BetsyB

Sugar alcohols aren't 'bad' in terms of what they can do, weight-wise; your body will not absorb them. BUT--and it's a big but--they can wreak havoc on the gut. Many, many people are very sensitive to them---and even those who are not particularly sensitive generally have to limit their intake of sugar alcohols lest they experience cramping, gas, and diarrhea. Preop, I bought a box of Werther's mini butterscotches--the sugar-free kind. There are 5 in a serving---and eating just one (for a total of <3 mg sugar alcohol) made me so so so sick that I won't even touch the stuff now. Your mileage may vary---many people don't have problems, as long as they are careful with their intake. Hopefully, you'll be among them. But since you're so freshly out of the OR, I think that, in your shoes, I might postpone experimenting until you feel up to ...well, dealing with possible consequences. I'd hate for you to add cramping and diarrhea to the mix at this point. I'm glad you're doing so well postop--have fun at the movies!

Ginger, good for you for mending fences with your husband. He was put between a rock and a hard place with his meddling family. Next time, I bet he will handle it differently. You've gotten a great deal of advice about how to discuss the issue with your inlaws. This is terrific if you want to discuss it with them. Some people deserve our explanations, and others do not. You do not owe them any explanations. Their rude comments are not worthy of response, unless you wish to offer one. It's perfectly okay to look them dead in the eye and say, "How peculiar that you would find that an appropriate thing to say to me," and resume whatever it is you were doing. I have inlaws from hell---I am sure we could swap stories that would make both our hair curl. I know how hard it is---it took me years and years of trying before I realized that no matter what I do, they have something to say (usually behind my back, but in a way that gets back to me). If you can't win, you can't win. With them. But you can win by standing up for yourself!

It does seem as though life revolves around the band---but it really doesn't. Early on, it occupies a good deal of thought, but even right out of the starting gate, all of the same "normal" things are required of us on a day-to-day basis. We have to get up in the morning, empty the dishwasher, feed the dog, go to work, etc., etc., etc. It does take time to get to know your band. But it doesn't come close to approaching all-encompassing. It's a small part of life. It's just magnified here, where almost all discussion is on the one topic. ETA: I'm just 2 months out. I feel normal. Not like I did before (really, I spend far less time focused on food), but normal in a luckier, healthier way.

I use a scale for most measurement. I think it's more accurate than a measuring cup, which I can manipulate too much. (It's awfully easy, sometimes, to cram more in...or to mis-read that line...) I don't eat granola bars, but if I did, I would go by the serving size on the package. I wouldn't bother weighing/measuring. And no, I would NOT eat four for 4 ounces. But if it were a different food, I might. (Did that make sense? I mean, 4 oz. of granola bar would not fit in with my way of eating. But if I had a package that had pre-measured 1-ounce servings of ...say, chicken breast...then yes, I might have 3 or 4, depending on what else I was eating.) As for the stomach issues--I can relate; I just have Fill #3, and my stomach is requiring real babying. How long ago was your fill? Are you tolerating liquids well? My doctor's fine with me riding it out for several days (or a week) as long as I am able to get adequate fluid---so I am choosing foods that go down easily for now. If you're at all concerned, though, give your doctor a call.

Welcome, Delta--ooh! Your surgery date is so close! You are going to do great

Hi, Eric--welcome! The answers to your questions depend on your specific insurance policy (and doctor's requirements), but in general, once you are preapproved for surgery, you can lose weight--and in fact, it's expected during the 3-month supervision. (My insurer used the weight from my first office visit when calculating BMI.) My insurance did not require loss; my surgeon did. During the 3 month supervision, a loss of at least six pounds was required (patients with a 6-month supervision must lose 10); I had to check in with my surgeon monthly, but did not have to follow a specific diet. Your mileage (well, policy and doctor) may vary--but the doctor's office will tell you exactly what is required. For me, once all the requirements were met (the nutrition supervision, pulmonary function tests, and clearances from a variety of -ologists), everything was sent to the insurer for approval. (The earlier approval was conditional on successfully providing all this documentation.) From there, approval came very quickly. Good luck--I look forward to seeing your progress!

Welcome, Ranger! You'll be banded before you know it; once it goes to the insurance company for approval, things happen pretty quickly. Good luck! I look forward to seeing your progress!

