BetsyB

It's really not terribly unusual to be close to the upper "limit" (in parentheses because there really is leeway above that limit) for your band and not yet experience restriction. As you get a greater volume of saline in the band, you may find that tiny increments make a big difference. So, you may go up to 9 cc feeling next to nothing, but find that 0.5 cc (or even less) makes a big difference. Just keep your appointments with the doctor, communicate your needs, and you will get there. It's frustrating--but eventually, you will have restriction.

I wonder: are you getting as much Fluid on the weekend as you do during the week? It's easy for me to slack off on days when I don't have my usual routine---sleep late, etc. And when I'm not properly hydrated, I have lots more trouble--my stoma is just tighter and less happy. I'm sorry you're having a hard time! ETA: Blood is always scary, but it's not unusual to see a bit of blood streaking when you've had issues/irritation. Be sure to mention it to your doctor. S/he is likely to recommend that you stick with liquids for a short time, then gradually move through mushies back to solids.

Hm. Certain issues with protein metabolism can cause an ammonia-like odor. It's something I'd want to run past the doctor. Chances are, it's just one of those things (likely related to being less-hydrated after exercise), but your doctor will likely want to do a blood test or three.

Actually, the extra Protein (from the shakes) is what spurs the release of glycogen from the liver. If you're adding things like almond milk, banana, and peanut butter--but skipping most of the shakes that were prescribed---you're coming in waaaay low on calories, but you're not getting the protein bolus that tells the body, "Hey! You need to release glycogen from the liver for energy!" The banana further interferes with the delivery of this message. As does the almond milk (even though it's lower in carbs than cow's milk). It's a really good idea to do what you've been told to do. Yes, you'll be in the bathroom a lot. But the Fluid volume of 5 shakes is not greater than the volume of liquids you'd drink otherwise. If you need a band, you must know, on some level, that doing things your way doesn't work. This is a prime example of that being the case. Do what the expert has told you to do. You have a lifetime to figure out what works for you, if you don't want to play by the rules. But this is a surgical safety issue---and when a surgeon is putting his license on the line to provide you with an elective surgery you've requested, you really kind of owe it not only to yourself, but to the surgeon, to do what is asked of you to reduce the risks of that surgery.

If you're still on a liquid diet, it's not a concern. If you are uncomfortable, have a distended abdomen, feel as though you have to go but can't, etc., then it's time for a call to the doctor. But if you just haven't had the urge because you're not putting anything into your body that would be eliminated via the bowel, it's nothing to worry about :scared2: (You probably don't need benefiber at this point; it works best when there is food in the bowel, and in combo with any painkillers you may be taking, can contribute to eventual constipation. But this is another thing to ask your doctor about----mine said to hold off until after the liquid stage.)

How scary, Jack! You're right--any surgery has potential complications. The risks skyrocket when you add a complicated medical history such as yours. I am so glad you got prompt care and are on the road to recovery. In the long run, I hope you are happy with your decision to be banded; the risks of obesity are so, so high---and with a cardiac history, even more so. You've had a rough road, but it will hopefully mark the beginning of a healthier new life.

I'm in the don't-unfill camp. Unless I were genuinely concerned about the availability of medical care, I would never have an unfill before a trip. I'd rather spend a vacation on clear liquids than give up what I've worked for months to achieve, restriction-wise. Continuing on the path toward your goal is more important than momentary pleasures from food. Particularly when there are so many other things to do, on vacation, to nurture yourself.

Give the doc a call; your pain should be getting better rather than worse. I hope you feel better fast!

Erin, insurance or no, you need a fill. Do you have a job? If so, or if you have any kind of allowance from your parents---whatever---squirrel away $$ so that you can get one. It's an investment YOU MUST MAKE. There is no getting around it--you need a fill. Until you get one, it will just be lather, rinse, repeat. As for the terrible stress you're under--does your school offer counseling services?

