BetsyB

It's here! It's here! All charged, and everything--I'm heading out to see how many calories I can burn before nightfall LOL

That feeling may or may not indicate that you have something stuck. Often, a little stuck incident results in swelling that perpetuates the sensation for a while. (This swelling is why many of us revert to liquids for a day or so if we've had a stuck incident.) Chances are, your stomach is still emptying. If you're able to drink fluids without them coming right back up, it's likely that you're feeling the aftereffects (increased swelling) of reintroducing solids too soon. You're very, very freshly postoperative. Is solid chicken part of your doctor's recommended regimen for reintroducing foods? It's something that is difficult for many of us, even much farther out from the starting gate, to tolerate. I'd review the "rules" so that you don't cause yourself unnecessary discomfort.

The port site does stay very tender for quite a while--and the concern about port movement is very common, and usually unnecessary. It takes a while for the port to get firmly situated in the muscle tissue. But as long as you're staying within your doctor's exercise recommendations (not doing heavy lifting, and so on), you probably have no cause for concern. It gets better!

Leigha, it is a ketosis thing---related to burning protein. Do be sure that you are getting enough fluid. It's really, really important! Here's my announcement du jour: I've been discouraged, playing with the same 2-ish pounds for a couple of weeks. Intellectually, I know that it's just one of those things--my body does this. But still, it sucks. I put on my jeans--you know, the new ones---and they were a bit big. I thought, "Hm. Maybe I'll go get 16s later. Then lightbulb! I remembered a pair of 16s I've hung on to for....well, probably 10 years. They're just basic 5-pocket straight-legs---not trendy, but not outdated.....but much more fitted than the low-rise boyfriend jeans I've been wearing. I didn't think they'd fit---but lo and behold, they do! I love closet shopping! Not enough that I kept many things on my ascent up the scale---but I'm glad to have "new" old jeans to wear :w00t: Now if Mr. UPS would just make his appearance, I'd be on Cloud Nine.

While I really don't believe in self-deprivation, I do better--physically and in terms of cravings--if I don't cave in to sugary things. For me, a good-quality chocolate Protein shake made with almond milk does the trick. I have one each day, and have not had any cravings for the real deal since surgery---and I am a confirmed, dyed-in-the-wool chocoholic. You have to find what works for you---for some, a little of the real thing works well. For others, substitutes work well.

Even if you eat well and exercise, banding does not produce rapid, dramatic loss. But the slower, steady losses do add up. When your body rapidly loses--as it did in your first two weeks--it sometimes needs a little time to "regroup" before more weight comes off. If you track your loss on a graph, you'll probably see that there's a pattern to how you lose, stall, and begin losing again. That doesn't mean that you need to do things differently, necessarily. It just means that it's not a straight, linear, downward process. All that said, what are you eating? In what amounts? There might be room for tweaking.

I've noticed in my friends who've lost a lot that the facial gauntness tends to soften after a period of time on maintenance. The face does seem to lose too much, too fast---but with time and patience, things do redistribute some. (I have plenty of face left, but can see how this might be an issue down the road---and darn it, the fat does plump out the wrinkles! Juvederm, here I come!)

At each meal, 2-5 ounces of protein; at 1 meal/day, 1/2 cup nonstarchy veggies; at another meal/day, a small serving of fruit. Add 1-2 protein shakes/day--and that's it. 800-1000 calories, in quantities that amount to <1 cup per meal/snack.

How hard is it to look at the syringe, after the fill, and say, "Oh, I started with 4 ccs, and there are 1.7 ccs left; the fill was 2.3 ccs." I agree that the numbers aren't terribly important singly. But they add up, cumulatively, and each band does have an upper limit to its capacity. (The upper limit is usually significantly higher than the number of ccs we're told our bands hold; nevertheless, not keeping track really concerns me.) I wonder whether he's just a paternalistic sort--who doesn't care to communicate with patients. That's kind of lousy--but it would make me more comfortable than one who wasn't measuring and documenting what he does. I think I'd ask him next time, "Are you just telling me that because you don't believe it's useful information for patients to lift out of context, or do you actually not measure and document how much you add?"

