BetsyB

I didn't lose all that much on the preop diet; I had been eating low-carb for a while before it, and my body just didn't have the glycogen (and the water that travels along with it) to give up. Still, I've lost nice and steadily since banding---you will, too

It wasn't the most fun I ever had, but as surgical experiences go, it was a piece of cake. Don't be shy about using pain meds if you need them; they can help you be more active (don't overdo, just walk a lot--it helps!), and there's no need to tough it out just because lots of people tell you it doesn't hurt. (I think it's kind of like childbirth; we get something good out of it, so we tend to minimize the pain afterwards. For me, the pain was short-lived and much, much less than I expected.)

This is very interesting. What has also been interesting to me is how much my response to food has diminished since banding. I know they always say, "You can't band your brain," but I've found that, with hunger removed from the equation, I really do not have a distorted response to food any more. It was like a switch got flipped in my brain.

Well, I think that maybe you'd have more success getting to where you want to be, fill-wise, if you phrase it differently to the fill tech. If you communicate to the tech that you still get hungry 1.5 hours after a meal of dense Protein, you'll likely get a tech who says, "Hm, yes--a bit of fill would be a good idea, then." But telling the same tech, "I want to be tight enough that solid food can't pass through the stoma" is apt to elicit the response you've gotten so far. Most techs/doctors determine the necessity for a fill based on two things: your description of your hunger level, and how well you're losing. Even if I am losing very well, my doctor will fill me if I tell him I'm losing because I'm white-knuckling it, but am really still hungry. If you want to avoid starches--and I totally get this, because it's what I do---then it's very possible to do so without extreme restriction. When you reach your sweet spot--the place where you're comfortably full after a few ounces of food, and remain sated for 3 hours or so--then you won't have the space for breads and pastas I think that it's probably not realistic to expect your level of restriction to create an "inability to digest" breads and pastas. Because if you're that tight, you'll have trouble getting the other nutrients you need from other solid foods.

Congratulations--what a huge accomplishment. And heavens, it was hot and muggy----what commitment!

My doc is, too--and I've been really happy with the results. Baby food isn't a route I'd take---too many additives. The meats are so gross that most babies hate them! I pureed chicken and ground beef and tuna in the Magic Bullet---they were really the only Proteins, other than beans, that didn't repulse me in a pureed form, mainly because they just ended up being ground a bit more finely than ground beef.

I don't remember specifically what I ate--but I know it was Protein. (My doctor didn't have us reintroduce veggies until something like week 10.) I didn't have any problem with any food until probably after my third or fourth fill. Just take it slow. Small bites, chew carefully....you'll be fine

NSVs are "non-scale victories." Sometimes, the scale doesn't cooperate, but you still lose inches, or clothing sizes. Or, you have other experiences that remind you of how far you've come, like fitting in a movie theater seat better, or going through a turnstyle without having to turn sideways (the guy at Guitar Center thought I was insane when this happened for me--I kept going back through that turnstyle, I was so thrilled!), or not needing a seatbelt extender on an airplane, or fitting in an amusement park ride. That sort of thing. PB means "productive burping." It sometimes happens if you've eaten that one bite too much---you feel icky, then burp, and a little food comes up, but goes back down. It's a not-quite-throw-up sort of thing. I don't tend to experience it--I tend to just throw up.

It could be thyroid-related--it'd be worth a call to the doc to see if s/he wants to run a thyroid panel. BUT, yes--I'm always freezing now, except when I'm exercising outdoors. And even then, my heat tolerance is way higher than it used to be. Indoors, I always have a sweatshirt and heavy socks on. And my thyroid function is normal.

Yes, body fat is mildly estrogenic, and as we lose weight, our serum estrogen levels rise---which can mix our bodies up, cycle-wise

I wouldn't worry about it--you had what amounts to a couple of bites of mushies a day early. Every doctor has different guidelines. I didn't cheat, but my doctor had me on pureed Protein 3 days after surgery; it was a lot easier not to cheat, being able to eat! Seriously, though--it's a good idea to stick with the guidelines you're given, but it doesn't sound like you deviated significantly. Your band can't keep count of the days, and after 13, you'll be fine.

