hiddnstar

Im glad to hear you're being taken care of! Part of what happened may have been due to a possible reaction to anesthesia; I've heard of that happening. Keep remembering you chose to get healthy and are now taking whatever steps are necessary to accomplish that. So glad you got help! When weird things happen it can be scary and one can feel totally alone. Some people simply give up at that point --- so Im glad you chose to move forward! After all this settles down, you can get caught up in the excitement of the weight coming off, new recipes to try, new clothes, compliments, and feeling good! For now, just take good care and do what needs doing. Good times are just around the corner ~hiddn

HI! I don't know the answer to your question, but are you still on liquids at this point? I was on clear liquids for two weeks after surgery. I hope you are doing better now. ~hiddn

Sure does sound like a leak. Do you lose weight during the time you have good restriction? ~hiddn

I wonder if it would help to get a second opinion and have that doctor send in for approval to remove? Do you know the reason the insurance company is giving for denying? I also question which code is being submitted to the insurance company. Your situation just sounds so "off"; almost like there is a misunderstanding somewhere along the line. Since your doctor has already done that odd request for revision without your knowledge (and without you requesting that), I think getting a second opinion would be a good idea. Some doctor's offices seem to be better at getting approval than others. I hope you can get it out soon! ~hiddn

HI Your intentions are wonderful, but weight, weight loss, and weight gain are very personal and intimate subjects. You can never know how someone else will interpret what you say, good intentions or not. Telling someone how they can lose weight is also telling them they are not "ok" as is, unless they have asked for your advice. You have a good heart; just pay attention to being sensitive from the other side ~hiddn

HI! I know the first days after any surgery can be hard to handle. For me, it seemed like my whole world had shrunk down to this tiny little focus of misery. (which turned out to be VERY temporary!) When were you banded? You said 9/11, but then you said it's just been 5 days. I was banded July 2010 and I remember those first several days well. I was on clear liquids for 2 weeks after surgery. I would lay in bed and feel waves of hunger wash over my whole body. It's hard to describe, but it was awful. Do everything you can to take your mind off it. I wish I had done 5 walks a day as my new surgeon prescribed for me with my last surgery. That way it would have provided some structure to my days as well as kept me up and moving so that I didn't lose my stamina. It would be good to have a different focus, too. To get in 5 walks a day, you have to plan! Plenty of time to rest, but walking in between would be a good idea. My surgeon told me that anesthesia is a shock to the intestines, so it takes a while for them to relax and get back to normal functioning. I hope seeing your surgeon will ease your mind so that you can relax and heal. It's going to be fun and wonderful to watch your weight go down!!! And after a while people will notice that you are shrinking! Remember you have intervened on your own behalf. Stay with your goal. I love a lot of the supportive comments people have made in response to your topic. I found it was easier when I stopped fighting the process. Your body knows what to do, so just let it do it. I drank muscle milk for a non-dairy protein drink. They are good when very chilled. I got the pre-made ones. Garden of Life makes a good "Raw Meal" that is dairy and gluten free. I LOVE it. It's a powder. You've come a long way, already. Finish the journey! You havent gotten to the fun part, yet! But it's coming soon. Hang in there. ~hiddn

I've found it helpful to scramble several eggs and keep them in the refrig for easy heat up. I also like avocado stuffed sweet peppers. You get lots of crunch and it's healthy! Here is a recipe I've heard is very good. You can probably buy a pre-cooked chicken for it: Ingredients 1- 1½ lbs chicken, cooked anyway you like & chopped (breasts or a mix of breasts & thighs or leftover rotisserie chicken) 1 red bell pepper, chopped 2 green onions, chopped 1 handful cilantro, chopped 1/3 c mayo, preferably homemade 1 lime, juiced salt, to taste hot sauce or chili garlic sauce, to taste Method In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayo, lime juice, cilantro, salt and chili sauce. Add the chopped chicken, bell pepper and green onion. Mix to combine. Let the salad sit in the fridge, so the flavors can meld, at least 30 minutes. Serve cold. ~hiddn

PS: The recipes at that link are Paleo. The trick to using Paleo recipes is that you HAVE to stay off the carbs and processed foods. It's the same with a Ketogenic diet --- Ketogenics gives you a different energy source: fat instead of glucose (from carbs), but it won't work unless you are strictly following the diet. A little research will give you a wealth of info. Im finding the Paleo way of eating is full of tasty and filling food and I feel great! Im losing weight (and I just had my lap band removed a couple of weeks ago!). I hope this helps. ~hiddn

PS: The recipes at that link are Paleo. The trick to using Paleo recipes is that you HAVE to stay off the carbs and processed foods. It's the same with a Ketogenic diet --- Ketogenics gives you a different energy source: fat instead of glucose (from carbs), but it won't work unless you are strictly following the diet. A little research will give you a wealth of info. Im finding the Paleo way of eating is full of tasty and filling food and I feel great! Im losing weight (and I just had my lap band removed a couple of weeks ago!). I hope this helps. ~hiddn

You can try this link: http://www.health-bent.com/paleo-diet-recipes-index ~hiddn

You can try this link: http://www.health-bent.com/paleo-diet-recipes-index ~hiddn

