BetsyB

Congratulations, Meg! That's a huge accomplishment!

Everyone creeps up on restriction a little differently, but from the way you've described the way you're able to eat now, it doesn't really sound as though restriction---at least, not restriction at a level that would hinder your enjoyment of a vacation (as long as you're not defining fun as eating whatever you want!)---is a fill away. A few days between fill and vacation will give you a chance to address any overfill issues, should they arise. Chances are great that you will have no problems, though. Each fill is a little less aggressive than the last---as the band gets snugger, a smaller volume does more, and a skillful doctor is careful to gauge what you are likely to tolerate, and give you no more than that amount. I think it likely that you will more gradually approach restriction than you are anticipating. Most of us do.

It could be the compazine; give the doc a call to see if he can phone in an Rx for another antiemetic/antinausea med.

Leigha, I'm glad that your situation unfolded nicely--that must've been nerve-wracking. I bet the young woman DID think like you---she was just fortunate to have found a good solution. Until she did, though, I am sure she was thrown for a loop. Katie, you say Hooray! This means you'll have great success! I had fill #4 on Wednesday--not terribly dramatic, but more restriction, it seems. I was down 13 from my last visit, and 45 total (now 46.6)...doctor and I both were really pleased. Now I have to get ready for a dinner party for 20 tomorrow---fun!

I'd be inclined to say to him, "I know I haven't had success in the past. Obesity is complicated, and it's not just about willpower. If it were, everyone who tried to lose weight would succeed---because we all have enough willpower to do it. We all know HOW to do it. But there is more to the equation. The band is a tool that makes it easier to sustain the changes long-term. I know it won't be easy, and that the same behavior changes will be required as if I didn't have the band. The difference, this time, is that once I achieve restriction, the interminable hunger will be removed from the picture. That alone will help me succeed. Add to it the fact that many people with bands cannot tolerate foods that contribute little nutritionally, but lots of calories--and the likelihood of success is far greater. On the other hand, your repeated comments that I won't be able to do it, and that I won't even be able to lose 5 percent make me wonder. They do NOT make me wonder whether I will succeed; I know I will succeed, and your comments don't change my resolve at all. What they make me wonder is this: (a) does my husband really have so little faith in me, or is he ( afraid that I will succeed, and therefore somehow invested in keeping me fat? I plan to have the surgery. I would like your support. If you cannot be supportive, I ask that you at least refrain from being negative. If you have fears of your own, you're welcome to join me at my next appointment so that my doctor can address them for you. But I expect the things you say to me to be things you would be okay with me saying to you, or to your mother, or to your sister." Re: having a support system. I do have a supportive family, but really--it's a pretty solitary struggle. If your husband is generally supportive in other arenas of your life, I think you will do fine in terms of psych eval; it's pretty common for spouses to have reservations about bariatric surgery. Tell the psych you have a generally supportive relationship, that your husband is wary of surgery but not opposed, and that you've invited him to join you at your doctor's appointments so that he can become more comfortable.

My weight-lifting regimen burns VERY few calories. (The burn comes more after the workout.) Being up and active (as in patient care--which I don't do any more, but know what it entails) burns way more calories. 16 hour shift? Just way, way, way more calorie burn than 40 minutes of weight-lifting + a cardio workout. I don't have a hard time believing what the Bugg told you for your activities, Liftingchic.

Yes, I've kept a close eye on carbs all along. I journal my intake on Fitday, so even though I primarily focus on getting enough Protein, I do aim to keep carbs <50 g/day---from veggies/fruits/legumes. I lose best this way, and don't find it difficult because there is finite stomach space.

The diuretic effect of caffeine has been definitively found to have been grossly exaggerated. Most of the Fluid in a caffeinated drink is available to the body for hydration; very little is lost to diuresis. And it simply does not pull other fluid from the body. Experts are now saying that most of the volume of the caffeinated drinks can be counted as part of daily fluid intake--the impact of caffeine on hydration really is that minimal. That said, caffeine can be harmful to health---for some people. It can contribute to fibrocystic breast disease symptoms. It can aggravate cardiac arrhythmia. It can irritate stomach mucosa and promote ulcer formation (as can the acids/tannins in coffee/tea). For most people, though, both in moderation are safe.

