honk

Wendy, Hi. I had my surgery at Lahey with Dr. Brahms in 8/2010. I was at 332 at my first consult. I was told I had to loose 35 pounds before surgery. Dr. Brahms does not have a 2 weeks preop diet but he does like HMR 500. Which is a medically supervised liquids diet of five, 100 calorie drinks. Some people do this diet for MONTHS! I bought about months worth but ended up getting allergy like effects in the back of my throat so I stopped drinking them. I also lost nothing in 6 days (when he said I would loose a pound a day.). I wonder if I should have gotten the 14 cc band instead of the 11 CC. I did not get restriction until 10.6 ccs. Really important are the 3 sessions he requries with a therapist that specializes in eating disorders. I did loose 50 pounds before surgery (which was delayed because of other heath issues.). I REALLY like Pam O'Brien (nurse practioner). She is however VERYstraight forward. She does not sugar coat.

Not on Creator but take CoQ10 while on simviststin for Cholesterol.

I agree crunchy is bad. Water aerobics can be pretty intense. Speak with the instructor and ask how to make the water work out harder. Classes are often conducted with older people in mind; but you can make them MUCH harder.

I don't mind general walking or even walking UP stairs. I have a bad knee however and try to avoid walking DOWN stairs. I fell going down the stairs at work on time. The elevator at my work parking garage is the SLOWEST!

Easy spirit are good for me because I have the world's widest feet. Down 170 pounds and I still take Double Wide!

Where are you going? I was very happy with Dr. Brahms at Lahey.

I am two years out and have had maybe 3 stuck episodes and none since hitting restriction. Only things I have troubel with are plain raw baby carrots and cheap white bread that gets really gummy when you chew it.

I did not get restriction until 10.6 cc's in a 11 cc band. I am a slow loser. Part of that I think is because I had lost 100 pounds preop. For six months after getting restriction I was doing 1.5-2.5 hours of cardio 7 days a week; eating less than 1200 cals a day and loosing less than 1 pound a week.

You've lost 25 pounds in a month!!!! You also have 5cc's which is a huge amount of fill for someone at your stage. This is a will power diet until you get restriction. Both for food portions AND food choices. Ar you exercising? Until I went back to work after being unemployed I was doing up to 2.5 hours 7 days a week and loosing less than a pound a week.

Do you have a gall bladder? That's what an attack feels like.

I started in the 380's and am now at 210. I have little to no excess skin. Where I notice it the most is under my chin where I had multiple chins; and some bat wing underarms. All things considered though that's not that bad! And I'm 42.

That's too bad. Now that I'm at restrition occationally on Sun. I go to Costco make the rounds and have a free lunch.

I found the more full my band got the more I really needed to wait on soids.

Are you exercising? Most of us won't loose without it.

Two years out and still way more gassy than I was presurgery. It is controllable though. I visit the bathroom several times a day at work just to deal with the gas.

Are you supposed to be on solids at this point? I was still on mushies on day 19. In general my doctor says 3 z of solid protein plus veggies so I don't think you are over eating. Remember when you're on a super low cal liquid diet you loose weight faster than eating higher cal. solids (even if those solids are healthy foods).

Estrogen is stored in fat cells. As the fat is burned the estrogen gets released. That could be affecting you. My TOM was messed up for the first six months. My OBG didn't think they were related but I think they were.

I am a corporate recruiter took 7 business days off including day of surgery. Had two week ends as well so 11 days.

Really depends on your surgeon. First consult was actually with Nurse Practitioner, Therapist, Nutrionist (no surgeon). They needed to determine if I was a fit surgery before he became involved. I was told to loose 35 pounds before surgery. Urrgg which I did in 3 months. Had to show that I'd completed the following in the last year: physical, pap smear, mammogram, cardio ultrasound. There was monthly checkins with the nurse practioner to see if I was loosing weight; and monthly meetings with the Nut. My doctor also required 3 sessions with a Psychologist who specialized in eating disorders. If your doctor does not have this ask them to refer you to one! So helpful in understanding why you over eat. At the end meeting with Anesthesiologist/preop labs. A class on what/how to eat the first month post op. .

As mentioned above no one else esp. coworkers have to live in YOUR body. I had a stroke at 39 (was a realtively healthy fat person). Do they plan on caring for you? I doubt it. Again as previously mentioned the band helps you keep the course. For me being on a "diet" is hard work (yes this is a lifestle). I have to constantly choose the right foods. Three times in my life I've lost over 100 pounds and gained it back. I eventually get TIRED of constantly having to actively choose to eat small portions. The band will never help you choose healthy foods. Ice cream, candy, crackers will slide right through the band and never make you feel full. The band will help you stay full longer if you eat solid Protein and veggies. Once at restriction the band will give you satiation for up to 5 hours. This will help you pass up mid afternoon Snacks (you know the brownies someone brings out after lunch). You can not sustain the preop diet for the rest of your life. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE. You can not eat liquids only for ever. The band will help you eat like a thin person. Tell them that. Notice I said help; not FORCE. Thin people occationally have treats. That treat may be a brownie for you or a cheeseburger. The key there is occationally, and it's a small portion not half a pan or two quarter pounders. If they still push you ask "If someone needed Insulin; would you tell them to push on without it? Or if they needed a pace maker to just suck it up?" I don't think so.

Took me six months before I got restriction.

Yes if you have a lot to loose; greatly reducing your calories intake will lead to quick weight loss. However you must be able to eat 3 oz solid protein (weight not volume) and have veggies. If you can not your band is too tight.

I added Mrs. Dash non salt flavorings to soups before heating. Premier Protein Ready to Drink is very good (Costco and Sams).

My port was pretty deep at surgery. I've lost 70 pounds and my port does not stick out. I have notice however more muscle pulling at the port. Esp. When I go for long walks.

Google Cheese Cake Factory and look up the calories. I think I got a baked salmon with baked potato last time I ate there.