BetsyB

The band is kind of fickle---and it's pretty common for it to be tighter at one time of day or another. I used to be tighter in the morning, but now I, too, am tighter at night. It's weird, but I just adjust what I eat accordingly.

It sounds like the best plan EVER. Seriously, learning how to eat the way you'll eat when banded is a great idea.

It's always a good idea to go with your gut. While I now wish I'd done it sooner, I simply wasn't at the right place for it sooner. If it's right for you, you'll know it :biggrin: Good luck!

Yep, I did. It was no biggie. I didn't tell them about it--saw no real need to share. I was perfectly able to handle it myself, postop. Don't stress about it--even if you have to share it with medical personnel, it's not like it's something they haven't ever dealt with! From what I understand, it's really common for women to start their periods during or immediately after surgery, too. No worries---it's just one of those things.

Yep, the hiccuping postop is really common. The surgery can irritate the phrenic nerve, which triggers hiccups. They tend to taper off with time--though I've found that a single hiccup is now my cue to stop eating RIGHT NOW. I usually stop pre-hiccup (other stop-eating signals reach me first), but if I don't "hear" those signals and reach the hiccup stage, I know that one more bite will push me over the limit.

Skin is remarkable. And for some people---those who have not been morbidly obese long-term, people who have not gained and lost repeatedly in their lives, people with just the right genetic makeup, people who have not had multiple pregnancies, and so on---skin can and does quite often rebound beautifully. The website you cited shows a lot of these people (if, in fact, their claims about having had no plastic surgery are true). I think it's reasonable to assume that there are some people on this board who could expect similar results if they got their BMIs way down and exercised at that level. But would most? No. They would improve their appearances dramatically. They would reduce the degree to which a surgeon had to intervene. But they would still be left with redundant skin. Who suggested it was a ridiculous notion to lose fat and gain muscle?! I did not even begin to suggest there was nothing to be done for a belly, short of surgery. My first recommendation was losing extra subcutaneous fat--which often results in the person determining the "problem" is largely solved, making surgery unnecessary. Next, I recommended exercise. Both of these yield awesome results for the body. Adding lean mass, however, will do absolutely nothing to address skin redundancy. As you stated yourself, skin is an organ. But then, you suggest that you can somehow change its composition. And that is where your thinking become skewed. Skin is skin. Muscle is muscle. And never the twain shall meet. You cannot replace redundant skin with lean muscle. All you can do is create a beautiful scaffold for the skin. Will this achieve an aesthetic that obviates the need for reconstructive surgery? Sometimes. No one other than you is suggesting an either/or approach to achieving a healthy, appealing body. The fact is that diet and exercise are crucial. But even with these, the skin may not rebound. When this occurs, plastic surgery is an alternative. And this, really, is indisputable. If you're interested, there is lots of peer-reviewed literature that addresses the topic.

Yep---only with regular meal-time food. My capacity is about 4 ounces, if the food is solid. Any more, and my body says, "Nope!" and tosses it right back up. If you had prolonged pain, I wonder if you had something stuck, and it took that long for it to work its way through the stoma....

I have a set of Mario Batali measuring bowls. I got them from Entertaining at Home, but they carry them at Target. I use those to measure foods I don't weigh. Then I can eat directly from the same bowl. I am NOT super-careful when measuring green leafies---their nutritional contribution is near-nil, and while I don't want to overdo (I mean, the pouch only holds so much---and the veggies are served alongside protein), I know that if I err by a leaf or two, it really won't make any difference in terms of calories or carbs or anything like that. So, I toss 'em in the right size bowl loosely, and stop eating when I'm full. DO be careful with leafies at first. It's easy to swallow them before you've chewed enough, and if too big, little leaf fragments can kind of lie across the stoma and make it difficult for other things to move through. Shredding, at first, isn't a bad idea. But you'll learn to chew the daylights out of it! (I was like you--I couldn't wait to have salad--I was dreaming about it on my preop diet, and had to wait for 2 months postop to add it back in....let me tell you, it was the BEST thing I ever tasted!)

