honk

I totally get what you are saying! At the begining of my journey I was unemployed but getting surgery using COBRA. With my surgeon it was'nt just the doctors appointments though I did have to have my PAP, Mamogram too. They also required 3 mindful eating sessions with a psychologist that were scheduled Wed. at 3. Which if I was working would have been a major hassle. At the same time I was going to my PCP every week to get my blood clotting factor checked, to the podiatrist for my plantars wort (they are a nightmare if you've never had one!), going Boston for cat scans and MRI for the blood clot. I may have been unemployed but I need my smart phone to keep track of the doctors appointments.

It depends very much on your doctor. My insurance did not require a 6 month diet. However I'd had a blood blot in the brain that needed to be completly resolved before I could have surgery. Also my surgeon required that I lose 30-34 pounds before surgery. I lost that in 2.5 months but had to wait because of the blood clot. If your doctor requires you to loose a particular amount of weight that could determine how quickly you can have surgery.

FYI I used Dr. Brahms at Lahey in Burlington, MA and have been very happy with them.

I am allergic to codein, morphine, demerol. I had liquid tylenol and was fine. I would "keep ahead of the pain" the first couple days and take my dose every four hours. I think I was really lucky though in that I had Zero gas pain that people write about. No pain from the small incisions. Since my port incision was on the left I found it easier to lay down so that I would exit the couch to my right.

I did'nt know I had one but it makes sense considering the acid reflux I had even though 8 months before surgery I was eating low fat (no fried foods), low cal diet, small portions.

NO NOT NORMAL. I had a similar headache 2 years ago and three days latter had discovered I'd had a stroke (at 39)! Was in the hospital for 7 days. Run don't walk to an emergency room. If you surgery was recently it could have caused a bloodclot which has traveled to the brain.

I agree slim fast does not have enough protein. Event the one has has more protein than the original. Premier brand ready to drink from Costco is very good and has a more appropriate amount of protein. At day nine I was allowed to have full liquids which included tomato soup are you having "smooth soup" yet? I think that will help with your issue. Also I buy flavorless benefiber and added it to everything during that period.

For ready to drink Premier brand found at Costco is very good. Chocolate and vanilla.

" I was just thinking that by July i would be really restricted. I'm in a good restriction now and was worried it would be alot more by then, but when i went to get my 2nd fill today, I was told i didn't need it. I am still learning about the feeling and just thought I wouldnt be able to eat much by then if i keep getting fills." It sounds to me like your doctor's office is doing the right thing. If you have restriction you don't need more fill. There are people who clearly have their bands wayyyyy to tight. Some of them later post the band has slipped and has to be removed. Some keep the band soooo tight they can't eat solid Protein. They survive on low fat/cal Protein shakes and loose weight becuase they are really starving themselves. New bandsters are set up for unreasonable expectations when they hear "I am full on just a few bites". 3 oz protein alone is more than 2-3 bites.

"3. As I lose slowly I am learning so much about my relationship with food and slowly I am able to let go of bad eating habits and take on new, good ones." AMEN It has taken me 6 months to get restriction. For me this has been a will power diet. Today my boss asked me to meet someone for coffee. As I left I bought my team treats and a cofffee cake for the break room. One person was out so that cookie sat on my desk all day, and I must have passed that cake 3 times getting coffee. Did not bother me at all. That is a huge victory. I've been a slow loser because I was already on a very strick diet presurgery (7 months) and exercising 7 days a week (1 1/2 years). From my highest I would say I lost 100 pounds BEFORE surgery. I'm sure some would say I should weigh less by now but I know I'm a success.

It took me 5 months to get any restriction and another month to hit my "sweet spot" where I feel full when eating and can go 5 hour without being hungry. I am not a patient person AT ALL. I do an hour of cardio 7 days a week. I have been a slow loser. I do however lose inches which is positive. If you have'nt already done so buy a good food scale.

At week three I was able to have cottage cheese and ricotta and smooth soups (tomato). I would space out your food, have soup and then a hour later the protein. As previously mentioned this is a willpower diet until your fills start helping. Took me 5 months to get any restriction and 6 before I was at the sweet spot. Buy a good food scale and measure everything. My nutritionist approved a low fat cheese stick or low cal/fat protein shake as a prework out snack since sometimes I have 7+ hours between lunch and dinner.

I would not get an unfil for a vacation/event. It took me 6 months to get restriction no way would I want to start from scratch. Also my doctor says you should be able to eat 3 oz of protein and cup of veggies. If you can't eat that amount you are too tight. If you want an unfill because you are eating less than that and want to "enjoy" vacation I would say to unfill to the point where you can eat the amount mentioned above.

I have never gotten stuck from bread. I do take care to chew well. I have made the decision to eat bread sparingly because it's high in carbs and thus calories. I can also eat rice and pasta if I want; again I choose to eat it rarely. What has gotten stuck? Baby carrots, serveral times. I've learned I have to eat them with hummus.

Yes Lovenox is an injectable blood thinner. At 39 I had a TIA (Think ministroke) out of nowhere no warning (never on birthcontrol). I would much rather have a couple shots than worry about having another blood clot to the brain. It was petrifying!

At about 4 months I also started to loose a lot of hair. I started to take Biotin. The hair loss has stopped but can't really say whether it was the Biotin or not.

My insurance did not have a supervised diet but my doctor required that I loose 30-34 pounds presurgery. I had a blood clot tht was not fully resolved so I ended up having to wait 7.5 months. Does your doctor have you attend mindful eating group sessions? If not see if your insurance covers psychiatry visits and see someone who specializes in eating disorders. This is at least a 50% mental battle. Esp. until you hit restriction from fills which took me 6 months. The band will never prevent you from eating ice cream or candy. EVER. Anything that melts in your mouth slips through the band. While the insurance company is using this to weed people out; this is the time for you to learn and live new food habits. I ended up loosing 50 pounds from my first consult to surgery. How happy would you be to 50 lighter when you have surgery?

Sorry Hamilton Beach

Hamilton Beech individual blender $15 at Walmart and Target.

I have become a gassy person. I don't think I was very gassy before surgery. You can try Gas Ex/Beano they have for the whole day pills.

This is mostly true for me "I avoid white carbs (bread, potatoes, rice, Pasta & corn), but eat other veggie carbs.. broccoli, Beans, onions, carrots, etc. I avoid processed carbs as much as I can .. crackers, chips, etc.". I do have Greek yoghurt for Breakfast but add Protein powder. My other processed carbs is hummus which I dip my veggies in at lunch (now that I am at restriction sometimes 1 tablespoon). I do exercise 6-7 days a week. On the weekends if I won't to have a brunch of eggs whites and pancakes I do but that's really more of my treat for the week. I don't ever have dessert and I am not a drinker.

I would talk to your doctor bout how long after surgery you should wait. In general though thin people give blood. My goal is to eat like a thin person. So If I've eating the same amount as a thin person I should be able to give blood like a thin person.

I had to have my gallbladder removed after I lost over 100 pounds when I was 19 (20 years before my WLS surgery). Really has nothing to do with vitamin assorption more about your body's ability to digest fat. I second a previous poster. Do WHATEVER you can to avoid a gall bladder attack. Bad ones make it painful to even breath! HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!

I agree 5 months seems excessive.

My periods used to be 28 day cycles, I am now down to 21. In January I had two periods. My Gyn said that as long as I don't continue to have mulitple period months going to a shorter cycle is normal at my age (41).