I'm not a rooftop-shouter, but I don't conceal it, either. I mean, it's not like I could conceal being morbidly obese. And it's not like I can conceal that I'm losing weight--more weight than I have in a very long time. To any observer, it's obvious that I'm eating differently. It's obvious something has changed dramatically; if people know that a gastric band is involved, it doesn't change ...well, anything. I made the decision to be open because a father of one of my son's friends told me about his surgery. He was banded a few years ago, and when I asked him how he had lost weight, he was fleetingly hesitant, and told me. And it made a huge difference for me when I was in the decision-making process. If I can make that kind of difference for anyone, it will be worth any momentary discomfort I might experience. (I figure anyone who would judge is already judging me--for being fat, for not losing before now, for [fill in the blank]. I am sure they will continue to judge long after I'm normal weight. They'll just have to come up with something more creative, like how long I let my grass get between mowings or how loud I play the music in my car.)

Every doctor has a different set of "rules." The best source for information is your own doctor or nutritionist. Were you given any kind of instruction? I weigh my Protein, and measure veggies. At each meal, I have 3-4 ounces of protein (meat, fish, poultry, or legumes). At one meal a day, I add 1/2 cup nonstarchy veggie. At another, I have a fruit. I won't add starches (other than legumes)/grains back in until I've lost at least 75 percent of my excess weight. My doctor's plan is obviously stricter than many---this is why it's a good idea to check with your own.

I think it can be kind of humbling to realize, "Hey, I can't do this on my own." But really, accepting help---in the form of surgery--is not a sign of surrender. Rather, it's taking CONTROL. It seems as though you are viewing it as some sort of defeat, and that negative self-talk is occupying too much space in your mind. That space could be put to far better use! You could, for example, begin practicing the things you'll need to do after surgery. If you're postponing doing positive until you feel better about yourself after surgery, you may be postponing for a very long time. The surgery is fabulous, but it won't flick a switch in your brain that tells you that it's time to feel good about yourself. All it will do is help manage your hunger. And it may not even do that very well for several months! It's a process--and it starts now. From now until the time you achieve good restriction, you will have to be in control of your actions. And having thoughts that are positive and better-aligned with success can only help you as you as you do so. I know that it's ridiculous to tell a person, "Buck up! Be positive!" if that person is not in a positive place. I understand that you're not there, and I'm sorry for your sadness and struggles. But it's not ridiculous to suggest that, if you're really struggling, it might be a good idea to find a good therapist who's skilled in dealing with weight issues. Get some good support and learn some new ways to cope with your feelings so that you can really engage in the activities you'll need to embrace in order to succeed with the band.

It is a slow road, but you know what, Ginger? You're doing really, really great. I know that stalls are frustrating beyond belief, but your loss has been greater than average, and your body likely is just thinking, "What the...?!" and regrouping before getting ready to drop a bunch more. I miss having a four-year-old! That is such a great age.

Insurance contracts are pretty specific about what they will and will not approve. If yours specified that you had to be above a 40 BMI for a specific time frame, then an appeal likely won't help. BUT, do read the contract carefully. It may make allowances if you have comorbidities---and your doctor might be able to make a case on that basis. Failing that, the place to go for help is your HR department. They renew insurance contracts annually, and they're the ones who are really holding the purse strings. If you ask (pressure!) them to make their coverage of bariatric surgery less exclusive, it can really make your life lots easier.

Well, to echo what others have said, you haven't gained 5 pounds of fat. It's pretty normal to see an upward blip when you add solids back in to your repertoire. However, it's not "pointless" to measure your foods. If you've been told to stick to a certain amount, it's pretty important that you do so--even if you are not full or satisfied. It's also important not to drink while eating---your satiety will plummet as a result of having Fluid with foods. What little you do eat will move far too quickly from your pouch to the stomach below. I wouldn't worry for even a second about going to the doctor. He's seen it all before, and I'd venture to guess that more patients than not are in your shoes. He's not going to be disappointed--and he may have good guidance for you.

Well, the band certainly doesn't do the losing for you--it just makes it easier to limit your intake. So I guess, in that sense, it might be easier to follow a diet that is so rigid that all real accountability is removed. It also is pretty boring! I would never go back to the preop diet. First, I didn't lose much on it--I had already pared my carbs way down, so I didn't get a dramatic loss like many do. And secondly, I can find lots of ways to creatively eat the same number of calories--and get as much protein--in a way that is much more satisfying to me than drinking Protein shakes and excluding food. That said, I am eating in a way that is very, very different from the way that got me to the point of needing a band--and am losing really well with this approach.

