BetsyB

It really depends on your doctor's instructions. My first must-have was lip balm--that was necessity #1 post-op because I was SO dry from anesthesia Once home, I needed Gas-x sugar-free popsicles broth unflavored Protein powder (PURE from bariatriceating.com) flavored protein (I like the Inspire line from bariatriceating.com, especially Dutch chocolate cake flavor) Proteins that could be easily pureed---chicken breast, lean beef, tuna, etc (I started on protein puree on Day 3; your mileage may vary) antibacterial soap--for showering And that's about it!

Overhydration can be a cause of electrolyte disturbances---more commonly than dehydration. We're drinking TONS of Fluid now, and while the kidneys do a great job of conserving potassium and magnesium, the more Water they move out of the body, the less "accurate" they are. I'd talk with your doctor about this. A supplement might be a good idea. But in the meantime, you can do a pretty good job of gauging your hydration status by the color of your urine. It should be pale yellow. If it's clear, you can ease off a little bit. (Once you're hydrated, there's really no such thing as better hydrated.)

One of the steroid properties that I would view as at least a relative contraindication is the increased incidence of gastric ulceration in patients using spironolactone.

From what I understand, spironolactone is used for hair loss in women with androgen excess. I don't believe that is a problem for most who lose hair post WLS; in our case, it's a complex combo of the trauma of surgery, (sometimes) Protein deficiency, and (sometimes) Vitamin deficiency. The one thing that is pretty universally agreed-upon is that getting adequate protein can help hold the loss at bay (and promote regrowth when loss occurs). I don't know about your doctor, but mine recommends 65 g/day. From what I've read, 85-100 is more effective for preventing the loss in those of us for whom loss can be prevented. I aim for 100 g/day. My weight loss is still good, but so far, my hair is intact. (Of course, I'm way earlier in the game than you are....I may yet be treated to gobs in my shower drain.)

I'm sorry you're feeling blue--depression can make any of us feel like a failure even if we're resounding successes---like you are! You know, it may not be the fill that's the problem, but rather your food choices. How do you do with protein? Nonstarchy veggies? If those are too much for you now, how about full liquids and/or mushies? Your fill was recent---and might need a bit of babying before you advance your diet. You may also find that things that you tolerated before--like bagels---just don't work any more. That doesn't make YOU a failure. It makes BAGELS the issue! If you're not eating the way you want/need to eat, then a small unfill might do the trick. But before leaping to that conclusion (and the conclusion I was a failure), I'd back up a little bit for a few days.

I'm in my third month, too--and am a former Houstonian. I'm doing well with my band; if you need a buddy, I'm here--PM me :blushing:

No. My body does an exquisite job of cleaning itself--I don't want to interfere with that. There are certain medical indications for douching, but unless my gyne tells me i need to do so, I stick with the self-cleaning approach!

One of my favorite topics :blushing::laugh: I'm going to venture a guess. The consistency of semen can be thick and mucus-like. Mucus is notorious for causing some stickiness and that sensation of stuckness. I'd wager that the same sort of thing goes on with semen. You probably could Google all kinds of remedies to change the nature of his semen; you mention pineapple juice for YOU, but I've read that it helps when the man uses it, too. (It's also supposed to create a lovely flavor....). There may be other ways to loosen the consistency of the ejaculate so that it doesn't cause trouble. Oh--it does contain protein--but it's mostly carb. Those little swimmers are ferocious in their determination to reach their destination, and need LOTS of energy. Still, the nutritional info reflects negligible amounts of anything--certainly nothing I'd be inclined to journal on fitday :w00t::eek::laugh::laugh: (Can you imagine taking a fitday journal so honest that it contained your intake of ...spooge!....to a postop follow-up. Having the doctor read to assess how you're doing and whether you need a fill? :laugh:

Cast another vote for Instead softcups.

And really, this is--in large part--what I base my expectations on. My doctor has similar ones for the long term, and my progress so far makes me confident that I will get where I want to go...even though it's at the rock bottom of the range for my height. I am just trusting the band and the process. And working it. I do think there is a good deal of value in having a physician who has fairly well-delineated food and exercise guidelines for the early weight loss period.

Awesome, Scotty!

I walk about 7 miles/day at about 4 mph (in two sessions: one in the morning, and one in the afternoon)--I find myself going further and faster each week, which I love. I am thoroughly addicted. I have chronic pain issues (post-trauma), and right now am "babying" a relatively fresh cervical epidural (waiting for the swelling to go down and the meds to kick in)--but I also ordinarily do a weight-lifting regimen at the Y every other day, as well. I will be able to resume this tomorrow, I think. I don't usually do cardio at the gym--I really prefer to do it outdoors, no matter what the weather. I do use the equipment if snow has covered all my paths, though. Right now, I'm saving for an annual all-you-can-"eat" pass at a local power Vinyasa yoga studio---I think that by summertime, I'll be able to add that to my repertoire. That way, I'll have cardio, strength, and flexibility accounted for.

I don't know whether you're too tight, but I think it's a safe bet that if you have a gastric band, you're definitely . That's something you definitely should be doing. If you've been vomiting, I'd give it a little time on liquids/mushies (still chew, chew, chewing those mushies!) to see if things loosen up a bit before heading in for an unfill. If, however, you believe you may be dehydrated, don't wait--call your doctor right away.

Totally normal. Your body has far less to get rid of now! If you do start experiencing discomfort, check with your doctor; mine okays OTC stool softeners.

