BetsyB

Does your insurance require a referral from your PCP? I ask, because if you're not sure which surgery to have, it's good to see a doctor who performs all of them, and can guide you to the best one for your particular needs. You might also find that insurance does not cover the sleeve, even if the surgeon you were referred to only does it and RNY; if so, RNY by default --if that's not the choice you want to make--is not a decision that should be made simply because of one referral. (I hope that made sense!) Good luck to you, no matter what route you take!

Thank you for the nice compliments, ladies :thumbup: Karen--AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME! What fun, shopping and crying out of JOY rather than frustration! I was pleased to "shop" in my closet, and find that I can wear a pair of 18s that were nowhere near fitting 2 months ago. (And I discovered that the Hollister shorts my youngest spawn has determined are no longer cool will fit me by the time shorts season rolls around here, too...so I won't have to be naked this summer--or spend money.) I really like this aspect of this whole process!

It sounds more as though something's getting stuck OR you're eating past the point of full than a simple consequence of restriction to me. Are you starting with bites that are no bigger than a pencil eraser (the max that can fit through a stoma that is at the "right" degree of restriction)? Are you then chewing the living daylights out of it? Does your body give you "soft signals" that you are full--and do you listen? There are definitely foods that are more difficult for some to tolerate, and shrimp is often on that list. It can be, for lack of a better term, kind of rubbery---and can plug up a stoma like nobody's business. When I eat it, I cut each shrimp into 6-8 pieces (seriously!), then eat them individually and very slowly. In this way, it causes me no trouble. But I can totally see where it would cause problems!

What a terrible tragedy. It's frightening, but experts estimate that up to 30 percent of weight loss surgery patients (and this can include us) develop transfer addictions. In other words, when they are no longer able to abuse food, they shift to other substances (or behaviors). I don't know if the stats are accurate, but it definitely is something to be on the lookout for. We all need to get healthier---and it's so sad that your friend, despite losing weight, developed such a tragically destructive addiction. (Not that it's his doctor's fault or responsibility, but it's a shame that he could not have been successfully urged into rehab.) What a sad and unnecessary waste of a life. I'm really, really sorry for your loss.

Congratulations!!

Do you maybe mean that you are limiting carbs, not Protein? If not---I'd really try to bump up the protein quite a bit. It's not unusual to feel weak and cruddy for a couple of weeks after surgery, but you want to be sure to do everything you can do to promote good healing and recovery. That would include getting plenty of Fluid, getting adequate protein (at least 65 g/day), taking a good bariatric Vitamin (I like Bariatric Advantage chewables), and advancing your diet as advised by your doctor. My doc had me on purees pretty much from the outset---but nixed things like creamed Soups, cream of wheat, and so on. Instead, the focus was on protein purees--and I felt great. Cream of wheat can fill a belly--but it doesn't really offer much nutritionally, and has the downside of being carby enough that a blood sugar spike can be followed by a plummet (and weakness). Another poster suggested you post what you eat in a day. That would be helpful, for feedback. But really, if you're concerned about your weakness, a phone call to your doctor would be a good idea, too. (I wish you'd been given more guidance, preop, about nutrition and vitamins--I hate to see you feeling awful now because you haven't been given enough information.)

Another thought: I have terrible trouble with any pills that are compressed tablets or caplets, but do just fine with Gelatin capsules that are filled with those little beads. As long as I take a good drink (sipping something warm afterward is even better!) when swallowing, that cap dissolves in no time--I've never had a stuck incident. You might want to try simply taking it as intended. You may be very pleasantly surprised :thumbup:

Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday tooooo yoooooou.. Happy birthday, dear Dottie... Happy birthday to you! I hope your day is wonderful!

Like Apples, I aim for 100 g protein/day. This is significantly higher than the 65 g recommended by my surgeon; it's based on research that shows that those who do take in 80-100 g/day have better outcomes in terms of muscle mass maintenance, hair maintenance, and so on. I certainly hope no one felt attacked, as Scotty has implied! Discussion is ...well, just that. Sharing ideas. I certainly haven't intended to disparage anyone else's approach--just explained, when asked, my rationale for my own. As far as I can tell, that's what everyone else has done, as well.

Good morning, everyone--happy Monday. Am I the only one whose butt is being kicked by daylight savings time? Ugh, getting up was hard this morning! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOTTIE!! I hope your day is wonderful. It sounds as though your trip is lovely, so far. Well, except for the food difficulties. What a beautiful part of the country to travel through this time of year--I hope you get to see lots of gorgeous blooming trees. Bob, I really expected something more scandalous for your ousting from Facebook. Not that I'm recommending that you do anything now; we'd rather keep you around. I sent you and Christie friend requests. Christie, the pic you have of your son (your profile pic) is ADORABLE. What a beautiful boy! Elfie--your real name is beautiful, and it suits you perfectly. Leigha--I'm glad you survived your son's first date. Preston's my 13-year-old son. Denise--I'm so jealous of your NO trip. Have some mudbugs for me, please. Good protein! Hummingbird--OUCH! on the muscle pulls. I won't laugh about the butt muscle thing--I know how it hurts. Your grandson sounds like lots of fun--it's premature, I know, but I am really looking forward to grandkids. Nothing new and exciting on this end. I'm down 1.8 for last week--not stellar, but I've upped my exercise, and suspect I am holding on to some fluid. Truman seems to think it's time for our morning constitutional, so I guess I will comply. The sooner I get back here, the sooner I can finish final grades for two of the courses I teach and provide instruction for two others. THEN I can get on to the fun part of the day: cleaning. I am sure you can all feel my joy and anticipation. Have a great day, everyone!

