RavenClaw779

When I was a little girl, my grandmother had a "tattletale" cookie jar. It was what Grandmama called a "German Hausfrau" - the part that held the cookies was her full skirt of dotted swiss and the top was her head and torso. She was a plump lady(the cookie jar - not Gran) with a kerchief over her curly hair; rosy cheeks and her mouth was an open "O". One arm was raised and held a rolling pin the other hand was raised with one finger caught mid-wag as in "naughty - naughty". When you lifted her torso to get a cookie, a voice box in the torso would cry out "Mama! Mama!". That cookie jar came to mind the other day when reading some of the comments other bandsters post. If you're a doctor, nurse or other bariatric professional, please say so. If not, if you're just like me - banded and providing your anecdotal account of what you're going through, please - for the sake of your readers - drop the preachy, holier than thou, dogmatic, goody-2-toes, "I always do just what my doctor, nurse etc say to do delivery of your message. Reading it can be a real burn-out:w00t:!

My bariatric group can't make up it's mind from day-to-day. The surgeon has no opinion re; diet - once the op is done, unless there's a problem, that the last you'll see if him/her. The one NUT affliated with the practice was a recent college grad who did a fantasic job of reading a handout to me. The actual dietary counseling is thru the nurses and as I've posted before, I'd gotten such wide ranging advice that I just made an appt w/the NUT I've worked with for the past three years. The basics I've gotten so far: *If you go TOO LOW(i.e, calories) your metabolism WILL SLOW. * 3 meals and 2 Protein rich Snacks are fine, as are 5/6 small meals a day. It's what works for you and is within your calorie/carb/protein daily limits. Good nutrition is not mandated by X number of meals a day. *Being regimented and dogmatic about your diet and meal schedule generally doesn't reflect life in the real world i.e., where you'll be about 6mos to a year from now. Great cookbook for NOW and later: Eating Well After Weight Reduction Surgery by Patty Levine

Wow - I never considered a point where I would have an "unfill" but I can see both sides of the issue including those who've had minimal fills. I'm only 2 weeks out with an unfilled 11cc Realize band but I feel restriction and according to the nurse at my post-op, the swelling has gone down so that's not cause of my restraint. She (jokingly?) said that it's probably my willpower kicking in. Well, maybe. Maybe all the years of battling the bludge and nutritional counseling plus my new tool are helping me to make smarter choices. I'm losing about a pound every three days(the honeymoon period?!) and that's working for me. The first fill is 4/14 and I go in for a check every month for a year, so I'm going to take this one step at a time and see where it takes me. If I get to the point where I can control myself and enjoy the foods I may miss, I'll take a realistic look at my fill level.

You all are going to hate me. I'm two weeks out with an unfilled 11cc Realize band and I've only had a couple of fleeting hunger pangs and one "ravenous" which ended badly. Somethings that tasted really good before surgery (coffee - sob!) now aren't as good? I asked the nurse at my post-op if it was the restriction and she told me, "you have no restriction - your will power must kicking in!" Hmm - well that doesn't explain my one incident of eating too much and paying for it.

Check out your local hospital. Often they have a fitness or wellness center that is used by cardiac patients, the staff, and community members who pay a fairly low monthly fee. They generally require a note from your doctor(clearance) and have on staff certified fitness instructors who'll moniter you and help you design a program around your schedule, goals and needs. I'm going to dig into Besty B's info on Curves - have one locally and called to get some info but no one called back. It's hours are weird 7:30am - Noon and 3pm to 8pm...even though I telecommute, I'd like more flexibility than that! Good Luck!

I was told to use Milk of Mag + an enema the night before surgery. For whatever reason the Sat prior to my surgery(Tues) I decided to "test drive" the MOM. Good thing I did. I took it at Noon and it kicked in 4 hours later...and I was up til 2am going and going... It gave me a bench mark so that the day before surgery I was able to time the MOM and the pre-op enema(yuck) with my mandatory night before surgery anti-bacterial shower. I was clean as a whistle before bed but after we got to the hospital I had to bolt for the bathroom in my gown! It did take a good week post-surgery to get back to being regular again.

I had a realize band installed:wink2: on 3/9 along with a hiatal hernia repair. I was in surgery at 7:45am and home by 1pm. I had almost no pain the day of surgery and since a know I get nauseous from anesthesia, I was "patched" before surgery. I slept the rest of the day, but was able to get up the next morning and tidy up the house, take a shower before what I'd call level 3-4 pain forced me to take a Loratab. I kept a heating pad on my shoulder and took Gas-X to help dispell the surgical gas; I put a cold pack on the center of my tummy and chilled out with a couple of movies. By that weekend I was back to my usual, but still needed a nap mid-afternoon. Each day got a bit longer. Now it's two weeks and I'm completely fine - other than banging my port site with the washer door:crying:

Thanks for the insight. I had 1/2 of egg sub and a 1/4 c of oatmeal fortified with protein so I'll be good to go until mid-late afternoon. I'm losing about a pound every 2-3 days so I must be on the right track.

