin response. The nice thing about dropping your carbs down to 30gm per day is that you can eat a higher fat diet (and fat is what quiets the hunger). A high carb, high fat diet leads to health problems. A low carb, high fat diet doesn't. I get lab work done every 6 months due to my diabetes and after 6 months of consistently eating a low carb (below 30gm per day) diet that is considered high fat (60-70% - 60-70gm on a 1000 calorie diet)...and my LDL/HDL is in normal range and I'm no longer taking insulin. Here's what I had to eat yesterday. This is a typical day for me now. If you want to know what I ate during my first week of total carb withdrawal...triple it. Seriously, I was eating like 2500 calories, 30gm carbs per day for the first week or so. So, yesterday's menu: B: 1 egg cooked in .2 oz butter and 2 slices bacon (.5 oz) L: Chef's salad with 1.5 cups romaine, chopped hard boiled egg, 1 oz diced chicken, .5 oz crumbled bacon and 2 Tbs of homemade full fat blue cheese dressing D: 3 oz pork chop fried in 1 Tbs olive oil, 1 cup asparagus with .5 oz lemon pepper herbed butter Snack: Sugar free jello with .5 oz whipped cream Most people thing "whoa...look at the fat in this diet". Yep...and that's what keeps me from getting hungry. About 3 weeks ago, when I realized I was most likely going to lose this band, I got very serious about my diet. No 'little' cheats here and there. I forced myself to eat only at meals (7 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.) and if hungry between, I drank lots of warm tea and chicken broth. Now I don't get hungry between meals. I attribute that to no blood sugar swings because no carbs to react to. After a year of losing 1 lb per week. I've lost 13 pounds in the last 3 weeks. I'd say the difference is consistency and lowering my carbs (mine are under 20gm these days). Hope this answers everyone's questions and I hope it didn't come off as preachy. We all need to find the WOE that works for us...and this works for me. .

The raw food diet I'm familiar with does not include meats. It's a vegetarian diet. I was a bit enamored of this a couple years ago and managed to last about a month during the summer. I had to quit because I started having intestinal issues...which apparently is not uncommon for people who stay on this. The only problems I see at first glance is that raw vegetables, unless made into smoothies (and now you're drinking your meals again), can be a problem with the band once you get closer to your sweet spot. I didn't hit my sweet spot until about 7cc but raw vegies became a thing of the past for me at around 4cc. Also, if you have any kind of blood sugar problem, the fruit may cause blood sugar swings which will lead to cravings and hunger. I'm not sure how you'd get your Protein in. I know vegetarians get it by combining things like Beans and rice and tofu (which are all cooked), but I don't know where you'd get it from fruits and vegetables. YMMV. .

Yes...love him...but then I've been an advocate of low carb for decades. He does have a blog too if you're interested. A google search will pull it up. .

Remember, most people need fills (sometimes man) before the hunger goes away. It could be months before the band kicks in. In the meantime, start controlling your eating habits now because even when the band is working, it won't control what you eat or, most likely, even how much you can eat. Most surgeons give band patients a postop diet that excludes sugar and often limits carbs. Reducing/eliminating both helps get rid of the cravings. You don't need to go cold turkey. You can reduce your carbs slowly. Start by excluding all sugar for one week. The second week eliminate anything made with wheat (bread, Pasta, etc.). The next week exclude all carbs except vegies. By the fourth week you can drop your carbs down to about 60. If you want to drop them further you want. I eat 30gm or less carbs per day. .

My insurance company also paid 40k and they paid 100%...no copay or deductible. I have no clue what the surgeon got because I don't get a breakdown. I did get very friendly with a woman in the waiting room once when getting a fill. She said she was self-pay...had no insurance and her total self pay was around 8k. When my sister had no insurance, her doctors would charge her $40 for an office visit...while they charged insurance patients $80. .

White bread, rice, etc. are considered low residue? Do you have to stay on this permanently or is this just a temporary thing? .

I count *all* carbs because even the vegie carbs can add up and for those of us who are sensitive to carbs, it makes a difference. Over the last year my carb count has fluctuated between 30-60gm per day. I've averaged out at less than 1 lb per week even though my calories were right around 1200-1300. For a month I dropped my calories to around 900 and kept my carbs the same. I actually loss less weight that month. Over the last 2 weeks I've lost about 12 pounds after dropping my carbs to less than 20gm consistently. I'm fortunate that my diabetes specialist does not buy into the traditional approach of treating diabetes. Assuming her patients do not already have compromised kidneys, she recommends a diet very similar to mine and does not have a problem with ketosis (which many people confuse with the toxic condition of ketoacidosis). The only difference is that she'd be happier if I'd drop my fats down from 60% to 30% but since my LDL/HDL and other blood work are in a very good range, she isn't busting my chops about it...and it's the fat that keeps me sated and allows me to go 4-5 hours between meals. .