You're not going to like what I write at all, but the very first thing that leaps out from your menu---after skipping dinner (and there has to be a way to get something nutritious in your body for dinner, if only a good-quality protein shake)--- is refined carbohydrate and "fake food" that's high in sodium, but not so high in nutrition. You don't have to give up Pringles and Wheat Thins forever. Or Smart Ones. They probably shouldn't ever be the mainstay of your diet, but there's room in your life for them. But during the time when you're aiming for maximum weight loss, you need to eat as though that's your aim. And your body will respond far more cooperatively if you give it lean protein (including legumes), nonstarchy veggies, heart-healthy fats, and whole grains and fruit in moderation. It will also lose more efficiently if you don't skip meals, but rather, provide fuel consistently throughout your day. What would happen if you replaced your Special K cereal bar with a protein-based snack? Something like fat-free cottage cheese or yogurt and fruit, maybe with a sprinkle of ground flax seed? What would happen if, instead of eating a Smart One for lunch, you had a couple of wraps of sliced turkey breast and cheese on romaine lettuce (or even a low-carb wrap)? They don't take longer to prepare, but are healthier and more satisfying. How about having a real dinner every night? Maybe a 3-4 ounce serving of lean protein and some nonstarchy veggies? It doesn't take long to prepare or eat---even for someone babying a band----and would give your body nutrients it needs. I bet you'd see the scale behaving differently. I see lots of advice here telling you to keep doing what you're doing. Mine would be to make some changes to see if they help you move toward your goal. I do NOT mean to minimize your great progress so far. But it sounds as though you're frustrated and hitting the wall, so I thought I'd toss my $0.02 in, for what little it's worth. (:biggrin: it's worth exactly $0.02.) Good luck!

Yes, I can feel it just beneath the surface of my skin. I can't yet see it, but am sure that, a few pounds from now, I will be able to. It's common---and it's also common, for those who do have abdominoplasty when they reach goal, to have the surgeon switch to a low-profile port.

Yes, those doctor clearances are customary. How long you must wait depends on the specific insurance policy you or your employer purchased from UHC; depending on the coverage purchased, there may be a requirement that you have dietary supervision for 3-6 months. Before you gasp, my insurance required 3 months, and the time was gone by the time I got all the other appointments taken care of---it goes quickly! The only way to know for sure what is ahead of you is to get a copy of your policy and read it carefully. It will very clearly spell out how they manage bariatric surgery. Good luck! No matter what the wait, you'll soon be among the banded. Use the time until then to really educate yourself about what to expect postop so there aren't any big surprises :biggrin:

I've got all my everythings crossed for you, Bobbie--sounds promising!

Leigha! You're NORMAL--congratulations!! Jacki, I agree. Exercise is THE BEST medicine for me. I have to be careful what I do, but that's more because of other orthopedic issues. But within the parameters dictated by those issues, daily, prolonged, vigorous exercise is key to feeling good, for me. I scrapped the meds, too--though I found Cymbalta to be very helpful for quite a while. (Its effect diminished with time.)

Before my first fill? 16 pounds, if I recall correctly. I didn't stall--my loss has been pretty steady all along. (I really don't count staying the same weight for a few days as a "stall.") But I also only was on liquids for a couple of days; my doctor moves us to purees on Day Three. I kind of chuckled when I read your subject line. "Postop diet" describes what many of us do for months after surgery. I know I've been doing it since January! I just started feeling restriction with my third fill (2 weeks ago). And it's already relaxed enough that whatever weight I'm losing, at this point, is by sheer willpower. Please don't pin tons of hopes on your first fill. It does get the ball rolling toward restriction, but it usually does not give you a great sense of dramatic change.

