Dave_NW

I'd love to enjoy a cup of coffee these days. Nothing like a good cup of steaming hot, freshly brewed coffee to satisfy things. I live near Seattle, and around here, good coffee is the LAW! But guess what? Even though my Nut says it's okay, I'm finding the taste absolutely awful! Doesn't matter what I do - I keep trying different brews and whatever, and I just can't get my head around the taste of it since I was banded two weeks ago. What's up with that? Dave

Can I just say how jealous of you guys I am? I'm referring to the people who are a week or so post-op, and who are already getting back onto soft foods, or even onto solid foods. Post-op, my surgeon requires three WEEKS of clear liquids and protein shakes, (no fun additives like pudding or Jello), followed by three MORE weeks of pureed/soft foods, before going onto solids again. (Today is Day 14 for me and I am *SO* tired of the liquid diet.) It'll be six weeks post-op before I get back to solids. My first fill also happens at that same six week mark. So many ways to handle the diet for this band... Dave

I was originally going to have gastric sleeve surgery, and in fact, spent a fair amount of time exploring that option. I'm in my late 50's, and felt I wanted the sleeve to do the work. Everything was fine till I met with my surgeon, and I discovered my insurance wouldn't pay for it. So I regrouped and moved across the aisle to lap band. In retrospect, the band turned into a better choice for me. I was banded December 6th. So far, so good. My feeling about both surgeries is that they each have thier place. The sleeve used to be the first step for gastric bypass patients, who would start with the sleeve, lose a hundred pounds or so, and then have gastric bypass, and lose another hundred or two. If you don't need to go that route, you may be happy not having that severe of a surgery done. As to which is preferable, you need to ask yourself what kind of person you are. Do you like to move around, be active, and maybe even exercise? If so, the band may be a better choice. If you're a total couch potato, or if you have physical limitations on your activity, then the sleeve may be better. You don't have much more than about 100 pounds to lose, so what happens if/when you reach that goal? With the sleeve, you may have to keep working to get your nutrition in to stop the weight loss. With the band, you'd be more likely to be able to maintain your weight once at goal. And there are plenty of people here who have lost over 100 pounds with the band. For me, the idea of having 85% of my stomach cut out, and the remaining parts reattached into the sleeve shape was one heck of a commitment. I really had trouble with that, because there is no going back. Once done, that's that. Not as severe as a gastric bypass, but still a major rearrangement of things. The band, by contrast, doesn't cut anything. It's the least invasive, and if problems arise, it's removable and/or replaceable. I'm very much in favor of that. And as you noted, if the band doesn't work out, you *can* have it revised to the sleeve or bypass. If you start out with the sleeve, you don't have that option. There is a fourth surgery being done now, called a vertical sleeve plication. It's different from the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. You may want to look into that. So my vote for you is to start with the band. You may find you will have the success you seek from that, without a lot of wear and tear on your body. Hope this helps, Dave

Maybe they're not the same guy? LOL!!! Dave, joking

I think if you're going to be using enough for it to make a difference, then you'd want the best type of Protein possible. As I understand it, isolates are best, then concentrates, and it works down from there. Dave

unjury.com sells Opurity "band optimized multi" Vitamins. Orange flavored chewable. It has 100% of the daily recomended amount of a bunch of things banders need, in the levels banders need them. You might want to check them out online at www.unjury.com. Good luck! Dave

Julie, sorry you're having such a problem. Have you been through this with your doctor? If you're having such recurring sde effects, then something is probably wrong - either with your band, or how you're using it. If the issue is with the band, what steps does your doctor advise to take to correct them? A number of thoughts come to mind - slippage, too tight, band absorption. You should see your doctor and find out what's up. If the band itself is okay, then the other side of the equation is how you're using it. Are you eating right, chewing thoroughly, minimal portion sizes, and so forth. If you go back to how things were right after surgery, and start over, maybe things will settle down again. Spend a few days on liquids again, and see if things don't calm down. Then work your way back up to eating solids like you used to. If your concern is that you've *only* lost 48 pounds in two years, then I'd suggest you look at your diet. Weight loss is all about numbers, and balancing nutrition against calories. If your protein/carb balance is right, and your calories in vs. calories out levels are right, then weight loss *will* happen. Good luck! Dave