There's a difference between a change in bowel routine and constipation. In your shoes, I'd assess whether you have abdominal discomfort and feel as though you have to move your bowels. If not, the lack of bowel movement is more likely due to having a whole lot less to evacuate from your bowel than you did preoperatively---and would not concern me. If you do feel truly constipated, check with your doctor, if s/he hasn't already given you guidelines. Preoperatively, my doctor listed potential problems and solutions, and green-lighted a mild stool softener.

Have you tried any of the fruitier Proteins? I hate the Syntrax nectars, but Bariatric Eating's Inspire line has a Pom Razz Sangria that is good---IF you mix it with a LOT more Water than recommended (they say 4 oz, I mix it in a liter), and add a sleeve or two of Crystal Light lemonade. Very light and fruity. And they have a summer melon flavor that I've heard lots of people rave about. They also have PURE unflavored Protein powder that can be mixed in almost anything--and really does "disappear," flavor-wise. It can cause Clear Liquids to become cloudy, but doesn't add the icky protein flavor or smell.

I'm with you on that, Hummingbird--though ground beef wasn't bad pureed, just more ground

I love it--I use it with my protein powder every day. It adds creaminess, and lots of calcium

They may not perform magic in terms of their advertised claims, but I agree, they are very comfortable shoes. I have the New Balance version, and love them.

I haven't had thyroid cancer, but my mother did, twice. She had a fast and full recovery from her second surgery, and no recurrence for the remainder of her life. I hope you bounce back as well and completely as she did.

I still go out to eat a lot. And I entertain a lot---food is always involved. But I don't eat a lot--that's really the only difference. It was harder before I had restriction, but even then, I could find something on almost every menu that fit within the way I eat. The hardest is when you're invited to someone else's house to eat--a sit-down dinner with a fixed menu can be hard to navigate. In those situations, I tend to let the host/hostess know in advance that I will be sticking to Protein and veggies, so that s/he is not offended. I couch it in terms of medical necessity---people don't question that, or urge, "oh, come on--just this once won't hurt you."

Purees are...well, pureed. They have to be blended in a blender. (I like the Magic Bullet--it's small and easy to clean.) Mushies are foods that are soft by nature, and do not require pureeing. You can puree mushies...and need to, during the puree phase.

I realized my panties were droopy (like to the point of falling down unless I had other pants holding them up!) just the other day. It dawned on me that I hadn't gotten myself new underwear since my son was in kindergarten. He starts eighth grade next week! Yeah, a trip to Victoria's Secret is definitely on the agenda.

It's very normal. If you notice increased redness, warmth, or any drainage from the site, or if it becomes tender and sore in a lingering way, give your doctor a call. Otherwise, it's expected that there will be intermittent tugging pain as the port gets situated. I'm over 6 months out, and still have the occasional port twinge. There are just certain days and activities that make it tug a little.

I know it's really hard---but things get so much better. Hang in there!

I didn't feel much difference until my third and fourth fills---and even those didn't have "staying power." Prednisone can wreak havoc with appetite, as well. (It also can cause Fluid retention--so don't freak out if the scale doesn't cooperate; stay low-sodium, bump up Protein a little (helps with the appetite and the fluid retention), and try to avoid simple carbs (which, along with the pred, can cause blood sugar spikes, followed by huge hunger).

I was strongly encouraged to walk as much as I could tolerate from the immediate postop period onward. I was told to avoid other exercise until my first postop check (4 weeks), after which I was cleared for all activity, including abdominal exercises. It sounds as though you're right where I'd expect you to be 4 days postop. Port site pain can be pretty persistent---but there is little risk of injury if you stick to the basics until you are cleared by your surgeon for more strenuous activity.

My best advice is to walk a lot--it really helps recovery. But since that's already been mentioned, I'd say STAY OFF THE SCALE--it will just frustrate you at the beginning.