From the beginning, I've been getting a different story from the various members of my Bariatric team. Yesterday I had my first post-op visit. I thought it would be the surgeon, but instead it was a nurse. Now, two weeks after surgery they tell me not to twist at the waist as I might get a muscle spasm(yes, thanks - did that the other night in bed), that for the first week after surgery I was to eat 2 tbsp at each meal(Pre-surgery it was 1/4 -1/2 cup), that I should not drink while eating and for an hour after(Pre-surgery it was no liquid 30 min before and 45 min after), no fresh veggies or fruit for 4 months(Pre-sugery it was 5 weeks) I'm getting so mired in the rules that it's almost easier not to eat!

From the beginning, I've been getting a different story from the various members of my Bariatric team. Yesterday I had my first post-op visit. I thought it would be the surgeon, but instead it was a nurse. Now, two weeks after surgery they tell me not to twist at the waist as I might get a muscle spasm(yes, thanks - did that the other night in bed), that for the first week after surgery I was to eat 2 tbsp at each meal(Pre-surgery it was 1/4 -1/2 cup), that I should not drink while eating and for an hour after(Pre-surgery it was no liquid 30 min before and 45 min after), no fresh veggies or fruit for 4 months(Pre-sugery it was 5 weeks) I'm getting so mired in the rules that it's almost easier not to eat!

I have a photo from when my husband and I started dating - 10+ years ago - I was 140-45. I thought I was fat. Looking back(hindsight is 20-20) I looked damn good. I also have a photo from a business meeting when I was about 160 - and I looked good - a little chubby - but good. Getting up to 283 and seeing a photo of myself put it all in perspective. My first goal - under 200 ( and if it's by my wedding anniversary this fall it'll be icing on the cake as I'll weigh less than I did on my wedding day). Next 160 and if I can 140 - then I'll re-evaluate. My mother was 5'6" and 118 - she thought she looked great - it was like hugging a bag of bones. I was built to be curvy and can finally accept it. Any medical expert can tell you there's more to being healthy than a number on a scale and BMI is not the end all be all. Ditto KartMan - the only limit you place is on yourself.

I see where you're coming from and as someone who is just two weeks out, some days just unloading the washer was a workout - esp when I hit myself in the port with the washer door:blink:... When I was younger and thinner I worked out but as I've gotten older, bigger and more loaded down with the responsibilities of a job and family I will admit not rising to the challenge. That being said, as I'm getting smaller, things are getting easier - taking the stairs for example used to kill my knees but not any more. My neck is no longer stiff at the end of the day and oddly enough, my carpal tunnel is gone!?! I'm looking into Curves and already have a treadmill, but I am realistic - some days, spending time with my five-year-old niece trumps a weightlifting session, or the dog has to go to the vet, or a work project sends me out of town... You do the best you can and don't beat yourself up. If it's any comfort, pull the July? 2009 issue of Time - there's a great article on why exercise doesn't contribute much to weight loss(not to say that it isn't good for your overall health)

I volunteer in the Nutrition and Diabetes Center of my local hospital and I get to see all types coming in. Really keeps me in the know. I'll be meeting with my NUT one-on-one next week for some meaningful assistance with meal planning. I've gotten such a range of info from my surgical practice that I can't keep it straight!

I've never had a fill but am interested in making sure I don't get a site infection - any tips?

Yes - and I locked myself in the bathroom so I could attempt to contort myself successfully. Gives new meaning the the phase, "Shove it up your..." - Really?! As if I could:ohmy:!

Got my vote - Good Luck Dawn!

Wow - it really blew me away - the sheer number of people in the waiting room for post-surgical follow up, but I guess if they're doing 5-6 a day, 6 days a week it makes sense. Healing okay - first fill will be 4/14. Getting real tired of puree. Nurse was running an hour behind schedule so by the time I got out of there, I'd driven an hour down, been in the office for two and a half hours and face a rush hour drive home. I was starving! Went to McDonalds and got a small coffee, small fry and a snack wrap. Coffee and fries went down okay - snack wrap made a grand reappearance. Definitely a learning experience!

Wow - it really blew me away - the sheer number of people in the waiting room for post-surgical follow up, but I guess if they're doing 5-6 a day, 6 days a week it makes sense. Healing okay - first fill will be 4/14. Getting real tired of puree. Nurse was running an hour behind schedule so by the time I got out of there, I'd driven an hour down, been in the office for two and a half hours and face a rush hour drive home. I was starving! Went to McDonalds and got a small coffee, small fry and a snack wrap. Coffee and fries went down okay - snack wrap made a grand reappearance. Definitely a learning experience!