I know how you feel, and where you want to be. In six months your friends are going to want to know what you're doing to look so good. You can tell them then, or leave them wondering. I'll bet they'll be happy for you. I was banded Dec 6, and up till the few days before, I had everything all sorted out. I began to second-guess myself, and run back through all the things I had done to get to that place. When I did, I forced myself to relax and feel confident that I was ready for surgery. I think it's natural to second-guess yourself. It's how we humans make sure we're doing the right thing. I think the self doubts are our brains trying to help us make sure we're not being impulsive or self destructive. So if you give yourself time to consider it, you're actually right where you're supposed to be, and you deserve to be very proud of yourself. As for feeling oinfident about surgery ahead of time, just relax and let the process happen. You're going to be handled by experienced people who are doing exactly what they know how to do. Let go, and give them the chance to step up and be good for you. They'll make things much easier. Post surgery, you know you'll feel sore, there will be gas, and maybe a bit of pain. Sip Water like a leaky faucet, walk till the nubbies wear off the bottom of your slippers, and keep your mind in the process, so you can make the most of the recovery steps, but minimize the physical side effects. I did that, and I was fine. For me, the lap band surgery has been almost a non-event. Recovery has been very direct. I won't say it was easy, but overall, it's been quite manageable. The biggest surprise for me was discovering that I am apparently lactose intolerant. Who knew? Threw a bit of a wrench into the spokes, though, when I'm trying to live on Protein shakes.... Keep your eyes on the prize of becoming the person you want to be. Surgery is the next step in that process. You're going to be fine. Best of luck, Dave

I wanted to check in and bring you folks up to date. I was banded December 6, and stayed at the hospital two nights. They repaired a hiatal hernia and a ventral hernia while I was there, so I expected my recovery was going to be more of an issue. Where most banding patients end up with five or six incisions, I wound up with 13. As it's happened, the banding has been almost a non-event. No shoulder pain (I think because I walked a lot in the first few days after surgery, and I sipped a lot of Water.) Incisions healing normally, no swelling or port pain, just the expected bruising and localized stiffness. Now, on Day 11, I'm feeling better than I have to date. I'm still off work, but all in all, I feel pretty good. What WAS an event that I wanted to share with everyone, was that four days after I got home from the hospital I began to feel "off." My sense of taste went downhill, my stomach felt "wrong," I began to have diarrhea, and my whole (generally) positive attitude went right out the window. On Monday morning the dry heaving started. I'm not a fan of vomiting under any circumstances, but this experience scared the hell out of me. My jaw clenched, I was in a cold sweat, my stomach began to roil, and then - BAM, the urge to vomit happened. Several long, protracted straining urges to throw up. But it produced NOTHING. Just the strain. I have never felt such a weird sensation. After the second event that day, I called my surgeon's office to ask what I should do. Obviously something was wrong, and I was concerned it might tear the band loose. I was adivsed to see my regular doctor, because the dry heaving was very problematic. Long story short, I ended up at the hospital Emergency Room. They gave me two doses of an anti-nausea drug, which stopped the vomiting symptoms, and took some blood. After an IV bag of fluids, since I was dehydrated, they sent me home. Diagnosis: Stomach virus. For the next two days I couldn't eat anything, as the virus worked its way through my system. All I did was sip water and sleep. I felt awful. Finally, today (Thursday), I feel much better. I'm eating again, (still on liquids only - I can't even go to mushies for another two weeks), and I feel a thousand percent better. My point in sharing this is to warn you about the unexpected side effects you may feel that have nothing to do with the band. And to warn you about dry heaving. It was absolutely AWFUL. On the plus side: I'm down 31 pounds since I was first weighed by my surgeon's staff at the end of September. Dave Edited to add on 12/17/2010: Now we're thinking it may not have been a virus at all. We're discovering I may be lactose intolerant, and that the symptoms I've been experiencing are related to that. Stay tuned...