I'm glad you're feeling lots better! Beans generally do their gas producing in the intestine, not the stomach. I wonder what was going on to prevent the escape of gas from the lower portion of your stomach. Did the doctor address this at all?

I'm barely out of the starting gate, so I can't address your main question yet. However, I wanted to point out that, when my doctor said that most patients achieve a loss of 50 percent of their excess body weight, he was framing that within a year's time. He went on to say that, within 3-5 years, my loss would approach that of someone who'd had gastric bypass surgery. The people best equipped to answer this will be long-term bandsters---I hope you get lots of good information; I'll be interested to see the responses.

Ouch! It does feel miserable, doesn't it? Your message is right on. With a new fill come new rules. I learned this with my second fill last week. I've since had two stuck episodes---neither as entertaining as yours (not to make light, but you tell a good story!). I've gotten stuck on pills, halved (which worked fine before, but no longer do). It's an awful feeling, but sure does keep me on the straight and narrow, food-wise!

IL, how FUN! When do you leave? Bon voyage!

Okay, skip the Instant Breakfast for now, and focus on Clear Liquids. Are you able to tolerate sips of clear liquid (for me, warm works best). If so, I'd give it a couple of days---just sipping away at clear liquids to stay hydrated---to see whether some loosening occurs. If you can't get liquids in, I'd recommend a trip for a little unfill---sooner rather than later. You don't want to risk dehydration. But if you can tolerate them, even with a bit of difficulty---hang in there. You might loosen up a bit over the next week or so. (A good gauge of whether you are getting enough Fluid is the color of your urine. It should be pale yellow. If it's dark, you need more fluid. If it's clear, you can ease off a little. If you find that you're veering toward dark urine, and can't get enough liquid in to remedy this, call the doctor.)

I know it's frustrating--after one fill, I was right where you are. But it gets better---you have plenty of "room" in your band, and you will reach the level of restriction that is right for you. Hang in there.

Aside from plastic surgery--which isn't so much a reward, to me, but more a completion of the journey---I don't really have any concrete plans. I'll need a new wardrobe, that's for sure :thumbup: I love the idea of an eternity band---just like our gastric bands, forever. Along the way, I am buying myself a Pandora bead & spacer for every 10 pounds lost. If you're not familiar with these, the concept is kind of like a charm bracelet, only they're beads instead of charms. For the bracelet related to my weight loss, I'm choosing beads that are relevant to the journey: I've started with a gym shoe and clover (because I was lucky enough to be banded). By the time I'm done, the bracelet will be full. Another thing I am doing (and that reminds me, I have some catching up to do!) is going to the bank after each week's weigh-in to purchase the equivalent weight of my loss---in quarters! Each roll of quarters is a half pound and costs $10. If I've lost just a little, carrying around a even a half a roll of quarters in my pocket for a little while makes it pretty darn apparent that even those small losses are significant. I toss the rolls I've "earned' in a canvas tote bag. When I get bummed about how "little" I've lost, I pick it up for a very real reminder of what that loss represents. I figure by time I get to goal, I'll have enough to make a pretty big dent in a good wardrobe.

I've been using fitday.com for years. I love it because I now have a database of custom foods that make it really easy to just click, click, click my daily intake. I have a Realize band and tried using their site (my surgeon's nurse accesses it to see how people are doing--I figured it would be useful to them)---but it's not nearly as user-friendly, so I'm back on fitday.

I know that the day-to-day messages from the scale aren't always encouraging--but I really encourage you to trust the process. Eating is NOT undoing what you've accomplished so far. It's the next stage in the journey--and everyone who's gone before you has experienced it, and had the same concerns. You know how people say the scale doesn't lie? They're wrong. Or, well, at least not giving you the whole picture. The scale just doesn't reflect everything that's going on with your body right now. Trust the process. Do what you're supposed to do....and it will happen for you. (((Hugs)))

Hm. I disagree with this. First, social isolation need not be part of weight loss. Learning to live among others who eat differently is very important. But also, self-isolating at mealtime during the workday can have fallout in terms of professional advancement. I've worked in environments where doing this would have been career suicide---being part of a team very much relied on being part of the corporate culture. There was never pressure exerted to eat or drink a certain way---but being present, at least most of the time, was critical. (I didn't read it, but Comcast had a cover story on their main page about this topic just a few days ago, too--the gist of the headline was that you shouldn't do this if you want to move ahead.) I'm all for eating differently than workmates, and even excusing oneself to take a walk (after inviting others to join). But if I'd done this at my last corporate job? I would have been pushed out. And I definitely would not have the freelance career I have now. Okay----going back to read more!

I'm not terribly surprised that your doctor hasn't discussed postop Protein with you. Mine is okay with protein supplements postop--but doesn't recommend their routine use. I can sub one for a meal, or use them when I'm having difficulty getting solid protein in, but they are not part of the standard recommended postop fare. I do use them. I have one each morning, and often one at night, too. (My calorie level is too low, with exercise, otherwise; even with 2 shakes, I barely hit 800 calories. I don't usually have difficulty getting enough protein from food, though.) The very best ones I've tried are Inspire protein powder shakes from bariatriceating.com. The bullets/shots are appealing, and I know lots of people here swear by them, but I would skip them. First, they're more expensive than many. And some will tell you that's because they contain so much more protein, proportionally. But they are not made up of the protein best absorbed by the body (whey protein isolate)---which greatly diminishes their value. A few years ago, they were the best available protein. Now they no longer fill the bill.