I received positive reactions from the people I told, but I limited who I told. The one person, a massage therapist, who reacted negatively was extremely negative -- like crazy, yelled in my face -- and what she said haunted me thru out the process. I won't repeat it here. I think people sometimes speak before thinking thru what they are really saying and the impact it can have. Hopefully, people will match your excitement and will also realize you are intervening on your own behalf and could use their support. Actually, now that I think about it, my best friend was absolutely against the band but FOR me so she was somewhat caught in a hard spot. She graciously supported me and helped trouble shoot when problems arose and was always there for emotional support. So it is possible for people to support you while not being in favor of the band, itself. Keep moving forward and get yourself healthy - whatever it takes ~hiddn

Smooth Move tea before bed worked a miracle for me. Tastes good too! ~hiddn

HI I had my band removed a couple weeks ago. My surgery was at 4:30pm. I spent the night, and was given approval for discharge by my surgeon at 7am the next morning. I spent the night because I live an hour away from my surgeon and wanted to be close in case there were any problems. There was very little damage internally, so I don't know how much difference there will be for you since you already know there is considerable damage. I thought there would be a lot of damage because of how miserable I had been, so was pleasantly surprized. I was on clear liquids in the hospital during the night. Full liquids the next day, then mushies by that first evening for 1 to 2 weeks according to my own judgment. I ate a lot of scrambled eggs, yams, and chocolate pudding. Take good care of yourself! ~hiddn

What an odd way for her to respond to your kindness. Her comment had all to do with HER and nothing to do with YOU. It must be miserable to believe there is no room even when it is openly offered. It makes a person wonder what kind of life she leads --is there any joy at all? Keep on being kind. You won't always get a positive response, but it's a lovely way to be in the world! ~hiddn

Thank you for sharing another side. Not everyone's body can support a Lap Band, mine included. I found the removal easier than the implant. I hope you can have the removal done soon! Hang in there! ~hiddn

Hi! Im so glad you are feeling good! Others have already said the things I would have said about not feeling well earlier, but I'd like to add that you might hold off on the gardening for a bit -- just to not push things too quickly. Im glad you feel so good that you want to garden, though! ~hiddn

It's been suggested to me that I wait 4 hours. I think I caused some reflux problems by laying down too soon after eating. I had unusual discomfort most of the time for several months, so I layed down or layed back at an angle as much as possible. My case is unusual, so let's see what others have to say! ~hiddn

Given the same circumstances, YES. I have so many more resources and knowledge now...and motivation! It was exciting to see the weight coming off, wonderful to hear and share with other people going thru the same thing, to be learning a lot about myself. One of the most significant things I learned was to not be afraid to be hungry! Those first two weeks on clear liquids was very difficult, but it's also what it took to teach me. I'm grateful that I was able to have the Lap Band surgery and I have no regrets, though I do wish I had had it done a long time ago. I am also grateful that I was able to have the band removed when my body could no longer work with it. I still have 40 pounds to lose, but I'm in such a better position to accomplish that on my own than I was pre-band. The Lap Band, though just a powerful tool, was also empowering to me. It helped me learn to be in control of my eating. It feels really good to be in control of what, when, and how much I eat. There is a certain comfort in that ~hiddn

I don't really have recipes, but I've ordered a cook book called Primal Cravings. At this link, you can find a bunch of recipes on their website: http://www.health-bent.com/blog/primalcravings You can use a crock pot to soften carrots, potato, apples, and meat. You might put the crock pot meat in the blender afterward, then add back in before you eat. I recently made a wonderful stew and the meat just melted! I also like a peeled banana heated in the microwave with a little butter for 1 minute. Gets nice and mushy and feels good going down. (1/3 banana) I ate a lot of scrambled eggs. (I would scramble 4 eggs at a time, keep them in a container in the refrig, then just take a scoop whenever I was hungry) I like green smoothies, too. I add my protein powder, Raw Meal. Yams are a good mushy. I often had a scoop of scrambled egg and a scoop of yam ---tasty combo! Just be sure to adjust the amounts!!!!! I hope this helps. ~hiddn

My surgeon's advice was to walk 5 times a day. Yes, 5. For me that was every 90 minutes. I was able to walk for 10 minutes each time. But even 3 minutes would be a benefit. It gets your body's juices moving. Just do it I found it helpful for structuring my day, as well. You've only just begun and things get really exciting as you start seeing the weight fall off!!! This too shall pass (a little joke in there to make you laugh!). ~hiddn

Here's something FUN! To figure out how much percentage of body weight you have lost, go here: http://www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/calculate-weight-loss-percentage.html I've lost 26% (rounded up!) That feels great! Try it out! ~hiddn

18% is nothing to sneeze at!!! Good job! And it WILL be more. It's so fun to see the weight go down and the percentage lost go UP! Keep it up ~hiddn

Thank you for that info! I know how to get my BMI, but is there a calculator for the rest? Figuring those things out tends to twist my mind in knots. Im always amazed at the BMI results and what is considered over weight, obese, and morbidly obese. At work we had a health fair and every person who went came back with a BMI saying they are overweight....and some obese as well! But looking at them, that is a description I would consider. If there is no calculator that you know of, can you please send the mathematical formula to follow? Thank you very much! I love accuracy! ~hiddn

Great job! Why the frowny face? How many people do you know, personally, who have lost over 1/5 of their body weight?? You're doing great! Keep going! ~hiddn