BetsyB

My psych evaluation was a 3-visit, pretty intense thing. I have no psych history, but just happened to choose a very thorough psychologist. (I'd recommend going with one of the ones your doctor recommends; I went to one who is highly regarded, but NOT in "the loop" bariatrically speaking, and my doctor was floored by the unnecessary depth of the report.) Anyway, the first visit involved an hour of talking about my history, and one brief pencil-and-paper test. The second visit involved the MMPI and another written test, as well as more talk--what seemed to be an oral questionnaire/assessment. And the third visit involved yet more talk, and being told that based on his assessment, I was less likely to succeed with the band than most people. (He was not able to point to what led him to this conclusion, other than that I was too positive. I pointed out that some people view motivation as a positive attribute--that while I know there will be struggles, I don't tend to view minor struggles as major hardship---as might be evidenced by the way I handled the other changes in my life that we'd discussed.) ANYWAY---I got clearance, but determined he wasn't the therapist for me, if I decide I want ongoing therapy! (I'm secretly pleased he made so much unnecessary extra work for himself. He was a pain, so thinking of him poring over 14 pages of report that could have been taken care of with three sentences kind of amuses me.)

In the face of such huge change (and when confronted with a super-restrictive preop diet), feelings of grief and depression are pretty common. For me, they passed before surgery. For some people, they linger during the period of getting used to the band. It'll be okay--these feelings will pass. You're about to make big changes, and your mind is processing that.

The fill is so fresh that, if you're able to get fluids down, I'd baby it for a week or so to see what happens. (If you're concerned though, check with your doctor to see what s/he thinks.) I was filled on the 26th, and still am babying mine---my doctor's view is that, if you can get fluids down, it's a good indicator that within a few days to a week (or so), food will be tolerated. For me, warm drinks help.

I wasn't suggesting you don't eat well. Really, chitosan doesn't work for cholesterol--that was my only point. But if milk is a staple, can you pare down on servings or switch to something like soy or almond milk (less fat, no cholesterol)? Sometimes, little tweaks and shifts to non-animal sources makes a big difference. (The Almond Breeze and Silk almond milks in the refrigerated case with the milk are awesome.)

I'm experiencing this right now, I think. My allergies are flaring, and I've been seemingly tight. But what I really think is going on is that the very thick mucus is obstructing my recently-filled (and therefore a tad bit swollen) banded stomach. I've found that taking plain guaifenesin (plain Robitussin or Mucinex) helps tremendously with this problem. I have not had to go for an unfill...but on days when I forget to take it, I do have real difficulties. I'd check with your doctor about this--it's worth a shot.

No, the needle cannot be reused. Lack of knowledge of this very, very basic tenet of aseptic technique makes the fact that you are doing this on your own worrisome. Are any of your healthcare providers privy to your activities? I ask, because if you've gone maverick, you may well void any sort of possibility of gaining medical care related to the band in the future. It's scary, for physicians, to care for patients who practice medicine on themselves without a license. And for good reason! Also consider that you may queer your possibilities of having care for any complications that may arise covered by insurance. I'm glad you're feeling wonderful, and hope you do well. But in your shoes, I think I'd work on locating a nearby professional to carry this task out. Look, if you can do it, your PCP---whereever you are---can learn to do it. Have him/her phone the doctor who banded you for instructions.

I have lost 35 pounds, and regularly do both cardio and weight work (and have, long-term). I am about ready to move into smaller clothes---but the ones I have still stay on my body. That said, everything looks baggy and awful. Still, the last time I checked, I wasn't quite ready to move down. Clothes sizing is really weird. If I had more time and/or inclination (and money!), I am sure I could find brands/designers for which the clothes fit just fine. But I just want to pick up a few tide-me-over things, and haven't been able to do it. When I was going up in weight, I stayed in sizes a really long time, too. This made it easier to deny the gain!

Judy, I'm so sorry I didn't see this until now. I order it from bariatriceating.com. I really love it as an alternative to the chocolately, vanilla-y proteins :thumbup: As an unrelated aside, I posted earlier about Bandtastic Meals, and have seen some posts on this thread about them since. I've ordered, and while the food isn't awful, I've found it to be really disappointing. It's not gourmet, and it's nothing that can't be easily and inexpensively recreated at home. Worst, even though the website assures that items are sent frozen and packed with dry ice, they arrived thawed and without dry ice. I was told that the FAA no longer permits air shipping with dry ice. The result was food that had been frozen arriving fully thawed and cool at very best. (The shipping charges have not been changed to reflect this change in policy.) It refreezes okay--but the quality just isn't as good as I'd hoped.

