BetsyB

I haven't yet reintroduced grains; my doctor recommends holding off until 75 percent of excess weight is lost. So far, I haven't missed them--but do look forward to being in touch enough with my band (and low enough in weight) to enjoy them again. I don't think I'll probably even attempt rice; I wasn't using white, except in sushi, preop. Brown? Maybe, but I'd rather go for more substantial grains with a bit more to offer, protein- and nutrient-wise. As far as things like faro and wheatberries, I don't foresee problems. The fact that they're chewy make them, for me, a safer-appearing choice. They don't tend to get clumpy, which is, I think, the real problem with rice. (It gets sticky and obstructs the stoma.) Now I want a nice wheatberry salad! Yum. I don't think you'll have to heavily rely on Protein supplements. I keep an eye on my intake and use them when necessary---but they needn't be a mainstay. (If you don't have a type you like, the Inspire whey protein supplements from bariatriceating.com are really good.) You haven't mentioned (but I know you're aware of...) Beans. To me, beans are the ideal post-band food. They've gone down easily since the very beginning, are satisfying, are gentle on the stomach----I love 'em. When combined with those good grains, I don't think you'll have to worry about protein much at all. (I forgot to mention I order the C. Booth lotion from either Amazon or drugstore.com. I've found it, on occasion, at Walgreens.)

Kookaburra, I am very sorry. My intention was NOT to make you feel weak and incapable of following through with the preop diet. Quite the contrary, I meant to empower you---to tell you that you CAN do this! ALL of us flounder---but not all of us give up. It's hard--VERY hard. No one disputes that. Lots of us cheat. But in the end, we all have to muster up every thing we've got to do this right. I understand, if you're not ready now. No one can decide that but you. If postponement is best for you, Anne's suggestion re: coaching/counseling is a really good one. If you decide to pursue banding again, you'll be facing the same difficult preop diet, and you'll need all the internal resources you can muster. It's not really a setback that you're holding off---in the long run, it will give you great odds of success. And THAT is what we all want for you.

I've eaten a primarily whole food diet for several years--ever since I developed a soy allergy. (Soy is in everything.) I do use whey Protein supplements--but other than that, I really have steered clear of prepared foods for a long, long time. As with anything, there are exceptions. We're not perfect---but I do cook from scratch with good ingredients, so the occasional meal out or ordered takeout doesn't throw things off too much. We're not fanatical--just aim to eat cleanly mos of the time. I spent many years eating whole foods and NOT losing---but I suppose that when I reach goal, I will be able to say I did it all with whole foods. Unless you frown upon protein supplementation, which I still require. As for skin, the best we can do is nourish ourselves well, and hope our good genes prevail and the gods smile on us. Skin elasticity is governed by age, genetics, how long we've been overweight, how much we've stuffed into our wrappers, how many times we've gone up and down, how many pregnancies we've had, and so on. It has very little do to with how fast we lose or what we apply to our skin. Still, I really like C. Booth 4-in-1 Multi-Action Body Lotion. I like the lemon sugar scent. It's mild and nice. The lotion exfoliates, nicely lubricates, and also temporarily tightens skin. At this point, I'll settle for temporary! (I'm still researching plastic surgeons, though, for something more permanent!) It comes in a HUGE bottle, and is very reasonably priced. Oh--and for supplements--I take a good bariatric multi, then supplement additionally based on what my nutrient intake looks like. (I track on Fitday.) One thing I do take daily is Co Q-10. My surgeon required it pre and postop, and recommends its use for life. (It's a powerful antioxidant, and is showing up in lots of skin preparations these days.)

