tinksmom

I thought the RNY was too extreme and at the time I decided to do something I did not realize my surgeon did the gastric sleeve. No one mentioned that option was available. I still might have gone with the band because I tend to opt for mininally invasive procedures. I can see, however, that once the operation and aftermath was over, that the sleeve would be simpler to deal with than the band. I'm not sure that would be a good thing, since there would be less control and accountability which is forcing me to change years of bad eating habits. So far I am happy with the band, but there are times when I wish it was all on auto-pilot.

Many people don't lose much at first. Until you heal from surgery and get a couple fills you should try not to be too hard on yourself. If people lose weight during this time it is probably because of the diet alone. Some lose very well for a short time on extreme diets. Some lose a lot of water weight. I am trying to lose steadily and a little slower than many people. Lifestyle changes are slower than extreme diets but last longer. It isn't how fast you can get the weight off, it's how you will maintain it. A slower loss may mean that you are learning long term habits, instead of dieting in a way that will bore you after a few months.

My scars are smooth but still quite dark 4 months out but I have very light skin. Even a small kitchen burn takes forever to fade. I got inexpensive vitamin e cream to rub in and it seemed to smooth them out. However, I also recently had carpal tunnel surgery with a nasty scar, swelling underneath and a lot of tenderness. Finally was sent to PT and was given a silicone sheet to wear with a molded pad to keep contact. I can't believe the difference. I'm going to get the silicone at the drug store for my band incisions to get rid of the redness.

IMHO guilt, shame, and blame are far more damaging to weight loss efforts than cheating. All of us have experienced these and none of us have any business dumping more on anyone else. The standards for pre and post op diets are so varied that they almost seem whimsical. I don't think anyone can be blamed for listening to our bodies (within reason) over "rules" that are possibly based on our doctor's beliefs or desire to avoid lawsuits by being over-conservative. There are reasons for a liquid diet post op but for how long? Purees...how long? Are we told to puree so we don't mindlessly swallow a large piece like I did when I was bumped by a large dog in mid-chew? Probably. At least my doc laughed and agreed when I asked him. I came out from anasthesia hungry as anything and wanting the roast chicken I had prepared to make for my family. Obviously not a good idea. But 5 days later I had a nice mushed up chicken canneloni from Olive Garden with no trouble. I confessed and just got a shrug and was told NO beef, pork, or lamb until my four week visit. And he told me why...with diagrams. It made sense so I complied. I lose an average of 2 lbs a week...and cheat madly. I refuse to feel guilt but I have learned what I need to do to protect my band and make it work for me. Had I only believed those who are rigid about rules I would have not had the lapband at all. Instead I met a woman who shared my attitudes toward dieting and the medical profession (doctors as employees and resources rather than godlike creatures)...and who two years since surgery looked and felt wonderful. A chance meeting made me realize that the band could work and I could still have a life. My way may backfire in 5 years...but I'm thinking it won't. And adhering to rules works for some people. So by all means, find your own style people!

It could have been that you were sick from something else, which led to swelling, which led to more vomiting, which led to.... I think you should go to your primary care doctor for a check-up. Also ask about phenergan gel to keep nausea down. And find out if you can take whatever amount of saline is in your band out to give you a rest. It could be that you had something going on that was irritated by the operation. Or you could have an infection. Did you have bloodwork done to find out? As far as all the problems here, I take them with a grain of salt. The band is a small part of our lives but it is mostly what we all write about here. And problems are far more likely to be talked about here than a trouble-free experience. "This week ...um...well, I ate right, lost a pound, and...nothing else.." How boring is that? That has been my last 4 week experience and I'm sure I'm not alone. I'd hang in there a while longer. Something isn't right but it might not be something you will have to live with as long as you're banded.

Maybe a second opinion? That way you will know if it is appropriate. If the second agrees you will be able to trust your surgeon. If not you might consider another one.