Nelly, Sounds like you have two things going on - not yet at restriction...and not losing weight. I don't know what your required portions are, but if you're stopping at them, then you should be losing weight. Are you tracking what you eat? Perhaps there are hidden calories and carbs that are stopping your weight loss? I use Fitday.com to record everything I stick in my mouth. It's surprising how both calories and carbs add up. Restriction is...well...when it is. As long as you're hungry and wanting to eat, you still aren't at your 'sweet spot'. If you reach the point where you can't eat the foods you need to (Protein and vegies) without constantly getting stuck, then you're overfilled and need them to back the fill off *just a bit* (assuming you're following the rules for toddler sized bites, chew well and eat slowly and no drinking with meals). If you think you're still hungry and you're so tight you're constantly getting stuck, there are two possibilities. The first is that you need to take a long hard look at what you're eating and how you're eating to make sure you aren't just 'craving' and have a desire to eat (something the band doesn't seem to do much about). The other possibility is that you may be one of those the band doesn't work for.

So, my band is empty and the doctor has scheduled me for band removal on March 23rd. So far, the past few days haven't been bad but it is apparent that the band has changed some of my old bad habits. I no longer eat all day. I'm a 2-3 meal a day girl and quite content. I also take longer to eat and do a better job at chewing my food. Pre-band, I was always the first one done at the table most likely because I'd take a bite, chew 2-3 times and swallow. I plan on continuing both of these practices because I think they may be part of the key to not overeating. So far, no hunger and I'm eating about 900 calories per day. Amazing, since I used to *starve* on a 1200 calorie diet. Perhaps the difference is that my blood sugar is stable for the first time in decades...no blood sugar swings from hypoglycemia or diabetes. I'm sure in large part due to the fact that my carbs are below 30gm and only come from vegies. If my hunger doesn't come back, I'm going to be a bit po'd at all the years of obesity due to a hunger that could so easily have been controlled by eliminating grains and starches which rapidly effect my blood sugar. In the meantime, I'm enjoying being able to eat without *any* stuck episodes and am looking forward to my chef's salad for lunch made with real romaine...which I haven't been able to eat since I started getting fills! Woohoo! . .

<br /><br /><br /> And for those who wonder why we complain...THIS is why. The band manufacturers and surgeons are still leading people to believe that the band will physically restrict how much we eat...which is why many of us got the band in the first place...and it does not for most of us. It should, at some point, give you a cessation of hunger...but it won't deal with the head hunger. That one is all up to us. I can only tell you what's working for me in that respect. I found that when I dropped my carbs below 30gm per day and eliminated all sweeteners including the sugar free and all wheat and gluten, my head hunger dropped dramatically. After about one week of *rigidly* sticking to this plan, I found I was eating 900 calories per day when prior to that I was struggling every day just to stay at 1200. I thought I'd just found my sweet spot, but I had my band completely unfilled now for a few days and still no hunger or craving to eat. Maybe try that and see if it doesn't help with the head hunger...which I think isn't just in the head but is an insulin reaction (even for nondiabetics) to the wheat and gluten. The sugar free stuff still keeps us craving junk because it's reminding our head what it tastes like. Anyway...my .02...and good luck. .

It's ok, Mattie. Just eat less, exercise more and everything will be just fine. <running>

Yes, I had one. They put it in after I was asleep and took it out when it was apparent I was recovered enough from the anesthesia that I could make it to the bathroom without falling into the toilet. No biggie. .

I had a c-section at midnight and was out of bed at 10 a.m. that morning and walking down to the nursery. I was back at work a little over 2 weeks later (teaching elementary school). Lap band surgery one morning, back to work half day the next day and then full-time after that. On a scale of 1 to 10 for pain....c-section was about a 6....lapband 1. Pain may be too strong of a word. It was more an uncomfortableness. I never filled my pain meds. Now, talk to me about paper cuts though. Those are a 10. .

My husband and I travel by car a lot and I just pack the same things I'd eat at home. My favorite is a chef's salad. I just carry little baggies of bacon, chopped hard boiled egg, ham, bibb lettuce and a container of my homemade blue cheese dressing. Tuna or chicken salad made with mayo and celery, served on some tomato slices. Ham and cheese rollups (with a pickle in the middle). Sugar free jello cups.

My calories are also at 1200, my fat is 70-80gm (about 60%) and 15-30gm carbs. At least for me, carbs count. When I increase my carbs to around 60, keeping my calories and fat the same, I don't lose...or worse, will gain over time. I'd dump the ketostix. They're expensive and aren't really a good measure of 'ketosis' anyway because if you drink a lot of Water, they may not change purple even if you're in ketosis. If you keep your carbs below 30, most likely you'll be in ketosis anyway. I can tell by the taste in my mouth. .