Cast another vote for Fitday. I've been using it for a long time, and really like it.

They really do have great stuff! I like the Inspire better than the Believe, but I'm sure that's just a personal-taste kind of thing :laugh:

Journaling is really key for me. It's very easy for little things to slip in and really bump calorie intake up. If I journal, this does not happen. Also, when we have such finite stomach real estate, it's important to make sure that the foods we do take in provide what our bodies require. There are LOTS of studies that back up the assertion that journaling is linked to weight loss (and loss maintenance) success. And tons of anecdotal information, too. This is why programs such as Weight Watchers have recommended journaling since time immemorial---it works. Those who have band success are those who make the big lifestyle changes. There are several pieces to the puzzle, and together they pretty much ensure success. One of the big puzzle pieces, IMO, is journaling. Are there people who do fine without it? Sure. There are also people who "eat just like I always did, just less." But most of us are not so lucky! Great thing to bring up, Leigha! I'll add that Fitday is a great free journaling site---it helped me identify my roadblocks to weight loss and directed my decision to be banded. And now it keeps me right on track.

It's completely normal! It's called bandster hell for a reason--it's so hard, because without restriction, you have to rely on the same old willpower that none of us really seemed to have enough of in the first place! It gets so, so much better as you approach and achieve restriction. For now, concentrate on making good food choices (within your doctor's guidelines), and limiting portion size. You will be hungry---but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! (Be careful with fruits. They are good, and healthy---lots of nutrients. But the higher glycemic ones can trigger blood sugar spikes that in turn trigger hunger. If you have fruit, try to have it in the context of a meal that also contains Protein and a little heart-healthy fat; this reduces its glycemic impact. Every little bit of hunger control helps!)

They're looking for gross psychopathologies that would prevent you from being compliant with the postop way of life. (Things that would prevent you from, for example, remembering your Fluid needs, or that you need to eat slowly and in small volume.) They also assess for eating disorders, because they can be tremendously aggravated by bariatric surgery, and need to be addressed. (This is not to say that people with a history of eating disorder can't have surgery---just that it raises red flags and suggests a need for therapy before and/or in conjunction with surgery.) That sort of thing. It's a PITA, but it isn't something to worry much about.

It depends on the other nutritional info for the shake. Sometimes, things that are too concentrated can cause diarrhea. If you want a good, low-volume Protein shake, the Inspire line from bariatriceating.com can be mixed with 4 oz. of Water (or other liquid--I love almond milk). They're very, very good.

Leigha, I hope that whatever is bothering you eases up, and that today is easier than last night was!

Thanks, Lisa--that's nice to hear. It's my pleasure :laugh:

Not even a moment's worth of nausea, for me. I was given anti-nausea meds preop, and had no problem at all---or since--with nausea. I've had a handful of episodes of vomiting since surgery, and even with those, there was no nausea. (Vomiting is completely different with a band; something needs to come up, and it does---encased in mucus, with no bile or stomach acid at all. Much less gross than before!) If you do experience nausea, there are great meds to treat it now--you will not be made to suffer!

I hate to be nit-picky, but what does a typical day's diet look like? With amounts. The foods you describe, by and large, sound great---but they could be right on plan, or WAY over the top, calorie-wise, all depending on how much you eat. Do you journal your intake anywhere like fitday?

You can back-burner eating, but you MUST get adequate fluid---if you don't, you will wind up back in the hospital. Sip liquids throughout the day--all day. It is critical to your well-being. Foods, you can introduce at a much slower rate, as your body becomes ready. (I promise, it will!) Each day, you'll feel lots better--it gets easier, fast!