Utterly untrue. It's true that many people do seek corrective surgery while they still have significant fat stores beneath redundant skin. However, this does not mean that redundant skin is mythological! Skin that has been stretched, long-term, by large amounts of subcutaneous fat may (and often does) remain stretched when the subcutaneous fat is lost. The link you posted may apply to a handful of bodybuilders, but let's be honest--it is not written by someone who has any expertise dealing with bariatric patients and their unique issues.

The Inspire protein powders from bariatriceating.com are outstanding. I am not sure whether they ship overseas, but if they do, they're well worth the shipping fee.

They've seen you lose and regain in the past. I think they're probably apt to just assume you're doing the same thing. Can you just take a "vacation?" The recovery from banding is very short, and unless your job is very physical and requires light duty, there's really no need to discuss it with anyone other than HR (if you need to take medical leave rather than vacation days). I've found it to be easier to just tell people--and have experienced no fallout from it. But I can understand your stance. I just think you're worrying about something that is very likely to be a complete non-issue.

The psych I saw drew it out over THREE appointments, then told me that while he'd clear me for surgery, his evaluation showed that I'd be less likely to succeed with the band than other patients. It pissed me off beyond belief. He had no real explanation for this assessment, except that (a) "An objective test" told him this (he did not identify the test--but I'm pretty sure the MMPI didn't yield this result), (:smile2: the conclusion was based on the fact that I was "too confident" that I could succeed with the band, and © despite my obvious ...whatever...I was completely free of psychopathology. Which means, "The real test tells me you're just fine, but something about your comfort with this procedure bugs me, so I' m going to knock you down a peg or two." (I have to add: this psychologist was NOT among those on my surgeon's list; I chose someone closer to home.) My surgeon got a good laugh from the report---seriously. Really, the guy could not have been more off the mark. The insurance needed the clearance---not the nonsense. Please don't worry too much about this. They are all, as my doctor says, "a little special."

Yep, they'll need to stop claiming you as a dependent if they're not willing or able to provide coverage to you. (Do they have a policy you could be added to? Maybe they would be willing to do so if you paid the difference in premiums; that might end up being less costly than purchasing your own coverage, and it may provide more coverage than you can afford on your own.) Failing that, I would strongly recommend that you look into the info Jax provided--it sounds like your best bet.

Well, the volume of food--and amount of residue remaining--diminishes markedly postop. Bowel habits really do change. So, I wouldn't freak out or be too, too concerned unless you're experiencing abdominal discomfort, distension, and the sensation that you have to go, but cannot. However, given that you're 13 days out, I would start taking a stool softener. Not a harsh laxative, and not a saline purge (blah---that'll make you feel gross before it works). Just a nice over-the-counter stool softener. If, after taking it daily for a couple of days, you haven't had results, I think another call to the doctor might be in order.