I agree that professional guidance can be really helpful---knowing that it can be quite difficult to locate a therapist you really "click" with. My story is a bit different---but in a way, not so very much. My mother was sexually abused, and insulated her daughters against similar attention with fat (while making the dangers of men and sex well known to us). At the same time, she was incredibly appearance-fixated (and thin and gorgeous herself)--so there were very confusing mixed messages sent to us. To my father, a woman's appearance (and bank account) was her only value. He is a sociopath, and the messages he sent were downright creepy. I was on diets from early elementary school---and did maintain normal weight until I had children of my own, when it became a battle again. However, the sex-is-dangerous message planted by my mother so early in life started playing in my mind again when my husband was unfaithful and, subsequent to that, developed a serious illness that wrought havoc with our sex life. THEN, I acutely felt that other men posed a danger to me. I saw myself as vulnerable to infidelity myself---and started hearing those Mom-messages in my mind. The result? A large weight gain that lingered for almost 15 years. It's only recently, after really pinpointing what was going on in my head, that I became ready to let go of the insulation. It sounds ridiculous, the idea of letting FAT go! It's FAT---of course I don't want to be enveloped in fat! But really, it served a purpose for my battered psyche. It protected me, admittedly in a maladaptive way. It made me invisible to the men who were a threat to me. It worked! Find a way to work through this---a good therapist, journaling, talking with those who understand...whatever. It can be done. Good luck to you---you will feel so, so good being yourself and saying goodbye to those who have injured you but are now lingering in your mind.

Lisa, good for you! I'm so glad you discussed your concerns with your doctor. I have a feeling you're on your way to a much more constructive working relationship with him.

Nah...the reward (loss) will come, either way. My more rigid diet is helpful to me as I learn what this band does. A year-long commitment to a particular surgeon-recommended regimen may not bring any greater loss, but it will let me sort of brainlessly adapt to life with the band so that, as I do incorporate other foods, I will be able to really "hear" what my body tells me about them. I don't know if that made sense. Let me give an example. I haven't had bread post-banding yet. Will I? Of course. But for now, I'm not having it. Why? I am new to the band, I am learning how to eat with it, and I still---as I do a little dance with restriction---am not 100 percent sure what will go down well and what will not. Even the sure-thing foods sometimes miss the mark. If i ate bread now, and it got stuck, it very well may have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it was bread, but be entirely due to the fact that it's 9:14 a.m. on Monday when I have PMS, and my band just didn't feel like it right at that very moment. I want to learn to listen to the band so that I can determine what is a problem, what is due to the band's sort of capricious nature, and what is generally a sure thing. That's all--no reward for being "good" (other than not experiencing discomfort), because frankly, a vanilla slice sounds pretty damn good. But right now, I'm going to focus on reliably getting solids down --and on achieving a level of restriction that permits me to do so without difficulty while still controlling inappropriate hunger. THEN, I will feel equipped to approach food differently. Like you, I ate healthily preoperatively. I ate too much, but I prepared healthy meals from healthy ingredients. Things really aren't going to be all that different once I figure out this little device. And now that I think about it, maybe that is the reward I'm hoping for.

I'm really sorry you're having such difficulty! As the PP said, saline is likely not the issue. The saline used in medical procedures is 0.9% normal saline, and has the same composition as our bodies' fluids.

It's not the same as Alli---it's made from crustacean shells that are alleged to glom onto fat and remove it (and its calories) from the body. Only, it doesn't do this--the claims are false. I would be very reluctant to take chitosan---not just because it causes things to clump up (and therefore might become stuck), but because it's claims regarding fat are unfounded. Well, not just unfounded---proven false. The FDA routinely issues warnings to its makers/promoters regarding this claim. It does NOT do what it is purported to do. Further, it may interfere with the absorption of Vitamins and minerals that you DO need. Look, you have a gastric band. Your stomach space is finite. First, you don't want to fill it with crustacean shells when your body needs other things. Secondly, wouldn't it be a better approach to tailor your eating to fit your fat/cholesterol limits? There's not that much space---you can fill it with healthier food, and do great! If cholesterol is a huge concern, and does not respond to diet and exercise changes, it's time to talk to your doctor about medications that have passed muster and are known to reduce cholesterol. (Chitosan does help blood clot. It's used in bandages. That is its only real medical use.)

I wonder: when you went back to the doctor, did you still have something stuck, or were you dealing with swelling? (Does your doctor use fluoroscopy?) I ask, because after being stuck, I've experienced swelling that feels like the stuckness, long after the problem-causing object was removed. I moved to liquids for a couple of days--let the swelling from being stuck recede---and avoid the doctor altogether. I know some people swear by the enzymes. I haven't tried them (only gotten stuck on meds, so that wouldn't work). But if you've got persistent issues after sticking, I really wonder whether it's obstruction by swelling rather than a persistent food plug. If you can get liquids down, I'd baby your band with those for a couple of days. (Warm ones are especially good) and see if things calm down. If you can't keep fluids down, do call your doctor and go in ASAP, though.

Meg, you're fresh postop. Your body, right now, is contending with Fluid from IVs, meds, anesthesia, swelling, and all sorts of other things related to the trauma known as surgery. I know our incisions postop are tiny. They only represent part of what was done to our bodies. Our bodies' responses to being anesthetized, incised, banded, and medicated include retaining a good deal of fluid. This will resolve over time. Until then, try to stay off the scale if it frustrates you. The weight loss will come. Depending on your doctor's postop diet, it may well come before you even approach restriction. But the real loss is down the road a little bit. I know it's really hard to be patient, and I really know the difficulty of staying off the scale. If you can't do that, at least reframe the messages it's sending you. At this point, there is NO need to be concerned about the (possibly mythical) starvation mode, or not eating enough. You're just a few days from surgery---while I'm all for tracking calories, they have nothing to do with what is going on right now. It will pass, Meg. Your body will heal, and you will experience the loss you're hoping for.