What a frustrating situation for you! I realize that willpower is the name of the game at the beginning. I was also banded in January, so I definitely relate to the difficulties of drawing on willpower. But for me, restriction is very, very close---and my doctor is very, very willing to do fills as needed. Having that light at the end of the tunnel makes it so much easier to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I hate that you don't seem to have that light! What criteria does your doctor use to determine whether you need a fill? Ideally, the decision should be based not only on their objective measurements (weight loss, etc), but also on how YOU feel. And if you're white-knuckling it and gaining weight, then that's a pretty good sign you need the help the band is designed to provide. I think it's unconscionable that the doctor's agenda does not align with the intended use of the device--and I'd want him to explain why. It's well within your rights as a patient to question the rationale of a doctor who will not work with you. Blanket policies that ignore the needs of individual patients do not meet standards of care, and I would really want a very explicit explanation for why they are resisting appropriate use of the band they willingly installed. You are upholding YOUR end of the bargain---they need to be accountable for their part. In fact, they may have a plan that involves stepping things up now that you're a little further postop. But unless you ask--and really express that you're having difficulty---you won't know. You don't have to blindly accept that "this is how they do it." Sometimes, squeaky wheels get the oil. In the meantime, do the best you can. What kind of eating plan was recommended to you? Can you convince yourself that sticking to it is purely non-optional? I ask, because I find it really kind of relieves me from having to draw on my inner resources if I tell myself that I simply CANNOT deviate. Somehow, keeping that door slammed shut and locked is freeing.

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion of a band slip! You had a stuck incident, which very likely caused swelling, and added the irritation from ibuprofen to the mix. Toss in hunger/hypoglycemia/stress from the upcoming wedding, and that's a recipe for feeling cruddy. I think you've got the right approach--baby your band for a few days. (Be sure you meet your nutrient needs, though.) Chances are, you'll find that the irritation/swelling abates, and you're back on track. If it persists, yes---then see your doctor.

The band really isn't geared for fast loss. Aside from a month-long plateau, I've lost 1-3 pounds a week, on average. That's without restriction (for most of the time), but following a pretty stringent diet.

Hopefully, by the time you read this, the swelling will have calmed down a little bit and you'll be feeling like, "Oh, yeah---this is better!" If not, and you can't keep liquids down, call the doc sooner rather than later!

They're made with soy Protein, which is not as readily absorbed as whey protein. (It also, for some, can be thyroid suppressive.) A better bet would be a good whey protein isolate. You can find them lots of places--GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, costco, etc. My favorite are the Inspire whey Protein shakes from bariatriceating.com.

The symptoms you described don't sound as though they're related to the band. You say she'd never experienced this problem before---but our bodies do continually change. And our vestibular systems (organs involved with equilibrium) change with age, and with a variety of other things. Even congestion from allergies, this time of year, can cause temporary vestibular changes. Ear infection can, as well. I may be wrong, but I can't see an anatomical or physiological reason why this sort of sensation might be tied to a band, except very peripherally. For example, if she is on BP meds she no longer needs due to weight loss, or if she was avoiding park food and was hypoglycemic, then she might experience the symptoms you've described. I hope she's feeling fine by now. In her shoes, I'd probably chalk it up to "one of those things." A coaster can affect you differently at different times. But if she's still worried about it, giving her doctor a call won't hurt.

Oh, and now that I've had my little rant (!), yes---I find it impossible to lose without exercise--and impossible to maintain, too. I've never found my appetite increased due to exercise. It seems, really, to be a deterrent to eating. If I've worked out, I don't want to undo my effort. OTOH, it does buy me leeway, in the calorie department. My body is more forgiving of the occasional indulgence, for sure.

Add me to the "no" camp. That doesn't sound like restriction--it sounds like over-restriction. How long ago were you filled? My doctor says that, as you get closer to restriction, you definitely toe the line between good restriction and over-restriction. His "rule" is that, if you experience this kind of sensation in the days after a fill, but can keep liquids down (no need to worry about--or even eat---solids at first), it's okay to ride it out to see if, when the swelling from the fill recedes, you find yourself at a comfortable spot. If so, he recommends easing back into solids very gently and gradually. If it's been more than a few days for you, I think I'd give the doc a call.

Well, sure--you can lose weight without restriction. But then, what's the point of having had the band put in place? Some people do experience restriction without fills. Others of us are not as lucky. Being restricted doesn't have to equal vomiting, though. I've had a couple of episodes (usually with meds), but by and large, when I pay attention to bite size and chewing well---and stop eating after an appropriate amount (weighed or measured), I do just fine, even when my band is feeling snug. And it's true: throwing up post-banding is nothing like the vomit you're thinking of. It's just....regurgitating. No stomach acids, no bile, no gross stuff. Just mucus-enveloped undigested food. And the relief it brings is ASTOUNDING.