Good plan. Study as much as you can, because where the band is concerned, knowledge is power. THe more you know, the better prepared you'll be. Good luck! Dave

Congratulations on your success! That has to be a wonderful feeling. I look forward to feeling that way again. :clap: Dave

I focused on refreshing my memory about the surgery process, what they were going to do, and how I would feel afterward. I read this site extensively, going through old threads to make sure I knew what to expect. I deliberately skipped over "problem" threads, choosing to cross that bridge when and if I ever get there. I made sure I had all my paperwork in order, figured out what I would wear in the hospital for my recovery (they kept me two nights because I had two hernias repaired in addition to getting the band.) I figured out what I wanted to have with me, and basically I tried to concenrate on my new life after surgery, That was a week ago. I'm pleased to say everything went just as I expected. When I felt discomfort after surgery, I knew it was mainly gas, and what to do for it. By day 2, I was already much improved. After the second night in the hospital, I was itching to go home. No trouble, no trauma, no surprises. I gained ten pounds in the hospital from the fluids they gave me, so I left the hospital heavier than when I arrived. No biggie. I expected it. That has slowly been going away, and now, on Day 7, I am one pound below my surgery weight. Woohoo! Enjoy the experience, let your surgeon show you why he/she's a pro, and let the hospital staff do their jobs. They were great to me, and it was all pretty anticlimactic. Good luck wth your surgery. You'll do fine. Dave

People who don't have problems don't post about their surgery. The problems you read about are only those people who need help. How many thousands more get through it without ever asking for help? I told my family and close friends. At work I told my manager and closest coworkers. I didnt tell anyone with any sense of "Was this a good decision?" in my voice. I made it clear this was my choice, for me, and that I didn't care if they disapprove. To a person, every single one has been supportive. They all want me to succeed. I chose to tell because I was inspired by one coworker who had this surgery a year ago. He's down about 90 pounds so far. Looks great. I was hoping that by my sharing my story other coworkers may be encouraged to have something done. (There are several.) The only person who gave me any sort of attitude was an IV nurse at the hospital when I was recovering after surgery. She was going on and on about how it was wrong and how I should have tried hypnosis and whatever. Her nerve was incredible. And the fat broad weighed about 300 pounds! I finally told her I was done listening to her, and would she please shut up. I'm still pissed she would be like that - while I'm recovering from the surgery! Duh! Dave

Rick, remember that the people who post about problems are those who are having an issue of some sort. For every one of those posts, there are literally THOUSANDS of people who don't post anywhere, because they aren't having any problems at all. So you're not seeing the full picture. You asked about the good side of having the surgery. Turn that upside down, and reverse the question. What is the good side of NOT having the surgery? Based on your stats, (quite similar to mine. I'm 57, started at 320, BMI near 50), I'll wager you've been like me - a guy who has been on every diet in the book, and all with relative success - for awhile. At some point, every pound, and usually even more, comes right back. So if you don't have surgery, what do you have to look forward to? More of the same? Progressive degeneration into further medical issues? How is that good for anyone? Isn't it time to try and do something that has a chance to work, once and for all? The thing to remember about the band is that it's not a magic bullet. It will NOT fix your weight issues, or change your love/hate relationship with food.. It is a tool that can be used with diet and exercise to bring down your weight sensibly, and help you to live a better life. Given the likely possibility that doing nothing is only going to result in greater weight, more medical issues, and an untimely death, for me, surgery wasn't only an option, it was a chance to get my life back on track. Keep doing your research, and keep asking questions. If you find the band is for you, go for it. You have nothing to gain by NOT doing it. Good luck! Dave

I think surgeons adjust their plan to suit their patients, and what they know works (or doesn't.) I did a three week Atkins-like pre-op diet, (high Protein, very low carb), and it went well. I kind of liked the reduction of my eating method pre-op, as a way to slide into the post-op liquids only diet I'm on now. I've made the transition pretty well, so far. (I'm seven days post-op.) The pre-op diet isn't so much about weight loss, as it is reducing the size of your liver. Don't concern yourself about pounds lost right now. Just get ready to have your surgery, and prepare yourself for what comes next. Good luck! Dave

The purpose of the pre-op diet is to reduce your carb intake, which will shrink the sze of your liver. It needs to be moved during surgery so the band can be put in place. If your liver is too large, it can literally block access to where the band needs to go. So even though you feel like you haven't lost enough weight, you're probably going to be fine. Weightloss can come later. Good luck! Dave

As you go along, you'll find Costco's meats, produce, and fresh deli items are especially excellent. One thing about the USDA meats is that the price per pound is usually a lot lower than in grocery stores. The family pack bulk items, like the steaks that come four or five in a pack, are a great deal. Break the pack into individual serving sizes, and save some serious cash. I'll check closer on the gummy Vitamins too. I'm using Unjury's chewable Multivitamin now, and it's okay, but it's gritty. Now if I can only find a replacement for the Calcium citrate tablets I'm usng. They're okay, but huge. And I need to take four daily... Dave

From everything I've read, vomiting or PBing or sliming one time is enough to teach you why you don't want to do it again. You're at the point where your stomach is adjusting to the placement of the band, and your stomach is healing from the stitches used to attach the band in place. Give it a chance to heal. Eating solid food now could cause problems, including even tearing out those stitches. If you're seriously fighting yourself already over the situation, you're setting yourself up for serious problems later on. Follow the plan your surgeon laid out for you, and be successful. Derail that plan, and you're headed for failure. You aren't yet "fully" banded, because you don't have restriction, the magic sweet spot that makes the band work so well. Once you get to that point, it'll be different. You're still weeks away from your first fill. Hang in there. Follow the plan. Anticipate success. Good luck! Dave

MRSA can be fatal. If not to you, then to the staff at the hospital. Regardless of how frustrated you may be, keep in mind delaying your surgery could very easily save your life. Hang in there. Dave

As I understand it, the biggest purpose of the pre-op diet is to reduce your carb intake, in an attempt to shrink the physical size of your liver. During surgery they need to move your liver out of the way so they can insert the band. Weight loss during the pre-op diet is not the major goal. A side effect of the diet is weight loss, but it's more about your liver. I had a three week pre-op diet, but was put on an Atkins-like thing. I ate high protein, very low carb foods, and it worked fine. I did "cheat" a few times, like on Thanksgiving, but I got back on track the nxt day. I ended up losing weight anyway, and my surgery last Monday went "by the book." I know it's hard, but try and focus on the ultimate point of getting primed for surgery. Weight loss will happen after the fact. Good luck! Dave

If you click on the line in the upper left of the screen that says "Signed in as [your screen name]". then click on "My Content" you'll filter through to your posts. You can find a specific thread you've posted in more easily. Cuts down on a lot of needless scrolling to find what you want. Dave

Hey, thanks for that! I was already planning a trip to Costco tomorrow anyway, so I'll pick up a case. One thing you may not know is that if you buy a case of something at Costco and it doesn't work out for you, you can return the remainder and get your full money back. So if you got something to try and it just wasn't good for you, they'll refund the money as if the item was unopened. (My spouse is a refund cashier at Costco.) If you compare Costco and Sam's item for item, I think you'll find the general quality at Costco is better. If you decide you like Costco better, you should ask Sam's to refund your membership fee. Not sure if they'll do that, but I know Costco will. Dave

I get the Muscle Milk Light at Costco, Do they sell Premier Protein Shakes there, too? Can anyone tell me about Isopure? I'm looking for any alternate to all the nonstop sweetness. I'm not a big sweets eater, and I'm really tired of it already. Any options out there? Dave

Congratulations, Chris! You deserve a medal for enduring that long diet process. I don't think I could've done it. (My insurance didn't require it.) Hope your banding goes well, and that 2011 is everything you want it to be! Dave

Unjury's chicken broth isn't really that bad, especially if you season it to taste. I used a meat thermometer to get to maximum allowed temperature of 130F. It worked fine. Added a bit of fresh ground pepper to it, and it wasn't bad, for a protein shake. Dave