I wouldn't leap to the conclusion that you've stretched your pouch. I would be more inclined to think that your growing baby is exerting abdominal pressure that is causing new sensations for you. 3 eggs is about 6 ounces. If you at 3/4 of that, it's not an outrageous amount of food. Caloric needs increase during pregnancy. Not a ton, but some. Even to maintain weight, you need 300 or so more calories/day--which is why you are hungry. You might need to have smaller, more frequent meals to meet your needs. You say that your surgeon didn't want to unfill you--so that you could continue to lose (or at least maintain). During my last pregnancy, my doctor was fine with me maintaining, too---as long as I ate well. That said, your surgeon is NOT the doctor who should be calling the shots about this---your OB is the one with the reins. Is s/he on board with continued loss? If you have fluctuations in band tightness, be aware that changing hormones are responsible. What is "prime" today may be too tight tomorrow---and your surgeon, not being an OB, may not be particularly responsive to this. You will have to be your own advocate so that you can proceed through the pregnancy comfortably and safely. I wouldn't bat an eyelash at a quick 4-pound gain. Chances are, it's fluid-related. But even if not, pregnancy gains can come in fits and starts. I gained all of 2 pounds my last pregnancy--and they showed up overnight. No biggie. ETA: You've got 2 doctors watching out for you now: one is geared toward the band, and likely fairly ignorant of how pregnancy truly affects your banding experience. The other is an OB, who is likely inexperienced in band issues. (The throat lump thing sounds, to me, like you might be too tight---at least intermittently, due to hormone fluctuations.) It is going to be tricky to synthesize the info from both of them--just be really consistent in providing them with information about what you feel. Try to include both of them--it will spare you unnecessary testing. (Lump in throat? Sure, it could be thyroid. But it also could be that your band intermittently tightens in response to hormone fluctuations---and that a tiny unfill would relieve it.) I'm so sorry for your frustration! Believe me, it will all be worth it when you have your sweet baby in your arms.

I am allergic to NSAIDs--and have fibromyalgia and a host of neuro/ortho things (disks, knees, etc) related to a long-ago accident. Pain has always been difficult to manage due to my allergy. But when I added dark cherries to my diet several years ago, the results were astounding. 10 cherries a day--as effective as popping meds, seriously! And the good thing is that the post-banding diet really limits the stuff that is least good for us from the inflammation standpoint, as well!

Nani, what about it is scaring you? The surgery itself, or the alteration of your body? It's true that surgery carries with it some risk. The preoperative screening process, though, is very thorough, and does help identify issues that can pose problems. By the time you hit the OR, your surgeon will know exactly what issues to watch out for---and can address them to keep you safe. If being banded itself is worrisome to you, know that it is very minimally invasive. The body just is not altered very much at all. A band is placed around your stomach, and it exerts gentle pressure. Can problems arise as a result? Yes, but they are infrequent and usually easily corrected. The risks of obesity, on the other hand, are far greater. Aside from reducing those risks, you will look and feel so much better. There is something so gratifying about being in control of weight. It is positively freeing. I do understand your fears; I think they are quite normal. But when you reframe the risks v. benefits, it becomes pretty clear that taking no action is far riskier than having the surgery. Good luck with your decision!

Welcome, Lena! (One of my favorite names--and I was really saddened by Lena Horne's death this week. Apropos of nothing!) Anyway, glad you're here! Denise, how are you feeling? I hope good answers are starting to roll in for you. (Note my careful avoidance of puns--I actually cleaned up my last post because everything I typed turned into a bad pun!) I am envious of the iPad. Thanks to y'all, my Amazon wishlist is growing by leaps and bounds. Wii, Wii Fit, Just Dance, iPad (or Kindle--still torn)....what else should I add? LOL Bobbie, are things looking up for you? I have you in my prayers. Re: your morning eating issue, I don't have difficulty with breakfast. But I do have the reverse problem: the end of the day is when I don't want to eat. I have been making good use of good protein drinks---warmed. Something about a warm drink is soothing and satisfying at the same time. And it goes down when nothing else appeals. I don't think it's really a tightness issue (I am not really quite at the sweet spot)---though I am a bit tighter in the evening than earlier in the day. It's more of a ...I don't know...a this-is-more-effort-than-it's-worth kind of thing. A disinterest. I do try to eat something nice and balanced--but it's nice to have the protein available when it's a no-go. BB people: mine is on the UPS truck en route to me as I type. How long does it take to charge? I am pondering today's activities....I think I will postpone the heavy labor (lawn, garden) until tomorrow so I can get "credit" for it. (How crazy is that? It's not like my body wouldn't burn the same number of calories! But I really want to see them. Ridiculous, I know.) Shad, when's yours due to arrive? We're like a little cult here, aren't we? Who will be our charismatic leader?

It's just one measure. And like BMI, it's not accurate for all. It has limitations, just like any tool. All you can do is work to be as healthy as you can be in the body you have. My weight is evenly distributed--but as you can see from my stats, the numbers say I am obese. (Not morbidly any more, but still...) According to this measurement, I am overweight. Not even seriously overweight. It pleases me--but it does not fool me. My WtHR has always been "good." And that doesn't amount to a hill of Beans if I'm hauling an extra 80 pounds around! My risks may be lower than someone my weight with a different fat distribution--and I'm glad for that. But it doesn't change the fact that the extra weight (which you no longer have!) poses a risk. Take it with a big hunk of salt.

I don't think you "did" anything other than advance too quickly. I'm four months out, and still can't tolerate scrambled eggs--even though I can tolerate just about any other Protein. They're just one of "those" foods---and from what I gather, they give lots and lots of people trouble.