Congratulations on your success--it sounds like a fabulous cruise! I'm so glad you were able to enjoy it so fully.

The melon from Bariatric Eating is really good. The Pom Razz Sangria is, too--mixed with Crystal Light lemonade, it's my favorite Protein. Their PURE unflavored protein isolate is very, very good too. It's great added to all kind of things.

I think the 2-ounces-every-hour thing is designed for those who have difficulty---to ensure that they get adequate Fluid. (Check with your doctor about this.) I never had any problem at all with liquids---so I've simply made my shakes and had them from regular cups and bottles (depending on the type; I have a warm chocolate shake in a coffee mug, and a fruity one mixed with Crystal Light that I drink from a sports bottle throughout the day, when I make it).

I'm going to make a suggestion that you will not like. ALL of us have been on diets forever. All of us thought that moving ahead with surgery, and bypassing the medically supervised diet, was a great idea. And a lot of us were wrong. Getting to the OR sooner would have done us no favors. I would strongly recommend that instead of forging ahead and trying to hit the OR sooner, you take the time to really get in the right place, mentally. Use the time to answer some of these questions. They are very valid, and deserve your attention. What I did was start working on banded habits right away. Practicing the new behaviors made it clearer to me that I could self-soothe in other ways. It also established patterns of behavior that have helped me tremendously now that I am banded.

Is the Muscle Milk the only alternative your doctor will okay? I ask, because I've had it...and blech. I vastly prefer the Inspire line of Protein at bariatriceating.com. Its nutritional profile is really good, and my doctor okayed it instead of his usual preop recommendation. It's not ready-to-drink, but dissolves easily (without blender) with Water. (Another bonus: shipping costs are waaaaaaay less for powders, as compared with RTDs.) I don't have a package of the Muscle Milk in my house, but it's packaged as Muscle Milk Light 100 calories: CytoSport | Driven By Science. Inspired By Performance.

What changes, mostly, is our actual stomachs! At the time of the fill, there is swelling. That goes down, so the band loosens a bit. And, too, the actual size of our stomach decreases with weight loss--loosening the band. At the beginning, I've been told, this can happen pretty quickly. The stomach-size thing tapers off as loss progresses. But mostly, it's swelling...and when that dissipates, the "fill" sensation dissipates. Laura, I know that the office is pretty adamant about waiting 6 weeks--luckily, they are a little more aggressive with fills than many. But it can't hurt to ask for an earlier fill. I'd email and describe what you're eating, how often, how much, and how long it's tiding you over--and ask if you can go in sooner or, failing that, whether they have any advice to increase your satisfaction/decrease the hunger. Are you able, now, to get in enough Fluid and Protein? If not, really focus on that--it does make a difference.

I would like to add that, despite not having restriction, it's not a given that you will must gain or yo-yo during this period. You can choose to restrict what you eat, and begin the losing process. Did your surgeon give you a good eating plan to help guide you during this limbo period? You won't have to struggle indefinitely! But you only have 4 ccs in your band--your doctor is taking it slow. There are benefits to this, even though it's frustrating. You will get there...it just takes time. As for your question about Protein shakes, I really like the Inspire brand from bariatriceating.com.

Amazing post, Megan! Congrats on your anniversary, and a very successful year!

Ohm, I didn't read your response in a negative way--I was simply explaining why I am willing to (minorly) deviate from my surgeon's recommendations. Basically, it's 'cause he's just a guy with an opinion---albeit a guy who's very skilled at performing bariatric surgery. Now, it must be said that doing it MY way did not work well at all for a good number of years---if it had, I wouldn't currently have a band around my stomach! This is why I really do follow 99.9 percent of his recommendations. But I do make a 126 calorie, 30-g Protein, low-carb deviation each day. This form of "doing it my way" really does work for me--and for many of us.

I empathize with your anxieties, but would like to gently suggest that you take things one step at a time. Your loss will reduce the size of your thighs; it's impossible to say what the end result will be, other than that you will weigh lots less and be healthier. You can tackle the jeans issue as it arises--there are so many ways to conquer the problem. Many companies offer reasonably priced custom jeans, and you can never underestimate the value of a great pair of Spanx. Good luck! You're doing something wonderful for your body--thighs and all.