I don't know if it's what you're describing, but I have on many occasions had little muscular spasms of some sort that have felt very much like that fetal-movement sensation. I have chalked it up to disrupted muscles recovering from the insult of surgery. I have no idea what band slippage feels like--but I do know that it's usually accompanied with far greater symptoms than you've described. I think it's quite likely you can relax on that front. Certainly, tell your doctor about it--if s/he uses fluoroscopy during fills, you'll know immediately if there's been slippage. If you're really worried about it, give the doc a call before your appointment for reassurance and instructions. But I bet a million bucks your muscles are just hopping around a little. The fluctuating restriction you've described is baffling, isn't it? My band plays tricks like that, too. It used to be tighter in the morning than the evening. Last week it decided to change that! And now it's a complete new ball game after another fill... Never a dull moment! Good luck

Yes, it sounds as though you have post-op swelling. It will taper off over the next few days. If it concerns you, give your doctor a call. food isn't of paramount importance right now. As long as you're getting enough Fluid, you'll be a-okay on that front. I hope you feel better fast!

(((Hugs))) I'm sorry you got blindsided. And I do understand your feelings. But they were already watching what you ate---now isn't going to be any different. It's what they do. They sound like miserable humans. It's a shame your husband will not stand up to them for you. If my parents or sister were unpleasant to my spouse, I'd certainly put 'em in their place! I'm sorry that, instead, he's upset with you. Guys just don't get it sometimes. Can you avoid the Misery Family? I don't think I'd want to spend much time with people who were so unpleasant to me.

Dontgoggilme, just to be sure: Fiber Sure is prebiotic, not probiotic. It does help with the prebiotic growth in the gut--but it's not probiotic itself. Just wanted to make sure I didn't mislead you

Aw, Leigha, sorry you feel crappy. I hope by now your stuckness/overfullness/whatever-ness has passed. Your photo is hot, hot, hot! You look fabulous. I'm like you; once I get hungry, there's no getting UN-hungry. I have to eat on schedule, or I'm doomed. Bob-you are an overachiever, getting stuck and puking already! I had my first "incident" last night--also at a restaurant. Fun times. Liz-awesome calendar quote--I'm going to have to remember that. Elfie-You'll be well on your way to 200 by April 30. I'm betting you'll get there, or below. But even if not quite--you'll make a huge dent. Reubens were the one thing I craved insanely when on my preop and postop diets. The first postop restaurant meal I had was a reuben sans bread--it was heavenly. Christie--Steve sounds like he needs an attitude adjustment. Are you doing better now, or will you head in for a little unfill? HB- Lanky! I wanna feel lanky. My legs would need to grow several inches to achieve that, though. WTG on your closet-shopping! That's always so much fun. Bobbie--how lucky you have friends to pass on warm-weather clothes! I know you'll get into them. Karen- Are things going down for you better than they have been? I'm with you--the half inch definately counts! Anne-Don't worry--you'll be sliming with the best of us before you know it. Laura-I'm glad you joined us! (to the rest: Laura and I go to the same surgical group & know each other from our classes.) You're not PBing or sliming because you don't have anything resembling restriction yet. Believe me, it's not nearly as glamorous as you think! (I'll give you a prediction: within 8 hours of Fill #3, you will have the experience.) Denise--Sorry about your computer hell--that sounds miserable. As does the prospect of breaking in a new manager--I hope yours sticks around. Does your knee feel any better? I had Fill #3 yesterday--as always, my doctor's scale is exactly 1.1 pound higher than mine, and my clothes weighed exactly 1 pound (neurotic? me? naaahhhh....)---so I was not under 200 on his scale. However, he was very happy with my loss so far. I now have 7.3 cc in my 11 cc band, and am definitely feeling it. For now, I'm babying it---I learned the necessity of this the hard way. Nothing fun or exciting going on this weekend--I have a bit of work to catch up on, and otherwise am just sort of hanging out and relaxing. Anyone else doing anything fun?

Check with your doctor if you're concerned--but I was told that sex was okay as soon as it was comfortable enough to do.

I hate to say it, but yes--it could be holding you back. Not because cheese is "bad," but because two slices a day might bump your caloric intake above where it needs to be each day in order to promote loss. I love cheese, too. I still eat it, and can't imagine paring it out of my diet. But in your shoes, I think I'd probably try to pare it down--not out. Make it an indulgence, not a two-a-day habit, and see what the scale does.

Bobbie, all of us are different. I have the exact opposite reaction to sugar--it ignites the Craving Monster. In your shoes, I'd be careful about experimenting too much with this--I think it might wind up biting you in the butt. I can't think of a physiological response that would cause you to feel fuller after sugar than anything else--but the band makes fullness an ephemeral and quirky thing. Who knows? Spartan, I have to admit I'm curious about your agenda on this forum. You don't really seem to be a bandster--or at least not one without some sort of professional agenda, as well. Your responses never include any sort of personal anecdote, just clinical information. What's the story? I can identify several things you've posted that aren't "correct" (starting with the notion that surgeons, by virtue of their ability to place bands, should always have their nutritional advice followed), but since you are always very quick to post that there is no "right" (often making people who've posed questions or provided answers feel put-down, by the way), I'm not going to head down a semantic rabbit-hole with you. On the other hand, I tend to agree with you about a good many things. Including that eating sugar's not a great choice, post-banding. I just think that it's possible to (a) keep my opinion to myself or, ( deliver it with a modicum of tact. Enabling? Nah. Just being a decent human being. With no agenda.