I have tons of friends who've had RNY--and they still have the head hunger issues, too. And they have to make significant, significant dietary changes. Far greater, IMO, than what is required of us. Yes, the loss is initially more dramatic--but over time, we even out. Buyer's remorse is not unusual---but know that it crosses surgical boundaries. No matter what WLS surgery you'd chosen, you would be having these same concerns. You'd be battling head hunger, and second-guessing yourself. Only with RNY, your insides would be much more rearranged, and it would be much harder to eat. (They do have the advantage, in early months especially, of feeling no hunger. But that does not translate into not wanting to eat, or not struggling with food decisions.) So, set the "shouldas" aside, and get busy making sure you are a success with the band. Successful RNYers require profound dietary change if they want to have a healthy loss (visit bariatriceating.com for some perspective)---so there's no greener grass to be found. You spent a lot of time researching and made an educated decision. Now it's time to make it work for you. Good luck! ETA: I have to agree--it becomes much, much easier as you approach restriction. When you are no longer hungry all the time, it is a huge burden lifted.

I agree with Jacqui. Also, after a fill, when I'm a tad tighter than ideal due to swelling, I tend to gurgle a bit more than usual---it's just harder for stuff to get down that "clogged drain." It usually subsides a bit as I loosen up a bit.

Meg, it looks like you're eating really well---very similar to my doctor's recommended eating regimen. If you're weighing and measuring portions, hang in there---the loss is not rapid, but it will be steady. And it really, really does add up faster than you'd think. I was concerned about fat and cholesterol, too. When you're eating at such a low calorie level, fat really does make up a significant proportion of your intake. BUT---I learned that even when the numbers look high, they are much, much, much lower (like, a quarter to a half, depending on the day) than the AHA recommendations (which are on the very low side). So, again, if you're eating mindfully, you can probably put those concerns to rest. You're eating a very different diet than before, and it's very low in calories. Even if fats make up a third of your calories (which, incidentally, is aligned with AHA recommendations, which aim for no more than 30%--with 7% or less from saturated fat), you are taking in a level that is consistent with good health.

You feel like this because you just had surgery to place a band around your stomach. Our incisions may be tiny,but there is still a good deal of disruption involved. Your body is responding to that disruption. What you feel is normal postoperative discomfort. Give your doctor a call--or check the literature he gave you--to see if he recommends an over-the-counter antacid. You'll feel so much better---soon!

Weight loss is one indicator used to determine whether a fill is necessary. Another--equally important one--is how you feel. I've lost weight consistently since banding--but do not yet have reliable restriction. The weight I have lost has been, to a very large degree, weight lost due to dieting. If you are losing weight because you're white-knuckling (still starving, but working hard to lose), this is very important information for your doctor to have. I think it's important to work with your doctor, rather than leave decisions to him. The latter presumes that he can intuit what is going on, when in fact, he cannot assess how you feel at all. He needs your input. I'd make the decision based on how long I felt satisfied after eating. When I can easily go 3-4 hours without hunger, I don't want a fill; the band is doing its job. If I get hungry within 2 hours of eating, I need a fill--no matter how well I'm losing. (I eat the same way whether I feel restriction or not, so my rate of loss is not a reliable indicator of how the band is working.)

I understand what you're saying. When your stoma was swollen, the 4-6 ounces you're supposed to eat seemed like enough. Now that the swelling is down, you either don't feel as full as you did before, or you become hungry sooner. Yes, this is completely normal. With reduced swelling, you have less restriction, and food can move out of the upper portion of your banded stomach more rapidly. So you get hungry sooner. This is what is known as bandster hell. Lots of people would tell you that now is not the time to worry about weight loss---that it's time for healing. While I agree that your body is healing, I'd suggest that you stick as closely as possible to your doctor's recommended eating regimen. You can lose weight during this time. You may be hungry, but you would be in any event--so why not work to maximize your loss. The previous poster Tish is basing her opinion that you're eating too much on her own doctor's recommendations. Remember, each of our doctors has his/her own "rules". Yours has you on mushies, and does not require 21 days of liquids like Tish's doctor. So her evaluation that you're eating too much is not based on what you've been prescribed. Stick with what your doctor recommends as much as you can. If you find that you're really, really hungry, call his/her office. They may have good ideas to help tide you over from meal to meal--or they may offer a fill sooner than ordinarily scheduled.

Bariatric Eating has a bunch of different protein bars--they may have a sampler that lets you try different ones.

I eat low carb, high-ish Protein, around 800-1000 calories/day---and exercise every single day. And I'm thrilled with a loss of 11 or so pounds a month. I'm not sure it's realistic to expect much more.

I've been losing at just about the same rate as Jen. Some weeks, I lose just a fraction of a pound, but overall, my rate is around 11-12 pounds/month. You'll find that there is huge variance in this, however.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatories are linked to ulcer formation. The band itself also poses an ulcer risk. Because the combo of the two really ups risk, most band doctors veto the use of Advil and other NSAIDs. I'm allergic to NSAIDS, so it's moot for me. I take an Rx liquid pain reliever.