BetsyB

I'd call the office; in a busy practice, the website is the last thing to be checked. A call will get a response.

My doctor's rule is to notify him if more than 8 or so hours elapse without the ability to drink fluid.

How frustrating for you! Do you know how many ccs you have in your band? When you say you can't eat anything, what does that really mean? What foods are you eating? In what quantities? I would strongly recommend journaling your intake someplace like fitday.com; it makes it much easier to see why loss is or is not occurring. I know you're experiencing a lot of discomfort, but is exercise a possibility for you? I know that it helps me tremendously--for loss, but more importantly, emotionally. When I am frustrated, there's nothing quite like a walk outdoors to put things in perspective. It sounds as though you're terribly disappointed right now. But you're still early in the game. Because you haven't had the opportunity to really use the band in a way that promotes loss---and you haven't yet achieved appropriate restriction---I am not sure I'd rush to have it removed. You can always have it taken out, down the road, if you determine it really is the culprit in your discomfort. But since it's there, why not work hard with your doctor to achieve the right level of restriction? Then you can fine-tune what you're eating so that it meets your needs, satisfies you, and promotes loss. The hernia repair itself may effect a great change in how you feel---and make you see things in a new light. I'm so sorry for your frustration and pain--sometimes, it seems terribly unfair that things are so difficult. But hernia aside, you're in a period known as bandster hell---when you're low on the learning curve, have inappropriate restriction, and have to learn how to live with the band and how to work it in order to achieve success. The band really might not be right for you. But bandster hell is probably not the best time to reach that conclusion; few of us achieved the results we wanted during that phase unless we were very, very committed to eating a restrictive diet and were willing to be hungry while we waited for the band to become adjusted well enough to help with the task. Did your doctor give you realistic postop expectations? Does he offer good aftercare and support?

It's true, however, that eating something like a dense chicken breast just isn't as easy as eating a slider food, whether that food is "good" or "bad." My band is pretty nicely restrictive. Most days I tolerate dense Protein very well---but when I have PMS or am very stressed, I do have difficulty with certain foods. I accept this, and work around it. But if it were to be the norm for me---if, for example, I had really practiced taking small bites, chewing really well, and so on, but still was uncomfortable with dense protein or got stuck routinely---then I would seriously consider having a bit of fill removed. It's really a learning curve, though. Most of my discomforts are from user error--from pushing the envelope when I know I'm tight (or accidentally finding out I'm tight, but not "listening" after the first bite tells me). With time and experience, you'll learn what "healthy" foods work for your band. And you'll also learn that there may be days that are just plain unpredictable. I had one yesterday---for some reason, I couldn't even get cottage cheese down. Cottage cheese! How mushy can you get?! So I just had a soft-foods day. Not "bad" stuff--just stuff I knew would go down and give me the protein and other nutrients I needed. This resulted in a very hungry day, because mushies slide on through so much faster. But at least I got what my body needed into it---without aggravating things.

I second the warm liquid advice. When I get stuck on pills, it's not a throat sensation---it's like a clogged drain sensation. That said, there is a phenomenon known as pill esophagitis, when pills actually do get stuck going down. It happens more frequently when they are cut (and therefore not smooth and designed for easily passage). Warm liquids do help. But what helps me most is asking that my doctors prescribe liquids for every medicine that can possibly be prescribed in that form. I just have terrible trouble with pills. (Gelcaps, no problem. Capsules, no problem--they dissolve before getting near my stoma. But pills? Either I get pill esophagitis that bugs me for days, or I get stuck, and spend a couple of days after getting stuck on everything else, too.) PS--I hope that whatever you're taking meds for resolves quickly so that you feel better fast!

Losing well shouldn't be the sole criterion, either. Yes, if you're losing well, you might not need a fill. But you might be losing well because you're white-knuckling it---so also assessed should be the amount you're able to eat, and how long it keeps you satisfied. I lost very well long before I had restriction. Why? Because I stuck to my doctor's very restrictive food plan, with which it would have been impossible NOT to lose. (It also would have been impossible not to want to gnaw the legs off furniture, it left me so hungry.) My doctor wanted to know what and how much I was able to eat, and when I became hungry again. That information, along with the amount of weight I lost, was useful. Weight loss alone does not give the full story.

Congratulations! One of the best NSVs for me, so far, was fitting into a pair of jeans I'd stubbornly hung on to for 10 years. (And they're not even out of style!) Lord knows why I clung to them---but I sure do like wearing them.