Maybe you need ( like all of us) to get rid of words like "should" and "ashamed". I hate being told I cannot have certain foods...it is the one way to get me passionately interested in almost anything. If they came out with a study and said that rice cakes (ugh, ugh, ech!) were to be avoided by dieters at all costs, I would immediately begin obsessing ways to sneak them into my pantry in large quantities. I would doodle rice cake people on my desk blotter (I would have to actually buy a blotter on which to do this, thus blowing my household budget and risk losing my home to the bank), I would drool over pictures of illicit rice cakes in underground magazines while pretending to read literature, and my dreams at night...well, best to draw a veil, Dear Readers. My saving grace? I know this about myself after years of restrictive diets ( many successful for the short haul), self-blame, and Guilt. What works for me...not protein-lovers, not those content on low-fat programs, or the complex-carb folk - is the old fashioned calorie counting method, where nothing is forbidden, no food is "bad" (thank you WW for this gem), but married to the idea that food is actually fuel...and my body will simply not work well without the basics. Which have to go in first. So proteins first or I feel like crap and my hair will fall out - now there's a threat!, and tart cherry juice for my arthritis (140 cal), then veggies for vitamins and minerals, my milk quota, which I have in my tea ( I also add a teaspoon of totally useless calories in sugar which is non-negotiable if I am to feel human). This, believe it or not, leaves me with some extra calories that I can use anyway I want without guilt, horror, remorse, or weight gain. I get control and a MacDonald's smoothie (210 calories - less if you leave out the yogurt) with friends. Thinking of food a fuel makes me look at the Big Mac's, curly fries dripping with fake cheese, over-stuffed then fried burrito, etc as useless and disgusting excesses. What you need is to find your own path...almost all diets work, but won't last until they feed your souls and mind as well a fill your stomach.

I was told that the band will make you feel full and comfortable for 4 hours. Sooo...doing the math that makes hunger at 4 after a noon meal understandable. Normal people...and we are all striving for normal, right?...have developed teatime and even after school snacks to tide over until a later supper. I can't even get all my calories and protein in without a snack either in the afternoon or evening. Plus a life without snacks? Afternoon coffee with friends? I'd feel deprived and find myself slurping down my son's ice cream at 2am in despair. I agree with Bambam and Honk that doctors reflexively think snack = potato chips, cookies, and other bad...I mean, non-nutritional, things. (we can discuss the new trend in 100 calorie packs = rewards at a later date). If pressed they will also say that protein shakes, a slice of deli roast beef, or chicken can be a good thing, and if planned for, are part of a healthy program.

I had to see a counselor pre-op and he was wonderful! He had me take the usual battery of tests....NOT part of the one hour session...then actually went through my history and current mental health status. He pored through the pages and pages of diagnostic tests after the session and compared results with my interview. At my session he told me right up front that he would not sign off on the procedure if he had any questions; that I would have to come back and discuss issues further to make sure it was a good choice for me. I really appreciated his professionalism. I know there are "rubber-stampers" out there and some band-mills use them to streamline the process. I think Centers of Excellence should only use counselors that are certified in some way in bariatric issues and behavioral techniques so that we all can get this type of support. Good luck with your out-patient program. You are lucky there is one near you. Too bad they don't offer a pre-op program as well, huh?

There is a thread about gaining weight if you need to in order to get the band. This is obviously for people who have had weight problem for a long time. Someone there mentioned using weights to qualify. I laughed at first but now that I had the surgery and can feel the difference it is more understandable. At one point my BMI was just barely 40 and my HR rep said "You might not want to go on a diet to lose any more before the surgery." I asked, "Should I gain?" and she replied primly, "Well, of course I can't TELL you that. But a lot of people find they will gain by enjoying things they won't be able to eat post-surgery."

Urea Breath Test (H. Pylori Test) Information on MedicineNet.com

I rechecked with my friend. What she really didn't like were the vegan recipes themselves. Since abandoning that diet/lifestyle she says she has been happy with her Bullet, especially for salsas. She is going to let me borrow it to try it myself. Sorry for the misinformation. She was pretty vague about her disatisfaction with her investment...I didn't realize it was the diet itself...and a lot of the foods she tried .