Bob--welcome back from the Farm. I was beginning to think you'd been lost in a freak combine/thresher accident. What game will provide your next diversion? Dottie--I’m sorry your doctor wasn’t supportive. I am not sure why some doctors seem to approach giving fills as somehow bestowing a great, yet undeserved, gift. I’m with Leigha and Jim--remember that you’re paying him, and that he has a job to do. Heaven knows you’re doing your part of the job very well. Now he needs to do his. Preferably without making you feel bad in the process. (Phhht. Screw his stats. Does he really think they're reflective of his success? They're not.) TJ--I agree 100 percent with you. We have to be responsible for our own bodies. I’ve been remarkably lucky, because my doctor is very well-rounded and we click. But even so, there are decisions I make that don’t quite mesh with his “plan.” I am perfectly fine with that--and so is he. It works well. I’m glad you have a doctor who approaches things with you similarly. I think it makes a tremendous difference. Good aftercare is so important--and having it with a good doctor is a pleasure. Denise--I love your plate NSV! Good luck with the doctor--I hope you get set on a path to get good answers so that you feel well again. Stacey-- I will send a friend request on FB. I’m Betsy Banks-Golub. I’m glad you’re seeing your PCP. Getting your asthma under control will help a lot. But remember, exercise doesn’t have to be punishing in order to be effective. Can you walk without experiencing symptoms? I’m sorry you’re battling depression, too. It can throw a wrench into the works, for sure. There are lots of options for treatment. While some meds can produce weight gain, usually relieving depression makes it easier to comply with eating and exercise plans, so loss is quite often a feature that accompanies recovery. I took Cymbalta for fibromyalgia pain for a few years. It was very helpful in terms of weight loss. It’s one of the antidepressants for which this seems to be a common feature, so it might be worth looking in to. Wellbutrin, too, is frequently chosen because it promotes loss. But in general, the most important thing is getting the depression under control so that the lifestyle stuff can follow. Don't underestimate the value of exercise and good nutrition to reducing depression. Once you're in a better place (both in terms of your asthma and depression), you'll feel the changes these promote, and one good day will be the foundation for the next. Before you know it, you'll have a chain of successes. And that will help motivate you on the days when doing what you need to do just isn't all that appealing. I hope you get good guidance and help and are soon feeling much better. We’re all here for you. HB--That’s quite a video LOL Bobbie--I’m so sorry your “interview” wasn’t an interview. You must be so disappointed. We’ve had to endure the double-unemployment thing, and it’s so, so hard. Your family is in my prayers---I know you will find something soon.

Hi, gang--I've been an absentee, and will go back to catch up with everyone's goings-on later today. I've been swamped! I just wanted to check in --I was homesick! I've been playing with the same 2 pounds since my fill 2 weeks ago---while simultaneously learning how NOT to eat with a band that's providing some restriction (a new one for me). My doctor doesn't have "rules" post fill--just a general, "Listen to your body, and take it easy." And that was fine--until the swelling hit (a day later)---and I got blindsided by a stuck incident. I should have babied it after that, but live and learn. I've since been gradually dipping my toe back into the eating world. Next time? Liquids, then soft foods, and then real food. In no big hurry. Now I can reliably eat (swelling's down, and restriction is far less---I can now tell I will need another fill)----so I am hoping my body will fall off this mini-plateau it's landed on. I am going to shake things up a little to help out, if things don't start moving on their own quickly. Otherwise, things are ....well, okay. Mark's hanging in, but it's been scary for both of us to watch his mental acuity slip. This means, I assume, that his heart is not pumping enough oxygenated blood to his brain. This was already occurring before they dropped his meds, but has been precipitous since. I will be SO glad when his testing is done later this month--I am hoping they will bump up his meds again---at least then, when he feels crappy, he can still think a little more clearly. Otherwise, there's not much news from this end---hope you're all doing well. (Now I will go back to check!) Have a great day, everyone!

Dumping actually can cause a whole-body response that includes dizziness. It can be dreadful. That said, while some bandsters do experience diarrhea in response to sugar, they don't experience the same kind of dumping that people who've had gastric bypass do. If you're experiencing dizziness/lightheadedness in response to sugar, I'd ask the doctor to check for reactive hypoglycemia. It's a more likely culprit.

You will eventually lose the fat in that region. It will likely require getting closer to a normal BMI---but your fat stores will be depleted as you lose weight. Sometimes it comes off in wacky ways---which is annoying, to be sure. Whether or not you will be left with excess skin is another issue altogether. That depends on your age, genetics, how overweight you were, and how long you were overweight. It has very little to do with how fast you lose or what you put on your skin. Muscle laxity in the abdomen can contribute to the belly problem---so continue what you're doing exercise-wise. If you're not doing cardio ---long, steady cardio---I'd add that, too. It will help knock down your BMI faster. It takes time and patience. (And ultimately, it may also take plastic surgery, if what remains after you reach a healthy BMI is excess skin.)

What are you eating? If you were to post a day or two of typical menus, we can give you a little feedback on that. FWIW, my doctor's office considers any loss greater or equal to 5 pounds a month to be right on target.