It really does need to adjust. And periodically, it will do it again. It's frustrating---but it passes :biggrin:

I have no idea whether this would be the case--I haven't tried any "bad" foods since I had surgery. (I really don't think foods are bad, per se---eating's not a moral issue, and there is plenty of room in life for treats. But since surgery, I really have avoided testing the waters; it just works better for me to focus on foods that give my body what it needs.)

Yes, they will give you a fill. Not losing isn't a disqualification--you don't need to "earn" fills. The band does not do its job until you reach an appropriate level of restriction :biggrin:

Well, smaller bodies do use fewer calories, so in that sense--yes, your metabolism is slowing. But that's something that occurs no matter how you lose weight, or how fast. (And it's not likely to be what's at play right now.) You say that you're making better choices. Does your doctor have a recommended eating plan? I ask, because some do have an, "Eat what you like--just less" approach, and IMO, having some general guidelines tends to produce better results, at least at the beginning. That said, what are you eating? In what quantities. It can be really useful to journal someplace like fitday.com; you can assess, then, whether your food choices are supportive of weight loss. You can also track your exercise---at this point, your body's ready for cardio, at the very least. (You need clearance from your surgeon before you do resistance or other workouts.) And you should be doing something daily, for optimal results. If you really are doing everything you can to support weight loss, take a deep breath, and relax. Our bodies really do sometimes just take breathers from loss. Mine does it every 25 pounds or so; it doesn't tend to persist for very long, but it is frustrating. That's where journaling comes in handy; I can assess whether I'm doing all I need to be doing, then just let go and wait it out. (Having a BodyBugg has helped me see how my caloric needs change with weight loss, too--this has been really useful for me. If you don't have a BodyBugg and/or aren't interested in one, that's fine---you just have to keep in mind that as you lose, your intake will have to go down. It's one of the cruelties of the universe! As we get smaller, we just need less to keep our bodies going.)

I think it's really important to note that, while hungry--it was something I was really well-prepared for, so it didn't seem hellish. I just told myself, "Eh, you're hungry. You won't be soon." I was able to stick with my doctor's (very stringent) recommended eating plan by reminding myself that it really would be the last time I would be hungry (ever again!) in the name of weight loss. I was fortunate because I knew what to expect in advance; I think it's lots harder for those who are taken by surprise.

I ditto the recommendation for the BodyBugg--I love mine. That said, you really simply have to put aside the notion that the band is going to create weight loss for you. It's a tool. When you do achieve good restriction, it will make it impossible for you to eat more than a certain amount. It will never--NEVER!--help you make good food choices. That's all on you. If you're a carb addict, you will have to learn to modify your behavior so that it supports weight loss. Because the band? Well, it's going to let foods that sabotage loss through. What is your doctor's recommended eating plan? Mine recommends a low-carb regimen, adding back grains and starches only after a certain percentage of excess body weight is lost. It seems very restrictive, but it works. And when stomach space is at a premium (once restriction is achieved), it helps ensure that food choices provide what the body needs---not just what the mind craves. The thing I've found is that, when I am compliant, my desire for the carby, junky stuff vanishes. If you give your body a chance, you may find that your cravings vanish, too. I think that therapy can be a really good way to help you get to the roots of the reliance on food. Truly, when it gives up its grip (or, really, you give up YOUR grip on it!), it's tremendously liberating.

Happy anniversary! You're doing a great job!

I had no fill at banding, and was hungry by Day 3--when I was allowed to reintroduce pureed Protein. It was not "head hunger"---it was stomach-growling, genuine hunger. I white-knuckled it until my third fill, which gave me some restriction. But it took 4-5 fills to get to the point where the band was doing the trick as much as I was.

My doctor does all of my fills with fluoroscopy. My port is easy to access, so he uses it to assess fill rather than locate the port---but either way, it's a good tool. I'll describe the procedure for you. I stand in front of the machine--this allows my doctor to view the port, etc. He inserts the needle, which is connected to the syringe by a couple of inches of tubing. After he injects a bit of saline, he lets the syringe kind of dangle (weird sensation, but not bad), needle still in place. While I drink a swallow of barium (which is radio-opaque and therefore shows up on fluoro), he watches its movement through the stoma. This helps him assess the degree of tightness. If I need a bit more saline, he then repeats---a little more Fluid, another swallow of barium. The difference for you would be that your doctor would use fluoro to locate and assess the position of the port, which is also radio-opaque (and therefore visible under fluoro). It's no biggie--just a tool that helps guide things so that they're not "operating blind."