I'm sorry you're feeling cruddy. We tend to minimize it, because it passes quickly---but most of us completely understand how you feel. Right now, it's not important that you get Protein. Fluid is of paramount importance, food none at all. As you feel better, you will become hungry, or at least able to tolerate food. For now, work on getting adequate fluid. The rest will fall into place. (If the nausea becomes too bad, give your doctor a call. There are very effective meds for dealing with it.)

I am nowhere near goal, but I do find that my attitude toward it has changed a lot. I think it's a function of knowing that I will achieve it (even if I modify it)---something I've never really felt secure in before.

Yep, big stress affects me & my band, too. Stress and hormones.

If I'm correctly interpreting your question, you're wondering whether, even blended, the Fiber One would still provide the same benefits. And yes, it will. I add Fiber One to my Crystal Light or Protein shakes. A tablespoon dissolves in undetectably, and provides 15 g protein. I choose Fiber One (well, actually its generic equivalent) because it's inulin fiber. In addition to providing the fiber benefits, it's a prebiotic, which means it stimulates the growth of the "good" gut flora. That, and it really dissolves well and does not cause cramping. (I found that BeneFiber did, for me.)

This is appalling! Poor kids, represented by a principal who behaves this way! I think that, in your shoes, I would tell him something along the lines of, "I have hesitated to share much--and still am not willing to discuss my health issues with you in depth--but I require a non-working lunch for medical reasons. I am as much of a team player as I ever was--and I would greatly appreciate that you not undermine my relationship with my students by telling them otherwise. It is unprofessional and detrimental to them, not to mention our working relationship. I am more than happy to attend any meeting you hold. But I must also then have a non-working mealtime to meet my medical needs." ETA: I know it's not ideal (and is unsatisfying over the long-term), but until things get squared away, can you keep a stash of Protein shakes on hand for these meetings?

Some people do have ulterior motives for pushing food. But by and large, most people simply don't keep as close tabs on our goings-on as we do. In other words, our surgeries and commitment to eating well just don't impact them---they have a vague awareness, but are (rightfully) wrapped up in their own lives. When it comes to things like goodies, they continue to offer them because, well--either they don't quite remember what your "rules" are, or because they don't want to offend by appearing to be the food police, or whatever. I have just come to accept that I'm not the center of anyone else's universe--and can't expect others to keep up with what I will and will not eat. They leave that up to me---and that's fine

It's often because the foods you can tolerate are higher in calories and fat than the foods you'd eat at proper restriction. And that the sliders move through more easily, resulting in hunger sooner (and therefore eating more frequently). Our bodies may (and there is NOT concrete enough evidence to "prove" this---just as there is abundant evidence to the contrary) hold on to our energy reserves (fat) more tightly when our caloric intake drops. But this "starvation mode" is controversial at best. After all, people do, in fact, starve! The body certainly does not gain as a result of eating too little. It is absolutely impossible to create energy (fat) when there is no excess. Impossible. If you are gaining, it's either from Fluid retention, from swelling, or from eating too much (or the wrong things). It's not from eating too little. If you're maintaining, it might be from eating too little---depending on which school of thought you espouse.

I totally understand. Truly. And the fact that you were denied coverage does put things into a new light. Whatever you decide, this is a great place for support. The preop tests were not extensive, but some were pretty expensive. That said, some doctors do include them in their costs--if you haven't already, it might be a good idea to attend a handful of doctors' informational seminars. There is so much variation among them---hopefully, you'll hit on someone you really click with and who will help make this possible for you.

After my second fill, I achieved the level of restriction you're describing--staying satisfied for 2.5-3 hours. I viewed that as "getting close." 3 hours is a pretty long time to remain satisfied, when you stop to think of it! That tapered off a bit before my third fill--I was hungrier more frequently, but satisfied with meals still. I just had my third fill, and while it may be due to swelling still, I'm noticing a HUGE difference.

I am a scale whore too--with no intention of reforming. The periods of time I've not weighed have been times my weight has gone up. Watching it daily is important to me--but I've weaned down from the hopping-on-each-time-I-walk-past habit because that just messed with my head too much. My poor psyche doesn't need any more battering! My weight fluctuates a lot, especially on days I work out. But my morning weight shows a steady downward progression nonetheless. That's the only number I really give any credence.