I'm four months (and 45 pounds) out, and it was THE BEST decision I've ever made. I worked as an RN in a Houston hospital that was the hub for an earlier incarnation of banding in the 90s; a huge percentage of our patients were banding patients---and I really did not like what I saw, in terms of results. I worked with several banded nurses---and they were not healthy postop because the nutritional support and the procedure simply had not come far enough yet. I also had patients who required reversal due to complications. I swore I would never, ever be banded. Only after a good decade plus, things came a long way---including my weight! I need to maintain a very low calorie intake in order to lose, and it became clear to me that I needed help. So I started researching the banding techniques now used. And became sold, pretty darn quickly. The medical literature is quite positive about banding as a "cure" for obesity. BUT---and this is a very big but (unlike mine, which is shrinking!)---all experts agree, 100 percent, that the success of banding is contingent on the commitment of the patient. IF you are committed to overhauling the way you eat forever, and to exercising routinely for the rest of your life, and to seeing your doctor at regular intervals for band adjustments, you will do very well. If you leave out any part of the equation, you may, however, become very frustrated. (If you read the posts here, you will see this pattern very clearly.) Is there a possibility of slippage? Of erosion? Yes. A very small chance. I have been made more comfortable about these risks by choosing a surgeon who uses fluoroscopy during adjustments; this allows him to visualize the band and stomach each and every time I see him---making it much more likely that small issues can be caught before they become big problems. The problems may still arise; if they do, I am confident he will find a good solution for me. I trust him implicitly. (And I have to tell you: I don't trust surgeons easily--remember, I'm a former surgical nurse! My point is that one of the most crucial factors in this whole deal is selecting the right surgeon. Start with your insurance company---it will likely lead you to a Bariatric Center of Excellence. Your odds of finding a great doctor at a BCoE are high.) ETA: I see in your second post that you already have a surgeon you click with--and who has a great reputation. That's terrific! A huge chunk of the battle is won. In terms of what I'd recommend to prepare for surgery, I'd suggest that you start, now, adopting the behaviors you'll need post-banding. During bandster hell--when you don't have restriction yet, but need to behave as though you do if you want to lose weight---it is much easier to use the appropriate behaviors if you've had good practice. (Small servings, weighing and measuring food, tiny bites, chewing thoroughly...) As a practical recommendation, if you decide to go forward with surgery, I'd visit bariatriceating.com, and order Inspire Protein powders (even though the influx of new customers means that I have to wait for my order to come off backorder!!)---it is the best stuff available.

Jilly, I understand your fears--it's hard, when you don't quite know what to expect. I promise, it's not nearly as bad as you are fearing! I will describe how my doctor does it. Yours may do it a little differently, but the basic technique is the same. I stand up, next to the fluoroscope. (Your doctor may not use fluoroscopy, so you might not be positioned this way.) The doctor locates my port (sometimes I have to pooch my stomach out a little), then swabs the area with an alcohol wipe. The needle is then inserted into the site; it feels just like any other injection--though in skilled hands (and the people who do fills have so much experience), it is not bad at all. My doctor then injects a bit of saline from the syringe into the port. He leaves the needle in place, and lets the syringe, connected to the needle by a tiny bit of tubing, rest against my abdomen. I step sideways so that he can take a look, fluoroscopically, as I take a swallow of barium. Depending on what he sees and how I feel, he sometimes injects a bit more saline, has another look, and so on--until I hit the right level of restriction. He then removes the needle, pops on a band-aid, and that's that! It is all very quick--never more than a handful of minutes from start to finish. He's never had to stick more than once, and it has never been more uncomfortable than the easiest, breeziest vaccination.

Great post, BMoon. Doing the math really does help put things in perspective, doesn't it? You're doing really well!

Hooray! Congratulations!

I know lots of people who are wild about the BElieve line of coffee drinks. I'm not among them--the two flavors I've tried were too sweet for my liking, and have had a distinct protein-y taste. I've only tried the Italian Cappuccino and vanilla brulee; the other flavors may be better. The Inspire line really has NO Protein taste/odor---it's really remarkable. It also dissolves in just 4 oz. of liquid, without a blender, so it's nicely portable (can be mixed anywhere).