Yep, my first fill was 4 cc, and my second was right around 2. The third took me up to 7.3 cc---and that was snug at first, but not so much now, a few weeks later. It's so frustrating, but it just takes time to reach restriction. And there's so much variance--some people achieve it more rapidly. Hang in there---it is SO hard now, but it gets lots better.

I wonder the same thing as Jen---are you finding that you're choosing slider foods that go down (and stay down) easily? If you find that "regular" food--the dense Protein, veggies, etc. that are the foundation of a healthy diet---cause you problems, a little UNfill might help. I know this sounds perverse---and probably is not at all what you want to hear when you're HUNGRY. But if you have to rely on foods that move through easily, then your band may be too snug. It can be SO frustrating! I hope you reach a great spot soon.

Congratulations!

Nothing's wrong with your band. You just don't have restriction yet. It's not unusual---not by a long shot. I didn't feel restriction until I got to 7.3 in an 11-cc band. And now that I'm a few weeks out from that, I realize I'll need (at least) another fill. You're in the same boat we've all been in---many of us still are occupying the same boat. It's unfortunate your doctor did not prepare you for this. You ask, "What can I do?" Well, for starters, STICK TO YOUR PLAN. Being hungry doesn't absolve you of responsibility for this. Yes, you'll be white-knuckling it for a while. But you will get to restriction sooner rather than later---and then it will not be as difficult. "Testing" your band to see whether it can withstand wine, potatoes, and ketchup is just...well, it's rather akin to having a temper tantrum. I understand your frustration that things aren't proceeding as quickly as you'd like--and that they're not as effortless as you'd like (yet). But this is a pretty risky way to handle those feelings. How often will your doctor do an adjustment? I would schedule your next for the soonest possible time.

For my multi, I take either a Vitamin capsule my doctor's office sells or Bariatric Advantage chewable multis. I also take Vitamin D, Cal-mag, Biotin, a B-complex, additional pantothenic acid, selenium, Co Q-10, and chewable Iron on alternating days. Everything listed is something I found I simply did not meet minimum requirements for over a long period of time. (I track nutrients on Fitday.) Now I meet or exceed the USRDA for everything but potassium, which my doctor monitors (and will Rx supplementation for if needed). The Co Q-10 is a supplement he suggests all patients take daily---preferably for life. ETA: Since surgery, I have not been able to tolerate pills---at least, not pressed tablets. So, every supplement I take is either a chewable, a powder-containing capsule (breaks down before it tries to pass through the stoma) or a gelcap (same idea).

I tend to use the Protein powders without much doctoring---though instead of Water, I do often use almond milk. Sometimes, I blend unflavored protein with kefir or yogurt (or almond milk), frozen fruit, and a bit of flax seed. One thing I really do love is to combine Protein Powder, a slosh of almond milk, about 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin, about a T of sugar-free, fat-free butterscotch pudding mix, and a good dash of pumpkin pie spice. This is VERY filling--and does the trick if I really, really want something "dessert-y." I like that the pumpkin gives me nutrients I don't often get from dietary means these days. The Inspire protein powders at Bariatric Eating (flavored), as well as their PURE (unflavored) protein are outstanding. None of of the icky baby-formula-ish protein smell or taste. Next time you're shopping for protein, give 'em a try :ohmy:

Really?! You really believe that 30 pounds in just over 3 months is something to be discouraged about?! Have you ever been able to lose 10 pounds a month before, and know that you would keep it off? I was banded 8 days before you, and am around 39 down---so losing at just about the same rate as you are. I'm happy, my doctor's happy----it's a great loss! Banding is NOT GEARED FOR RAPID LOSS. It is geared for steady, ongoing loss of the kind most of us could not achieve pre-banding. We gave up before we reached goal--or regained if we did reach goal---because we couldn't sustain the changes long-term. The band is a tool to sustain the changes. 30 pounds since January 20 is a very good loss. My doctor (who has a very stringent eating regimen) is happy with FIVE-SIX pounds a month---and you're doing around 10.