If you're supposed to be on Clear liquids, then adding protein is premature. If you're concerned, double-check with your surgeon to be sure; mine really wanted CLEAR liquids for a period of time, to allow the GI system full rest. Added protein defeats that. Yes, this is quite normal. Often, feeling better translates into more activity--which can then increase soreness and swelling. It took a good ten days for me to feel close to "normal." Even then, I had times of increased soreness. Heck, even at 7 months, I still have days when my port site complains.

I was cleared for walking immediately, but not allowed to return to the gym until after my 4-week check. I actually forgot to ask about it at that appointment; the doctor had mentioned the timing preop, so I just shot an email to the office double-checking, and was given the go-ahead. Since you have a while before your next appointment, I'd call or email to check.

I love cooking, too. I tend to make family favorites, and modify my own serving (omit the starches, whatever...) but when I am looking for new recipes, I've liked many that I've found at bariatriceating.com. They lean toward the lower-carb, which works well for me.

Completely normal. That said, you can lose weight during this period, if you make food choices that promote weight loss. (You can eat; you don't have to.) I think it's such a shame that so many patients don't have preop education that provides information about the period between banding and achieving restriction--so many are surprised by this, and it's just not right. If you know, ahead of time, that there is going to be a period--perhaps of several months--when restriction is not optimal, you will be hungry, and in order to lose you must diet, then there isn't the same level of frustration. You just think, "Oh,well---this is the time they told me about; I'll stick to the eating plan so I can lose while I wait to hit restriction."

I think a lot of us, in our post-op delight with our bands and losses, tend to "forget" the discomforts associated with surgery. It is a "piece of cake" compared to many procedures, but there is discomfort---for many, quite a bit of pain. Thankfully, it is short-lived. And like new parents, we are so thrilled with our new "babies," we forget that pain. It kind of does a disservice to those who are facing surgery, because they are given a false expectation. I'm glad you're feeling better today. You will, each day, until you're good as new. The emotional swings are REALLY normal--things like meds and anesthesia and Fluid retention really do affect mood and emotion, and that, too, will resolve a bit each day. Another thing that can come into play is a little bit of grief--we all plan for surgery day, but don't think much about what we will face after. For many, the loss of food = loss of comfort. With time you will find new ways to self-soothe. You will miss food less and less. But it's a process. Be gentle with yourself--things are progressing normally. It will take a bit of time, but soon you will be another happy bandster who's forgotten about the pain and emotional rollercoaster

I understand your frustration--but no, it's not important information in an emergency. We all tend to fixate on the number, especially early on. But it's just a number, and rather meaningless, except inasmuch as it prevents overfilling. As long as they're keeping good records for themselves, there is no safety issue. That said, I think you have the right to know the information. (But I also suspect that as you get farther down the line, you'll care less about it. I have no idea what is in my band at the moment--not because my doctor wouldn't tell me, but because I didn't think to ask last time I was in.) (The bill to your insurer doesn't startle me at all.)

Slow-downs, stalls, and plateaus are expected---after your body loses a significant amount, it's normal for it to stick around one weight for a few weeks. I agree that journaling is a great idea--if I didn't do it, I would have a hard time keeping my Protein intake adequate and keeping my calorie level down. If you do journal, and really are doing what your body needs, hang in there---plateaus and slowdowns usually resolve on their own. If you see room for improvement, or (and this is important) are not exercising regularly, tweak what you're doing to get the ball rolling. I eat a low-carb diet--primarily protein and nonstarchy veggies. My carbs come only from vegetables, a bit of fruit, legumes, and dairy. (No grains yet; those come at 75 percent of excess weight lost.) I eat 800-900 calories/day---and exercise at least once a day, usually twice. I have to do all of these things to lose well (and even so, I hit the occasional stall--like right now!). If any one of the components is off-kilter, my loss is affected.

It will come---it's so frustrating while you wait, but it really will come. It sounds as though you are going to the closest doctor--that's quite a trek! I think it's a great idea to discuss your concerns with him. Maybe he would be willing to be more aggressive with fills if you were to spend a night in a hotel near his office (in case you needed an unfill the following morning). Since you already are traveling, the cost of an overnight---if you wind up needing to make fewer trips because the doctor is willing to give you more each time--might be worth it. Chances are, you won't need the unfill---but if concern about overfilling is holding your doctor back, this kind of arrangement might ease his mind and get you where you want to be sooner. Once you're there, the eating truly, truly becomes so much easier. I know it's hard to believe right now, but you'll wind up in a place where you will be able to say the frustration was worth it. For your sanity's sake, I hope you get there soon!