How close together is your doctor willing to schedule fills? Mine typically does the first at 4 weeks postop, then subsequent ones at 6-week intervals. However, I'm barely 4 months out, and have already had 3 fills--with my fourth scheduled for next week. If you don't have good restriction, you will be hungrier than necessary. A 32-pound loss without restriction is a pretty great accomplishment! Call your doctor and let him know you need another adjustment---now. Then, when in his office, make an appointment for your next fill. All that said, your food choices play in considerably. What are you eating? Can you tweak it so that, even though you're not yet at the point where you feel satisfied, you at least get some satisfaction on the scale?

I have had a handful of 2-3 week periods when I've battled the same couple of pounds, up and down, up and down. I've always sort of chalked it up to my body getting used to changes. And it's always "decided" to let the weight go, ultimately. So I do try not to sweat little plateaus. That said, your post gives the impression that there is room for improvement in what you're eating. Do you journal? If you were to use a program like Fitday--even just for a short time---you would see whether eating kids' portions in restaurants is something that is going to help you reach your goals, or whether it's something that is unwittingly sabotaging you. I know that a restaurant meal (and I eat out with some regularity) really throws a wrench into the day, because it invariably involves ...well, pretty much a whole day's calories, unless I order very, very carefully (and pack up most to take home). I'd choose a nice appetizer before I'd choose from the kid's menu---kids' menus tend to be laden with fatty junk. (And I'd try to break away from the "eating out 'cause we're busy" mold, too. Eating out some is fine---but really, it takes MORE time to go to a restaurant, sit down, wait to order, get your order, eat, and pay than it does to make a meal at home. I'm not saying this to be critical; I am the former Queen of I'm Too Busy to Cook---and now that I actually do it, I am amazed at how much more time I have!)

Congratulations!

There are a small handful of band sizes currently available. I have an 11 cc Realize band, and it's working just fine. My doctor uses this, and the 14-cc Lap Band. He chooses the latter for people with very high BMIs, simply because they are easier to fit around a larger stomach. They still, with appropriate filling, provide restriction--even when the stomach size is significantly reduced. The band did not do the trick for your father-in-law. It's not for everyone--it does require a lot of aftercare (adjustment by the surgeon, and so on), and it does require hugely changed eating habits. Chances are, is failure has absolutely nothing to do with the size of the band. He may, however, have had difficulty gaining restriction if he did not have appropriate follow-up. Is he aware that gastric bypass---once he's past the initial gonna-lose-no-matter-what honeymoon phase (about a year)---will require the same sort of discipline, in terms of changing eating habits? Is he in a program that will provide the aftercare he needs to ensure that he really internalizes this? Because bypass patients can and do have difficulty maintaining their losses if they don't make the necessary changes.

I'm just about 4 months out, and while I've never attributed it to ripping sutures, I still have times when I get a pretty good wallop of pain at my port site. It's a foreign body that is working to situate itself in muscle---and sometimes, it doesn't win the battle. As time goes on, it's more firmly seated, and the pain wanes. (And then, you start noticing it changing position---when that happens, don't freak out! It just means your muscle isn't in the same place it was at the time of surgery; losing fat "deflates" you, so the muscle may move to a lower position.) ETA: I wanted to add that the pain I've experienced has been fleeting, followed by--at most---dull achiness. If you've had persistent severe pain, and it's returned, it might be a good idea to see the doctor for a little more investigation. While it likely is not anything serious. infection at the port site can occur, and once the incision is healed, pain is its hallmark.

Even thin people who are deconditioned struggled to get into their exercise regimens. Exercise is hard work, and when your body---whatever its size---is not used to it, it can be uncomfortable. Don't use the I'm-too-big excuse. Get into a good groove now, and it will help you a thousandfold in terms of not only getting to goal, but also your outlook and beliefs about your own abilities.

I would stick with liquids (so, say, broth instead of soup) for a good week before throwing in the towel. Then, I'd very gradually move from puree to mushy to solid.

Until I achieved restriction, "listening" to my body would have led to overeating. I still don't have consistent restriction--and I still weigh and measure. I can eyeball a good serving now, and listening to my body works most of the time. But I still have bottomless days---and choose not to continue to eat beyond what I really need to eat to promote good weight loss. At the beginning, this meant that I was hungry a good deal of the time. I was willing to pay that price to lose consistently during bandster hell.

I, too, walked right from the beginning. I added weights back in after my 4-week check.