The safety issue that arises with Alli is this: when your intake is as low as it is post-banding, and you are eating carefully and cautiously, you are taking in an amount of fat that is consistent with what your body needs to carry out cellular functions. If you use a drug that removes a percentage of that fat, you may experience deficiencies. The typical American diet gives TONS of leeway for "losing" dietary fat by malabsorption. The typical bandster diet has far less latitude. As a rule, we no longer need Alli to pare our fat absorption down. If it doesn't prove harmful, it is certainly not likely to be particularly helpful. And as I recall from when I used it (preop), it's not a cheap med. I'd rather save the $$ (and make sure I have enough fat to keep my skin and hair happy, to transport fat-soluble Vitamins, and to help with cell functions that keep me physically and emotionally sound).

Doctors, like everyone else, have preferences. Their recommendations may be based on what they think is best for a patient---or they might be based on the surgery they think is more fun, or produces the fastest (and most gratifying, for them) results, or because they don't like the level of long-term followup required with the band, or even because they make more money one way or the other. My doctor did NOT recommend GBS for me. In fact, he said he would recommend against it. He does perform bypass routinely, but he believed me to be a better candidate for the band because of my history, my eating habits at the time, my obstacles to loss (I had already identified that I lose at 800-1000 calories, and significantly changed my behavior, but needed help with hunger), and I was "only a little morbidly obese" (in his words LOL). If you trust your surgeon---know his reputation and have built a good, trusting rapport with him, then perhaps his recommendation is a good one. Perhaps it is not. If you get the sense that your surgeon does not support banding, it might be a good idea to find one who is. It is NOT unheard-of for less-than-enthusiastic doctors to make the follow-up period, during which you seek to achieve restriction, really difficult. Better to have a doctor who is behind YOUR decision and will do whatever is necessary to help you succeed. (And yes, I would flat-out ask. I'd say, "You've indicated that you would prefer to do bypass. If I choose banding, are you committed to helping me achieve success with it?")

:ohmy::laugh: Anne, you crack me up.

I am perversely relieved that I am not the only one who noticed the wiping issue in some stalls---even some handicap stalls. That knee-level dispenser---brilliant design, guys! :ohmy: Thank GOD it's not an issue I have any longer---I remember being SO perplexed when I first experienced it. Perplexed and humiliated.

The scars are tiny---really, quite miniscule. Really, they pale in comparison to the deformity caused by obesity and stretch marks. I figure that most of the aftereffects of obesity and banding can be removed by a skillful plastic surgeon if they really, really bother me when I reach goal. But truly,the surgical scars aren't even on my radar-they're there, but they just don't register when I look at myself. The positives of the band really, really outweigh this little drawback. Good luck with your decision!

This has long frustrated me. The governmental recommendations have consistently been tailored to the American public in a way designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Instead of trumpeting the need for 60 minutes/day, the message has been diluted for years. If that had resulted in a nation of people who actually moved their bodies each and every day (as was their rationale), it would represent a victory. But instead, it utterly de-emphasized the importance of exercise, and helped create a nation of NON-exercisers. Certainly, personal responsibility is paramount. But when the agencies we look to for guidance downplay the role of exercise (as they have for the past 3 years), then those who do actively seek guidance are shortchanged. This article appeared in the NYT yesterday. The same information appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association in March, 2010--as well as in other sources within the last couple of months. But the information is NOT NEW. The data were published by the government in 2008. At the time, it was broadly acknowledged that they would represent "too much" for the American public---the belief was that, upon hearing that they need to exercise for 60 minutes, most Americans would say, "I can't do that!" and therefore do nothing. As a result, the recommendations barely made a blip on the radar at when it was introduced. When it did receive attention in the mainstream media, experts hurriedly explained that the 60 recommended minutes did not need to be continuous, and could include activities of daily living. This did a huge disservice to Americans. Helping them stick their fingers in their collective ears and sing, "LA LA LA LA LA! I can't hear you!" in the face of important data was wrong, wrong, wrong. Downplaying the importance of exercise did not result in a population that eagerly embraced the watered-down 30-minutes-most-days stuff. It created a bunch of people who think that "running after" their toddlers or walking from the parking lot into the office is exercise. It created a deluded America. This kind of paternalism is so harmful. Shielding people from information that is crucial to health is wrong. It is up to the individual to change his or her behaviors--but decisions should be made with all of the available information. I'm really glad that it's finally being addressed. Not that I feel strongly about it or anything LOL