My insurance rep told me that even doctors that technically aren't with the insurance network usually have an "agreement" to accept what the insurance pays them. If they...or the facility...knows you need to use insurance for services and "sneaks" an out of network doctor in without your knowlege you might be able to insist that even doctors without formal agreements accept this payment if you seem serious about pursuing the whole informed consent thing with possible legal involvement.

From what my docs say if you are constantly vomiting you should get an unfill and be checked by LB docs to see if it is the band. Getting unfilled may help but you also need to look for other reasons. Even with the BAnd we still can get sick...colds, flu, e-coli...ect. Not everything is about the band. But an unfill may protect it while you find the underlying cause of your problem.

A friend got one for a vegan diet. She said it does shakes well but wasn't successful with heavier foods. They carry them in Target if you want to take a look.

Adjua....................347...............337...........240......... ....97 Amy.....................289..............229.6...........160........ 69.6 Angie64.................270...............270...........210....... ......60 Astrasmom............254................254...........170............. .84 Babe....................265................265...........199.... ..........66 Band_Groupie........172.5.............157.5..........0-148........0-9.5 BetsyB.................226.6..............206.8.........109...... ......97.8 BigMomma............209.................209...........135............. .74 Bklynike...............258..................258...........150......... . .108 BobbieND..............224.................207...........150..... .......57 Bree99.................259.................234...........155..... .......83 Brigette................198................198............150.... ........48 Bristlecone............157................157............130....... .....27 crzytchr................217................217............180..... ... ...37 Dana36.................233...............229.............160....... .....69 daqui26.................274...............274..............200....... ....74 DDGALARZ..............185...............183............150............ .35 destined4thinness..215.5.............215.5...........150.............6 5 5 Diamondgirl81........317...............275..............225........... . 50 ericanda1973.........198.5............198.5...........130.......... ..68.5 Fourme.................189...............168.............145.......... . ..23 Healthy-me-in-Az...242................183.6..........139.............44.6 HummingBird..........204...............164.............150............ .14 jenibeni.................224...............188.............165........ ....23 Jennih...................232...............232.............130.... .......102 Jeni 85..................185..............192..............150............. 35 KDEE....................240................240.............150...... ......90 kyleegirl01.............245................194.............160...... ......34 Lady LAP...............217................217.............125...... ......95 Lisa65...................174.5............165..............145..... .......20! Liz........................193.4............174..............155...... ......19! lotzasunshine..........271..............271..............225.......... ...46 MaggieGT..............238...............236..............208.......... .. 30 newdicarlo.............187...............174..............135...... .. ...39 Northernmist..........289...............265..............175.......... . ..90 ol55andahalf..........184...............184..............144...... .......40 Peggy1.................308...............308..............225......... .. ..83 RandaPanda...........194...............164..............150........ ....14 RAYNE913.............234...............210..............160....... ......50 RobinAnn.............232.4.............187.2.............160...... ....27.2 scoutmama...........270...............270...............180........ ....90 shadst8................333...............291.2.............233........ ....58.2 skinny31................261...............236..............182..... .......54 SNDYCNRD.............207...............194.5............150........... 44.5 sueinne.................220................226.............180.... ........46 swjtlongdrive..........224................224.............179......... ....45 Tabithan................244...............234..............190....... .....44 TARASGIRL.............305...............259..............225....... .....34 tdtucker................256...............256...............160...... . ....96 Teacher2010..........192...............183...............150...... . ....33 Tealeaves..............305...............289...............150...... . ...139 TeriLu....................215...............212...............150.. .... .....62 TIGGER71G............224...............224................130....... .....94 Tinksmom..............256................213................145............43 unshackled............277...............277................180....... .....97 Valerie.................190................190................150... . .......40 wonderwoman2009 175...............175................160..............15

My goal is 114 from where I started. That would put me in mid-normal range and since I really do have cow bones it would be pretty thin for me. But if I get 3/4 of my weight lost and am comfortable with that, or am uncomfortable with obsessing about dieting and making myself and my family nuts about the whole process, I would consider revising the goal and maintaining that loss. I think the "average" must include a lot of people who give up on the band and learn to eat mushie or high calorie foods and then do not lose anywhere near what they need to lose. I know at least one person who still eats candy, sweets, fried foods...and so hasn't lost much at all.