It's not an absolute no-no, but it's strongly recommended that soy Protein consumption be limited to 1-2 serving a day MAX---and this recommendation is not limited to those with thyroid disease. In addition to its thyroid suppressive effects, its phytoestrogens can cause problems if used in excess. (This recommendation is specific to soy protein isolate; soy foods like edamame do not pack quite the same punch and are safer in quantity.) This should not pose a problem for you, though; soy protein isolate is not nearly as bioavailable as whey protein isolate, which is readily, readily available (and often much less expensive). It will meet your needs better than soy protein. (I especially like the Inspire whey protein isolate from bariatriceating.com.) You will be able to meet your protein needs without compromising your thyroid health--no problem at all!

In general, people aren't malicious. They just don't get it. And there seems to be an epidemic of diarrhea of the mouth. For some reason, obesity is viewed less as a medical problem and more of a moral issue by many--and therefore, it seems to invite comment. I've been remarkably lucky in that those who know of my surgery have been tremendously supportive. But when I've been accosted by an unwelcome and/or inappropriate remark, I've found it very useful to calmly look the person directly in the eye, and pleasantly (but pointedly) say, "What would make you ask (or say) that?" I don't tend to engage in debates about my decision--but I'm more than happy to "encourage" the simple-minded and big-mouthed to ...reflect...on their intrusion into territory where their noses simply do not belong.

I was really nervous before the ball really got rolling, too--and I was very pleasantly surprised with the ease with which I was approved. Yes, it took time--but it really just boiled down to meeting insurance requirements. No groveling was required :thumbup: What requirements does your insurance contract spell out? Many require a BMI of 40, or 35 with 2 comorbidities. It sounds as though you meet the criteria. In that case, you have nothing to be concerned about. Chances are, your surgeon will require that you complete paperwork detailing your diet history. His or her assessment will include assessment of comorbidities---and you will see myriad other specialists for further examination of these (a cardiologist, a pulmonologist, a psychologist, and possibly sleep specialist). Your surgeon's office will know exactly what to do to get you approved. Furthermore, I really don't think that insurers are eager to deny claims--bariatric surgery saves them bazillions of dollars in the long run, and most people really do get approved; you simply must meet the criteria in your specific insurance contract. As for the supervised diet, when you are just starting the process, it seems like a terribly long time to wait. But I have to say that the time is VERY valuable. It gives you time to research, to get your head in the right place, and to get your body as well-prepared as possible for the surgery. It's been my observation that those who take the time to really get ready seem to do better in the immediate post-op period. That's not to say that others don't do well--there just seems to be a benefit, IMO, in terms of mental preparation when there is a sort of enforced "waiting period." Good luck! I will look forward to hearing about your progress. It's really very exciting--and worth any wait you have to endure. ETA: In regard to your question about remembering all the details of past weight loss attempts, yes; they DO know that we can't possibly remember all attempts and dates. What they want to do is establish a pattern of repeated loss (or attempted loss) and/or regain. In my case, this information was used by my doctor's office to complete the claim; it was not submitted to insurance in and of itself. (The information was used, but the surgeon and/or his insurance specialist made the determination that I met that criterion; the insurance company was then informed of his assessment. If that makes sense...) Anyway, my point is that you don't have to agonize over minutae. You have comorbidities that are apt to cost the insurer $$ over time--and the surgery will eradicate them. The cost-benefit analysis leans heavily in favor of approval for banding in cases like this. Having the surgery will save them money, and that's what they're all about.

I think there's a difference between "drinking excess calories" and having planned, accounted-for Protein shakes. I have two a day. They allow me to reach my protein goal. I have 3 well-planned, protein-based meals, as well. I don't approach a calorie level my doctor could even muster an eyebrow-raise about--even though he is a three-meals-a-day-no-snack kind of dude. I'm meeting my needs. It's not beer, it's not a milkshake, and it's not Coca-Cola. It's protein. 126 calories of pure, unadulterated protein. I don't know about UK physicians, but I do know that in North America, medical schools address nutrition almost not at all. (This is gradually beginning to change, as the link between nutrition and health becomes ever more obvious.) It is the purview of allied health professionals, and even doctors in specialties for which nutrition is unquestionably linked often are not well-schooled enough to offer advice that is sound. Why? Because their very rigorous educations are full of other things that are critical to their practice. The stuff that is the purview of allied health professionals is icing on the cake, and many of their cakes remain un-iced. Some physicians do seek extra education on the topic. Others are savvy, and do give good, solid advice. But the fact that a guy has an M.D. after his name does NOT make him an expert on nutrition---our surgeons are expert at performing surgery. They have opinions about the proper diet--but for many, there is little basis for their opinions. Because, really--there are many "right" ways to eat, and as long as nutritional needs are met (and not exceeded), you're a-okay. I am lucky. I have a doctor who really does know what he's talking about, nutritionally. (I know this, because I am an allied health professional who does happen to have a fair amount of nutrition background.) I respect what he tells me and, for the most part, follow it explicitly. But I also know that MY BODY requires the 126 extra, pure protein calories twice a day in order to function (and lose) optimally. So I choose, independently, to have those 2 shakes a day. Your mileage may vary--it seems that there's a lot of variance and yet, so many success stories from all different kinds of journeys :thumbup: