Dave_NW

I was banded the 6th of December, and met with my surgeon's team yesterday. They said exercise in moderation is okay, as long as there is no lifting over 15 pounds. So I'd think aerobic activity would be fine, if low intensity. If you feel faint, or have rapid heartbeat, stop. Stay hydrated. Remember, no matter how good you feel, you are still recoving from a major surgery. Take your time - you're only three days out. If it was me, I'd wait another week at least. Dave

I think you need to relax a bit and let your system adjust to the changes you've put it through. First you were too tight, and stressed out about that. Now you're too loose, and stressing about that. I know you're anxious, but come on, girl - take a breath! LOL! Go on liquids for a couple days, and let your system calm down. Get past your TOM. Then evaluate EXACTLY what you're putting into your body, vs. what you're taking from it. Weight loss is a game of numbers. If you expend more than you take in, you WILL lose weight. It's a biological fact. If you don't get enough nutrition, your body will go into starvation mode, and you will retain or gain weight. Increase your Protein intake, increase your exercise output, and see if things don't settle down for you. I'll wager if you do that, the scale will start moving the other way. Don't be rash with your behaviors. You didn't gain this weight overnight, and it won't come off overnight. But be smart about the overall process, and see if things don't improve for you. Wishing you nothing but success and good luck! Dave

Hi there. Welcome to the party! If you're only a week out from your band surgery, your body is still healing up. True, there is no fill, but right now you should focus on getting healed up, not trying to lose weight or worry about how much you're eating. You very likely have a bit of swelling in your band area, so feel an artificial amount of restriction. After your swelling recedes, you may find you'll be able to eat more than you are now. But keep in mind that you have stitches in your stomach that are healing, so if you overdo the foods, you could cause yourself problems down the road. Slow down, and be very careful. Good luck! Dave

Your priorities right now should be about healing from surgery, not weight loss. That will happen later. Get well properly, and then move toward weight loss. Follow your doctor's advice, do whatever it takes to get your nausea under control, and rest as much as you can. I found sipping lots of room temperature Water, and walking frequently did a lot to settle my system. After a few days I felt much better, and within a week, it was almost like the band surgery hadn't even happened. Good luck! Dave

I'm guessing Time of the Month? Dave

Congrats, Becky! Keep working the plan, and you'll do fine. Good luck! Dave

Susi, I think it's great that you're exploring options. Whatever decision you make, you need to be comfortable that it's the right decision for you. I hope you can find the answers you're after. First off, choosing a surgery just because your online friends have had it is not a good reason to have it done. If you look further, you'll be able to find different online friends. You need to choose what's right for you, not what is the popular answer. I looked into RNY last summer, and attended a live support session sponsored by a WLS surgeon I know. At that meeting I asked the six or eight women present (there were no other guys) why they had chosen RNY over other types of surgery. To a person, they all said they were so morbidly obese, they knew they needed to drop a huge amount of weight as quickly as possible. For one, the surgery was a huge success - she looked amazing, and if nobody had said she'd had RNY, I'd have never known. The rest looked somewhat less good - their color was off (they all were various shades of gray), and the horror stories they were sharing about the negative side effects of life after RNY really gave me pause. I didn't have *that* much weight to lose, and decided the litany of problems associated with RNY just was more than I wanted to take on. Sleeve gastrectomy, and the more recent sleeve plication surgeries were also viable options for me. I felt maybe they'd be able to result in as dramatic a weight loss, but then I found my insurance wouldn't cover either of them. So it came down to the lap band. At first I was reluctant to embrace the band. It seemed somehow less "committed" than the other types of surgery. I was slanted against the band, because I didn't want to have to work at it. I wanted that magic bullet that will do all the work for me, while I sat back and admired myself for being so clever. To work the band requires effort, planning, and being proactive in my own weight loss. I'll admit I wanted to take the lazy way out, and I felt the band was going to be too much work. The more I researched, the more my mind changed. I read story after story about people who had been banded, and who have had great success with the band, with relatively few side effects. The turning point came for me the day I was given some very direct advice by someone who had already been down that road: They said, "The ultimate goal is to lose the weight. With a band you can still lose, just more slowly, and maintaining is a lot easier after the fact. Your insides are still intact, and if there are problems, it can be removed." Then they leveled me with this comment: "Yes, it takes work, and it takes longer to lose with the band. But in a couple of years, after the weight is gone, and all everyone will see is the new you, does it really matter which method you used to get there?" I was gobsmacked. I realized it was truly about losing the weight, and getting my life back. I have never looked back. I was banded on December 6. I'm just getting started, and I know I have a long ways to go. But as of this morning, I'm down 41 pounds, and I weigh less than I have in over five years. I'm very, very pleased. Good luck! Dave

Sorry you're feeling poorly. They kept me on the anti-nausea meds at the hospital, forced me to sip Water like crazy, and walk laps around the hospital hallways every hour. I had very little accumulated gas, and it dissipated quickly. By Day three I was feeling a lot more back to normal. Good luck! Dave

Raul, you need to get out of bed and walk. The pain is gas. Walking dissipates the gas, and the shoulder pain will go away. Get up! Trust me. Dave

Hey Bob! How are you doing? Time for an update! Dave

Congratulations, Duane! Those are awesome numbers. I was just banded two weeks ago, so am still getting starting on my journey. I hope to be where you are in six months or so. Thanks for the inspiration. Merry Christmas! Dave

Hi Justine. Welcome to the fun! Glad you found this site. There is a ton of info here, and answers to virtually every question you may have. Your decision to have surgery is right on track - I wish I'd done something years ago. I'd much rather be approaching this from the front end of my life, rather than the latter part of it. Good luck with your journey! Dave

Glow, note that Julie was banded in March of 2009, not 2010. So it's been nearly two years for her, not just one. Dave

Congrats to everyone on your successful surgeries! Wishing all of you a speedy recovery. Keep up the good work! Jess, just wanted to note that hoarseness can also be a sign of dehydration. Keep sipping those fluids! Dave

I've had a few of those. Feels weird. Not so much painful, as it is unexpected. I think it's your system adjusting to the band being there. After I few days I didn't feel them anymore. If it's a problem, you may want to call your surgeon's office and ask them what's up with it. I found wearing the restricting band they put on me after surgery was really uncomfortable after a few days, because the hair on my stomach area was starting to grow back. I was getting a razor itch kind of thing. Removing the restricting band and give my incisions "air time" helped a lot. After a few days that also subsided. Now, if I wear the restrictive band, I put a t-shirt on under it. Dave

Julie, that's good news that you're seeing your doctor. As I said initially, if the problems are that severe and consistent, then you need to figure out what's wrong. The band is a mechanical device. If it stops working, then it needs to be fixed. Good luck! Dave

Thanks for the encouragement. I agree things are adjusting to life post-op, and I will definitely enjoy the ride to figure out what I like and what I don't. I was never a major sweets eater, and after nothing but protein shakes these last couple of weeks, I'm completely sick of anything sweet. The idea of eating Thai food sounds great! I definitely want something savory these days. I dream of pureed Wendy's chili. LOL! I don't have Muscle Milk Protein Water here. I'll check for it. I have found Isopure protein drinks at GNC, which are fruit flavored beverages. Again, more sweets, but 20g of protein and 0g carbs in a 10 oz drink isn't bad. Some flavors are more subtle than others. I find the Apple Melon to be pretty good. For as tired of the liquid diet as I am, I'm also being faithful to my surgeon and his Nut's plans. As others have posted here, I have my whole life ahead of me to eat food; I don't want to jeopardize my recovery in the name of trying to cut corners. I'm meeting with the surgeon and Nut tomorrow afternoon, to go over the next phase of the recovery diet (pureed/soft foods) which I'm supposed to start next week. Maybe they'll give me time off for good behavior. Dave

That's a really interesting comment. I was able to eat anything pre-op (obviously - look at where I started this journey) - but post-op, my sense of taste has gone all crazy. Things I liked and looked forward to having before are completely unappealing now. chicken broth was never an issue before, but now, after making some up, I might have only a sip, and I'm done. I sit here thinking what do I want to have, and literally *nothing* sounds good. This is so weird. I sincerely hope when I move off liquids to pureed/soft foods in another week that I'll be able to tolerate/like the things my head is currently telling me I *really* want to have. I'd hate to get to that point only to find nothing tastes good. The journey continues... Dave

Hey Raul, welcome to the party! I know the day before surgery is stressful - part of you wants it over with, and the other part of you is wondering what you're getting yourself into. You've done your research, you know what to expect, and the rest will happen as it plays out. You're going to be fine. Three post-op tips: Sip Water till you can't sip anymore. Walk till you think you're going to drop. And use Gas-X strips to help dissipate trapped gas. Good luck tomorrow. Check in when you can, and keep us posted on your progress. Dave

Hey there. I can't help you with being banded Thursday, but I'm thrilled you're getting close. It'll be over before you know it. (Aren't you surprised the date is nearly here already?) Keep your head in the game, prepare before surgery so you know what to expect aferward, and try to minimize the discomfort after surgery. I'm two weeks post-op now, and I literally do feel better every single day. Good luck! Dave

Wow, thanks! I try to post things I think others would want to know about. I appreciate the good feelings. Love Australia. Spent a glorious week in Sydney a gazillion years ago, and would love to go back. Maybe one day! I'm with you on those damn Protein shakes - I've had three today already, and it's not even supper time. One thing about the coffee topic I learned - since being banded I'm apparently lactose intolerant. I do put a bit of milk in my coffee. So maybe that's the problem. Will keep trying, and we'll see how things develop. Stay tuned... Dave

I woke up from surgery with a catheter in place. I had no urge to urinate. My band surgery also included repairing two abdominal hernias, so I was kept two nights in the hospital. On the second day they removed the catheter, and then the fun started - they wouldn't let me go home until I had urinated enough CC's two or three times to show them my bladder would empty normally. No amount of forcing myself produced any more - it was like I had lost those muscles you mentioned. The nurse said it was after effects of the anaesthetic. They finally reluctantly let me go, and after the 90 minute car ride home, I had to go - bad! I've been going normally ever since. Go figure... Oh yeah, and my hospital discharge weight was TEN POUNDS heavier than I was on admission 48 hours earlier! Dave

I think it's more about trying to get you to adopt a new way of dealing with food, and how to make the most of what you have. If carbonation causes the pouch to stretch, then next time you eat you may eat more than you should, which could lead to further problems, and so on and so forth. Each little thing adds up, and could ultimately end in failure to lose weight. Dave

Good luck, Becky! Just try to relax, and let the process happen. It goes quickly. You'll be fine. A few words to keep in mind: 1. Sip water till you're sick of it. It helps calm your stomach, and really helps speed your recovery. 2. Walk. A lot. It will help dissipate the gas. The more you walk, the better you'll feel. 3. Gas-X strips are really, really helpful is helpng rid you of a lot of bloating. Best of luck with your surgery. Keep us posted when you feel up to it. Dave

I think it was Bob, user name btrieger, who posted his spreadsheet. It was very involved, and showed amazing results. You may want to search for his posts. He just had a panniculectomy done a few weeks ago, and hasn't been here much since. Likely still recovering. Dave