BetsyB

I hate to say it, Hal, but you're probably the 4,684,345th person to note this. It isn't going to change. Elcee, "sliming" is correct.

Getting close to my 15 pound goal; just 2 to go. Bumping the spreadsheet. https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhyOQ0oN4zWhdHlVTWxORnd3c2l2SG5Fd2dQYV90M2c&hl=en#gid=0

Don't you think the physical and emotional health of the self-pay patient should be as thoroughly examined as that of the insured? Insurance companies don't require it for fun and games--it costs them more! They require it because the outcome of the tests helps ensure SAFE surgeries. You need to get the same clearances to be sure YOU will be safe. No matter what the mode of payment. You may find that you get pulmonary clearance without apnea testing (I did), and cardiac clearance based on history and EKG alone. It's really up to the specialists; your surgeon sends you their way, and then it's in their hands.

I prefer FiberSure (or generic inulin fiber) for a couple of reasons. First, it stabilizes blood sugar in a way that BeneFiber and generic equivalents do not. Secondly, it is prebiotic--which means it helps promote the growth of Probiotics. Our altered bodies can use this help. You do have to ease in gently, if your body is not accustomed to fiber supplementation. Take the dose waaaaaaaaay back. You have all the time in the world to build up to the recommended dose

Some doctors recommend against it (if swallowed accidentally, it can cause stuck incidents)---but mine is not among them. I don't really chew more than I used to -- but that's 'cause I have TMJ.

I did have lifting restrictions for the first four weeks. A 2-month-old would have been fine, though. As for things you positively can't eat, well---it depends. My doctor has a pretty stringent eating plan designed to get us to our goal weights, and there are lots of exclusions---but they're not forever. And the results make it worth it for me. From a band standpoint, though, there are foods that some people find difficult to tolerate. The list varies a lot--you'll just have to find out, on your own, what your body likes and does not like. I have found that I really don't miss anything I can't eat. The band has been a great tool for me. It's placed food in its proper perspective; while I still enjoy good food, I have been freed of its hold on me.

While you work on getting your band adjusted appropriately, you really need to pay close attention to what/how much you eat, and how much you exercise. You CAN lose weight before restriction is achieved. Will you be hungry? Yes--but you will be, anyway, so you might as well be hungry for the good cause of weight loss! You WILL achieve restriction--and it does get light years easier then. But until then--what are you eating? How much? What kind of exercise are you doing every day?

What are you eating? How much? How often? How is your food distributed across carbohydrate, Protein, and fat? How many calories are you taking in? How many are you burning with exercise? For PCOS issues, a lower-carb, higher-protein approach is often recommended. Try to let go of the "only 3 ml left in my band" way of thinking. The number is meaningless. As your band gets fuller, tinier increments can make ENORMOUS differences in restriction. I know people for whom 0.2 cc made the difference between inadequate restriction and excellent restriction. Plus, all bands can be filled significantly beyond the number of ccs their labels list, so if need be, there's a bit of leeway there, too.

If you need hot tea before solids, I'd say that a fill isn't what you need. Rather, you might need to reexamine the solids you're eating to make sure they have staying power.

I am an RN---and with the right supplies and instructions, I am sure I could do it. I suppose if I were traveling to a part of the world where there might be a need for an emergency unfill and there would be no access to appropriate care, I might ask my doctor for these supplies and instructions. However, I really can't envision a scenario in which using them would become necessary. It's not likely, while I'm in darkest Africa, that my band will suddenly become too full and require emergency intervention. The city to which I travel most frequently has abundant resources for banded patients.

Really? That's your perception? My prediction is that in a year, you will be bemoaning the failure of your band. In fact, it will be YOUR failure. I do not have the "sheep mentality" of which you speak. My doctor gives good instructions, most of which I follow explicitly. Those I "bend," I do so after discussion with him. There is nothing resembling "not questioning" involved. I am a degreed RN, with experience with bariatric patients---and know ALL the questions. And the answers are simple: DO WHAT YOUR DOCTOR TELLS YOU UNLESS YOU HAVE A COMPELLING REASON NOT TO. Do some doctors have outlandish requirements? Sure? But by and large, the area of REAL deviation among surgeons is the PRE-OP diet. For post-op, most of us are given pretty similar information. Follow it or don't. But don't justify your obstinance by insulting those of us who DO take our bands and surgeries seriously enough to do what we are told. Look. What you did BEFORE banding sure as hell didn't work. You asked a surgeon to cut your body open and insert a device to help you lose weight. You likely signed a contract indicating your willingness to comply with his/her instructions. Why on EARTH are you working to talk yourself out of doing so now? What on EARTH is more important than your success? Diet Coke? Pasta? REALLY?! Your surgeon put his/her license on the line taking you on as a patient. If nothing else, show some respect for that. If you're unhappy with the aftercare, express your dissatisfaction, or change doctors. But don't find roundabout ways to justify self-sabotage. It's nuts.