My huband is 6'1" and a former high school football player and all around jock. When we met I was 140(about a size 8). He's watched me go through chemo and radiation and loved me bald; he's seen me get up to 283 pounds and never treated me as anything less than a beloved wife. When I put this out there, his reaction was "just workout and diet" - and it brought me to tears. Did I mention this is a man who loves home cookin' and can eat a horse and still be rock solid muscle? I think attending the seminar helped as did meeting the surgeon. The NFL coach who just had the procedure also made a big impact. Of course the fact that I've dropped about 40 pounds since January hasn't hurt. He understands this isn't just for my vanity, it's what's going to allow me to cross country ski with him, going kayaking, learn to ice skate - all those things that my size makes me feel uncomfortable about doing.

When we moved from VA six years ago, we found that most of our neighbors were really friendly - except for one couple. From the get-go these people would not say "Hello" or even acknowledge us. We live across the street and two doors down - within eye and ear shot. After witnessing a few incidents of some rough treatment by the parents to their kids and each other, we figured we were blessed NOT to have made their acquaintence. So imagine my surprise last holiday season when I was up on a ladder helping the hubs hang lights. He was out of sight(on the roof) when I hear a loud voice(rocking a Sopranos accent) call out, "OMG Should someone that SIZE be on a ladder!?!" It was Mrs. Charming Neighbor. Neither my husband and I acknowledged the comment. I sure clarified for me why they didn't like me/us - my weight - what else could it be? Several weeks later we attended a neighborhood Christmas party. I was floored when our next door neighbor extended her sympathies - apparently she'd heard from Mrs. Charming Neighbor that my husband and I were having problems?! Huh - apparently the fact that my husband was out-of-town for a week long business trip, followed by a trip back to VA to finalize the sale on the house equaled him "leaving me"!? A couple of weeks after that, we had our 6 and 8 year-old niece and nephew spend the weekend while mom & dad a some time off. We don't have kids of our own. Was I surprised to hear the rumor that we were only allowed visitation rights?! Ugh! Today was the icing on the cake. I'm out cleaning up the yard in prep for my spring planting, when I hear Mrs. Charming Neighbor bellow, " Looks like LardAss has finally lost some weight!" Ah, but this time Ms. Nice Girl didn't keep her mouth shut - I bellowed right back, "You're right and thanks for noticing! Too Bad Your Mouth Is As Fat As Ever!" My husband - who took the day off -was rolling with laughter in the garage!:mad:

The real kicker - this women is attractive; pretty face and nice figure - so I wonder if she's just nuts are is afraid that my "fatitude"(ha) will rub off on her?

In almost every illustration of gastric banding, the port is shown toward the lower side of the abdomen. Why is mine two inches above my belly button? Truely annoying as I feel it when I bend over, pick up the laundry basket, hug my 4 year-old niece... Where is everybody else's? is this normal?

Mine is a Realize band - but I don't think there's much diff between the two. I'm comforted that I'm not the only one with what feels like a deck of cards in my tummy. Too bad they can't make them plays sounds - you know, like in a kid's stuffed toy!:frown:

Thank God - It's not just me!! I can usually get chores and tidying up down by about noon and then I'm beat. Today I fell asleep after lunch for about two hours. I'm also freezing all the time. I just keeo reminding myself that I'm not even two weeks past major surgery and I need to rest. Couple that with no appetite(i.e., no fuel coming in) and being tired is understandable.

PutyTat - I'm about 5'4" and at one time weighed 160 - I'd love to be there again.:frown: All I'm saying is you probably look alot better than you give yourself credit for. Try My Virtual Model - create an avatar of yourself at your starting weight and now - might be surprised. Other subject - bands on the way out? Are you kidding? My surgeon's practice is doing five to six a day and many times it banding of someone who has already had gastric by-pass! I have a family friend who had Roux-N-Y several years ago. She cheated all the way through pre-surgery - gorging at every one of her fav restaurants as if she'd never eat again. Despite a top notch bariatric program, she never learned proper nutrition/portioning or ignores it. She didn't lose as much as she could have and has since packed it back on - but continues to eat crap and is losing her hair. She refuses to go back for her follow ups with her surgeon( she's afraid he'll be disappointed) but now is looking at the baratric group that I used to maybe add a band. Let's guess how successful that'll be. Maybe I'm just flattering myself and the rest of the bandsters - I think either procedure is tough and you've got to do what's right for you, but it seems to me that banding carries with it far more personal responsibility to make it work. After all, it's just a tool, not a passive digestive process.