I'm going back to read & respond to all--but I start at the end and move backwards, so of course your post, TJ, stood out and definitely needs a BRAVO! Way to go on your great loss!

Yes, Water does move directly into the "lower 48"---but when the stoma is smaller, it does so at a slower rate. Imagine pouring water into a funnel before it can empty. Same thing happens when you drink too quickly. The stomach may overflow into the esophagus. I am approaching good restriction (may even be there; waiting to see if it subsides)---and I can still drink normal-sized swallows/gulps of water. But I can't drink as many of them as quickly any more. I don't have a problem getting Fluid in, but if I go a little too far, I do feel the water lapping at the shores of my esophagus. Some people genuinely do have problems with this---they vomit, or can only take small sips, or whatever. We all are affected quite differently by this restriction on our stomachs. ETA: Oh, yes--and there is the logistics factor. I'm "allowed" to drink fluid up until I eat, but am not supposed to for 90 minutes after. That knocks out 270 minutes of my day--four and a half hours!---when I can't drink fluid. Getting it in during the remaining time can be a challenge. (This is why my Snacks, when I have them, are Protein dissolved in fluid.)

Yes, it's common. Very, very common. You may or may not experience a difference related to your first fill. For me, Fill #2 effected some change, but it was Fill #3 that made a real difference. (It remains to be seen whether it will linger.) Hang in there--it does get better!

My surgeon asked me if I had a preference, and I said, "No. Should I?" He told me he prefers to use Realize except in his very-high BMI patients. I deferred to his judgment. I don't think there is really any way for patients to make a particularly educated decision about this, to tell you the truth.

Welcome, Jacki! Anne, you're about 10,000 steps ahead of me--Truman and I have yet to hit the pavement. Guess I'd better log off and lace up my shoes!

I agree that the Inspire line of Protein powder from Bariatric Eating is out of this world. I love the Peanut Butter, but my favorites are the Dutch chocolate cake and Pom Razz Sangria. For the latter, I use 1 scoop in a liter of Water to which I've added Crystal Light lemonade. It's very refreshing, and has no protein-y taste or smell. I also very much like their PURE unflavored Protein Powder.

I completely understand your feelings. But you will reach a point where you trust the process---and know you will not fail. It's a process, truly it is. Everything you are experiencing is completely normal---and it's awesome that you're already seeing a therapist to help you deal with these feelings.

Yep, definitely. Even before I had restriction, I tightened up when I ovulated and for the first couple days of my period. Weird! Our hormones really are far-reaching!

How far out are you? If you're not too far out of the starting gate, I'd be inclined to stick to things that are very safe, such as egg drop soup---only because Chinese is a problem for many. The veggies can be fibrous, and often are julienned finely enough that they are difficult to thoroughly chew before they "escape" down the hatch. In other words, they stay stringy, which can cause problems. For me, sugar is also a concern. I don't know if this is something that worries you, but many of the sauces are quite high in sugar, so I'd watch out for that. I'd choose something in which the Protein was not breaded, and was still moist. I'd want the veggies to be chunky, not julienned, and I'd want the sauce not to be super-sweet. For me, this would translate into something pretty simple like ginger chicken wit broccoli---the chicken and broccoli are in chunks big enough for me to cut into appropriate-sized chunks for my needs, there's no breading, and while the sauce has some sugar, its nutritional info is not too bad. (And man, does it sound good!) Enjoy your meal!

Surgery/general anesthesia carries with it the risk of atelectasis--collapse of the little air sacs in the lungs. This sounds scarier than it needs to sound---most of us experience this, to a minimal extent, without lasting effects. But that's why they give you an incentive spirometer (the breathing device), encourage you to cough and deep breathe, and get up to walk as much as possible. All of these actions work to keep the tiny air sacs inflated, promoting good oxygenation. Pain compounds the problem, because we tend to breathe more shallowly when we have abdominal pain. Deep breathing can up our pain---so we unconsciously avoid it. Pain meds to control the pain are very helpful for this---but also can contribute, because they can depress respiration. There are lots of things conspiring to make you feel the way you're feeling! The key to good postop respiratory health, though, is deep breathing. If it hurts, splint your incisions by pressing a pillow against your abdomen. But make a point, every 20 minutes or so, to take a series of deep, deep breaths, expelling the air forcefully. You may cough--this is actually helpful. Did you receive a spirometer? If you brought it home with you, it would be a good idea to use it, as well. And moving around as much as you can is important, too. If this sensation persists, I would place a call to the doctor. Chances are s/he'll reassure you---particularly if you're able to report that you're doing all of the above (and have hopefully noted some improvement). But it's important to keep on top of it, so that you avoid some of the nastier postop respiratory complications. I hope you're feeling better very, very soon. I know I was---but I also know that it's scary when it's going on if you don't quite know what's happening to your body.