It's really common to have diarrhea postop--part of it is due to the meds and anesthesia, and extra Fluid from IVs. Part of it is due to the general trauma to your GI tract. And part of it is due to the fact that you aren't eating solids. It usually resolves as real food is reintroduced--if not sooner.

How important are the rules? It depends. How important is it to you to (a) retain a functioning band, and (:frown: achieve your weight loss goals?

No aspirin or NSAIDs with a band--it increases the odds of ulcer formation. Tylenol is fine--and most pharmacies carry a liquid. I can't tolerate pills well, but liqui-gels are okay, when I can't find liquid. They dissolve so they don't get stuck in the stoma.

I aim for 800-1000, usually toward the 800 end of the spectrum. More importantly, I aim to burn 2500 calories/day, through regular activities and exercise.

Sweetheart, almost nobody's band "works" at first. Until appropriate restriction is achieved, any loss that occurs is the result of dieting and willpower. I'm just at 5 months out--have pretty good (but not quite ideal) restriction, and have lost 56 pounds. Until the last 8 weeks or so, each and every one of those pounds was due to eating less and exercising more--even when I was starving. I think it's grossly unfair that many doctors do not prepare their patients for this reality. So many of us are wheeled into the OR thinking that once we have the band, the battle will be over. In fact, it's just beginning. The first half of the battle is getting restriction. Is your doctor willing to be a bit more aggressive? Larger or more frequent fills? The second half of the battle is eating EXACTLY as though you have restriction, even when you don't. What are you eating? What does your exercise look like?

I agree that plateaus are just part of the process. I journal and use a body bugg---and when I plateau, I can tell whether it's due to something I'm doing, or "just because." Almost 100 percent of the time, it's "just because." That said, I do pay careful attention both to portion size (weigh Protein, measure fruits and veggies), and limit carbs. I have not yet added grains back in to my repertoire. For now, my net carb intake is generally 35-50g/day. These come from veggies and legumes, mostly. I know it is not true for everyone, but my body really does lose best when it's fed a diet that emphasizes lean protein, fruits, veggies, legumes, and heart-healthy fats. I will ultimately add whole grains back in, because they are nutrient-dense and the primary source of Fiber in the diet. And they're relatively low glycemic, as compared to other, more refined, carbs--so they are satisfying. But I will be very cautious with them; I will add them at a point where adding extra calories to maintain my weight is necessary.

I read the book--have a copy if anyone wants it (PM me)---but didn't find that it held any more information than I already knew. Reading here provides more insight, IMO. But it's never bad to read up--and it's a good beginner's manual. (And as I said, I'd be happy to pass on my copy if anyone wants it.)

Nope, not a slider. It can chew down so that what starts with lots of volume can fit in a pouch. But for me, it doesn't slide through quickly at all.

What are you eating? What are you doing for exercise? At this point, the band is not doing the job--you have to do it.

VERY important to discuss this with your doctor. I was walking---far and fast---right after surgery. I was not allowed to do any resistance training until after my four-week check.

She is incorrect that either ibuprofen or diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are appetite stimulants. Some people retain modest amounts of Fluid in association with ibuprofen use. Neither drug is commonly associated with constipation, though Benadryl, being an antihistamine, theoretically might contribute to it. (As an antihistamine, it also tends to be appetite suppressant.) I know you're looking for answers. Trainers are not, in general, a reliable source of information about medications. Or, diet---particularly bariatric diet--unless they have additional certification. ETA: Suppose she were right, though. How could using Benadryl possibly have sabotaged your weight loss efforts? Water retention is temporary; fat loss occurs even if you retain fluid.

Yes, it is possible that you won't need a fill right away. The decision to fill is based on a couple of things: your rate of loss, and your perceived difficulty achieving that loss. In other words, if you are starving all the time, find that the amount you are able to eat only satisfies you for a short time, and are really white-knuckling it to lose weight then yes, you likely need a fill. If you're comfortable as you lose, then you may not. But don't let fear hold you back if you feel as though you'd benefit from a fill. User error occurs regardless of fill error---there just are foods that sometimes do not 'work' for us---no matter what. Each of us tends to have our own list, but there are some common offenders, too. I have had 4 fills. After the first 2, I perceived NO difference in terms of propensity for foods to get stuck. The third one did more in terms of teaching me what behaviors I had not yet mastered--the really slowing down to listen, after each bite, to whether I am done. You know, the user error type stuff. Your doctor can help you decide whether you want a fill. If you can postpone it because you don't need it, that's great!

Just bumping the spreadsheet :thumbup: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhyOQ0oN4zWhdHlVTWxORnd3c2l2SG5Fd2dQYV90M2c&hl=en