Ugh...for some reason I am retaining water. So I stayed the same this week. My ring is tight again and so was my bra which wouldn't have happened if it was weight related. Guess I'd better check my salt intake. I've had more than a couple of the new McDonald's smoothies this past week and even if they fit in with my calorie goals it is the only change I made so I will cut them out and see if that gets me back on track. Congrats to everyone else! And I'm not really unhappy as I'm doing well anyway.

That restriction was probably added by your employers since it is not a standard BCBS requirement. It stinks but look at it from the employer's viewpoint: they are probably worried that people will work for them just for the insurance (like a lot of other jobs) and specifically for just long enough to get elective surgery done. All you can do is to talk to your benefits representative with your employer and see if they are considering changing...or updating...the policy. If others you speak to will also question this you might be able to persuade them that WLS is far more likely to keep you on the job than having the excess weight.

Just read this and decided to make some for lunch. I haven't tried it since the band because I was told some people have problems. We make it with frozen or fresh berries, or with a few chopped up slices of spiced peaches.

I've heard that if you have a hard time turning down sugars and carbs that the sleeve is a better choice, but that was just from one source. I think the best thing is to see why people chose the way they did and really think about the differences. If my insurance had paid for the sleeve when I startewd the pre-op program I might have chosen it, although I am happy so far with the band. The sleeve seems to have fewer lifestyle restrictions and possibly (since I don't really know) people with it have to pay less attention to dieting. But it is a more serious and irreversible operation so that would make me think twice. Risks are higher and you are altering your body...kind of an "eeeuw" to me.

How long since your fill? I had my 3rd fill and two days later went through something like this. I was going to have some removed but it was the weekend so I waited it out. It eased up a little on Monday and by later that week it was much better but I cannot eat as much as I did before. I've seen several people here mention that a few days after a fill they feel problems from swelling and over-restriction...rather than at first.

I would be more comfortable with an accredited lapband surgeon. How many lapbands has your general surgeon placed? However, if you like the current surgeon you might give them a wake up call and tell them that you are considering the other practice and want your records because of her inefficiency. The doctor and office manager might not know she is having problems with timeliness...or they may be trying to delay you to fit their own schedule.

I've just been banded since early April but already I can see thatthe band has helped me get a different perspective on food. Counting calories works well for me since I have control of what I eat, as opposed to a high protein or low carb, no whatever type of diet where some foods are always forbidden. But the band makes it necessary to see that I eat enough nutrients...protein first...to keep healthy and by thinking of food as actual nutrition (a revolutionary concept personally though I had no trouble with feeding kids on that basis) I find that I am seeing that extra bite of goodies as sacrificing good health. I keep some sugars in my diet but have cut down drastically...just a tsp in tea in the AM and IF I have extra calories left in the evening. No more "Eat dessert first"!

I only met with the dietician once per insurance requirements. If your docor's program requires more visits and you decide to stick with this surgeon you might be locked in to this dietician but I'd discuss it with the doctor or his program director. Tell them you have these issues and would like to either cut down on your contact with this person or use an independent dietician. Staff members come and go at these practices and if he is acting this way toward you he is probably as unsympathetic and upsetting to others. At the least they will talk to him about his attitude; at best you might find a more helpful person has been hired. After your surgery you can decide whether to see him any more or not. I go to the office only for fills, although they offer support meetings etc. I am not locked in to a post-op program.